The Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times

THE LAST MESSAGE AT NEWTOWN. Mr. C. F. Masterman's Ridicule I of the Tory Party. I I The Chairman said that they had practically come to the end of the chapter in the Montgomery Boroughs, and he hoped the electors had made up their minds to return the Liberal member (ap- plause). If they did not it would be a great dis- appointment, tor Wales was looking at Mont- gomeryshire. Th"y all knew that what took precedence was the House of L,1rrJi;, and that must be dealt with, as it would b.. us.-I,,s to t-ilk aheut other qn.stious until this barrier to ull pro^r^ss in Liberal legislation had bei-n removed. The complaint amcu, the el^e^ors in tl¡l-! past had h.en that these wh) cauia forward as candidates were carpet- and it took them a long timy to nurse the constituency but now they had a local man who would t*kt> an abiding interest in all that concerned the constituency. He would ask them to be faithful to their principles. He knew for a fact that many electors had been approached in an utiderhnndad manner, but he hoped that none would yield to it, but vote straight on the morrow, and return Mr. Humphreys-Owen (loud and prolonged cheers). Alderman Morgan Thomas. You will remember that Mr. Lloyd George said that in Germany and France wages were lower, hours of work longer, and food was dearer. Mr. Bonar Law answers that in Germany wages were rising in a higher percentage than in this country, and'so they might too—there was plenty of room for them to rise. Tariff Reformers are getting ashamed of their work, and Mr. Balfour wants to put Tariff Reform in the background. Mr. Austen Chamberlain won't have it, so they are already falling out. There is no half-holiday in France or Germany. It is on Sunday that the working man gets his holiday. I think Mr. Bonar Law stated that food was as cheap in Germany as in this country. Why didn't he say what class of food ? The black bread in Germany is as cheap as our white bread, but the white bread that we pay 6d a loaf for is not sold by the loaf in Germany. If it were, the price would work out at something nearer to a shilling. We are not going to work longer and eat horse- flesh, to suit the millionaires and landlords in this country. The Conservatives say, If we put a small duty on wheat we will take it off tea and sugar." Don't be deceived; they will never take it off. What the Liberals are trying to do is to take it off the whole lot. If you curtail the demand for anything by raising the price, what happens? You curtail the work, if you curtail work you increase compe- tition for the work, and directly competition for work increases down go the wages. The Lords, as at present constituted, are incap- able of legislation for the people of this country, because they are not elected by the people, and they are noc responsible to the people. Sir Francis Edwards. In this fight there is only oue issue, though there are many side tracks. Tariff Reform is a quack medicine, it is produced for anything and everything. Is your hair falling off? Then try Tariff Reform. It wont help the farmer-Mr Bonar Law has said so-and it won't help the workman, because it will make his bread dearer. I How taxes on articles will cheapen them, I cannot fathom. The' Economist,' which is simply a financial paper, puts this question :—" If a tax of 2s a quarter on corn will make the loaf cheaper, what amount of taxes will enable the baker to give the loaf away altogether ? Since the days of the South Sea bubble there has never been such an imposture as Tariff Reform, nor one which has revealed so thoroughly human nature at its worst or human intelligence at its lowest." That is a perfect description given by our friend Mr Ure, the Lord Advocate of Scotland. You remember some years ago Mr Chamberlain started a Tariff Reform Commission. What did he start it for ? In order that the Commission might frame a scientific tariff which would keep out sweated goods which came from Germany and other places. That was the-inain object of the Commission. What has been the result? There have been trips to Germany, in which they have taken numbers of working-men there to show them the sweated labour. No but to show them that Germany is really the paradise of the working-man. They idon't talk in the same way in the towns as in the country. When they come to the farmer they tell him that he will get better and higher prices for grain and stock under Tariff Reform, but when they go to the towns they tell them that their food will be cheaper. The promises of Tariff Reform -%re like the rainbow, beautiful in colour, buc insubstantial in fact. I believe in a Second Chamber, but I want it on the conditions laid down by Mr Asquith, when he said that a Second Chamber must be democratic, representative of and obedient to the will of the people. Mr George Wyndham said that the Referendum which the House of Lords would propose would remove all unfairness between Liberals and Tories, but in saying this he is self-condemned. Mr. Masterman. Mr Masterman, who received a stirring reception followed by the singing of He's a jolly good fellow announced the fact that this was his first Welsh audience. He didn't know that he would have come down to Wales but for what he had seen of the other people who were addressing the Montgomery Boroughs (laughter and cheers). He thought that an English member who had won was as good as an Englishman who had lost— (laughter)—even though they threw in one of the Peers to make the scales balance (laughter). He came from a region which at present was pretty well pleased with itself-the East of London (cheers). They had brushed the Tories out from the whole district as if with a broom, and Mr Lloyd George was clearing the last of them out that night (laughter and cheers). They boasted I the largest area of unbroken Liberalism south of the Tweed. I Mr Masterman afterwards entered upon a very clever analysis of the thimble-rigging tactics adopted by the