Herald of Wales and Monmouthshire Recorder

I NOTES AND COMMENTS j There is one phase of the newspaper war raging this weti over compulsory servke which is most regrettable. It is the insistence by some journals that Mr. Aequith, when lie made and reiterated his pledge to the married men, was speaking lor himself alone, and that his words did not commit the Cabinet. The Prime Ministcrr was, of course, bound by this pledge," said a Lobby correspondent on Wednesday, but there had not been any formal Cabinet decision on the matter until Tuesday. I u his statement jn the Houee of Commons on November 2 jyjr, Asquitli twice said that he was speaking for himself, and Lord Derby in his subsequent Press Buroaii communique cut November 11 did not interpret the situation accurately when he t'aid the Government were then pledged." In theory, of course, the correspondent is qrito right. No Minister can pledge another without his express exmwnt. And in theory a!-so, even a decision by a formal Cabinet would not be binding, flinoe the Cabinet is not part of tho Con- stitution, and is, indeed, not recognised as part of the Governmental machinery. But in practice it is another matter. fliere is an overwhelming thing in this country which we can call its collective spirit, and that collective spirit has taken It for granted that the Premier, when ho gave his pledge, spoke not only in the name ot' the Government, but in the name of the people themselves. And this spirit cannot be violated. No statesman would dare violate it, even if such were his deeire; and we have bad absolutely no evidence that Mr. Asquitli, or any of his colleagues, wish to get behind the pledge oy means of sorae back-door reading of it or by means ot some technical excuse. There is another side to be considered. The plea that Mr. Asqiiith spoke only for himself—if it 1. to be made, which we do jjot believe—means, as a newspaper cor- respondent with righteous indignation declares, that fnr six weelcs those who regarded the Prime Minister's pledge as invalid, and who never meant to be bound bv it, have neverthel etis kept their own counsel, and allowed hundreds of thou- sands of men to attest for service on the strength of this invalid pledge. They have silently watched these huudreds of acting on a guarantee which all the time ttos to be repudiated. But there can be no sach repudiation. And it is uaeletim, also, to endeavour to secure the re-opening of the question -whether.the country has pursued the wisest oJicy in desiring the enlistment of the single man before the call is made upon the family man (as one Parliameutary writer seems anxious to do). The instinct of the people is generally sound; and it is Mound enoug,h in this caw. It is simply the applie-aiion of common senw which leads to a determination that our most tree and least responsible of men should be asked to oet-vo liefore the men who .have built up many and onerous business and family obligations. That quMtion is dQDeCl, is the other regarding the extent Qf the pledge as it affects the Cabinet as a whole. Whether the figures, when they are revealed, will justify a resort to com- pulsion, it is rather previous to argue. Certain figures have leaked out, and there is a general belief that they show tthat there is a conaiderable. residtitym left unattested, after allowance has beea made for starred men and otliers who would be treated in the siaie Fral.,b as married ). If these figures are accurate, if Mr. A-sr[urth'p t*tatera<»nt next week will reveal, say, 200,06)(1 single men unattested without rea.-wnable cause, then there can be nothing for it but oompulsion. How that compub'oon will be effected is a matter for most serious consideration. It haM been suggested that the remnant ^should be given so many days' grace to report themr,elves, as voluntaryists and for immediate service; fa,iling which they be ca.Hed before the recruiting authorities and asked for their explanations. There are other methods. If it be shown next week that there are 50 army corps of young men still about in civilian clothing when they ought to be wearing khaki, the collective spirit of the country will one method or other, demand that, by one method or other, tbev must be pressed ioto service. Other- -wic-P pledgee have lost their value. In this connection sig-ht must not be lost of another question which is bound to ari I.d,N on. v.'hiHi calls are made upon the married recruits. We are con- vem«d Jiiostly to-day—wriri rightly—about the etngk man. Tlio time may conio when ■'f profyioni wi!l have to be considered vweibrr the married iwwi who have not volunteered oufchi f., allowed cxerop- taon—Hh&Mi&r the Um .wh iutra pAttfTd the greati\si. h;vvifice of all, ihe men who J have attested, leaving their families to Providence and the good heart of the country, should be en lied up and the sellieh married men who bitre not enlisted, or tried 10 enlist, islxould still walk the pleasant paths ot ea.se. We are only on the verge ol" a grent problem, a problem which will demand courageous and wise dealing. A situation such as w<- race to-day de- mands the ( &roiul re-reading of history, which is our best inst ructor. What haw j ill-? rewril oi tlie past t.o teacli us in tIm! new number of Blackwood's Magazine, by Mr. George Townsend'Warner, under the title "Prom a Voluntary System to Comjiulsion: the I'rex^dent of It iil an historical precedent which, the writer says, the lapse of fifty years h;w not put out of date. lie points out. that there i*s no other recent precedent of tho change from a voluntary to a C'Ompulsory system in the middle of a war (for con.sc-ript.i-on in revolutionary France was started at the l>eginuing), and that the change waj deliberate—not; a piece of self-sacrifice, but, i IlJ IM):-e.cl from above by a < MIVCru- men t which knew and dared." Lincoln and liiis advisers underestimated the work to be done and the ne-ed s of an army, and in the latter part of '62 it began to be clear that a haphazard method of recruit- ing would not do. The Governors of the Loyal States agreed that recourse muft be had to the unpopular but neverthe- less truly republican measures of con- scription," and Governor Sargent ex- pressed his opi nioll that fewer men would have been loct and the war much lli'iO.T,<,r its end had we earlier availed our- selves of the power conferred by the Con- stitution." The Act of Marcil, ISK;, was passed, and Mr. Warner quotes at length from the little known report of the Pro- vost-Marshal-General made in JSBO en the working of the law. All able-bodied citizens and foreigners purposing to be- come citizens were declared to be the national forces, were to lxv enrolled, and liable to be called out. There were ex- emptions to the unfit; to only sons the sole support of a widow or aged and infirm jargon*; h. all only brother with young children dependent on him: to the father of motherless children under twelve, of whom lie was the sole support; and to felons. There were "groups" too. In the first bachelors of military ag0 and married men from twenty to thirty-five; in the second married men from thirty- ftN- to forty-five, the last only to be called out when the first group failed. Every district had itF; quota fixed; while com- mutation (that is, a money payment) and substitutes were allowed. These proved the weak points in the Act. But, so the writer says, with the passing of the con- scription law, the tide of fortune turned from the. South to the North. "It took Grant close on two yea re to batter his way to Richmond, but there never was any shortage of men, even for his expensive I methods."

