Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

19 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

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Newyddion
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Rhannu

TOWN AND COUNTY. There is a good deal of spare money in the Brecon district just now, accumulated since the War Loan Boom of a year ago, and the Aeroplane "Week Committee won't be happy till they get it." They take- it as a matter of course that townsfolk are" planking down the dust for the honour of Brecou, and they are confident that the farmers, who have made a bit during the last twelve months, will prove their patriotism hy liberal investments. People of independent means in the locality are relied upon to bring in their surplus, if only because their class has played the game so splendidly all through the war and the war savings cer- tificates give poor folk and even the schools a chance to swell the grand total. And who is there with a penny to spare can possibly think of holding it back whilst our wonderful soldiers are daily bearing the shocks of the great- est, the most awful attacks ever made in war ? If we think only for one moment of the horrors they are bravely facing and too often suffering, ff the liquid fire which blasts the sight, of the bison gas which chokes the lungs and racks the frame with agony, we must want to do some- thing to show that we have hearts to feel. Kipling's biting words nearly twenty years ago taught us that we could not kill the enemy of that-ftay with our mouth do any of us need to learn to-day that we cannot crush the Kaiser and his hordes in that way ? One cannot believe it. At any rate, we have the chance now of doing something that will help to smash the final German offensive we can lend our money, and that on the finest security ever offered, with a splendid return. The Hay and Glasbury Farmers' Union re- cently gave a lead to Breconshire in the matter of farm labourers' wages, by passing a reso- lution that their representative on the District Wages Committee be asked to support 30/ without perquisites as the wages for an average working man." Judging by their discussion, the intention is that 301- shall be paid in cash if there is a cottage found a rent is to be fixed for it. and if milk or any other farm produce is supplied it is to be paid for at the current rates. The trend of the relationship between employer and employee generally is such that very few people iyill be disposed to quarrel with this proposal except to criticise the suggested amount of wages, according to their point of view. But the opinions of some of the Hay and Glasbury farmers as to how the additional expenditure is to be covered wili not find such general accept- ance. Much was made of a claim for free trade" in farmers' produce. The gentlemen who made that claim might just as well cry for the moon. The present restrictions on free sale by farmers are the almost inevitable con- sequence of the war, and if every farmer in the kingdom signed a petition against them they would still continue. For reasons which have been stated over and over again, it is desirable, in the interests of the nation, that they should continue, and public opinion on the matter is so solid that no Government would dare to remove them. To clinch this argument, the remedy of the strike is denied to the farmer if he strikes he commits suicide. Then there was a suggestion that rents must be reduced but the extraordinary number of sales of estates that have taken place during the last year, and the equally extraordinary number already announced to take place in the next few months, should be a warning to farmers that generally speaking rent reduction is not practical politics. Incidentally, it must be remembered that tenants have been protected against rent raising during the war, although they have had "good times." On many estates rents do not pay much more than a fair interest on the money expended on buildings and improve- ments. and wealthy owners arc vary hard hit by taxation. On the other hand there is now a keen demand for agricultural land. and a vast amount of money in the hands of people who- are ready to pay good prices for nice farms as residential holdings, so that sales do not mean rent reduction. Hay and Glasbury farmers want to pay an average" wage let them average up the agricultural outlook im- partially and they will be forced to the con- clusion that rent reduction is not a paying card." For those who read between the lines the discussion at the last meeting of the Brecon- shire Insurance Committee on the question of paying members for loss of remunerative time will have an unpleasant significance. The Insurance Commissioners had objected to such payments, but notwithstanding this, a majority of the members resolved to continue them, until several of the minority announced their intention to decline to sign the cheques in view of the probability of a surcharge by the public auditor. This refusal led to a more cautious decision, to wait until some definite decision can be obtained from the Com- missioners. It may be argued ^at if we can afford to pay members of Parliament £ 400 a year for (just at present) doing precious little, we can afford to pay members of local bodies for their services. rt is exceedingly doubtful whether we can; but supposing the ability, is it desirable in the interests of good local govern- ment that we should Payment for loss of remunerati ve time moans payment for service in the long run, if oniy because it is open to abuse, and the only way to stop abuse is to pay all. And then good bye to the old traditions of local government which have done so much for this country. The member for Breconshire could not come to Brecon to speak at the send-off meeting for Aeroplane Week because he was detained in London by Parliamentary duties. His con- stituents will be interested to know that his duty included voting (against the Government) in favour of an amendment to reduce the age under the Man-Power Hill to 48. Singularly enough the member for the adjoining con- stituency, of like political leanings, voted against the amendment and for the Govern- ment.

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