The Amman Valley Chronicle and East Carmarthen News

The good news received from the French front this week is very accept- able, as shewing that the defence of the enemy is weakening. Ousted by our artillery, with a new and appa- rently destructive gas shell, the Ger- mans have had to vacate their trenches on a considerable part of their front, and retire to prepared positions some distance in the rear. This brings the British soldiers within a short distance of Baupaume, which has been their objec- tive for some months. It is sincerely to be hoped the drive will be con- tinuous, and the Allies make a general advance. Apparently all is going well, not only in France, but in Mesopotamia, where the Turks have suffered a heavy defeat, and Kut has been retaken by the British. The submarine warfare of the enemy has caused a shortage in our food supplies, and there is a possi- bility of the whole nation being put on rations, a complete scheme for which has already been prepared. It is evident that the putting of people on ther.their honour has failed, though doubtless many., conscientious citizens ,¡. ,rJ. ,¿ have rigidly carried out the Food Con- troller's behest. The diet suggested by Lord Devonport did not err on the side of niggardliness, and is, indeed, much more generous than it is possible for a large number of people to pro- vide. It is, therefore, only right that officials of public institutions should curtail the extremely liberal allowance of their supplies. The great difficulty with the majority, at the present time, is In regard to potatoes and sugar. Scarcity of the latter can easily be understood, but the exploitation in regard to the former, on the part of the grower, wholesaler, and retailer, demands condemnation. Farmers, who would reap a fair profit at 6s. or 7s. a cwt., are not content with 9s., which is the price fixed by the Government, and we read of some of them hurrying back to their farms instead of unload ing at the markets, while consumers are clamouring for potatoes. Both whole- saler and retailer are somewhat in the hands of the grower, but even by them abnormal profits have been sought. In a measure the blame lies with the Government, who appear to have been in a hurry to fix prices, and made the mistake of putting the higher price on future supplies, instead of on. the pre- sent. Had £ 10 per ton been fixed for February, and £9 for next March, there would not have been the holding back of supplies, which is only too apparent. It is not likely that the con- sumers would have waited to purchase when the price came down, as they must have food; but it is to the advan- tage of the holders of stocks to keep on holding when there is a chance of a higher price in the near future. We hear locally of a stock of no less than a hundred tons, yet the people of Ammanford can scarcely find a potato in the shops. In a crisis like the pre- sent, the only just method -of distri- bution would appear to be that the Government should commandeer all supplies, and provide the people with food through the municipalities, though even in that case, such is the frailty of human nature, there would have to be some safeguard against the officials obtaining more than their share. With all the preaching of twenty centuries of so-called Christianity, the true applica- tion of the miracle of the Five Loaves and Two Small Fishes seems to have been missed.

Notice to Agents and to the Public Generally. Owing to the drastic regulations of the Government in regard to future supplies of paper, We find it necessary to give notice to agents of the Chronicle" that after March 31st, copies can only be issued to their definite order, and no unsold papers can be allowed for. They will, therefore, be good enough to secure orders for the- newspaper from their customers. The public also will help us in continuing to issue the "Chronicle" by giving orders to the agents for a regular delivery. We thank agents, readers, and correspondents for their generous support in the past, and can assure them that mith thpir ni/1 hnnp -& to continue to publish the best and fullest accounts of all the local and district news. In making the above condition, we hope to obviate the necessity of either increasng the price of the newspaper or of curtailing Ihe existing size, at any rate for a con- siderable period. AGENTS AND PUBIJC-YOUR AID. I

National Service in Carmar- thenshire. I MEN AND WOMEN TO BE CANVASSED.. Arrangements were made for the prosecution of the National Service campaign in the county at a meeting at Carmarthen, on Wednesday. Mr. F. Dudley W. Drummond presided. It was decided, on the motion of Ald. W. N. Jones, Ammanford, that the County Recruiting Committee should constitute the National Service Committee for the county, and that the district sub-committees appointed under the Army voluntary recruiting scheme be again utilised. Discussion took place as to whether farmers should be canvassed. Mr. Mervyn Peel, Danyrallt, pro- posed a resolution pointing out to Mr. Neville Chamberlain that it would be .a great saving of time if women were canvassed simultaneously with men. The resolution was carried with four dissentients.