A LIVELY INTERLUDE AT THE SWANSEA I BOARD OF liUAEDIANS j At the meeting of the Swansea Board j of Guardians, ou Thursday afternoon, I Mr. YVm. Owen moved for a return of jthe total inconiew of all the officers of the Board, who are in receipt of salaries and feee, for the past four years. Ho ex- plained that he was asking for the in- • formation as a represeataUvo of a section or the community who had forwarded a resolution to him. He was not asking jfor anything irregular. Such jruormation [wad giV(n in the at«stract of aci^ount-s for I t!?- Cardie and Newport Cnton&, but not in the Swau?a Union's accounte.. Sriibk!ka T-IIiiuil's I Mr. Thomas: Isn't this information in the ye.ar book P Mr. Owen: It gives the salaries there, but not the feess. Some of the ratepayers I are anxious to know. If the information U refused, I shall have to tell them I cannot get it for them. Mr. Rosser: I cannot understand what Mr. Owen is driving at. If the clerk re- ceives fee. for an appointment outside the Guardians, what liaus that to do with us? The Guardians know what they pay their clerk and if I was clork to the Guar- dians, and was paid by the Government for another appointment, I should say it was like your impudence to ask for this information. Mr. Owen's Retort. I I Mr, Owen retorted that M could see the logic of Mr. Ros?r's argument if the Swansea ratepayers were not caHed upon to con tribute towards thoee fees. The clerk liekl the position of registrar of births, marriages and deaths, and for I the services he rendered to the Board he received £::10, the Boaid finding all the clerical staff, which the ratepayers had to pay for. What was the total a.mount of the fees? Nobody could get to know what the salary of the clerk wae. Mr. Rosser: It is in the year-book— £ 80. Mr. Owen: No returnable ratepayer could ]).Plie% 110 Mr. Jenkins is giving ilili j per vices to the Board for A:80 a year. He jhas got his other appointments by virtue of being clerk to the Guard rases, and hut lor that lie would not have received them. The Cituk: There ban be n<? objection to 1,'km>Wing what my feos an', It 1s in the r<?ords showing the eu?'ranna&tMn al- lowance. Mr. Owen: I hav nwr ??n that. Ruled by the Dockers." In the co u r,, eof fili-tlwr discussion, Mr. Ball observed that unnecessary per- tsonalitks were being indulged in. Mr. Roseer: It seems to me we are going to be ruled by the dockers. Mr. Ball rose to a point of order, and asked Mr. Roeser to withdraw that remark. Mr Rosser: I am not going to withdraw. The resolution was passed by the Dockers. Mr. Ball: The Dockers' Union has not been mentioned this afternoon. Mr. lkw,.gkm.: I mention it now. It has been mentioned in the Press. I waut to know whether we as a Board of Guar- dianfi are able to carry out, oar bufdnesa ourselves, or axe we to call in the dockers to supervise us, because the dockers are evidently attempting that. Mr. Owen: I want to put Mr. Rosser right. I never mentioned the dockers or any other organisation. I said tó rate-- payers/' but whet her they are dockers, stonemasons, or ooal heavers, they are all ratepayers, and have a right to certain information. Father Harrinpion thought the inquirv should be restricted to the salaries and fees earned by officers of the Board as servants of the Board. Mr. Owen pointed out that tlie Board had to fix the superannuation of the clerk on the total of salary and fees earn-ed in the last year of his office. Ultimately the Clerk promised to report to the next meeting as to what informa- tion he could supply, and added that there was certain information, he believed, which he waog not entitled to give.

HUSBAND AND WIFE DEAD. A sergeant of the Army Veterinary Corps, named John Joseph Ruxton (42), and his wife, Gladys (21), were found lying together on the couch, on Thursday jivorning, at 7, Lethburv-road, South Eating. Middlesex, suffering from bullet wounds. A doctor, caYed in, found the woman was dead, with tw-o bullet wonnda in her head. 'I'he man was unconscious, and died later in keepital.

