Papurau Newydd Cymru
Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru
8 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
To irico^pomt© the Rhondda,
To the Rhondda, Ftfovtrmsnt it-saugurated,ati Tonypandy. Illuminating Speeches b yMerthyr Councillor's- A public meeting was held at Richards' Hall, Tonypandy, on Tuesday evening to inaugurate a movement for the incor- poration of the Rhondda. The meeting was convened by the Mid-Rhondda Cham- ber of-Trade, and there were present the local members of the Rhondda District Council, and representatives of the Port i, Cymmer and District Chamber of Trade, Penygraig Chamber of Trade, and Pentre and Treorchy Ratepayers' Associations. The chief speakers were Messrs. F. Sidney Simmons, A. J. Howfield, and Isaac Edwards, Merthyr. Mr. J. Owen Jones, chairman of the Mid-Rhondda Chamber of Trade, presided, and explained that the meeting was the outcome of an arrangement with Mr. Edwards to address a meeting during the winter, and" Incorporation of the Rhon- dda" was the subject agreed upon. dda" was the subject agreed upon. After paying a tribute to the activity of the Chamber of Trade, Mr. Howfield said he knew of no subject upon which they could show their ability to a better purpose than the question of incorpora- tion. One of the first questions that would be asked when a Charter of In- corporation was sought, was whether the population of the area to be incorporated was sufficient to enable them to take county powers, and he took it for granted that the population of the Rhondda was, sufficient for this purpose. There was one I thing certain. Incorporation gave an im- proved status to the area to be incor- porated. It gave them self-government in its highest form without outside inter- ference, and the whole of the money raised in the district was spent in the area and for their own benefit. The tendency for some time past had been to increase the powers of County Councils and County Boroughs, and when they looked at the experience of members of Parliament, how they had been engaged all through the summer in legislation, the powers and duties of County Councils and County Boroughs would more likely in- crease than decrease, and a. County Borough would verv likely share in the subsidies given in future in the relief of local taxation. The rural element on the County Council was too strong to allow the urban districts to get fairplay. The urban districts were the milch-cow, and rural districts obtained the bengfit. The Rhondda Urban District had six Aldermen aifcl ten Councillors representing them on the County Council—a total of 16 out of 88 members—so that the voice of the Rhondda was very small in County affairs. Then again, when they came to the con- dition of rural roads, they could not fail to be impressed with the amount of money spent on roads in portions of the county other than in the Rhondda district. The roacls in the Vale of Glamorgan were j beautified and widened, and always kept in a nice order, whereas in Merthyr they could not have their main street attended to. The County Council would not even acknowledge it as a county road, because • it was not 30 feet wide. While Merthyr had to contribute towards the roads in other parts of the county, the County Council never contributed anything to- wards Merthyr "s main road. Another phase of the question was that County, .boroughs could borrow money on easier terms tnan Urban Councils. Their status was better, they had better advantages, and Liiif- securities were looked upon as better securities. It should, however, be borne in mind that the incidents of taxation in a borough varied considerably to those in a District Council. There was a borough fund in addition to a district rate, to which railways and farms paid in full, instead of one-fourth as at present. For that reason, railways and farms did not like :it, and the movement for the in- corporation of the Rhondda could count upon their opposition. Incorporation had been a great advantage to Merthyr, and tne town to-day was far better than it was five years ago. Some people might say that the rates of Merthyr had #me up. So they had, but this was due to the increased demands of the Board of Edu- cation. Councillor Simmons, who was described by the last speaker as the Long Tom of the Incorporation movement at Mer- thyr, said that it was in 1897 when Mer- thyr made its last but one application for a Charter, and they continued applying until they .got it in 1905. From the posi- tion he then took in the matter he was able to learn what their opponents said would be the disadvantages of incorpora- tion, and he was also able to find out what were the real advantages of incor- poration to Merthyr. The disadvantages, as expounded by their opponents, were (1) that if they became incorporated they would have'to pay a large sum to the County Council approximating £ 100,000; (2) that the rates would go up; and (3) that Merthvr was not a suitable area to be incorporated. Dealing with the last objection first, Councillor Simmons said that they did not seek to incorporate the parish, but the people in the parish (applause). It did not matter to them that a large portion of Merthyr was mountain land; it was the people who lived in the valleys they wanted to look after. They wanted to give these people the finest form of self-government known. To-day, Merthyr was governed by its own people, and their powers weff* identical with those of the County Council. The second point was that their rates would increase. It might interest his audience to know what the actual effect had been. So far as the rates over which they had controlthe district rate, the borough rate ,and the police rate—were concerned, they had actually decreased by no less than 3d. in the £ (applause). Then with regard to the financial adjustment to the County, they did not believe the statement, although they were informed that the case had been decided in the Law Courts supporting that contention, and their belief was*pistified by the deci- sion of the House of Lords in over-ruling the decision of the Law Courts. There was no contribution on financial adjust- ment as foreshadowed. Each one of these
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The Fasting Man.
