IBuilth Presentation.I|1917-03-15|The Brecon Radnor Express Carmarthen and Swansea Valley Gazette and Brynmawr District Advertiser

IBuilth Presentation.I

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I Builth Presentation. I I INTERESTING MEETING. I At Memorial Baptist Church on Sunday a presenta- tion to Mrs Arnold Jones Williams, Dollinwydd) took plaee. Mr E. Morgan, in the absence of the secretary, Mr E. C. Morgan, presided. Eloquent testimony of the work Miss Williams had done for the Church in her various capacities, and chiefly as organist, was given by Messrs Charles Davies and J. Wilding. The chair- man in a few well chosen words made the presentation of an English plated spirit kettle and teapot, which bore the following inscription Presented to Miss M. Williams by the Memorial Baptist Church, Builth Wells, on the occasion of her marriage as a token of appreciation for her services as Organist, Feb., 1917. Miss Williams briefly responded.

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Family Notices

Brecon and Radnor Lighting.…

Farmers' Rssponsibilty. I

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Farmers' Rssponsibilty. I We feel sure that the speeches delivered by Mr Sidney Robinson, M.P., and those of the gentle- men who so well supported him, at' Brecon and Hay last Friday, will have ia heartening effect on farmers and others at this critical time. When plainly presented, as it was at these meetings, the situation is a. serious one, but not so gra-ve that it cannot be overcome. Everything depends upon the Teal efforts of every individual who has the interests, amd the future security of his country at heart. No effort is top small to be of unimport- ance. Many are the directions in which those efforts can be effectively made. They are in- dicated in the speeches to which we have referred. But the greatest and most serious problem to be grappled with at the present moment is the menace threatening our food supply. Not only is it threatened by the enemies' inhuman and ruthless submarine campaign—which we hopea,nd fee-l confident will be mastered in due time by our greatest, though silent force, our [resourceful Xavy—but, a.s Mr Robinson pointed out, by war's insatiable maw "absorbing commodities of all sorts in iJ., most wasteful and apparently useless wav," and the general shortage of the world's raw materials and wheat supplies. To meet this testing time which lies ahead, it is up to every one. from the householder with the email plot to the farmer with his wide acres, to do his or her part. The recognition of the supreme importance of our home agriculture, ailthough. most regret- tably belated, is not the less welcome. It throws back in the face of short-sighted people the un- deserved taunts of "funkholes" in every farm- stead. By the indiscriminate sanding away to the Armv of skilled faani workmen a mistake, almost irretrievable, had been made. As Mr Miller said. may farmers had been placed in awkward circumstances, but their business was not to grumble and grunt, but to put-every ounce of energy they possessed into the greait struggle, aaid bv resolute determination to overcome all dif- ficulties that may arise. At the Brecon meeting Mr Walter Williams gave some instructive and interesting figures, respecting the relative values of cereals a.nd beef ias food stuffs. An acre of average land would produce a ton of oats, and eight tons of potatoes. An acre of the primest fattening land -would produce in beef five cwt. An acre of oats would feed in a week 100 people, <i nd an acre of potatoes 220 people, but iaoi. acre producing beef, eight people. To grow oats takes five months, potatoes four to six months, but to produce beef it took two years. The les-son is obvious. Time is the essence of the., contract. What is wanted in the present crisis is that which can be grown quickly. The main cirops must be potatoes and oats, and this, we rather think, farmers are ready to recognise, and by re- sponding to the appeal will be doing the greatest service to the nation. National service, as Mr Sidney Robinson showed, has a wide meaning, and the humblest efforts put forth on the na/tion a behalf are of the greatest importance. For the immediate future, however, the plougih is the nation's hope, lailld upon farmers is thrust a great responsibility. As far as Breconshire and Rad- norshire are concerned, we fell confident they will not be found wanting in the nation's hour of direst "toeed.

Notes and Notions. I

-Soldier Labour.

Well-known Breconshire Lady.

