The Carmarthen Journal and South Wales Weekly Advertiser

LLANDOVERY TOWN COUNCIL The monthly meeting of the Llandovery Town Council was held on Thursday, the 9th inst., under the presidency of the Mayor (Mr. J. C. V. Prvse Rico Llwynybrain). There were also present: Aldermen T. Watkins (deputy-mayor) and D. S. Thomas, Councillors II. Havard ,T. Roberts, S. H. Price, W. Jones, Daniel Jones, Dan Lewis, M. H. Nichols, T. Phillips, Richard Thomas; together with the clerk (Mr. II. Alfred Thomas), the sur- veyor (Mr. W. Lloyd I. and the engineer (Mr. J. Richards. THE PROPOSED MIXED SCHOOL. The Board of Guardians wrote asking the Town Council to support a resolution passed by the for- mer body urging the County Education Committee to defer for the present the building of a mixed county school estimated to cost between £ 2,000 and £ 3,000 at Llandovery. Councillor T. Roberts moved that the letter lay on the table. He did not believe it would be wise to interfere in the matter. He thought that the provision of a mixed school at Llandovery was very -desirable (Hear, hear and applause). He had been told by a high authority on figures, their respected friend, Alderman J. R. James, that the cost would amount to under three-farthings in the £ • Tho item being so small was the reason for his moving in the direction he had indicated. Nir. Daniel Jones had much pleasure in second- ing the motion, which was carried without a dis- sentient. THE JUDGE S ROOM. The committee appointed re furnishing and re- pairing of the room used by the County Court judge and the magistrates recommended the repairing ot the fire-place, furnishing of table cover, hearth; rU(i*t ^tc. I Alderman Watkins. as one of the committee, moved the adoption of the report, and said it was absolutely necessary that something should be done. Indeed they had no power in the matter. They had simplv to carry out the instructions of the Treasury, "it was thou-rht that what was needed would have cost £ 8 or £ 10. but thej had about it themselves and found that they would be able, to do it at from E4 to 1;5. Mr. S. H. Price seconded the motion, which was carried. PROPOSEu RECREATION GROCND. Mr M. H. Nichols moved that the Council con- sider tfie advisability of securing a recreation *mund for the town. He .believed they were prettv well agreed that such a open space was required for the use of the townspeople, visitors and chil- dren He moved that the Council appoint a coni^ mitteo to consider the whole question of securl"» a site and go into the estimate of the cost and report to the Council what they had done. He had SiJi-d. letter fro, a Ke„tle,„»n m Amer.ea 'Cn and Improvement. Committee had had this matter •under consideration and had approached Mi>. raider any Hcrfe -rpPorfo,, „r ,tl* T,™ g^SSS' S the Tonn Ho clid not Think the 'carrying out of the sche.no ir t uairsriS did at Llancnio. J- T'vWan District Council, as Lewis, the clerk t.> h l «n "istr k totalled to the cost there, and his repij wa.. exclusive °f80 inS1LlarKUlo the donor of the site Dynevor £ 680. In i.ian« io unclimbable iron stipulated the proviso would not require railing which cost £ j £ 12, and the niak- that. tfeh™bs and Plaintin in.cUned to believe ;?=t1h:h5oShc«fSro'wouia not be «« itan • 1 £ 100 if tho Improvement Committee would vote a su"1' and he did not see any great diffi- culties hi the price .seconded the motion, tho com; JBZ » 2SAT3 carried. It be called with a, view oftojy thihritvr»"d "S port. He had been for a Ion t ai(, where they could a possible, far from the not want tahePt^v'n He urced the members to try MAY FAIR. yr Af H Nichols that the May A proposal bj Mr. M. t ■ Bank Hoh. Fair be arranged Seated Mr. Nichols in bnng- day m future, was ^efoat^\h rouncil, pointed out in<r his proposition befou i nefore the IhSt ,l.hPough in 1910 wo tfash with the Whit-Monday event,. COMMITTEE MEETING?*. "Mr S. H. Price moved that the Fitianc(-. "aterworks, Highway, :Markets and Futrs, and HSfepsrss S tlIcet1l1¡{ committee meetings remain as they man Watkins ^conde< amendment that the After some discuss10", rf,ma;n as at present fuao of committee meetings remain as i was carried. ^,riT^T, UNIFORM OF THE TOW N CRIE ,t »„ r ?■ Roberts, seconded by Mi. Clerk was in- uniform for the town.-cll.<i> the next meeting. structe<l to procure esUmatts b> ti e TREASURER'S ACCOUNT. T1,« Clerk said that the Treasurer's account- L.icrK 7c Sd ovortlruwn, sanitary &howe<l a sum of £ 123 • and in the borough account £ ?U las. oci. THE YEOMANRY CAMPS. The Clerk said that with reference to the corn- ,21. they would pay for the u:;e of thü fiplds .ised bv the Yeomanrv. the War Office had ac'e» little better than they promised. He had about £ 2b in hand after paying all tho expenses. 