1 N?r!y?WwnT)nd?s<'Mi<??froui?°) Serbian campaign have £ ii rived at Ply- I moo th frajB ?e me?,"Le-lr J

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO SWANSEA AT iftE CLOSE OF 1815. ONE hundred years ago! Wbut <?-<'nt? 0 éirnl th) S?t?r?f-a of D?Mnb?f', 1815? How did if. cloao the most tumultuous year that Europe had e-t,-r known—the Vl'r of Elba <%nd of Waterloo, of a sudden nicnaee which grew swiftly from the south disturbing tho new-found placidity of the world, and of the crown- ing glory won upon a Belgian plain. We come to the end of 1915 wi1 h hadowb all was brig-lit with new hope. Waterloo had biought, peaoe to an exhausted continent, although over the o<-ean Britain was still troubled. In the December of one huu- (1 rod years ago two topics must have held the gossipers at tho Wheat Sheaf and the Cross Keys: the execution of Mnr- shal Ney and the preparation ot St. Helena for Napoleon. LUXURY FOR ST. HELENA. To-day, when we face a pinvh-beck Napoleon who has none of the grandeur of the Fretteli eagle, we can read with some sympathy the complaint which found voice in the Press of that December. The sumptuous house and furniture, and luxurious ne< ommodations prepar- ing for the illustrious exile of St. Helena, exci ter. the astonishment, if not I the applause of Joh n Bull wrote a local scribe.] He wonders with a foolish face of dis- praise what can be the mison UJider existing circumstances for expending so much of his money (which the smooth contour ot his thigh pocket proves' not to be superabundant) to render more than comfortable the ci-devant ex- terminator of the human race. AIM it was not a meaningless newspaper phr:w. about the smooth contour of John Bull's thigh pocket! Life was hard to the ponT in 1815. When ten bread was a shilling for a loaf of under five pounds. On the an Assize of Bread was; held at Swansea, and the eODl- TiuaMiionei-s fixed the following prices to take effect from the 22nd, and to con- tinue in force for iieven days.—The priee of wheat 9s. 3d. per bushel, the allow- ance for baking being included. Whea-fcen. Household, lb. oz. dr. lb. oz. dr. Id. loaf to wc-igh II 0 9 0 8 13 2d. „ „ „ 0 V) 2 I 18 3d. „ „ 1 3] 1 1 10 4 (ki. „ „ „ 2 7 6 3 4 a 13d „ I H 12 G 9 0 ISd. ,I I 1 1 7 6 2 9 13 8 Every loaf of Wheaton Bread must he marked by the Maker with the capital letter W; or Standard Wheaten Bread with the capital letters S W; and (Ii I Household Bread with the capital letter H. THE LOTTERIES. I Still, there was a good deal of money l about, and in these times, when the cycle has come round full and certain sections in the country are urging-without much prospect of success—the revival of State Lotterios as a means of helping war iiuanoes, it. interesting to note what inducements were hvid out to the cupidity of our ancestors in the Swansea of 1815. Here is one advertisement: Jlayard, Burnie, and Co., I Contractors for the ensuing lottery l Respectively submit to the Public the following scheme, which, having received the sanction of the Lords of the Treasury, and being perfectly free from all am- biguitv, will, they trust, meet with general approbation. State Lottery of the whole 20,060 Tickets. Not Two Ulauks to a Prise-!— No fixed Prize Scheme. 2 Prizes of £ 25,000 Guineas in gold 52,500 2 „ „ £ 20,000 „ „ 40,000 2 £ 5,000 „ „ 10,000 Other denominations follow, the whole winding up with the announcement: 6671 Prizes in money £200,000 BY COACH TO TOWN. Too favourite means of progression to London was by the Bristol coach, which clattered into Mackworth Yard in Wind- street twice a week. Another route was via Carmarthen, Llandovery, and .Shrewsbury. In December, 1815, the proprietors of the Hereford and Car- marthen Coach had" the pleasure to announce to the Public that they are enabled to Reduce the Fares as below: Inside Outside Fare. < £ s. d. X & d. Carinartlien to London 4 2 0 2 6 6 Llandilo to ditto 3 1-10 2 2 0 Llandovery to ditto. 2 9 0 1 19 0 And whilst upon the advertising signs of the times we may note that two local academies announced their attractions for pupils: that of the Rev. R. Evans iu Wassal-street—it would IX' interesting to speculate how the modern i was n- I troduced—and that of the Rev. W. Davies, I DISRAELI'S WIFE TO B E. In the marriage announcements of the period, the eye is, caught by this para- graph Married. On the 2and inst., at Clifton, Wymlham Lewis, Esq., of Green Meadow, near Cardiff, to Mary Anne, only daughter of the late John Evans, Esq., of Braniford- Speke, Devon. "Mary Arino"in. the baptismal register it is given Marianne—was the daughter cf a lieutenant in the Navy, who came of farming stock in Devon, and whose Welsh ancestry cannot be traced. He died whilst she was in infancy, and at twenty-three she married Mr. Wyndhajn Lewis, through whom sho became acquainted with Disraeli. When she was widowed, Dixzy was a frequent visitor to Green Meadow, and it is conjecture(I that when the beautiful Mistress Lewis came to Swansea for the season, staying in Cambrian-place, the future Premier fol. lowed her here to pay his court. They were married on August 27, 1839, and lived a life of idyllic happiness. Disraeli wrote that he looked forward to the day of his union as the epoch in my life which will seal my career." A LAY OF PEACE. The old year went out well celebrated by the students at Lampeter School. Th-o young men at that academy gave a per- formance of a comedy by Terence, and as a prologue Master 1.14ewelin Lloyd Thomas recited tlie following vers.e: Few months ago the world was all in arms, Nought struck your ear but wars and war's alarms; Wide-wasting war! with horrid slaughter rag'd, Which rivaL realms with blood unsated wag'd- II Ah! then the demon ra-isd his banner high. And loud artill'ry rent th' affrighted sky; Swords clash'd with swords, on horses horses rush'd, Man trampled man and nations nations crush'd." War is not here the order of the day. We've set, you've seen, our forces in array, To entertain you in a Latin play. May the time soon come when we shall face the New Year with war not the order of the day J. D. W. I

