The Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times

THE DUTY OF LIBERALS. As our readers will have noted, the Express' has maintained a studied atti- tude of reservation throughout this period of party unsettlement. It is not our duty to dictate to the party, or to the Liberal Association, respecting their candidate. It is their's to determine whether or not Mr Rees's conduct entitles him to continued confidence it is ours to support the nomi- nee of the responsible Association, who will, of course, contrive to give effect to the pro- nouncement of the rank and file. It is for the dual purpose of eliciting this pro- nouncement, and of enlightening people upon the merits of the Budget that meet- ings are being arranged in the various Boroughs. In fact, we should say that the primary object of these meetings is to de- monstrate not only to Liberals, but to all others in Montgomeryshire, the real benefi- cence of the Budget, involving as it does the obligations of landownership, the taxa- tion of unearned increment, the extension of pensions to the toiler in his declining years, the arrestment of the evils of un- employment, and of moral and physical degeneration, the invalidity insurance of the workers, the better housing of the work- ing classes, and the raising up of a stronger Britain through the creation of a stronger, healthier, and happier people. This is the policy of social regeneration to which a revivified Liberalism has put its hand. What is the alternative? A miserable policy of Protection and a reign of dear living, with no promise of social reform, no promise of social progress from a party which is pledged to aid the liquor trade, which is hide-bound by the Conservative influences of the Church, and which is subordinate to the interests of feudalism, whose oligarchy of landlordism and capital would rule the destinies of our country. These are the opposing issues. Do they not stir every Liberal, every working man, to fight as he has never fought before ? This is to be a citizens fight, a fight for the common weal, and the victory can only be won by enthusi- astic unity. Let that unity be inspired by the truism that he serves his party best who serves his country best." Be it, therefore, understood that these meetings are primarily educational, while at the same time serving the purpose of testing the Borough Member's alleged un- soundness. Now Mr Rees courts the fullest inquiry into his position. That position he will state clearly in each address by an elaboration of the explanatory statements which he tendered to the Association, and he invites an interrogatory handling from all who may feel dissatisfied with any of his views. Therefore we trust that this oppor- tunity will be taken advantage of by his critics, not merely for their own satisfac- tion, but as a necessary procedure evolving a representative expression of opinion that will enable the Association subsequently to wisely determine upon Mr Rees's candida- ture. But we suggest that these Budget meetings should not be made the scene of any inquisition. They are to be public meetings, to which all parties are welcome. But, after all, Mr Rees's position is in the hands of Liberals. Our suggestion is, that at the end of each meeting the Borough Member should meet the local Association, and thoroughly discuss any matters which still require elucidating. Subsequently a meeting of tlre Boroughs Association should be summoned to consider the representations of the various associa- tions, and finally decide. We feel sure that a wise decision would be arrived at, and that the minority, loyal to the cause of Liberalism, and to the democratic principle that majorities must rule, would readily acquiesce, unless, of course, they could demonstrate, beyond doubt, that they repre- sented a proportion of the electors whose abstention from voting means a party de- feat. The strength of rival parties in these Boroughs is so nearly equal, that not a single Liberal vote must be wasted by abstention. However popular the Budget with many Tories, we cannot anticipate that one Tory vote will be cast for it, hence the necessity for absolute unity with regard to the Liberal candidate. United Liberalism will triumph again, but absolute unity there must be. ——

THE BICTON PROBLEM. Shropshire has at last given effect to its threat by resolving upon a dissolution of the Bicton Asylum partnership with Mont- gomeryshire. A few days previously some of the Lunacy Commissioners, we under- stand, visited Forden Workhouse with the view to the accommodation of more im- beciles there. These two events may have no connection, yet it is well they should happen almost simultaneously. Mont- gomeryshire opposes the dissolution, and this is a material factor in the apportion- ment of respective interests in the institu- tion should the Home Secretary sanction the dissolution. The fact cannot be contested that Bicton Asylum is over-crowded, but with the prospect of a drastic reform in lunacy administration, its extension is officially veteod. Mr Gladstone, advised, no doubt, by experts, has suggested the use of suitable workhouses as auxiliary or sup- plemental asylums, and the Forden Board of Guardians are willing to receive a con- siderable proportion of the number in ex- cess of accommodation at Bicton, if not to devote the whole workhouse for lunacy pur- poses. The Shropshire resolution has brought this controversial question to a head, and the decision of our County Coun- cil on Thursday next may perhaps advance it to a position that will evolve the final solution.