The Fasting Man. Mons. Beaute, the fasting man, who has entered upon a 31-days' fast at Danter's Exhibition, Dunraven Street. Tonypandy, has now been without food (other than mineral waters) for nearly a week, as he began his fast on Saturday last. The structure in which he is con- fined is panelled with glass, through which Beaute can be seen. The chamber con- tains a sofa and other furniture, and Mons. Beaute occupies himself with the newspapers and correspondence, and up to now appears to be in the best of health and spirits, and converses freely with his visitors through the perforated zinc ven- tilators. According to the bulletins given daily of the medical examination, he has been losing weight at the rate of about lib. a day since the commencement of his ordeal.
Tonypanay.
Tonypanay. On Tuesday evening, at the Dunraven Hotel, Mr. William Morgan, auctioneer, held an important and. quite- unique sale of the leases for seven years from Novem- ber 1st next of the two shops adjoining the main entrance of the magnificent Empire Theatre now nearing completion. There was a large audience, and the auctioneer very lucidly gave some most interesting statistics in regard to the > cost, &c., of the structure. The biddings were very animated, and the shops were knocked down at a rental of 1;70 and- zC72 10s. per -annum to Mr. John James Radcliffe, florist, and Mr. Stephen Aliudeb, confectioner..viessis, Morgan, Bruce, Nicholas and James were the solicitors: Particulars of the opening of the hall appear in our advertising columns.
A Double Presentation
A Double Presentation A very pleasant social evening was enjoyed by the members of the Mid- Rhondda Orpheus Glee Society and friends on Wednesday evening last. when the occasion was utilised for making a pre- sentation of a silver cake basket to the Society's late accompanist, Mr. Tom Old, and also a music cabinet to the conductor, Mr. Emrys Richards. The chair was occupied by Mr. Tom John, M.A., and a very pleasant programme of music was rendered principally by members of the party. Mr. Emrys Richards, in a few felicitous words, made the presentation to Mr. Tom Old, who was represented by his brother, Mr. David G. Old; and Mr. Tom John, in one of his characteristic speeches, per- formed the same ceremony towards the conductor. The singing of Hen Wlad fy Nhadau brought the proceedings to a close.
- An Interesting Personality.
An Interesting Personality. A well-known financier (now deceased), whose charitable bequests the public will recall, built up for himself a reputation for fair dealing, by which he became the intimate friend of the best known mem- bers of Society. Everyone is aware that as a lender of money, his methods of doing business were free from those obnoxious traits occasion- ally met with amongst ordinary lenders, and one must attribute his high repu- tation to these very characteristics. The question arises, therefore, Is there any- one to-day who carries on a financial business in the same clean way?" Is there any gentleman, who, recognising that people must occasionally borrow Imoney to meet a pressing matter, can undertake to treat clients in a straicht- forward way with courtesy, tact and earnestness? Mr. Wm. Lloyd of 4, Church Street, Cardiff, is prepared to convince the public that he himself is determined to conduct his business in such a manner. Anyone be he a nobleman, professional man, business man, or trusted employee, and who, just now is temporarily in need of money, can apply to Mr. Lloyd, safe in the knowledge that he is a finan- cier who carries on his business honour- ably and who extends advances upon fair and easy terms, without security, or sureties, and maintaining that strict privacy and confidence so essential in such matters. Do you req jre his servicesP If no. write to bim, and ascertain his methoc of business.
