The Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times

A BRILLIANT BUDGET. THE Budget which Mr Lloyd-George sub- mitted to Parliament on Thursday gives him rank with the most eminent Chancel- lors of our time. To the position of na- tional purser he succeeded at a time full of tremendous difficulties. Trade and com- merce were extraordinarily depressed, whilst national expenditure was leaping up. But the political genius and the sagacious statesmanship of this distinguished Welsh- man have always shone brightest under the stress of difficulties. Confronted by a de- ficit of E16,000,000, and faced also by the financial demands of a great social pro- gramme, upon the realisation of which all parties in the Government are resolved, Mr « Lloyd-George was given a task that called for little short of genius. How courage- ously he has tackled it, how brilliantly he has planned its accomplishment. It is a great democratic budget, the infinite possi- bilities and the transcendantly beneficent fruits of which cannot yet be adequately estimated. The working man may grumble over the prospect of dearer tobacco, but that only if he ignores the hundredfold benefits which will ultimately accrue to him from this budget regarded in its en- tirety. Did the Tories have their way in scattering more millions on Dreadnoughts and taxing food, that grumble would de- velop a real wail of distress. We hope that every working man in Montgomeryshire will read the full text of the Chancellor's speech, in which is reviewed the great work of social betterment for which this budget is paving the way. Mr Lloyd-George has laid the burden of extra taxation mainly on luxury. He has not in a single instance added to the domestic burden of the work- ing classes. That is the essence of just taxation. There will. of course, be a mighty outcry from the rich merchant, the lord of acres, and all others who live luxuriantly upon the muscle of the toiler. It is a curious thing that the higher the income the more strident becomes the cry for relief from income tax-a cry from the men who count their incomes not by hun- dreds, but by thousands. When the death duties were imposed ten years ago we were told that this method of bleeding the wealthy would end in the financial ruin of the country. Again, when the income tax was fixed at a shilling in the pound on unearned incomes, the same class of people raised a desperate clamour and shouted loudly their woes. But there has been no evidence of ruin. During the past ten years the gross amount of income brought under the review of the Inland Revenue Commis- sioners rose uninterruptedly from 734 mil- lions to 943 millions. There is also the sig- nificant fact that Mr Asquith's reform of the death duties increased their yield by nearly 50 per cent. All this justified Mr Lloyd- George in carrying further the principle of taking toll of inherited estate and unearned wealth. The accumulated wealth of this country is in comparatively few hands, and the reflecting person discerns its direct bearing on our unemployed problem. For it shows that the profits of labour and en- terprise are passing into a few pockets, and that the workers are getting but a meagre share of the harvest which they toil to create. It will be noted that while the Chancellor has increased the graduated tax on the higher incomes, he relieves the strug- gling middle class by an abatement of £10 in respect of every child under 16 years of age. Think of this contrast with the pro- posal of Tariff Reformers, who want taxa- tion taken off accumulated wealth, and placed upon the necessaries of life. A very large proportion of the workingman's wage is spent upon food; an infinitesimal part of the rich man's income is so disbursed, and, therefore, the burden of food taxation is not felt by him in the slightest degree. Increased food taxes are nothing but a specious device to benefit the wealthy at the expense of the poor, and are calculated in the long run to injure deeply the whole commercial industries of the country, and depress the social well-being. Scores of Times Mr Chamberlain has assured us of this. That assurance was never lost upon Mr Lloyd-George, whom a benevolent Provi- dence created Chancellor of the Exchequer in a Government that came into being in time to save the country from the spoliation of rampant Protectionists.

THE COLONEL ON SMALL HOLDINGS. We admire the progressive spirit which prompts Colonel Pryce-Jones's advocacy of a peasant proprietary. It reveals another of those glimpses of his Liberal tendencies, which, unfortunately, have never fructified by reason of an unswerving loyalty to the Tory whip. Once certainly he ventured to give his party in Parliament a gentle hint" regarding their perversity in tones that suggested the sincerity of his protest, but their stubbornness notwithstanding, he never had thoughts of crossing the floor." Some of his most memorable speeches have bordered on the socialistic, yet Toryism never had a more reliable supporter in the division lobby. It is in criticism of Liber- alism that we get these spasmodic flashes of progressive thinking. At the Tory smoker" in Montgbmery last week, he denounced the Small Holdings Act as a 14, failure," because it could not acquire land at a price cheap enough for tenants to pay rent and make a good living. His idea is that by paying a little more rent or under a different scale" (whatever that may mean) the tenant might ultimately become the owner of the small holding. It will occur to most people to inquire how, if the tenant cannot pay the lesser rent and pros- per, he can afford to pay the higher and thrive. Further on the Colonel furnishes the answer: "If a man knew that in so many years the land would belong to him or his children, he would take a greater in- terest in the farm, plant trees and erect fences and buildings, and generally improve it." The logical soundness of this reason- ing we must leave to those who can appre- ciate it. It baffles us.

