The Amman Valley Chronicle and East Carmarthen News

POLITICS FOR WOMEN. I BY WOMAN VOTER. I Having secured the Vote, the qttestior that women have to decide is, What art thes going to vote for? Secondly, hning settled that point, are they going to get what, they have voted, for? Silica last week. I tmvt carefully studied tHe programme of all fchf various political organisations, especially those sections prepared for women, and really they all talk in general terms, each promising and guaranteeing to make our country a veritable "Arcadia"; in fact, eo similar are the itema enumerated that one is tempted tc believe that tliey must have compared notes. However, I find some useful information which, together with that contained in some hundreds of letters from women in all grades of life, certainly helps to decide on the main points for whioh we should vote. Our Government must be National, and to make it so the whole political system of the past will haw to be reconstructed, otherwise we are all disfranchised ard ruled, not by the will of the pc-oplbut. by the will of iorne Old Ganpf'a Central Office. For in the past. Government proceeded downwards. Party Hejulqunrtors—supported and greatly influenced by s:.I-r,t which oould easily have been pup lied by the enemy- decided to semti Sir go-and-So to fight a constituency otii the other Party did the while the humble voter gave power not to a man of h;8 choice, but to a nominee of some Party whip in I.ondon. They 1/oth prnmised, and will continue promising, everything to everybody, knowing full well that they- can do nothing but what the Party whips toll tlieui f() do. And the Whips in their turn have to consider their financial supporters. Yes, I knew it is a to some of us to realise how we have been "governed" in the past, but it is the "women who now have the power in their 1wn.)s to put this right, and that is what I want to point out. As long iI; a Party k-lepig its funds secret and ac- cepts payment for the granting of honours 111d titles, PO long will our political system be a d isgrace to the noble men and women who have fought and suffered to protect our homes from the er.erny. It will be a great 1nd wonderful victory for women if they can cleanse our Government and end this corruption and graft, but nlease understand I rh not advocate any revolution except in a political" sense. An the women have to remember (and the men. too, for that matter) is, don't pledge yourselves to any ild "Gang" or Party. They are discredited ind corrupt, but let us form Women's Political Associations in every part of the country, draw up our own programme, and then, holding the balance of votes, we can rut in power only candidates who stand for i free and honest policy. It is interesting to note that this idea is ilready being adopted bv the new National Party, who have one great claim over the others: they publish a balance-sheet once a year giving the name of every subtwriber of i sum of over five guineas; also they demand the discontinuance of the corrupt .svstem of the sale of honours. So far, this is all to the good, and they are, go far as I can see, the most likely to secure t'h, thinking women's vote. Of bourse, as I explained last week, we must all support Mr. Lloyd George in his Win the War policy, and I intend to ascertain their intentions in this direction. Now do let us get busy, for an elestion will certainly be upon us at any moment, and I have pre- pared a list of questions to submit to every candidate before voting for him. This list [ will publish as soon as possible. In the meantime I shall be pleased to hear from any of my women readers and to receive their views on the matter, also to answer any questions. You will greatly help by sending your ideas to "Woman Voter," c/o this paper, as the more opinions I get the more helpful will these articles become. Next week I want to make a careful study of the details of the Women's programme, and what the Women's Party and other Parties have to offer.