leaders of the Tory party to capture the constituencies at this election, his subtleties provoking an almost continuous chorus of laughter. He had read in Tory speeches deliv- ered during the past few days the most amazing and extravagant utterances. But they must not be too bard on them. Those gentlemen had their engagements made and they had te fill it in some- how (laughter). They had been smashed three times in five years, which no other party had been before—(cheers)—and already they had begun to quarrel among themselves in order to ascertain whose fault it was (laughter). But while the Tories would spend the next year in quarrelling the Liberal Government would pass the Parliament Bill (loud cheers). He had been reading in a paper as he came down that this was a drawn battle (laughter). If it was, it was the most amazing drawn battle he had ever seen, and it was the kind of drawn battle which he was out looking for (laughter). TWO MEN FIGHT, and one knocks the other into the gutter-last January. He gets up in December, and having been knocked down into the gutter again, he says, "I claim this to be a drawn battle" (laughter). "Why," he is asked, do you claim a drawn battle." Because," he says, nothing is changed (laughter). I was in the gutter last January and I am in the gutter now" (great laughter). They said of us that we are a miser- able, cringing, timid party, only clinging to office by help of Irish votes, and have been forced into an unnecessary election at the hands of the dollar dictator. We are not," continued Mr Master- man, "clinging to offioe through Irish votes. We have a clear working majority even if Ireland was sunk into the depths of the sea. Great Britain- England, Scotland, and Wales—has given tis a larger majority than Disraeli ever had when he ruled far BUt years, and so far from Ireland having forced tkia election, it is almost true to say that the only one of the four nations in these islands which has not been flouted ar.d jeered and mocked at by' the House of Lords during the last five years is Irelmd. The controversy is between (ire it Britain and the Lords (hear, hear, and chet-rs). Britain for the Biitisli is our motto. Everyone of the great bills which the Lords bplvk, thrown out, or mutilated, has been British hd not Ir.sh. I am NOT A BETTING MAN, yet I will lay any stakes, in spite of all that is said, that the Parliament Bill will be law before this time next year (loud cheers). In the future those who are learning British history will see such dates as 1832 the Reform Bill; 1846 the Repeal of the Corn La v* 18ti the agricultural labourer got the vote, and 1911 the destruction of the Veto of the House of Lords (cheers). Everyone who has taln-n part in this Liberal victory will be proud d it in the days to c me (hear, hear, and ch*rr). Continuing, he said the Tories complained that they had been giveu no time to fill in the details of their scheme for the reform of the House of Lords. They lia(i t%vanty-five years in I which tc reform it. For sixteen years the country was living under Single Chamber government, with a Conservative majoiity docile in both Houses (hear, hear) Puiin^ that time any kind of a reform schema couM have been threshed out and endorsed by the country, and carried into law. But none was att-moted. He disliked death-bed repentance (laughter). While the Toiies were having a rollicking time, and we were legislating during the spsing and the summer, there was no thought of reform. They were out on the burst (laughter). They saw in the future unlimited supplies of whiskey. There was no question then of their taking the pledge (laugh- ter). It had been said by a great writer that the aristocracy are never destroyed they always committed suicide. He thought that would prove to be true in this case with the power of the landed aristocracy as it is embodied in the House of Lords. If the Tories bad given them any kind of suggestion of a Second Chamber respon- sible to the people, in touch with the people, in- dependent of one class, representing the country as a whole, and giving an account of its steward- ship to the country, there would have been no need for this election (hear, hear). Liberals did not want a Single Chamber, but, speaking for himself, HE WOULD NOT BE CONTENT until every man who had anything to do with the making of the laws of this country was directly responsible to the people of the country (loud cheers). That was the only condition under which any free country enjoyed its freedom; it was the condition prevalent in all free countries. If the Tories had offered a Second Chamber such as their Colonies enjoyed this Constitutional question would have been settled in six hours (hear, hear). Instead, they clung to their old banner with their distrust of the people, qualified by fear with which Mr Gladstone charged them many years ago (cheers). Liberals asked for but equal rights with Conservatives they demanded nothing more, and they would accept nothing less (loud cheers). There was a new bogey with which the Tories were trying to frighten the people. They said, Yes, it may be your Parlia- mentary Bill will pass "—they knew it would pass —" but we shall not accept it as a settlement. Next time we will recreate the House of Lords according to the Conservative ideal, and you may be no better off than before." How many beaten parties had made the same boast in the past history of our country ? All the Tory forces would not be able to put Humpty Dampy back again (laughter). Concluding, Mr Masterman 3aid :—"I think we have a right to emphasise for a lesson to those who come after us the bitterness, the hardness of the struggle, and the tremendous force which we have to overcome (cheers). Sometimes, when I see a Liberal majority in districts where I know, every kind of force and terrorism and intimida- tion has been brought to bear against us, and where on election day hundreds and even thousands of outside voters are poured in on motor cars to outvote