DEPLORABLE. A further extract from the annual report of the County Medical Officer, which we publish to-day, gives a dismal and dis- maying description of the sanitary state of a great many elementary schools in Mont- ¡ gomeryshire. Some of the schools are un- provided with water supplies, many of the supplies are deficient and suspect, drainage, heating, ventilation, and lighting are de- fective, and the prevalence of dirt and dust reveals deplorable negligence on the part of caretakers, not more than half of whom; are reported as "satisfactory." Even in Newtown we have the Llanllwchaiarn Non- provided school described as the black spot of the district. Its walls are very dirty, the playground only fair, the closets and ventilation insufficient, the lighting very bad, the desks bad, the water supply fair, and the cloakrooms poor. Here there are herded together a large number of children, whose parents, evidently, are unconscious of the disease dangers to which their offspring are subjected. It puzzles us to understand why H.M. Inspector or the local sanitary authority has not closed down this insanit- ary school in the interests of the children, having regard to the fact so pertinently emphasised by Dr Humphreys that as long as the law makes it obligatory on the part of parents to send their children to school, it is the first duty of education authorities to provide conditions which, at least, are not injurious to their health." Many people are complaining of the in- creasing cost of education, but there is no immediate prospect of reducing that burden while the essential conditions for healthy schools have yet to be provided. For without these conditions, compulsory at- tendance at school is fraught with the grav- est danger. We heartily compliment Dr Humphreys upon the courageous thorough- ness'of his investigations and recommenda- tions.

IN DARKEST MONTGOMERY. Intellectually, the County town has many a burning and a shining light," but ap- parently for reasons of practical utility, the prosaic gas lamp must needs be multiplied, or at least made more luminous by the in- troduction of the incandescent burner. The civic fathers of Montgomery have, however, a pronounced penchant for economic ad- ministration, which credits their govern- ment with an enviably low rate, and the cost of a few extra gleams shed over cer- tain benighted regions is contemplated with a visible amount of uneasiness. The im- provement of the public water supply is about to tap the exchequer, and the extra burden which would be imposed by the provision of more light seems to scare the most cautious of them. But abundant water and light are the prime requisites of every community, and, therefore, a cheeseparing policy in connection with these matters is distinctly unwise. Deficiency with regard to communal necessities is the cause of con- stant public dissatisfaction and discontent. It ought to be the aim of those charged with the public trust to provide and make as perfect as possible everything upon which the happiness and prosperity of a com- munity depend. Montgomery is pardon- ably pretentious as a holiday resort. Let it not be said that the holiday-maker can- not venture abroad after dark with the cer- tainty of keeping at least to the beaten tracks.

SERIOUS REVELATIONS AT MACHYNLLETH. There appears to have been some serious slackness in the supervision of lodgings set apart at Machynlleth for young people at- tending the intermediate school. It tran- spired at the Governors' meeting on Friday that some of these lodgings are over- crowded and badly ventilated; but even more disquieting is the statement made by Dr Williams from personal knowledge that pupils are "lodged in the same rooms as consumptives." If the owners of the houses referred to have contravened the stipulation of the form which they are re- quired to sign as a condition of receiving these young folk, the Governors' approval ought to be withdrawn forthwith; but what surprises us is that the Governors them- selves should have remained up till now ignorant of a state of things so discrediting to their management. Can it be true, as Mr Parsons suggests, that some of these undesirable lodgings were sanctioned with- out a visit of inspection ? We cannot well believe that any of the governors are guilty of such serious remissness in regard to a duty so vitally important.

MR. RICHARD LLOYD. The appointment of Mr Richard Lloyd as chairman of the Higher Education Com- mittee recalls once more the long and in- valuable and self-sacrificing services which this gentleman has rendered for the gen- eral well-being of his native county. Years before many of us attained to manhood, Mr Lloyd had grown grey in public life. And with what devotion he has applied himself to every department of public work which claimed his interest. The secret of Mr Lloyd's success as a public man is his close and deep study of questions. His masterfulness in debate has always been evidenced by his intelligent and complete acquaintance with the merest details. That extensive knowledge has stood him in good stead through every contest, and in how many memorable contests has he figured pre-eminently. Independent even to a de- gree of dogmatism, unflinching and unyield- ing before the strongest opposition, con- scientious in all his convictions and ideals, formidable in attack and defence, far- seeing, reflecting, sagacious, and seldom un- sound in principle and policy, and ever striving for the greatest good, Mr Lloyd tias long enjoyed the reputation of being all- round our ablest public servant. It is a pity that such exceptionally useful men as he should grow old.

"Thought he was Joking." Valentine Ashton, of Broad-street, Mont- gomery, was charged by P.C. Richard Davies with using obscene language. The defendant did not appear at the opening of the case, and the constable de- posed that at about 5-15 p.m. on April 15th he saw Ashton driving a young horse in a skeleton carriage. He was constantly go- ing around the Market Hall, which he thought was dangerous to children. He asked him to desist, but defendant replied that he would not, and used very bad lan- guage, such as "you b- fat-head." Other language he used was not fit to be repeated. The Chairman: Take it for read. Have you had any complaints about this man I before ?—Yes, I have cautioned him before. The defendant then appeared in Court. The constable said the defendant contin- ued driving around the street, and wound up by breaking his carriage on the Chir- bury-road. Defendant: Had you any right to jerk the mare in against the wall ?-I only ¡ stopped the horses. Did you break the socket and bend the whip ?-I took the whip out of the socket. Did you not try and pull me off the top and rip my breeches ?-No, I did not. I tell you you did, you can see the rip in my breeches now. P.S. Edward Herbert Morris, of Bishop's Lastle, said that he was preseint in Mont- gomery, and met P.C. Davies in the square, and saw defendant drive up to P.C. Davies and use filthy language. He abused the constable for an hour. Defendant then fol- lowed them up the road and abused them. There were a lot of people about at the time. The defendant said he was coming from the station, and there was not a soul about the street. When he got to the Post Office, the complainant came to him, and started to kick up a row. He thought he was jok- ing at first. The Chairman said there was no doubt that the defendant had used bad language, and he would be fined 2s 6d and costs. If defendant did exercise his horses in the streets, then he must do so without abusing people.

