The Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times

TREFEGLWYS. Unbounded enthusiasm was exhibited by the. 250 people who crowded to overflowing the schoolroom of Gleiniant (Calvinistic Methodist) Chapel at Tref- eglwys. This meeting on Wednesday night had two features:— 1. That two local Radicals burst into electioneering poetry. First Mr David Evans, Cwmberllan, read an English composition, followed in the Cymraeg by Mr Charles Evans—"Siarl Trannon." 2. That after Mr David Davies had delivered his speech, the Chairman (the Rev Robert Davies, B.A., Calvinistic Methodist minister) invited questions. But no hecklers were present, and a stentorian voice in the crowd drew the ready conclusion-" Maeut hwy i gyd yn Liberals yma!" ("They are all Liberals here! ") The Chairman had spuken ere the candidate arrived, and the Rev Edward Parry was directing his satire with withering effect towards the consti- tution of the House of Lords. If a father had been making laws, he said, they thought his son could also make them. But there was no certainty (laugh- ter). If a man had been writing poetry well, they thought his son could make Jaws (more laughter). If a man bad made his fortune—honestly or dishonestly --(laughter)—they made him a peer, and then his descendants could make laws And, strangest of all, if a man could make beer-not good beer, but beer that people were foolish enough to buy a lot of. they made him a lord—(loud laughter),—and his sons and descendants were to make the country's laws for ever afterwards. Mr Parry made a great bit by comparing the House of Lords to the Old Market Hall at Llanidlocs. Both were old,—(laughter)—he said, both dilapidated, and both in the road (laughter). Both had been tolerated because there was a way through them—(laughter)— and around them.—(A Voice Yes !)-But supposing that the Old Market Hall closed up underneath and then extended across the road, and said nothing should pass that way any more, what would they say ? A Voice Lawr ag e (" Down with it! ") Mr Parry, continuing, said of course they could not imagine the Old Market Hall acting so foolishly as that. And so it was allowed to stand. But that was exactly what the House of Lords did. They had now blocked the road; nothing Liberal should pass them any longer, and would be told, "You have become too much of a nuisance to be tolerated henceforth. We did aympathise with you because of your old age and foolisbness-(Ioud laughter)—feeling that many of you could not help yourselves. But now you have presumed too much. You must clear out of the way and make room for your masters. Mae Meistr ar Feistr Mostyn (loud laughter and applause). Mr Richard Jones described the Lords, who had thrown out the Budget, as poachers on the preserves of the Commons and the King. Lord Rosebery had said that out of 600 peers only 150 of them qualified to form an opinion on public matters. He (Mr Jones) believed in a Second Chamber, but there should be to a large extent something in common between it and the Commons. Dealing with the fiscal question, Mr Jones said he did not tirnk that after 60 years of Free Trade the country wa3 ready to go back to Protection. Tariff Reform would benefit not the tenant farmers, but the landlords. The farmers would have to pay more for everything they bought. Not only that, but they would have to pay more money to their servants, and the money would be spent in that way. Moreover, the condition of the servants would be much worse. For every 100s the English workingman earned the workingman in Germany only earned 83s, and in France 73s. The hours were longer and the food was worse than in England. Mr Edward Jones also spoke and asked the electors not to be over confident. The House of Lords sought to cloak their sons, he said, by saying they were appealing to the people. Let them see that the House of Commons represented the people. He should not like Parliament to be without a Second Chamber-two were better than one. Mr Ashton followed with a declaration that, if the Lords had their way this time, the people would go into slavery alongside which the slavery in Egypt was but a shadow (laughter and applause). A Voice: -Va chant goberthio (" No, they shant I hope ") (laughter and applause). Mr Ashton quoted words he had heard many years ago at Liverpool from Mr Gladstone-" The masses may make mistakes in details, but on the main lines the masses are always right and the classes are always wrong." These words sank into my mind then," said Mr Ashton, and they are equally true to-day I Mr David Jones renamed the Upper House the Lower House." He used to think a good deal of it, he remarked whimsically, but it had gone so-foolish that he did not know would he go into it himself now (laughter). Not one half of them would be returned to the House of Commons—they were too.t'oolish. A resolution heartily approving the candidature of Mr Davies and pledging support was carried with loud enthusiasm. After the poetic reoitals. the Chairman then told a story he had been told about Mr Davies, which illustrated the candidato's deter- mination. Mr Davies was motoring to a Liberal meeting at a neighbouring village. The motor-car came to a full-stop owing to the slipperiness of a hill. But Mr Davies was determined to arrive at his des- tination, so be took off his coat, if the story was cosr -(,t- Mr Davies No, it's quite wrong (laughter). And wrapped it around the wheel, and then went on to the end of his journey. The Chairman hoped that Mr Davies would bind all the Liberals and Conserva- tives and Unionists in Montgomeryshire in the folds of his principles and take them on t6) St. Stephen to represent the county. On rising to speak Mr Davies remarked I want to make one correction in the Chairman's speech. It wasn't my coat I used on the wheel-but a rug (laughter and applause). But we got to the end of our journey, and I think we shall get to the end of our journey with the House of Lords as well (hear, hear, and applause). The meeting having accorded a vote of thanks to the Chairman on the motion of Mr Davies, seconded by Mr Richard Jones, the Rev Robert Davies observed I do not hesitate to state that to a large degree the state of generations to come depends upon what will be done at this general election (hear, hear). We shall either be piunged into that great state of inability to rule oi-irselvi s or else we shall expand our freedom, and realize our individuality as members of this vast Empire. The assembly broke up after singing Hen Wlad fy Nhadau," and the county candidate motored from the village amid the ringing cheers of his supporters.