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Well-known Breconshire Lady. DEATH OF MISS ELIZABETH WILLIAMS, PENPONT. It. is with deep regret that we announce the death of Miss lilixubeth Williams, of Penpont, Brecon, second daughter of the late JJenry Williams, Esq., D.L. and J.P., ciudnnan of Quarter Sessions for many years, and High Sin rift for Breconshire 1848, which took place on Tuesday morning. The late Miss Elizabeth Williams had been associated with Penpont, the beautiful Brecon- shire Estate of the Williams family, all her life; and she had for a long series of years, together with her sisters, maintained the traditional hospitality of the family. Her works of usefulness and charity in the iSennybridge and Trallong districts materially benefitted the people, who always regarded her as their helper and true friend. In the Sennybridge reading room and in- stitute, Nii,, Elizabeth Williams was the main supporter, and no work of goodness in the district ever failed to obtain her active support and financial assistance. In the parish of Trallong, the deceased lady wa.s equally active and generous and one of her thoughtful acts of kindness was to provide for the children attending those schools cooked dinners. And she was ever interested in the after-welfare of the scholars. Both these districts have lost a genuine friend and a most charitable bene- factress. Miss Elizabeth Williams, in common with Miss Williams and Miss Adelaide Williams, gave liber- ally to support many count* and borough undertakings, and the whole family most' loyally supported the trade of the districts. A genuine bond of sympathy exists between the people of Brecon and district and the Penpont family, and deep and genuine sorrow is felt in everv quarter, upon th« passing of a lady who had lived so useful a life. "wi who had so liberally inter- preted tin. responsibilities attached to the high position she held in the county. The very deepest sympathy is extended to the surviving relatives of the deceased iady. The Penpont family has been settled in the county as far back at the Norman Conquest, and one member of the ancient house, in the person of Anna ItoleN Ine, was Queen of England, and of whom there is a good por- trait at Penpont. Coming down through the centuries, the family allied through marriage with the Abercamlais familv, and the Peiirys. In 1673 Daniel Williams was High SheritI of the county, and married lilanehe, one of the daughters and co-heirs of Hoo Games of Newton, and this gentleman built the mansion at Penpont in IfitiO. He married secondly Sybil daughter of George <,wvn,Esf)..ofUane!wedd. The 3rd son of this mar- riage was Penrv Williams, who was High Sheriff in 1732; his second son Penry was of Penpont, who had a son Philip who was High Sheriff in 1780, and who by his second marriage in 1871 with Elizabeth daughter and co heiress of John Osborne, Esq., had a son, Penry who was of Penpont and High Sheriff in 1804, and Lord Lieutenant of Breconshire in 1836. This Penry Wil- liams married a daughter of Samuel Yeats, Esq., and was succeeded in the Penpont Estates by Penry Wil- Hams, his son, the father of the lady whose death is now recorded. From the brief survey of the family, it will be seen that it has been continually linked with the public life of the County of Brecon, and that its various members have occupied high and distinguished positions.