BARMOUTH. THE EXPRESS AND TISIKS is now on sale at Messrs Smith & Son's Bookstall, Barmouth. (

CALYINISTIC METHODIST DISTRICT SUNDAY SCHOOLS. Competitions' at Caersws. Pwy yw Caradog' ? From the platform of Caersws Village Hall, last Thursday afternoon, the Chairman put this question He wanted to know the proper name of the little laddie, who was to receive the second prize for a recitation. Who was 'Caradog?' Without hesitation there came from somewhere amongst the crowd a shrill reply, overflowing with personalty: "Fi!" And the audience laughed good heartedly at the unconscious joke that came from the ready lips of this individualistic "I." The adjudicator had spoken of the youthful competitor as though he were a prospective Lloyd George of Mont- gomeryshire. Promptly there walked forward and mounted the platform a bright, rosy-cheeked little boy. the snowy whiteness of whose collar was set off by a black bow. He was the Fi," by name John Owen Smith, of Trefeglwys." This and other similar pleasing incidents happened at the annual competitive meeting in connection with the Calvinistic Methodist Sunday Schools—half-a-dozen strong-of Newtown dis- trict, and which includes Llandinam, Trefeglwye, CaeiBws and Carno. The Ancient City proved once more an excellent CENTRAL GATHERING PLACE, I and drtpite the heavy downpour of rain the attendance increased throughout the afternoon and evening, until the spacious hall had become overcrowded. A. little chap, who had done very well in the prelim." test, lost his nerve and memory when facing the audience that numbered 600 or 700 strong. The reciter tried and tried his best, but had to quit the platform without prospect of a prize, yet there was plenty ot encouraging sympathy. "Give him a clap!" suggested a genial minister, who sat just behind the com- petitor, a conspicuous figure in clerical costume with clean-cut features and a strong personality. A lengthy, but not ponderous programme, had been prepared. It was almost eisteddfodic in extent, and the enthusiastic interest of the assembly became keener and keener as the hours flitted by. The musician, the elocutionist, the poet, had all been catered for. But a bird's-eye glance from the platform over the audience with its garden of millinery products-the newest things in pretty summer hats—almost made one sigh that the programme did not also include one or two art competitions for the fair rural maidens of the Newtown "Dosbarth." Mr David Bowen, Llandinam, proved A HOMELY PRESIDENT over the afternoon assembly. Mr J. T. Rees, Mus. Bac., the musical adjudicator, had a seat to the Chairman's right, together with the energetic and couiteous hon. secretary (Mr R. W. Davies, Carno) and his assistant (Mr Llewelyn D. Hum- phreys, Carno's new County Councillor). In the rear of the platform there appeared two rows of ministers and laymen, local leaders of Calvinistic Methodism—the Revs David Davies (Saron), J. Martin Davies, B.A. (Oakeley Park), Robert Davies, B.A. (Trefeglwys), D. B. Edmunds (Tre- gynon), Elias Jones (Newtown), Richard Jones, B.A. (Llandinam), Edward Parry, M.A. (New- town), and J. W. Williams. B.A (Carno), Messrs Edward Jones, J.P., C.C. (Maesmawr Hall), F. G. Jones (Maesmawr), Richard Jones. J.P., C.C. (Pendinas), Richard Phillips (Newtown), and two local Council school headmasters—Messrs J. Rees (Caersws) and J. R. Jones (Llandinam). The Rev R. W. Jones, Caersws' Wesleyan Methodist minister, was also on the platform. With the hymn "Cyssegrwn flaenffrwyth dyddiau'n hoes" the audience opened the pro- gramme, and then the Chairman delivered an interesting historical address based on past pro- grammes of these annual meetings. The first assembly in the Newtown district was held at Llandinam, May 17th, 1878, when Mr David Davies, M.P., the "Old Squire" of Plasdinam, presided, and they have been held annually ever since without break, except in the year of the Revival. They have been at a very low ebb," observed the veteran Methodist deacon, "but the spring-tide hM oome for many years now and it continues." The programmes used to be ALL IN WELSH UNTIL 1891, when the first half was given in Welsh and the second half in English. This plan was kept on for years, but now the programme was mixed. Four children between 12 and 16 years of age were selected to recite 'The foot's complaint,' and amid the Radical environment it was little wonder that some listeners amiled very sceptically at the moral suggested by the last lines: For wherever we are We should there be content! The Rev Edward Parry voiced the general feeling gently by remarking that, while the recitation was a very good piece in calling for a great variety of expression, he did not know whether the doctrine in the last line was quite right (laughter). Prize winners: ] Arnie Ashton, Llandinam, 2 Maggie Humphreys, Caersws. Solo for children under 12, Lord, I'm coming home,' 11 entered and 5 appeared in the final test. -1 Mary Jones, Saron, 2 Maggie Jones, Saron, 3 Euronwy Thomas, Caersws. Oral examination for children under 12 in Mother's gift,' 20 candidates, 13 of whom qualified for prizes and eight bad full marks.