"KING" OF THE GOC03 | MMARTIC STORY Of A SCOTCH FAMILY A Renter telegram from Wellington +XH i K> NNCOS the lk,1th of Mr. Andrew Clunirts-Rofls, whom it describes, incor- roctly, as the owner of the Cooos Islands. Air. Andrew Cluai^-Ross was a brother ot the late owner t,-i the islands, Mr. George Glum-es-Kos- and that gentleman, who died in 19)h, wan succeeded by his eidt?t?on, Mr..John ?ydhey Cinnies?Eo?-s He. according to friends ot the family in accor(lijig 4?-? ill,(, i'Llirtily ,?l cated his throne." Andrew Clunies- lioss and Jus wife l;ved on the islands many years. The Utopian kingdom of the Keeling- Cocoo hlauds. the arcadian little group (It coral islets and romantic lagoons in the South Indian Oeeaii. was founded by Captain John Clunicn-Roes in 18-7 lie had discovered (lie islands two years before, and brought out from Scotland a Waul of colonists ior them, but on ar- riving fhev found someone else in pos- session—one Alexander Hare, who, with twu hundred slaves presented to him by the Rajah of Baud.jy, licul ta ken posses- sion. My islands, I think," said Ross. Mine. 1 believe/' said Ha re. Ours," said both, without enthusiasm, and the two factious lived on bad terms with one another until Hare's followers t.ransferrod their allegiance, and Ross reigned unrivalled, until lS>t, when he died. and his son, George 1., reigned in his stead. la ISSG the island wrus added to the Queen's Dominions as part of the Straits Settlements, but Mr. Roes was permitted bo continue the absolute chieftainship- He prohibited any metallic currency, contending that it would introduce gambling, crime, and vice to the king- dom. and perhaps lead to the necessity, so far entirely absent, of a police force From taxes and prisons the .islands are also hanpily exempt, and they have no greitt faith in education. When John Sidney succeeded the valup of the family estate was proved at .£200,000. exclusive of the properties in th., islands. All interviewer who had an audience; of him in the City described him as a tall, spare young man of about 30, as brown a& a bcech nut, with high cheek bones, close cropped black liair, a carefully-trained moustache, and a &oft caressing voice. In November last year the Ernden, t'he German commerce raiding cruiser, put ashore ;t landing party on the islands and seized the King's throe-masted s-choonle-I .k after the Malay wife of Air. George Clunics-Ross—on which they were said in March to have raided the stores of a Dutch telegraph station at Padang. in Sumatra. The story was probably a garbled account of a visit which the Ayesba paid to Padang shortly after the sinking of the Luiden, when the prize crew bougltt provisions and de- partefl. One of the few Ko.se laws which has met with indifferent success is the abolition o: wife-beating. An official report on tho Coeos Islands stated that H the women, I secure from all fear of corporal punish- ment, h&vc coiup?te?y sabducd the men- folk, Lirdly anyone of whom can be said to be tho head of ? own household." Cooos K-eeI?S pr??<?' qacer sport, In eomc of the 8maJler )slandg uho bird- nester has to shove the bird off the nesr. before he can reach the eggs. Pigeons sit in aWluto unconcern while shots bring down their neighbours. Hats brought by a passing stop, aro the only piegu- 'I'læy have Earned to climb so well that they livFI m coconut trees. Cats were introduced to cope with them, but they let the rate alone and hunted the birds, which were easier game. They are now as great a nuisance as the rats.

KEEPING HOME FIRES BURNING. There wM a happy event at tlie Swansea Tipperary Ofub at the Central Hall on Wednesday evening, when a Chrietmas party was held, rea was eerved to a oom. pany of about 250, the toll-owing- ladies attending to the needs of the wives of our brave soldiers and eailoraMesdames Wat- kin Wiiiiami*. Geo. J^dwartis, Gear, Tooz-a, Peters Thomas. G. Dorrell, Leigh Jonetj, Ha-m, Tinlie, d Chislett, Mrs. and Mies bangle and Sister Kate. A moist enjoy.a.ble conoert followed, an interesting feature of which was the distri- bution QtpriWS to soldiers' wives who have the neatest homec. The prises had been generously given by Mr. Joseph Hall, who is always to the fore in any good work. and Mrs. John Jenkins and Mies Lewis Lewis had discharged the duties of adjudicators. Keen rivalry had b«u evinced amongst tho housewives, and the competition proved Lit exoellent stimulus to neatness and tidiness iu the koines. rl-he maximum marli ob- tained were 50, and piizes were aJJocated as followsl'irst prizes ;Mfl!. Pavcy, n, (iower-plaoe; h(J-6- Phillips, 32, Maria-road, | McuoBeltou; and Afrs. Lswis, 19, Cioree-road. Cwmbwrla. tiecoiul prizes: Mrs. Weacbury, 121. Rodncy-t;troot; Mrs. Uodero, Clitton-row; and Mrs. liwens. 205, Carmarthen-road. Third prizes- Mw. il.rnn, 1, Melrose Cot- tage, Catherine street,; Mra, Bavies, 109, Rod. ney-atreet; Urt5. t)\Y2Jl, 260, riinman'e-row. Owmbwrla; Mrs. Pau, 26, Lynn^stieet. Owuibwi'la; and Mrs. Thomas, ôO, iiodney• I street. ) KLeven otiaer priaes were aleo awajtied in connection with (I. singing competition which had been held at the club., A varied programme of vocal and instru- mental music was provided and greatly on. joyed. Amongst thoee on t he platform were the Itev. Watkin Williamts, hr. Joseph Hall and J4.r. U. Dorrell. Mrs, Catkin W illiams was responsible for arratigem nte. and, with many willing helper*^ worked un: aliariligly with the aingle object of giving th<>.se pj-eseut, a. h&ppy time, in which to forget for the while their many anxieties. The oiub is open every day, and Sister Kate is in attetidance to minister to the I reauirements of t.b.-œo yreseuu

CuOL THEFT Of COKll Evan Jones (63), labourer, was at Swan- sea. on Thursday chai-ged with stealing a quantity, of coke, vallie Is. J Id., the property of the Swansea Gas Company, on December 14th. Mr. W. Smith prose- cuted. Itiehard Martin Bickeiley, employed at the Swansea Gas Works, said Lhat on the afternoon in. question the defendant and another man cauie into the works with a handca rt for a load of coke. They loaded their cart with 2cwt. of coke. and went away. Joseph Dawson, who was employed at the Gas Works weighing machine, said he saw the defenrlant and another man taking the coke along the Oystennouth- ioad. When asked where they got it from he was told it came from Merriman"a Yard. It was afterwards admitted that the coke had been taken from the Gas Works. Detective Tucker said when he charged the defendant with the theft, defendant replied that he was only helping the other man. Defendant, who had several previous convictions recorded against him, was sent down for a month.

