The Amman Valley Chronicle and East Carmarthen News

A GRAND OPPORTUNITY. === tiEYENSON'S f?MF'?!! ?B i?B: ?S!? ?BtBL 0 M?-*? SPECIAl1 SA I)AYS .i?< OF MILLINERY, COATS, BLOUSES, FURS, and MUFFS. A RARE CHANCE. SEE WINDOWS. filso a Huge Display of Christmas HANDKERCHIEFS and other Useful Presents., VW Please do your Christmas Shopping Early, as repeats are absolutely impossible. -4K. LEVENSON'S, HEGH STREET, Am anford. P.S.-Splandid Selection of Men's and Boys' Overcoats-very Special Value. THERE'S A (001 TIME COMING I for you. Although at praient you are sufierin g from a disordered digestion j and other distressing ailments and, in consequence, are inclined to take a j somewhat gloomy view of things, it need not be long before you recover your ho&fth and your usually hopeful and cheerful disposition. All that is j required to bring about this desired change is the beneficial influence of j Beeeham's Pills. This reliable medicine stimulates the liver, strengthens j the stomaoh, cleanses the bo*els and purifies the blood ;-hence it is easy to uderstand why health may be maintained by taking BEE CHAin's pILLJlow I Sold everywhere In boxes, labelled Is-3d and 3s-0d. | PRINTING OF EVERY DESCRIPTION DONE AT THE "Amman Valley Chronicle" Office, AMMANFORD. ORDERS FOI? Private GREETING CARDS oo GLOBE Boot, Shoe, and Clog Stores, College St., Ammanford. ALF. WILLIAMS. The Noted House for ALL KirZDS OF FOOTWEAR. Boot Repairing Neatly Executed. Sweep! Sweep! Sweep! Save worry and Coal by having Chimneys, Ovens, Flues, &c., cleaned. All work arranged to suit Customers' convenience. Suits of Clothes, Coats, &c., cleaned and pressed. Proprietor SSIGrGrS9 3, COLLEGE STREET (Late Royal Stores), AMMANFORD. WHEN YOU BUY A PIANO HAVE THE BEST. Thompson & Shackell, Ltd., Invite Inspection of their Splendid Stock of BRITISH MADE PIANOS OF WORLD-WIDE FAME, Including Instruments by the following Celebrated Makers:- JOHN BRINSMEAD & SONS. CHALLEN & SONS, d. & J. HOPKINSON, d. H. CROWLEY, AJELLO & SONS, BROADWOOD PIANO-PLAYERS MOORE & MOORE, UUSTINE BROWNE, CRAMER A COMPANY, COLLARD & COLLARD, fj And others too numerous to mention. g, UNSURPASSED FOR TONE, TOUCH. AND ELEGANCE OF DESIGN. > All Pianos Warranted, and Exchanged if not approved. FULL VALUE ALLOWED FOR OLD PIANOS IN EXCHANGE. 25, QUEEN STREET, CARDIFF. ADDRESS: 60, Stepney Street, LLANELLY.