I GARNANT- NOT [By GARNANT.l Now that Trades and Labour Coun-I cils have been formed throughout the district, we should do everything in our power to make them a success. Congratulations to Madame Blodwen Jones-Davies on winning the contralto solo, out of a very keen competitjop, at the Penclawdd Chair EisteddfocT An excellent foot race was witnessed oh the Twyn on Sunday, after school. An old wag told me that people seem to be running faster from the above places than they do to go there. It is of the greatest importance that all men required to submit themselves for medical examination should do so without fail when summoned before the travelling Medical Board, otherwise it will be to their disadvantage when their cases come before the Colliery Tribunal Court. The many friends of Lieut. Gilbert Davies, the Cwmamman Urban sur- veyor, will be pleased to know that he has received that coveted decoration, the Serbian Order of the White Eagle, for distinctive work on the Egyptian battlefield. The recipient was for many years captain of the Amman United football team, and was a well-known sportsman. The ChanceUor of the Exchequer has consented to receive, this week, a deputation represetning the Miners' Federation of Great Britain in regard to abatement of income tax being allowed to miners in respect of railway fares to and from their work. In some districts the abatement is allowed, and in others it is not, and the Federation desires uniformity. Cwmammanites will be pleased to hear of the success of Mr. Windsor LI. Jenkins, formerly assistant to Ae County Surveyor at Cardiff, who has gained the reward of persistence. Al- though he has been on active service since war began, he has passed the final examination and become an Asso- ciate Member of the Institute of Civil Engineers. Mr. Jenkins is the son of Mr. Lewis Jenkins, late of Glan- amman. Who was the salesman that sold a glass for Is. 6d. to a person, who soon found out that he could buy a similar glass from another tradesman in the place for 8d.? He at once took back the glass to the nrst salesman, stating that it was a bad fit, and having re- ceived his money back he told him the whole facts. Then there was a scene and war was declared. The tradesman stated that the percentage was high. and therefore the workmen could afford this exploitation. A Gwaun-cae-gurwen workmen was well paid for selling himself for £ 1 to an official of a certain colliery. Arrangements had been made to meet at a public-house on, Friday, when the workman was to hand the official a pound note for employment, which he did; but to the workman's surprise, the official walked out smiling, leaving him minus work and the il. Th,is should be a lesson in future to others not to offer payment for employment. I fear that it has been a custom in some collieries to buy work, and that ac- counts for this poor victim, who had the wrong official, but not the wrong moneygrabber. The workman has got to work hard enough for the little re- ceived, without paying for work, which dooms his future and affects theirs. =11= =11= A benefit concert was held at Bethel, on Tuesday, for the widow of the late Segt. Docharty, who was killed in action. The Rev. J. Edryd Jones, who presided, said that the fallen hero was a Scotsman, and had only lived im C wmamman a short period; but during that time he had en- deared himself to all. He had won the Military Medal. Mr. S. Wardlow, M.E., agent of the Cawdor Colliery, where the late sergeant was employed as a collier previous to enlisting, spoke in eulogistic terms of Dochartys fine character. The following artistes took pa.rt:-Miss Eva Cook, Mr. Ernest Jones, Miss Mary Evans, Master Dd. Bevan, Miss Rachel Mary Jones, Miss Elsie Jones, Miss Dora Evans, Miss Ceinwen Thomas, Miss Christina Cook, Mr. Lindsay, Miss Maggie Blodwen Rees, Miss Jennie Evans. Mr. John Morgan was the accompanist. I have received information that cer- tain landlords are taking a mean advan- tage of their tenants, by increasing the rents, contrary to the law. The latest dodge is, if a house. becomes vacant, an increased rental is charged on the in- going tenant. In some cases business houses suffer very badly through the landlords, I know of a business house where the husband is fighting in France, and where a demand has been made for an increase in rent; but, thanks to the wisdom of the woman, she refused to pay more than the pre- war rents. Although some of these landlords are of military age them- selves, and single, they don't appre- ciate those who are fighting for them, or they would not have the cheek to ask for an increased rent. If peaceful persuasion is of no avail in these cases, h the attention of the authorities should be called to the matter, and proceed- ings taken under the defence of the Realm Act against these landlords. All tenants should keep to pre-war rents, and where an increase has been made, they should be deducted from their next rent. The following officials have been elected for the Trades and Labour Council of this district:—President, Mr. Willie Owen, checkweighet, Blaen-cae-gurwen; vice-president, Mr. Herbert Morgan, Brynamman; trea- surer, Mr. John Williams, Gwaun-cae- gurwen; secretary, Mr. R. Edwards, checkweigher, Garnant. A meeting of the above was held at the Public Hall, Gwaun-cae-gurwen, on Wednes3~ Mr. Willie Owen presiding. Thertf/. were ZI delegates present, representing, approximately 3,000 workmen. M r. Meth. Jones gave an excellent example of the value of Trades and Labour- Councils in other districts. Many ques- tions of a very edifying nature were asked by the delegates, and the replies were very satisfactory. The Council decided unanimously to recommend the lodges to vote for a levy at the next District Meeting, so as to pay the Labour members for past services, which caused loss of work and ex- pense, and also to make the Council effective. It was also agreed that the secretary should write to the various Trade Unionists, asking them to affiliate, and to select representatives. for next Wednesday's meeting, when all the district Labour Councillors will: be present to address same, so as to have a clear understanding re the future. An eisteddfod was held at the T wy n, on Saturday, when over 100 entries were received. The officials- were :—Adjudicators Music, Mr. Rowland Hughes, F.T.S.C., Glan- amman; literature, Mr. Danl. Thomas, M.E., Gwaun-cae-gurwen; accom- panist, Mr. John Morgan; chairman,. Rev. J. Edryd Jones; treasurer, Mr. Phil Rees; secretary, Mrs. Emrys Griffiths. Awards:-Recitation under 12: 1st, G. Rees; 2nd, H. Davies; 3rd divided between J. C. Bowen and J. Roderick. Solo for boys under 8: 1st, J. Davies; 2nd, T. Lewis; 3rd,. W. R. Thomas. Solo for girls under 8: 1st, M. Bateman; 2nd, J. Roderick; 3rd, E. Owen. Pianoforte solo under 12: 1st, R. Llewelyn; 2nd, B. Rees. Pianoforte solo under 15: W. Rees. Recitation under 8: 1st, A. M. Rees;, 2nd divided between Eva Cook and E.- Lewis. Solo for boys under 12: 1st,. M. Jones; 2nd, T. Morris; 3rd, H- Walters. Solo for girls under 12: 1st, E. Owen; 2nd, N. James. Pair of socks: F. Hughes. Violin solo: Divided between B. James and E. Morgan. Recitation under 13: 1st, C. Cook; 2nd, Eva Cook. Welsh dic- tation: 1st, M. Llewelyn; 2nd, R. A. Llewelyn. Do. girls under 16: 1st, H. M. Jones. Do. boys under 16: E. R. Jones. Champion recitation: Miss M. A. Evans. Pencil sketch: Divided! be- tween G. Jenkins and T. Howells. Do. under 15: 1st, D. J. Thomas;- 2nd divided between T. Jones and D. Roderick. Recitation under Kfo-B. Roderick. Tenor solo: Mr. E. Roderick. Bass solo: Mr. B. j<lpes. isoprano solo: Miss S. Evans. Con- tralto solo: Mrs. D. Jones.