! The Farmer's Duty. I __<

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The Farmer's Duty. I < Mr Sidney Robinson, M.P. at Brecon. I INTERESTING SPEECH. I DAXGER REAL AND NEAR. Mr Sidney Robinson, M.P., who came down from the House of Commons specially to attend the meeting, was given a most cordial reception hy a large and re- presentative gathering of agriculturists at the Brecon Guild Hail, on Friday. The meeting which was con- vened to consider the necessity of increasing home grown food supplies was presided over hy Mr Owen Price, J.P., C.C. and among those on the platform was Lady Glanusk, Mr W. S. Miller, J.P., C.C., Rev. A. Garnons Williams and Mr Walter Williams. When Mr Havard Williams was organising this meet- ing and asked me to come here and say a few words, I was only too glad to do so, said the hon. member, a, we are all anxious at this time to render any possible service, however small, we can to the country in this great emergency. I felt if I could help in any pos- sible degree to inspire you and to utter a few words of grave warning as to the condition of our food supply at the present time, and to induce you to play a larger part than the part you have already played and are willing to play in the increased production of food. I should be rendering a national service. (Hear, hear]. I A Noble Example. I Before proceeding to speak oil the particular subject. I for the discussion of which the meeting was specially ( convened, Mr Robinson said he felt bound, on coming amongst them agaiu, to say a few words of testimony to the men of Wales and the men of Breconshire who had so loyally and faithfully come out to serve their country and offered their lives and many of whom had given their lives for their sakes. (Hear, hear). It be- hoved them to follow, as far as they could, their noble, example and to do whatever small dutv that lav in their power in the best way they could for the interest of the country. They would have noticed that lately the British line had been extended in France. Might lie say that they had come there to-da- to mobilise them as agriculturists to further extcnd the British line and thereby to help on those, who were fighting for them out there, to the fullest extent they could. (Applause). To he. perfectly frank, and speaking gener- ally, farmers had done pretty wen out of the war. ;)iitl lie appealed to them not to think just absolutely how they were going to do the best for themselves, but how- they were best going to serve the State by getting as much focd as they possibly could out of the farms nnder their control with the labour at their disposal. (Hear, hear). Mr Prothero (President of the Board of Agriculture) was criticised—and, thought Mr Robinson, unfairly criticised—for comparing this coun- try with a "beleagured city." Although our Navy was doing magnificently in fighting against the sub- marines—and when the true tale came to be told it would surprise them what the avy had done—it was no good minimising the danger we were up against. (Hear, hear). The Germans knew it. and knew that it was the one point at which they could hit us. It was marvellous what our merchant seamen had i (applause)—and were doing and how they were able to get through, but how long this would go on they did { not know. They must be prepared against what might arise. Then there was the shortage of the world's wheat supply to be faced, which was a very grave and very great danger to us who depended for our outside supplies so largely upon foreign imports. Roughly speaking, of the whole food we consumed. wr grew .-omewhere about two-fifths and we imported t hree- fifths. If we could only reverse those figures and grow three-fifths and import two-fifths how many million tons of shipping it would ,save! That was The Problem I they were up against, and, that was what they mu-t in to overcome. He had not come there to tn and teach tsricuitnrists'ther business. They knew it be?- ter than he did; but he had come there as a business man to talk to business men. (Hear. hear). If he were not all agriculturist he had been brought up in the country, and lived in the country, and there were few in that audience who knew—although perhaps in a crude sort of way—the different methods of agriculture pursued in the different parts of England more than he did by observation. In his earliest business daY- he had also heon brought closely in touch with farm- ers, since liis family were closely mixed up with tlum, and he was specially interested in agriculture, although he did not pose as an experienced agricultIJri-t. in tli" May as he knew they were. War's Insatiable Maw. I The chairman had spoken about this great food scar- city. There were many reasons why this had been i brought about apart from shipping. Directly they were up against war they found that the most terrible waste went on. Its insatiable maw absorbed commod- ities of all sorts in a most wasteful and apparently useless way. It could not be helped, and that, added to the shipping difficulty, must make food so -caree. They might say that if they grew more food stuffs, even with the guaranteed prices for the years, those prices would ultimately drop back, and they would not get much benefit out of them. He would point out that there was a very general shortage of raw materials all over the world, and this had to be considered apart from the shipping problem. This was, of course, look- ing forward. Assuming they were going to do what they were asking them to do-plough up more laud for wheat, oats, potatoes,, and for whatever it might be— they could look further than the five year* ahead, the prices for which were provided for. He saw ilf the future a very great shortage of all raw material-. He knew it would he so in the business in which he was in- terested—the timber trade-he also knew it was so in cotton and in food stuffs because the virgin soils had been more or less worked out and corn would cost more to grow in Canada and Argentine, and besides, there Wa" the increasing demand which the Vnited States were making for food tllff". In that day's paper he saw a statement hy one of the deputees of the French Cham- ber, deploring the great wheat, shortage in France. Thi- was disconcerting to u", for hitherto France had practically grown all her wheat, hut the figures HOV, showed a very serious diminution. These were matter which had to he taken into very serious consideration. It was not only we who were making the demand, but our allies and the United States and other neutral countries. This I General World Shortage, I he feared, wa- going to obtain for sonic yea)-to come, even if the war were to be over quickly. In UHo V,L had a reduced acreagc of c::reals "ven oat, fell away considerahl. If there Was one thing Breconshire could grow, he believed they would agree with him, it, was oats. (Hear, hear). The growing of oats should and must be wisely considered in that county. "I think Dr. Johnson said," remarked the hon. member, turning to Mr Miller, "that oats were food for horses, hut when he got into your country (cotland), he began to modify his view, and went even so far as to eat porridge with a certain amount of approval." (Laughter). If we had nothing worse to eat than porridge, added Mr Robinson, we would do very well. (Hear, hear and laughter). As most of them were farmers and agricul- turists he did not think it was of any Use talking to them about very small holdings and the growing of po- tatoes. But as he came across the county he eonid not help noticing with very great interest how the ap. peal made to the people to grow potatoes was taking hold. (Hear. hear). He was glad to think that that was so for if only every householder grew enough vege- Y%? a so for if only every lioti. tables for the need of his own household, it -would mean a great deal to the State as a whole. I The Labour Difficulty. They might turn to nim and say—and rightly say—"all this is very well, but you know we are up against this difficulty of labour." He realised that., and knew it only too well. It was not so easy to talk about the employment of women labour in this, as in some of the English countks-espedally dairying counties. Neither did he think they could employ women shep- herds, for instance, as he had seen done in Wiltshire; but, women could help on the farm in some other ways. If they could employ women he asked them from It pat- riotic view to do so. They must be a little patient with them at first. They had to learn and, perhaps, they were a little hit difficult to handle and to teach— (laughter)—but they were learning, and a lot of women were going out to the farms and they would be of great value iii-ttm future. (Hear. hear). The Prime Minis- ter had told them what he saw in going through France —the whole of the work of agriculture being done by women, old men and boys. Of course they had grown to it and if we had time we could come to it here. But labour was the farmers' difficulty at present. He could only ask them to exercise all the patience they could. Later they woidd hear of the number of men which were being brought hack from the Army to be allotted to Breconshire to help temporarily. The trac- tor ploughs were doing great work in counties like W ilt- shire and Sussex, and they had come to stay, but he did not know of what use they would be in Brecon- shire. In the bigger fleld they would be the ploughs of the future. Speaking on other agricultural matters, Tr Rohinson said tliev were fortunate that owing to the restrictions placed upon slaughtering, the cattle of our country had increased by 367,000. and sheep 428.000. This was all to the good, but he would warn them that feeding stuffs were going to be materially reduced. They would find it would be more difficult not only to fatten the stock, but that the demand would not be so great. They must be prepared to plough up a little more land to grow this food in some other form. The Roval Commission on Food Supply made one very im- nortant finding—he should not say finding because they knew it already. That was the value of making cheese instead of butter. They pointed out that a double miantitv of cheese could be made out of an equal ouantitv of milk than thev could butter .and that the food value of that was quite as ereat as the food value of butter. From a national standpoint the more cheese

I Men Under 31.

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I Men Under 31. I Exemption Reviews at Crickhowell. I APPELLANT AND MILITARY REPRESENTATIVE. Mr E. Pirie Gordon presided at a meeting of Crick- howell Tribunal on Monday. A number of cases of men under 31 were reviewed in accordance with Army Council instructions. Two grocers with businesses in Crickhowell and Gilwern said they had a large trade, and one had two canteens at a local camp. The origiual exemptions were confirmed. A local builder was given until June as previously decided by the tribunal. Conditional exemption given to a licen- see and aerated waters manufacturer in class C2 was varied to 1st May. The Licensee: I am prepared to enrol for national service. The Chairman: I am afraid you are wanted for military service. A Gilwern licensee said he had been medically re- jected and produced a medical rejection certificate from the Newport Board. Mr Gwilym C. James (military representative): But you have been asked by the Brecon Medical Board to undergo examination at Brecon I Appellant; Yes, but I do Lot see what business they have to make such a request. The Military Representative: You mean you won't go: that is you defy the Military Authorities. Appellant: I don't see why I Vhould be badgered into the Army. I have a proper rejection certificate. The Military Representative Are you attested r Appellant: Yes. The Military Representative Then you are a soldi* r. Appellant: Xo. The Military Representative But you accepted the shilling, man. Appellant: They never gave me anything. Mr James said the man should certainly go before the Medical Board of his own county. Appellant: If I am legally bound to go, I will, but 1 euiitend I am not.