POLITICS FOR WOMEN. BY WOMAN VOTER. I Replying to Brig .-General Page Croft (Ghristchurch, N.P.), who asked whether the Prime Minister could make a state- ment 7iving definite information to the country that peace terms would include full reparation by the German Empire, including the repayment of the net .ost of the war incurred by the Aliie-is, Alt-, Bonar Law [Chancellor of the Exchequer) said: I can make no statement on this subject. General Page Croft asked, in view of the approach of the General Election, whether the right, hon. gentle- man was going to tuaJce a d jimtt statement on the subject in conformity wit It the pro- mise that there should be a petpl-e's peace. Mr. tionar JAW repcaUd that no definite statement could be made. In the midst of somewhat rowdy and pos- sibly slightly premature peace celebrations, I was brought back to earth with a severe shock when on opening the" Times" last Tuesday morning I read the above para- graph in the Parliamentary news. I will admit that I have for some time entertained a lurking fear that this Coalition business was some new form of political trick; and 1 was soi,ne nweriwuieu should be deeply grateful to General Page Croft, the leader of the fearless little group of "National" members, for, well, to say the least of it, giving us food for very serious reflection, for I can only conceive one explanation ox this start- ling exhibition of political hanky-panky. Mr. Bonar Law is asked a straightforward ques- tion which in plain English amounts to this: Are we English people to pay the thousands of millions of debt incurred in fighting a war we did not want, or is Ger- many to foot the bill? Surely there is only one answer to such a straightforward question. As a matter of fact it is such an obvious thing that one would presume the question unnecessary; but if Mr. Bonar Lav's reply means anything it surely means th: as in the ca&e of German prisoners in this country who were given such distinct preferential treatment over British prisoners in Germany, so again are our Teutonic 14 fricncls to- be spared the unpleasant task p • i_l. U-ll ol paying ulle UJlI. This astounding Revelation places all other issues entirely in the background, and brings us bang right up to the one question, that we must demand every candidate at the forthcoming election to answer-HIs Ger- niany to pay for the war?" If all my women readers will kindly put this question to the candidates in the con- stituency they reside, and forward their re- plies to me, I v-ill endeavour to compile a list of such candidates as are worthy of a British woman's vote. I had intended to deiil with quite another subject this week, but feel this matter is so important. J. must confess that candidly I do not believe Mr. Lloyd George himself wouia spare Germany, and I am certain that our fliks wouid not, but I fear that in order to seeure the support of some of the older poli- ticians it may be necessary for the Premier to modify his views. It is in this that I see tut- liajiver of tin.) Coalition. Personally Ishall vote for the Independent candidate who is out to support Mr. Lioyd George to bring abiut a really just peace. Let us not forget that practically the whole of Germany's expenditure has been within 'her own country, therefore the money is still in Germany, whereas in our own ease the bulk of our expenditure has been to Allied or Neutral countries, placing our financial position at a decided disadvantage, and I consider that women will have grievously tailed to redeem the debt they owe to our soldiers and sailors if they give one single rote to any candidate before being aasured that, whatever else they may promise, they will see that soldiers and sailors, having risked their lives in a war not of their seeking, will not have to pay the financiaJ cost as well, otherwise we must be prepared, thos8 of us who have invested our sm&H savings in War Bonds, to be heavHy taxed Jfjr the rest of our lives in order to pay our- selves bac?.

The Coal Controller has sent a telegram to secretaries of all districts of the British Miners' Federation stating that there was a most serious loss in the output of coal due to holidays taken in connection with the armis- tice, and, while agreeing that holidays in such circumstances were natural, he appeals to miners to try and make up the loss from now onward, or there will be the greatest difficulty in supplying coal for domestic and other needs, especially to those unable to store coal.

Christmas Meat Rations. I TURKEYS AND GAME WITHOUT I COUPONS. The weekly ration of butcher's meat in the I week preceding Christmas will be doubled, while from December 16th to January 14th no coupons will be required for the purchase cf turkeys, geese, ducks, fowls, and game. These concessions, taken in conjunction with the distribution of dried fruits officially an- nounced, will permit of the Christmas table corresponding more closely to the festival period than the puU* generally have dared to hope. A Suet, loose fat, i-j.igues, kidneys, and ox skirt are included ^1 the term butcher s meat." The Food Controller, in announcing the increase of the meat ration between Sun- day, December 15th, and Wednesday, Decem- ber 25th, states that the coupons numbered 7 in the current ration books will purchase 8d. worth of uncooked meat and 5 ozs. of bone- less cooked meat, or 6 ozs. of suet, tongue, or kidney. CHRISTMAS CARGOES. Twenty thousand tons of Canadian apples art expected to arrive before Christmas; p and they are to be retailed at controlled prices, which promise to be moderate. Additional shipments to the extent of 30,000 tons are due in the spring; while soon afterwards resumed sailings are to bring fruit from Tasmania and California. Spain is sending nuts and oranges—the Spain is sen d a nf,, latter in only mediur quantities, for crops are indifferent. The oranges, even when more plentiful, will for a time remain at the fixed maximum price of IOd. a pound. Shipping restriction are being relaxed so that certain goods, sufofas raw cocoa, apples, bananas, and nuts, r¡:\ý now be imported on private account, and the list will soon be ex- tended. Butter supplies are barely sufifcient to supply the ration of an ounce a week, and Canada cannot help much until after Christ- mas at the earliest. [ PRICE OF APPLES. The following maximum prices have been fixed by the Food Controller for apples other than jam apples:—November, 8d. per lb.; December, 9d. January, 1919, 9d. Feb- ruary, lid.; March and onward, lid. Where apples are sold by a seller to a purchaser in quantities exceeding 20 lbs. at any one time or in any one week, the above prices are to be reduced by Jld. per lb; and where apples are sold in quantities exceeding 40 lbs. at any one time or in any one week, the maxi- mum prices are to be the same as upon a sale by wholesale. Cox's Orange Pippins which will not pass through a ring of 2 inches diameter and other apples of varieties which will not pass through a ring of 2A inches diameter are not within the Order, and are not subject to any maxi- mum prices, provided that they are separated out by the grower and invoiced and sold wholesale and ticketed and sold retail under their proper names, as provided in the Order. PRICE OF POTATOES. I The Food Controller has fixed the follow- ing prices for potatoes:—Grade I. Potatoes: Rate per cwt. when sold in lots of 1 cwt. or upwards, 10s. 4d.; rate per stone when sold in lots of 14 lbs. or upwards but less than f cwt.. Is. 5d. rate per lb. for lots of less than 14 lbs., 1 d. Grade 11. Potatoes: Rate per cwt. when sold in lots of I cwt. and upwards, 8s. 2d.; rate per stone when sold in lots of J4 lbs. or upwards but less than I cwt., lswllcl.; rate per lb. for lots of less than 14 lbs., Id. Grade 1. Potatoes means ware potatoes of any of the varieties: "King Edward," "Golden Wonder," "Langworthy," "What's Wanted," and Maincrop." Grade II. Potatoes means any ware potatoes except potatoes consisting exclusively of Grade 1. potatoes.