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THE POLITICAL FRONT. I By AN M.P I 1 Westminster. The long-expected attack in Italy has taken place, and the task of breaking the Austrian line was allotted to Lord Cavan, who is one of the discoveries of the war. He used his British Corps as a spear-head, and they made t;, gap' which opened the road to a great victory which probably is the decisive stroÍ); in this theatre. The rattle of macifine-guns on the Piave is perhaps the death rattle of the "Ram- shackle Empire." Once more we may be proud of the British part taken in the Italian theatre. No RELAXATION. I The news is splendid, but although we I are hammering the foe in every part we have not yet smashed him his retreat has been most skilful, and twice the German generals have extricated their armies from moat dangerous pockets in front of the French. I shall not believe in peace until the Huns have laid down their arms; then, and not till then, will I throw up my cap. Meanwhile, let us strive on and fight on with redoubled energy. PRISONERS or WAS. I Once more we must congratulate the National Party on pressing the Government to give a day to discuss the question of pri- soners of war. The debate was a moving one, and Captain fjuwles Craig, after two t' 't _.3 d 'd' t- years' captivity, made a damaging indict- ment of the Government's failure to put up a bitter fight for our unfortunate vic- timll in Germany. Sir George Cave cer- tainlv spoke in terms very different to what we are used tu from Lord Newton, and his pledges about?].nrnshrricnt and that pri- soners should be 0118 of the first considera-  i oiis iii tbe  tions in the artni?cc were good. | RKPR.TSALS. I It was left to General Page Urolt to make the clear for reprisals which Captain Craig had advocated earlier in the debate. He demanded not vengeance but deterrent punishment, and he sub- mitted that if you could save our men from slow murder by reducing the rations of German officers or by interning people 1i1c Baron Sr.fcrOed dr it was criminal negli- gence not to do ,0. He asked the House to insist that if there was a single case of fur- ther brutality our Government should re- taliate at once. I fancy the country agrees with the National Party that it pre- fers reduced rations for German prisoners to further horrible toTture of our men. BRAVO, CIVIL SERVICH. I It is not often that I can congratulate the Civil Service Commissioners, but it is refreshing to find that they have adopted the policy that no one is eligible for open competition examinations for situations in the Civil Service who is not a natural-born British subject and the child of natural- borj) British subjects, or citizens of an Allied country. Omit the la,t si-x words and you have the policy of the National Party on the niibject in a nutshell. It is mon- strous that our Civil Service and ati branches of our Government should be in the hands of anyona who is not of our | blood. Britain for the British must be out future motto. PAIITIKS AND THE ELECTION. I It looks as if there is to be a new orien- tation of parties, and it may now be re- I g:Hdd [Hi certain that the Lloyd George Liberals and the "Official" Unionista will come together in a new Coalition party. The Asquith or "Official" Liberals will be in a different camp, whilst the Nationals will give a general support to the Government Party so long as it supports a National policy. The eicction will come in Novem- ber unless great Peace complications inter- vene, and all the caucus wire-pullera are busy rushing candidates into the field. There will be complications in many places lowing tolthe intervention of independents who are cropping up everywhere. The Nationals, I am told, will try and endea- vour in ncr case to split the vote so that a real defeatist can get in cr between more patriotic elements. INDEPENDENTS IN PARLIAMENT. I I am not opposed to an independent ele- ment in Parliament; on the contrary, pro- vided they are not cranks, a group of twenty men who put country before party might revolutioni se, our "ParJ" system and do much to secure an atmosphere of greater freedom from the party Whips. The Irish have so often held the balance and forced the Government Party to vote against its conscience that it really would be a whole- some change to have a group which would force the Government to vote for what is National. SOLDIERS AND THE LANP. I With the advent of Peace the Govern- ment must really push ahead with a compre- hensive land policy. Many of our fighting- men will want to go on the land, and it is up to us to find facilities by providing the machinery for really suitable applicants. The measure must be wise and yet far- reaching. I do not want to see men put on the land merely to be ruined, but the scheme should provide for the purchase of at least one big estate in each county, with a central training farm and co-operation, without which small farming in England cannot be made to paT. Above aÙ, the Government must give such protection against foreign competition that our men cga sain a livis.

Our Poultry Column. It is so often remarked that ducks are dirty things and not suitable for a poultry yard, and yet where they can be kept easily to themselves there is nothing more profitable, nor yet any section of the poultry world which turn* in money so quickly. Every duckling should be ready for killing in ten weeks, which, with the fear of hatching, only means three months before there is some money coming back. When properly managed they should shew a good return, and though dirty work, ducks yield a profit which well pays for the inconvenience. The housing of ducks is a simple matter, for almost any kind of house wiH do, providing it has a good floor and roof, and about three to four feet high. The low ones are more difficult to clean out, unless it is on a false bottom, which can be easily lifted off and put back after. If it it at all convenient, an old stable with a brick or cement Boor makes an ideal place for them; it can easily be cleaned out, and the floor washed down if necessary. Some folk have just one small water vessel in the house, and then they wiH not wet the floor very much. and whether boards or cement, it can soon be cleaned. On the floor of the house keep plenty of short straw or rough hay, be- cause they will drop their eggs anywhere, and the litter will prevent them being broken. Occasionally two or three will use the same corner for a nest, but this ,is seldom, so it is no use making any special nest. Ducks should always be shut up at night, and not let out t-ill after they have laid in the morning. Where there is a pond the breeding birds will naturally do best, for swimming is their proper exercise; only, if left on the pond all night. they will drop the eggs in the water, and then all is lost. The best way to manage is to have a small wire run round the house, in which they can be given their last feed; then they soon get to know, and will come up for this quite regularly, after which they should be shut in till 10 o' clock next morning, or, if let out before, only into the run, so that you can make sure of getting all the eggs. Although for fattening ducks there should not be any range, those being used for breeding want a pond for water and e kercI se. It is almost essential for good fertility in the heavy breeds that they have a pond, though among the lighter varieties many are bred which never get a chance to swim. But when once ducks have used a pond, they never prove a success kept on an entirely dry run; yet, on the other hand, when bred and reared without water, they certainly do very well. One does not want to waste duck eggs any more than hen eggs, hence every egg should mean a duckling, or at least 90 per cent. should be fertile, and this is often the case where a pond is near. The feeding of ducks is less costly than that of fowls, because they can eat a lot coarser food. True, they eat a great deal, but when much of this is produced at home, and would otherwise be a waste product, then this is a profitable way of using up the odds and ends. I have said that ducks can eat a coarser food, and, of course, those being fatted should be given a little better stuff. But let us thiak of the breeding birds. Th ese can have almost any garden refuse cooked up. and it will make a fine feed with just the addition of a little meal. All cabbage leaves can be boiled along with a few carrots or turnips, then the lot mashed down together and dried off with a little meal forms a good food for the old birds. There are some cheap mixed meals on the market which would do well for this, and the total cost then is very low. All kinds of beet make a good mash owing to the amount of sugar they contain, and when boiled, the water can be used for scalding any other meal or bran. With one feed a day of this sort, the other should be grain of some kind, almost anything which comes easily to hand. Oats are the best, or tail wheat, but maize. dari, or buckwheat can be used if either can be had at a low price. I,