1Q^T PhillW ^id that the dut.es appertaining to getting in the subscriptions, the water work, v?siting canip, etc., ensiled considerable extra work cm their clerk for a period of at lea>t eight months from^ beginning to end. and it was out of reason seeing the small salary he was paul that thev could (■xnect their clerk to do this additional work with ont^jrtra remuneration. H. l.a.l iileasure in proposing that the balance in hand t handed to the Town Clerk (hear, hear fr<>m t < extra service, and that their best thank, >« a< corded him for the excellent way m which he had carried out the whole aflair Mr. S. H. Price seconded, and added that the Clerk had not included the amount he had <x pended on postage in the lull. Besides he had I drawn numerous tracings from the Ordnance Map. for the officers. He had also visited the fields on various occasions to arrange the sites for th: officers of the different companies (hear, hear) In addition to this he lost a good deal of his business during the time he was out of his office. He (Mr. Price, who, as one of the collectors, had collected £ 5J towards the visit of the Yeomanry, said it was the wish of the committee that the balance should be handed over to the Town Clerk. Mr. Roberts supported the proposal, as did also the Mayor, who knew more than any of them as to tli 3 time given to the work by Mr. Thomas. He would also like to add how much the officers ap- preciated his valuable services. Their unanimous testimony was that they had never found a town clerk who was always so ready to help (hear, hear and applause). Mr. Roberts said that the good opinion which the officers had expressed, to which the Mayor had just referred, would no doubt be more valued by their Clerk than the money (hear, hear). The Town Clerk, who was evidently taken by surprise, said that he felt very grateful to them. This was quite an unexpected reward for the work that had fallen on his shoulders. He assured them that he only did his. duty and it afforded him great pleasure to give what assistance he could. All the gentlemen he had to deal with were business men and honourable men (hear, hear and applause). CHRISTMAS MARKET SHOW. Following the custom which has been prevalent at this meeting for many a long year, Mr. Roberts passed round the book for subscriptions from mem- bers in aid of the Christmas market show. This was headed by the Mayor. THE CATTLE MARKET. Councillor Richard Thomas moved that. tenders be invited for the tolls of the cattle market for the ensuing year. He thought that it would be in the interests of the corporation and ratepayers to do so as from the 11th of January to the 8th of November next. Mr. Daniel Jones thought Mr. Thomas' proposi- tion was a. very good and wise one, and seconded it. Mr. T. Phillips moved that for this year at any rate these tolls remain as they are. Two or three of tho most important fairs had already passed. It would be unwise to interfere with the present arrangements put now. On another occasion he \\ould support Mr. Thomas. Alderman Watkins (to the Surveyor)—Are we to understand that you are prepared to carry the work on till the end of the year? The Surveyor—Yes, 1 will undertake to carry it on. Alderman Watkins—In that case I will second Mr. Phillips. A division was taken, and Councillor R. Thomas proposed that the names be taken down. The re- sult showed that only the proposed tnd seconder voted for the motion. The others all supported the amendment. This was all the business of interest.

PONTHENRY HOUSE BESIEGED POSTMISTRESS CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED SHOOTING. At the Llanelly Polico Court on Thursday in last week, Sarah Jane Thomas, the Ponthenry postmis- tress, was charged on remand with attempting to shooc James Jones with a revolver loaded with five bullets, on November 20th.—Mr. Leslie Williams de. fended. According to the evidence for the prosecution, which was heard on the previous day, defendant ap- proached James Jones, who was standing with others near the Incline Arms, and asked, "How can you say that Jack Jones has been with me the whole week' After which she said, "I will sKoot you and then shoot myself," and a struggle for the revolver with defendant had followed. Defendant, the w Ife, of Peter Thomas, said that allegations had been made against her Character in the village. Crowds had been congregating before her house as late as midnight, and 38 panes of glass had been smashed on various dates. People called names after her and in July last two men entered her buck yard, took their coats off, and threatened to thrash her. Other persona had also made at- tempts to force themselves into the house. Mr. Williams—Have they burnt anything in front of your house'/—Yes. Was it your effigy?—I dont' know what it was. Witness, continuing, said she was alone in the house on November 20rh, her husband having left her, and John Smith, who had lodged at her house,' left in June. She went to Pontyoatcs on November 20th to Police-constable Kennedy to ask for protec- tion because people had been threatening her: Describing the revolver incident, defendant said !-he asked Jam Jones whether he had seen her husband, and he replied, "He is in the Inelino Arms. She then said, "This (meaning the revolver produced) is the only friend and companion I have." She put her hand to her pocket whero the revolver was. and James Jones rushed forward and grabbed her hand before she pulled it out. She did not know whether he saw the revolver, but believed he knew she had a revolver in the house. When James Jones and his son caught hold of her she struggled be- cause they were tearing her okirt and she wanted to keep her revolver. Mr. Williams—Is it true that. yon were trying to shoot James Jones?—No, sir. I had no such in- tention. Continuing, witness said that she purchased the revolver 12 months ago. It was purchased, by John Smith, her husband, and herself for sport. Mr. Leslie Williams said that. for months past the defendant had been threatened with violence; her windows had been smashed, men had actually entered the, house and threatened to give her a thrashing, and she had practically gone in fear of violence 1111 the time. The presiding magistrate (Mr. E. Trubshaw") an- nounced that the majority of tho Bench did not think there was sufficient evidence to send the case for trial.