the natives of the district, I wonder how we can win at all. I feel proud of the devotion of the rank and file (hear, hear, and cheers). After these fierce elections we see our way through the barrier that has ob- structed progress. We know WE CAN GET THROUGH and that to get through will result in legislation which will make in future more equality between those who are making for progress and those who are against it (cheers). I don't think there will ever be an election in future in which we shall have to fight against the handicaps we have suf- fered now. We have given an earnest of our inten- tion to realise two great causes-the enlargement of human freedom and the making of life less in- tolerable for those who in the midst of the richest civilisation the world has ever seen, still walk in the darkness and under the shadow of death (cheers). We have devoted ten millions of the revenue to t e demand, of these causes—hear, hear)—and we are going to devote seven millions more this year (loud cheers). We know that the country can afford to look after the forlorn and hopeless, who have come to poverty through no fault of their own. We shall go forward on those lines. The whole of the future will seem so different, because up till now we have had the feeling that all our work might be tossed into the gutter by the action of an hereditary assembly. Now we know that the people are behind us, and that the laws we pass will become the law of this land (cheers). We have no prejudice against the members of the House of Lords. We are quite content that they should go on and do their duty in the station to which God called them. Let them become elected if they like for Parliament if they can show the people that they are better than we are. But we ask them to CLEAR AWAY THE BARRIER which they have for so many years thrown across the path of progress, so chat the valleys may be exalted and the mountains removed, and that the people may march through the pathways to free- dom (cheers). I shall take back to Mr Lloyd George to-morrow a most pleasant memory of my first Welsh audience (cheers). I ask Conserva- tives, if there are any left in this hall—(laughter) —to ponder what an ignoble part your leaders have played. I ask you this time at least to come down on the side of the people. Clear away my lords and lackeys You have had your day, Here we give your answer In this 'yea' against your nay'; Long enough your home has held you, Out and clear the way." (loud and prolonged cheering). I The Candidate. Mr Humphreys-Owen had a tremendous reception, again and again cheers were raised as he stood facing his large audience. He did not say much, but what he said was direct and to the point. He and also his workers looked back almost with envy to the freshness of the first day when they went out to battle. He thought they had fought valiantly. They were not quite so fresh that day physically, but mentally and morally they felt immensely invigorated (cheer ). They did nut require a speech from the candidate that evening, for that ordeal they had suffered too often. From what they had seen and heard from Mr Masterman that night they might understand the reason of some men leaving the Liberal party (laughter and applause). There were certain feelings towards their neighbours and life in general, whieh were fundamental, and i,f they applied that touchstone to men's ideals and policies they would divide them into Liberals and Tories That was why they said the Liberal party left them. Nonsense, the Liberal party had never left them. the Liberal party remained the same large homogenous mass which was going to carry them to progress and freedom (cheers). Let them gain such a victory on the Friday which would be final and once for all and settle the position in the Montgomery boroughs.

FLOWNuBUT NOT FORGOTTEN. THE AFFAIRS OF MR. H. J. VINTER. A WARRANT 1-113 ARREST. PROCEEDS OF A STREET HAT SALE. Mr H. J. Vinter carried on a millinery business at 28, Bro^d-street, Newtown. At the end of September lie left the premises, and he left the town. Since then his whereabouts have not been ascertained. He left a legacy of debts, and bankruptcy proceedings were entered into, and the petition was filed on the 28th day of November. The public examination of the debtor was fixed for Wednesday last, but Mr H. J. Vinter did not put in an appearance. The Official Receiver (Mr F. Cariss), however, had a few remarks to make anent the case. The full name of the debtor was Herbert James Vinter, and the petition had been filed against him by his creditors. It appeared that he had pur- chased the millinery business at 28, Broad- street, Newtown, formerly carried on by Miss Downing, about a year previously for £350. For the goodwill and the interest in the tenancy F-100 was agreed upon, while the balance was for stock, fixtures, and trade assets. The debtor, it appeared, was a stranger to the district, and his father was a gentle- man carrying on a business as law stationer in Bedford-row, London. From information which had been supplied, he (Mr Cariss) learnt that the father hal become surety for the purchase money for this business, and he signed a document whereby he agreed to pay the balance of the purchase money that was not paid when the pur- chase was completed in November, 1909. £ 150 of the purchase money was paid at the time by Mr James Vinter—the father- and he had since paid over another £100, thus leaving a balance due to Miss Down- ing of P-100, and for this sum Mr JAMES VINTER WAS RESPONSIBLE. In October the debtor appeared to have absconded, and his whereabouts could not be ascertained, nor had they been ascer- tained since. It was stated that he had gone to Canada, but of that they had no proof. Apparently he was dissatisfied with the business, and he left. The result was that Mr Vinter was liable for the balance due of the purchase money. Mrs Vinter carried on the business for some little time after the debtor had left home. She was apparently undecided