The North Wales Weekly News

Lady Roberts on Missions. PROBLEMS IN THE FAR EAST/. The cause of missionary work in the zenanas of India and. China was intended to be helped by the Llandudno Missionary Exhibition on the closing day, and the chair was taken by Lady Roberts, of Bryngwenallt, Abergele, on Satur- day afternoon. Lady Roberts said she was much interested in missionary enterprise, especially in those two countries. She had been closely connected with the Baptist denomination (the promoters of the exhibition), and she owed a great deal to two of the great preachers of that denomination, par- ticularly to the late Rev. Charles Spurgeon, to whose sermons she listened when she was a younsr girl, and from whom she received great spiriitual help. (Applause.) Sne had been to China, and had seen something of the need there was for missionary enterprise there. When China became modernised and Christianised it would be a tremendous force in tfce world, but if it merely took over the modern civilisation without the religion of Christ a very great deal of harm would result to her people. To upset the old civilisation and to give them nothing in the place of their religions, which, however misguided and mistaken they might be, were still a restraining force in the lives of the people, would do more harm than good. But if we could take to them our civilisation and with it the greatest and noblest religion, then we should confer upon them a priceless gift. (Ap- plause.) She knew many Indian gentlemen and some Indian ladies, and she had a great respect for the great Indian nation. Their women had been, however, kept in the background and very much in the dark, and yet they bad a tre- mendous amount of power. The mother of the family in Indda was of almost supreme import- ance. Before we could really hope to Christian- ise India we must influence the women. So sne was glad to support the zenana missionaries, who were going into the homes of the people. Qualified women doctors were able to enter the zenanas, and to bring health, comfort, and con- solation to many sufferers. An address was given on zenana mission work by Miss Jones, of Llanllyfni, the repre- sentative of the Society for North Wales. There was a large attendance in the evening, when a lecture on the Congo was given.

The Fashion for Furs is more pronounced than ever and the Modes are artistic to the highest degree. The recent introduction of faked-up furs of a common, shoddy character but intended to look like the genuine, has, however unfortunately led to much deception and in the fur trade it can be truly said that all that glitters is not gold. The firm of Creamer & Company, of 56, Bold-street, Liverpool, and Birmingham, the old-established furriers, are the recognised authorities in the provinces in the fur and skin trade. They have been established for over 70 years, diurimg which period their business has steadily and consist- ently grown to such dimensions, that the name of the firm is now well known throughout the whole kingdom, and they enjoy an enviable re- putation for conscientious dealing, sterling quality, and honest value. Messrs Creamer handle only skins that are sound," real," and which can be relied upon. They are amongst the very largest first-hand European buyers of high grade fur skins. They are also actual manufacturers, and, therefore, are en- abled to sell goodls of the highest quality at no higher prices than are frequently paid to ordin- ary retail shopkeepers for third-rate goods. Messrs Creamer announce that they have made vast preparations for the Christmas trade in view of the fact that no present is so welcome at Christmas time as a choice fur, a muff, or a handsome fur coat. They are showing reliable fur coats from seven guineas upwards, and sets of furs from 35s. the set to 500 guineas, many thousands of well-selected skins having been cut up into garments within, recent weeks. Especi- ally does this apply to fox skins, sables er. mines, squirrel, and skunk. Messrs Creamer in- vite an inspection and comparison of their furs and show the utmost courtesy to all. A special feature of their business is the efficient depart- ment for the alteration, cleaning, and renova- tion of furs. 4_

The Value of Milk. We fancy that the scare about milk is now exhausting itself among the better informed. At any rate, says Farm and Home," doctors are beginning to recognise that many of the microbes about which we heard so much, are not only harmless, but beneficial—indeed, that mrik would not be the wholesome, valuable article it is if they were absent. It is a distress- ing fact, however, that the scare which for sen- sational purposes was brought about will have a lasting effect upon the public, and we fear there are many households where the quantity con- sumed is ridiculously small.

--=- Diogen.es, ilan.tern in hand, entered the village drug store. Say, have you anything that will cure a cold? he asked. No, sir, I have not," answered the pill-compiler. Give me your ,-nd," -exclaimed Diogenes, dropping his lan- tern I have at last found an honest man."