EASf CARMAhTHENSHIRE iiEPRESEN 1ATION SUCCESSFUL UNIONIST CAMPAIGN CONTINUED. With unabated energy the candidature of Mr. Mervyn Peel is being pushed forward in East Car- marthenshire, where for the last six weeks or so meetings have been held nightly in support of the Conservative and Unionist candidate. The cam- paign has been carried on with the greatest enthu- siasm, and has already done much towards educa- ting the people as to what the real issues before the country are. The politioal questions of the day have been put fairly, squarely and ciearly before the constituents by the candidate himself, and the speakers of authority who have accompanied him. Nothing have they desired more than fair discus- sion, and with that object in view they have speci- ally invited their audience to ask questions at the termination of the speeches. Questions have been asked at all meetings, and the replies have been ready and convincing. These meetings have done the cause untold good, and at last the constituents are realising how momentous is the question they will have to decide at the next General Elecuon. They now know it is not the people versus the lords, or whether the reference of the Budget to the people is constitutional or not. They know it is Tariff Reform or Socialism? The dangers of Socialism and the wave of prosperity that must follow in the wako of the adoption of a system of tariffs, so as to establish fair trade, have been pointed out in unmistakea-ble language backed up by unassailable facts and figures. In addition, the programme of the Conservative and Unionist Party, as enunciated by Mr. Mervyn Peel, must appeal to all open-minded men and women as being ex- ceedingly sound, containing as it does so many necessary reforms, such as the extension of the old age pensions, the reduction of the age limit, the re- duction of the age limit, the removal of the dis- ability of parish relief, the acquisition of small tenancies. leasehold enfranchisement, and' many others which can only be brought about bv the adoption of the policy of the Party he so ably represents, and which further seeks for closer unity and development of the British Empire. Whatever may be tho result of the election in East Carmar- thenshire, the constituents cannot hereafter com- plain of not having -had an opportunity of fairlv considering the issue. Thanks to 1110 determination of the candidate, and the energetic agent (Mr. K. J. Clarke) the remote parts of the division in the north, as well as the more thickly populated and conveniently situated centres in the south. have been visited, and speeches delivered in Welsh and English. If the working men will only carefully compare the programmes of both parties, without being unduly influenced by matters which have nothing at all to do with the vital question; then Mr. Peel may look forward with confidence to the result. As we have pointed out before, he has everything to recommend him in his gallant fight for the membership of his native division. His sincerity of purpose, his strong desire to faithfully servo his fellowmen in their best interests, his con- sideration towards his tenants as a landlord, coupled { with his pleasant, frank, and genial manners, are factors which cannot fail to stand him in good stead. ( His regular attendance at the meetings of the ] County Council and the committees attached there- to, combined with the care and pains he gives to 1 the consideration of all matters under discussion, have given an earnest of what might- be expected n from him if he gets to St. Stephens. Above all he r is resident in the district, and none knows its re- i quirements better. Dwelling among the consti- tuents he will be available at all times, in marked contrast to the sitting member who leaves them c severely alone except when the General Election comes round. J; TARIFF REFORM MEETING AT GARNANT. J Mr. Richard Franklin, London, delivered an ad- I dress on "Tariff Reform and Trades Unionism" to r a crowded audience at Garnant National Schools, s Ihe Rev. E. Davies, B.A., Gwaun-cae-gurwen, pre- I sided. The speaker said that Tariff Retorm was the I< working man s question. Tradesmen were protecetd all the world over, and the sooner this country came to realise and profit- bv that fact the more X prosperity there would be. Most Trade Unionists 1 all over the world, except in this country, were « staunch 1 rotectionists, anil true, of course, to their own rules. a ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING AT ELANDEBIE. One of the largest attendances durinc the campaign, was at the meeting held at Llandebie, Air* Du Buisson, J.P., of Glynhir, presided, and said that Mr. Peel was well known to them all He was a Carmarthenshire man, who had lived and laboured in the county, and had done a great deal of good m Carmarthenshire. As a county coun- cillor he had done a lot of work in that county, and he thought he could promise them he would be as zealous in his parliamentary life, if he was elected, as in his public life in that county (loud ap- plause). Mr. J.F. McClune, B.A., of the National Union, advocated better commercial relationship, not only with our Colonies, but with everv otner country The advantages of Colonial preference and Tariff Reform included the revival of our manufacturing industries, the establishment of new industries, anu the development of our agricultural industry. it was the duty of the Unionists, in the interests of our varied industries, of our army of unemployed, for the welfare of our people at home and in the Colonies, and for the. safety of the Empire, to pro- mote the policy of Tariff Reform (cheers). He cau- tioned them against the attempt to deceive which lurked behind the cry of dear food. It was abso- lutely as untruthful an expression as "Chinese slavery." The object. of Tariff Reform was not to make the food of the people dearer, but bv reduc- ing or, if possible, removing altogether the twelve millions taxation which the people now paid on articles of food to make the iood bill 'of everv household less. Mr. Griffiths followed in his most effective Welsh style, bringing the benefit of Tariff Reform home to the people in this district. Before he had finished Mr. Mervyn Peel arrived from another meeting at Trapp, aiid came in for a very hearty reception Mr. Peel in his address emphasised the necessity of closer relationship with the colonies which the Colonial premiers asked for at the conference held in London in 1907 in the shape of preference, whicn was not given them. He believed in the reform- ing of the House of Lords but not. in its destruc- tion. He felt that men of ability and not thoso that were simply sons of their fathers should sit there. He instanced that of all the countries of Europe only one was governed by a single cham- ber. A number of questions were asked and answered satisfactorily. One was if in Protectionist Prussia, there were some, thousands of men only earning 17s. per week? Mr. Peel replied that there were many thousands in this country in receipt of only 12s. per week. Asked how he accounted for a higher percentage of unemployed in the State of New York than in this country, Mr. Peel replied that all the emigrants reaching that port were counted as unemployed un- til they were engaged. At this stage, the organised opposition, led