To POULTRY KEEPERS. Give Your HENS ISPICK GRIT I The New Shell Grit. Sold by all Corn Dealers. Write for samples and name and address of nearest Agent. SOLE MANUFACTURERS: LIVERINE LIMITED, GRIMSBY.

I MORE LAND FOR THE SETTLER. A Victoria, British Columbia, telegram states that the development of non-producing lands in the Dominion, and the placing of such areas at the disposal of the right kind of post-war settlers, formed the subject of a dis- cussion at an informal conference at Vic- toria, British Columbia, between members of the Provincial Government and Hon. J. A. Calder, Minister of Colonisation and Immi. gration. The Minister explained that his visit was primarily to gauge the feeling of linauguration of a Canadian policy similar to the provincial authorities relating to that already instituted in British Columbia. The idea was to bring the vacant lands of the Dominion under occupation and production. .The suggestion has been made that the Dominion place its credit behind that of the various provinces to make possible the secur- ing of lands which are now held out of pro- duction.

AMMAN VALLEY LIBERAL MEETINGS. Meetings have been held at the different districts of this Valley during the week to select delegates for the meeting at Llanelly on the 16th inst. Resolutions were also passed: (1) That the choice of candidate be left to the Council; (2) That we express our un- abated confidence in the Right Hon. D. Lloyd George, and pledge ourselves to sup- port him in his efforts to secure such condi- tions as will make further war impossible; (3) That we thank Mr. Towyn Jones, M.P., j for his splendid serviœs to the constituency, and that we pledge ourselves to rot= him triumphantly at the next Election.

(Cut oat and keep thia notice. Shou> r-r i srr^t Cut oat and keep it to everyone in yoar household. T?T??-?? ? ???  Notes on Saving War Savings Certi- No   ficatel are t Er:u?b No. 6. How to save on Light Bills. Governm'ent lnvei N 1 I, h burn ment backed by Never leave a IS t rmn.s man empty room. ? the wealth ..d If you use gas or electric light, study the power of the nation. meter when all lights are off. If it still Their purchase renter.. there is a leakage somewhere ^lu^in H".  their .alue in Have it seen to. ? ye?t' tfme ?1 Burn candles to the very end by sticking <??-thi. i. equi- the stumps on a bit of cork pierced through "'0 the stumps on a bit of cork pi erce d through ^nte.* at ^TP«r by a darning needle cent., free of In- Try to manage with fewer lights in the haU como Tas, You cui set fwaf and passages. m.?y bmek hi fuU ? any lime with any in- Never leave a candle m a AUg t. e more .t wüch n ?ne. it flares and gutters the quicker it wastes away. it fl ares an d gutters t  e qu i c k er it wastes away. Savings Certificates Early to bed and early to nM—make. your 33,^0.»| £ Ord £ Early to bed and early to 6"-makes your bPe.,t ..O,iy fic. Bank. Kght bill Mghter. onZEiZ.X* Ofiici&l A"" Saving Light meant Saving Money. Invest your Sayinga in War Savings Certificates £ 1 for 15/6 £ 50 for £ 38:15:0 £ 500 for £ 387:10:0 If worn have not yet joined a War Sarinca Association. it Is yottr patrietic duty to do M. Apply to the Searetuv of your Loe?l W? Sevim« c-.ittee, wnte Ao )1&810_1 War Savima Comoduse. Saliabar? SqaafW, LeoMa, E.C. 4. Every Shilling saved and lent helps to win the War.

"Our Day." I The following is the result of Our Day" Flag Day held in aid of the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John of Jerusalem; headquarters, 83, Pall Mall. London, S.W. I., in the eight branches of the Amman Valley Division, viz.:— I s. d. Ammanford and Bettws 26 5 5 Brynamman 7 15 0 Glanammaa and Gamant 7 8 0 Penygroes 9 10 3 Tycroes 4 14 4 Saron an d Capel Hendre 3 17 1 Blaenau 3 0 4 | Llandebie 5 15 6 £ 68 5 11 Mrs. W. N. Jones, the vice-president for the above Division, desires to thank all those who kindly helped her to raise this magnifi- cent sum. Red Cross work costs over SM,000 per week, or £8 a minute.