— William Riohards, Llandinam, Francis Richards, Llandinam, John Morgan Jones, Saron, Irene Thomas, Carno, Charles Wilson Jones, Carno, Dora Pugh, Gleiniant, Richard Llewelyn Wilson, Caersws, Hannah Gladys Thomas, Caersws. Ernest T. Richards, Liandinam, Hannah Pritchard, Saron, Mabel Davies, Saron, Daisy Marguerite Jones, Caersws, Frank G. Jones, Caerews. Recitation for children between 12 and 16.. Can yr EOft,' 6 competitors, 4 in the final teat—1 Gertie Gittins, Carno, 2 John Owen Smith, Trefeglwys. The Rev Edward Parry observed encouragingly that the boy WILL ONE DAY BECOME AN ORATOR. We hope he will speak that which is true, because people will believe him whatever he says!" Memorizing Matthew xxv.—xxviii.—1 Mary Millicent Wilson, Llandinam, and John Pugh, Gleiniant, 50 marks each; 3 Gertie Gittins, Carno, 47; 4 Phoebe Davies, Saron; 5 Florence J. Lloyd, Carno, 38; 6 Annie Ashton, Llandinam, 26. Only these six candidates had come forward. and Mr John Rees, as adjudicator, expressed the fear that there was a decline in the work of memorizing advantageously the Word of God in their Sunday Schools. What has become of the thousands of verses said to have been repeated in our Sunday Schools in the course of the year ?" Competition solo far boys under 15,' When the roll is called up yonder '—1 J. M. Breeze, 2 Cecil Jones, all of Caersws." Mr J. T. Rees advised one little boy to imitate the girls in singing the top notes. In the great majority of our coun- ties," said he, the boys are not trained in con- nection with your chapels, the same as they are in the Church of England, to sing soprano." Map of the Holy Land two entries.—1 Gertie Lloyd, Carno, 2 M. Wilson, Gwynfynydd, Caersws. Solo for girls under 15, When we all get to heaven.l Euronwy Thomas, Caersws," a careful little artiste 2 Christine Humphreys, Caeraws. Recitation for children under 12, •'Baby's remarks.'—1 Gladys Thomas, Caersws, 2 Morris Jones and John Morgan Jones, Saron. The Rev Edward Parry remarked that the first' prize winner had improved in coming on the platform. It was very possible that PUBLICITY WAS A HELP to her. Perhaps she had the making of a suffra- gette (laughter.—A platform supporter: Hear, hear). Only one competitor-Miss Ella Evans, Carno —essayed the soprano ac)lo I Holy Man of Sorrow' (Emlyn Evans), and was awarded the prize. Essay, The last Passover and Trial of Jesus.- 1 Mary Hamer, Carno; 2 Gertie Lloyd and Sarah ,r. Ashley, Carno. Letter suggesting improvements of the annual meeting.—1 R. P. Evans, Carno, 2 J. R, Evans, Trefeglwys. One may gather from the paucity "f letters," remarked the Rev Robert Davies, H A.. that things are very satisfactory. Only three sent in suggestions." Memorizing the Articles of the Confession of Faith,' four competitors.—l»Miss Jennie Richards, Cirno. Translating Welsh into English.—1 Gertie Lloyd, Carno, 2 Gertie Gittins, Carno. Translating English into Welsh.—1 J. R. Evans, Gleiniant, 2 Gertie Gittins. Children choir (12 to 20 voioo6), I Thonhts of Heaven.' Three entrants sang in the following order: 1, Saron, conducted by Mr William Thomas 2, Hafren Juveniles, Caersws, Mr H. M. Breeze; 3, Carno, Miss C. A. Jones. The first party stuttered a little at the commencement, apparently not being accustomed to an accompan- ist, but the adjudicator did not count that against them. The reading was not quite correct, but the voices possessed much sweetness and the choir gave on the whole a pretty good performance. The second choir's singing was more vigorous and louder, and the part singing on the whole more correct, but they lacked much of the sweetness of the first choir. The third choir had much better quality of voices, which were also better trained. The tone was mellow and sweet; the intonation clear and the whole performance was character- ised by much sweetness. Throughout there was one good soprano singer, which was NOT ALWAYS ADVANTAGEOUS in choral .singing because it looked too much like a solo and chorus. 