MANLEDD. The Council Schoolroom of Manledd, 2t miles beyond Llanidloes, was the first meeting place on Thursday night to forward J Mr David Davies' candidature. Motoring from Llandinam, the young Squire picked up a sturdy group of supporters at Llan- idloes. The last part of the journey had to be made afoot along a quagmiry road up- hill to the destination. About 100 men, women, and young folk had foregathered, and, when Mr Davies entered the room, they all stood up, and sang For lie's a jolly good fellow-Hip, hip, hurrah The Rev Thomas Rowlands (Wesleyan minister), Llanidloes, presided, and remarked that they had hoped Mr Davies would be allowed to return to Par- liament without opposition. But they did not think the present contest an unmixed evil. The resolution supporting Free Trade, the Budget, and Mr Davies, and opposing the Lords, was proposed by Mr Richard Jones, Croeslyn. It is especially noteworthy that a ready and sturdy seconder appeared in a tenant-farmer under Lord Herbert Vane- Tempest, but an independent man-Mr Stephen Breeze, Garth. A veteran of many fights," as the Chair- man styled him, next spoke in English-the Rev T. E. Williams, Newtown. Who are to rule in this country ?" inquired Mr Williams, The Lords or the people ? That is, is Lord Powis with his one vote to counterbalance the votes of all the voters in this county ? Is the country to be ruled by 600 peers, or is it to be ruled by the people, by themselves, for themselves ? Our forefathers in the far past were slaves, for kings levied taxes without con- sulting the people. The Lords want us to be their slaves now. If I am to be a slave at all, I would rather be the slave of a king than the slave of a lord (laughter and applause). But we are not going to be slaves to kings or lords." Mr Williams emphasised in the first place not only the right but the duty of the elector to wte. He was once canvassing with the son of the late John Bright-Mr John Albert Bright (applause). One man told the latter, I can't vote for you, Mr Bright, but I won't vote against you." Oh said Mr Bright, I would rather you vote against me than not vote at all. It cost my father much to get you that vote--(loud applause),—and I want you to exercise it even if you vote against me." Passing from this characteristic observa- tion by the sometime Quaker and straight- forward candidate for the Montgomery Boroughs, Mr Williams proved the secresy of the ballot with another typical story. He remembered the '63 election, when it was open voting, and tens and hundreds of families in Cardiganshire suffered on ac- count of having voted openly according to their consciences. They had to devote the election of 1880 to an explanation of the secresy of the ballot. The grandfather of his friend, Mr David Davies—(applause)— in the counties of Cardigan and Radnor authorized him to make an offer—" £ 1,000 and the best farm I own if anyone can find out how they vote, providing they don't say themselves" (laughter and applause). Mr Williams made that offer everywhere in the counties of Cardigan and Radnor until that day (renewed laughter and applause). A Tory agent in Carmarthenshire went to a voter, and said Who are you going to vote for at this election?" "For master, I suppose," said the man. You could find out for whom I voted in the ballot ? "Yes," said the agent. "I am a member 1II.T I' oi a IN onconiormist Lhurch, said the man. Do you think, if I voted quietly for the master, the minister of that Church would find out for whom I voted ? "No," said the agent. No one can find out". (loud laughter). So, said Mr Williams, the tenant farmer proved the secresy of the ballot. Voting by ballot was secret as the grave it was perfectly safe for them to vot.e Mr Williams passed on to his second point—that they should vote for Mr Davies, firstly because he was a Welshman (ap- plause). Irish were the best people to re- present Ireland, Scotch to represent Scot- land, English to represent England, and certainly Welshmen were the best to re- present Wales (hear, hear). And they had in Mr Davies a Welshman and a Mont- gomeryshire man (applause). Secondly, they should vote for Mr Davies because he was a Liberal prepared to advocate Lib- eral measures and to vote for Liberal re- forms in such directions as should be de- sirable. He had voted for such measures in the past. The measure of old-age pen- sions-(applause)-had been a great meas- ure. In Montgomeryshire 1,700 persons re- ceived pensions totalling £ 15,147 a year. They owed that to the Liberal Government, which Mr Davies had supported (applause). In the time of Charles II., said Mr Wil- liams, each subject was assessed for a tax per head-the duke had to pay £100, a marquis £ 80, a baronet £30, a knight £20, a squire EIO,-(Iaughter)-a single private citizen 12d (laughter). The principle was to assess sfccording to the ability to pay, a r» asser^ec^ Mr Williams, m the re- cent Budget they were taxed according to their ability to pay (loud applause). From those who had much, much would be re- quired. From those who had little, less will be required. And so the burden was shaped according to the ability of the back to bear it. I think that is a safe and just and righteous principle. Mr Davies sup- ported that Budget, and he is going back to support a similar Budget, so as to be able to carry on the affairs of the country in a manner which will be a credit to the country and beneficial to the people who live in this country" (loud applause). After Mr Williams' speech, which roused his listeners, the Manledd people intro- duced an item which proved, if necessary, the musical bent of the Cymru even in politics. A number of topical "penillion" were sung Mr David Jones (" Alaw luen"), the hamlet shopkeeper, sang the solo, the congregation joining heartily in the tra-la-la" chorus. The verses de- clared that "Arthur Wynn should go into the gutter David Davies for us for ever." Later, the singer pronounced that Arthur Wynn should go to shoot partridges," and described the Liberal candidate as our champion, a strong supporter of old-age pension." The Chairman's announcement to put the resolution to the meeting was the signal for Mr William Ashton, J.P. (Llanidloes), to exclaim a Hwre, rwan (" Hurarh, now! "). The resolution was duly carried. Is there anyone against?" inquired the Chairman. Dim perygl! (" No dan- ger! ") was the assuring response of a Radi- cal in the audience. Mr Davies then addressed the meeting, telling the electors that they should con- sider it a privilege to live in these times, when they could record their vote on be- half of a great struggle for liberty, just like the old struggles they read about in which their forefathers fought hundreds of years ago. The gradual preparation by news- papers in the country for the rejection of the Budget had not removed from the minds of the people the great seriousness and gravity of the constitutional question. He did not think the electors of Montgom- eryshire were going to stultify themselves and make their own votes of absolutely no use. The crisis which the House of Lords had caused hit at the very basis of their system of representation, which was the envy of other countries. That representa- tive government had saved them from great social upheavals and the great strife which had fallen to the lot of other coun- tries. The Budget, declared Mr Davies, not only hit the rich people, but it touched the poor people as well, in that they had to pay more for their beer and tobacco. I think everybody is paying a fair share to- wards the maintenance of the country" (loud applause). After Mr Davies' speech came another musical item—" The Land Song," wherein "Alaw Tuen" again took the solo. Amid cheers, Mr Davies then left Manledd to at- tend his second and last meeting on Thurs- day's programme.