Liberalism in North Wales. Colwyn Bay Association and the action of the Lords Mr. R. Thomson, J. P,, on the Budget. Mr. E. R. Davies sounds a Warning Note. On Friday evening the Lecture Hall at Col- wyn Bay was well filled, when Mr. R. Thomson., J.P., delivered an address on Liberal and Tory Finance Contrasted." The meeting was held under the auspices of the Colwyn Bay and District Liberal Associa- tion, and but for the unfavourable weather it is certain that the attendance would have reached even larger proportions. It is evident, however, that local interest in Liberal politics is rapidly increasing, and :t was pleasing to hear Mr E. R. Davies, of Pwllheli, congratulate the Association upon being really alive." THE GREAT CRISIS. Mr T. R. Lewis was in. the chair, and in the course of his remarks said they had met that night at a tremendous constitutional crisis such as the country had not experienced for over two centuries. It had been brought about by the action of the House of Lords in throwing out the Budget. This was quite an unconstitutional I act, but the speaker did not think that they as Liberals were sorry it had been done. (Hear, hear.) Although but a young man, he remem- bered the crisis brought about by the action of the Peers in rejecting the Franchse Bill of '83. Tremendous feeling, was aroused throughout the country, and as a result the House of Lords gave the franchise to the people. But at the present time a still more serious crisis had risen, and he was pleased to think that had been brought about by the demagogue from Wales." (Cheers.) The speaker was sure that the peers would be brought to book, and he hoped before the matter was ended they would be abolished —(hear, hear),—though there might be need of a Second Chamber. Dealing with the claim of the peers that they were the natural leaders of the people, Mr Lewis said that might have been true in feudal times, and perhaps even in the days of the pocket boroughs, but it was no longer true to-dlay. Comtinumng. he said the aim and policy of the Liberal party had always been I towards economy. The last Tory Govemmuini but one indulged in a war that cost the nation two hundred and fifty millions, whereas the pre- sent Government gave Home Rule to South Africa when they had been in power but three years. That was economy. With regard to the controversy of Free Trade and Tariff Reform, Free Trade spelt economy. (Applause.) THE BUDGET AND THE WORKING CLASSES. THE BUDGET AND THE WORKING CLASSES. Mr. R. Thomson, J.P., was received in a most cordial manner and carried the audience with him from beginnling to end of his stirring and interesting speech. We are living, said the speaker, in stirring times. Wd are in the midst of a crisis such as our country has not experienced since the days of Cromwell. We a.re at the threshold of a most momentous political struggle. Our political liberty is at stake. (Hear, hear.) Our self-gov- ernment as a people is in danger. The inde- pendent character of the People's House, the tlcHuse of Commons, is assailed. (" Shame.") The issue is Who shall rule, the Hereditary House of Lords or the free elected representa- tives of the people, who shall have the financial control in the realm, and. with the financial con- trol, the making and unmaking of governments. (Cheers.) This is the tremendous issue. We are going to make history. (Hear, hear.) We are, I hope, going to make perfectly clear to those lordly usurpers that never again—(cheers) —shall they with impunity encroach upon our rights, or try to filch from us our liberties, or rights, or try to filch from us our liberties, or paralyse Liberal Governments in a Liberal House of Commons. (Renewed cheers.) MR. LLOYD GEORGE AS A "KNIGHT ERRANT." National finance is the tragic theme of the, day. The Chancellor of the Exchequer—(hear, hear),—-the little Welshman from the Welsh bills—'(laughter and ch,eer;&),-tie best abused man in EniglaTid-(renew-ed laughter)—is our knight errant in this great fight. (Applause.) Not a wandering knight as of yore, but a bold, gallant k-night-(hear, hear),—who shall pro- claim combat to all who shall dare to encroach on the people's do-mains. (Applause.) When I engaged to speak tonight on. Liberal and Tory finance, I had no idea that I should be dealing with a subject of such tragic importance, and, notwithstanding the electrical nature of the poli- tical atmosphere, I shall still pursue the path I had marked out for myself several months ago. Ordinarily one cannot call upon the heroics in dealing with finance. Figures always seem pro- saic. In the past, only a Gladstone among us men—(hear, hear),—was able to make them live and become interesting, and only a Lloyd George has succeeded in making them glow with humanity and pulsate with life. (Applause.) But, after all, I consider it our duty as Liberals to make ourselves acquainted with our national finances, because, in a large measure, the pro- gress, the well-being, and the nrosperity of oiut people depend upon a wise handling of our national income and expenditure. ('Hear, hear.) A wise and far-seeing national policy lies at the very root of national expenditure. A COMPARISON. In the past, the Liberal policy abroad has been peace amongst the nations, friendship to- wards other people, and our national expendi- ture has reflected that spirit, and has in conse- quence been of a moderate character. (Hear, hear.) At home, retrenchment and reform has been and still is the Liberal watchword. (Ap- plause.) The Tory policy abroad, on the other hand, has been of the Jingo type-(laughrer),- cleverly characterised by the late Lord Carnar- von as England strutting down the High-street