MR. EDWARD POWELL FOR OSWESTRY DIVISION. With Mr Edward Powell as their cham- pion, Liberals in the Oswestry division of Salop have an excellent chance of winning the seat at next election. Thoroughly sound on all points of Liberal policy, and an enthusiastic advocate of the principles and purposes of the Budget, Mr Powell combines with his progressive views the ability to present them in an intelligible and convincing fashion. We congratulate our friends across the border upon their good fortune in securing such a command- ing candidate. Should the constituency elect him, it will possess a representative of whom it might well feel proud. Mr Powell does not move his audience by flights of sentimental eloquence. A politic- ian of far less intellectual calibre, if en- dowed with rhetorical power, would work up an assembly to a greater pitch of fer- vour. He does not carry the crowd with a rush, but reaches their hearts through the intellect. It is by the precision with which he marshalls argument, and the keenness with which he scents sophistical reasoning, and the ruthlessness with which he dis- entangles confused thought, that he lays hold of his listeners. Mr Powell has the faculty of dealing with the practical side of public life, hence his impressive treat- ment of the Budget, which provides him with a subject that suits his mental outfit. The more he is seen and heard in Shrop- shire, the more will the people like him and rally to his support as a splendid repre- sentative, and a talented advocate of the great social causes on which Liberalism has set its heart.

"A BASELESS AND VENOMOUS ATTACK." There is no more astounding spectacle in our political life than the Tory leader in a fit of passionate temper. The blindness of his infuriated abuse is amazing. Mr Cham- berlain's spit-fire anathema was politeness in comparison. It is said of Mr Balfour that he does not understand figures any more than Lord Randolph Churchill under- stood decimals, and to this fact may be ascribed his sweeping personal castigation of the Lord Advocate for declaring, after careful calculations, that he doubted the ability of the Opposition to find the money for old-age pensions by the only method of Tariff Reform, which they state is the al- ternative to the Budget. Which declaration is denounced as an outrage upon the whole fabric of free institutions, a crime, and a calumny, and Mr Ure is charged with dis- honouring his profession, his office, and his country. The Lord Advocate retorts upon this baseless and venomous attack after the fashion it deserves, and at the same time completely vindicates his original statement. He proves on the basis of Board of Trade returns for last year that from a 10 per cent. duty on imported manufactures we cannot realise more than Z5,000,000, which is insufficient to pay old- age pensions.

TARIFF REFORM AND OLD AGE PENSIONS. To follow up the argument, let us ask from what other sources is a Tory Government to find the money necessary for carrying on the business of the country ? They oppose the new license duties, death duties, super tax, and land taxes, estimated to yield over £10,000,000, with annually increasing productiveness but they are not content with averting these new taxes. They regard the death duties and the income tax as too high al- ready, and must be reduced. On the other hand, they are for an increase of army and navy expenditure. It thus follows that if they were in office three years hence, the new expenditure ,plus the relief from ex- isting taxes, would necessitate at least the raising of twenty millions by means of Tariff Reform. Cannot our readers discern what history plainly tells, that once Pro- tectionist tariffs are levied, they grow in number and amount. Mr Balfour's "fiscal reform of a moderate and equitable kind is but the beginning of Protection and the end of cheap living. "When I read rules of criticism," said Addison, "I immediately inquire after the works of the author who has written them." Mr Balfour has yet to speak a word or give a vote in favour of old-age pensions. If it be a "crime" and a calumny to say that Tariff Reform will not pay for them, it would be a still greater crime to tax the domestic needs of the poor people for that purpose.