"Trust the People," but Don't Trust the Dukes.

LLANDINAM. From Manledd, Mr Davies motored unto his own "—to Llandinam, the only village in Montgomeryshire lit by elec- tricity. At the Village Hall—the brightest place in which the Liberal candidate had yet held a meeting—an attentive audience, numbering nearly 200, had foregathered, and was being "held" by Dr E. Davies Rees, of Caersws, when Mr Davies and his retinue arrived on the scene, and received a hearty Llandinam welcome. The genial medico of the "Ancient City called forth loud laughter and cheers by his apt reefrence to Mr David Davies' po- litical past. Speaking in Welsh, the doctor remarked that Mr Davies' characteristic as a huntsman and sportsman was his per- sistence he never gave in (laughter and loud applause). Especially was it so when he beat a covert for a fox. Farmers or neighbours might sometimes find it to their interest to point out a covert to Mr Davies, and tell him if he beat that covert he was sure to find a fox. Mr Davies went there and beat and beat, and if he left that cov- ert without having seen a fox, they might be quite sure there was no fox there. For four years Mr Davies has been beat- ing the Tariff Reform' coverts to see are there any advantages to be got thence for the country (laughter and applause). He had left that covert, and he will never beat it again" (loud applause). One of our friends at Caersws," added the doctor, said that one of the best things we could have was physical palsy' (loud laughter). I am glad to say that physical palsy has never struck our country yet, and it would be a sorry day for us if it did (applause). The Chairman (Mr Edward Jones, Tre- wythen) said he had had a paper handed to him with a request to be allowed to put the list of the National Farmers' Union ques- tions to the candidate at the meeting. He had placed it before the candidate, who asked that the questions be deferred until the Caersws meeting. A moment later, however, the Chairman announced that Mr Davies would answer the questions at the present meeting. Mr Balfour recently said that the Con- servative party stood for three principles- the maintenance of the Union, of the Em- pire, and of the Constitution. The impli- cation was these principles are far safer in the hands of the Conservative party than of the Liberal party. This fallacy was at- tacked in a clearly delivered, well-reasoned speech by Mr John Owens, of Chester, who was private secretary to the Liberal can- didate's father, and is the statistical ex- pert of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodists. No doubt, said Mr Owens, Mr Balfour meant by the Union" the legislative union between this country and Ireland. But it was not proposed by the Radical party, should they be re-elected, that the union between those two countries should be severed. On the contrary, they believed that by the grant of Home Rule—self-con- trol in purely local matters-they would strengthen the real bonds of union between the two countries. Every system of govern- ment must be decided bv its results. Thp. question arose whether their past system of government in Ireland had led to the peace, prosperity, and contentment of the nation. It must be admitted that it had ?i I Liberal Government believed that the present time was a favourable op- portunity for that experiment to be made, because two grave questions had been set- tled in Ireland on principle by the last Parliament, namely, the settlement of the land and the university questions. The condi- tions were now favourable for that exten- S10I}j u seJf-government, on lines which could hereafter be extended to Wales and ocotland. But the question of union was f very much broader and deeper one than the paricular question referred to by Mr Balfour. The question of harmony and union be- tween the various classes in the community was likely to be affected by Tariff "Re- form." Supposing for the sake of argu- ment that the Conservative party was re- turned with a majority, which would be a national calamity, there would be a very strong minority in favour of Free Trade. There would be, say, a small majority in favour of Tariff "Reform," and that a majority formed by the use of those subtle influences that the Conservative party brought to bear so often on elections, amounting very nearly to intimidation, bribery, and corruption; it would be a majority formed of the privileged classes, of the most prejudiced classes, and also of the most dependent classes, whereas against that they would have-he was satis- fied-a strong minority of Scotchmen and Welshmen-the hardest-headed men in the world (laughter and applause)—and the men engaged in the farming interests and in in- dustrial pursuits in Northern England. The mere proposal of trying to carry Tariff "Reform" into effect would lead to a con- dition, if not of civil war, then to a con- dition of disunion and disintegration, which would weaken the country in its pro- vision for the maintenance of the Empire against foreign aggression, because Free Traders believed in that question not as a mere academic question of principle, but as a matter of life or death. Therefore they were not at all likely to yield to the small majority, which he was supposing would be returned, without fighting to the death for it. Therefore the policy of the Conserva- tive party would lead not to union, but to disunion and disintegration. "Take another aspect of this question," continued Mr John Owens. It is said by the Tariff 'Reformers' that the working classes will get a higher rate of pay as the result of Protection. That will be enforced by means of the taxing of manufactured articles, and therefore increasing the manu- factures in this country. It is said that will lead to an increase in the rate of pay. But you see at once the possibilities that are involved in that of conflict between Capital and Labour. The capitalist-the employer—will naturally want to retain as much as possible of that increased price which he is able to obtain. The wage- earner, on the other hand, will claim in ac- cordance with the promises his own party have made that he should get a share of it. And consequently you will have a con- stant source of conflict between Capital and Labour, which is most disastrous to the welfare and interest ,of this country (ap- plause. So on every ground the policy of the Conservative party leads to disunion and disintegration between the masses of this country and between Capital and Labour." Taking, again, the relation of the two parties to the- Empire, he thought the Liberal party could claim to have safe- guarded the interests of the Empire in a far better way than it had been safe- guarded by the Conservative party. The consolidation of the Union in South Africa had been brought about as a result of the granting of self-government—(hear, hear)— to the Orange Free State and the Trans- vaal (hear, hear ,and applause). A pro- posal was actually opposed by the Con- servative party when it was made by the Liberal party to give an extension of local government in India, which they hoped in the course of time would allay the dissen- tion which had existed in that country as a result, mainly at any rate, of Lord Curzon and the Conservative party (ap- plause). There was again the bringing to- gether of the various colonies to form I i-- measures ior tne aeience oi tne country. So in those three particular directions, which were merely taken as illustrations, they would see that the Liberal party were the really the guardians of the Empire in the country. What again would be likely to be the effect of Tariff Reform on the Empire. If Tariff" Reform" was to be such a great advantage to this country, the Government of India would have to say, You must also allow us the same privi- lege. You cannot resist it." The result would be that they would tax manufac- tured goods, and among them, of course, being the goods manufactured