1, Carno 2, Hafren Juveniles. A.n hour's adjournent was made for tea, which was served in the C.M. Schoolroom, the New Council Schoolroom and the Buck Club room. Mr Evan Behb's catering left naught to be desired-the- quality was good and there was more than sufficient for all. At a quarter pant five the competitive proceed- ings were continued under the presidency of the Rev Elias Jones. He had acted as an adjudicator at the first annual meeting 31 years ago, and now the veteran minister congratulated the present- ly generation on their successes in the examina- tions, which he thought, after all, was their most important work. He was very pleased that theirs was the Drefoewydd and not the Llandinam district although the Chairman in the afternoon had emphasised Llandinam (laughter). Learning the" Christian Instructor," 1 Mrs Hannah Watkin, Gleiniant, 660 marks; 2 Nellie Millwood, Caersws, 470; 3 Mary Evans, Newtown, 350; 4 Nannie Jones, Caersws, 240. Duett, 'Y Morwyr' (Emlyn Evans), 1 W. Thomas (Saron) and W. Jones (Caersws). Their voices, said the adjudicator, were not quite so good as the other two parties, but they did their work better. The others he advised not to contest until they were prepared. Female Party (8 to 12 voices) 'The Flowers of May,' 1 Carno, conducted by Mr John Jones; 2, Caersws, conducted by Mr Henry Breeze. The adjudicator reminded the competitors that the title of this light partsong was Blodau Mai,' and not oak trees. The first prize winners' perform- ance was very neat and well-got up, but the con- ductor was probably too anxious; the party was able to look after itself. The second party had richer voices on the whole, but the SINGING WAS Too HEAVY. Quartette, I am a blossom and I fade.1 Caersws (conducted by Mr H. Breeze); 2 Gleini- ant (Mr T. Francis), and Caersws (Mr D. Francis) equal. "There is no doubt about the first prize," observed the adjudicator, "but it is a toss up about the second." Recitation for children under 12, Y Dryw Bach 12 competitors.—1 Emrys Tanner, Gleiniant, 2 Rd. Jehu, Carno. Soprano solo, Rwy'n myn'd i'r Nef.'—1 Elsie Lloyd, Carno. The adjudicator remarked that the solo seemed very simple, but it was very difficult to sing artistically. It was very easy to sing the same chords again and again so as to tire the ear, unless one was very careful. There was nothing very remarkable about the competition. Englyn, 'Y Bcadychiad' ('The betrayal'); 11 entries.—1 D. Pugh, Carno, for the following: Trwy erch fwriad v bradwr—arwydd serch Rhoddes i'w Waredwr. Yna'r gad adwaenai'r Gwr Drwy warthus dro Ei werthwr. Six verses to the Bwlch Enaint'; six competi- tors.—1 John Watkins, Gleiniant. Recitation, Hamlet's Soliloquy.'—1 Miss Lily Hughes, Llandinam, 2 Miss Maggie Evans, Llan- dinam. It is a man talking to himself," said the Rev Edward Parry," and generally they don't talk loud then. But on the other hand whoever recites this HAS TO TALK TO HIMSELF so that everybody else may hear him,—(laughter) and that is where the candidates failed. The third competitor, a young man, talked to himself, so that the audience could nob hear him, so they took to talking to one another instead-(laugh ter) —which was not fair to him. Essay on The teaching of Christ on the spirit of forgiveness,' adjudicator. Rev D. Davies, Saron. -1 Richard Evans, Carno, 2 (equal) R. A. Ford, Carno, and Mary Breese, Caersws. Male voice parties, Arise, ye hosts of temper- ance.'—1 Gleiniant Party, under T. Francis, Cefn; 2 Caersws, under H. Breese, Henfryn. Scriptural examination, senior class.—1 Mary Breese, Caersws, 96; 2 Lily Hughes, Llandinam, 92; 3 R. A. Ford, Carno, 90.1 Recitation,' Y Berth yn llosgi,' adults.—1 Tom Jones, Caersws, 2 Gwladys Richards, Carno. Solo for children under 15.—1 Mary Jones, Saron, 2 Christine Humphreys, Caersws, 3 Janet Jones, Saron, 4 Cecil Jones, Caersws, 5 C. M. Breese, Caersws. Best written answers to questions on Matthew xxv.—1 R. A. Ford, Carno, 2 J. R. Evans, Gleiniant. Tonic solfa examination, examiner, Mr Tom Matthews, Carno.—Junior certificate, Myfanwy Hamer, Caersws, M. J. Humphreys, Caerswe, D. W. Lloyd, Gleiniant, S. J. Tudor, Gleiniant. Elementary, Cornelius Jones, Saron, David Jones, Saron, E. Bennett, Gleiniant, E. B. Richards, Caersws. Intermediate, Cornelius Jones. Saron, R. J Ashley, Saron, D. Jones, Saron, S. J. Owen, Gleiniant. Second certificate, old notation.—J. R. Evans, Gleiniant. Tenor solo,' Y Golomen Wen.l George More, Llandinam. Mixed chorus, 'Rail to thee, sweet music.'— 1 Caersws Choir (Mr H. Breese), 2 Carno Choir (Mr John Jones). On the proposition of Mr Richard Jones, J.P', seconded by Mr Edward Jones, J.P., an unanimous vote of thanks was given the adjudicators and the accompanist.

