The Carmarthen Journal and South Wales Weekly Advertiser

Home Office and Pay of Carmar- thenshire Police FREE BEER AT FARM SALES ON THE DECREASE. A quarterly meeting of the Carmarthen- shire Standing Joint Committee was held at Carmarthen on Tuesday, Mr. F. Dudley W. Drummond presiding.—A letter from the Central Control Board was read stating that after enquiry they had 'failed to find facts to support the statement that the practice of providing intoxicants at farm auction sales prevailed throughout the county at the pre- sent time. The board were prepared to con- sider the matter further if the committee could supply them with any facts. The Board, however, doubted whether the matter was one that came within their jurisdiction. —The Chairman said the matter would prob- atbly right itself. Ald. W. J. Williams, Brynaminan, agreed and said the Board looked to the police to control the practice.— The Chief Constable (Mr. W. Picton Phil- ipps) said the number of sales and marts held in the county during the last six months was 217. at 26 of which intoxicating drink was given away (in five instances at luncheon only). Three persons were proceeded against for drunkenness.—Aid. W- J. Williams said the return prepared by the police showed that there were 24 cases of drink given at farm sales in the western division and five in the eastern. The return was better than they expected, and it was to be hoped that the practice would still decrease.—The Rev. T. W. Morgan, secretary of the West Car- marthen Congregational Association, wrote enclosing a resolution passed by the associa- tion thanking the committee for taking notice of the unseemly practice which bad prevailed much too long amongst" farmers and others of -giving free drinks at sales especially in the name of kindliness and hospitality, causing great dishonesty in trade and much corruption in morals. The asso- ciation hoped the committee would soon be invested with full powers to put an end to the practice. They rejoiced to learn that an increasing number of respectable farmers, without incurring financial loss, had long since discontinued this reprehensible Drac- tice.On the motion of Aid. Jas. Phillips, St. Clears, it was decided to send a cojfy of the Control Board's letter to the association. HOME OFFICE AND POLICE PAY. With reference to their decision at the last meeting to increase the pay of the county police force to the scale ruling in Glamorgan, correspondence from the Secre- tary of State was read stating that although he recognised that the police were entitled to additional remuneration during the war for the purpose of meeting the increased cost of living, it was not clear whether a perma- nent increase of pay was justified by present circumstances, and he did not feel able there- fore to approve the increase in the autho- rised scale. He suggested that the increase should be made by way of war bonus. It was impossible to say to what extent the conditions that made this increase necessary would prevail after the war. It was clea.r after the war that heavy additional expen- diture was likely to fall not only on the ex- chequer but on the rates, and it was most desirable that local authorities should not be precluded by reason of action taken now from effecting any reduction in police expen- diture which the alteration in economical conditions might permit. It seemed to him tolerably clear tljcit it would be necessary after the war to fix the pay of tho police per- manently on a higher scale thgn authorised before the war, and thus make the force attractive to the better class of recruits. Rivalry in this matter between counties was much to be deprecated, and he suggested that a. conference be held of authorities in neighbouring districts in order to arrive at a fair settlement.—Dr. J. H. Williams, Burry Port, proposed that the increases decided upon at the last meeting be given by way of war bonus.—The Chairman pointed out that if the increase was given by way of war bonus the county would not receive half the amount from the State as it would if it were. a permanent increase.—Aid. H. E. H. Rich- ards, Carmarthen, seconding the motion, said the effect of the decision of the Home Office had resulted in very great hardship upon the police. He knew of instances where the police and their families had suf- fered materially through not having more pay; and he saw no reason for the Home Secretary putting these difficulties in the way of giving an advance to the force, when public money was being lavishly thrown abroad in other directions in most spendthrift -fashion.