in Lan- cashire. The result would be the actual ruin and destruction of the largest portion of the trade of the country, namely, the cotton trade of Lancashire. They could not possibly refuse that assent to India. If they did refuse it, then they would have a system of disloyalty and disunion to a far greater extent than they had at present. Another aspect of the question of Empire was that the mere proposal of fixing tariff taxation upon articles imported into this country would lead to a haggle between this country and the various colonies as to the rates and the objects of taxation. There was this great contrast between the Conservative party and the Liberal party with regard to the Empire—the Conserva- tive party sought to base the union between the colonies and this country on £ s. d. on commercial grounds, which had never proved a basis of union. If they allowed commercial influences to enter even into the province of a family, it would often break it up, whereas the policy of the Liberal party as to the union of this coun- try with the colonies was the extension of Liberal principles. Whenever this coun- try seeks to advance the cause of the peo- ple, seeks to eliminate poverty from the land, seeks to bring about that equality of opportunity-that is the great feature of Liberalism—it seeks to place the working man in a position to earn his own living and to bring up his children respectably that is the policy of the Liberal Govern- ment, and whenever that is tried seriously in this country, it reverberates throughout the whole of the Empire and throughout the whole of the world, because there is a common entity of feeling in all mankind." That was the basis on which this country sought to bind the colonies closer to this country than they were now (applause). Taking again the question of the Consti- tution, Mr John Owens quoted the recent words of one of the most eminent jurists in England, who is a Conservative in politics, Sir Frederick Pollock":— The most audacious attempt to subvert the foundations of Parliamentary govern- ment which has been made since the revo- lution of 1688." The fact was that, instead of the Con- servative party being the guardians of the Constitution, they were the breakers of the Constitution,—(hear, hear)—and the real guardians of the Constitution were the Liberal party. Every vote given at the next election in favour of the Conservative candidate would be a vote for the Empire's disintegration, for disunion. It would be a vote for dearer food, for dearer clothes. It would be a vote for the limitation of that freedom and liberty for which their forefathers had bled suffered and died. It would be a vote for the breaking up of the British Constitu- tion (loud applause). The Rev T. E. Williams next spoke and observed that Mr David Davies was becoming more and more Liberal continually—(bear, hear, and ap- plause)—"more in harmony, in touch with us" Mr Williams declared he could not see how, in this election, a Nonconformist could consistently vote for a Tory. They had suffered more from the House of Lords as Nonconformists than any class of people. Mr Davies received a Llandinam ovation on rising to address the meeting. A voice in the rear of the audience made itself heard now and 'I 1 tnen more or less criuicaiiy. mr uavies was observing that the Lords had thrown out the Budget, when the interrupter remarked They didn't throw it out," and afterwards made a running comment that Tariff "Reform" would benefit the farmers. To this Mr Davies replied by contrasting the Protectionist proposals with the Development Bill. As local secretary of the Farmers' Union, Mr Francis Joues, Maesmawr, afterwards put to the candidate a series of questions. He explained that Mr Davies had already answered the ques- tions, but he would now have an opportunity to make a public declaration. The first query read, Are you in favour that the Agricultural Rating Act, which is terminating next March, shall be continued, until the whole system of rating is dealt with on the basis of agricultural land being treated as raw material ? Mr Davies: I said in the answer that I should be in favour of continuing the Agricultural Rat- ing Act. I think it is rather difficult to know what is meant by treating land as raw material (hear, hear). That was the difficulty I was fronted with in dealing with that question. Questions 2 and 3. That iirger grants shall be made by the Imperial Exchequer towards the cost of education under the Education Act. That larger grants shall be paid by the Imperial Exchequer towards the maintenance of the public rates. Mr Davies: Yes. That is done now, sir, under the Development Bill, which has not become law yet, but which we hope will become law in a few months. J3600,000 was set aside for road develop- ment in this country (loud applause). Question 4. That preferential railway rates for foreign produce shall be abolished. The fact that Mr Davies is on the Board of Directors on the Cambrian and the Barry Dock Railways added interest to Mr Davies' answer- Yes." The next question aroused great laughter. It concerned "that beverage called beer," which should be made solely from barley, malt and hops. Mr Davies was understood to agree. Question 6. That the regulations now existing with regard to the slaughter of all foreign cattle at the port of entry should be continued. Yes," said Mr Davies. Question 7. That Army meat contracts shall require home-fed" instead of home-killed as at present. Mr Davies: Well, I don't quite understand the scope of that question, because it seems to me it would tie down the War Office to home-fed meat in case of war, where they have to have an enor- mous supply at almost a few months' notice. The supply would not be able to meet the demand, so it seems impracticable to insert a provision of that kind in the War Office contracts. But I think they should always give preference to home- fed meat (hear, hear, and applause). Question 8. That a Bill is needed allowing for the production of spirit; for motors used for motive power without payment of excise duty. Yes," was the answer. Record laughter greeted the next question, which, like the railway charges query, bad a very personal interest for the Liberal candidate. vVould he agree that a Bill is urgently needed fo the control of motors on highways ? Yes," said Mr Davies. Question 10. That a Bill is needed to provide more funds from the Imperial Exchequer for agricultural research? Mr Davies: Yes. I think you will find that is done under the Development Bill. Question 11 dealt with the application to the whole country of an equitable scale of unit value for artificial food and manuies. Yes," said Mr Davies. Question 12. Wanted a Bill to amend the present Jaw relating to boundary fences. Yes," again was the answer. Question 13. To bring about the compulsory adoption of uniform weights and measures. The Liberal candidate agreed. Question 14. That the Small Holdings Act of 1908 shall be so amended that the out-going tenant shall be compensated for disturbance, should his farm be required for small holdings. "Yes," was once more the answer, and Mr Francis Jones sat down saying "Thank you." "I think," commented the Chairman (Mr Edward Jones, "Trewythen ") you are prepared to give a certificate that he has answered the ques- tions satisfactorily. And to satisfy the Secretary of the Farmers' Union is not a very easy matter" (laughter). A resolution such as had been adopted at previous meetings was then put to the meeting The majority of hands were upheld in support More Conservatives had attended than at any previous meeting during the present tour of the Liberal candidate. The Chairman inquired Against ? And a young man in the rear of the sprang on his feet and held up both hands. Da iawn," (" Very good ") exclaimed the sportsman- Squire of Llandinam, and Mr Edward Jones remarked that he admired the courage of Mr (Malcolm) Kinsey (Maesmawr).