Important Sale of Timber at Llandilo. Very valuable lots of pitwood ancf timber on the Dynevor Castle Estate were offered for sate by Mr. W. N. Jones, auctioneer, Oyffryn at the Cawdor Arms Hotel, Llandilo, on Thursday last. There was a good attendance. Lot 1, comprising 312 larch, 55 ash, 37 Scotch and other trees, grow- ing on Pistyll and Llwynpiod Farms,, near Llandebie, "was sold to Mr. W. A. Jones, Llandebie, for £ 110; 'and* Mr. D. Howells, Llandebie, bought Lot 2, 194 larch and 82 ash, &C.on, Garnbicca Farm, for £ 120. Lot 3, comprising 394 oak, &c., on Dder- wen Farm, was withdrawn. Lot 4, on the last-named farm, con- taining 230 oak, &c., was bought by Mr. D. Richards, Pantyffynnon, for £ 130: and he also Durrhas#»<4 Lots 5 6, 7, and 8, at £ 150, £ 151, £ 120, and £ 75 respectively, comprising alto- gether 629 oak trees, nearly 1,400, alder, &c. Mr. Wm. Herbert, Ammanford, secured Lot 9 for ;Eloo,. and Lot 10 for £52 10s. Lot 11, £ 70, went to Mr. D. L. Thomas, Pontardulais, as well as Lot 12 for £ 100. Mr. Jacob Davies, Piodefach, secured Lot 13 for £ 145; Lot 14 way withdrawn at 185; Lots 15 and 16- went to Mr. W. A. Jones, Ltandebie, for £ 135 and £ 155; Lots 17 and 18 to Mr. Davies, Llandilo Saw Mills, for £ 110 and £125; Mrj W. Her- bert, Amman ford bought Lot 19 for £ 65; MT. Dalies, Llandilo Saw M,ills, Lot 20 for £20; the Raven Colliery Co., Gamant, Lot 21 for £ 112 10s.; and North Amman Col- liery Co., Garnant, Lot 22 for f.132 10s. Lot 23 was withdrawn at £ 60; and Mr. D. Richards, Pantyffynnon, bought the remaining four lots at £ 80, S.45, f.120, and £140. The full par- tculars of the lots were advertised in a recent issue of the Chronicle. Mr. G. Griffiths, surveyor and estate agent, Maesyffynnon, Llandilo, arranged the sale for Lord Dyrtevor.