Evening Express

The Man in the Street. • + Of late we have been exercising our pri- vilega to grumble—at high rates and other convenient subjects generally, but aft the weathe-r particularly. Every other man you meet savs he never knew such a winter before. Matters are not improved by being reminded that we ought reaUy to be well into the spring, with the early potatoes all set and the gooseberry bushes bursting into leaf. Perhaps the bet thing is to compromise by calling it a wintry spring. especially when it is remembered that April showers have begun. However, people who complain may congratulate themselves that they did not live in the days of Cromwell and Charles II. In March, 1658, John Evelyn wrote in his diary that the weait-her had been "the severest that any man alive ha,d known in England. The crowes feet were frozen to their prey. Islands of ice inclosed both fish and fonvl frozen, and some persons in their boats." ] n March, 1667, his entry read: "Great frosts, prodigious at the vernal equinox." It may be explained that the vernal equinox is that period of spring, about March 21, when day and night are of equal length all over the world. The unpleasant weather during t.be reign of Charles II. is ascribed by the diarist. to Divine wrath with '"a vicious Court and nation." Acting on the saina principle, ratepayers of South W ales will, doubtless, put the recent bad weather down to the peculiar methods of the local authorities. Whatever other people may say or think, the Cardiff Waterworks Committee have .not much good to say of the weather. At their meeting yesterday it was staited thaft there is a great deal less waiter in tihe reservoir at the present time than has been the ease in Marah for many years. Indeed, there is scarcely enough with which to mix the "nightcaps" for the res.idents of Splott, or any other select suburb of the city. Signs are not want- ing that unless we have a decent rainfall before summer theire will be a serious shortage in the general supply. The people may be called upon to guard against waste in their homes, and those who indulge in a hose for the garden should bring the special attention of the committee about their heads. This seems to be the right time for the powers that be to carefully consider the question of the garden hose. At present one uniform charge of 10s. a year is made to all who use this useful watering instrument. The absurdity of the fee is obvious when it is mmemhered that while one amateur gar- dener will use only hundreds of gallons on his little patch during a summer amother will pour thousands of gallons of the precious fluid over his thirsty lawns and roses and sweet peas. The system is not fair, and it .should be altered before the arrival of summer. It would appear to the average man that the only way is to sell by metre, and to lett everybody pay according to the number of gallons used To i To all who follow the movements of Cabinet Ministers, it is apparent that the members of the Government do not come to South Wales often enough. If they did their eyes would be opened in many important respects. For instance, while the Chancellor of the Exchequer is in the throes of new tax-makling, wi tIt a heavy deficit to meet, more ships to buy, and om-age pensions to provide for, he ought to be a regular attendant at the C'aruiff Parliament. It would rejoice Mr. Lloyd George's heart to know that who- ever is responsible for the rise in the price of bread, no one is bold enough to put the blame of the weather on the Government, while some of the sugges- tio-ns for new taxes are altogether novel, if not invariably practicable. The pro- posed bachelor tax is as old as the hills, and apparently as remote as ever. But what about box hats? Here is a fine field for fresh revenue. And the member for Huntingdon who made the suggestion TTe other night would probably be magnanimous enough to let the idea go for a mere bagatolk-gay, a new hat. The tax would make this form of head- gear more popular, because fashion would step in to create a demand for an article that might be only impossible to those whose pockets run to nothing more pre- tentious than cloth caps. The member for Merthyr's suggestion, that no lady's hat should cost more than 30s., is less. calculated to please in certain quarters, and it is not surprising to learn that the attendants had t',e utmost difficulty in restoring order in the ladies' gallery. But there is nothing to say against box hats. Recently 400 owners of 600 dogs in the Newport district were granted free licences without inquiry, and the world doubtless lost some novel reasons why dogs should be kept without payment of the fee that must be paid by ordinary men and women. In other parts of the kingdom (far from South Wales) farmers have been summoned for making false declarations for the purpose of obtaining Tree licences. Gentlemen who possessed neither cattle nor sheep applied for; exemption, and as a warning they were ordered to pay the court costs. But no better reason among the host of excuses offered was forthcoming than that given by the model husband who said he kept a dog to take care of his wife while he went to work. Wives are queer cattle (lady readers will forgive the term), and few are content to follow the dictates of their husbands with the sheeplike docility that may sometimes be expected of them. Anyhow, it was made clear to the appli- cant that the dog licence was L; neces- sary as the marriage certificate, and husbands o cannot find better means to look after the partners of their and sorrows should know that the doggy caretakers of home-keeping wives cost something more than a few bones and the lodgings provided in the shape of a kennel. Peril a ps the cheaper way would he to sell the dog and chain the wife to the kennel. Much water has tumbled over Liandaff Weir since'the Cardiff Rowing Club began its career 25 years ago, a.nd it is a big achievement that, in spite of the many difficulties that have always beset them, they a-ro not only alive to-day, but flourishing. The members, who live in Cardiff and have to journey beyond the cathedral to the country riverside, dis-: plalv not only a love for manly sport, but a spirit which takes them over every, 1 U_' 1 obstacle. Rowing gives play to every | muscle, circuJateis the blood, and makes! a comparatively weak man strong. It sihould be encouraged in every possible wa.y, and if, as mentioned at the sliver anniversary dinner last. night, the river could be weired down to near the Canton Bridge, boating could be generally indulged in by the bulk oi Cardiffians. However, this has been advocated for years, and others beside the blackbird at lioath Park have grown grey in waiting for it. It would certainly make Cardiff a better residential district. But in the meantime the energy and spirit of youth should inspire more young men in the city to make betiter use of the river at Liandaff, where the beautiful broad sit ream calls for more lovers of the oars and the sculls to glide across its resitful waters.