what course to take to wind up the affairs of her husband, and the business was continued for a short period. Ultimately Mr James Vinter, her father-in-law, came down to Newtown to ascertain the position of affairs, and he issued a writ for the amount due to him from the debtor. He had not had particu- lars as to how this claim was made up. The writ was issued by Mr Vinter, senior, against Mr H. J. Vinter and his wife, and judgment was obtained on October 8th for £ 311 10s lOd and the costs (10s). Pre- sumably this was the amount which Mr James Vinter had actually paid in con- nection with the business or for other pur- poses in connection with his son's affairs. He had not yet ascertained how Mrs H. J. Vinter had become liable as well as her husband. It was true that the business had been carried on partly in her name, and some of the billheads had her name on them, but the CHEQUES WERE DRAWN BY HIM, so for legal purposes he could be treated as the bankrupt alone. The writ had been executed against the two. It appeared that the book debts of the business were in the hands of a local accountant in Newtown for collection, and acting on the instruc- tions of Mrs Vinter after the debtor left home, he collected sums amounting to £ 16 13s lid. After deducting charges, there remained the sum of E14 3s, and this he remitted to Vinter on November 8th. The petition was filed on the 9th of November- the following day. The accountant was act- ing on instructions from Mrs Vinter. He maintained that Mrs Vinter had no power to give such authority, and when the money was paid over, Mr Vinter had notice of an act of bankruptcy. The accountant had collected a further P-3 15s, which he had paid over to him (the Official Receiver). In addition to that, the debtor had a bank- ing account at the United Counties Bank, and a small credit balance remained on the account when he went away. That balance was £7 Os 8d. After obtaining judgment on the debt, Mr Vinter, senr., took proceedings to enforce it, first of all by execution on the whole of the debtor's effects at Newtown, and a sale was held by auction on the 271 of October and the 1st of November. The Sheriff sold all the available assets, and realised S:188 19s. After deducting the auctioneers' charges, the Sheriff's expenses-E31 4s 6d—also half a year's rent— £ 16—claimed by the land- lords of te premises, a balance of E141 14s 6d remained, which was PAID OVER TO THE SHERIFF. At the date of the receiving order that money still remained in his hands, and the Sheriff had since paid it over to him. In addition to the execution, Mr Vinter, senr., had issued what was called a garnishee order, in other words, he had attached the monies in the hands of the bankers, and served upon them the garnishee. Under that order the bank had paid over £6 7s 4d and the costs of the order to Mr James Vinter. Before the money was paid over, Mr James Vinter had notice of an act of bankruptcy, and under the act the attachment would not be legally completed unless Mr Vinter had received no notice of the bankruptcy proceedings. So Mr Vinter's solicitors had at once agreed that that money should be rebated to the estate. So now they had as an available asset this E6 7s 4d. There was also the £ 14 10s which had been collected by the accountant (Mr E. C. Morgan), and in addition the further sum which Mr Mor- gan had paid over to him. There were also a few remaining book debts, and, of course, the money which had been in the Sheriff's hands as assets. After Mr Vinter had sold up the establishment under the execution, had the proceeds remained in the Sheriff's hands for the 14 days, he would have been entitled to the whole of it. But by the efforts of the LOCAL CREDITORS the petition was put on the file, and notice of the act of bankruptcy was given to the Sheriff just in time. This had the effect of stopping the payment and forming part of the debtor's assets to be distributed equally among his creditors, instead of being paid over to the execution creditor- Mr James Vinter. When the receiving or- der was made, he (the Official Receiver) instituted immediate enquiries, but he failed to discover any information which threw any light upon the whereabouts of the debtor. It had been stated that he had gone to. Canada, but of that he could not get any authentic information. The ad- dress of the debtor's wife-Mrs H. J. Vin- ter-he had, and he had been in corres- pondence with her, but he did not know of any material benefit which might accrue to the creditors through his communica- tions with her. He had instructed the ac- countant—Mr E. C. Morgan-to prepare a I statement of accounts, so far as they had come into his hands. The debts disclosed so far showed a TOTAL OF jC461 7s. Most of them were trade accounts, and -r goods supplied by London ware- housemen. Thase good-, were sold under the execution. Further book debts amounted to £ 4 19s 8d, thus bringing the total assets up to £171 9s 9d. which, less the- preferential claims, made a total of £ 169 Is 5d. Still, something had been re- covered by the energy of the local creditors which otherwise would have been lost. He had received a number of particulars of the debts owing. These included £10 13s Id due to Messrs Wilson, Bothamley, and Son P.31 18s 8d to the Fore-street- Warehouse Co. for goods supplied in Aug- ust and September, also £ 23 7s 5d for goods supplied during the same months by Larkins and Co., of Birmingham. Another trade creditor was Debenham, Ltd., for F-31 14s 2d. The Official Receiver referred to the ac- tion of the debtor in taking away two pairs of boots with him, bought on the day he absconded from a leading local tardesman, as rather an unkind parting shot. After the Official Receiver had concluded his observations, the Registrar (Mr William Watkins), on the application of the Official Receiver, issued a warrant for the arrest of the debtor for failing to attend before the court for public examination. The examination was adjourned sine die.