by a Dissenting minister, made itself manifest, and be- came so rowdy that the local constable requested them to leave tho room. Votes of thanks concluded the meeting. CROWDED MEETING AT LLANDOVERY. STIRRING AND EFFECTIVE SPEECHES. Mr. Mervyn Peel continued his campaign at Llandovery on Monday evening. The crowded gathering, tho room being literally packed, and the hearty reception he and the other speakers received, must have been a source of great gratification to the candidate and his many friends. SIR JAMS DRUMMOND ON THE ISSUES. The chair was taken by Sir James Williams- Drummond, Bart., C.B.. whose appearance at any gathering is always the signal for a rousing ova- tion. Sir James assured the audience that it afforded him great, pleasure to see so many of the inhabitants of Llandovery present, a fact which well repaid him for the fourteen miles journey he had travelled to preside at that gathering (applause). The audience was a most representative one, and it augured well for Air. Peel's candidature (renwed applause). He (Sir James) knew the candidate w ell, and he was no stranger to that audience. lie was sure they all at Llandovery would do their best to forward Mr. Peel's candidature, and when that time came, which was not now far off, he believed it would he tho 20th of January—he hoped they would all go to the poll and record their votes in his favour (applause). Mr. Peel was a resident. landlord in the county and bore an excellent name among his tenants (hear, hear and cheers). He lived amongst them and his interests were theirs, and if ho was returned to Parliament as he (the speaker) hoped. lie would as their member for the Eastern Division of this county, as lie had dono in connection with county matters, study the. interests of those amongst whom he lived (hear, hear) and do ho couldtoheiptbcpoorandthe. afflicted, and to find employment, for the unemployed (ap- plause). He hoped that those present that- night who were. doubtful about Tariff Reform would be persuaded that it was the right thing for the future and that it was the only means of saving 'England from going backwards and backwards into distress and unemployment altogether, for we wero gradually sinking down from a first-class power into a second-class one. Our Army and Navy wero both deteriorating", whilst Germany especially and a good many other foreign powers were, gaining hand over hand in strength over us. A cousin of his (Sir James'), happened to be married to a. German General who commands the whole of Alsacc and Lorraine. He had command of something like seventy thousand men. and was a great friend of the German Emperor, so that he (Sir James) heard a great deal of what was going on in Germany, and he could only tetl them that it was high time that they should put their thOllglJts to the defences of their coast line and the keeping up of tho strength of their Navy. He knew for a fact that GERMANY WAS READY TO STRIKE at a moment's notice and they had no better op- portunity than they had now of taking us unawares and striking us at the moment we are least pre- pared and least ready for a fight. They all knew how many of our naval mechanics and naval men in the dockyards had been discharged during the time of the present Government, or perhaps he ought to say the late Government, for tie believed he could say that it was now defunct. Many of those men had now gone over to Germany and were en- gaged in building Dreadnoughts to fight us (Shame). Now that was a terrible state of things, but Capt. Phillpott, who was a distinguished naval officer would be able to bear him out. CAPTAIN PHILLPOTT SPEAKS. Captain Phillpott, R.N., late member for Torquay, then addressed the meeting. He was received with loud and continued cheers. He said it afforded him very rare pleasure to come and support the candi- dature of h.s friend, Mr. Peel (applause). In him they had a candidate of whom any constituency might well feel proud. He had .come forward from motives of pure patriotism (hear, hear) with no hope or expectation to benefit himself personally. Ail honour to candidates who were going to fight this strenuous fight at this critical and important turn in our country's history—the most important for the last 150 years. Proceeding to touch on current politics he said there was one indictment against the present Government which he believed would appeal to all present-the great increase in work and the great increase in expenditure upon the rates and local authorities throughout the coun- try whether they referred to the counties or the boroughs. He had the honour of being a member of the County Council in his own county of Devon. Ho upheld the additional amount of work and did not grudge the time taken up in debates on matters affecting tho county, but county affairs cost in- finitely more to manage to-day than they used to, but did tho ratepayers of this country get full value for their money? That was a question which appealed to all present. He emphatically held that they did not, and he sincerely hoped and trusted that when the new Parliament assembled some steps would bo taken to remove from the shoulders of tho ratepayers certain charges unfairly levied now. THE LORDS AND LIBERAL BILLS. Ho was present at a meeting addressed by Lord Lansdowne shortly after the fateful division on the Budget. Ho told the audience, many of whom were not of the same way of thinkin- as himself, that the present Government and its supporters said that their Bills had been either capriciously altered or maliciously thrown out by the Unionist majority in the House of Lords, but as he (Lord Lansdowne) pointed out, all Acts of Parliament passed were at the close of the year bound up in one volume and published. It was a strange fact that the book published for last year was more than double the size of the volume published on any occasion when the Unionist Government had been in power. The Radicals could not have it both ways. If their appeals showed more than double the output of legislation under this Government than the previous Government—he did not say that that legislation was all wise or for the benefit of the country but the fact that the output was so great conclusively proved that the House of Lords did not wilfully swamp all the Government Bills. So much for the obstruction of the House of Lords. What was the issue now before the country. ISSUE BEFORE THE COUNTRY. They had had a pronouncement, from their Govern- ment leader, Mr. Balfour. He had laid a policy ( before the country which would bring prosperity to our land. It was in striking contrast. to the pro- gramme of His Majesty's Government, which set class against class, and tended to increase unem- ployment throughout the country. They were some- < times told that this was a poor man's Budget, and ] they had heard a good deal, but not so much lately that talk had rather dwindled down, how this < Finance Bill would tax the rich people chiefly and ] remove taxes from the shoulders of the poor. He should like to point out how under this Finance i Bill considerable taxes would bo laid on ground landlords. Take the County of London. THE GREATEST GROUND LANDLORD <; was not the Duke of Westminster nor the Duke of t Bedford, but the Prudential Assurance Company i company which was admirably managed and < financed, and which