Factor and Earl A CLAIM t-OR £10,000 DAMAGES The suit in which the Earl of Roeebery figures as defendant with his former factor, Mr. Drysdale, who claims £ 10,000 for alleged slander, as plaintiff, on Friday came before the Court of Session at Edinburgh. Counsel for Lord Roeebery argued that the court should not grant an issue for trial of the case, as the letters, acts, and words of Lord Rosebery as complained of did not con- stitute a slander a.nd were not defamatory. Counsel pointed out that the relationship between Lord Roeebery and Mr. Drysdale was that of master and servant, and said Lord Rosebery was quite entitled to get his books plnd papers. The Judge said he had no doubt that sub- ject to argument on the other side there was privilege. Counsel for Mr. Drysdale replied that it was not seizure of papers that was com- plained of, but the manner of doing it. The safe was sealed, as the key could not be I found, and later the eeal was broken in the presence of other people. It meant that Mr. Drysdale was not fit to be trusted, and others regarded the act as an imputation upon his character. It was an outrageous, rash, and reckless act, constituting slander, and he urged that the case should be allowed to go forward, so that the jury might consider it. The Judge reserved his decision.

SCENE AT A CYCLING RACE I Berlin, Friday.—Early this morning in a qix days' cycle race at Berlin a rider named Stellbink, in crowding for the foremost place at the curve, touched the Frenchman Poulain, and fell. Edmond Jacquelin, a French rider, who forms a pair with his brother in the race, likewise fell, but immediately rising to his feet kicked the prostrate SteHbink, and struck him in the face. A seeen of tremendous excitement fol- lowed, the spectators thronging to the track. In the end, the judges expelled Edmond Jacquelin from the Velondrome, and sus- pended the race until nine a.m., the incident having occurred at 6.30.—Reuter.

GERMAN NAVY & -TURBINE I ENGINES Berlin, Friday.—The first German armoured cruiser of a, large type fitted with turbine engines is to be launched to-morrow from the Hamburg yard of Blehm and Vass. The Cruiser will bo considerably larger than the almost completed armoured cruiser Bleucher, which has a displacement of 15,000 tons, and a speed of 27 knots per hour.—Central News.