The Plasdinam Hunt. Dolfor was the place fixed for Saturday week's meet. The field included- The Master, Canon and Mrs Woosnam, and Misses Woosnam, Aberhafesp Hall, Miss Harrison, Messrs G. R. Harrison, Welsh- pool, W. E. Pryce-Jones, E. Woosnam- Savage, F. Morris, Old Hall, J. Howells, Gilfach, E. Jarman, Yewtree, Wigley, Cookson, Garthmyl, D. Morgan, Nyodd, and B. Pryce, Caelanau. Pugh's planta- tion was first drawn, but proved blank, so also did Gilfach and Glog hill. Nyodd- goch hill was next. drawn, when a fox broke away over the dingle between Ny- oddgoch and Cider House, fields, up Dolfor hill, through the plantation, turned left- handed across Gilfach and Gartheilyn hill, into the Glog hill. He then set his mask up the ridge of the hill, fighting hard against the wind and rain. Finding the hounds pressing him very hard, he turned back down the hill again, and when going over Gartheilyn hill the hounds ran into him and killed him in the open, Miss Har- rison and Mr Howells being first at the death. While the Master and staff were quartering up the fox, some of the field being very anxious to see the fray, dis- turbed another fox from his supposed safe retreat. The hounds were galloped off again as quickly as possible. Being laid on the line, they carried it down Gartheilyn hill, over the peak of the Glog, down the side, across the Llanbadarn road, and through Cwm Yerch. Reynard turned left- handed up Cwmyrhiewdre hill, Old Nyodd, and Cefnperfa hill, turning again to the left up Gartheilyn hill and down the Glog. Seeing it was now high time to change his circuit, he broke away for Nyodd and Old Nyodd planting, up Llwynmadoc wood by Newhouse by Penygraig rocks, where he was viewed going out at the opposite side for the rocks and across Cwmhir for Cwm- rhiewdre. He then turned back for Peny- graig rocks, hounds rattling him through splendidly. He was again viewed breaking out at the top of the rocks and making for Llwynmadoc and Newhouse planting, up to Llediarte, down Tynyrhiew side to the Cwm, over the brook, up Penthryn hill and Havod hill, over Wainhir, Nyodd- llwydd, Penrhyllan, and Glanvienon hills, to the Glyn tack, where he wen tto earth. Mr Wigley, Garthmyl, is to be congratu- lated on his good finish, taking into con- sideration that his surroundings were very unfamiliar to him. Hounds put up their first fox at 11-30 a.m., and ran their second fox to earth at 4-30 p.m., going at great pace throughout the day, with only a very few minutes interval.

CAERSWS GUARDIANS. A Close Division. The monthly meeting of the Caersws Board of Guardians was held on Wednes- day, when Mr R. Evans (chairman) pre- sided, and there were also present Mr Pryce Pugh (vice-chairman), Mrs Bennett, Mrs D. H. Lewis, Messrs D. Higgs, J. Davies, D. Lloyd, Evan Williams, E. Thomas, T. Mills, D. T. Francis, E. Lewis, J. H. Edwards, P. Wilson-Jones, W. Alder- son, S. Powell, T. Whitticase, R. Bowen, L. D. Humphreys, J. P. Francis, E. Morris, W. Jones, E. Davies, T. Evans, J. Gethin, R. P. Wilson, J. Powell, and J. Jones, with the Clerk (Mr Cecil T. M. Taylor), and other union officials. "EVERYTHING IN GOOD ORDER." The Master (Mr Parry) reported that Mrs Percival Wilson, Fronfelin, had sent peri- odicals for the use of the inmates, and papers were received from Mr J. A. Haw- kins, Berthddu, Llandinam. A vote of thanks was passed to the donors. The Master also reported that the num- ber of .i !mates in the house was 78, against 81 in L.) corresponding period last year, and the number of vagrants relieved during the month was 474, against 407. Messrs D. Lloyd, E. Davies, and T. Evans reported that they had visited the house tha'L'morning, and were pleased to report that the inmates were very comfortable, and everything was in good order. RELIEVING OFFICER'S SALARY INCREASED. With regard to an application for an in- crease of salary by Mr C. R. Lewis, the relieving officer for the Newtown district, the Finance Committee reported that they had had facts laid before them, which showed that for the half-year before Mr Lewis took on the duties, the average cost of out-relief for paupers for the district was Y.3 4s 7d, and for last half-year the amount was £2 lis lid per pauper, a re- duction of £ 1 5s 4d. They believed that when he was appointed there was an un- derstanding that the salary would be raised to that paid to the previous reliev- ing officer as soon as he justified such a course by his experience, which they thought he had done. The salary his pre- decessor received was V-110 14s, whereas the total received by Mr Lewis for the year ending Michaelmas last was £ 92 10s. Fur- ther, as vaccination officer, he was paid Is for every certificate of successful vaccina- tion registered by him, but since the pass- ing of the Vaccination Act, 1907, the num- ber of persons objecting to their children being vaccinated had greatly increased, thus