I Eisteddfod at Cwmgorse. I A chair eisteddfod was held at Tabernacle Chapel, Cwmgorse, on Saturday, the 16tk inst. The president was Mr. C. E. Cleeves, Swansea; and the Rev. T. M. Roderick, Cwmgorse, conducted. The adjudicators were:-Mus"c Mr. E. T. Davies, F.R.C.O., Merthyr, and Mr. T. Gabriel, F.T.S.C., Bargoed; literature, Rev. Alfa Richards, Brynamman, and Rev. T. M. Roderick, Cwmgorse. Mr. D. J. Evans, C.R.A.M., Cwmgorse, and Miss Morfydd Davies, Gwaun-cae-gurwen, efficiently discharged the duties of accompanists. The treasurer was Mr. Willie Rees, Caenewydd; while the secretarial duties were in the hands of Mr. Godwin Davies and Mr. T. Rhys Jones. Awards:— Solo for children under 12: 1, Mary Hughes, Tai' rgwaith; 2, Cyril Bevan, GaT- nant. Recitation for children under 12: 1, Isaac Davies, Gwrhyd; 2, Evelyn Williams, Gwaun-cae-gurwen. Solo for boys under 16: T. Glyn Jones, Ystradgynlais. Violin solo for children under 16: Cyril Lewis, Garnant. Solo for girls under 16: Divided between Mary Hughes, Tai'rgwaith; and Elvira Wil- liams, Garnant. Recitation for children under 16: Lizzie Llewelyn, Brynamman. Pianoforte solo for children under 13: Lilian Williams, Cwmgorse. Pianoforte solo for children under 16: Bessie Rees, Brynamman. Novice recitation: Bessie Davies, Glan- amman. Novice solo: Miss Jennie Boyce, Cwm- HyrAell. Soprano solo: Miss Mary Davies, Bryn- amman. Contralto solo: Miss Hannah Hopkin, Brynamman. Tenor solo: Mr. Stephen Rogerson, Glan- amman. Bass solo: Mr. Owen Morgan, Gwaun- cae-gurwen. Chief recitation: Miss Ceinwen Smith, Cwmgorse. Traethawd: Divided between Mr. T. Waiter Rosser, Cwmtwrch, and Mr. Willie Thomas, Tai'rgwaith. Ptyddest: Mr. Rees Evans (Alltfab), Gwaun-cae-gurwen. Englyn. Wy Divided between Mr. Emlyn Evans, Brynamman, and Mr. Ogwen Williams, Aberdare. Children's choir: Glanamman. i