held the savings of thousands 1 and thousands ot the working men of this country. Ihe directors, astute and sharp business men had invested their funds in what they considered to be the safest and most advantageous form of invest- ment for their money. By imposing these vindic- ti\e taxes they were hitting this company very hard indeed, and taking money out of the pockets of the working classes. Taking again tne same class-the great Friendly Societies, who had moro than 50 millions sterling invested in ground rents. Wero they to be taxed out of existence and classed as dukes (applause). He thought that was quite sufficient to disprove the contention that this was a poor man's Budget. In his speech on Friday night the Prime Minister said distinctlv that one of the issues of the coming fight was to be Home Rule for Ireland. Let him remind them that the late Mr. Gladstone in 1892 brought in a Home Rule Bill. He had a .majority in the House of Commons, and by means of the gag and the guillotine he carried it through the lower chamber, -but when it went to the House of Lords they rejected it. He then appealed to the country and they upheld tho verdict of the House of Lords, as he hoped they would in the case of this Finance Bill (ap- plause). Some of those present that evening might think that Home Rule did not concern them in the County of Carmarthen, but if there was one charac- teristic in respect to which the Principality was mure famous than another it was the LOVE OF LIBERTY. The liberty they claimed for themselves thev had been able to secure for others less fortu'natel'l placed. Would Homo Rule affect the liberties of the people in the sister island? As one who had spent a considerable portion of his time there he could only say that once Home Rule was established their liberty would be gone. There was very little liberty there now under the existing law adminis- tered as it was by Mr. Birrell. The speaker then went to give instances of lawlessness in County Clare from that days times and other sources. One was the case of a man who when approach- ing his home was shot at from some bushes, on Fri- day night, the pellets finding a billet and wounding him in the head. This man was a hard-working person. In other cases houses had been fired into during the week. lie held in his hand a diary of outrages committed during the month and tlieso covered 22 pages. He read somo of them. One was the case of two farmers, named Murphy, who received wounds in the neck, head, and shoulders by being shot at. The outrage was attributed to the fact that tho Murphy's retained a farm sur- rendered by a former) occupant owing to local agi- tation. But not satisfied with wounding fanners and labourers the agitators maimed and wounded cattle. He reminded them that the victims were not landlord and dukes but working farmers trying to earn a respectable livelihood in peace anu quietness. Ireland was dominated by the L?nd League. They (tho victims) received little protec- tion from the Government now in power and them to turn it out as it offered no security to lives and liberties. Ho referred to the case of the aged people who were returning from chapel. They were fired at and both wounded. People stood by at the time, saw what occurred, and laughed at them. No evidence could bo got to obtain a con- viction. That was the sort of law which prevailed in Ireland at the present time. In another case a poor widow woman employed some men to repair her boundary wall, which liael been thrown down. These men were unable to proceed with their work without a guard of policemen, and oven then shots were fired. One of the policemen ran after tho per- sons who fired at the men and he was shot dead. Although the murder was witnessed by several people no evidence was forthcoming. Those people daro not give evidence in a Court of Law. They were very jealous in this country of the retention of their religious liberties. In Ireland, under the present Government, it did not exist: If Home Rule was established, his life to the Protestant would become a burden (A Voice: It is now). Another matter of vital importance was tiio state of the DEFENCES OF THE COUNTRY. Four years ago this country was secure from foreign invasion. They had a fleet up to the standard agreed upon by the leaders ot both parties. The two-power standard was 10 per cent. over. That was to say tiiey were 10 per cent. stronger than any other two fleets on the face of the globe. Were they in that condition now? Far from it. Only last session Mr. McKenna, First Lord of tho Ad- miralty, and the Prime Minister, told the House of Commons that, they gavo such information as clearly showed that unless immediate and strong steps were taken within the next three years we should not be of the one-power standard. Ger- many would have overtaken us. When the late Unionist Government were in power they pursued a steady course of shipbuilding. They provided also the necessary arrtiour, guns. and ammunition, and took care to enlist and train men to man the ships, but when this Government came in they pro- mised a good deal more than they could perform in order to effect so-called economy. They com- menced by cutting down the Navy. They reduced the shipbuilding programme. They ceased to re- cruit so many lads to train for the Navy. They also allowed their reserve to become dangerously small. They had also allowed the ammunition to become dangerously low. The speaker went on to show that our principal ships were armed with 12- inch guns, which was the most powerful gun afloat, but unfortunately its life was very short. After 75 rounds had been fired it rapidly deteriorated, so that it was absolutely necessary that they should in order to effectively deal with an enemy have a reserve of guns for ^replacement. But they had hartlly any reserve of guns. This was a jWU rce of danger which the incoming Government would have to seriously tackle. It took 18 months to con- struct one of these guns. The present Government had also failed to retain the strength of the Army. the strength of which they reduced by 30 thousand men. This was a matter of grave importance, es- pecially in the case of tho artillery. It took some time to make a recruit into an efficient soldier. it. took still longer to train an artilleryman. The Territorials were supposed to have taken the place of the old volunteers and militia, but it had not yet been put in that condition which all lovers of the country and its safety would desire to see. Some people contend that they who took up this line were alarmists, that Germany had no intention of attacking us. He heard a speech last week by Mr. Carlyle Bellairs, who had left his old party be- cause the defences of the country had not been maintained in the state of efficiency they should be. Mr. Bellairs gave some striking figures. He pointed out that recently Germany had risen a loan of 50 millions for the purpose of strengthening her Navy, and a portion of it was to be devoted to building torpedo destroyers, which at an immense distance were capable of sinking a battle-ship, They were most formidable weapons of defence. These destroyers did not last very long. as it was a weapon that for purposes of speed it was necessary to build very light. In less than 12 years each one of these torpedo destroyers would be