Brecon Borough Tribunal. I

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Brecon Borough Tribunal. I EXEMPTIONS REVIEWED. I Brecon Borough Tribunal sat on Tuesday evening, the .Mayor presiding. In the case of John Powell and W. K. Prosser, assistant and .carter respectively to Mr Morri-. grocer, conditional exemption was granted to Proper but the application in respect to Powell was refused. Mr H. F. W. Harries (clerk to the County Council) apptared to support the application in respect to Mr Leonard, secretary of the County Education Author, ity. whose certificate of exemption was under review by the military representative. Mr Leonard had previously held exemption by virtue of the agreement between the Board of Education and the Army Authorities. Mr Best (military representative) said lie appreciated the fact that Mr Leonard was anxious to go at the beginning of the war, but,, he snid. no attempt had been made by the com- mittee to find a substitute. Mr Harries emphasised the importance of Mr Leon- ard's work, as chief official of the Education Committee. His duties were very responsible and there were except- ional circumstances, which lie enumerated, why Mr Leonard should he left in the occupation he now held. The County spent t45,000 a year on elementary educa- tion. He felt sure the members of the Tribunal ap- preciated the importance of education just now and I that there should be a responsible head of its local ad. ministration. Mr Best said Mr Leonard had passed Class A. and had been in the Territorials for four years. The Mayor said the Tribunal thought Mr Leonard ,!((¡uld serve because there was sufficient staff already engaged at the office to carn on the education work. Mr Harries intimated that the case would be taken to the Appeal Court.. In the case of Mr Charles Hubbard, clerk in \11' Harries' office, who had passed class 3, conditional ex- emption was granted. A similar decision was given in nspeet to "Ilr Jolly. solicitor, deputy clerk of the Pi nce and of the County Council, and clerk to the War Pensions Committee. Mr Tudor appealed to support the claims of Albert- John Coates (26), bread-baker, employed by Mrs Dav- ih, Green Dragon Temperance Hotel, whose certificate reviewed by Air Best (military representative).— Conditional exemption was granted on' the ground that The man was engaged in work of national importance. Wm. Yaughan, baker, was refused exemption. Applicant Leaves the Court. I An a,-btant master at Christ College, Mr Hardy. con- t., nded that the Tribunal had no jurisdiction to review hi* certificate of exemption since the certificate was granted him at Leicester, and that the local tribunal at that town were the proper authorities to consider the cast. The Mayor dissenting, Mr Hardy l(ft the court, 'the certificate of exemption was withdrawn. Charles Evans, fitter and plumber, was granted con- ditional exemption. .1 1). Fryer, ironmonger, whose application was heard •ii camera, was granted conditional exemption.

Builth Auctioneer's Death.

I 1917 Wool Clip.