reducing his income, although he had the same amount of work to do. In Mr Lewis the committee believed that the Guardians had a painstaking and efficient officer, and that it would be in the inter- ests of the Guardians and ratepayers to grant his application. Taking everything into consideration, they were unanimous in recommending the Board to increase his salary. The Vice-Chairman stated that he was on the committee, but did not feel justified in signing the report until he heard the matter discussed. Mr P. Wilson-Jones, chairman of the Finance Committee, moved the adoption of the report, which he hoped would be una- nimously adopted. The Finance Committee met at Newtown a week previously, and spent about li hours in discussing the mat- ter. The purport of the report was pretty well agreed upon, but they gave the Clerk some time to draft the report, and that morning, in addition to the five members who attended the meeting at Newtown, they had the assistance of four other mem- bers, and again had a discussion for over an hour. Mr Lewis had served the Board faithfully, honestly, and uprightly for seven years. Some three years ago he made an application for an increase of salary, but the application was lost by one vote, and practically the same arguments as were used then had been used that day at the committee meeting. But when they took into consideration the fact that they had a man who had applied himself to his work so conscientiously for seven years without having had any recognition in the way of advance of his salary, he thought the time had come when the matter should receive their favourable consideration. It had been pointed out to them that Mr Lewis, through' the exercise of his duties, had caused the amount of relief per head per pauper to be reduced by the sum of 1:1 5s 4d from the amount which was hand- ed down to him by his predecessor, who was recognised as a very efficient official (hear, hear). That meant that the union had been saved E260 in rates in the New- town district. Complaints had been made that the rates were very high, and that was a fact, but if all the Councils exercised the same vigilance over their expenditure as the Caersws Guardians had done, the rates in the county would not be what they were to-day (hear, hear). The poor rate in that union was less now than it had been for 10 years by a penny in the pound, and they were bottom but one of the whole of the unions in Wales for the cost of administra- tion. By adopting that report they would be studying the interests of the ratepayers. A £ 10 rise would only mean 1-32nd part of a penny. The cost of out-relief in Mr Lewis' district was 13s 6d per head less than iri the Llanidloes district, and 9s 10d per head less than in the Caersws district, and Mr Lewis had only 15 cases less than the other two added together. He had the results of Mr Lewis's investigations, and found that he was invariably right. Mr W. Alderson seconded, and on being put, the motion was carried by 16 votes to 12. Afterwards Mr Alderson moved that Mr Lewis' salary be increased by £10. and Mr E. Williams seconded. Mr W. Jones moved, as an amendment, that the salary be increased by £2 10s, and Mr E. Thomas seconded. Mr Alderson: I hope we are not a 50- shilling Board, sir (laughter). On being put, 13 voted for the motion and 13 for the amendment, and the Chair- man gave his casting vote in favour of the motion. Mr Wilson, relieving officer for the Caer- sws district, said it was rather unfair to compare a town district with a country district. Mr Wilson-Jones: I must protest against this. He is not in order. Mr J. Davies: It is a bad thing to put one officer down at the expense of another (cries of hear, hear," and no"). POOR LAW ASSOCIATION. The Clerk reported that the annual meet- ings of the Poor Law Association were to be held in London on November 18th and 19th, and asked whether the Guardians' two representatives (Mr S. Powell and him- self) were to attend. Mr P. Wilson-Jones said that the Asso- ciation had been doing excellent work, and it protested against the doing away of Boards of Guardians. The object of the Association was to strengthen the present Boards and, if possible, to maintain them, so he thought it would be wise on their part to show their appreciation of the Asso- ciation's work by sending their representa- tives to the meeting. They might bring home valuable information, so that the Board might know how to act in face of the legislation which would no doubt take place in the immediate future. He moved that the representatives be asked to attend. —Agreed. VARIA. The tender of Mr W. R. Davies for sup- plying plans for the proposed hot water supply and heating apparatus for the house was accepted. Mr J. Davies gave notice of motion that at the next meeting he would move that the Guardians' work be taken immediately after the District Council work.