MONTGOMERYSHIRE INFIRMARY BALL. Everything Satisfactory Except Attendance. The Montgomeryshire Infirmary Ball was held in the Public Hall, Newtown, for two hours on Wednesday night and also four hours on Thursday morning. Everything was satisfactory, with the exception of the attendance. Only forty-one couples put in an appearance. Despite this, the ball was voted a success. The secretaries of the ball this year were again Captain R. J. W. Arbuthnot (Newtown Hall) and Mr William Watkins (Dolguan). These gentlemen had organized everything to a nicety, but, un- fortunately, they could not bring in a bet- ter muster of dancers. The decorations have never during any year in the history of the ball been exe- cuted upon such an elaborate and artistic scale as for last Wednesday's function. The gardener from Newtown Hall-Mr Smith-had transformed the stage into an elysium. There was an exquisite rustic centre-piece compounded of palms, ferns, and chrysanthemums, which was a verita- ble tour-de-force of gardening skill. Plants of all kinds were grouped around in corn- ers and along edges. At the rear angles of the stage were two branching Douglas firs surrounded with aspodestra, palms, and other fine plants from the greenhouse. Along the front of the stage had been erected some charming gabling of ivy and laurels. The proscenium was ivy-clad, and some artistic stage scenery set off the effect in beautiful .fashion. At the lower end of the hall, Mr Ferguson, the Dolerw gar- dener, had made a sylvan retreat below the balcony massive palms were in the corners and creeping plants filagreed the wall. Amongst a number of these groups of plants were lounge chairs placed at the disposal of the guests. The balcony had also received the attention of the same gardener, and evergreen garlands extended from end to end. Never has the interior of the hall worn such a cosy and such a bril- liant appearance. Mr Fred Benbow had draped the windows with the whitest cur- tains, which came from the Royal Welsh Warehouse. The staff of Mr David Lewis CLondon House) had covered the bare places with carpets and baize Mr W. D. Crofts had arranged the disposition of the furniture, and Captain Arbuthnot had been there supervising the whole of the work. A sumptuous retiring room was fitted up by Messrs Jones Bros., furnishers (The Cross), and the room known as the smok- ing room had been converted into a snug non-smoking lounge. No mottoes were dis- played on the walls of the dancing hall evergreen circlets and triangles took their place. All the plants and foliage were lent by Lady Pryce-Jones and Capt. Arbuthnot, and the following kindly lent furniture:— Mrs Clement W. Norton, Mrs J. Barring- ton, Mrs William Watkins, Capt. Arbuth- not, Mr A. 1. Guest, Mr E. H. Morgan, and Messrs Pryce-Jones, Ltd. Entering the supper room one was as- sailed by the scent of lilies of the valley, and these choice blooms were prettily ar- ranged amidst pleasing foliage. That the catering was of the highest order is synonymous with noting the fact that it was in the hands of Mr Henry Beale, Lion Hotel. The following was the supper menu:- Prawns in Aspic. Roast Pheasant. Roast Turkey. Galantine of Turkey. York Ham. Cunningham Tongue. Boiled Chicken. Chicken Cutlets in Aspic. Pressed Beef. Pigeon Pie. Winter Salad. Trifles. Jellies. Fruit Salads. French Pastry. Dessert. It would be ungrateful not to record the good work done by Mr John Bennett. The new floor had been scrubbed and polished with an energy and efficiency which evoked i~e hi^kest praise from those who tripped the light fantastic toe to the music of Clayton's (Liverpool) String Band. Whilst admiring the qualities of the floor, perhaps- they were unmindful of the labour which had been bestowed upon it. The following were present:— Dr Stevenson, Miss Stevenson, Miss Irvin, Mr T. F. Benbow, Capt. R. J. W. Arbuthnot, Mr A. H. Ferrers Guy, Mr B. Boursot, Canon Woosnam, Mrs Woosnam, Messrs C. H. and M. Woosnam, Misses M. and H. Harrison, Mr Scott Owen, Misses W. and M. Owen, Mr Gerald Owen, Mr Vaughan Thomas. Misses Violet and Ivy Thomas, Mr B. Ford, Mr Victor Pryoe- Jones Mr W. E. Pryce-Jones, Dr. Edmunds, Dr. and Mrs Shearer, Mr S. P. Powell. Mr Hedley Vickers, Miss Miller, Miss C. Edwards. Miss Hilda James, Mr J. Forster. Miss C. Hodges, Mr and Mrs E. C. Mor- gan, Misses Elwell (3), Mr Evan Jones, Mr and Mrs W. D. Crotts, Miss Tanner, Mr and Mrs H. E. Breese, Mr Swettenham. Mr Hutton, Messrs W. T. James, E. O. James, Harry James, H. V. James, Arthur James, Mr A. J. Bibb, Mr and Mrs C. W. Norton. Mr R. Rawson, Col. and Mrs Hutchins, Miss Sybil Hutchins, Mr and Mrs A. J. V. K. Davis, Miss Davis (Bournville), Miss D. Downing Mr J. E. Venables, Miss G. Jones, Mr and Mrs L. Lloyd, Mr M. M. Lloyd, Mr and Mrs Watkins, Mr W. R. Rigg. Mr and Mrs Onslow, Mr W. P. Wilson, Mr W. F. Richards, Mr J. C. Lewis, Mr R. Mytton, Mr S- Stokes.