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I 1917 Wool Clip. I BRECON AND RADNOR FARMERS. I EXECUTIVE MEETS AT TALGARTH. A meeting of the Executive of t)t? Brecon and Rad- nor Farmers' Union was neld at the Tower Hotel, Tai- garth, on Monday. Mr J. R. Bache, J.P., preside, and. among those present, were Alderman Mervyn T. Davie". W. J. Jones. 0. W. Davies, C. W. S. Powell, A. E. Hav ard, R. T. Rogers, J. R. Griffiths, W. Sheldon, W. E. James (Talgarth), Dd. Thomas (Builth), T. B. Williams (Upper Chapel), A. Jones (Glasbury), Thos. Daniel- (Brecon)..). Price (Erwood), T. Evans (Wern), J. E. Hughes (Brynyrhydd), G. P. Stephens (Talgarth), W. Powell (Crickhowell), and J. P. Griffiths (secretary). The secretary said he had practically no correspond- ence. In reply to a question, the secretary stated that Hay and Glasbur.v and Talgarth Branches had agreed t I the proposal for the pooling of funds. Gloucestershire Farmers' Union wrote to the effect that the price of Milk Order, 1917, would tend to dt. crease the supply of summer milk, especially in view of the following, viz., (1) The fixing by the Government of a minimum wage for agricultural hands and the im- possibility of obtaining the necessary labour; (2) the present price of cheese, which, in this district, guaran- teed to the farmer a price equivalent to 1/4 per gallon of milk: and (3) the exceptionally high price now ob- taining for milking-cows, the' abnormal amount of capi- t.al required for upkeep, and the temptation of the farmer to revert to fattening for beef. The Gloucester j Union were strongly of opinion that the fixing of a minimum price of 1/4 per imperial gallon was not in the national interest, and they earnestly petitioned tbl.. Government to take steps to bring that into im- mediate use. On the motion of Mr O. W. Davies, seconded by Mr J. R. Griffiths, the Executive resolve to support th* Gloucester suggestions. Aid. Mervvn Davies said he had audited the accounts and found everything satisfactory. The balance to their credit wa. £31. The chairman, hoped the credit-balance would strengthen and prove a better index of the interest taken in the movement throughout Brecon and Rad- nor. Mr Bache urged all to do their best and ut- most and ensure for agriculture the place it deserved among the industries of the country. The secretary explained that the small credit-balance did not represent the reserve—it was simply what was saved out of 1/- per member. The balance. if all it-em, were considered, would work out at a considerable figure-lJfohahly £150. The question of the general secretary's remuneration was introduced by Mr W. J. Jones, who said he was paid £ 17 10s, including bonus. This was all too little, and he moved they should give a fixed salary of ti, IDs per annum and allow him special expense. for propaganda work. Mr J. H. Griffiths seconded. Mr W. Powell (Wern, Criekhowell) said they all ap- preciated the good work of their general secretary, hut advocated, for various reasons, that a secretary, re- siding in Brecon and Radnor, would be to the advantage of the Union. Mr J. W. Jones emphasised that the appointment. wa- an annual one. and that Mr Griffiths took exceptional interest in the work. He was also most efficient in the discharge of his duties. Aid. Mervvn Davies remarked that Mr Griffiths's experience with so many unions was a great advantage to them. He also had matters at his fingers' ends, and li,, hoped he would continue to act as secretary for many years. The proposition was now carried. Finance and legal committees (Brecon and Builth sections) were reappointed with slight alterations. Hay and Glasbury Branch sent the following resolu- tion :That the farmers of Brecon and Radnor will not be prepared to deliver their wool of the 1917 clip. unless the terms and conditions are much more satisfac- tory than those on which last season's clip was taken r.^er by the Government." Mr R. T. Rogers, in moving support for the resolution, v. as under the impression they were not all gettin;, what they should for their wool. Mr J. W..Tones seconded, observing he favoured the resolution. He believed many farmers did not receive for their wool what they expected—35 per cent, above pre-war prices. Some farmers had appealed, and a letter had come from a secretary of the Wool Advisory Committee, stating they considered the price was fair and that they could not further enter into the matter. If this were so, how ridiculous it was for them to ap. peal at all. Under these circumstances he felt he should support the resolution, especially the latter part, and he thought the price for wool should be fixed before it left the farm. This point, he observed, he wished to include in the resolution. Mr W. Powell (Wern): But they can commandeer it. and this would be difficult. The secretary believed the wool-clip for 1917 would be taken over similarly to that of 191"nly, proba.bly. the price would be better. As to the Hay resolution farmers felt—even the coolest of them-that they were not getting the price thev should. He suggested they should bombard the authorities till they were satisfied. Mr 0. W. Davies thought this matter should, in ti.e interests of farmers, he pushed to the uttermost. Mr J. It. Griffiths instanced a case, which entailed great hardship. Mr J. R. Bache remarked that appeals, submitted to the Wool Advisory Committee, were generally heard and copioifs evidence taken. He thought maximum price-! should be fixed for all wools and the purchasers should give full value. Mr Bache urged that wool should be kept clean with a view to its full value being secured. If there should he anv grievance, in the form of an appeal, he would do what, he could for them, although the advisory committee's powers were somewhat limited. They must keep pegging away on the question of the 1917 clip price and he urged them to explain how they were hit the previous year, and then they might suc- ° Mr J. W. Jones added that the National Executive was doing all it couUl on the wool quest-ion. Air W. Powell (Wern) thought farmers should know, in the interests of the Union, what they were doing crt the wool question. The Executive entrusted the secretary, Mr J. W. Jones and Mr R. T. Rogers to draft a resolution, in- corporating the Executive's as well as the Hay and Glasburv Branch's views on the subject. Mr J R. Bache gave a brief report of matters of in- terest. which transpired at the annual general meet- in<' of the National Executive in London. Tribute,was paid to Mr Griffiths's indefatigable work in Brecon and Radnor. Mr Bache alluded to the assisted labour move- ment, and what men would be returned from the Army for th" time being. Produce must be increased to safe- guard the national well-being. Mr D Thomas (organiser for Brecon and Kailnor) » plained that substitution had become a -'dead-letter, and gave information as to the assisted farm labour movement. Men supplied under the new arrangemc-n, would he subject to military law The Executive resolved to ask for additional repre- sentatives on the County Appeal Tribunals for Brecon and Radnor.

MR SIDNEY ROBINSON, M.P. I

IBrecon Journalist*,- I

IBuilth's Tribunal.I

Brecon's Council.