I CATTLF FEEDING STUFFS. I Some idea of the situation with respect to cattle feeding stuffs may be gathered from the fact this winter-begins with just about one- fifth of the stock of concentrated feeding stuffs which, at the end of last winter, was actually in the farmers' hands. It is hoped that the supplies available during the coming months may prove adequate to maintain milk production; to keep alive xoung calves, and to allow a small ration for horses. To secure a fair distribution on a stock basis, the Food Controller has introduced the Cattle Feeding Stuffs (Distribution) Order, which comes into force on the 17th of this month. Under the provisions of this Order, all oil-cakes and meals, millers' offals, brewers', maltsters', and distillers' grains may be sold only to persons holding a buying permit issued by the Area Live Stock Com- missioner. For the present it is proposed to leave certain classes of feeding stuffs free in order to supplement the allowances made and for feeding the classes of stock for which no definite provision is made, e.g., oats, roots, beans, peas, hay, straw, and chaff. Stock owners who have not already done so, should immediately ask a registered dealer in cattle feeding stuffs for the appro- priate form of application, and complete the same in accordance with the instructions printed thereon.

"For the Blood Is the Life." B If It Is any such Disease ,? -S??'?M, &rtftula, Bad Z?, as ??c?Mt, ir" <S'M'eH??, B' ogs, P, 7-ple31Sorei and JSW??!<MM, ?t?, R"1atism, Govt, 4'c" don't waste your time and money on lotions and ointments which cannot get below the surface of the skin. What you want and what you must have is a medicine that will 'thorenghly free the blood of the poison- ous matter which alone is the true cause of all your suffering. Clarke's Blood -Mixture is just such a medicine. It is composed of ingredients which quickly attack, overcome and expel the im- purities from the blood, that is why so many truly wonderful can stand to its credit. Over 50 success, Pleasant sssr /xjiarke's^ Blood I MI'oxture J| 'Sold b?r aU ? ? < Chenusta ?? AND BE CURED. I and^Stores, B Refuse AM "EVERYBOOYIS M Substitutes. BLOOD ■

Sad Fatality at Tirydail. A very sad fatality occurred near the Aberlash Mill, Tirydail, on Tuesday last, when a little child, five years of age, named Gwyneth Griffiths, the daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. D. Lloyd Griffiths, of 3, Tylagwyn, was tragically drowned in the River Lash. The mother and another lady, together with her two children, had been to Ammanford and were returning home. It appears that the children and the other lady were proceeding in front of Mrs. Griffiths, and that one of the children—the little boy-had crossed the river over the plank which spans it, and that the little girl, whilat crossing after her bro- ther, unfortunately slipped off the plank acd fell into the river, which, owing to the recent heavy rain, was flooded. The little girl was soon carried away by the strong current of water and was drowned. About 100 yards lower down than the scene of the fatality the River Lash unites with the River Loughor. The news spread through the locality, and several' workmen and others soon proceeded to search for the body. On Wednesday the search was renewed for the little girl, and before mid-day the party found the body about 350 yards lower down than Dyffryn bridge, and conveyed it home.

LIFE OF WORRY. '7Y? Worry, Trouble, Anxiety, Irritations, and Pain than Ailment of the SKIN, FLESH. BONE AND JOINTS. Immediate Relief is obtained if you only use GOMER'S BALM. My leg has been very bad for a long time. Burning Pain almoat un- bearable, until I used GoMER's BALM,' which at once eased the pain and vay soon cured me." Gomer's Balm is now well known throughout the lands as the most useful and successful femedhr. USE Gomel's Balm for All kinds of Skin Rash, Sores, Wounds, Ulcers, Cuts, Burns, Scalds, Excoriations, Abrasions, Bad Legs, Varicose Veins. Gomev's BaJ. for Eczema, Breakings-out in Chikfeen's Heads, Ringworm, Callings, Irrita- tions, Itchings, in Women and Children. Gomel's Balm for Piles, Scurvy, Inflamed Cam.: Bunions, and Gouty Joints, Rheu- matic Limbs, Stiff Joints, Lumbago THIS VALUABLE REMEDY SHOULD BE KEPT AND USED IN EVERY, HOME. It will soon put an end to all Worrpe Ask for "GOMER'S BALM," aDd. that the name in full is on the Box, also the name of JAroB HUGHES, without which nonf is genutme. Sold by Chemists and Stores at 173.. 3/ 5/- (including War Tax), or send 1/4, 3/2, or 5/3 (in stamps or portal order) to Maker- Jacob Hughes, M.P-P, L.O.S., MANUFACTURING CHEMIST, PENARTH, Ml. <