on the scrap heap. The Germans were sound men of business, and having regard to tho short life of these torpedo destroyers why did they build them if it was not to be used against us as at present he showed it could be against no other power. He went on to show how the Germans had been steadily progress- ing in naval matters, how the German firm of Herr Krupp had recently increased their capital by millions and were working as hard as they could to turn out battle-ships and guns of the highest class. Our margin of strength was week by week becom- ing dangerously less. He then read an extract from that day's "Daily Mail" on the subject written by Robert. Blatchford, the leading Socialist in England, and editor of the "Clarion," which showed clearly the danger to which the country was exposed in respect to its defences through the indifference of the Government. Mr. Blatchford, with whose Socialist views he did not agree, was not a man who would be likely to be anxious to discredit the Government, but he believed that his anxiety was roused for the safety of the Empire. In conclusion Captain Phillpott justified the action of the House of Lords in submitting the Finance Bill to the judg- ment of the country, and ponited out that m America, where although they had no House of Lords they Jiad a second chamber where before such a Bill could be carried it would have to get the support of a two-thirds majority. He also re- minded them that the barons of old had extracted the Magna Charta from a would-be dictatorial monarch in the interests of the people. He finished by making a stirring appeal in favour of bv all means retaining the prestige of the British Empire, of which we were all pardonably so proud. THE CANDIDATE'S VIEWS. Mr. Peel, who received a hearty reception, said that many months had elapsed smce he had last the pleasure of addressing a Llandoverv audience. He was then accompanied by Mr. Waddingtou, and tney had a magnificent meeting (applause). Thev had had to-night an excellent speech from Captain Phi Ilpott, of the Royal Navy, who for fivo vears was M.P. far the Torquay division of Devonshire, and was only not member at that moment, for cer- tain domestic reasons. He resigned his position. He was never turned out (applause and hear, hear). It was said at the time of the General Election which took place after the resignation of Captain Phillpott, that if lie was still going to be candi- date he would have been returned with certainty. He was so popular among the fishermen along the mc coast. In speaking as he had done about the Navy captain Phillpotts had been talking with the know- ledge of a man who was thoroughly conversant with his subject. He (Captain Phillpotts) was a hstinguished naval officer, and he had done more than any man now living for the suppression of the uavo trade on the East Coast of Africa (applause). Ho had dealt that night with many subjects of jreat and very deep interest to all of them. All ^yes at this moment were turned on the General blection which would take place in January, when they would be asked to give their vote on the most nomentous question they had had to decide for nany generations. THE ISSUE. To put it shortly they would have to decide whether they would have Socialism with the terrible burdens which it would place on the backs of the people of this island, or whether they would make the foreigner pay his full share of" the taxes for the use of our markets which he had had for many a long year absolutely free (applause). He went. all to snow that Tariff Reform would give them power to negotiate better terms for their goods in foreign markets and would lead to the consolidation and federation of the British Empire. It would give them better terms in the Colonial markets than the foreigner would have; it would mean more work and better wages for our own people in this country (applause); more profit to the manufacturer on all products, and it would mean a better price for all products connected with the agrIcultural industry (hear, hear and applause), and if the manufacturer and the agriculturist were more prosperous they would be able to pay better wages to those they employed (applause). Thoro would be better wages to the workman and the labourer. Capital aid labour had to go together. It was impossible to divorce them. If they did they would have no production of any moro children in this country it husbands and wives were constantly divorced. THE HOUSE OF LORDS. Dealing with the second chamber Mr. Peel claimed that the House of Lords had done the best thing in deciding after the extraordinary manner in which-other Bills had been wrapped up in this Finance Bill to let the people decide for themselves, and he could not for tho life of him .see why the Government should want them to quarrel with tho House of Lords because they thought, it. was only right that the people should bo consulted. He be- lieved that the people were very pleased that they were going to decide the matter. It was the most democratic thing the House of Lords could have possibly done. it was admitted that the Old Age Pensions Act was the best thing the Government had ever passed, but they were all agreed that it required amendment. Mr. Peel went on to show- how this could bo done, viz., by admitting old people who at present, if they had received relief, wero excluded from the benefit of the Act, and com- pelling people who had sums ot money in the bank and were still drawing old age pensions to provide their own old ago pensions by purchasing annuities (hear, hear). Mr. Peel spoke in favour of PEASANT PROPRIETORSHIP whereby people could be brought back to the land, the Government to advance the money necessary for the purchase of the holdings repayable in a long term of years. They would then have tho greatest possible incentive in making the best use of the land. He claimed that the L nionist party were the true party of reform. They effected improvements I 'Ile" S gradually and did not believo in dashing short cuts which often got people into awful messes. Ho spoko in favour of reforming the House of Lords and electing people into that chamber, not. because they were the sons of their fathers, but because they had come to the fore by their own industry and perseverance, intellect 4tid brains-men of the type of Huxley, Tyndall, Sir Joseph Lister, and many others who would occur to them (applause). Mr. Peel also touched on other points in current politics, and gave some telling facts and illustra- tions in favour of a revision of our fiscal policy and the giving of preference to our Colonies. Quoting statistics he showed that while tho exports from this country for the last 10 years had only increased hy 37 per cent. ;Germany had increased by 112 per cent., whilst America had increased in the exports of her manufactured goods by 330 per cent. Going on at this rate it would bo impossible without a change of tho kind he had indicated- for this country to continue her own in the commercial battle, and If they continued to decline in their commercial battles it would naturally follow that they would not be long- before they were defeated in their other battles. One of the best meetings ever held at Llandovery was brought to a, close with a hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman and the speakers.