LONDON WELSH LIBERALS A meeting of the London Welsh Liberal Association was held at the National Liberal Club on Friday evening, when Mr. T. Wood- ward Owen was elected chairman of com- mittee, Mr. J. Howell Williams, J.P., L.C.C., hon. treasurer, and Mr. D. Rowland Thomas hon. secretary. It was decided that a great public meeting on various matters of current politics should be held at an early date.

COUNT LUBIENSKI DEAD. I Count Louis Pomiam Bodenham Lubienski, owner of the Rotherwas Estate, near hereford, died on Friday at the age of 57 from blood poisoning, following upon influenza. The count, who was born at Rodzyn, in Poland, married a grand-daughter of the second Marquess of Hastings, who predeceased him seven years ago, leaving three sons. The count's betrothal was announced in January last to Miss Pauline Netterville, grand- daughter of the seventh Viscount Netterville.

zE407 WORTH OF GOODS. I PONTARDAWTE BURGLARY CHARGE I SENT FOR TRIAL. There were five charges at Pontardawe Police-court on Friday against Frederick W. Bird, a labourer, of no fixnd abode, of enter- ing various premises and stealing goods to the value of about £ 407. In the case of the premises of Harry Richard Jones, ironmonger, The Square, it was stated that prisoner had visited several houses at Swansea and sold a quantity of cutlery. He was subsequently arrested on La,ndore Station platform. When charged he said he was innocent of the charge, but received the property knowing it to hare I been stolen. Prisoner pleaded Not guilty," and was committed to the quarter sessions, the other charges not being gone into.

FIRE AT A SWANSEA WORKS. I A fire broke out on Friday morning at the Swansea Vale Spelter Works. Llansamlet, and the Swansea Fire-brigade were tele- pilloned for. The roof of one of the furnace houses was found to be ablaze, but the fire was extinguiBihed by the promptness of the i brigade before any considerable damage was done.

"H?St:ED COMPOUND" for Coughs and Colds. I proven efflcac? 94d. & III Of Chemists only. e6659 Al Shirt and CoEar Dreseers.-l. Micny-st., Cathays. I e459

Conciliation Board 1 MEN TO RESIST ANY VARIATION I A special meeting of the Rhondda District of Miners was held at Porth OIl Friday, Mr. George Dolling (Ynyshir) presiding. A vote of condolence was passed with the family of the late Mr. Evan Thomas, who was described as one of the best and most reLiable of the men's leaders. WiflT reference to the position of affairs at tKe Gelli House Colliery, it was stated that an arrangement had been tentatively agreed to that the men should give a trial to the new price-list suggested. It was agreed that the matter should be left in the hands of Mr. D. Watts Morgan and the two lodges affected. A discussion took place in regard to the election of representatives on the executive council,, and it was urged that, in view of II the present critical position of affairs in the coalfield, it would be most desirable that the present members of the council should be retained. It was then unanimously resolved that Messrs. D. Watts Morgan, Tom Evans, W. H. Morgan, T. Harries, and T. George be re-elected. The agenda of the annual conference at Cardiff was then dealt with, and in the dis- cussion on the Eight Hours Act in its bearing upon the Conciliation Board agreement Mr. T. Harrie;; fa member of lie. executive council) rem.arked that the men's representatives were determined to try and continue the present ¡ agreement until its expiration. Mr. W. H. Morgan added that to all appear- an mm the employers seemed bent upon inak ng some re-arrange ment in view of the passing of the Act at the earliest possible moment. A resolution was unanimously carried expressing approval of the action cf the executive committee in resisting the attempt made by the owners to bring about a prema- ture termination of the agreement. THE OUT-OF-WORK SCHEME. A lengtny discussion took place on the pro j posed out-of-work scheme. Mr. Tom George [expressed the opinion that if adopted the | soheno would do away with all levies, in- eluding that of the Parliamentary. ■> Mr. D. Watts Morgan strongly supported | the adoption of the eoheme, and remarked that it was not a question for the leaders; it was a question for the men to doedde, and they could not maintain the prestige of the Federation unless something- of the kind wa-s do.ne. It was quite as important to those in employment that the unemployed should be maintained as for th.e latter themselves, I for the ccntitigeiicy might arise that those men would be driven to accept 15 to 20 per cent. [ reduction in their extremity, and the result would be that the coal thus produced would be disposed of at a, cheaper rate, and thus inevitably, through the force of com- petition, reduce tho price of the other coal, and ultimately that ail the workmen would have to suffer a reduction in their wages also. It was unanimously agreed to approve of the g: neral principle of the scheme, though difforene,es of opinion in matters of detail were expressed, and the [suggestion made that the coalfield should be balloted on the issue. NEW TREDT.(' AR MINERS AND LATE AGENT. It was decided at a New Tredegar meeting on Friday that all the Powell Duffryn Col- lieries work until five p.m. on Monday instead of two, and stop at one p.m. on Tuesday, to enable the miners to attend the funeral of Mr. Evan Tliomas, their late agent. The management has agreed.