MR. BONAR LAW REPLIES TO MR. LLOYD GEORGE. Lord Powis presided over a meeting at Welshpool on Tuesday night, when Mr Bonar Law attempted to answer Mr Lloyd George's speech at Newtown the previous evening. Starting with a reference to Lord Powis's remarks on the House of Lords, Mr Bonar Law said they all knew that it was no part of the policy of the party to which he belonged to deny that some reform of the House of Lords was necessary in order to bring that House into direct touch with the people, and to give it the authority which would enable it more efficiently than now to exercise the proper functions of a second chamber—that was to deal fear- lessly with every proposal brought before it. Their opponents' cry against the House of Lords was no new one. Seventy-five years ago Mr Disraeli made speeches in reference to that attack, which, if they substituted the name of Mr Redmond for Mr O'Connell, applied equally to-day. The reason the House of Lords was at- tacked to-day was not because of the harm it had done, but because it was the one barrier which stood between the Irish members and Home Rule. Dealing with Tariff Reform, Mr Bonar Law said he noticed that the Chancellor of the. Ex- chequer delivered a speech in the con- stituency the previous night. He read what he could of it, but, it was a short re- port, and, therefore, he was afraid he could not do it justice, but he was going to take it as the text for the few remarks he had to make on Tariff Reform. The Chancellor of the Exchequer had many gifts, which, within limits, were appreciated by nobody more than by himself (laughter). He was a great master of platform rhetoric-of a kind (laughter). Indeed, he thought he had no superior, and he doubted if he had any equal in that particular kind of rhetoric. But when he gave up his rhetoric, which was always good, and came down to ar- gument, he was not so formidable. He was very fond in dealing with Tariff Reform of using statistics. But those statistics when examined were found to be either inaccu- rate or to prove the very reverse of what he set out to establish. He seemed to realise himself that he had a certain weak- ness in that direction. After the last elec- tion he was accused of having made a great number of erroneous—to put it mildly —statements. He sperit half an hour in reply, and what did they think was the object of his reply ? He could not attempt to prove that he had not made these mis- takes. He spent half an hour in proving that during the election he had made two or three assertions that were really accu- rate (laughter). It was his duty to follow him in debate, and he at once, in the most handsome manner, admitted that in the course of an election campaign, which had included more than a score of speeches, it was surely impossible that he could have failed to make some statements that were accurate (laughter and cheers). Last night he brought out some figures on trade. They referred to the last two years and part of a third. Let him first read them what Mr Lloyd George himself said about the use of statistics in one of his lyicid intervals- for he had them (laughter). It would, he said, be unfair simply to take one or two years and pick out the figures which suited one best they had to take trade for a cycle. But the way in which he did take trade for a whole cycle was to take the year 1908, which was admittedly the worst year for trade we had had for a generation, and compare it with the present year and say, Look how much better we are. Does not that prove we have the best fiscal system in the world ? Let them just think what the argument meant. There was no Tariff Reformer with whom he was acquainted who had ever said that our fiscal system was so bad that we must always be at the lowest depth of depression, and that no matter how great might be the improve- ment in the trade of the world, we should never get a share of it. Mr Lloyd George's kind of argument would only have any value when he could prove for the im- provement which he pointed to in our trade was met by a corresponding improve- ment in the trade of other countries with a different fiscal system, or if he could prove that the improvement was greater than in those countries. He made no at- tempt to prove that. Indeed, if he had looked it up, he could not have used that argument, for it would have shown that there was a greater improvement instead of a less, compared with ours. The facts were that 1907 was a booming year 1908 was one of the worst years for trade. Let them compare the position of this country with Germany. In 1908 there was a falling off of the imports of both countries, but the falling off of Germany was not nearly so great as that of this country. Later there was a slight improvement in both countries, but the improvement in Ger- many was much greater than here. If they took the total trade of Germany for the first six months of this year compared with the corresponding period of 1907, they would find that the total increase in Ger- man trade had been greater than in the United Kingdom during the same period. When, therefore, they examined the matter, it merely came to this, that when bad trade did come we felt it sooner and we felt it more severely than other countries, and when the improvement began it was late in beginning with us, and even after it had begun it did not approach the dimensions it reached in other countries with a differ- ent fiscal system. To say that the people of the United States were rebelling against tariffs was a fable. The only desire of the Democratic party was to modify the tariffs and not to abolish them and have the American markets unrestricted (cheers). Lord Willoughby de Broke and Mr H. Longstaffe also spoke, and a vote of thanks was accorded the speakers on the motion of Mr Harrison, seconded by Mr Edward Green. I