WELSHPOOL AND ITS i SANITATION. Extraordinary Position of the Mayor-Elect. The inhabitants of Welshpool have at last arisen in a serious sense of the utter inefficiency of their sanitary state. And not before time. For years their municipal representatives have trifled with both water and sanitary systems, notwithstanding re- peated warnings and object lessons that were calculated to impress the most in- different of men. Ultimately a costly law suit threw the limelight upon their lament- able policy of makeshift in regard to the disposal of the town's refuse, and we con- fess to amazement that a continuance of that self-same policy was silently suffered by a community which could not but realise its danger or the end to which it inevitably led. Ever since the mayoralty of Mr J. Pryce Jones, when the Henfaes scheme was conceived, the Express' has strongly sup- ported that proposed reform as the best yet produced for retrieving the town from scan- dalous sanitary administration. For two years the retiring Mayor (Dr Thomas) has striven zealously for the realisation of that scheme with a small majority behind him, but against a dogged and obstinate and influential minority. The fact may be re- called that the Council decided to purchase the Henfaes land, and there only remained the task of carrying out certain business arrangements, but these arrangements this minority have set themeslves deliberately to block and to thwart. Public patience, however, has its liimts. We have at times felt constrained out of a dutiful regard for their own interests, to be sarcastically criti- cal of the indifference shown by Welshpool, people towards the administration of their public affairs. They are at last fully awake, and the awakening, as we have already ob- served, has come about none too soon. An outbreak of typhoid fever, one suspected cause of which is the water supply, has assisted to prick the senses of a slumbering community, and after a rubbing of eyes, it beholds a sanitary state, to say the least, alarming. What wonder that a town's meet- ing was called last Monday evening to re- view this serious situation It will be gathered from a perusal of our extensive report of this meeting that the opponents of the Henfaes project were absent. Evidently they do not care for the judgment of the people, which went by default. The Bur- gesses of Welshpool have declared for the scheme. Is the opposition, which we have no hesitation in describing as unwarrantably stupid, to prevail against the people's will ? There is in the first place the question voiced by a Welshpool citizen—incidentally a Conservative—whether the community has a right to own for public health purposes 25 of the 20,000 acres over which the Borough extends. We do not mince words. This question at once sets up the distinction as between reactionary feudalism and the rights of the people to have their domestic and trade refuse sanitarily disposed of. Then there is the right of the town to assert it- self from the standpoint of industrial deve- lopment, in view of the regrettable fact that owing to an inefficient sanitary system valuable industries have been strangled at their birth within very recent times. Sixty years ago cholera compelled Welshpool to leap forward. It was one of the first muni- cipalities to adopt a sanitary system efficient for those days. Since then progress in Powysland has been terribly lacking. Now however, there is a revival, engineered by the stern force of circumstances, and com- munal determination is happily evident. The inhabitants are menaced by a disease known as anti-Henfaesitis, and they must vigourously tackle it. Just as the water supply has been bacteriological analysed and found to harbour certain bacilli bear- ing alarming names, as may be noted in another column, so it becomes necessary to determine the precise character and the destructive, power of this other visitant of peril. Already it has been partially diag- nosed, the prescription is being prepared, and the medicine, though nauseous, is likely to effect a cure, on the principle that des- perate diseases require equally desperate remedies. It is no secret that Councillor T. J. Evans, since he found a place in the Corporation three years ago, has been a leading oppon- ent of the Henfaes scheme. His speeches at the Council table have been frank and clear, and so long as he merely voiced the feelings of the Buttington Ward—in which very ward industrial progress has been scotched-or so long as the Burgesses of that Ward were content with his represen- tation, nothing could be said against the legitimacy of his attitude. But recent! events have promised to transform this gentleman's municipal status for the imme- diate future, and thereon hangs a most important consideration for the people gener- ally. At a scantily attended private meeting held a few weeks ago, the Council invited Mr Evans to assume the mayoralty for the ensuing year. It was the retiring Mayor who proposed Mr Evans for the seat of honour. Now Dr Thomas was quite well aware of Mr Evans' hostility