REGULATING CLASSES The Board of Education issued on Friday night a circular to local education authorities relating to the revision of the regulations affecting the staffing of. public elementary schools and the size of classes, which changes will be effected by the Code of 1909. I It is pointed out that these changes are all in the direction which has already been indi- cated by the practice of the most enlightened local authorities. The board aim at a reduc- tion in the size of the classes such as will assure relief to teachers and secure more individual attention for the scholars, and at stimulating the employment of teachers possessing superior qualifications. The changes now announced, the circular says, represent a. step on the plath of educa- tional reform the import-amoe of which is to be judged by its definite' direction rather than by its length. Notice of alteration is given in regard to the staff scale of average attendance, and Article 14 will be -withdrawn, there be-iug sub- stituted in its piace a provision that the number of scholars on the register of any class shall not exceed 60. This maximum will, however, be subject to further reduction in future Codes. No organisation of a school will be per- mitted, even temporarily, under which all the classes contain as many as 60 children, and the size of the opper classes in particular should be gra.ded from 50 to 45 or 40 children respectively. Moreover, no organisation of the school will be permitted under which a greater number of children is assigned to any teacher than his personal attainments and experience qualify him to teach, and for this purpose the organisation of the school in respect of the qualification of each mem- ber of the staff and his suitability for the work assigned to him will receive special attention from the board and their inspec- tors under Article 10 of the Code. The standard of examination for certifi- cated and for uncertificated teachers will be appreciably raised. No person who is not on August 1, 1910, recognised as a certificated teacher will be qualified under Article 9 of the Code to be a head teacher, unless or until he has either satisfactorily completed the course of training recognised by the board under the regulations for the training of teachers for elementary sohools, or acquired such special qualifications as the board can accept in lieu of such course of training. Various alterations are also pro- posed in the status of supplementary teachers, both male and female.

DESTITUTE MAN'S DEATH A pitiful story was unfolded on Friday afternoon to the Cardiff city coroner. The deceased was Hazel St. John, who after serving in the na,tive police at Barbados shipped as a Bailor. Paid off at Cardiff, and unable to find another ship, he soon became destitute. He stowed away on the sailing-ship Manhattan, sailing for New Orleans oil Deoeniber I, but not being allowed to land be was brought back to Cardiff. He then, with many others, took advantage of the privileges offered at Mr. John Cory's "Rest," in Bute-street. Ota Tuesday night he complained of illness, and becoming worse next morning was removed to the workhouse infirmary in a dying state. Dr. Price (resident medical officer) said the man died within two hours. A post-mortem examination showed that he had suffered- from pneumonia. A verdict was returned in accordance with the medical testimony. OLD ACE AND A FALL. I Charles Haynes, a labourer, of no fixed abode, died suddenly at the Neath Work- house on Friday morning. At the inquest Dr. Morris said the cause of death was exhaustion, due to old age, accelerated by a, fall. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with his evidence.

