The Welsh Coast Pioneer and Review for North Cambria

THE UNEMPLOYMENT CONFERENCE. The seriousness of the unemployment difficulty amply justified the Court of Common Council in granting the use of the Guild Hall for the conference called by the Right-to-Work Council, and the fact that 180 societies and public bodies were represented furnished striking evidence of the widespread interest which has been aroused. At a time of emergency there is a disposition to minimise differences and to unite as far as pos- sible in remedial steps, though it must be con- fessed that some of the demands made by the Socialist organisations render this increasingly difficult. For, after all, it is not only necessary to think of the unemployed, but also of the general body of workers, whose means are limi- ted, and who are not themselves far removed from actual want. Moreover, it is recognised by men of both political parties that very great care is necessary in providing work, 'est it should compete with the ordinary labour rrarket and aggravate the evil it is designed to meet. Rev. Russell Wakefield, who presided over the confer- ence, attributed the increase of unemployment to the disturbance of the labour market by the South African war, the drift of the population to the towns, the improper employment of boys and girls, the want of a proper organisation of industry, the introduction of new labour saving machinery, and the defects of our educational system. Probably there should be a id,d to this list a decline of thrift, for most of the friendly societies report a diminution in the rate of growth, and the best .experts a3 agreed t' at more is spent on amusements than at any previ- ous period. The causes assigned by Mr Wako- field have obviously more to do with chronic than with temporary employment, and they can for the greater part only be dealt with by slow remedial measures. There is a general expectation that when the Royal Commission on the Poor Law presents its report a Bill will be introduced for a better clas- sification of the dependent classes, and it may be hoped that an important advance will be made in checking vagrancy and providing farm and in- dustrial training for inefficient and casual workers. The drift of population to the towns is not con- fined to this country, and will be hard to com- bat, but something may be done by the County Councils in developing small holdings, and per- haps even more by individual landowners, if they received greater encouragement from the State. The employment of juvenile labour is a very difficult problem, though it will scarcely be ques- tioned that it depresses wages, and also casts adrift a great many untrained workers when they are no longer employable as boys and girla. Ger- many is doing something to meet the difficulty by making continuation schools compulsory, but it is to be feared that opinion in this country is hardly prepared for so drastic a step. With im- proved industrial conditions this evil would pro- bably become less, but at present it is undoubtedly one of the tributaries of the stream of unemployment which, during the past three or four years, has steadily increased in volume. One of the best suggestions made at the confer- ence in oonnection with the better organisation of industry was the development of the labour ex- ffaaag* qotecn, which baa beet) such a remark- j f able success in Germany, and something may also be done by limiting overtime and anticipating aa far as practicable seasons of pressure or excep- tional slackness. In some of our larger industries the employ- ment of labour has unquestionably been affected by the newer types of machinery which have been introduced. Where there has not been an actual decliDe in the number of workers, the rate of increase has been checked, and the demand for workers has not kept pace with the natural incre- ment of the population. This particular phase of the evil will tend to right itself, though the process will be slow and painful. On the educa- tional side of the problem much might be written, but it must suffice to point out that in the past we have erred as a nation in not making school teaching sufficiently practical. Industrial train- ing must have a larger place in the school cur- riculum if the boys and girls of to-day are to make capable citizens and housewives in the years to come. In dealing with the present difficulty the conference asked for a grant of a million sterling from the State, for an amendment of the Act of 1905, so that wages could be paid out of the rates, for a limitation of the hours of work in ail industries, and for a number of other changes in our social and industrial system. Soma of these claims are obviously open to grave ob- jection, as they would add to the heavy burdens which already fall alike upon capital and in- dustry, but it is well that every side of the question should be discussed, so that in the near future an educated public opinion may endeavour to place the relations of labour and capital upon a satisfactory footing, and to reduce to a mini- mum the evils of poverty and unemployment. a

COLWYN BAY PROMENADE ENTER- TAINMENTS. The Colwyn Bay Urban Council have not been particularly fortuna.te in the exercise of their controlling powers in connection with the Prome- nade. About twelve months ago, with the idea. of affording freer scope to the Pier Concerts, they decided not to allow evening entertainments. This is now admitted to have been a mistake. Not only did it mean the loss of a considerable revenue to the ratepayers, but there is good rea- son to believe that the experiment failed alto- gether to attain the object aimed at. Restricted thus on the sea front, the minstrel and pierrot troupes held their entertainments on private land in the he-art of the town, with the result that at nightfall the Promenade was so scantily frequen- ted that one was tempted to think the many thou- sands of pounds spent upon its construction and lighting had been in a large measure expended in vain. In July a well-known local resident, sup- ported by one of the leading firms of entertain- ment caterers, sought the use of the small pro- perty at the Rhos end of the Promenade, known as Combermere Gardens, for the purpose of pro- viding entertainments for that end of the district. They offered £20 for the remaining half of the yeqr and JE50 per annum for the next four years, provided the Council gave them a lease for that period. From the plans produced and the state- ments made at the time, the scheme the pro- moters had in view was a substantial one, and there never was nor could have been the slightest objection to it, but on the ground that a lease should not be given the Council rejected tlioi offer, despite the warm appeal made in favour of the scheme by the members for the Rhos dis- trict. On Tuesday, however, the General Pur- poses Committee, formed of a large majority of the Council, recommended that the whole Rhos section of the Promenade be let to an applicant for JB20 per annum, and at the same time that the applicant for another section of the property be invited to lease his holding for three years. This seeming inconsistency gave the Rhos mem- bers reasonable ground for protest.