towards the sanitation project. Why, then, did he nom- inate him ? Rumour furnishes the answer that he did so on the understanding con- veyed to him by one of Councillors Evans' colleagues that that gentleman would not oppose the scheme. Added to this is the fact that the Mayor elect" owes his se- lection to a minority on the Council. Coun- cillior Evans, as the new mayor, will no longer be representative simply of the Buttington Ward. He will be the reSDon- sible chief of the whole borough. What, then, is to be his future attitude towards the project in face of the unanimous reso- lution of that public meeting of citizens which approved the Henfaes scheme, sym- pathised with the worthy Vicar for the humbug to which he as the vendor has been subjected, and called upon the Coun- cil to furnish the negotiations, like business men, without delay. The Mayor elect" and other councillors who oppose the scheme were not present at that meeting, but we have the best authority for stating that notwithstanding the decision of the in- habitants, Councillor Evans maintains his opposition. What, then, is the position and policy of the burgesses? Will they be con- tent to be befooled ? Will they tolerate a deliberate defiance of their expressed will ? At the next ordinary Council meeting on Tuesday, November 9th, the "Mayor elect" will, following the course of things, give a statement of his views on public questions after signing the declaration of office and the golden chain hangs around his neck. 'Twould be too late then, however, to effec- tively challenge his position, and we are pleased to learn that this fact is being an- ticipated. A movement, we understand, is afoot in the town to take such steps as will compel the Council to summon a public meeting for the consideration of the mayor- alty, and so save the honour and dignity of the borough from being involved in an un- pleasant but necessary demonstration, which is not unlikely to occur should the will of the community be defied. It is perfectly patent to everybody who desires to see the Henfaes scheme an accomplished fact that since the favourable majority on the Coun- cil is small, the realization of their hopes might be easily defeated by the unavoidable absence through illness or business claims of members of that majority. And this pos- sible contingency is emphasised by the knowledge that the opposition is determin- ed, for reasons which it is unnecessary to state at this juncture. Once a mayor is elected with known views on public questions, nobody will be entitled to complain or to whine if he should pro- ceed to carry out what he conceives to be the good of the community according to those views. If such views are antagonistic to the express wishes of the people over whom he is to preside-as they are in the case of Councillor Evans- then his nom- ination to the chair must be timeously and courageously assailed. A requisition is be- ing extensively signed by all blasses of bur-- gesses for the summoning of a public meet- ing with that purpose in hand. The question of refuse and sewage dis- posal primarily affects the health of those persons resident in the rateable area known as the inner district, but villagers, farmers, and others higher up in the social scale in the outer district are hardly less concerned. This they will realise if, by failure of the Council to do its duty, they have to foot another document like the Erwfelin law suit bill, which would fall on town and country alike. There is still time for the "Mayor elect" to consider the consequences of his contin- ued opposition to the scheme, for, whatever may be the personal result, the will of the community must prevail.

Lord Joicey and the Budget. TO THE EDITOR OF THE EXPRESS & TIMES.' Sir,—A letter appeared in the northern papers on Tuesday, the 19th inst., ad- dressed by Lord Joicey to the Secretary of the Montgomery Boroughs Liberal Asso- ciation, announcing his resignation of the president of the Association. The reason given is his unqualified disapproval of the Budget. After reading the letter carefully, what strikes one very forcibly is that the very arguments which his Lordship used to con- demn or to express his disapproval of the Budget can be used with far greater force to condemn or to express our disapproval of the present land system. Lord Joicey says that the Budget is based on the sup- position that by despoiling the well-to-do the poor can be made better off, which, in my opinion, is fallacious." If the argu- ment is true, then it is more true still that owners of land by their practices say that it is an excellent thing for the good of the country to despoil public authorities, creators of industry, tradespeople, farmers and farm labourers, in order to increase the already enormous wealth of a few persons. The annual tribute of £ 14,640,000 levied on land values by seven Peers in London proves this to the hilt, and it is a proof of what is going on throughout the country. Again, his Lordship says the Budget sacrifices principle to popularity." But the owners of land