LLANIDLOES COUNTY SESSIONS. Charges of Illegal Fishing. At the Llanidloes County Sessions last Thurs- day the Board of Conservators (Wye Fishery District) charged Thomas Edward Evans, a farmer's nephew, Llwynlyddod, Llangurag, Thos. Edward Jones, and Hugh Lewis Jones, farmer's sons, Tymawr, Liangurig, with offences against the Salmon Fishery Act, 1851. Evans was charged with using a spear to catch salmon at Tymawr on December 10th, and with on the following day disturbing or attempting to catch salmon when on or near their spawning beds. The latter charge alone was preferred against the two Joneses. Mr Reginald J. Owen, solicitor, Builth. con- ducted the prosecution. Mr E. Powell Careless, Llandrindod defended. The Bench consisted of Mr Edward Davies (chairrtan), the Mayor (Mr Edward Hamer), Mr William Ashton, and Colonel Davies-Jenkins. John Murphy, water bailiff, Llangurig, said that on Thursday, December 9th, he was on duty with two other bailiffs, Poole and Humphreys, going on the main road from Liangurig towards Pantmawr. He saw two men on the right bank and a third on the left. Through a field-glass, supplied to him by the Board, he saw Evans throw a spear three or four times into the river Wye; the other two were running up and down the river bank. Witness went down towards Evans and Thomas Jones. Hugh Jones came away from the river on to a meadow; witness accosted Hugh Jones, and said he saw him dis- turbing the fish. Jones said, Could you see me off the road ? The other two men were making for Tymawr farm. Witness sent Poole around and saw Hugh Jones throw the spear into the ditch at the back of the river Witness sent across a bailiff, who picked up the spear (pro- duced in court) Witness saw six salmon in the river at that spot. There were beds above and below, but they contained no salmon He went to Tymawr, where the two Joneses, on being charged, said, Will your evidence be good from the road ?" Witness then went to the farm where Evans lived. When asked did he know anything about the matter, Evans said, "I have nothing to say about it. I reserve my defence. Cross-examined by Mr Careless, witness said that when he first saw the men they were about 500 yards distant. There was a slight bank by the riverside, and hedges between that and the road, but witness could see the water from where he stood. Witness told Thomas Jones It is a dangerous thing to be on the river bank When charged Thomas Jones might have said "It is a thundering fib." Witness produced the field-glasses, which Mr Careless described as old friends of his (laughter). The bailiffs always trotted them out and some old things found by the riverside. The Bench asked for the glasses, and then individual magistrates tested them by spying at the Summerfield bank through the Court-room window. Witness granted that the defendants were sons of respectable farmers, and said that their clothes seemed to be dry. Water-bailiff Joseph Poole corroborated. Whilst Mr Owen was examining his witness, Mr Careless protested that his legal colleague was trying to cover up an unsatisfactory answer by quickly following it up with another question. The two lawyers went for each other so warmly that the Justices' Clerk (Mr John Davies) felt compelled to enter a mild protest-" This is very unseemly, your Worships!" Witness admitted that the two Joneses made no attempt to get away. Hugh Jones asked what right had he on the land; that it was his. Wit- ness said "You can have my name for trespass- ing," and Jones said You can have mine." Witness picked up an instrument (not the spear) by the riverside; he was no farmer, and so could not gay it was a swede hook. Mr Careless: I suggest you and Humphreys (the other bailiff) have your knife into these- people? You remember being with Humphreys on Christmas eve at Liangurig ? Witness I know Nothing about that at all. Do you remember a very lively Christmas eve at Llangurig-you and Humphreys ?-That's nothing to do with the case. Don't you remember there is a" pub" called the Bell ? Mr Owen Don't answer this question! Mr Careless: Do you remember going down to the Lion ? You w&re both turned out of it ?-I don't remember. Do you remenber Humphreys in the Lion quarreling with aman about this case ?—Iican't remember. 4 Do you rememr Humphreys saying he would have the b-l put in gaol for a month ? The Chairman: That has nothing to do with the case. You must confine yourself to the case. Mr Careless: I am saying what Humphreys is alleged to have %id in the pub with regard to this man. It's unpleasant subject. Replying to Colonel Davies-Jenkins, witness said the spear was wet as though it had been recently thrown into the water. The string was quite loose, Wien witness picked it up in the ditch. The sr was not covered up. By Mr Caretas: It had been raining that day. There was rtiluing water in the ditch, and the swede hook w% also wet. Thomas Hanphreys, the third bailiff, having also given evdence, Mr Careless addressed the Bench, declarbg that the bailiffs were out for a conviction, if they possibly could get it. He sug- gested that sich remarks as It is dangerous for you to be lear the river," explained why the bailiffs were in such bad odour amongst the- farmers and'armers' sons. Mr Carets gave the following account of the affair:-On ;he morning in question Evans went to Tymawr lith a horse and cart, and a servant man, Davies for the purpose of going to the river to get gralel to make a floor for a pigsty at Tymawr. te asked Hugh Jones to bring him a leader hore. and give a hand to get the gravel. They loadei the gravel, and sent the servant man up with thi load. The boy returned in a ouarhcr of an hour with an empty cart; they did another load up folhiln. Evans was uncertain how much was wantej, and told the boy, if that was enough, he need I1)t come back—they would know it was enough, d they would follow him. Evans and Hugh Jqes stayed there five or eight minutes, when FdWard Jones, who had been around some fat she" with his father the other side of the river, ckne down to them, and was talking to them aQoss the river bank. The geese belonging to Tyoilwr were down the other side of the river; the mel went down, and sent the dog after the geese bme little distance, driving them up to- wards ;be bridge, and stood talking a moment or two. I can tell you what they talked about," renamed Mr Careless en passant. Then they saw ttree men coming towards them-they saw them the moment they left the road, and they rented Who are they P One said Sure to be t postman!" Then they saw they were homing, and one man who had Been them before said»" j believe they are the river watchers!" Joae who was on their side of the river, went to meelthem. He had a stick in his hand, which he hadaken down to help to get the geese up. The oth two stood where they were for a little time, andwalked towarda the bridge, where they tried to fet the geese out of the river on to Tymawr. W %n they got there they met Poole. Mr Care- observed that he had nothing to put against 'spear being found on the river bank; there- he did not upset it in cross-examination, £ 1 the spear was found not on Tymawr ground, v on grou belonging to Pencloddia—over a Mcen-down -all. The men would swear that rither of them were near the stream, that they ■d no spear, and were not there for an illegal Rrpose. The three defendants gave evidence on oath cordingly. The Bench was divided, and the cases were, Ismissed.