The R.M.S.P. Merionethshire has ar- rived in London having among its cargo a new fiiigstatf for Køw Gardens, measuring and weighing 18 tens, which has been presented by the Government of British Columbia. It is one of the largest flagstaff* ill the world, and is inaio from the trunk of A Douglas hr tie*,

AGAINST COMPULSION. (By Our Mining Correspondent.) A speejal meeting of the Executive (uncil of the, South rede- ration was held on Thursday at the Ceu- tral Offices, St. Andrews-crescent, Car- diff, to deal with local disputes and one other important matter. Mr. James Winstone presided, and there waA pi-acti(,-ally a full attrndallee of members, including Mr T. Richards, M.P. general secretary), Mr. A. Onions (general treasurer), and the Eight Hon. AiT. Abraham, M.P. (Mabon). Wit-b oiir" PXfePtion—a caM referred to Mr. Wlyi. Tenkilis for investigation—the local disputes reported and considered were from Monmouthshire aud the upper districts of Glamorganshire. Conscription Opposed. ,.t1 to '1' towow-ing resolution was parsed upon what is now undoubtedly the ques- tion of the day throughout the whole country:— Hiat this Council, representing the whole of the workmen of the South YVales coalfield, strongly resent the minister efforts that are in operation by certain party politicians and a section of the Pross to impose upon the people of this country a system of compulsory military service, and desire the officials of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain to at once call a national con- ference to again enter the protest of the miners of this country against any legis- lation that may be proposed for this purpose. This resolution was promptly sent", off to tho secretary of the M.F.G.B. by Mr. T. Richards, M.P.

FATAL INJURIES INFLICTED. I Da.niel 'l'hom8, of Lower New Rouses, Lower Cwmtwrch, a colliery re- Pair-, was ?'"?? °n Wodn?day evening at the Brynhenllys Colliery, Brecon. It appears that Thomas was leaving the colliery, when he was overtaken by a journey of trams, which knocked him down, inflicting fatal injuries. ÅlI. inquest will be held.

KEW SWANSEA CORONER. I Mr. C. J. c. wilson has vacated the position of Deputy Coroner for the Swan- sea dMtrKt, owing to his services being required elsewhere on military duties. Mr. E. W. Beor hw; been appointed Deputy Coroner in his siead.

While singeing a fowl for the Christmas dinner, Mrs. Elizabeth Levack, of j Heacham, No'?k, set fire io her apron [?nd waa fatally burae4l

THE VICAR'S VOTE PiQOANT DISCUSSION AT CWMAMMANI CUUNull MEt I'lNli The app<.>intmont of medical officer loi Cwinammaii by the Urban Council oil Wednesday night, in place ol Dr. Kichl ln-ond (resigned, led to a, lively discussiori as to whether a member 'wWdisqualiti-eci for voting through non-attendance, x h« Rev. J. Ldryd Jones presided. Applications tor lie post were read fronJ Dr. J. R. Urit;e, Ul;ul<JllJjJ¡¡¡n, and Dr. W. Morns Williams, ot Glanaininau (tormerl* of I'ontyheronu. ,• Air. To.oious Morris inquired at the out;. set if a! the. inemhers present were en- titled in vote. Had they all attonde<l tha Counci l din ing the la^t six months The Clerk: sir; but no step hu:, 'weT taken to declare the The Clerk added that the iact that 9 member had beeu absent ior lli-ore than certain period did not disqualify him from voting. They must, go a step further and pass a resolution to declare the vacant, Mr. Thomas Morris said in that caae he would movo that tho appoin-ment be riet 1 erred for a month. The Chairman: You had better not movfl that in the first place perhaps. What arc jou ?in? to do with the member in dm- p'?? Wh.?t viU be the portion after? Mr. 'I ho mas Thomas: lie will have a..i tended then. Mr. Thomas Morris said they colll(t- nave a notice plaoed on the agenda thai a resolution would be moved declarind the seat vacant. The Chairman: But he will have :Iè tended in the meantime. However, the clerk informs me that that fact, he bc- lieves, docs not prevent us unseating hinii J. Jones seconded. s;1.id he was qui to sure the hon. member for Twyn," in order to oblige the chairman and Council, would vacate the seat that night. I A Very Queer Position." the Rev. Win. Williams (vicars It ii a very queer position. I have received notice to come to the meeting. The Chairman: You agree you have no! at tended r The Rev. W. Williams: There is 114 doubt about that. The Kev. J. Thomas: And Mr. WilJimll Knows the position very well that bv i month to-night The Rev. W. Williams: But why should you be afraid of my vote? The Rev. J. Thomas: Exactlv. I h;n-é got nothing to do with it at ll. I nul quite impartial. tu The Rev. W. Williams: T should not lika to sbnd in the wav at all. the Rev. J. Thomas: I know very well, I am quite sure Mr. Williams won') tillid w 1^ I have suggested as an offence ,I he Rev. W. Williams: If it is yoni wish for me not to vote I will fail ir1 readily. ^lr. ,T. R. Thomas: So far a-s I can Mr. Williams is still a member of thtf Council. Mr. Arthur WiiHams: Of course he igi Mr. W, A. Ray moved that the appoint* ment be proceeded with, and Mr. Rogc^ Thomas seconded. As a further amendment, the RPY. jo Thomas moved that they q,-Ale the membe i in question not to vote on this partieula/1 matter. "It means (lie added) that w' a<k Mr. Williams to vacate hi* seat fat three minutes during the voting." The Rev. W. Williams -said he would nof vote at all. and Mr. Thomas Morris inti. mated he would then withdraw his prd position. The Rev. W. Williams: I won't be irl the way. But why you should be afraid of my vote I don't know. The Vicar's Decision. f r. Thomas Morris: I am not afraicJ of the vote. Biit, it is not fair if a menV ber does not attend the Council for i-1 or eight or nine mouths and simply coniej here with the object of recording ltÍq Yot on an appointment. It is not in the int tere-t of tho place. Let us be honest M the face of everything. The Rev. W. Williams: Why not obiec < to mv presence at the beginning of tlij," meeting? Why bring it up now? As have said I will willingly give up voting. But if you argue the question* you on?ht to have objected ?o my presence "OT the beginning 01 the m?etin?. The appointment was then proceed''? w^ib by ballot, the Rev. W. Williams r? frailli* from voting. Light votes we." cast for Dr. Williams and six for • iice. The former wa- iherenpon fo-? nit',I.y -ppointed to the .ipprov.? of jtihf e Local Government '0n ° IfeV" ,T '??? second: 1 by MM? r. David Jon<M. T]l?DM"- as,