-The Chairman said he did not think the Home Office placed difficulties in the way, ftut simply suggested another form. —Mr. Richards said the Home Office was placing material difficulties in the way be- cause now under the system of war bonus it meant that the ratepayers of the county were going ito be mulcted in the whole amount. One did not hear of obstacles put in the way of salaries of State officials in the higher places and of the money expended lavishly on salaries in regard to recruiting and every- thing else. That committee had simply adopted the Glamorgan scale, and why did not the Home Secretary raise difficulties to the police pay in Glamorgan? The police ought to have the increases decided upon at the last meeting even if the whole of the money came from the rates. ,Mr. Jas. Phil- lips (St. Clears) said it would be most dis- honourable for the committee to go back upon what they had already decided, and it was immaterial to him whether the money came from the rates or the exchequer seeing that the committee had already decided to give the increases. The committee should ask the local members of Parliament to take up the matter with the Home Office with a Yiew to getting half the amount from the exchequer.—Mr. John Jones, Pontardulais, said although difficulty was placed in the way, so far as the committee's connection with the force was concerned, it was insur- mountable. The committee could still meet their obligation.—The Chairman agreed that the committee were in honour bound to give the increases to the police, who were en- titled to it. The question was whether the committee could give the increases in such a way as to get half the amount from the Sta.te.-Dr. J. H. Williams pointed out that £ 4,000 was already being saved through the police force not being up to strength. Some of that money should be devoted1 to meet the war bonus. If it was right for the Secre- tary of State to allow JE2 10s. and to JE5 a week for police in munition works surely it was right for that committee to do so in their own area.—Mr. Richards' "motion was carried, and the Chairman and Ald. Dd. Evans, Manordaf, were appointed to attend, when called upon, a conference of local authorities as suggested in the Home Secre- tary'g letter.—The Chief Constable thanked the cornoiiittee for what they had done and said he was sure it would be a great relief to the police.—On the suggestion of Mr. Wm. Thomas, Whitland, it was decided to pay the police .fortnightly in future instead of monthly.—In his quarterly report the Chief Constable stated:—Criminal and other offen- ces dealt with by the magistrates show a decrease of 247 as compared with the corre- sponding quarter of last year, the figures being 1,116 as against 1.413. The decrease is principally noticeable under the following heads:—Drunkenness 88, larceny 25, receiv- ing stolen property 12, housebreaking 9, railway offences 18, Sunday trading 19, army desertion 20, Military Service Act 19, De- fence of the Realm Regulations 34, rate cases 97, Central Cbntrol Board (Liquor Traffiq) Order, Offences by Licensed Persons and their servants 37, by others 33. On the other hand there has been an increase in Labour Laws offences 100. warehouse break- ing 17, light on vehicles 27, Revenue Laws 27, and Shops Acts 10. Indictable offences numbered 90, of which 5 were committed for trial, representing a, decrease of 25 in the number of offences and 20 in committals. I regret to report that P.C. Bennett (an un- married constable with 4 months' service in this force) has been killed in action in France, P.C. Daniel Jones has been badly gassed, and P.C. Bassett severely bayonetted in several parts of the body. Although both these cases are serious I am glad to learn that there is some improvement in the condi- tion of each. Constables Rees, Davies, Stephenson, and Evans, already mentioned as having been wounded or otherwise inca- pacitated, have now recovered and resumed their military duties. P.C. Edward Wil- liams (son of Inspector Williams) has been awarded the Military Medal for bravery in Palestine. This is the officer already re- ferred to as having been decorated by the King of Italy and awarded the Order of the Crown of Italy and the Italian Bronze Medal.—On the motion of Ald. Dd. Evans, the committee passed a resolution congratu- lating P.C. Edward Williams on hie winning military decorations.—Sympathy was ex- pressed with the family of P.C. Bennett, killed in action, and with' the constables who hdH been wounded.