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Brecon's Council. I National Service. A COUNCILLOR'S VIEWS. THE HORSE JJAKT AND ALLOTMENTS. t-u meeting of the Brecon Town Councii en Tuesday tiiere were present the Mayor (Councillor William Williams), Aldermen E. A. Wright and David Powell, Councillors J. W. Hedger, C. \V. Best, E. M..Meredith, •T. J. William-, Evan Morgan, W. J. Parry de Win-ten, Vs. Jones and Mr G. Hyatt Williams (tov-n clerk). Jm tore proceeding with the business, the Mayor i!:<" i d a vot* of eon<loleiice with Councillor Best and <iiiily on t:.c loss of hfe two sons, who fell in action. Councillor Powell, in Seconding, s^id their hearts went out to Mr and Mrs Best in the great ordt-il and trial they were called upon to enQure.—Mr Best iI. responding, thanked the council most tiircenely. The hoys, he said, had died for God. King and ecu a. try., and one other consolation beside that thought w;" the sympathy lie and his family had received oIl all jand" from many people, many of thtv did ;,(.1, E-ow were their friend* before. (Hear, hear.) National Service. '.orresponderjee was.read relative to the National Service Scheme, and Prof. Joseph Jones \slb.Commi5- 'IOn"r for Brecon-hire and Radnorshire) attended to ex- plain the process, more particularly, of putting the local machinery into action for earrying out the scheme. He thought nearly all the councils had set up local com- mittees by now. Mr C. W. Bt-t asked whether volunteers were to be whole time or part time workers. He thought this s-houfd it made perfectly clear, for it was a que,-ticn that would be put to canvassers. In regard to the s heme, it was the most important question that would be asked. As far as their locality was concerned, he co-jld see very few, indeed, who could possibly volants er for whole time service, unless there was a scheme on hand for taking peaple who were thought to be re- dundant from one business to another. Prof. Jones ",¡¡.id no provision, at present, had been ,adt. for part time men. Mr Chamberlain asked far full time. men. being of opinion that one full time man this purpose would be better than nint:" or ten part 4Hi1(, men. Mr J. W. Hedger: 1 don't think we can get many whole time men in Brecon. If there is an alteration in the s heme to tahe part time men we may get some later on. Proi. Joseph Jones: What is asked for is enrolment. Vr W. F. Parry de Wintcn: What is your responsi- bility when you have enrelk-d? Mr Best: Is it a.ny use anyone enrolling when they know they cannot go? It would "imply mean that cer- tain statistics wouid be sent up to London that so many hundreds had joined for national service when everybody knew t.1wy could not go. Professor Janet said there were reasons for enrolling. There was the moral value of it, and under the volun- tary system they might get at the people who, as Mr Best had said, were redundant. Asked who w-, s to decide ,yhcre a man should he sent. Prof. Jones uaid the man himself was allowed Ut say wha.t he was fitted for. If he was then wanted for any particular work he. would be interviewed by Labour Exchange officials. Mr David Powell What if the man dissents? 'aid it was a purely voluntary sche::ie, and whether a man was legally bound or not by enroll- ing. the Town Clerk would be best able to advise the .ouncil. The Town Clerk It is purely voluntary at present. Prof. Joseph Jones, having thanked the council, then withdrew. Mr Best said they could not refuse to do something ::1 this matter, although he confessed hv had very little hope- cf any practical result. At present it appeared to him that those who were responsible for this scheme were putting them very -much in the position thpy yem put in in their childhood's day, when they were .told to 'open your mouth and fhut your eyes and what send you." (Laughter and hear, hear.) He did *ot like the advice that everybody ought to enrol. It sevnied to him that it was ah'Hit the bigge-t farce .ú a.sk a roan to enrol for anything when he did not Tnean to fulfil it. (Hear, hear.) They had haa quite enough of that about voluntary military service, when the;, were told that men only attested in order that they might appeal. Speaking from experience, when those figures of men who sent in their names for volun- tary service were used, it WMO. only used in such a way as to postpone what they had hod to come to now. If the music had been faced as to military service earlier, they would not be in the same position as they wvre to- day. In regard to national service, it wa.s iijne for them as citizens, to speak cut. They wanted to win the war. and it Wa quite time they faced the music, whether it was for national service or anything else. This proposition that everybody should put their name down for voluntary service, cr else it would be thought unpatriotic-, when iliey knew perfectly weil it. v, rt« im- possible. simply meant that a lot of figures would go up to London t,hat so many men were ready to do n¡¡.tioroal service, and, therefore, it was unnecessary to have any form of compulsion. How on enrth were they coirg to do it by voluntary means '? Those were his views on tht, question, but they cught to form a committer for the purpose of going into the matter and of beinc in a position to represent- their views. He proposed this. Mr Parry (Ie Win ton. seconded, entirely agreeing with Mr Best that. whole timers were not to be found in Rrecon. The chief thing they bad got. to help wis ..cricuitare, and in this a great- deal could be done 1 v part, timers, If their committe d was in existence and part time work came through suddenly, they would be in a position to deal with it. at once. The eouncil decided to form themselves into a National Service Committee, with power to add to th- ir number, and to take further .eticn after receipt, of the IrU'-aiure from th" authorities. The Horse M?rt. i>Ir T. Roy Parry, s-erietary. of the joint committee for the propos<ed horse mart, wrote asking on behalf of committee for a definite reply to the questions raised by the deputation which waited upon the council at- their last meeting. Mr Hedger: What was done at. that meeting? The Town Clerk There was nothing decided upon it. Mr Hedger; I think it was a pity something was not de:.f to assist farmers in some way. Mr David Powell Mr Hedger should have been here t clc, it. iVr Htdger: 1 was unavoidably absent. He went on >> say that the proposal would not affect tb^ hors? faajs in Lianfa<e> but that it would be a separate matter. Mr David Powell said the council did do somdhir.g. The dt-putation went away and made a request to have the services of the coiincit's so that -they could see what the initial cost was to he. He did net think the council were in a position to spend money just now. They did not discourage the mart in Brecon, although he knew it had been said that he was dead against it. TIe was not dead against it, hut these w-.re not times for embarking in schemes in which they would spending the ratepayers' money on so speculative a business. The council could net undertake any finan- cial responsibility. Mr Hedger: If this matter i, allowe(I to dr-p fli-l! chances are it will be taken elsewhere. I su?g*st that the surveyor should give us an estimate. Mr David Powell Giv* "them." not "us." Mr Hedger moved that the surveyor give them the approximate cost, so. that it could he discussed at the next meeting. Mr Best supported Mr Powell's views. They could not carry out the proposal on the land they had at pre- sent. and it meant a certain outlay. It was not the tir.te tei plunge the ratepayers into considerable expense. H" did not see why they should consider any scheme put before them unless prima facie those peoplf who put it before them gave them some reasonable idea of the expense and whether they would -•\+icipate in the rick. After further di.-enssion. the elt-T-k wus instructed to reply asking for a definite scheme and an estimate, when the matter would b- considered. Allotments Wanted. The Works Committee reported:—A communication was read from the local secretary of the A.tl.B., re- questing the- borough ootincil to acquire for them cer- tain land in Free Street and Llanfaes as allotments, 4ind ?r, t? d a subsequent letter giving the names cf applicants for allotments. The committee recommend that a 'reply be sent- intimating that the council werc willing tg help, hut pointing out that the powers of the GQUpfiJI.are limited to dealing with unoccupied land, and that tbe council regret they cannot see how they can _aMIt the society unless the society c;tn direct the council to vacant land-or land which is obtainable other v. i-.? than by compulsory powers. The land alluded to near Free Street is now advertised for sale. The com- mittee would be agreeable to med the local secretary of the society to discuss the proposition further. Mr Dd. Powell ."aid that since the meeting he Jiad seen one erf the applicants from the west.-epd I the town. and he was told they had come to arrangement* for allotments with Alderman Williams." He would very much like if the applicants from the Wattoti dis- trict would try and do something in the same way. ]f it meant that tht council had to get compulsory powers it would make the land very much more ex- pensive for the allotment holders. Mr T. Jones: Is it the intention of the council 10 tak*any part in the purchase of' the land in Free Street? The Mavor: W", have no power. The Works Committee report was adopted.