sacrifice principle to pleasure and luxury, which is a more serious state of things. Has Lord Joicey any idea how much of the wealth that is got out of the soil by the labour of farmers and those dependent on them is spent by a few landowners on pheasants, partridge, grouse, etc., on horse-racing, on gambling, and luxury of every description ? His Lordship says that the Budget as- serts that it is criminal to accumulate in order to provide for one's family, which I have always considered to be the honoura- ble duty of every citizen." He also consid- ers that the Budget encourages reckless expenditure by all bodies spending the pub- lic money, and raises revenue by the most expensive methods." But public bodies in their dealings with landlords have to pay exorbitant sums of money for plots of land to build a school or any other public build- ing, or for a plot of land to bury the dead. The Budget, he goes on to say, will ren- der life to certain individuals almost un- bearable by the constant inquisitorial in- terference of officials." But under the re- gime of the landowners, life becomes un- bearable to thousands of human beings by the inquisitorial interference of officials in the shape of estate agents, gamekeepers, river bailiffs, etc. The Budget again seizes upon the capi- tal of the country to spend as income, thus endangering the wages fund, which is ab- solutely necessary for the prosperity of all classes." The capital of the country is the land and the minerals therein, but land- owners, through the powers they possess to absorb the income derived from land and minerals, cause the wages fund of our country to be seriously limited, and the result is thousands of human beings are employed at a rate of wage which means suffering and want. The Budget is unjust," says his Lord- ship, not only to individuals, but to whole classes. But if that is true of the Budget, it is more true of landowners. Public authorities, farmers, labourers, join- ers, masons, tradesmen, all suffer at the hands of some landlords. The attention of landowners has been drawn time and again to the words of Oliver Goldsmith. May I be allowed to do so again ? III fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, Where wealth accumulates, and men decay Princes and lords may flourish, or may fade, A breath can make them, as a breath has made But a bold peasantry, their country's pride, When once destroyed, can never be sup- plied." It is quite possible that it can be said of some of the peasantry of the county of Montgomery, as it can be said of the peas- antry in some of the counties of England, when forced by circumstances to leave their native walks" and face the great industrial centres, which they dislike so much— Good Heaven! what sorrows gloom'd that parting day, That called them from their native walks away." This where wealth accumulates. Mr Winston Churchill has pointed out that the capital wealth of the nation grows by over £ 200,000,000 a year. This where men de- cay, for Mr J. A. Macdonald, editor of the Toronto Globe,' in giving his impressions of what he saw in England, says that what struck every observant delegate was not that the people were poor, not even that they were hungry, but the utter blankness of the faces that looked up at us from the pavement, or down on us from the windows, stooped shoulders, hollow cheeks, ash-col- oured faces, lightless eyes, and, ghastliest of all, loose-set mouths, with bloodless gums, and only here and there a useful tooth. Literally, hundreds of women, be- tween seventeen and seventy, crowded close to our motor cars that day, and the marks were on them all." Well may we ask, How long will such a nation remain great ?" If the great landowners had done their duty towards the people, such a state of things would not be in existence, taxine- the st.rencrth t.hp energy, and wit of cur ablest statesmen as to the best way of making straight that which has been made crooked by the land- owners. A NORTHENER.

BERRIEW. DAvin JONES and SON, Hig-h-strpet., Wplshpool, are noted for pure Indian and Ovlon Teas nrfi delicious Home Cured Hams and Bacona.-r A-7Tt

HUNTING APPOINTMENTS MR. DAVID DAVIES' FOX HOUNDS meet this week as follows: Monday, November 1st Banhadlog At 10-30 a.m. Wednesday, November 3rd ;Llawr-v-Glyn At 10-30 a.m Saturday, November 6fch Dolfor At 10-30 a.m. MR. DAVID DAVIES' BEAGLES meet this week as follows Tuesday, November 2nd Berthddu Lodge At 10-30 a.m. Friday, November 5th Staylittle At 10-30 a.m. i

At Newport many village public-houses in the mining districts of Monmouthshire and Glamor- ganshire were sold, and sensational prices were given. The total realised was £ 182910 A valuer described the price as phenomenal, and the best argument for the Budget he knew As a result of a deplorable outrage by a suffra- gette, Mr George Thorley, presiding officer at one of the Bermondsey polling stations, is in Guy's Hospital with serious injury to an eye. A Mrs Chapin dashed some fluid over a ballot box to damage the papers, and some of the liquid splashed in Mr Thorley's face.

