Cymro a'r Celt Llundain

Notes and News. The Conservative press is asking who will be Prime Minister. What is the matter with Asquith ? When is a majority not a majority ? Be- cause the Liberals have only a majority of some 124 votes in the Commons it is claimed by some foolish people that it is not enough to justify the Budget. London Welshmen should welcome the two Conservative members for Wales with a rousing dinner. The Liberal representatives are too numerous to be taken into account. Tariff Reformers are notorious experts at figutes. It is reported that a defeated Reform candidate, who had been ousted at the poll by some two thousand votes, wanted to prove to the returning officer that it was he who had really been elected. Unfortunately for him the officer was too old-fashioned to swallow such modern calculations. It is reported that the Irish Nationalists have declared that they will keep the present ministry in office for a term of upwards four years. They do not want to disturb the Irish electorate with another ruinous contest for some time to come. Should a re-distribution of seats be agreed upon, what is to become of Ireland? At present the Emerald Isle is greatly over- represented in the Commons, and the Act of Union declares that such a number must be maintained. Is not the country ripe for a one day election ? The tremendous loss caused to trade by the present antiquated method is apparent to all, and all who are engaged in business would welcome a drastic reform. It would be well were the Liberals to intro- duce a sweeping change in this matter. One of the best election fights in London was the contest waged by Mr. Glyn Jones at Stepney. The brewery influence in that division is immense, and the Radical organisation was very out of date before the new candidate took the field, yet in spite of all that, he managed to reduce the majority to a very low figure. What is to become of the Welsh Church Commission now that the elections are over ? Will it prepare a report before the next Disestablishment BiB is introduced ? In the opinion of most experts the work will have to go on for a very long time yet, as there is no hope that the Commissioners are likely to agree upon a report for some years to come It is rumoured that the changes within the Cabinet will be somewhat numerous at the opening of Parliament. Mr. John Burns has been promised the Home Office, and Mr. Winston Churchill is likely to succeed Mr. Birrell as Chief Secretary for Ireland. One or two Peers will have to be created in order to secure a safe seat for Mr. Pease and Colonel Seeley. Among those who are mentioned for pro- motion to ministerial rank are Messrs. Wm. Jones and Ellis J. Griffith, M.P. Mr. Wm. Jones has fought the Liberal battle in nearly every constituency in Britain, while Mr. Griffith is acknowledged as one of the smartest speakers within the House Now that the battle is over, the Liberal Party is talking of "educating the people." This should have been done early in the contest, and had the Budget League gone in for more facts, and less enthusiasm, there might have been a different tale to tell of the Home Counties. Unanimous meetings and frothy utterances do not win elections, and the organisers of the Budget League know that now to their cost. One of Wales's most versatile young men is Mr. Walter W. Francis, of Church Road, XLATTR-NNRF "tha J.V""1-'V.L U U".l..l.V cripple athletic champion of the world," a title he is prepared to de- fend against all- comers. Despite the fact that the lower part of his right leg has been paralysed from birth, he is a mar- vellously clever all round athlete. He has defeated Sam Roberts, of Sunderland, English champion light weight wrestler, and Tom Wallace, the Irish champion wrestler; won the two-mile cycle race for cripple cyclists in London also the mile cycle race open to cripples in the United Kingdom. He put up a world's record at Belfast for the composite event (running, cycling, walking, sculling and swimming). He is also likely to be selected as one of the Welsh Inter- national Water Polo Team. He fills the role of official football referee (soccer and rugger), and holds the medal and certificate of the Royal Life Saving Society, having rescued several persons from drowning. Young Francis is, further, a good baritone singer, and writes topical verses. He is a teetotaller. It's no good," he told the CELT representa- tive if you want to keep in form, your safest policy is to leave intoxicants alone." The great expenditure on funerals in Wales is a matter of notoriety. At a recent meeting of the Holywell Board of Guardians it was stated that a widow with five children, who put in an appearance for out-relief, had spent £ 13 on her husband's funeral. The Chair- man described it as "ridiculous," and all rational people will agree with him. It was resolved to give the woman 6a. a week relief. In the course of an article, entitled Song as an aid to the Politician," in the Sphere, the writer remarks "As for Mr. William Abraham (Mabon), his name is almost synonymous with music. He must have led his hearers scores and scores of times, at election meetings in the Principality, in Land of our Fathers' and Men of Har- lech," and such like stirring songs. More- over, he can boast that he has even sung these songs to delighted audiences in the House of Commons itself, which claim is certainly almost unique." Alderman Raffan, M.P., who won such a splendid victory for Liberalism in the Leigh Division, lives at Newbridge, near Newport. He is the principal owner and editor of a weekly paper called the South Wales Gazette, printed at Abertillery. Although a Scot by birth, Mr. Raffan has lived long enough in Wales to thoroughly imbibe the spirit of Welsh Nationalism, and there is not a better lover of Gwalia than the eloquent Alder- man. He understands Welsh aspirations thoroughly. It is interesting to note that the Mon- mouthshire Elementary Education Com- mittee, which has the education of over 46,000 children under its charge, has resolved to give a half-holiday to all the children and teachers in the schools under its supervision on St. David's Day, with the exception of those which have not made the required number of attendances during the year. In the morning, the scholars will be given lessons from St. David's life.