I-TALGARTH MARCH FAIR.

Notes and Notions. I

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NOTES AND NOTIONS-Continued. .I Stretcher-Bearer W. L. Edwards (South Wales Bor- derers), Upper Cwmtwreh, well-known in musical circles in the Swansea Valley, haS been wounded in action. News has been received of the death, from wounds in France, of Private Willie Davies (son of the late -Air and Mrs Davies, 9, Church Street, Carmarthen). who, before enlisting, was a plumber employed at Ystalyfera. The first Breconshire teacher to be killed in the war is Pte. King (son of Mrs King, Hazel House, Lower Cwmtwreh). Pte. King, an agsirtaiit, at Cwmtwreh Council school, joined the Breekriocks at the outbreak of war. ::< Colonel J. J. Jones, J.P. (Cefn-eoed), ex-High Sheriff of Breconshire, has offered to present to the Merthyr Corporation, a fountain, for erection in Cyfarthfa Park. The design shows the fountain to be extremely hand- some, and the Corporation, in accepting the gift, have accorded Colonel Jones and his family a hearty vote of i thanks. >1< Captain Edward Reginald Mynors Baskerville (liertli- ddu, Llandinatn), who died 5th June last, aged 73 years. left estate of the gross value of f20,970, of which L15,349 is net personalty. Probate of his will has been granted to his brother. Colonel Herbert Wetherstone Mynors Baskerville, to whom he left the whole of his estate absolutely. Aid. M. W. Morgan, J.P., of Bryntawe, Abercrave. had a Bible Class at the outbreak of the war at St. David's Church of 15 members. Fourteen of these volunteered early in the year for active service, while the remaining one, who was over military age, died, and he was left without any pupils. Two of the volun- teers have since given a good account of themselves, and have each gained the Military Medal. Most people, familiar with portraits of Thackerv, are aware that the eminent novelist had a broken nose, but not everyone is aware that this was a "gift" from a Ilreconian. The facts in brief are that one of Thadpry's fellow-pupils at Charterhouse School was George Stovin Venables, Llvsdinam Hall, Brecon. Either through a tight or hy accident young Venables broke his chum's nose, and the housekeeper upbraided him for "spoiling the best-looking boy in the school." Mr Venables lived to be a man of great wealth. He died in 1888 at an advanced age. >1< Private W. Rhys Thomas (72, High Street, Llandov- erv) was wounded by shrapnel in the shoulder in France on the 10th ult. He is also suffering from trench fever and is at present in hospital at Rouen. Pte. Thomas and his elder brother, Fred, served at the Dar- danelles with the 4th Battalion the Welsh Regiment. Another brother, Pte. Ewart Gladstone Thomas, is in the 3rd Battalion of the same regiment. Before enlist- ment he followed the trade of hairdresser at Gilfach Goch, and subsequently, at Swansea. In answer to an appeal from Sir Owen Thomas on 11 David's Day, 1916, to support the Welsh.National Fund for Soldiers and Sailors, the teachers and children of Frankshridge school promised to raise R3 by St. David's Day. A school concert was held in October, th pro. ceeds of which amounted to k3 7s., and the expenses to 16/3. The sum of £2 10s M (with 12/4 given by the scholars) amounting to all to three pounds three shil- lings and one penny, was last week forwarded to the treasurer of the fund. The children also contributed seven shillings to the "Jack Cornwell Memorial Fund." Amongst innumerable letters received by the British and Foreign Sailors' Society, expressing grateful appre- I ciation of succour to survivors of torpedoed vessels. not the least interesting wa's one sent to their agent at Malta by the stewardess of the hospital ship, "Brittanic," in which it says, "Our stay in Malta has I helped me much. May God give you your re- ward. My sisters unite with me in thanks for your kindness to me." '.Recently a welcome visit was paid by Rev. John MeXeill to the Havre Branch of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society, where he gave a ¡ characteristic address to a large gathering of keenly appreciative men, both of the Naval and Merchant Ser- vice. who received him enthusiastically. Mr John G. Griffiths, presiding over the annual meet- ing of the Neath and Brecon Railway Company, said the receipts, including the amount estimated to be re- ceived from the Government, amounted to 990,236, and expenditure £ 50,800. The net income for the year was £ 39,438, against £ 38,304 for 1915. In the tonnage of eoal there was a decrease against 1915 of 89,279 tons. The interest on the four classes of debentures having been deducted, there remained a balance of £16.5R. I The directors had decided to pay the usual dividend of ) 2l per cent .for the year on the. preference stock, and i carry forward €5,522. Mr John G. Griffiths, share director, and Mr Arthur Beckwith, "B" debenture I j director, were re-elected at special meetings of these stockholders. f Proposing the adoption of the report at the annual meeting of the Cambrian Railways Company. Mr I Thoma, Craven said the chairman. Major David Davies. M.P.. continued to be engaged on Government duties. The total net income for the year amounted to £ 147.788, compared with £ 146,737 in 1915, After provid- ing for the fixed charges, including the full 4 per cent. on "D" debenture stock, there was a balance of kis,C,58. Out of this balance the directors proposed to place £7,000 to general reserve, and to carry for- I ward £ 11.658. Since the outbreak of war the can- veyance of home-grown timber over the system had in- creased enormously. There was one erious aspect of this matter, and that was that the district was ranidlv I being denuded of forests, and it was to be honed that the Government would on the conclusion of the wor t ike in hand energetically the matter of re-planting. The accounts were adopted, and Mr Thomas Craven Lord Michelham, and Mr Joseph Davies were re-elected and .Ntr Joseph Da,ies were re-cleet,ed