SEEN AND HEARD. Nothing ext-eiansts, aor let down anght in Tnftliiww SHAKKBPJCABB. I often conjure an immeasurably happier state, socially, materially, and every other conceivable ally," did we evince the same amount of enthusiastic interest in local self-government that we manifest in Im- perial politics. While our Parliamentary representation excites us to the full-hearted assertion of principle and policy, and rouses a fighting instinct which counts no sacrifices, in matters that concern our do- mestic well-being and the immediate hap- piness and comfort of ourselves and our families we have become lamentably in- different. Mayoralties, long since strip't of their civilian glory, now go a-begging, and the offer of a seat at the municipal table prompts a significant shrug of the shoulders from some of the best and most capable of our citizens. The reflex of this regrettable public apathy is witnessed in the char- acter of the Councils, which, to all intents and purposes, have degenerated into mere administrative machines. Only at intervals are we given a glimpse of individual initiative which seems to scare the drowsy senate, and it seldom survives the scare stage, unless it has the authoritative back- ing of officials. Generally speaking, we are not progressing municipally, and many things bear striking testimony to the descrediting fact. All of us have our Churches and Chapels, for whose well-being we zealously strive. Why don't we try to realise our existence as a communal family, and strive with equal zeal to promote the collective interests that lie outside sect and party ? Our interests are interwoven, our individual happiness is largely dependent upon our individual friendships, our success comes of the success of those whom we serve, and they, also, are reliant upon our efficient and loyal service. Let us translate this conception of the com- mon family into the efforts which it plainly presents, and we shall surely find the real pleasure and pride of place A Ratepayers' Association, such as has II been started at Newtown, points out my idea. Here we have an organisation con- ceived of a wholesome public spiritedness which knows no creed or caste, and takes its inspiration from the single-minded pur- pose of advancing the general weal. I would have that people's parliament meet frequently to discuss the common good, and so inspire and guide those in whose hands our communal- destiny is placed. You may tell me that all manner of fads and strange notions would be thrown upon the parlia- mentary screen. Likely enough, but I am always ready to listen to a man of ideas, however impracticable they may seem for the circumstances of the moment. A man with no ideas other than those he borrows from someone else does not interest me. Nothing is more thought-making and illumi- nating than the interchange of ideas, parti- cularly in an atmosphere created for a common purpose, where the mind is not distracted, or jealousies stirred by matters that lie beyond the circumscribed area of our abiding. There are numberless ques- tions which an association like this could consider and determine with infinite benefit to the community, and I shall be disap- pointed if it fails to build upon the admir- able start it has made. Can you explain (a correspondent asks) why two questions of importance to Newtown are being persistently kept in the back- ground ? I refer to the control of the mar- kets and fairs and the revision of the electo- ral wards. There is a silence surrounding them that must bear some explanation." My correspondent knows quite as much as I do concerning the hanging up of these questions, but his pointed query may serve to remind the Urban Council that both ques- tions are still alive; at any rate, in the public memory. However apparent the anomalous character ol the present electoral arrangement, I must say I admire the rural Councillors for the manner in which they have so long thwarted the designs of the urban majority, if we may regard these designs as sincere. How much longer the urban ratepayers will tolerate a policy of inaction is a matter for them to decide. The maternal plea of ignorance, the usual consequences of which Llanfyllin will be exceptionally lucky to escape, raises the important question whether scarlet fever and other juvenile diseases of an infectious nature are, after all, easy of detection by intelligent parents. In this case at Llan- fyllin the outbreak was not notified, and the affected children were sent to school in the "peeling" stage, at which period, one understands, infection is most likely to spread. Medical opinion may have no sym- pathy with professed ignorance of this com- plaint, when the peeling process demon- strates its character beyond doubt, but it may be argued that if the trained eye of the practical" farmer cannot distinguish a scab-smitten sheep, neither can the mother determine which are infectious of the many ills that flesh is heir to. Whether this ignorance is feigned or genuine, it consti- tutes a very grave danger, and measures must be taken not only to acquaint all parents that notification of scarlet fever to the medical officer is imperative, but also to enlighten them with reference to the symp- toms of the disease in its first stages. The sweet, calm sunshine of October, which warms each lowly spot," was a pretty poetic panegyric of other years, when sea- sons were more true to type, and inquisitive persons had not gone scratching matches and otherwise disturbing the sanctity of things about the North Pole. Instead of the sweet calm we have had tempestuous equinoctials that made pedestrianism more of a feat than a common-place event, and for the sunshine, if not a daily drenching, then a biting nor'-easter that smelt of snow and icicles. One local wiseacre has given out that the velocity of the wind on Tuesday night was BOt miles per hour. Nothing like being exact. It smacks of authority. The population of Mars is his next achievement, or he might apply his faculty for minute calculations to giving us the number of the bricks in the gasworks chimney at Newtown, in order that we may reckon with Coun- cillor Parry's constructional genius. LUKE SHARPE.

THE BOROUGH MEMBER.—The Borough Mem- ber left Newtown for London by the sight mail on Thursday, arrived in Town in time for a meet- ing in the City in the morning, went to the House of Commons and voted in every division, and in the evening went to Lady McLaren's party in Belgrave Square, to meet the Prime Minister^ where there was a great gathering of Liberals.