Train Delays at the Junction. The attention of the London and North-Western Railway Company will doubtless be called to a, letter which appears in our correspondence col- umns this week, in which the writer criticises the delay at Llandudno Junction in handling some of the main line trains from Bangor. We can as- sure the Company that we have heard many, complaints about the unaccountable delay of the 11.5 train at the Junction, and it certainly seenie a most singular thing that any main line train should be kept at a junction for half an hour, bearing in mind the circumstances. The wait of quarter of an hour which occurs in the afternoon is a comparatively small matter, but a wait of five minutes' duration is surely long enough to do what is required in the way of handling par- cels and exchanging passengers. During the last few years the Company have shown so much enterprise and been so anxious to meet the con- venience of travellers on the Chester and Holy- head line that we feel sure if it is at all possible, the Drolonsred delays which now take place at Llandudno Junction will be kept down to much more reasonable limits. • Residential Districts on the Coast. Amongst the latest wills published this week are two relating to the estates of gentlemen who resided, one at Colwyn Bay and the other at Llandudno, both being in their lifetime associated with large business concerns across the border. This reminds us incidentally of the increasing popularity of Colwyn Bay and Llandudno as resi- dential districts. Famous for their salubriousness and the natural charm of their surroundings, coupled with the fact that the railway service has brought them within easy reach of Liverpool, Manchester, and the large Midland towns, it is not surprising that Colwyn Bay and Llandudno should appeal to those who seek to spend their retirement away from the bustle and turmoil of the great manufacturing centres. Such a retreat is obtainable in the delightful spots on the North Wales coast. The Supervision of Dairies. The report of the Medical Officer of Health pre- sented to the Conway Rural District Council, on Friday, shows the importance of taking every precaution to ensure that our milk supplies shall be free from any possibility of contamination. In the particular instance referred to, Dr. Travis stated that the instructions he gave were prompt- ly carried out, and that the person concerned was most anxious to do everything that was or- dered. That, in a nutshell, was the point of the appeal made by Colonel Cornwallis West at the Denbigh County Council meeting last August. Farmers and dairymen would undoubtedly in their own interests abandon many of tHe old methods with respect to their dairies and shippons if it was clearly pointed out to them that such methods are inimical to public health. Sanitary inspectors and other public health offi- cers should be assisted in every reasonable way by public bodies to act in that direction. The Conway rural district extends from Talybont and Dolgarrog to the far end of Llysfaen, a distance of twelve or fifteen miles, and it is unreasonable to expect that the Council's solitary inspector can carry out his duties adequately especially when he acts as surveyor at the same time. Next month the Council will have an opportunity of discussing whether an assistant inspector shall be appointed. The matter has been before them. time and again, but there should be no further delay. Llanrwst Tradesmen on the Defensive. The principles of Protection were so effectively propounded at the last meeting of the Llanrwst Urban District Council that the tradesmen of the old town have just decided to unite to do battle against the cause of Free Trade. As al- ready stated in this column outside tradespeople have been recently monopolising meet of the stall spaces let by the Council in Market Square on fair and market days. Strong objection was raised against this by the local tradesmen be- cause the "foreigners" undersold them, and it was urged that the Council should increase the tolls from sixpence to such a figure as would be proportionate to the rents and rates paid by the business men of the town. With the object of safeguarding their interests in this and other directions, the Llanrwst Tradesmen's Association has been revived. The old Association is said to have gone no further with their operations than to "settle the price of grocers' sacks." How far the new organisation will carry out their pro- gramme remains to be seen. We are assured that there is no truth in the reported formiti-in of a Free Traders' Alliance by way of an oppos- ing camp, so that there are prospects of a peace- ful Christmas after all] British Workmen In Germany. The Berlin correspondent of the "Standard," writing on November 29th, says:—"The deputa- tion of five working men who are visiting Ger- many under the guidance of Mr W. B. Boyd- Carpenter, have now completed one week's work of investigation, and they have already realised that the labouring classes in Protectionist Ger- many live under conditions far different from those vividly portrayed by Free Trade orators in England. The deputation is made up of two Liberal Free Traders, one Conservative Free Trader, one Unionist who is interested in co- operative associations, and one Tariff Reformer. All of them are genuine working men who, at home, are employed in their factories from morn- ing till night. On reaching Berlin, a week ago, they were met at the station by 56 British work- ing men, who are permanent residents here, and from whom they began to acquire knowledge about German conditions of life and labour. The members of the deputation have been conducting a careful search for the black bread and horses' flesh which Mr Lloyd George, in a speech at Car- narvon, declared to be the German working man's principal diet. Needless to say they have been unsuccessful in this search, and, in spite of all their efforts, have failed to discover one single working man whose diet is even partially com- posed of black bread and horses' flesh." < < The Education Bill. Mr Asquith's statement in the House of Com- mons on Monday night was a confession of fail- ure. Yet it was made in so graceful and so chastened a spirit that it is impossible not to feel sympathy with him in his disappointment. But no sentimental feelings can disguise the fact that this is the fourth Education Bill produced by the Government which has come to an untimely end, and these repeated failures cannot but suggest the reflection that the education problem cannot be settled upon the principles which the Govern- ment seek to apply to it. Mr Asquith paid a. most righteous tribute to the eminent services rendered to the cause of peace by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and his generous words that the Primate had shown himself worthy of the title "Pastor Pastorum Ecclesiae" will be long re- membered. But there are, of course, limits to what can be conceded in the cause of peace, and the Archbishop quite rightly called a halt for the. further consideration of the financial pro- posals of the Bill as soon as these were made known. It is quite inexplicable why the terms of transfer and the grants to schools which con- tracted out were not considered by the Govern- ment at an earlier stage. As soon as they were made known their inequitable character stood re- vealed. Further consideration might have re- moved the difficulty, but the Government were in a hurry, tird "collapse" was tho result.