Advertising
BY SPECIAL ROYAL WARRANT TO HIS MAJESTY TI-JE KI, Colmans Mustard
To irico^pomt© the Rhondda,
points had been absolutely fallacious and without foundation. Turning to the advantages of Incor- poration. the speaker said that one of the first was that in Merthyr they pos- sessed their own bench of magistrates, who were a credit to the- town; and the work was done without any favouritism of the County. In a district like the Rhondda Valley, there were many estimable men who were eligible for the Bench, but who did not find favour in Cardiff. There was nothing of that sort with a Borough Bench. The local mem- bers of Parliament were the people whom the Lord Chancellor would consult J hen appointing justices. Another point was that they controlled their own police. They were told that a Borough Police Force would be a corrupt force, but he would like the man who made the state- ment to see their Police Force to-day.- Merthyr possessed as fine a Police Force as was to be found in any part of the United Kingdom. Their police cost them 44 d. in the B-, which was the same rate paid to the County in 1906, and they had fifteen more men, whilst their scale of pay was higher (applause). An effort was also being made to secure a Recorder and Quarter Sessions for the Borough, and he (Mr. Simmons) believed that the appli- cation would be granted. This would mean that their jurymen would have no need to go to Swansea or Cardiff for a whole week, but to remain at home until the day they were required. Coming to iectucatioii, the speaker said that Merthyr had full control over education from the elementary stage to the secondary school, and the secondary rate was exactly the same as paid to the County, whilst greater efficiency had been obtained. So far as the rates were concerned, every penny they required was obtained, and no more, and the Borough had the spending of it. They had found that in raising and spend- ing their own money they secured far better results than by contributing money i to another body. They found that whilst they paid 6.4d. in the £ to the Cbunty, they only received back a mere fleabite, as over half of the money levied was spent in the rural districts. In conclusion, Mr. Simmons said they had everything to be proud of. Since they had been incor- porated, they had spent L17,000, or a rate of Is. 4d. in the R, upon matters sprung upon them since they had become a Borough, and yet, taking all expenses I into consideration, their rates had de- creased (applause). Mr. Isaac Edwards said there were two sides to this as to every other question, but he ventured to say that if they took the opinion of the representatives of the Merthyr Borough they would say that the right thing had happened. There was no question that incorporation improved the status of any place—a fact which was clearly apparent in the deference paid to one coming from a Borough as contrasted with that paid to one that lived in a dis- trict governed by a District Council. The great objection heard on all hands was that it would mean an increased rate, but he would point out that they would have one safeguard if they insisted on the appointment of a Government Auditor. One of the benefits of incorporation was that it would entitle the people to a larger representation on the governing body. This, indeed, had given rise to some fear amongst some people, but the expense would depend upon the class of representatives they elected. They would be free from the grandmotherliness—or rather, the stepmotherliness—of the County Council. They would be self- governed. with power to make their own bye-laws and to see that they were properly administered. The present Attorney-^General had given it as his opinion that he did not think for a moment incorporation would be pre- judicial to the interests of the great com- panies, but they would see local govern- ment vastly improved, and while these interests would be protected, it would promote the social interests of everyone at large (applause). In reply to Mr. J. T. Jones, Porth, Mr. Simmons said that the amount spent by Merthyr since 1903 in securing the Charter was £ 3,000. In reply to Mr. D. S. Thomas, Mr. Simmons said that the ratable value of Merthyr prior to its becoming a County Borough was £ 260,000. Since then it had gone up to £ 290,000, but now the Oyfarthfa Works were closed, it stood at £ 280,000. Replying to Councillor James Evans as to the increased provision for the liabili- ties of pauper lunatics, Mr. Simmons said that Merthyr had made an excellent bargain with Swansea. They would build a joint asylum with Swansea at Swansea, and their present advice was that they would save money in so doing. I MBp&scr j? A hearty vote of thanks to the speakers was moved by Mr. Tom John, M.A., and seconded by Mr. Daniel Thomas, Tre- orchy, and enthusiastically endorsed. An interesting discussion followed, opened by Councillor J. D. Williams. Mr. Williams said that the matter had been under the consideration of the Rhondda District Council three years ago, and it was decided to appoint a committee to consider the advisability ox^ otherwise of incorporating the Rhondda. Unfortu- nately, at that time they had not been able to make out a good case, the chief reason being that the water supply was not in a very satisfactory state. He had no doubt that when the matter would be taken up, every member of the Council would do his utmost to secure the Charter (applause). It was a very important matter and needed careful consideration, but personally, he entertained no doubt that it would be a great advantage to the Rhondda. The amount received from the County Council towards local rates totalled £2,460, and the amount