LOST TRAIN CONNECTION. A case of some interest to variety artistes came before his Honour Judge Bryn Roberts at Merthyr County-court on Friday, when Dan Thomas and three other persons sued William L. Probyn for money claimed to be due under somewhat peculiar circumstances. The plaintiffs were represented by Mr. F. S. Simons, a,nd the defendant by Mr. F. P. Charles. Thomas and the defendant and Loonard Bean and Cadivor Davies formerly toured as "The New York Comedy Four." The quartette, with Mrs. Annie Bean, lost a train connection in Manchester, and it was arranged to make a claim upon the London a,nd North Western Railway Company for JE45. The claim was settled by payment to the defendant of only zE3, and, as he was alleged not to have paid over the share due to the other four entitled to participate, this action was brought to recover their moieties. The defenda-nt averred that he gave Thomas his share at the time, and, as regarded the other plaintiffs, he set up a counter-claim in respect of zEZ advameed to Mr. and Mrs. Bean for meeting household expenses, and a counter-olaim for damagCG against Cadivor Davies for breach of a contract. His Honour gave judgment for the plain- tiffs on the original claim. He found for Probyn on the counter-claim against the Beans, but he held that that against Davies had not been established. Another ca.se was adjourned until to-day.

The Right Rev. Dr. Chavasse, Bishop of Liverpool, will visit Lampeter in the ia.st week in April, and will conduct the "Quiet Day" services which it is intended to hold there. This is the first time for the Bishop of Liverpool to visit the town, and his lord- ship will undoubtedly receive a warm welcome from St. David's College authori- ties and the inhabitants generally.

COAGULINE." KLINX," •' TKNASITINE." Cements for mending all things. e" CAEPfiTS BEATEN.—1, Minny-etreet, Cathays. e459 1

ESCAPE FROM DEATH I —————— I ——————. DOOMED MAN'S APPEAL I CAPITAL SENTENCE QUASHED I Dramatic evidence, discovered after sen- tence of death had been passed, was out- lined in the Appeal Court on Friday. Leave to z.,ppetl was granted to Joseph Ed.vin Jones, who was lying under sentence of death at Stafford Gaol for the alleged murder of his wife. The couple had been married twenty years, and had &even children. The tragedy occurred on November 12 last. In the after- noon Jones, with a wound in his throat, jailed in some neighbours, and his wife was found upstairs dead, with a revolver shot wound. 'The theory of the prose-ution was that Jones first shot his wife, and then made an attempt on his own throat in order to throw popple off the scent. The defence was that, having first attacked her husband, the woman shot herself. One of the main points of the prosecution was the evidence of two persons from a pawn- broker'? shop, to the dfoer, that a day or two before the traeody prisoner attempted to hny a revolver %t. the shop. Jones's r?ply to this was an alibi. Another important point for the prosecu- tion was the medical evidence—that tho marks of the powder on the woman's face proved that she eonkl not. have shot herself, and that tho revolver must have been held several feet away when fired. 13 w, 'hoii f i i, d The new evidence foreca.sted on Friday was that prisoner's alibi in regard to the attempted purchase of a revolver was correct. Since the death sentence was passed the two witnesses from the shop had admitted that they had made a mistake, and it, was pointed out that the revolver with which the woman was killed was one which prisoner bad had in the hou-e for years, and there was no necessity to buy another. With regard to the medical evidence a.s to the powder marks, it was stated that experts would show to the contrary—that it was quite possible taat the woman shot herself. As stated, the appeal was allowed, and the sentence cf death, passed a fortnight ago, I was quashed.