I. Simply say H. po. and give your grocer • 6d. and yoia will have, a bottle of the "1- 'r,i; delicious 11/ 4 í'. ■ E^K H A_Qc

+-—— GENERAL ELECTION NOTES It was announced in Derby on Saturday that Mr. R. Bell, one of tho representatives of the town in the House of Coinmonsi and general secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, will retire from Parliament at the dissolution. # Mr. John Burn. M.P., spoke on Monday night at a meeting of "workers and supporters" in the Batter- SPit Town Hall. Admission to the meeting was by ticket only, and the strictest precautions were taken to secure that only those intended should be present. w The first, programme of meetings to be addressed by Unionist, leaders was issued from tho Central Offices of the Conservative party. Mr. Balfour will speak, early in January, at Bradford, llanley, Ips- wich, Trowbridge, and York. The Licensed Victuallers' Defence League has issued a manifesto appealing to its to carefully consider their duty as members of a heavilv- taxed and harshly-treated trade. Test questions to be asked of candidates are appended to the mani- festo. Mr. Victor Grayson hit, intimated to the .execu- tive of the association supporting his candidature for the Colone Valley that he would reconsider his resignation of that seat and would light again for that division. The Duke of Marlborough, speaking at. a Con- servative demonstration at Eastbourne on Tuesday night, said the House of Lords was the servants of the nation, the same as the House of Commons. When the opinion of the people was clearly and definitely expressed it was obvious that the House of Lords would bow to it. » At a meeting on Tuesday night of the West Bir- 'h, mingham Conservative and Liberal Unionist Asso- ciation, Mr. Chamberlain was unanimously adopted" as the candidate for the forthcoming electioa. Mr. Henry Peyton, who presided, said Mr. Chamberlain had represented the constituency for twenty-fivo years. His enforced retirement had been a great loss to the division, to Birmingham, and to the nation. They hoped ho might be spared to repre- sent them for many years. e Election prophecies do not go for much in the ordinary way of things, but those which have "in- side" authority behind them have an interest of their own. I have just heard the forecast which Mr. J. S. Sandars, the well-known private secretary of Mr. Balfour, and his closest political adviser, has just made of the result of the coming dissolution. Mr. Sandars gives the Unionists a majority of fifty over all other parties in the new Parliament.—Lon- don correspondent of the "Daily Dispatch." Vigorous attempts were made by a number of men unable to get into a Liberal demonstration which Mr. Ure addressed at Braintree on Tuesday night to rush the hall, which was already packed. Both back and front entrances were assailed, and a party with a battering ram smashed many windows, showere of glass falling on part of the audience, several people being cut. Evil-smelling chemicals were projected into the hall. The attacking party were cleared away by the police. Mr. Ure had a quiet hearing so far as the audience was concerned. (r 11- The Montgomeryshire Conservative Association on Monday unanimously selected Mr. Arthur Wat-kin1 Williams Wynn, a local landowner, living at Coedy- maen. Meifod, to oppose Mr. David Davies, M.P. It had been intended to allow Mr. Davies to be re- turned unopposed on the ground that he was a' Tariff Reformer, but last week he announced him- self a Free Trader. Mr. Wvnn's father and grand- father were Conservative members for Montgomery- shire, Mr. Wynn was appointed by the Radical majority of the county council as chairman of tho Montgomeryshire Small Holding Committee. Mr. Lloyd George opened his electoral campaign in Carnarvon on Friday. In the afternoon he ad- dressed a meting of representative delegates of the Carnarvon Boroughs, declared his intention to re- main the repesentative of the boroughs if they would have him, and spcke briefly as to the gravity of the political crisis. In the evening he spoke at a meeting of between 7.000 and 8,000 persons, making a vehement assault on the action of the House of Lords in rejecting the Budget, sharply crit:cizing the contention that the Budget has merely been. referred to the people, and offering a detailed exam- ination and defence of its proposals. During his speech Mr. George burst into tears. We understand that Mr. W. H. Davies, solicitor, Cardiff, has sent the following letter to Mr. Lloyd' George:— 26, Castle-street, Cardiff, 10th December. 1909. Sir,-I have been consulted by Mr. Peter Hurst, of 25, Castle-street. Cardiff tailor, with reference to a statement reported to have been made by you in the course of a speech at Carnarvon on the 9th inst. to the effect that the castle in Cardiff, belonging to the Marquess of Bute, was assessed to valuation at L924 per annum, while the tailor's shop opposite was assessed at JE947. This statement is absolutely without foundation, as my client's assessment is merely JMO per annum, and there appears to be no po.sibility of any intention on your part to refer to any other tailor's shop, as the business l^longing- to my client is the only opo answering the descrip- tion. » You can readily understand that. the statement ha ving been widely circulated is calculated to damage my client's business, and, as a matter of fact. some of his customers have already been led to believe that his charges are in proportion to the assesment alleged by you. I must, therefore, ask you to pub- licly correct your statement at the earliest oppor- tunity.