40- Ammanford Urban Council ) WATER CONSTANT AND ABUNDANT AT HOPKINSTOWN. The ordinary meeting was held on Wed- nesday night in last week, Mr. J. C. Shaw presiding, supported by Mr. J. E. Jones (vice-chairman), and there were present: Rev. J Morgan, Messrs. David Jones, D. G. Davies, J. Harries, Evan Evans, Thos. Fletcher, David George, John Davies, and Wm. Evans; also the Assistant Clerk (Mr. A. E. Evans), and the Surveyor (Mr. Darvid Thomas). —The Road Committee's report showed that a letter from Mr Jonn Davies, a roadman, was read, applying for an in- creiase in his wages, and the Committee agreed to recommend that his wages be laised to 40s. per week tor the duration of tho war. It was further agreed that the wages of Mr Thos Lewis, another road- man, be increased to 36s. per week, also for the duration of the war, and that both ad- vances be granted as from the week com- Trjencing 31slb December.!—The (Surveyor asked the Committee for instructions to asked the Committee for instructions to prepare an estimate for the Road Stone Control for the year 1918-19. He was I given the necessary instructions, on the basis of 1,000 ton* lot limestone for the year, and also directed to provide for tar- spraying for the same period.—The report was adopted.—The Committee, having- con- sidered tr.e report of the captain of the fire brigade (Mr. J. P Davies) on the fire at Parke Farm, which is outside- the urban district, iecommeTided that the matter be deferred until a detailed report on the ex- penses ha^ been submitted by ihe captain. The report stated that the call was re- I ceived at 3.30 p.m and the brigade, con- sisting of the captain, Firemen J. Davies, J Lewis, and P.C. Edwards, left the station with hoses, standpipes, etc., at 3.40. They were stopped on the Ammanford Square by Inspector Davies, who informed them that their services were not required, as the outbreak had been put out.—The Assistant Clerk read the scale of remunera- tion.. applicable to fire outside the urban district, showing that any person' applying for the services of the brigade, shall be charged five guineas for the us. of the engine and appliances for twelve hours, or part thereof, and that the captain be paid at the rate of 10s. 6d., and the firemen 7s. 6d. for i»hree hours an under—Mr. David Jones asked if the Council were entitled to present any charge at all, see- ing that the brigade did not arrive at the scene.—Mr. Thos. Fletcher stated that they '■ould charge under the scale, but the Com- mittee felt they were not going to charge live guineas as laid down. The question was in abeyance; they wanted to know the real cost before presenting their bill.—The matter was referred back t<o the Roads Committee.—Mr. Wm. Herbert appeared before the Roads Committee to make a f'.Vrtboi request to be allowed to increase the price of electric light and power in the town by one penny per unit. The Commit- tee asked him to attend the meeting of the Council and lav his views before them. —However, Mr. Herbert had not appeared when the? business was concluded, and the Council went into committee.—The Sur- veyor reported to the Health Committee rhat the improvements at Pare Henry tank had now been carried out, and as a result of which there appeared to be an improvement in the supply of water at Hopkinstown, where there had been complaints of an un- satisfactory Supply for years. Rev. J. Mor- gan: Is it now fully satisfactory?—Mr. Wm. Evans said the report meant that there was water at Hopkinstown now, whereas there was none before.—Mr. J. Davies: Is it regu- lar?—Mr. Dd. George said he had made in- quiries of the residents, who informed him that the supply now was abundant and con- stant.—This statement gave general satis- faction.—Lt.-Col. W. N. Jones was re- elected as the Council'o representative on the court of governors of the Cardiff Uni- versity College.