PERSONAL. The Duke of Westminster had a good night, and continues to progress satisfactorily. Lieutenant-General the Earl of Dundonald, Colonel of the 2nd Life Guards, will be Gold Stick-in-Waiting on the King during December. The Bishop of St. Asaph has appointed the Rev. E. Evans, curate of Rhyl, to the rectory of Llanddcget, Denbighshire. Mr Ernest Evans, who has been appointed pre- sident of the Cambridge University Debating So- ciety, is a 90n of Mr Evan Evans, solicitor, Aber- ystwyth. Lord Carrington was one of the principal speakers at the annual dinner of the Farmers' Club and Associated Chambers of Agriculture, held on Tuesday night in London. Dr. W. E. Hoyle, who has been appointed direc- tor of the Welsh National Museum, is a nephew of the late John Curwen, founder of the tonio sol-fa system. John Ourwen's wife and Dr., Hoyle's mother were sisters. — The Hon. Violet Douglas-Pennant was amongst those present at the fifth annual dinner of the Society of Women Journalists at the Gaiety Res- taurant. The Attorney-Goneral made an interest- ing speech. Mr Henry Martin Grose, of Bryn Derwen, Abbey-road, Llandudno, and Trent Vale, Stoke- on-Trent, J.P., china clay merchant, left estate valued at £138,975 gross, of which £ 136,327 is net personalty. Mrs Cadwaladr Davies, known to all the musical work under her maiden name of "Mary Davies," read a paper on Saturday evening to the Welsh Tabernacle Mutual Improvement So- ciety, King's Cross, on "Welsh folk-song." The "Times" announces that a marriage has been arranged between Mr Andrew Thorne, Grenadier Guards, and the Hon. Margaret Douglas-Pennant, one of the younger daughters of the late Lord Penrhyn and of Gertrude Lady Penrhyn. Princess Pless with Prince Pless has arrived in England for a visit. The Prince and Princess will make some stay with Colonel and Mrs Corn- wallis West at Lymington, and will visit the Duke and Duchess of Westminster at Grosvenor House. Sir Herbert Roberts, M.P., Mr Herbert Lewis, M.P., Mr Wm. Jones, M.P., Mr Llewelyn Hugh Jones, Mr John Rowland (representing the Chan- cellor of the Exchequer), Mr D. P. Williams (arnarvon), and Mr D. G. Roberts (Aberyst- wyth), were amongst those present at the meet- ing of the committee formed to consider the draft proposed Bill for the appointment of a Secretary for Wales and for the constitution of a National Council of Education for Wales. The meeting was held at Shrewsbury, the proceedings being conducted in private.

THE SMITHFIELD SHOW. WELSH AWARDS. At the London Smithfield Show t'he following awards were made for Welsh exhibits:—Steer, not exceeding 2 years old: 1st, E20, the Hon. F. G. Wynn (Owen); 2nd, £10, the Coed Cooh rrrustees (Rheinallt); 3rd, JB5, R. Hughes; r., R. M. Greaves. Steer, above 2 years and not exceeding- 3 years old: 1st, R20, the Hon. F. G. Wynn (Gwcrclas); 2nd, LIO, R. M. Greaves (Cymiro); 3rd, JB5, R. Hughes; 4th, P,3, R. J. Gard-ner (Baronet); r., the Hon. F. G. Wynn (Mr John Jones). Heifer, not exceeding 3 years old. 1st, L20, R. J. Gardner (Mari); 2nd, £10, and 3rd, E5, R. M. Greaves (Jini Jones and Wern Floodgate); 4th, £ 3, the Hon. F. G. Wynn Sionet); r. the Coed Codh Trustees (Brwynen). JE20 silver cup for the best Welsh: The Hon- F. G. Wynn (Gwerolas); r., R. M. Greaves (Cymro). Pen of 3 fat wether shoop of any age: 1st, £10, and 2nd, L5, the University College of North Wales. In the absence of Sir John Cottercll's Floro- dora., the Hon. F. G. Wynn took th lead in the heifer olasa with Gwendoline.

!t .Mjt.L --= TRADE STILL DECLINING. RETURNS FOR NOVEMBER SHOW 97,237,650 DECREASE ON LAST YEAR'S FIGURES. A decrease of 27,237,650 in British imports for the month of November, 1908, as compared with November, 1S07, was shown in the Board of Trade report iscoed yesterday afterwon-tlie imparts for last November totalling £ 49,908,293. The exports reacted a total of £29.147415, which is less by £6,714,761 than in November bat year. The total imports for the eleven months ended with November 30 amounted to £ 536,371,119, and the exporta for the same eleven months wwo £347,818,003..