0 COUNTY EXAMINATIONS. ADULT CLASS 1. 1 M. Breese, Caersws 96 2 Lily Humphreys, Llandinam 92 S R. A. Ford, Carno 90 CLASS II., 21-25 years of age. 1 J. Pugh, Gleiniant 94 2 Anne Woosnam, Llandinam 89 3 Sally Watkin, Gleiniant 83 CLASS III., 16—21. 1 J. R. Evans, Gleiniant 98 2 M. M. Gittins, Carno 95 3 M. C. Woosnam, Llandinam 91 CLASS IV., 13-16. 1 Mary Evans, Gleiniant 92 2 Gertie Lloyd, Carno 88 3 Gertie Gittins, Carno ö7 Nellie Richards, Caersws 86 l Sarah A. Jones, Rhiwen 86 CLASS V. Under 13. 1 Maggie Jones, Saron 94 2 Myfanwy Hamer, Carno. 93 3 Euronwy Thomas, Caersws 92 4 Marian J. Gethin, Llandinam 88 ORAL EXAMINATION.—Matthew xxvi.—Maximum 50 Harold Morgan, Llandinam 48 Elizabeth Beryl Jones, Llandinam 46 Morris Joneg, Saron 45 Maggy Savage, Llandinam 45 Myfanwy Hamer, Caersws 43 Margaret J. Humphreys, Caersws 43 Evan Emrys Jones, Llandinam 42 Edward Evans, Gleiniant 42 Dora Pugh, Gleiniant 42 Annie Euronwy Thomas, Caersws 41 Mary Pryce, Llandinam 41 Thomas Gethin, Llandinam 41 Edward Savage, Llandinam 40 Ebenezer Benbow Richards, Caersws 39 Edith Hamer, Caersws 39 John Morgan Jones, Saron 38 Irene Anne Thomas, Carno 38 Megan Glynne Jones, Llandinam 38 Sarah Jane Tudor, Gleiniant 38 The adjudicators were Essays, etc., the Revs D. Davies, Saron, John Williams, B.A., Carno, and Robert Davies, B.A.. Trefeglwys. Viva voce exami- nations, Messrs R. Jones, Pertheirin. D. J. Evans, Newtown, John Rees, Council School, Caersws, and J. R. Jones, Council School, Llandinam. Map, Mr LI. Williams, Council School, Cemmaes. Poetry, Rev W. Llew. Thomas (Eilian), Cemmaes. Letter, Rev Robert Davies. Translations, Rev R. Jones, B.A., Llandinam. Recitations, Revs E. Parry, M.A., New- town, D. B. Edmunds, Ttegynon, W. Ll. Thomas, Cemmaes, J. M. Davies, Oakley Park, and Mr Gwilym Edmunds, Llanidloes

At the public meeting held at Sydney on the naval question, the Lord Mayor read a letter from Mr Samuel Hordern, of a well-known Australian and London firm. offering a contribution of XIO,000 towards the cost of each of the two pro- posed Dreadnoughts.

THE CHURCH FINANCIAL. Searchlights on Welshpool Accounts. "We Cannot be Too Carefol." BY T. A. BENNETT. [Special for the 'Express.'] It isn't easy to see at a glance what the various departments cost. Take the singing account for instance, "organ blower" comes high up in the wardens' account, but "church music" is put after "coal," "tuning" after "winding clock," and "organist's collection" among "specials." However, a little perseverance will show you that St. Mary's singing account in 1908 was £ 68 odd and Christ Church £ 18. Under th^se circum- stances why is the singing at Christ Church so vastly superior to what it is at the Parish Church ? May I suggest that the reason is because the members of the latter choir are not taught to rely on themselves so much as to follow the organ, and this rather points to lack of sufficient rehearsal. I write in perfect ignorance of how many days a week St. Mary's boys meet for practice. I sat in the ohoir for 35 years, and was choirmaster for six, so I know something about the getting up of church music, or should de. AN INDEPENDENT CHOIR. In our choir the boys had three rehearsals a week; the first was devoted to voice production and reading at sight, and in about two years the boys could read new music fairly well. The men joined them at the third rehearsal. No man who was absent was allowed in the choir on Sunday, and two absences without leave were taken to mean resignation. Out of the 15 men only one was paid. The organist for half the period was honorary and never received a halfpenny. No instrument was used at rehearsal except a small harmonium to give a chord at starting, or to point out an error. Everyone had to rely therefore on his own note, and the slightest error was easily detected in any of the parts. No tenor could shirk his flat," or bass let go his dotted note," nor were boys allowed to break the time in soft passages. The result was that on a Sunday the whole choir was quite independent of the organist; if he stopped playing it didn't disconcert anyone a little bit. If in the middle of service he went home to recover a forgotten handkerchief, he found the service still going merrily when he came back. In Lent no service was ever accom- panied, but was sung in harmony without. Now the point I want to make is this, the organist should accompany and not lead, much less drive. The human voice is so vastly more beautiful than any mechanical contrivance, be the latter ever so skilfully manipulated, that we want to hear it, and the organ to take more of a back seat when any singing is going forward. And another effect, if this were the rule, would be that the choir boys would not force their voices in trying to be heard, and the men would be able to keep the parts well balanced, which is impossible in the present noise. It is possible that there are no soft stops in St. Mary's organ, or that the instru- ment is too powerful for the building, but even these mechanical defects are not altogether unsur- mountable. Christ Church publishes an account of the payment of its boys, and this £ 9 4S I have included in the .