Markets CA'rtrTE.-Birmingham: (Pigs: daily).— Supplies included 100 from Ireland, 180 Wales, 270 from the Eastern counties, and 90 from Shropshire. Live weight prices:— All classes 18s per score (12s 7d per stone of 14 lbs.). Dead weight prices:—All classes 23s 9d per score (16s 7dper stone of 14 lbs.), plus Is 3cl per score (10gd per stone) for offals.—Leicester, Jan. 2: Only 40 fat cattle on offer, these being disposed of at the fixed prices. About 800 sheep shown, and trade extraordinarily keen, the best quality making 22d, heavy-weights 20d to 21d, and ewes 19d, per lb.—Llangadock, Jan. 1: Very small market, only six fat cattle being shown; these were of secondary quality and were disposed of at the con- trolled ratee. Small supply of sheep, and, with a large attendance of buyers, trade ruled very brisk, higher rates being easily- obtained, while a good clearance was effec- ted.—London, Metropolitan Cattle Market, Dec. 31: Very short supply of fat cattle, only 113 beasts being on offer; trade keen for most classes at the controlled rates, but half-meated animals, and especially cows, were not in so much request. Good entry of sheep, which were in keen demand owing to the shortage of cattle, and all descrip- tions sold at fully late rates, Down tegs making up to 14s, and fat ewes to 1,2s, per 8 lbs.-Northamptoii, Jan. 2: Fat cattle numbered only 48. the supply being quite insufficient for local requirements; about half were graded as 1st and were sold at 75s per live owt. Sheep were in' exceptionally keen demand, tegs making 22d, wethers aad, and ewes 18d, per lb., or an advance of about 3d per lb. on the week. Pigs were nearly all small porkers, which sold at 18s per score live weight.—Wellington (Salop), Doo. 31: Short supply of beef, only lil.4 cattle being on offer; all were sold at the fixed prices for the various grades, but many butchers were unable to obtain their usual supplies. Large show of sheep, in- cluding some very ripe lots of tegs; trade good throughout, 18d per lb. being realised for top quality. Pigs were only a poor show and sold at controlled rates. -Wo F,,er- hampton, Jan. 2: Less than 100 fat cattle shown at the market to-day, all being sold at the controlled rates. Good supply of sheep, which were in exceptionally keen de- mand at considerably higher prices the best Down tegs making 21d per lb., against 16d at the previous market. Pigs numbered 200, and trade was very sharp at the fixed price of 18s. per live score.—Northampton, Dec. 29: Very small supply of store cattle, but trade generally slow owing to the high prices demanded, strong bullocks making up to £ 37; the demand for bulling cows and heifers, however,, was good, the .former making from J627 to £ 32, and the latter JB24 to JB28, per head. Dairy cows in brisk de- mand, ai few of the best quality animals making 959 10s to £ 72 per head. Good rearing calves in fair request at 60s to 80s, inferior sorts making from 38s, per head. PROVISION'S.—Carmarthen, Sat., Jan. 5: There was practically no butter, Iwd all other farm produce was very soiree. E^gs sold at 40s to 45s per 120; chickens fetched 5s to 6s 6d each, and fowls 2s 6d to 3s 6d each.

PENCADER MUSICAL SUCCESSES. At the examinations held recently under the auspices of the Assoc. Bd. of the R.A.M. and R.C.M.. the 'following pupils of Miss L. Johns, A.L.C.M., A.T.,S.C., -were successful: Higher Division: Master Percy Johns, Dyff- ryn Gwen. with distinction. Elementary Division: Miss Annie Thomas, Cloth Hall, Pencader, with distinction; Miss Bessie Wil- liams, Maesyderw, Capel Dewi. Primary Division: Miss Gwyneth Jones, Abernant, Pencader, with distinction; Miss Mary A. Thomas, Drefnewydd, with distinction; Miss Lily Thomas, P.antllaethdy, Maesycrugiau, and Mise Annie Rees, Glantalog Factory, Pencader. At the London College of Music examinations Miss R. M. Jones, Brython House, Llandyssul, gained Honours and Miss Maggie Davies, Dolbantau, a First Class Certificate. (8586-11 :1

WASTE PAPER. | 5^6 per cwt. for Mixed,' Any Colour or Quality. THOS. OWEN & CO., LTD., Ely Paper Works, CARDIFF. t1 Will Lend Bags and Pay Carriage. Write for Full Particulars. (1.54-5—14:6

The Women's Land Army in Carmarthenshire PRESENTATION OF BADGES ^ND STRIPES. SCHOOL OF RURAL ECCN MY ADVOCATED. An interesting meeting, convened by tho Carmarthenshire Women's War .gricui- tural Committee, was .j at Ue >hire Hall, Carmarthen, .m RI III vhtn badges and stripes vece -.r».«oed to tin- thirty-seven female ;.nl w >~ivers formn.fr the Carmarthenshire io- of- tho women's land army. Mrs. Lewis Philipps, < tyi/n in, Llari- boidy, who presided, sa d «^s flighted to see so .many ".d;1 pres-cut The national service women lsn workers m Carmarthenshire were a s}^»n«lid lot it 'girls, and she wished tnem I'H'i-y burpss in the noble work they Ita, i.n icrtakeii far the good of their cou.nry. Miss Florence Jones, oi .