the County Council paid towards local roads was zC7 422, whilst on the other hand the iRhondcla paid one-fifth of the whole of the County rates for the maintenance of roads. He had no doubt that the Rhondda were paying £10,000 more than what they received from the County. That item alone would be a very favourable one in the interest of the Rhondda when it went in for a Charter. If incorporated, they would have the control of all educa- tion and also the police, besides the powers which the District Council did not 'possess at present. He did not think the police would be a costly matter, having regard to the large population and the huge amount of fines paid at the Police Courts every week. In fact, he would say that the police would be self-maintained. Moreover, they would be able to get several grants from the Exchequer; the Rhondda didn't get anything like it would get if incorporated. Having regard to the population, the large ratable value, and the prosperous state of the Valley, he ventured to say that incorporation would be a very great advantage, and he, for one, would be onlv too happy to ren- *der every support in his power towards this end (loud applause). In reply to a question. Mr. Williams said it was per- fectly true that the Rhondda Council coulo have saved a large sum of money when a loan of L300,000 was negotiated for the waterworks extension scheme of the Council, had it been a Corporation. Councillor D. C. Evans spoke in a similar strain. The Acts passed by the Council at present, he said, were a dead letter, but if they were incorporated like Merthyr, thev would control their own police and see that the Acts were carried out. His heart and soul were with the movement. Councillor D. Williams declared him- self highly pleased with the speeches, and said that he had been greatly enlightened. When the matter was brought forward before the Council, they were all unani- mous in its favour. Councillor Tom Evans said he had heard it whispered that it was selfish on their part to try to get everything for the Rhondda and leave the poor agricul- tural districts to mind for themselves. The trend of the times, he said, was the devolution of government, and it con- duced to a better and more healthy, state of things; therefore, he did not think there was any need to apologise—con- sidering the size of the Rhondda—for their efforts in trying to secure a Charter. He was told that they contributed something like L40,000 to the County Council, and received only one-fifth of it in return. The agricultural districts, as far as the roads were concerned, were far better off than the Rhondda, and although the Rhondda was the chief contributor, the agricultural portions received the bene- fit. If the County Council wanted to keep them satisfied, they should give the Rhondda more justice. It had been proved, continued Mr. Evans, that the Rhondda was worthy of taking under their wing the education of the children; and if that was so, could they not also take care of secondary matters, &c. F If they had Home Rule in the Rhondda, they would make it a much more plea- sant place to live in. At present they were hampered in not being given a free hand to do what they thought best for the district. Councillor James Evans said that the County Council was not entirely to blame, as they had to administer Acts of Parlia- ment as they stood. He did not think the argument that all the money raised in the Rhondda should be spent in that district was a good policy. It was a selfish policy. The roads in other parts of the country were for the use of all. If, however, they could prove to him that incorporation was a good thing, he was with them-(hear. hear)-b,ut before decid- ing on anything, it would be well to hear the other side of the case expounded, and he would suggest that, before any reso- lution was arrived at, another meeting be called, at which the arguments on the other side would be advocated. The Chairman: In November we shall have another meeting, and the chief topio will be the disadvantages of incorporation. Mr. Tom John said that in the addresses that evening they had had a real illu- mination on the question of incorporation. He had always been in favour of the idea. If a population of 50,000 was deemed the minimum for a Charter, surely the Rhondda, with its 150,000, was entitled to it. His friend, Mr. Evans, had thrown a great deal of weight on the question of disadvantages, but he (Mr. John) believed that most of them had been convinced that incorporation would be a distinct benefit to the Rhondda at the present stage of its history. Having helped the Glamorgan County for so many years, it was now time to help themselves (applause). The financial burden would not be increased, judging from the ex- perience of Merthyr. Of course, there | would be the initial cost of fighting. Personally, he felt that the matter should not fizzle out that night, but that the secretary of the Mid-Rhondda Chamber of Trade should communicate with secre- taries of other Chambers and Ratepayers' Associations in the Valley, with a view of taking a joint action on the question. Mr. Daniel Thomas, Treorchy, was of the opinion that a committee should be formed in each Chamber or Ratepayers' Association to thrash out the question, and that a general meeting of ratepayers be afterwards called in various centres. | Eventually, it was resolved that the Secretary of the Mid-Rhondda Chamber of Trade should convene a meeting of representatives of Chambers of Trade and other organised bodies in the Valley to discuss the question. [ On the motion of County Councillor James Evans, seconded by Councillor Tom Evans, a vote of thanks to the chairman was accorded.