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of the World with the air of a swash-buckler daring all to come on!" (Laughter.) Lord Carnarvon, as a protest against that spirit, re- signed from the Tory Government in 1878 on the occasion of the Fleet being ordered to the Dardanelles. (Hear, hear.) That Tory policy, the Jingo music policy— We don't want to fight, But by Jingo if we do (laughter)—has always been most disastrous to British financ,(hear, hear)—and has added largely to our National Debt., which, bear in mind, is purely a war debt, a debt which has been piled up as the cost of war and nothing else. (" Shame,") At home, Tory finance has always been of an extravagant nature, but gener- ous to its own friends. (Laughter and hear, hear.) Now I have heard many times, and I daresay you have, too, that there is no differ- ence between Liberals and Tories. Well, ot couse, John Jones, Liberal, and John Smith, Tory, make look very much alike, with the ad- vantage, say, to John, Jones—{laughter)—indeed they might appear as twin brothers. But Liber- alism and Toryism as political systems are not alike. (Hear, hear.) To the thinking, observant man they are as the very poles asunder. (Hear, hear.) And the difference is nowhere so marked as in the realm of finance. THE MEANING OF A BUDGET. After quoting from Morley's Life of Glad- stone to show how in 1853 the great statesman applied himself with unwearied industry to solve the problem of redistributing and im- proving the machinery of taxation." Mr. Thomson said that the battle between Free Trade and Protection, which ended in a revolution of our commercial system, had awakened men to. the truth that Budgets, are not merely affairs of arithmetic, but in a thou- sand ways go to the root of the prosperity of individuals, the relation of classes, and the strength of kingdoms." (Hear, hear.) Mr. Thomson showed how Gladstone, in framing Irs Budget of 1853, was compelled to. look ahead and make his financial proposals, not on the basis of one year only, but on the basis of at least seven years. Sir William Harcourt did the same in the case of the Death Duties in the Budget of 1894. Mr. Lloyd George had done the same, and that had been the grounds of the criticisms of Lord Curzon and Lord Goschen in the recent debate in the Flouse of Lords. THE LORDS AND MR. GLADSTONE. But in the Budget of 1853, it is also interest- ing to note that in dealing with the Succession Duties Mr. Gladstone raised the ire of the landed interest. This was the proposal which cut deep, just <it" Mr. Lloyd George's land values and valuation are cutting deep now. It was the first rudimentary breach in the ramparts of the territorial system, and, says John Morliey, it secured for its author the lasting resentment of a powerful class." In. Lord Morley's speech on Monday he refers to this fact, and reminds noble lords what kind of language their illustri- ous ancestors used towards Mr. Gladstone. They said his proposals were" essentially impractic- able that it was unjust, cowardly," and absurd," one of the most detestable and odious measures ever proposed and likened him to a vulture soaring over society." Oh, those Lords! (Laughter and hear, hear.) Can the Ethiopian change his sikin, or the leopard his spots? Neither can the landlord change his bucolic, vitrolic, spluttering, venomous rage. (Laughter and cheers.) The wrath of those modern Ahabs has not only descended upon, the modern Elijahs, but on the Elishas as well. (Hear, hear.) Once again finance holds the field. For months past the excitement has been great, and people and Press have been talking and writing ad libitum about the national Budget. Mr Lloyd George's financial proposals have been discussed upon hundreds of platforms by all the front rank men of the day, and popu- lar audiences have been stirred to their very depths. You have to go back to the days I have brought before you to find the parallel. (Hear, hear.) Now this is a healthy sign. (Hear, hear ) Fiaance and taxation, national and local, are matters which ought to secure the deepest attention of every citizen.. One great economist says There is no one act which brings in so large a return to the credit of civilisation and general happiness as judicious expenditure for public purposes. Taxation in itself is no more an evil than any other necessary and desirabLe form of expenditure, is an evil. But taxation is to be condemned, and is an. evil, when it is rendered excessive through injudicious or waste- ful expenditure, or when by reason of ill adjust- ment the levy of the tax is made an occasion far the collection from the public through en- hancement of profits and prices of a far larger sum than is requisite to meet the public ex- penditure." That is sound economics, isn't it? And it is just here that Liberal and Tory finance differs. Here we have in a nutshell the differ- ence between Free Trade finance and Mr. Lloyd George's Budgets, on the one hand, and so- called" Tariff Reform methods as an alterna- tive, the Tory alternative, for raising the nation- al income. There you have in a few words the contrast between Liberal and Tory finance. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Thomson prooreded to cover the large field of his interesting subject in a masterly manner, his exposition being both full and lucid, and he was especially good on the cry about Capital going out of the country." He also showed what a serious burden would be added to the cost of living if a duty of two shillings were levied upon corn. FATKER DIVISION OF THE NATION'S WEALTH. The total wealth of the country is estimated at 12,000 million pounds, and is being added to by something like 220 millions a year, whilst the earnings of the working classes has increased by only 10 millions. What we do want, in. my opinion, is a fairer division of this immense wealth. (Hear, hear.) That is the social prob- lem of the future. It is this social side of Mr. Lloyd George's Budget and the vista it opens up which appeals .so powerfully to great masses of our fellow-countrymen. I shall never forget the thrill which ran through me—as it must also have affected many of you—as I read the elo- quent peroration of Mr. Lloyd George in ms great Budget speech. Here was a man, I thought, with a heart pulsating for the weaker side of humanity. (Cheers.) I am told," he said, that no Chancellor of the Exchequer has ever been called upon to impose such heavy taxes in a period of peace." But," he exclaimed, "This is a War Budget. It is for raising money for waging implacable warfare against poverty and with the squalor which follows it. And I cannot help hoping and believing that I before this generation passes away we shall have advanced a great step towards those good times when poverty, with the wretchedness and human degradation which always follows its camp, will be as far removed from the people of this country as the wolves which once infested its forests." (Cheers ) The Archbishop of York found an explanation of Mr. Lloyd George's vehemence of utterance in the fact that he was imbued with the spirit of the Celt. (Laughter and hear, hear.) But the Archbishop's own speech showed that he too had caught the spirit. (Hear, hear.) He, too, was under the spell of the Celtic fringe." Born and bred in Scotland, he had the fire in his own blood, begotten of the great struggles of his gallant country for civil and re- ligious liberty, the passion for education and opportunity of human advancement. (Cheers.) And in the House of Lords, in supporting the same spirit as Mr. Lloyd George, this was his appealGive a man a better chance.. Give him a feelinrg that the social system was not against him, but with him. and for him, and on his own side, and then his own individual in- stincts of energy and enterprise would be a more effective check against the development of Socialism, which the Peers dreaded, than all the arguments which could be urged against by more fortunate. persons." (Cheers.) THE GOSPEL OF HUMANITY. Both of these great men have learnt the lesson at the same source. Both of them have drunk deep of the Gospel of Humanity. Behind the human feeling and desire shines the spirit of the best of men, the Carpenter of Nazareth, the Man of the People. (Applause.) Let the House of Peers make no mistake. This is the New Spirit of this New Era. This is the new force which is impelling great and increasing masses of our fellows to-diav in their wholehearted ser- vice for the destressed and needy in our land. (Hear, hear.) Look at one phase of it, the great Brotherhood movement, and think of the in- spiration that lies at the back of it all. No House of Lords can stem this strongly rising tide. (Hear, hear.) Three hundred and fifty peers have set themselves in defiance against this Budget. According to Lord Curzon, they are going to stump the country," with himself at the head of them..(Laughter.) I hope they will pay a visit to Colwyn Bay. (Renewed laughter.) We should like 10 see them and hear them on their own defence, and perhaps ask them a few questions. (Laughter, and hear, hear.) My friend Glynne Jones and several of us could, I think, put them through their paces. (Laughter.) "MARCHING ON!" Well, the 30th of November saw the rejection of the greatest Finance Bill for over fifty years. These Tory Peers have killed it, with Mr Bal- four's approbation. Ah so they think. But it is not so. (Hear, hear.) Its principles and pro- visions will live. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Asquiith, our great leader—{cheers)—says so, and there- fore it is, like John Brown's body," marching on. And no. Duke, no Marquis, no Earl can stay its triumphal course. (Hear, hear.) The House of Lords may shut their doors against it to-day. But when those doors are opened again it will be under different conditions. (Hear, hear.) Above those doors will be written: Only the House of Commons, the only ac- credited House of the People, shall have control over the finances of the people." The people shall and must be supreme. (Loud cheers.) THE FICKLENESS OF PUBLIC OPINION. Mr. E. R. Davies, of Pwllheli, spoke appreci- atively of the address, and said he only wished all that Mr. Thomson had said could be sub- stantiated by the past history of the country. Mr. Davies traced the feeling of the country from the passing of the Franchise Bill in '84 down to the present day, and remarked on the fact that during that time it had been governed largely by the Conservative party. In spite of the great Liberal victory in 1906, the feeling of the country was shown, when, upon the Govern- ment bringing in the Licensing Bill, they lost seat after seat which two or three years pre- viously they had carried by huge majorities. For this reason the speaker would sound a warning note, and impress upon all that much remained to be done for Liberalism. A Gov- ernment returned pledged to economy had been forced to provide a large increase of naval ex- penditure, and that at a time when it was iifi-* possible to obtain any extra money for educa- tion. And why was that? Mr. Davies was sure that even Mr. Thomson would not blame the Lords this time. (Laughter.) WThatever their faults, the peers had never attempted to tamper with expenditure. The simple truth was that the force of public opinion had compelled the Government to take that action. Therefore the increase of expenditure was not brought about by the Lords but by the elected representatives of the people in deference to the wishes of the people. The Liberal party was face to face with grave and difficult problems, problems which the electors must study not for a week or two before the general election, but continually in their spare time. The people must be edu- cated by Liberals to understand the principles of Liberalism. (Applause.) Mr. Davies dwelt upon the apathy of local Liberals. Out of a large division containing thousands of electors only a mere handful had assembled to hear a lecture by Mr. Thomson, who was known to. w one of the foremost local exponents of politics. There was only one thing to do, and that was for every man and woman present that night to act as an emissary in aid of popular govern- ment. Let them go forth and see that all the people of the district were enlightened as to the real and true meaning of the momentous issue now before the country. Spade-work must be done. The battle would not be decided on any one election. Elections were not won by bill- posting, nor yet by meetings, but by personal canvassing. All reforms must wait until the public was perfectly enlightened. In conclusion Mr. Davies proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Thomson for his excellent address, and said he was delighted to think there was at least one Liberal Association that was really alive and dessiminating the principles of Liberalism in that parl of the country. {Applause.) THE EVE OF THE BATTLE. The Rev. Thomas Lloyd, in seconding the vote of thanks to Mr Thomson, said it would be a good thing were .those p/esent to thoroughly rub into their friends the questions dealt with by the lecturer. In Germany indirect taxation was is. 6d. in the £ ■ It was true that money was a sordid question to speak of, but all must feel that it carried a great deal with it: The con- sequences if Tariff Reform were adbpted would be terrible, and' honestly he trembled to think Gt them. It was his experience that men in beer shouted for the Tories. (Applause.) In spite of what Mr Davies had said, the speaker was proud of the meeting. (Hear, hear.) Mr John Crompton (President) spoke of Mr Thomson's address in terms of praise. He hoped to see a good attendance at the Liberal meeting to be held in, the Pier Pavilion on Fri- day, so that they might have a good send off for the election. (Hear, hear.) They would start the campaign with the certainty of victory, but all must help. He proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman, and congratulated him on his speech. The votes of thanks were carried with ap- plause. In replying on behalf of himself and the Chair- man, Mr Thomson said he was pleased the meet- ing had received his address with such apprecia- tion, as he had spent much time and thought on it. He hoped the Liberals of Colwyn Bay would rouse up, and give a good account of themselves. He himself would be where the fight was hottest, namely, in the Pottery district, where, as in 1906, he was going to assist in the return of John Ward for Stoke. (Applause.) At a meeting to be held shortly in support of his candidature, he (Mr Thomson) would occupy the chair. (Hear, hear.)