I A LICENSING POINT. I .Another little wh?h the licen?X netua.ller must beware of under t?e new ul&tions was dicOíNf'd on Wed n?-' day by Mr. Clarke Hall, the Old-si roc#! inapstraie Now, it seems, a customer i* obhged to H stann by his drink: i -1?, all tb world of London knows, <? ? ??xi?ting drink Rto}M at p:nl.' but thit concession has ,bwn made r ? a Man has ordered a dnnk with 11 i mf.ll °T hour ?? may continue t « « i r> If « j- ? S? -? ?"'??? ?oympnt he may for ™oth« LalS«,r Mr. Clare Hall bad a difRcuH qu<- Ibon to decide  WÐClncla.v, ^hen Johu RKoobbeerrt t Bailey, °f licensee of the Traf tbv I Pubh. Hou?, S?,t ?r??? IJuke s, was 8ummonoo for sellin- a O'la:t Xf'H v 5 ia arney was also 6Um1l10n for COl1Suw" ,ms the beer duriug prohiWM hours. ?Xproved that Varney <-n ?%<?, house at 2.15 and orde ,^eTd i "'1, ehc? and b?er. hIS mid-day me^l TPU minutes later he was called to the t !■ phone. He drank part of his h?r, pic? 1 up the remainder of the 1)??d ar\? cheese, and went off to answer the ?;,))j He returned after 2-30 aud fimshed tha ale he had left. ] Mr. Clarke Hall owned to some dÜfi- culty in coming to a decision, hut JIg. thought it clear that the meal was finished at 2.30, because Varnev toolf awav what remained of the bread and cheese, and the landlady removed thl) plate. The fact that he was allowed 11)1 consume the remainder of the beer when he returned after hours seemed to t]HIt magistrate an infraction of the regula- tions. If it were not so a person illigilf go away for three or four hours and on returning demand drink he had pre. viously ordered. Mr. Clarke Hall thought the case IY ail hard on the defendants, and consider?t it would be met by ordering them simpl,' to pay the costs. He added, ho? that in other cases the Court the regulations Would be en? forced in a very strict way. He dismissed the case asaiw „ ,t' th 1 I)U <\1 1' for permitting the sale ^osicatin^ drinks. QXlca 1D;I

CWMGWRACH FIREMAN DROMEI, Wm. Matthews, of Rhe^i i I Wm. Matthews, of Rheola-toe.rraca, Cv?-i gwrach, met with a tra?? end ,a Thur? day morning, pr<??.. end °« Thurr way to w?rk ?. the ?y ??? oa?' m tb? earl Y hou? ,r P??i Cui.? in the N?t!t rh.?. :?t'y w? ??,  ?on on Thursday b, ? C?mg-.Trach ? Morris. The body tl,„ 111311 "an?d Davi? Morri. The body t?L ? ap.ared to h.t?'' been ? the riTer sor>/n f?PPe-(,d to hav 4 l->cc<ased was a ??e- f D;Ed  & ? ?'?d man with t*^ children, ?nd wa? 4~ ¡',àrs of 'à.&' L 17 J'?K 6f a? fa

At Liverpool on Wednesday, two Ger- mans were sentenced to six months' im- prisonment with hard labour for giving false information. One of the men, Alfred Gro#»e Lohmann, admitted he was trying to get to Germany in order to join thfl Navy, and WHS complimented by the eti- jjeJitli.»ijf ou his wntlut1.r.