! The Farmer's Duty. I __<

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THE FARMER'S DUTY—Continued. I tiny could make. a very real service they would be do-I i; I to tile community. I Wool Prices. I With regard to the wooipnees, he Knew that some c.f tlll'1ll Ülought that faith had not been kept over the quest ion. (Hear, hear). Weit, he was not one of those who were out to help anybody to exploit their com- modities in their own interests as against those of the community, but the promise having been made, lie, as tar as he possibly could, tried to lay their ease before headquarters. (Hear, hear). He had seen Mr Foster. He saw him again on the previous Wednesday, and asked him ix-liettier lie liid anything to say to them par- ticularly on this subject. He said there was nothing to be said at the present, time, but he w'as receiving a deputation Oil Tuesday next. Mr Miller was a member of that deputation, so if there was any point they want- ed to raise they should let Mr Miller know, and he would air their views to Mr Foster. (Hear, hear). Although tluy seemed to have been dealt with hardly, he would remind them that the difficulties had been very great. If they could not rectify some of the mistakes made in the past, they could try and see that they were put on a better basis for the price of wool in the coming season. (Applause). The same might be said with regard to hay and straw. There had been hard cases where they had been obliged to sell to the Army or the Government when they could have done better hy selling elsewhere. There again they must put their own interests on one side. It was only a duty which all of them had to do at the present time for the com- mon good and the nation's interest. (Hear. hear). It was that spirit he would like to inspire them with. They heard a lot about the equality of sacrifice. There could not be equality of sacrifice. What equality of sacrifice could there ))e? Could anyone of them give that sacrifice which one of those young lads had given who had gone out to figilt, and die for them ? (Hear, hear). Let them be willing to do anything they could, to I Bear and Suffer I for their nation's sake. If they were told, and if they had reason to believe by suffering that, or by losing something that they thought they had a right to—it might be that, their goods were commandeered or busi- ness interfered with-let them be willing to suffer and bear, and they would he doing the very best they could for their county. (Applause). His time had gone. He would liked to have said a few more words on the ag- ricultural question, hut others, better fitted than he, were to address them on that subject. He would only coyvey his message, begging them to consider not just how they were going to make the last penny for them- sdws, but how best they were going to serve their country and to serve it in this present time of great stre.-s and need. Sir Edward Carson had spoken on the submarine menace only on the previous day, and of the difficulty of the getting in of food supplies. I Danger Real and Near. The danger was very real and very near. They, liv- ing far away from hearing the explosion of the guns and bombs were a little apt—he would not say to for- get that there was a war-hut rot to realise what this war meant. He would like to inspire them to do a little more by telling them what it meant to the nation, and what their effort might mean to the coun- try next year and the year after. It was to make them think more of that that he came there. He felt sure that if they followed the example of those who had lived and served among them. and had died for them. they would do what, they could and that his words would not fall upon deaf ears. (Loud applause). QUler speeches followed and will he found reported in another column. Mr Sidney Robinson, M.P.. also spoke at a National Service meeting at Hay on Friday night, a report of which will be found elsewhere.

Papurau Newydd Cymru

The Brecon Radnor Express Carmarthen and Swansea Valley Gazette and Brynmawr District Advertiser

20 erthygl ar y dudalen hon