Our Poultry Column. POULTRY POINTS. I With so much rain about, the poultry- keeper will have been kept busy. The birds stop in the houses a good deal even when there is an outside run, and this causes the house to become dirty quicker than where they are always kept in. Birds will run in and out when they get a chance, and the wet out- side is carried in, and with the damp air all round the litter soon becomes battered down and like cak es of manure. It is difficult to know which is best for the floor chaff is out of the question, leaves have hardly been dry enough, and straw must not be used unless damaged, and then it soon becomes too wet for the houses. All houses which are stood on the ground absorb a good deal of moisture from the soil, yet when stood upon bricks with a boarded floor, the whole can be kept per- fectly dry, in which case almost any litter will answer. For all-round use there is no- thing much better than peat moss, and con- sidering the cost of things generally, this works out cheaper than most. When kept dry it will last for two or three months, pro- viding it is raked over occasionally to prevent it .being caked on to the floor. When dry this need not be feared, and the birds work- ing amongst it will keep it moved. Of course, a dropping board should be under all perches; then the litter will last double the time, because the moisture from the excre- ments soon dries and all is scraped off to- gether. The peat moss acts as a deodoriser and absorbs all the moisture but it is naturally cleaner if the dropping boards can be scraped every other day. The laying stock should be well cared for now, because birds never suffeT so much as during cold wet weather. Cold is not so bad, and frost does not hurt, providing the rain and heavy mists- keep away. All fowls need ventilation, but with the fogs and heavy mists at night, the front shutter should be closed nearly up so that the inside can be kept as dry as possible. Most intensive keepers give only a hard grain feed, but with so much poor stuff about and the order that each man must have half each of meal and grain, it means that he must give some soft mash. Unfortunately, most of the mixture contains dust and small seeds, which should be sifted out, and then this can be used with the mash. Of course, this dust would be wasted if thrown down in the house, so that it pays to use it in the soft food. What it means is that the feed must be partly soft food, and then just a handful of grain given, which will keep them busy scratching. As we cannot get the food we wish, we must just make the most of that to hand and keep the stock going. There is a new order which allows for any kind of poultry being used this Christmas- time without a coupon. This will cover four weeks from the 18th December to 14th January, so that there should be a good sale for all spare stock of the feathered tribe. Everyone now should look round to see what stock they need not keep. It is not a time for keeping surplus birds, because the food is short, and you had better breed more of the right sort next season. Every odd cockerel should be fed up now and cleared off this winter, but be sure you reserve all you need for breeding. Before next season Comes into full swing, we shall probably get more food- I stuffs released for poultry; then the problem of raising will not be so great as it was last season, though on the whole that was not so difficult. Stin, it is the food trouble which causes so much anxiety, and has been the reason why so many folk cleared out of chicks. Once get a normal food i supply and people will soon be back again amongst poultry; hence my advice has been all along to keep on breeding and produce as many as ever you can. The demand is coming, and the supply will not be equal to it. Get the place in otder at once, and see what stock you need if any, and then set about getting it at once. Pens can be mated next month, and November is nearly through.

To POULTRY KEEPERS. Give Your HENS SPICK GRIT The New Shell Grit. Sold by all Corn Dealers. Write for samples and name and address of nearest Agent. SOLE MANUFACTURERS: LIVERINE LIMITED, GRIMSBY.

OLD COLLEGE SCHOOL, CARMARTHEN. I In the next Association, which will be held soon at Aberystwyth, and which was to have been held the week before last but was postponed on account of the influenza epidemic, three ministerial students from the county will be ordained to the complete work of the ministry. Two of them were coached by the Rev. J. B. Thomas, and one—Mr. Frank Thomas, Bancyfelin-is an old student of the Old College School, from which insti- tuition he passed the entrance examination to the Theological College, Aberystwyth. Mr. Thomas, who is a very promising preacher, has received a unanimous call to the pastorate of a Welsh church in Tredegar. If he decides to accept the call, the loss to Car- marthenshire in general will be very great.

The Royal Regiment m of Artillery !keztment of Artillery. D EAD their proud motto. It tells you — IX that the Guns go everywhere- ??.?? u E h h' h D d ar TDUr. -'il<- Everywhere, whithersoever Duty and cost 15/6 each. Their Glory lead the way. A thousand battle-  fields have proved those words true. Y«, <*„ air. n*c •» ? ?? ?? ?? at It is to you that the men of that glorious any time that "u with to regiment look to provide the Guns and Shells ithdraw your money i. full vnth any mtw*d which they need for Victory. Back them up which u due You can with your money. Feed the Guns with War buy War Savinso Cartfi- Savings Certificates and help to end the War. «**•• from aBy Money Order Port Office. Banlr Do not think that because Guns and Shells or shopkeeper acting as I cost hundreds of pounds your savings are too Official Agent. small to count. One 15/6 War .Savmgs Cr- Ihoahnenoty.tioind tidcate would pay for 16 !bs. of High Explosive • WM Sa*>«w* A.?c. or 124 Machine Gun Cartridges. Three k i. your patriotic W S. C:c.   War aVlngs etmcates would pay for a ?. Secrlu^ J^ yoZ round of our terrible 18-pounder Shrapnel. local War Savince Com- mittee. or write to the National War savings Committee. Salisbury Keep on buying Square.London.E.C.4. War Savings Certificates