^crj tary, said the badges strip*); given to show the appre-,titcloit of tl.e I. authorities for what l!.e women iana workers had done. ;aey poif. > n;ed c- ty next in importance to ne IIIIM in the I trenches. The women iz.Til army -a formed in February last, t.-il ft etf w»■ c 37 national service workers ti Cain.ojti.bn- shire. Although not large in iiurr they were excellent in quality: they ha 1 a pioud record and had the satisfac/ion ,f li lowing that they had rendered excellent si r-vice to their country. Last year ti-ere three war gardens in Camarthensiiiro iro.berl by part-time workers with excellent remits, and she hoped a good many g,t tei,s v ouid be started again this year by pert time workers. She received a iji s.sage from Miss L. Talbot, brandh cLireoior of the women's land army, which ri-1 erred to the vital importance of the lood ^'leMion and I urging the girls to do their b>st. Mrs H. Jonea-Davies, Glyneidrlan, v. ho invested the land workers with badges and stiipes, g-a ve a history of the movement in Carmarthenshire to get girls on the land, and said were it not for the original com- mittee in the summer of 1916, the scheme would not itave been so advanced as if. was to-day. The experience of the girls on the farms was worth a large sum to them in addition to tneir wages. Tney had oome to fill flie most important vacancies on the land and take a big part in assist- ing their country by the production ot food. The much maligned Food Controller made the alarming statement recently that the 411ied larder was nearly empty. That meant that everyone must be up and doing. As women land workers their firing line was the farm; it was there they could best assist the soldiers to conquer the enemy. As substitutes for the soldiers tney should try to emulate the good qualities of the -sc,tdic-i-s Discipline and dbedience came fiist; another quality was couraga and per- severance to overcome their difficulties, and the third was persistence and endur- ance. In return the farmers, she was sure, would treat 'hom well and give them good homes. Now they had come on the land she hoped their greatest ambition would be to stay on the -and. There was plenty of work for them now and after thf war. 'With their experience on the land, who more efficient than the women's land army to become farmers' wives? (applause).—Mrs. H. Jones-Davies then distributed the badges and stripes as follows: Carmarthen County: Elsie Tofte (9 months); May Phil- lips (9 mths.); Charlotte Williams (9 mths.) Maggie Williams (9 mths..); Jessie Hum- phries (8 mths.) Ceinwen Jenkins (8 mths.) Mary Edwards (7 mths.); Phoebe Jones (7 mths.,); Maude Davies (5 mths.) Gwen Thomas ('2 mths.); Sarah Thomas (2 mths.); Eda Harries; Kate Davies; Sarah Lewis (now starting work after six weeks' train- ing); Lizzie Davies (do.); Bessie Vine (do.) ■Glamorgan County: May Smith (9 mths.); Emma Johnson (6 mths.); M. Billinghurst (6 mtils.) Evelyn Le Sauteur (6 mths.) Minnie Moore (6 mths.); Phyllis Lloyd (6 mths.); M. E. Crank (6 mths.); L. M. Thomas (6 mths.): Blodwen Hughes (6 mths.,); Blodwen Hughes (5 mths.); Ethel Vilea (4 mths.); Jennie Thomas (3 mths.); Eleajnor Brandon (4 mths.); Violet Stratton, Monmouth; Beatrice Watkins, Glamorgan Frances Goodfield, Glamorgan; Doris May; Elllie Williams; Mary Hurst.—Miss Florence M. Jones announced that Eliza-betli Thomas, of Llandovery, who was only 17 years of age, last year ploughed 25 acres. She had been two years on the land and was entitled to three stripes. (Applause,). Mr. Hy. Jones-Davies congratulated the committee, and in particular Miss Jones, the secretary, for the excellent work they had done ir" organising the women's land army in Carmarthenshire. It was no small achievement to have done so much excellent work. It so happened that Car- marthenshire stood third in the number of women land workers employed in South Wales. Glamorgan was first. Cardigan- shire second, and Carmarthenshire a close third, but he was gtven to understand that Carmarthenshire would soon be able to top the list. Before the war men and women flew from the land as if there was a plague in the country. They could not very well blame them for doing so; they were driven away by circumstances. Judging from experience he was convinced that the mili- tary authorities were more keen than ever to get men from the rural districts into the army, because they knew that people brought up on the land were equal to two or three men brought up in the large towns Referring1 'to tha lstibmairiiie menace, he stated that what was supposed to be