MUSICAL NOTES. By Peter Edwards, Mus. Bac. ("Pedr Alaw"). A SUCCESSFUL CONCERT AT RHUDDLAN. The opening of the new room adjoining the C.M. Chapel at Rhuddlan, on Thursday, the 3rd inst., was an event of great interest) not only to the people of that town, but to many in neighbouring villages and towns. When, there- fore, Miss Roberts, The Abbey, declared the room "opened," in the afternoon, it was well filledan augury of a popular gathering in the evening. With the speeches—which were most- ly in praise of Miss Roberts as a philan- thropist-I need not dwell in this column. One could have wished some of the remarks had been more pithy—a pattern set by Miss Roberts her- self. She simply stated that what she had done to help various persona and "causes" was be- cause she considered it a duty and a pleasure. Her family in the past had been staunch sup- porters of the Methodist cause in the town; and the memory of their example was a power in her life, by which she wae influenced in what little she had done. After tea, of which several hundreds partook, a concert was given. It was presided over by an old Rhuddlan boy-Mr John Jones, Chester who had given a handsome cheque towards the cost of the building. The musical items were as follow:—Mr Tom Williams, Ruthin a very successful baritone competitor at Eisteddfodau—sang "Yr Ornest" (" The Tournament")—a descriptive song well- known to our readers, and one well suited to his powers. He gave an effective rendering-pre- senting the various characters with fidelity. In fact, the entire song was well thought-out and interpreted. In Miss Louie James we have a soprano of great promise. Her voice may not be so brilliant as one some times hears, but it possesses purity, sweetness and charm. In some parts of the first song, "April Morn," the enunciation suffered slightly, otherwise it was an excellent rendering throughout. Following this with a Welsh National Song, in Welsh, the enunciation was excellent, as also were the other essentials. Madame Josephine Williams, a contralto singer of great range of voice and of good quality, sang that ever popular "Angus Macdonald," and was loudly encored. Speaking without refer- ence to the copy, I should advise a quieter tone in the portion beginning with "0 Father of mercies," etc. Apart from this, no exception could be taken to the rendering of this song. Excellent also was her rendering of the song "Unwaith eto yn Nghymru anwyl" (encored). Mr Evan Lewis is a tenor whom I had not previously heard. He has a pure voice, sweet, and yet, at times, powerful. He is a singer who brings a reat deal of intelligence to bear upon Jais efforts, and captivated the audience by his rendering of "Gwlad y Bryniau" in which there was a large measure of patriotic feeling. Miss Louie James' song Hen iaith fy mam" was a most telling performance, as also was Mr Lewis' "King's Own." Mr Tom Williams also gave a forcible rendering of "Y Bachgen dewr." In one or two instances in the early part of this song, however, the enunciation left a little to be desired. I would point out, with regard to the song, "Nil desperandum" that the word "despair" should not be pronounced "dispair." Of the rendering of the Quartette Ti wyddost beth ddywed fy nghalon," the least said the better. Of the duett, "Tell me, gentle stranger" (Miss James and Mr Williams), In the Spring- time" and "Madam, will you walk" (Madame Williams and Mr Lewis), and "Hywel a Blod- wen" (Miss James and Mr Lewis), I can only speak in terms of warm praise. Miss Mabel Hughes, of Rhyl, the accompanist, performed her part with ability. The crowded audience greatly enjoyed the sing- ing, and it would be difficult for the committee to provide a better concert than this first one in the new room. • » • • • MUSICAL REMEDIES. Perhaps some of my readers may like to have the following prescriptions for Musical Ills, now that the wintery season is with us:— Now that medical elation is the latest medication, And our doctors are prescribing mellow strains instead of pills, I have written a cadenza which should cure an influenza Just by aurally imbibing its remediary trills. Fve a little operetta which should make man- kind my debtor, As it's strangely efficacious in diseases of the heart; And my rhapsody, ecstatic, is for maladies hepatic, While my Fugue3 are so vivacious they make circulation start. Then my chorus (moderato), with a base drum obligate, Will dispel hallucination of the very vilest type, And my Nocturnes in Q Minor, for an over- zealous diner, Will be quite a revelation, as they cure with- out a gripe. I've a beautiful sonata which is guaranteed to start a Perspiration in a patient who has fever in his veins; And my arias, alluring, are quite capable of curing Every form of mania nascent in a human being's brains. I have feats of vocalism which will conquer rheumatism, And my instrumental doses are for every known disease; There are solos for conniptions and some orches- tral prescriptions, Which will make a diagnosis read in any way you please I Now, if you would care- to try them, you would be obliged to buy them, As the price of tone vibration has been lately mounting higher; But professional conviction, which I state with- out restriction, Is that one good applicationn will be all that you'll desire. "ROMANTIC" AND "CLASSIC" IN MUSIC. In a recent lecture by Dr. Naylor upon Jacobus Haudl (born in Camiola, Austria), he spoke of him as a romanticist, and gave a de- finition by the Oxford scholar, Walter Pater, of romanticism and an explanation of its use in opposition to classicism. In literature the terms have been misused; so they have in music. In literature the romantic is concerned with the sub- ject of the work, the classic with the method of presenting it; so also it is with music. The romantic is of truth, the classic is of beauty, The romantic implies newness, the classic implies age. We may got too much of either. Too much of the true, and we have the bizarre or even the vulgar; too much of the beautiful, and we get the pedantic, which is only better as it is better to be stupid than insane. The usual historic division of modern music was opposed, viz.: Classical up to Beethoven, romantic after him, up to our own time; and an alternative division was proposed—with three re- naissances, introducing the spirit of curiosity, or the desire of strangeness, into that which was classic; an inoculation of the beautiful with the strange. The romanticists have always existed. Pales- trina was not one; Byrde was. George Frederick Handel was not one; John Sebastian Bach was. The romanticist is the innovator. Jacobus Haudl was a man of this sort; he wished to express truth more than beauty, and so he was a romantic, in an age which felt that music could go no further—just as was felt in Handel's time and in that of his successors. The fourth renaissance is now appearing. Music will never come to its end; the romanticists will see to that.. it OLD WELSH TUNES. I understand that Mr David Owen, the Rhyl musician, has, for a long time, been collecting old Welsh tunes, with the view to the publishing the best thereof. He informed me he had ex- amined about two thousand tunes, and has made a selection, re^harmonising many, in accordance with the requirements of modern harmony. A first portion of the work is now in the press. I have long felt the desirability of having an edition of the best old Welsh tunes. Their days are not yet past—although the pioneers of the Chorale of Germany, and their followers, have tried hard to bring that about. The old tunes of Wales are the expression of the feelings of men who were truly religious and if we wish [ to catch more of the religious spirit which was once such a power in our land, we cannot do better than submit ourselves to the influence of the old tunes of our forefathers.