I Prorogation of Parliament. Parliament was prorogued on Thursday last, after an existence of eight years. The King's Speech was read by the Lord Chan- cellor in the presence of Lords and Com- moners as follows:- The occasion on which I address you marks the close of a period which will be for ever memorable in the history of our country. The war, upon which all the energies of my people throughout my Dominions have for more than four years been concen- trated, have at length been brought to a triumphant issue. The conclusion of an armistice with the last of the Powers that have been ranged against us promise at no distant date of an honourable and enduring ?ace. I have already sought an opportunity of expressing publicly to my peoples and to my Allies the sentiments of heartfelt ad- miration and gratitude with which I regard the supreme and self-sacrificing devotion that has led to thi& glorious result. The exertions which have carried us to victory in the field must in no wise be abated or slackened until the ravages of war have been repaired and the fabric of our national prosperity has been restored. Through the extension of the suffrage which this Parliament has carried into effect, all classes of my people will have an opportunity of inspiring and guiding this beneficent undertaking. trust that the spirit of unity which has enabled us to surmount the perils of war will not be wanting in the no less arduous task of establishing on the sure foundation of ordered liberty the common welfare of my people.

I THE PREMIER'S WAR RECORD. I In an article on the Premier's war record, the British Weekly reveals that Mr. Lloyd George originally stood alone in the Cabinet in opposing the evacuation of Salonica. To this opposition were largely du. our great victories in the East. Dealing with Mr. Lloyd George's further contributions to victory, the "British Weekly" adds that Marshal Foch has declared that it was to Mr. Lloyd George's persistent confi- dence that he owes the position he occupies to-day. "I," said he to the Premier, am your invention." Marshal Foch sent to Mr. Lloyd George his photograph with this inscrip- tion. "To the great Prime Minister who drove the clouds away from a very stormy sky."

"For the Blood is the Life." B If it is any such Disease Eczema, Scrofula, Bad Legs, ??S ?l?CM?M, Ulcers, 6'??t/?r ■ ?? Suwllingg, Boils, J?wt??, Sores and Eruptions, Piles, Pli-eumatism, Gout, don't waste your time and money on lotions and ointments which cannot get below the surface of the skin. What you want and what you must have is a medicine that will thoroughly free the blood of the poison- ous matter which alone is the true cause of all your suffering. Clarke's Blood Mixture is just such a medicine. It is composed of ingredients which quickly attack, overcome and expel the im- purities from the blood, that is why 20 many truly wonderful cures stand to its credit. Over SO years' = TAELE Pletaaskaen.tClarkies ■4 Blood ) 'V Mixture Sold bv &U ■ Chemists AND BE CURED. ??? t and Stores, 2/9 per ■ e ttl.. ■ aeftiee AN EVERYBODY'8 1 Substitutes. BLOOD PURIFIER." M

THE LAND iN RECONSTRUCTION. I The English League for the Taxation of Land Values has sent to the Prime Minister and other political leaders a letter which is practically a manifesto on the whole land question in this country. The manifesto challenges at once the slow, cumbrous, uncertain, and COSvy-, action of Bureaucratic Controllers, and points out that the only hope for relief from the terrible pressure of post-war taxation lies in the people being given full access to the land, and that this question lies at the very root of reconstruction." The allotment-holder, no longer denied access to a patch of land, saved the country from being starved by the U-boats," and he is now asking for an extension of the liberty to satisfy the national needs. The land can be opened up to labour by a method which will impose no new burden on the public funds, and .involve no new ex- tensions of bureaucratic interference with the liberties of the people-the taxation and rating of Land Values." Bring the land into use is the keynote of the manifesto which is a valuable contri- bution to the literature before the voters. A copy of it will be sent free to any reader who will forward his name and address to the Secretary of the League, at 376 and 377, Strand, London, W.C. 2.