Mr. EDWARD POWELL'S FIGHT IN SHROPSHIRE. The result of the contest in the Oswestry division of Salop was declared as follows on Tuesday:- W. C. Bridgeman (C.) 4,867 Edward Powell (L.) 4*121 746 Last January the Tories won by 624. MR. POWELL ON THE TORY DEFEAT. Subsequently, at the Public Hall, Os- westry, a Liberal gathering took place. Mr Ward Green said they all regretted the defeat, not only on political grounds, but on personal grounds also (hear, hear). No constituency throughout the length and breadth of the land had been served by a better candidate (hear, hear). They learned the fact on the occasion of the last fight what an excellent candidate they had in Mr Powell (hear, hear). They knew now that he was a magnificent candidate-he was quite superlative (hear, hear). They thanked him sincerely for affording them an opportunity of recording their votes in favour of the people against the domination of the peers,—(cheers)—for they could not now look upon that election and complain that they took no part in it (hear, hear). Despite the fact that defeat on this occa- sion stared them once more in the face, their course for the future was plain. They had to make up a leeway of forty or fifty years, though he claimed the present gen- eration had played its part (hear, hear, and cheers). Mr Powell, who was cheered again and again, said that to say that they were de- spondent would be wrong (cheers). He thought they were all agreed' that the part they had taken in this fight to help the pre- sent most excellent Government was one that they would remember with pleasure for the rest of their lives (cheers). As the chairman had observed, it would have been rather a disgrace to them, at this great epoch in the history of the country, if they had not done their utmost to back up the Government in obtaining that independence which they claimed (cheers). So far as Mrs Powell and he were concerned, they would never regret the part they had taken (renewed cheers). Any little anxiety or wor- ries they had had would sink into insignifi- cance when they came to think of the loyal support they had received from the 4,000 earnest Liberals and more in that division. Then, when they came to think of the ma- jority of 746, they must bear in mind what the normal Tory majority of the past was. That was a larger one than it was at pres- ent. They knew that throughout the con- test their opponents had been talking over and over again of a much bigger majority than they had succeeded in getting.—(A Voice: Yes, a four-figure one.")—Quite so they said they would not be satisfied with less than a four-figure majority. They were obliged, however, to be content with a three-figure majority (laughter). Well, what consolation had they ? THEY HAD GREAT CONSOLATION (cheers). The Government they wanted to support had a majority sufficient for its purpose (cheers). The veto of the peers was as good as gone (hear, hear). Justice to Ireland was certain religious equality in Wales was equally certain, while the social reform scheme of the Government was now surer of success (cheers). They knew what would have happened had a Tory majority been returned to back up the House of Lords (hear, hear). They were now, how- ever, assured of a good Liberal Government for four or five years (cheers). Therefore, let them not be down-hearted because they had not succeeded in returning a Liberal representative to the House of Commons. They had done their best, and when a man had done his best, he should leave the re- sult to higher providence (hear, hear). When they came to examine the figures, he thought they would agree that, with a re- vision of the electoral laws, with the abolition of plural voting-hear, hear)—with a law passed for the holding of the elec- tions throughout the country all on one day, and for the. closing of public houses on election days, they might rely upon there being a chance in the Oswestry divis- ion to give full expression to that sturdy Liberalism which existed there (cheers). Mrs Powell, he knew, would like him to say that as long as they lived they would ever remember, not only the loyal support they had received from them in that great battle for Liberalism, but also the personal kindness they had received at their hands (cheers). They had made many friends in that division. He was not down-hearted (cheers). Let him beg of them all not to despair, but to hold sturdily to that Liber- alism of which they thought so much (hear, hear). He advised them to see to their register, and to continue the work of politi- cal education, that the rural as well as the town voters might learn to see where their country's interests and also their own in- terests lay and then the time, he was sure, would come when the Oswestry divis- ion would follow in the wake of the indus- trial centres, which had remained staunch and true to the Liberal Government (cheers). He again thanked them for their loyal sup- port, and for the great kindness he had re- ceived at their hands (loud and prolonged cheering). Mrs Powell: who was loudly cheered on rising, also addressed the meeting. She felt very sorry for them that they, such good and sturdy Liberals, could not be repre- sented in the next Parliament. However, the veto of the Lords was going (cheers). There were also two or three vetoes in that division to go,—(laughter)—and then they would get a chance of being represented in the House of Commons (cheers). Mr Andrew Peate, in response to loud calls for a speech, also addressed the meet- ing, and afterwards Mr and Mrs Powell were escorted to the Wynnstay Hotel, their carriage, to which ropes were attached, be- ing drawn all the way to the hotel, where another reception, in which a large number of Conservatives joined, was accorded them. ■

Caersws Petty Sessions. These Sessions were held on Monday before Messrs Edward Jones, Richard Jones, T. Morgan Owen, and Joseph Davies. NO LIGHTS. For riding a bicycle without a light George Humphreys and Edward Humphreys, Glen- barred, Oakley Park, Llanidloes, were sum- moned by P.C. Burton. The constable stated that he was on the road leading from Llanidloes to Llandinam, when he met the two defendants riding bicycles without lights. They had lamps, but they said they had no oil. They had just come from Llan- idloes.—Fined 5s and costs (7s) in each case. f SCHOOL CASE. Attendance Officer Richard Jones sum- moned David Powell, Llidiartywaen, Llan-, dinam, for the irregular attendance of his daughter, Annie S. Powell, who was 13 years old, and who attended 134 times out of a possible 195 since June 1st. The child lived half a mile from the school. Defendant said the child was not very well, and he kept her at home sometimes when her mother was in bed bad. He added, When she goes to school she does not get her lessons regularly. The Master puts her to clean a part of the pordhor closets. The case was adjourned for a month.