MR CRAWFORD'S SKATING RINK.— Aft the Liverpool City Police Court, Mr W. E. ,Ta-yl,or applied, on behalf of Mr CL P. Craw- ford, general manager of the Tournament Hall RoBer Skating Rink, Edg*-Iane, for permissim to open the rink on Chirstmas Day, afternoon and evening- The police offered no objection, jec6on. and the beooh consented to the nnk being 0pen- ed on Qhfrijjrtsnas Dae m the afternoon god even- -iDe,

THE" PIONEER" AND ADVERTISERS. The Editor of the "Pioneer" regrets that owing to the pressure of advertisements he has been compelled to curtail many reports which are usually given at greater length and to hold over several others. During the last few weeks we have had to meet unusual demands from advertisers for space, and this week the Pioneer contains nearly 4.0 columns of advts., which establishes a new record for the paper.

OLD-AGE PENSIONS. PAYABLE ON NEW YEAR'S DAY. Some uncertainly has existed as to when the first payment of old-agp, Parisians will be made. January commences on a Friday, and there has been doubt whether pensions will be paid that week-end or not until a clear week of the new year has elapsed. To settle the 'point Mr S. M. Holden, of Aocrington, wrote to the President of the Local Government Board, and yesterday he received a reply from Mr Burns stating that the first pensions will be paid on New Year's Day, when the Pensions 'Act comes into force.

TEACHING OF WELSH. NO SPECIAL GRANTS FOR SCHOOLS IN WALES. Mr Lonsdale (U., Armagh Mid) csked the President of the Beard of Education in the House of Commons on Monday what was the expenditure incurred by the teaching of Welsh as an extra subject during- the past year in primary schools in Wales. MT Runciman: No special grant has been given for the teaching of Welsh- I ha.ve no in formation as to the expenditure incurred by local authorities upon the teaching of this parti- cular subject. —— \a*

FIRST SNOWFALL IN CAR- NARVONSHIRE. FOUR INCHES DEEP AT ROEWEN. HUNDREDS OF SHEEP BURIED. A country correspondent writes:—Residents on the coast little imagined when it was raining cats and dogs along the seaboard on Tuesday night that it was snowing hard in-land. But it was a fact nevertheless, and when the hilly districts woke up on Wednesday morning there was over four inches of snow on the ground. Our correspondent was driving through the mountains yesterday, and he says the cold was intense. In many places the snowdrifts were several feet in depth, and shepherds arrived with long poles were prodding those drifts, which bore indications that sheep were underneath. It is possible that hundreds of sheep are buried, but so long as food can be conveyed to them through the funnels made by the poles of the shepherds, the poor animals will exist for davs. The Snowdonian ranges were all covered with snow yesterday.

THE POLITICAL IMPASSE. FRESH DISSOLUTION RUMOURS. 'MOMENTOUS PRONOUNCEMENT PENDING. DEMAND FOR ACTION AGAINST THE LORDS. Dissolution rumours are again circulating freely in view of the demand made by a section of the Ministerialists in the House of Commons for immediate action in view of the poltical impasse brought ahout by the House of Lords in rejecting and "impossibly" amending leading measures in the Government's programme. It is a significant fact that the "Westminster Gazette," which enjoys the oonfidence of a sec- tion of the Cabinet, is now counselling- a disso- lution. The idea that a Liberal Government can, like Sir Balfour's Government in the last Parliament, ait down for two years or more to a more process of administration when it has lost the power of legislating, seems to the "Westminster" unthinkable It is suggested to continue the battle in the House of Commons on financial lines, but the moment the financial lines are exhausted, to be ready to take the issue to the country This might mean a disso- lution after the introduction of the Budget next year, or next January twelvemonth, on the 1910 register. A momentous pronouncement by the Prime Minister is expected on Friday evening next when Mr Asquith is to be the guest of the National Liberal Club.

THE LATE MR H. M. GROSE, ULANDUDNO. Mr Henry Martin Grose, of Bryn Derwen, Abbey-road, Llandudno, Carnarvonshire, and of The Hawthorns, Trent-vale, Stoke-upon-Trent, Staffs, J.P., china clay merchaait, who died on the 19th July last, left estate of the gross value of £ 138,975 9s 5d, with net personalty £ 136,327 8s 8d, and probate of his will, dated 9th June, 1908, has been granted to his widow, Mrs Annie Maria Grose, of Bryn Derwen, Abbey-road, Llandudno; his son, Mr Thomas Alexander Grose, of Bryn Derwen, solicitor's articled clerk; his son-in-law, Mr John Arthur Tomlinson, of Clayton-road, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffs., brick manufacturer; and Mr John Blow Ashwell, of Stoke-upon-Trent, solicitor. The testator left £100 each to the executors of his will, L500 to his wife, and his consumable stores" and per- sonal effects absolutely, and the use of his re- sidence and of his household furniture, and the income of his residuary estate during her widow- hood, and in the event of her re-marriage he left to her an, annuity during the remainder of her life of £ 100. Subject to his wife's interest, the testator left the income of one-seventh of his residuary estate, or £ 100 per annum, to his grand-daughter, Joan Theodora Grose, daughter of his son, William Marshall Grose. The re- mainder of his residuary estate the testator left upon trust for his children, namely, Alice Mary Powell, Edith Emily Tomlinson, Constance De- borah Walmsley, Annie Beatrice Farrington, Thomas Alexander Grose, and Frederick Martin Grose.