Church Cofnmlssion REPORT READY AFTER EASTER tBy OUR SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE.] The Welsh Church Commission held a. further sitting on Friday at t.he Royal Com- mission House, Loudcai, when Lord Justice Vaughan Williams presided over a full attendance. At the close of the sitting, which, lasted j nearly three hours, the Chairman informed the press representatives in attendance t'h at progress had been made with several clauses of the draft report, and," his lordship added, we were quite comfortable." The Commission g?a.nds adjourned to Mon- day, the 29th inet., a.nd tber,? will (ac?rding to present intentions) be sittings on that and the four following days. The events of the week have proved extremely interesting. Before the meeting j held on Wednesday there was a. lot of doubt as to what was likely to happen, and some amongst those interested anticipated further trouble, but the manner in which the chair- man handled the question of separate meet- ings, after a, series of such meetings had been decided upon by the Nonconformist members of the Commission, gave some warranty for the expectation that the pro- ceedings would be run on more reasonable lines. Further, since tlhe peculiar meeting of Thursday in laat. week there were pour- parlers, and the opinions as well as the desires of certain leading mem- bers of the Government became known. Consequently, there was on "Wednes- day this week a greater tendency to com- promise. How well the chairman's powers of conciliation were met by that tendency was shown by the strutements made in the course of his oflicial reports at the close of Thursday's and Friday's meetings. For instance, on Thursday his lordship stated < that his colleagues had met his wishes in the most candid and liberal spirit, whilst on Fri- day a notable part of the brief report was that the Commissioners had been quite com- fortable. What happened was a lot of discussion about the method of procedure, in which there was give-and-take. The Nonconform- ist members have, at any rate for the nonce, abandoned their idea of a separate report, which they intended and wished to issue under the name of an interim report, whilst the oh airman has agreed to the issue at an early date of a sectional report. It is under- stood that that section of the report will be pushed through as rapidly as possible. There will be a full week of meetings, commencing with the 29th inst., and then an effort will be made to get something out in time for pre- sentation to Parliament directly after the Easter recess. The section then promulgated will give as much information as possible with regard to the strength of the various Churches and the endowments of the Established Church. But the portion of the draft report that remains is understood to contain most of the controversial matter. If that is contested very strongly, quite six months, if not more, may elapse before the final report is pre- sented. There is a feeling, however, that when one section is out there will not. be so much keenness as to what remains, and that the members will agree to accept the chair- man's proposals with but little alteration.

"CAERPHILLY CHEESES P I Dinah Goodman, a grocer carrying on busi- ness at Merthyr, brought an action at Mer- thyr County-court on Friday (before his Honour Judge Bryn Roberts) against the Wilts United Dairy Company to recover R5 damages for breach of contract. Mr. F. S. Simons appeared for the plaintiff, and the defendants were represented by Mr. F. P. Charles.—The plaintiff's case was that some Oaerphilly cheeses delivered from defendants', when out up, were found to be mouldy, and those left unsold were returtied to the com- pany, having by that time become quite un- fit for food. The defendants declared the cheeses were perfectly good when despatched, and that the unsound condition was due to improper storage. In the course of the oase Mr. Charles asked Mir. Hooper, manager to Mr. William Harris, of Merthyr, who was called as a witness for the plaintiff, if it were not a fact that more Caerphilly cheese was made in Somer- Eet than in the whole of South Wal, The witness demurred to this, but he made the very interesting statement that a lot of oheese was made in Holland which was called Caerphilly. His Honour came to the conclusion that the cheeses when sent off were not as they ought to have been, and awarded the plain- tiff damages amounting to Rl.

FIRE AT A SCHOOL. An alarming fire occurred on Friday after- noon at Mill Hill Grammar School. The out- break originated in the dark-room of the photographic department, situated imme- diately underneath the new big school, which was given about three years ago by Mr. Her- bert Marnham. It was about half-past two when the fire was discovered, and at that time the masters and boys were out in the playing fields, watching some cross-country running. The flames spread quickly, and the dark- room and boiler-room were completely gutted, about half the floor of the big school being also destroyed. Several of the class-rooms were also damaged by water and smoke. The outbreak naturally caused intense excitement amongst the boys, who, together with the masters and school servants, rendered useful assistance to the Mill Hill and Hendon and Finchley Fire Brigades, which were speedily on the scene. A detachment of soldiers from the Middlesex Regiment Barracks also gave valuable aid, and the fire was got under by I half-past five. Fortunately, the school-house and the boys' boarding-houses are quite apart from the school, and were, therefore, in no danger. The damage done by the fire is estimated at over £ 2,000.