GfJf.;PUlSION. II CABINET AND UNATTESTED MEN-BE. POiiTEi) DuCiSiUN. I he Cablet h<.M ? cnti?f, but decisive meeting ou 'f.u?j? ?y? The 'limes." » I^s^dere^u majority of the a, ut who,u .ere n. at?d- ?n- <?M<;d upon t?c MtowiuK line cf po?y <„ tbe i?r.nhn? .u?t??- 1. hat ? Prime ??'?er's plM?<. ? ? tJ1B marr?-d m?n ? binding <? t?.. ?"?? ? ? ???. ?d  o? M:. ?«;un.haio)te. d ?!??'?? ghou?ld ? deemed at ^.i.ce. 3. That tll\' Pl'incipl-e of lXJlllPUlsiOll\ fó)lOuJd he U('<:CPl.pd. -t.Hjattht. PrimR Minis?r sliould ???o an .uu?u?euj?? to th? clfe<T .?imcdiately on t? r???bi g ? rhe ?u?. <.i Cummons on 'J'???v  His co-uree irte wrongly oppo?d bv a con?d<u-ab? nun<.rity. and tL ( ab4.?' ;?<. JlIto twod?n? part -Ii.l^ l. Alcl.venna, ine Chancellor of the Ex- E? cheq¡¡er, a.n( 7\.11'. Ruc.j¡uan, th-o PŒsi. ¡ dent oi <ho L-oard at Trade, ?. ujider- e/'ij'lltBly bo.tile ? 'lie new <???- They are opp?? to an^ m?u? ot ??,u!siou in tho pr?t ?a?f?i.er.rumn? but th?r v?wis chi?h- dMta?d by their b?ief that th? (?verament plan will prejudice the trade and finanoo ? th? co?try. The r?gn? t.&nof these, Hud p?s.blv ?A.j Mllrini' sters is by Do means oul of thej! question. The Cabinet were in cession for more than two hours. There was a full attend-1 ance of Ministers, and it is understood: that they subjected Lord Derby's report- to a more thorougli analysis than was possible at Aloud ay .s meeting. At; ,t result of their discission—still more, perhaps, as the result of reflection on the firm attitude of some of the atieri- bers ou the previous day—-the Cabinet came to a decision. The Cabinet are believed to have. fIfo-I cided, in the second place, that the num- her of single men who have not attested is not a "negligible minority." It is, in1 fact, larger than most Mm]i;ers had ex- pected, after the final rush to attest under Lord Dcrbv? Ech?m?. Ministers recognise, there!ore, tltat the problem uas a serious one, and decided that the circumstances demanded the redemption of the Prime Minister's pledge in the spirit no less than in the lcttBr. The trend of the v Irt-Liallv amounted to this, that the Cabinet ai-+? pr?p<.r?l, uuou L.? reassembling of Parliament on .1 ues?y ?xt, to recommend the adoptioD of c?mpuis?ry nK;;UrEt3. The Prime Minister's pledge <? t]? men wiK,, ?vo att?d i« not ollJy t ? I'f'gardc,d as binding—that vras ?v<.rm doubt-but action under it k to be taken forthwith (says Mr. Harr?y J??? jn tbf ;*»»«/ C?"?cle/') and thiö aJ- ?? ough the jM?lbdity of married men being called upon to serv? c<mld not pots- 6ibly arise for ten or twelve weeks to come The Cabinet will arrive at a decision on the matter at its further meeting- to- morrow. I he belief is that ou Wednesday next Mr. Asquith will make a declaration of policy in the House of Coinmous on behalf c,f tilb He will announce that a Bill is to be introduced without clelay, making service in the Army obli- gatory \111 nnmarried men of military age who have not attested under tlie Derbv scheme. I he total number of unmarried men who have not attested, as 6111OVIlln by the national ?gj?r. is 600,000. Thi? i?a gross total, and, being itwlf a r'iidull figure—as the cream of the v<.rn? n?  with the colours—it inc]u? very ?rge proportion of det-?ti?. I< si_ comprises many thousands of men engaged ? nhal mdustne6. In short not   of ??  ?nS? iv, for military :f'rvi('('. Again, tthioe M wiiVf™1'01' 3W,'OUO dedvu'- hOllS w1l1 haw', ?' ? made on account of ihe niim^, eu;es Where a eon is the hjrr?? d-wnn?r of a family, or vh? only rma "t Cn J?ft at home aft?r two. tLr? war°Ur .s brothers have gone to the ,v,ar. °°rrftspondent declares:— At last the. Cabinet has ccme to a doci- sion in favour of compulsory service. Ex- actly what form it will take Mr. Auquith nmself will reveal to tho House of Com- mcn3 next week. I b.1.e the highest au- thority. however, for saving th?t the die ma > cast once and for "?- ?' As<n:ith ,le his, position Perfectly p?iu to the Ca,f II(': had eivon a pledge to Lord De?rhv i.r(- the nation that if the young ??u r ?ei? d?? ??? ?"-? Tolunta-rily tho   ? released from their cnfa"eiren^lt ^el' ? 0TUlSi0n BU1 be S' c P^ l\!ird3Wl' told! lus colleagues thatthat clearnd ^n- I'(¡ui'?ocal ?uKr?<.ce h(ld Rood, ?nd that he I ioo?ed to them for support in cLrryin it out. For two ?d a haif ho'!? Mini&nrs were in counsel, and eventually the Gr.li- inel resolvea by a majority, which it is not proper to disclose, in favour of the policy so strongly advised by the Prime Minister end -Aii- Lloyd Uoorpc. Only the ceo«?ral priuciple has, 1 hear, been decided. The Cabinet will meet again to complete the de- tails. The all impoiiaat fact is that v'ne Ca.birKadm its that the Derby scheme has failed to save the voluntary system so far as the sincl: men arc concerned. Accord! ?i? to Mr. Harry Jon?, the Com- pulaorv Military SM-v)cc Bill is to be a comparatively short measure. It will call upon single men between the ages of 19 <md M to att?t in their age-groups wi thin a K?cinpd period of time. Th?ro will be serious penalties for non-com- pliance. The persons conscribed will have the same privileges as the Derby recruits in legai'd to appeals and grouping accord- ing to age. The tatk of preparing the Bill has been entrusted to a Committee of the Cabinet, including the Attorney-General, Sir John Simon, and Mr. Walter Long. One or two schemes have been set aside already, but there is little doubt that everything will be so arranged that Mr. Asquith will he able to make his general statement to the House of Commons on Wednesday next. Members will be given an oppor- tum? ty to debate the situation. Obviously the Bill will relate only to those single men who have failed to rea- lise their duty to the nation." Such is the view of the Daily Telegraph," which adds: It eanaot be said that the frame- work of the measure has been finally agreed upon.. There is some reason to believe, however, that the single men who have not yet been attested will be sum- moned to appear before the loW tribunal established under the Derby scheme, and that there will be power of appeal to the central tribunal, whose decision will be final. The compelled" men will go into training, and be got ready for actual ser- vice according to the exigences of the military situation. The Times says that it should be clearly understood—since there is still some not altogether disinterested repre- sentation of the position-that the major- ity of the Cabinet, which supported the Prime Minister, included a far stronger proportion than what ie usually classed as the u conscriptionist" element. It was not limited to men like Mr. Lloyd George, Lord Gurzon. Lord Selborne. Mr. Long, and Mr. Chamberlain, one of whom (Lord Curzon) has always been an avowed supporter of National Service and none of whom has ever shrunk from compulsion as a means of winning the war. Tho majority included, for in- stance, Mr. Balfour, whose predilection for the voluntary system iu well known. It also included Lord Kitchener, whose views on the subject have never been clearly defined in .public. And it in- cluded Mr. Arthur Henderson, who must not only He reckoned (like Mr. Balfoor) & whoig-hearLed 6aipgerber fcbe volua- ft, fay system, but. has special difficulties of his own as the representative in the Cabinet of Labour. The position of Mr. Henderson is one of special interest. He is in the Cnbinet 10 represent the Labour Party, and has done good work there. IIis continued presence in the Cabinet depends on the titude which the Labour Party adopt towards compulsion. A meeting of Lhe P-/0 has b?n o;d?d for to-day. It is st)U hoped that; rcfi-r?ations may be avoided and a compromise offered (says thp ^>arliainentary correspondent of t Iw "Daily News").' So far there >efn ;l ll-v" The fear was expressed Ion Wednesday that Mr Runcman and Mr Hüf(Q¡¡rt might ieel ohli¡iPd to resign. It is Sieved that Sir Edward Grev is not going to take ,lus course, and in other cn.es his action has oft™ been correlated with that of Mr. Runciman, and it is hoped therefore that \he latter will !"tay at i ho Board of Trarle, where lIe his given sue.h fine, service. There seems reason to hope that Mr. McKenna, whose views as to t),e urgency of the financial and trade position are well known, may l'('I1UiÍll. 11's -A-oiild bo in?]? able in coun?I wh?n tho ba<an«- of men tor different national services is deter-I mined.