THE LATE COUNCILLOR DRONSFIELD, J.P., COLWYN BAY. An estate valued at £111,477 gross, and £103,338 net, has been left by Councillor Joseph Standring Dronsfield, J.P., of Christowe, Gros- venor-road, Colwyn Bay, Denbigh, formerly of Park Gate, Alexandra-road, Oldham, a partner in the firm of Dronsfield Brothers, machinists, Oldham, chairman of the Surveyors and Tram- ways Committee, and formerly chairman of the Finance Committee, who died on October 7th, aged sixty-eight. Probate of the will, dated December 11th, 1907, with a codicil of the 3rd of August, 1908, has been granted to his daughter, Mrs Harriet Harries-Jonea, of Christowe; Mr James Robert Harries-Jonea, of Limehouse, Hollmwood, Lancashire, solicitor, and his nephew, Mr James Bentley, of Manor Park, Oldha.m, three of the executors, power being re- served for making a like grant to his grand-sons, Mr Joseph Standring Dronsfield Harries-Jones, and Mr Llewellyn Albert Harries-Jones, the other executors. Testator bequeaths LWO each to his executors, his house and furniture to his daughter, Mrs Harries-Jones, 21000 to Oldham Infirmary, £ 200 to the Young Men's Christian Association, JB500 and an annuity of 250 to each of his sisters, Mary and AEce, and the following legacies to employees:— £ 10 to those of ten years' service, B5 to those of five years, JB4 for four years, 23 for three years, 22 for two year, Li for one year, and 10s to those under twenty-one years of age for each year of service. He directs his executors to pay for the education and main- tenance of his three grandchildren, and subject thereto he leaves one-half of his residuary estate to his grandson, Joseph Standring Dronsfield Harries-Jones, and the other half in trust for his daughter for life. and then as she may appoint to her issua.

Captain Owen Morris, of 49, High-street, Port- madoo, retired master mariner, for many yeairs master and part-owraer of the ship "Albert Balt- zer," cbneotor of the Portmadoo Steam Tog Company, and of the Portmadoo Insurance So- ciety. left £1.525 groEB, of which L1084 ia oet

NORTH WALES COAST TRAIN SERVICE. EXTRAORDINARY DELAYS AT LLAN. DUDNO JUNCTION, (To the Editor of the "Pioneer.") Sir,—I should be glad if you would allow me space to ventilate grievances felt by many tra- vellers who use some of the trains on the main line in consequence of the apparently unneces- sary delay at Llandudno Junction. I refer particularly to the 11.5 a.m. and the 2.40 p.m. trains from Bangor. The 11.5 a.m. train reaches the Junction at 11.40, but is not due to depart till 12.10. Passengers from Bangor, who are going Chester way, are therefore de- layed half an hour. Surely this is unnecessary. Numerous complaints, I understand, have been made by various persons about this, and it ap- pears to me that a simple re-arrangement of tha time-table would do away with at least twenty minutes' waiting. First of all, I understand that the main line train (that is, the 11.5 from Bangor) has to await the arrival of the 11.50 from Llandudno, which reaches the Junction at 12 o'clock, and also that the 11.5 possibly conveys passengers for the Vale of Conway, which train departs from the Junction at a quarter to twelve. The latter fact may be a reason for starting from Bangor at 11.5 in- stead of 11.15 as it used to do. But is it not possible for the 11.50 from Llandudno to start a quarter of an hour earlier, and thus reach the Junction at a quarter to twelve, in-stead of twelve o'clock? If that was done, the main line train could depart five minutes afterwards, that is, at ten to twelve, and thus give a wait of ten minutes at the Junction, instead of half an hour. If this delay depended upon the late or early arrival of a long distanoe train, one could understand it, but when it merely depends upon starting a. train three miles away, quarter of an hour earlier the whole thing seems incredible. Then again in the afternoon, the 2.40 p.m. train from Bangor reaches the Junction at 3.15. Pas- sengers have to change and wait about the cold draughty platforms till 3.30, when they get into the 3.20 from Llandudno. Here again, if the Llandudno train was due to arrive at the Junc- tion about the same time passengers would mere- ly step from one train to another, and given five minutes to do this, the other ten minutes wait could be avoided. I am writing to the "Pioneer" in tho hope that the letter will be seen by some responsible official of the London and North-Western Rail- way Company, seeing that the paper circulates largely amongst railway people.—I am, etc., CONTRACT TICKET HOLDER.

BEAUTY COMPETITION AT CONWAYl (To the Editor of the "Pioneer.") Sir,—We have had several inquiries as to at "Daily Mirror Beauty Competition" in Conway. I should feel obliged if you would inform your readers that the "Daily Mirror" newspaper has ^nothing to do with this enterprise, and knows nothing whatever about it.—Yours faithfully, ALEX. KENEALY. Editor. "Dailv Mirror" Office. London.

LLANFAIRTALHAIARN OFFICIAL'S SALARY. (To the Editor of the "Pioneer"). &.r,-In your last issue you give an elaborate account of the proceedings at the large gather- ing of Conservatives at the Council Sohool. I see that my name did not escape without notice. It was stated that m^ salary amouned to £.55 per annum. Certainly the gtoss sum does amount) to that, but why not take into account the oost of piinting (about JB5 to L4) which I have to pay, also the premium of insurance, which is J32 5s per annum? Deduct this amount from JB55, and it makes JB49 nett. But what about wear and tear? Surely I am not expected to travel this large parish on foot. The oost of keeping a pony and trap I need not mention. However, it reduces my salary to a mere trifle. When the late Mr Hughes was assistant over- seer he received JBSO plus registration fees.— Yours, etc., R. GRIFFITH. LLanfairtalbaiarn.