Votes for Women. SUFFRAGETTES AT NEWTOWN. Mrs Cleeves presided over a public meet- ing at the Public Hall on Monday night, held under the auspices of the Women's Freedom League. The audience completely filled the hall, and many failed to obtain admission. Miss Sidley, in the course of her speech, said that some people told them they wished to have a revolution when they asked that women should be politically on the same terms as men. They were told it was the first step to revelution but it was the mid- dle step to evolution. Perhaps some of them could remember the time when women if they could read and write were thought to be educated enough. One of the first women who entered a Scottish University was stoned because she claimed proper education. Women who wished to become doctors received similar treatment. Jane Austin had to write her novels in the se- crecy of her bedroom. It was their duty to make greater freedom for their daughters, and greater opportunities for living in this world, so that their daughters might look back and say that they worked and did not stand idle in their homes. They were out to-day to demand equal legislation. She wanted the men to be true to the women, and use their power to see that women had votes. They could not have a democratic government unless women were included in the democracy. The Government gave no pledge that women should go in and take their share in Parliamentary work. The Government said democracy implied that the will of the people shall prevail. How could they know the will of the people un- less by representation ? The feminine class of the community had no representation in Parliament, and they declared that the time had long passed when they should have been enfranchised. "For the last thirty years they had had a majority of members in. the House of Commons to support the women's bill, and Mr Asquith had refused to allow the House of Commons to have its way. When the Bill passed the second reading by a majority of 179, the Prime Minister refused to allow it to go through. He had not had many of his own Govern- ment measures passed by bigger majorities. Women had no power to say whether the House of Lords should be abolished or not. She would say to Mr Asquith, Remove the mote out of your own eye before you try to remove it out of somebody else's." Mr Winston Churchill had also turned traitor to the Women's Bill. As he said about Liberalism, so they would also say they de- manded equal rights. If they really cared about equal rights, they would only be too glad to give to their own women the same rights that they had taken for themselves. The women did not want to take up their militant methods again, but they would do so if Mr Asquith persisted in his present ways. Supposing the Conservative Govern- ment should be returned to power-though she did not think it was possible at that hour of the day-they would say, Will you give us a clear and definite promise to en- franchise women ? If they did not, they would work against the Conservatives also. They were a non-party organisation, and were not supporting any political party, as they were from all ranks. Mrs Despard said it was the first time for her to address a Newtown audience. The Welsh women were famous for their per- sistency. The Goverment had said that women's affairs might wait. Women were tired of waiting. They said, Wait until these great questions are settled, and then we will see what we can do for you." She hoped that the Welsh people were abso- lutely determined that they should be a free people. There was a, great deal of talk about democracy. This country was not a democratic country at all. They were gov- erned by the Cabinet. It was the women who manned the army and navy, because it was their boys who went into the army and navy. When they went to present a petition signed by hundreds of working people, they were arrested and put into prison, but they had made the world know they were in earnest. She wanted to stir up a great enthusiasm. If the men wished for a great change in the world, so did the women. Somebody had said that if women got votes, the Liberal party would go out into the wilderness for forty years. The women did not care a rap about party or person. They were tired of compromise. She was not asking them to vote against the Liberals as Liberals, but against the pres- ent Government. She used to be a Radical, but she was not one now. A modern Radical was not the same as he was some time ago. He had not been true to his principles.

Village Publican's Mistake. SMART POLICE DODGE. At the Caersws Petty Sessions, on Mon- day, H. E. Rees, of the Lion Hotel, Llan- dinam, was charged by D.C.C. Williams with keeping his house open after pro- hibited hours. P.C. Burton said that on the night of .November 19th he was directed to go to Llandinam in plain clothes. He arrived there a little before ten o'clock. He went to the Lion about eight minutes past ten. There were fourteen men there. He asked the defendant if he was aware it was after ten o'clock, and he replied, Pay for a glass apiece, never mind about the time." He asked the men their names, but they refused to tell him, with the exception of one. Miss Rees then came, and said she asked them to go out five minutes before he came. He went out to the post office at 10-20 with defendant, and they both com- pared watches. His watch was the same as defendant's-one minute fast by the post office clock. Defendant said the men were going out when P.C. Burton came in. Everyone of them were sober. He went down to the station and compared watches. He also compared them in the afternoon. The man whose name P.C. Burton took had gone out before, but came back for a parcel which he left behind him. He had been in business thirty-six years, and had never been in trouble before. By the Bench The constable came in just four minutes past ten. When it was ten he told the men so, and they went out. By D.C.C. Williams: He only knew two of the men there. The Bench decided to hear the case against Charles Paul, painter, 72, York- street, Oswestry, who was charged with being on licensed premises during prohi- bited hours. Defendant pleaded guilty. He went out before ten o'clock, but went back again for a parcel he had left there. As he was com- ing out he saw P.C. Burton. The Bench decided to impose a fine of 10s and costs (8s) on the licensee, and fined Paul 2s 6d and costs (7s 6d).

MR. DAVID DAVIES' FOX HOUNDS WILL MEET ON Monday, December 19 Llanfair Wednesday. December 21 .Clatter Saturday, December 24 Llanbadarn 10-30 a m. ME. DAVID DAVIES' BEAGLES WILL XIKT ON Tuesday, December 20 Caersws Bridge Friday, December 23 "Dollor 10-30 a.m.