£18 cost of singing. St. Mary's does not publish one, so that the £ 68 includes no such payment, and if boys are being thoroughly instructed in music they should not want any- thing. We are not getting value for our money at the Parish Church so far as this department goes, and I assert it as one who has gone through the mill. FOR FEAR OF FIRE. Turning to the warden's account I notice the Church is only insured for £ 4,000. How far do you imagine this amount would go towards rebuilding it ? The insurance should be immedi- ately increased to £ 12,000. A church I know in Manchester was reduced to a cinder heop in a few hours in spite of the magnificently equipped lire brigade of 140 men with steamers. And now let me enter my protest against the expenditure of .£50 this year without oonsultation with those who found the money, the parish. If the tower was in a dangerous state, and bad been so, according to Mr Wyke, for many years, we ought to have been told about it and a report by some skilled architect submitted on the subject. The Churches in Wales have suffered very much from architects in the past, I freely admit, for there are vandals to be found even in that pro- fession, but I don't think even the worst of them would suggest that a defect should be covered up with stucco, and the remark of Mr Yearsley that every particle of the stone that could be removed had been removed, makes one's hair stand on end in going down the streets hard by. If the whole .£50 would have been spent on this job instead of £ 15 it would have been better, because note what a good deal of the rest was spent upon. Now I once remember a railway station being painted prior to demolition, and in a similar way the Wardens, knowing that there was talk of taking down the North Gallery have spent money on having a new screen fitted underneath it. No, I m wrong there, it isn't exactly new, its a patchwork quilt" of old oak, some of the framing running vertically, some horizontally. In a museum it might be of use to show samples of excellent timber and vast ingenuity of workmanship, but the Church isn't a museum, and as I am one of those who long to see that dust trap of a north gallery down, consider it was quite unnecessary at the moment to build underneath it. SENTIMENTAL RUBBISH." Look at the scores and scores of churches from which excresceuces of the kind have disappeared (Manchester Cathedral galleries, I suppose, held 1,000 people each) and not one would have gone if people had been swayed with such sentimental rubbish as "hardly perhaps a courteous way of dealing with anything presented to the Church." The pews in Manchester Cathedral galleries were all rented, and bringing in a large revenue, but the courtesy in this case didn't extend further than giving everyone notice to quit, and making the whole Church free. In our case we haven't to evict anyone except, possibly, an old rat or a poor Church mouse. We want air and light, and less dust, and we can at length show a little courtesy to those who have given handsome windows to the Church. An unopposed Faculty need not cost more than 80.£5 note, our wardens could appear in person without any proctor whatever. I once (with the Rector) obtained a Faculty at Chester for a few pounds to alter a church to the tune of X3,000, and I obtained one in Manchester for the cost of the fee -62 2s ild. The gallery must certainly contain much useful material even if it isn't all oak. The cast iron pipes which support it might be sold to the Gas Company and so on. I frankly admit that I know next to nothing about architecture, that few amateurs anywhere have such a knowledge of woiking in wood as Captain Westby, that few craftsmen know their cral t as thoroughly, or carry it out as conscien- tiously as our good friend Mr Wbittall, but I should like to ask them whether oak match- boarding is the proper treatment for filling in the arches of a church ? It would be an excellent way of treating the entrance to a coach-house or tithe barn, but even then some handsome wrought iron hinge-work wttuld vastly improve it. Would any of us like this kind of treatment in our dining rooms ? There is no framework shown or sug- gested (perhaps it is as well the one employed isn't seen), it is the sort of thing which is used to temporarily screen off a portion of a church under restoration, but to call it an improvement much needed, which crowned the labours of the churchwardens with great success is, I consider, carrying compliment just a little bit too far If anything is worth doing at all it is worth doing well, and in Church work we cannot be too careful'to bring into consultation the best expert opinion we can obtain. +

Welshpool's New County J.P.—The Lord Chancellor has added the name of Dr R. D. Thomas to the roll of magistrates for the county of Montgomery. Dr Thomas has al- ready had considerable magisterial experi- ence; now for the second year he presides over the Borough Sessions. He is an Angle- sea Welshman, and holds a number of pub- lic appointments, including the local cor- onership. The new county J.P. is a Con- gregationalist, and was chairman of the Welshpool Liberal Association at the gen- eral election. The' borough generally will appreciate the fact that its civic chief has received this mark of permanent distinction.