ST. ASAPH UNION'S CALLS. (To the Editor of the "Pioneer.") Sir,—Referring to your account of the pro- ceedings of St. Asaph Board of Guardians, it appears that many pariShes are in arrear with the calls. Abergtele seems to be always quite exempt, and Mr Roberts, of Llwyni, was prou of thiis. I quite HJgTOO with the vice-chairman that the overseers ought to hiave a little over from the previous rate in order to meet the first call which is due almost before the rate can be made. May I ask if the overseezo of Abergele always have a surplus, in hand 90 that they are able to moet any emergency ? If this is the case why debar other parishes?—I am, etc. OVERSEER-

RHYL CHORAL SOCIETY. (To the Editor of the "Pioneer.") Sir,—Referring to the criticism by Mr Peter Edwards in your Musical Notes column last week with reference to the engagement of voca- lists for the forthcoming performance of Han- del's Messiah, I should be glad if you would be good enough to publish this letter in your issue of this week. I feel that I cannot allow Mr Edwards' state- ments to pass unchallenged, and I would like to remind him that since the inauguration of the Rhyl Choral Society in 1900 the committee have engaged the fallowing Welsh artistes, all of whom, as Mr Edwards knows so well, are very eminmt vocalists- They aire Miss Maggie Da- vies, Miss Hannah Jones, Miss Laura Evans, Miss Dilys Jones, and Miss Nesta Jones, and Messrs David Hughes, Tom Thomas, Ivor Fos- ter, Gwilym Richards, Emlyn Davies, Lloyd Chandos, Evan Williams, and Wilfrid Jones. On the occasion when the Society last performed the "Messiah" two years agio, Miss Dilys Jones and Mr Wilfrid Jones sang1 the contralto and bass parts respectively. It will be seen from the above that the claims of Welsh artistes have been recognised by the Society, and I have not the least doubt that thev will continue to be so. —I am, etc., ALFRED W. LEWIS, Hon. Secretary Rhyl Choral Society. December 8, 1908.

LLANRWST TRADESMEN AND MONOPOLY. (To the Editor of the "Pioneer.") Sir,—Llanrwst Market has lately been enliven- ed by the presence of vendors of articles of various description, who dispose of their v-axes at a cheaper rate than the local shops. The District Council were thereupon urged to debar the use of tho stands on the Square bry the "for- eigner," but the local authority, under the ex- isting bye-laws were powerless to move in the matter. The local tradesmen then decided to form a "Tradesmen Association," and presum- ably they were desirous that the District Coun- cil should adopt a bye-law with the view of keeping out the "foreigners." Their position, however, is untenable, as they themselves are in the habit of selling their goods witthout rcstrio- tion outside their own town. Anyone visiting BettwByooed and Trefriw on week days wiH observe Llanrwst tradesmen's conveyances offer- ing commodities to the residents in competition with the local shops- If the tradesmen of tbe two villages mentioned adopted the same policy of monopoly as the Llanrwst shopkeepers, the latter would be debarred from enjoying a too- rative bosineasw TPuxther, if the environments of the market were denuded of the itinerant vendors, it would form a sad and deserted aspect. The fact that these men are always surrounded by large crowds of the general public proves £ bai their presence Is appreciated by them. Mr D. J. Williams at the last meeting- of the Coun- cil undoubtedly echoed the voice of the general poblio when he stated their presence wu con- ducive to the advantage of the poorer sections of the community. I hope the Council win look at the matter in all ita boaangu before takinc any arbitrary measures.—I am eto., WOBKINGMA-N.