Montgomery and Salop Presbytery INTERESTING DISCUSSIONS. This Presbytery met at Abermule last week, when in the absence of the Moderator, Rev D. M. Rowlands, through illness, Mr William Evans presided. On the suggestion of Mr John Anwyl, a committee was appointed to inspect the site of a proposed new schoolroom at Priest Weston Church. The Rev E. Parry, Newtown, reported that the discussion at the minister's meeting on The teaching of Christ," was introduced by the Rev G. O. Evans in an interesting and informing address. Several ministers spoke, including the Rev Lewis Ellis, RhyL Rev E. Parry urged that the collection towards foreign missions should be sent in as soon as possible. Mr R. C. Pryce presented an interesting report of the meeting at Holyhead, and the report was supplemented by the Rev J. Griffith Jones. Special mention was made of the fact that the Association had pledged itself to the formation of a sustentation fund with the object of ensuring a minimum salary of £ 100 for all ministers having pas- toral charge. The Rev E. Parry and O. Matthiaa^com- mented on the reports, the latter calling attention to the Dr Lewis Edwards Memorial and asking for further contributions. The Rev Lewis Ellis, Rhyl, addressed the meeting on behalf of the Forward Move- ment, dwelling upon the great work accom- plished in the last twenty years through its instrumentality, and calling attention to the fact that the collections last year fell short of the sum required to carry on the work by nearly £ 2,000. On the motion of Mr Dickens Lewis, the thanks of the Presbytery were given Mr Ellis for his eloquent address. Mr William Morris spoke on the proposal to appoint lay preachers. The Association had sanctioned such appointments in that Presbytery if men could be found qualified in character and attainments and willing to serve the churches without payment, save their travelling expenses. Mr Morris said there were nine churches in the Presbyterv without regular preaching services on Sun- day evenings, and he believed that if these could be provided a great need in the smaller churches would be met. He, therefore, pro- posed that the Presbytery approve of the principle of making such appointments. To hold them would be a high honour, and none should assume the office but such as were called to it. The motion was seconded by the Rev A. T. Davies, and in the discussion the Revs John Davies, O. Matthias, and T. Williams, Messrs Anwyl, R. C. Pryce, W. R. Thomas, John Jones, and T. Gittins took part. The motion was carried, and the follow- ing were appointed to act as a committee to recommend to the Presbytery suitable person for the office :-The Revs E. Parry and John Davies, Messrs D. Ffoulkes, Wm. Evans, Dickens Lewis, Richard E. Pryce, John Anwyl, D. Pryce, and William Morris (convener). ) On the motion of Mr Dickens Lewis, it was resolved that legal receipts on the forms provided by the Book-room should be given by the treasurers of the various funds for all contributions from the churches. The Rev J. Davies conducted the inquiry into the state of the cause at Abermule and Bethesda. It was reported that the churches were in a satisfactory condition. The next meeting of the Presbytery will be held on Thursday, February 9th, at Newtown. The Rev O. Matthias will con- duct the inquiry into the state of the cause at Newtown, Peniel, and Mochdre, and the Rev Ellis James Jones will be invited to address the Presbytery on behalf of the Mission Fund. The Rev Richard Jones, Llandinam, preached at a service in the evening.

Uncle and Nephews at War on the Highway. At Caersws Petty Sessions, on Monday,. Evan and Peter Vaughan, of Higher Green, Llanidloes, were charged by their uncle, Richard Edwards, hawker, Ladywell-street, Newtown, with assault and battery. Mr Richard George appeared for the com- plainant. Both defendants pleaded not guilty. Complainant stated that on the 14th of November he was going from Carno to Llan- idloes with a horse and cart. When he got above Dolwen, he met both defendants with a horse and trap going towards Llanidloes. They said good morning," and passed on. Later on he met the defendants returning just above Llandinam. There was no one about. Peter Vaughan, after he had passed him, shouted, Half a minute, I want to see you now." Peter stopped the cart and came back to him. He had passed them by about twelve or fifteen yards. Peter said to witness, What is this talk you are mak- ing about us ?" He then caught hold of the pony's reins and stopped it. Evan Vaughan then came up and said, Come out if you want something to do." Witness got out of the cart, and Evan Vaughan struck him on the face, and he knocked him back. Peter shouted, Go into him, Evan lad, he is not leathering father now. There- is two of us. We have been waiting for him a long time." Evan Vaughan got him down on the ground, and Peter took his coat off. and said, Now you go for him. I am coming now." He did not know whether Peter kicked him or trod on him, but when he got up he found that his arm was useless. He scrambled back into the cart and drove, off. By Mr George: He went to the doctor, on Tuesday morning. He had a broken wrist and bruises on his face. It was not the first time they had assaulted him. Be- fore he was twenty years Of age, he suffered! imprisonment for assaulting the defendants*' father. He had been under the doctor's care since the quarrel happened. By Evan Vaughan: He stopped his cart because Peter called him. He did not challenge him to fight. Evan struck the first blow. He did not run at Evan and hit him down. Evan Vaughan said that both carts stopped, and Peter got out and spoke to Richard Edwards, wh6 then challenged wit- ness to fight. Edwards threw down the whip and reins and jumped out of the cart, and pulled his coat off and put it in the cart. Witness then took his coat off, and Edwards got hold of him and threw him down. He got up, and Edwards struck him between the eyes. They were talking friendly for about three-quarters of an hour after the fight. Edwards did not complain that his hand was hurt. Peter did not take any part in the row, and did not catch hold of the reins of Edwards' pony. By Mr George: He did not take out a: summons because it would cost too much, He did not hear Peter ask him to lay into him. He never molested complainant in;. Cwmparc. Peter Vaughan corroborated his brother's evidence. The Bench decided to bind both parties over in £5 each to keep the peace for twelve months.

Aft Washington Mr Andrew Carnpgio formally transferred to a board of trustees £ 2,000,000" in five per cent. mortgage bonds, which he desires should bA applied to the promotion of perpetual peace and the abolition of war.