—Yours truly, W. H. DAVIES. To the Right Hon. D. Lloyd George, The Treasury, Whitehall. S. W. -=-, -JO ,1 rt'" "I' I. special meenng or the LanllganHllro .Laoerai Association was held at. Brondeify Chapel, Lampeter, on Friday, Mr. William Thomas, J.P., Aberystwyth, presiding. There was a large attendance. The secretary (Mr. John Evans, Aherystwyth) read a letter from Mr. J. A. Pease, the chief Liberal Whip, stating that rumours had reached him that some dissatisfaction had been caused by the sugges- tion having been made that Mr. Vaughan Davies's attendances in tho House of Commons had been unsatisfactory. He (the Chief Whip) had o com- plaint to make in regard to his attendances. When- ever the Whips had desired his presence he had responded readily. A resolut.on, thanking Mr. Vaughan Davies for his past services and selecting him as candidate for the forthcoming election, was inovoc1 hy Mr. Morgan Evans. Oakford, and seconded by the Rev. Rhys- Morgan, Llanddewi Brefi. The Rev. O. T. Davies, Calvinistio Methodist minister, Llanarth, complained of Mr. Vaughan Davies's record of attendances in the House of Com- mons as shown by the. division lists, and asked him to explain why he had been absent so often. He further complained that no Liberal meetings had been held in the county since the last election, and wanted to know if the. hon. member would give a pledge that ho would in future enter more fully into the. spirit of things. He was also surprised that the hon. member could not speak Welsh. A Voice—Why don't you speak Welsh? Mr. Davies I can speak Welsh as good as any of you. but I want him to understand everything I liaeo to say (hear, hear). Captain James—He understands Welsh. Mr. Davies—If he understands Welsh why won't lie speak it? Mr. Rees Morris, Llangeitho, and Mr. Joshua Hughes, Aberporth, also urged Mr. Vaughan Davies to visit the country districts oftener. After further discussion the selection of Mr. Vaughan Davies was unanimously carried. Mr. Vaughan Davies, in acknowledging, admitted- that his record was a bad one, but said he had attended every important division. He did not at-- tend (-very petty. silly division, but spent the time attending to the personal interests of his constitu- ents and in helping young Cardi.s who came up to London. < < Mr. Balfour has issued his address to tho electors of the City of London. The immediate occasion of the dissolution, he says, is the resolution of the- House of Lords that the country shall be consulted on the Budget of 1909. The Budget is therefore the subject primarily before the constituencies. But that is not the topic that most deeply interests the Government, apologists. Their claim is that the House of Commons, no matter what its rejation to public opinion at the moment, is to be the un- controlled master of the fortunes of every class in the community, and that to the community itself no appeal, even in the extremcst case, is to be allowed to lie. ,The questions raised are these: May there not bo occasions on which an appeal to tho people on matters of finance is necessary? Is not this one of them? And if these questions be answered in the affirmative, does any other machinery exist for secur- ing the appoa1 except that which has been set in motion by tho House of Lords? Mr. Balfour pro- ceeds to contend that the present attack on the Houso of Lords is but the culmination of a long- drawn conspiracy. It was ingeniously contrived, but ho does not think it is proving successful. The people are not insulted by having their opinion asked on the Budget, nor do they think that the House of Lords has gone Beyond their duty in ask- ing for it. And they are surely right; for the Single Chamber system is not consistent with the demo- cratic working of representative government in com- plex and developing communities. After enlarging on this point. Mr. Balfour enumerates the great powers enjoyed by the House of Commons, and says 1 hoy do not satisfy the Single Chamber conspirators because they wish the House of Commons to be independent not merely of the Peers, but of the people. Reiterating that the Single Chamber system is impossible, and declining to discuss possible im- provements in the constitution of the Upper House, he affirms that it is not so much the privileges of tho Lords as the rights of the people that are threatened. It is in their interests that the plot must be de- feated. Mr. Balfour goes on to point out some of the defects of the Budget, and to turn to tariff re- form as a means of coping with social difficulties. TIn ridicules the proposed land legislation of the Government, and closes by emphasizing the- main- tenance of tho Empire, the Union, and the Constitu- tion as the great traditional obligations of the Unionist party.

CARMARTHEN MEN IN TROUBLE ALLEGATIONS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST POLICE. At Llanelly Police Court on Thursday in last week, James Clarke and Dd. Reuben Thomas, Tumble, two natives of Carmarthen, were charged with steal- ing joints of meat, the property of Lewis James. P.C. D. J. Thomas gave evidence in support of the charge. Clarke, giving evidence in his defence, said that they were detained in a room at Cross Hands, pend- ing tho arrival of a conveyance to take them to Llanelly Polico Station. It was very cold, and as (hero was no firo in the room they asked to bo taken to another room. Tho defendant Thomas went with a civilian, who kept guard with the constable, to another room. and while witness was alone with the constable the officer struck him in tho face, saving, "I've got you now. You-vo not had enough."The constable struck him a second time, and threatened to hit him again, but witness said he would kick the door in. The Magistrates' Clerk—Did you make any com- plaint to the superintendent or the inspector about lilt, conduct of P.C. D. J. Thomas.'—No. P.C. Thomas denied the accusation, and said that the defendants behaved like madmen. Clarke was discharged. lJ. R. Thomas, who elected to be tried by a jury,- was committed to take his trial at the Carmarthen- shire Quarter Sessions.-