-,¡ PROPOSED PUBLIC HALri FOR LLANDUDNO JUNCTION, REPRESENTATIVE CONFERENCE. THE RATEPAYERS' ASSOCIATION SCHEMA DISCUSSED. The question of providing a public hall an institute for Llandudno Junction was further, discussed at a joint conference of the local Rate- payers' Association and representatives of tho various churches and chapels. The meeting walt held at Tynyfron Assembly Room on Monday; eveining. Mr D. Clwyd Griffith presided, audi the following represented the Ratepayers' Asscw ciation: Messrs Henry Nevitt, David Morris, R.; Moore, W. Mackinla.y Davies, John Powel4, David Jones, Thomas Evans, Hugh Jones, J., H. Piper, R. S. Hughes, Hugh Hughes, D, Robertson, John Hughes, and Mr George E wards (secretary of the Publio Hall Committee)* The various denominations were represented a4 follows: Holy Trinity Church, Mr Wm. Williams, B.A.; Pansarn (C.M.) Chapel, Mr Richard Ro- berts; Preswylfa (Wesleyan), Mr H. Hughes; Horeb (Baptist), Mr H. Rogers Jones. Welsh Congregational Chapel, Messrs Richard Owea and Goodman Jones; English Presbyterlar4 hapel, Rev. E. V. Pierce, and Mr Wm. Davies,: Broad-street; Caersalem (C.M.) Chapel, Messrs James Davies and Ga-rmon Roberts. The Chairman explained that the main objecti of the meeting was to receive the report of tha delegates from the various denominations upon; the scheme submitted by the Ratepayers' Asso- ciation for the erection of a public hall and insti* tute at the Junction, which scheme had been fully explained at the last meeting. A letter was read from Mr H. W. Hughes^ Stanley Stores, stating that the project wafll placed before the brethren at Pensarn Chapel,, a.nd they could not see their way clear to sup- port the movement. Mr Richard Owen (Congregational) said that 6Jf far as his chapel was concerned they were not) prepared to bind themselves to the scheme, but if a public ball was erected he thought they, would make use of it. Mr Richard Roberts (Pensarn) endorsed tha; expressions contained in Mr H. W. Hughes's letter. Mr Rogers Jonea (Baptist) said his chapel leaders could not see their way to pledge them- selves to the scheme. The members also ob- jected to the hall being promoted by a limited liability company. It had been suggested that' the better plan would be to wait until they had an Urban Council at the Junction, and then the; hall could be erected by that authority. The Baptist friends did not feel the urgent necessity: for a public hall. They had, however, passed a resolution thanking the Ratepayers' Association for their courtesy in inviting the delegates to confer upon the matter, and expressing high appreciation of the excellent work accomplished for the welfare of the Junction by the Associa- tion (applause). Mr Wm. Williams (Holy Trinity) said he had no doubt but that the concerts now held in the schools would be held at the public hall if one, were erected. Such a hall would be a great ac- quisition to the Junction (applause). Mr Wm. Davies (PresDyterian) said that the English Presbyterians could not support the scut 111 e on the grounds that they had ample ac. commodaticn for their needs. Mr H. Hughes (freswyiia) and Mr Jas. Davies (Caersalem) said that the members of their, chapeis couid not pledge themselves to support the scheme. Mr V, Uobertson heartily supported the schema (applause). Mr Hugh Hughes: I aln strongly in favour of the scneme, and fail to see wny anyone ifl. against it. We only ask for the moral support ot the churches and chapels. Mr Hugh Jones said he thought the reports of the delegates very satisfactory. Some of thei churches could not support the scheme, but they; had given satisfactory reasons for not doing so., He thought .there had possibly been some nais, understanding. The churches had only, been asked ior their moral support to the schemq (appiause). Mr John Hughee felt the great need of a meeting plaoe for the young people. Mr John Powell did not agree with Mr Hugh Jones that the reports of the delegates we satisfactory. There was only two of thei churches who supported the scheme, and one of the two would only support on oondition that itj was convenient to them. The only body whq supported the scheme out and out were tha Church of England (hear, hear). The Rate- payers' Association had tried to do something, but the Churches had not suggested any scheme. „ Mr Mackiniay Davies said a public hall waa gveatly needed, and also an institute, where they could provide healthy recreation for the youngi men of the district (applause). Judging from the reports of the delegates that night the great stumbling block appeared to be the suggfetion of a limited liability company. If they objected to such a company be would like to know how, they expected to raise the money ? (hear, hear)* The point at issue was whether such a build- ing was needed at the Junction or not? He said enaphiatioally "Yes," ana further, he airti- cigated no difficulty in the carrying out of the project. The Rev. E. Pierce saad the churches and chapels had not been asked to formulate any; I alternate scheme. If the scheme consisted of a library and institute he thought the churches would support it; but as far as he understood, the matter placed before the churches was siuam pit, that of a village hall. Mr Henry Nevitt said he was sorry if the matter had not been clearly placed before the churches. It had never been the intention of! the Ratepayers' Association to erect a public hall alone, as such a hall could not be self-sup- ing. The mair. standpoint of the Azoocia- tion was to provide something for the social,: physical, and mental improvement of all classes (bear, hear). It was the duty of the churches and chapels to bind together and do something! to save the young (applause). He was quite aware that the chapels in the Junction were saddled with heavy debts, but they were not asked fort their financial support, all they were asked to do was to give their moral support to the scheme. He, however, did not know how they; were going to raise the money if they objected to a limited liability company, which was the only means he saw of bringing the movement to a successful issue (applause). Mr Hugh Jones proposed that the scheme ba placed in writing, and again submitted to tha cflrcwches and chapels for further consideration. Mr R. Moose seconded, but several spokel against the proposal. MT David Morris failed to see what the ob- jection was to a limited liability company. No other means had been suggested for raising the money. MODIFYING THE SCHEME. Rev. E. Pierce moved an amendment to tbiS effect that tile scheme so far as it concerned an institute be again submitted to the various de- nominations, and that the matter of a publid hall be left out of the scheme for the present, the churches and chapeis to be invited to sug- gest a means of raising* the money- Mr Goodman Jones seconded the amendment. Upon being put to the vote the amendment) was carried by a large majority. It was also decided that a meeting be held early in January, to consider the report of the various churches and aliapds upon the amended soheme.

COLWYN BAY and LLANDUDNO. Morning. Evening. Time. Ht. Time. Hi. Thursday, Dec. 10 12 5 17 7 12 24 17 4 Friday, Dec. 11 12 41 16 6 1 6 16 4 Saturday, Dec. 12 1 20 15 4 1 39 15 9 Sunday, Dec. 13 2 0 14 2 2 22 14 4 Monday, Dec. 14 2 44 13 2 3 6 13 1 Tuesday, Dec. 15 3 32 12 2 3 59 12 9 Wednesday, Dec. 16 4 30 11 5 7 12 a RHYL. Morning. Evening. Time. Ht. Time. Hit Thursday, Dec. 10 12 7 17 7 12 26 17 4 Friday, Deo. 11 12 42 16 6 1 2 16 4 Saturday, Dec. 12 1 22 15 4 1 41 15 9 Sunday, Deo. 13 —— 2 2 14 2 2 24 14 4 Monday, Dec. 14 2 46 13 2 3 8 13 Tuesday, Deo, 15 3 34 12 2 4 1 12 Wednesday, Dec. 16 4 32 11 4 5 9 2 8 Lighting-up Time. p.m. Thursday, December 10th 4.50 Friday, December 11th .——— 4-50 Saturdey, December 12th 4.50 Sunday, December 13th — 4.49 Monday. December 14th 4.49 Tuesday, December 15th. Wednesday, December 15th 4.50 FThursday, December 1M 4.50 Friday, December 18th — 4.U Saturday, December 19th 4.51 &vxm' w Dr. Francis Pritchard Davies, who Wall authority on mental diseases, has died at H' field, Swell, at the a^e of abcty-foux*