SOUVENIR THAT EXPLODED. Mr. Rees Nicholas, carpenter and undertaker, Petiyoae, Port Talbot, met with an unfortunate and rather singular accident at his home on Wednesdav night. On the preceding day Mr. Nicholas had visited a friend at the Sandfields, Aber- avon, who had just returned home from the trenches. Mr. Nicholas was given it portion of a German shell and took it home. On Wednesday night he was examining the souvenir in the kitchen, when it ex- ploded, Mowing away part of his right hand. His wife and daughter were also in the room, and had miraculous escapee. The room was considerably damaged. Dr. Hubert Phillips was immediately called ill, and Mr. Nicholas was conveyed to the Port Talbot Cottage Hospital, and detained. He is progressing favourably. He is the father(f Master John Mor- gan Nicholas, the brilliant bov pianist and is very well-known in the district.

COLONEL fRANK GASKELL. Colonel Frank Hill Gaskell n .i5 Cardiff City Battalion, has ben in'jured whIle on aehve 8erICe by beiu £ thrown from his horse, which wa? ?,,?V firing practice. Lionel Gaskell who ^s the prospective Lruonist candidate for South Glamorgan, and has twice nL eerily contested East 11morgan in the Unionist cau?. is ? eiv?l life a barrist? and a son of Colonel Joseph Ga?kell v Tt' honorary colonel of the 2nd W<? ? Brigade R.t\A. Last October he wa wounded in the jaw hy a sniper while I serving as a lieutenant in the 3rd Welsh His present injury is a serious one. con- sisting of a broken ankle, and it will be a couple of months before he will be able to put his foot to the ground. Thus within a couple of days the batta- lion has lost temporarily its colonel aud its senior major.

I BIG FALL IN WELSH PIT. I' Four men were killed on Thursday morn- ing, and wa« seriously injured, by a heavy fall of roof at East Elliot Col- liery, New Tredegar. Rhymney Valley. The accident occurred during repairing o peration;,1, the men being buried, in the debris. j In consequence of the fall, the East and West Elliot Pits, which areTiwned by the Powell Dyffryn Company, are idle. About 2,000 men arc affected. The men were rescued after three hours' work.

I BANKS CLOSINC Oi-SATURDA y, Mr C. C. Vivian, manager of the London City and Midland Bank, asks us to draw attention to the closing of the banks on Saturday next. This- is of special impor- Jance to employers who are in the habit of drawing the money which is intended for salaries and wages on Saturday morn- ing. They are asked to complete all their financial arrangements on Friday. The bank holiday will not be general.

SKEWtN STOPPAGE OVER, I Work 'vas !'e6umd at the No.4-Pit I (Main Colhery Co.), Skewen, on Th.?- day mornu?. F?JlowmK Wednœdaý s Ill-eol?ing of the men, Mr. Wm. Jen- PriL thfS ag<m,,) Mot ?? Vaushan Priœ, the weIH't"al manager, and an SelTni was aTv^ at t-be; the 6um» cahle m,:r shoLiTd?, ? far ? practi- c??M_be paid °j Thursday. Some 600 men were involved in the stoppage.