CHURCHSTOKE. CWM.—The annual tea meeting and entertain- ment was held on Christmas Day, when about 160 adults and children sat down to tea. The following ladies presided at the tables, and helped in other ways: Mrs Morris (Moat), Mrs Hanoer (Pentre Hall), Mrs Jarman, Mrs Lewis, Miasef Lily Morris, Amy Bevan, Morris, E. A. Hamer and others. The entertainment which followec was in every sense a success. The Pastor pre sided, and recitations and solos were, given by great number of young people, and were full enjoyed. The accompanists were Miss Joni (Plasmadoo), Miss A. Bevan (Bacheldre), M Lily Morris (Moat), and Miss Hamer (Pent Hall).

STAYLITTLE. Seven mile" irwin Llanidloes, seven miles from Flyiilimoii, seven miles truin Lian- brynmair, seven miles from Carno—-anc some of these "Irish miles..Nestling thus amongst the hills of upper Montgom- ervshire, Stavlittle was the scene ot a rousing Cymric meeting last Wednesday afternoon to support the candidature 01 Air David Davies. The hamlet contains a post office and shop, with two chapels, but no castle up against them. The upland atmos- phere is healthy and bracing yet. almost the first sentence of welcome trom the lips of a local Radical was an apology—" I hope you won't be disappointed with the at- tendance—Sir Watkin's people (/' pobl Sir Watkin") are afraid to come!" Would the Prince in Wales," possessor of 140,000 acres, have objected to his tenants attend- ing a Liberal meeting ? Oh, no But- there existed the territorial fear, corrob- orating the economic axiom that to a great extent the man who possesses the land also possesses Mie people who dwell and work on that land. The Rev T. E. Williams (Baptist minis- ter), of Newtown, with Mr William Ashton, J.P., and Mr William George (election sub- agent). of Llanidloes, journeyed out from Llanidloes to support Mr Davies, who drove in a light, smart, one-horse turn-out to the meeting, accompanied by his uncle, Mr Edward Jones ,Trewythen. From the Severn valley, Staylittle would have been perhaps more accessible by airship than even by the Liberal candidate's racing motor-car, the hilly, trusty road being in a heavy, December state. Though the hour of meeting—4-15 p.m.—was not convenient for the country people, a muster 60 or 70 strong gave Mr Davies a full-throated wel- come when he entered the Council School- room. # An eloquent Cymric Radical-Mr Edward Vaughan, The Hamlet, shopkeeper, and a Baptist deacon—presided. Montgomery- shire. he observed, had been considered the Midlothian of Wales Gladstone had won .the Scotch constituency, which it was con- sidered no Liberal could capture, and the late Mr David Davies, Llandinam, un- doubtedly did more than anyone else to win Montgomeryshire for Liberalism (loud cheers). He (the Chairman) remembered a meeting at Staylittle in 1880, which was attended by Mr David Davies, the Rev T. E. Williams, and the immortal Lloyd Jones, Llandinam, who did splendid work. Mr David Davies was one of the Liberal stal- warts, who brought about the revolution in Cardiganshire in 1868, and nothing de- lighted the speaker more than to think that the present Mr David Davies was Liberal candidate. The family had done so much he intended to do more, and he would do so, too (loud cheers). Mr Davies was a young man, possessing sufficient dignity not to al- low himself to be beaten (hear, hear). He (the Chairman) was very glad they had an election. It would make Mr Davies a bet- ter Liberal, if he had not been good enough before (loud cheers). The Chairman made an eloquent Welsh national appeal. If Nonconformist colliers were removed, it would not be worth while for Mr Davies to keep open his coal mines if the Nonconformist farmers left their farms, the land would be valueless. But the Welsh Nonconformists, overwhelm- ing in number, had been down-trodden but they must have Disestablishment of the Church of England first, and then would follow an Education Act and other necessary measures (applause). The Rev Owen Jones (Calvinistic Metho- dist minister) proposed, and Mr Maurice Jones, a tenant farmer living at Cwmbiga, seconded with brief speeches a robust Radical resolution, which also commended the candidature of Mr David Davies. The Rev T. E. Williams delivered a char- acteristically effective speech with the authority of one who began his career as a political speaker in 1867. For forty years he said, he had advocated Disestablish- ment, but Wales had not had it yet.—(A voice: Shame !)—The great obstacle was the House of Lords. Mr David Davies was healthy on the constitutional question, as his father and grandfather had been. Forty years the Israelites were in the desert," remarked the reverend gentleman, but Mr Williams is iu the desert yet" -(laughter). "Canaan is in sight!" interrupted a sharp-witted, Bible-knowing hill-man, caus- ing loud laughter and cheers. Mr William Ashton followed with a racy but earnest speech. He emphasised the point that Mr Davies, with all his inter- ests in coal, railways, and land, had been convinced after travelling in other coun- tries that Tariff Reform would not do for this country. Mr Edward Jones said he felt some delicacy in advocating the candidature of his nephew. But he was glad Mr Davies gave more satisfaction now than when he was first selected. He (Mr Jones) had ex- pressed his view at the Newtown meeting —" give him a chance." Some were pretty unwilling to give that chance Mr Davies gave some satisfaction to the Tory party, but by now he 'had been quite converted from Tariff Reform (loud cheers). Mr Davies had formed that conclusion without any personal or social influences having been brought to bear on him. He (Mr Jones) hoped they would not rely too much on Mr Davies' popularity and wealth, but bear in mind that one of the hardest con- tests in the country was to have wrested the seat from the Tories. There had been an accusation that the young people from 20 to 30 were not sufficiently confirmed in their Nonconformist principles, but under their Chairman's lead he thought they were all good Nonconformists at Staylittle, con- vinced in their consciences of the great question? they kept to the fore. And Mr Davies was in full sympathy with their aspirations, and it was their religious and patriotic duty to return him at the top of the poll (loud cheers). It was a difficult constituency to work, added Mr Jones. Many different influ- ences used to weigh on the people.