cur strength bafore the war had to-day to some extent become our weak- ness. We were supposed to have control of the seas; to-day we had not that full control. We thought when the war broke cut that we would be able to blockade Ger- many and starve her into submission, but Germany by sinking our ships had cut our main artery. To overcome that menace we were urged to produce as much food as possible Who would have thought that 1 Germany would be able to stand out after three and a half years before being starved into submission? Germans were able to do that because they had cultivated the land to the full. We have the better climate and our soi! was far better than that in Germany. If Russia concluded a separate peace with Germany our blockade of Ger- many would be practically useless. The only thing wo have to do against that was to cultivate the soil as intensively as possible. In this crisis he did not think we fully realised how much we were indebted to the women land workers of this country. 'They volunteered when they could g-et better wages in other 9pheres of life. They 'had broken down the formidable barriers and barbed wire entanglements of preju- dice against them, and now that farmers were getting into a better frame of mind regarding female labour he hoped in future they would employ more and more women In the winning of the war land workers performed a duty second to non to the joldiers in the trenches. The more food tlhey produced and the more women land workers they employed the fWirlior we would have a successful termination of the war. When the war was over there must be a crrtnplete transition in agricul- ture. He hoped the land workers would remain on the land. Conditions would have to be made more attractive in order to bring men and women back to the land. We had in the land and the brains of the rural children the greatest asset) of thia country. He did not believe in Urbanising the rural district as some Idvocated, but in leaving nature have fair-play. What wo wanted was a complete change of our edu- cation in regard to rural life; to make that education such as would make children take an interest in their daily life. There should be a complete ladder from the ele- men tary schoo! to the university, and he would like to point out to the county coun- cil and the agricultural colleges to do their duty in this respect. Before the war he inspected the aciicultural college in Aber- deen where they had established a school of domestic rural economy. Before the Welsh University Commission last year he gave evidence and advocated a school of domestic rural economy in connection with the university colleges in NA ales, so that every girl who intended to go back to the farm should have a thorough training in farm life. The average holding- in Wales to-day was only* about fifty acres in extent., and he main- tained that on a holding of fifty acres the woman held a more important place than tho man By looking after the small eco- nomies on the farm, its success depended more on the woman than on the man and 'he hoped the coiuity councils would take steps very soon to set up a school of domestic rural economy in connection with the university colleges in Wales. Miss Dr. Perrie Williams, travelling inspec- tor for South Wales, expressed appreciation of the excellent work done in the county and said the happy faces of the girls were a tribute to the conditions under which they lived. Throughout the country the women of the land army were doing all conceivable work on farms, and a tractor corps of 500 women was being formed to be employed by the Food Production Department. There were now 7,000 women volunteers working on the land, most of whom had no previous experience in agriculture. The ttItllde of women to farm work was entirely changed and women no longer despised farm work. The training in dairy work in Carmarthen- shire had been very excellent. When girls had asked to be specially trained for dairy work, she had sent them to Carmarthen in preference to the other counties. Mr. J. W. Lewis proposed a vote of thanks to Mrs. Lewis Phillips and Mrs. H. Jones-Davies, both of whom, he said, worked very hard in promoting the women's en s land army.—Mr. Rees Davies, Whitland, seconded, and the vote was carried. On the motion of Miss Phillips, Green Hill, secon- ded by Mr. Thos. Davies, Newcastle-Emlyn, a vote of thanks was accorded. Dr. Perrie Williams and Mr. H. Jones-Davies.