SEEN AND HEARD. Nothing exteavate, nor set down anpht in malice. SHAKVBFr.A&B. A correspondent, who has been inspired by the divine afflatus, contributes the fol- lowing poetic sketch of how the football trophy was received and honoured in the County town. I won't spoil it by a single comment. No bugles sang truce to the row and the roar, As we filled up the cup and drank more and more, The bolting corks cracked, and the liquid fizzed free, And, oh, what a night was our grand jamboree. Every pub got a visit, and gushed forth its best, To fill it with sham needed none to be press'd; Ilka Boniface fought for the honour to be A hero that night in our cup jamboree. Some hugged it, some kissed it, and some drank for drink, Till palest of faces grew rosy or pink, And the modest of chiels showed a kink in their e'e A ) they danced round the cup in our great jamboree. We were proud o' the lada who bad whacked Baby- lonia, And felt risen up as high as Snowdonia, Tho' douce elders they frowned from windows to see This splashing of waters, this rare jamboree. 'Twas 'mong the small hours that the remnant quartette Were left with the trophy all dripping red wet; Where should they stow it, and let them be free To drink the last draught in the night's jamboree F A local Bill Sykes might be knocking around, 'Twould scarcely bo safe to put it in pound When, ah, happy thought sprang right merrily, A right happy end to our fine jamboree. What bo, there The Sergeant soon answered the bell; We want you to lock up the Cup in a cell." I'll do that, my lads, full hearty and quick Just step you inside there "-now whur-r-whurr-r-r, click. Quartette, Cup and all, they were safely secured, The Sergeant, wise man, thought the town had endured Just enough of this roysterous, spirituous spree, And he chuckled aloud as he hung up the key. For things, you know, like this must be After a famous victory." Some Anglican correspondent, whose anonymity is not inconsistent with the scorching character of his epistle, draws an amusing pen picture of clerical attitudes observable at a recent archdeaconal visita- tion. I cannot, because I dare not, repro- duce it in its all too vivid and disturbing completeness. But I venture this brief ex- tract: "While laymen sat bolt upright. circumspect, and all-attentive, clerics sprawled, lounged and lolled about in the pews in all manner of irreverent-like posi- tions-in such positions that would drive most clergy to indignant pulpit protestations were they assumed by members of their congregations." What follows is much too graphic. It might knock the linotype machine out of gear, if it didn't actually overcome the operator. The joys and sorrows, the trials and diffi- culties, of the rural policeman, for the most part left to the exercise of his own discre- tion, have never fully been told. He com- bines the role of lawyer, administrator, ex- emplar, and guardian of the lieges, and when he sleeps it is to dream of the evil- doer. I like the policeman, and sympathise with his oftimes trying position. Would you have an illustration ? The other day a married couple from South Wales paid a. brief visit to their native village in Mont- gomeryshire. The wife had an infant in arms. Outside the village pub they casu- ally halted, with a purpose which the hus- band soon defined by entering the little hostelry. Through the open door his spouse lovingly looked, an^a^lastm&de £ .move, as if to cross "the tempting threshold. But the watchful eye of Robert" was upon her, and like the good soul he is, rather than lie in ambush for a case, he slowly approached with measured stride, and courteously acquainted the apprehensive dame that under the new Act no child un- der 14 years of age could be permitted into a pub. But it's only six months old," re- plied the mother, "just you feel it's weight." And before he had time to think,. "Robert" bad the infant placed in his brawny arms. The next moment the artful woman was in- side the inn quaffing a delectable potion with her lord and master, whither the constable dared not pursue. How foolish the law looks when subjected to the wiles of an artful woman. Voltaire was surely much mistaken in his belittlement of the in- ventive genius of womankind. She was a sweet, innocent maid, of seven- teen summers, who stood outside the book- ing office at Llanidloes station the other afternoon. Casting furtive glances around her until three or four persons had booked, she finally plucked up courage to interview the booking clerk, by requesting a ticket for Llandinam, please." Possessed of the little piece of cardboard, she innocently inquired whether it was necessary to change at Dolwen, and beamed happily over the negative answer. It was her first trip afield on her own account. A different type of in- dividual was the lad who recently made his first journey from Llanidloes to Newtown alone. "A half-ticket to Newtown, and quick, as the train's in," he demanded. The clerk eyed the youngster's proportions, and then inquired his age. Pat, slick and swift, came the answer, Twelve at two o'clock to-day!" There's a future for that precocious nipper. Every post I expect to have a translation of the dulcet notes of the first cuckoo from the fragrant woodlands around the "Ancient City." But my most estimable correspond- ent is a man of unimpeachable integrity. He loves the scriptural injunction to prove all things, and I know that not a moment before he hears that wandering voice fluting the symphony of spririg will he race the intelligence my way. He loves that coveted belt, but he loves his honour more. Already the straw hat has made its appear- ance, by way of rushing the summer. Shakespeare makes certain of his charac- ters, whose intellects have become woolly, go round in all kinds of weather with straws in their hair, and possibly the prematurely early straw hat man is a lineal descendant of some of these demented creatures. Ah! Just as I write the Caersws cuckoo warbles forth in her virgin song. Enforced absence from the sanctum has denied me the pleasure of prosecuting my examination of Colonel Pryce-Jones's Pro- tectionist fallacies, which he strives so gal- lantly to justify. With what splendid plausibleness he clothes his assertions, with what amusing astuteness he dodges the material points, with what artful device he builds little figments of his own, and sets about smashing them with Cromwellian- like completeness. How entertainedly he barks this week around the disconcerting evidence which I reproduced from the Tariff Reform League report with respect to industrial conditions in Germany; how delightfully funny his charges of insta- bility. And much more than this we shall feast upon next week. LUKE SHARPS;,