—(A voice: Shame !)-They must take into ac- count those who lived under Tory land- lords, and must not expect them to be prominent and to make a stir. Let them be left alone except for quiet, personal in- fluence. There were some in Llandinam whom he should not like to press because they did not come to the political meetings. The audience uprose to cheer and cheer as Mr Davies rose to speak. "For he's a jolly good fellow" was sung lustily, and then the Liberal candidate spoke for a min- ute in Welsh, thanking his listeners and summarizing the election issue-" Ty yr 'Arglwyddi (" The House of Lords "). The Rev Owen Jones; Lawr a nhwy r (" Down with them! "). Mr Davies, who received a very attentive and responsive hearing, said that nearly all the peers who had done something for their country in the past and had gov- erned the colonies, did not vote for the re- jection of the Budget. The men who threw out the Bill never attended during the- The Rev Owen Jones: They didn't know their way there! (laughter and applause). They came up in streams, said Mr Davies, and said, We must be in at the death of this Budget!" (laughter and applause). Are we to entrust the future of this country to such men ? (cries of No, no! "). Mr Davies referred to the Tory can- vassing appeals to accept not the question of the Lords and the Budget, but Tariff Reform as the issue. "The Lords will never buther to throw out another Bud- get," it might be suggested- Mr E. R. Vaughan, B.Sc. (the Chair- man's son): They won't have the chance! Mr Davies declared himself in favour of a Second Chamber to replace the House oi Lords, composed not on the principle of heredity, but that it might be in touch with public opinion and the majority in the House of Commons.—(The Rev Owen Jones: Have it elected!) The Liberal candidate and Mr Edward Jones voiced a vote of thanks to the Chair- I man, who declared it would be a shame to the Liberals unless they returned Mr Davies with an overwhelming majority. The meeting broke up with three cheers for Mr Lloyd George, and then a number of enthusiastic young politicians made a rush for the candidate to chair him out of the schoolroom.

LLAWRYGLYN l To the Council Schoolroom at Llawry- glyn, Mr David Davies drove to meet another very enthusiastic meeting on Wed- nesday evening that numbered about 12t) strong. A new figure amongst the speak- ers was Dr Walter Davies, of Llanidloes. This son of Cwrtmawr had often figured on a Cardiganshire platform, but this was his first advent into the public arena of Montgomeryshire politics. In a racy Welsh speech, he declared bluntly that the Tories advocated Tariff Reform and re- jected the Budget in order to save their own pockets. Mr David Jones, J.P., Neuadd, the' county councillor for the district, presided, and the resolution was proposed by Mr Evan Jones, Penrhyn, seconded by Mr j William Jones, Tynyrwtra, and supported by Mr Richard Jones -(Pendinas), the Rev Edward Parry, M.A. (Newtown), and Dr Walter Davies. Mr William Ashton was again in evi- dence with a greatly appreciated testimony that Trefeglwys is the most Liberal par- ish in Montgomeryshire." Tariff Reform he had heard advocated under a series of titles-" The Corn Laws, Retaliation, Fair Trade, Preferential Tariffs, Colonial Pre- ferential Tariffs,—(laughter)—judicious Pre- ferential Tarifjf,—(more laughter)—and Tariff Reform. But it is Protection all through, and it must be a very bad thing when it is obliged to change its name so often" (loud 'laughter and applause). Mr Edward Jones, Trewvthen, said that if they did their best, they could get a great majority, but he hoped the election would give them a greater majority than they had in the past (loud applause). The Chairman expressed his gladness that Mr Davies is sound in the Liberal faith," and noted that he had seen some of the old fire of the 80's coming back into the eyes of the listeners. He did not wish to be disrespectful to Mr Wynn, but his father and grandfather had been members of Parliament for the county for many years without doing very much, and he (the Chairman) did not think Mr Wynn would do much. He was the nominee of Lord Powis and his party-they should re- member that. The resolution supporting Mr Davies' candidature was duly carried, and when the Liberal candidate began to respond, the audience rose to its feet to cheer. He remarked that he daresay the Lords might have conscientiously believed it was their duty to throw out the Budget. But the first thing they should have inquired was whether they had the right to do it. You should do a great many things, but the first thing you had to ask was had you the right to do it. If the Lords had taken care to consider the whole thing from a broad point of view, and precedents and all the views which had been come to by great men of the past as to the relation of the House of Lords to finance,they must have come to the conclusion that they had absolutely no right whatever to meddle with the Finance Bill. At the close of the meeting the candidate proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman. It was carried with acclamation, having been seconded by Dr Walter Davies, who described Mr David Jones as the King of Llawryglyn" (laughter and applause). Dr Davies utter a Welsh nationalist plea for a free Wales. Few lords they had in Wales, he remarked amid loud laughter, and the fewer the better.

KERRY. ODDFELLOWS. The half-yearly meeting of the ODDFELLOWS. The half-yearly meeting of the Loyal Dolforgan Lodge of Oddfellows was held at the Herbert Arm3 on Friday, Dec. 24th., when Bro Charles Morris, N G., presided over a good muster of members. Bro Evan Bebb was elected treasurer in place of Bro Joseph Venables, who, in consequence of his removal from the neighbour- hood, has resigned the office, which he has held for some years. Bros. Pryce Evans and William Jones were elected Noble Grand and Vice Grand respectively, and Bro Samuel Howells waa appointed delegate to the next District Meeting. A committee was appointed to consider the advisability of forming a Juvenile Branch in con- nection with the Lodge. Cordial votes oflthanka were passed to the late Treasurer, and to the N.G. for their services, to which both of them suitlibly,, eplied.