-0 Llandovery Board of Guardians The monthly meeting of the Llandovery Board of Guardians was held at the Town Hall on Friday last, Mr. Lewis Roderick, Neuaddfawr, presiding.—Miss 'Hiams' the assistant relieving officer, reported that the number of paupers relieved during the week ended 27th December last tot all et) 88 at a cost of E30 7s., and during the week ended 3;- j' January 37, at a cost of £ 24 it, 6d. During the corresponding? fortnight in last year the paupers relieved numbered 101 at a cost of E.13 2s. 9d.—The tender of Miss James, of Maesgwandde, fCtr supply. ing milk at sixpence per quart was p. ted.—A letter was read from the Clork t6 the Builth Board of Guardians, stating- that they considered 12s. per week for the maintenance of a woman-pauper excessive and offered 10s. weekly.—It was resolved to adhere to the former decision arrived at, as the inmate was blind and required a good deal of attention. RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Llandovery Rural District Council took place on day last, Mr. T. Davies, Cwmsawdde, pre_ siding.—A letter addressed to the Purveyor (Mr. E. Williams) was read from Messrs. R. Prytherch, David Jones, and Daniel Rees, the roadmen in the No. 1 district, stating that they did not intend continuing in then- present employment uiuess they wiere paid wages on the same scale as the county roadmen.—Mr. Evan Willams, the surveyor, said he men in question had gone. He had found them yesterday haul. ing timber.—Mr David Davies (^^yblid) moved that the Surveyor should consult the strikers, and if they refused to return to the work, that. he should take steps to re- place them.—Mr. Evans (Cross Inn) said that the Llanddausaint man was also going to leave unless he got the same pay. as the county men. There was 110 sense in this cl council paying only 28s. a week, whilst the county paid 35s.—Mr. W. R. Lew.ij3 said house rent and rates were much higher in the county. In Brecon and Builth the men were paid only 25s. per week ^r- L. Roderick said it was impossible £ °r rnen with large families to pull along 011 28.9. a week.—Mr. Evans (Cross Inn): how some Christian spirit towards these poor tellows. —The Clerk said that farmers ;V^° J.lved neair the highways might give » t the roads.—Eventually the motion ot Mr. D. Davies was agreed to.—Tho tender of Mr. Isaac Davies, carpenter. Old /^PJal Cak, Pumpsaint, for erecting a footbridge on the river Twrch by Taldre was accep- ted at £ 24.—A communication was reo ceived from the County Educati**11 mittee drawing attention to the state ot the, road leading from Cilgwyn Lodge to Yõd- fai School, and alleged that it was almost impassable.—Some of the jmembera re» marked that the county council had a *°t to do to put their own roads in proper order.—The Surveyor was directed to apply to the Controller of Timber Supph63 for II. fc-rm for the purpose of obtaining assist- ance to repair the highway referred to.

RATEPAYERS' MEETING DREFACH. On Friday evening last, at the Ab^r\mlc Schoolroom, a large and entihusii s'10 r',( ct. ing of ratepayers of the district vls hdd to support the candidature of the H.v.. E. J. Davies, B.A.. rector of Jangoricity, for the County Council seat vacated bY Lr. Jenkins, Henllan, on his appointment as coroner. The chair was taken by <-?p ain Walters, Henllan, and after discussing tne best method of furthering the interests of Mr. Davies, it was decided to select three persons to attend as deputation bt tore the County Council, and to lay their case L>ère. 'that body. Several spoke to the effect tuat it was most unfair that the inhabitants of Adpar should endeavour to retain t5e./e" piesenteition at Adpar each time, and tnat the upper portion of the district, which in- cluded the great majority of the rate- payers." ought, in all fairness to get repre- sentlation alternately.

The Directors of' the London City and Midland Bank Limited report that the pro- fits for the year ending 31st December last amount to £ 1,967.716 which, with £ 243538 brought forward makes £ 2,211,254 appropriation as follows :—For payment or Salaries and Bonus to members ot the start who are engaged with His Majestvs Forces, and Bonus to other members of the Staff £ 304,519; to Reserve Funds for Cpn- tingencies, £ 500,000; to payment of Divi- dends for the year 19117 at the rate of 18 per cent, per annum. less Income Tax, £ 672,950. and to carry forward £ 733,785. The Dividend was at the same rate for 191o with appropriations of £ 840,107 and carry forward £ 243,533.

IN MEMORIAM. In proud; and loving memory of my only Son and gallant South African Comrades, killed in action January 10th, 1915. Our grief deemens as the years roll by. B (L578—11:1 t