PAYMENT IN FULL. At a special sitting of Tredegar BanV ruptcy-oouirt (before the registrar, Mr. E. H. Davies) Edward Prosscr, farmer, Aber- gavenny, underwent his examination. He was represented by Mr. T. Vaughan, Orick- howell.—It was etated that bankrupt started farming about five years ago with a capital of JE800. Last March he went to law with a neighbour respecting a right-of-way, and lost hifl case at Monmouth Assizes. He admitted that he went to anada to evade payment of the cost? of the action. He had always been solvent. After Proseer went abroad it was discovered that his estate would realise sufficient to pay the debts in full and leave a balance. In due course he will apply for the annulment of his bank- ruptcy.—The examination was closed.

"LINSEED OOMPOUND" with warm water Is an excellent gargle for aore throat. e6659 BEDS and Mattresses renovated.—1, Mlnny-st., Cart Bays. e459

Trade Union Congress1 —————————————— 4 "HOGS' HOMES" AND BLACKLEGS I Between 200 and 300 delegates, representing Labour bodies in all parts of the kingdom, assembled at Caxton-hall, Westminster, on Friday to discuss t.he question of workmen's insurance schemes. Mr. D. J, Shackleton, M.P., was in the chair. The Parliamentary committee, in a leaflet, pointed out that they had not so much in mind the passing of binding resolutions upon the subject as of affording the representatives an opportunity of discussing the matter in all its bearings, so that the committee might be placed in of.-siori of the views of organised labour prior to formulating resolutions for the consideration of the delegates attending the congress to be held at Ipswich in Sep- tember next. The committee recommended for discussion: (1) Labour exchanges; (2) national scheme of unemployed benefit; (3) insurance against sickness and invalidity. Mr. Bowerman, M.P., urged the adoption of labour exchanges. He said, instead of England leading in an industrial sense, it was bring- ing up the rear. He denied the assertion that the labour exchanges in Germany were used for the purpose of supplying blackleg labour. Mr. 3exton (Liverpool) said labour ex- changes were established in Liverpool, and were known as Hogs' homes." They were used for fomenting disputes. It was not so much labour exchanges that were wanted- at was labour. Don't let them run away with the idea that exchanges would relieve the position of the casual labourer; it would only intensify it. The scheme foreshadowed by the Government meant the casual labourer's ruin; it would demoralise and disorganise the condition of dock labour. The men would lose their organisations, and employers~would take advantage by putting on all the non-Union men they could get. Mr. J. R. Clynes, M.P., sa.id he did not share Mr. Sexton's fears. In any settlement of the unemployed problem labour exchanges would have to be a part of the machinery that was to further deal with the question. I Mr. Pete Curran, M.P.. said he was not against exchanges, provided they were worked in favour of Trades Union principles and not against them. Existing labour bureaux had been used as blackleg recruit- ing agencies during disputes. If the Govern- ment was proceeding to establish labour exchanges it was their business, as represent- ing the Trades Union movement, to see that they were not overlooked in favour of the tralliwags" who kept down their wages. Tho conference adopted a resolution approving the establishment of labour bureaux on a national basis under the con- trol of the Board of Trade, providing the managing boards contained an equal pro- portion of employers and rel)resentatives of Trades Unions. Mr. Will ThOrne, M.P., introducing the sub- ject of a. national scheme of insurance against unemployment, said it appeared to him there were three methods by which State insurance could be carried out. The first one would be that certain sums should be paid by the organised workers, the employers, and the State, and in that case the fund would be controlled by all three. A second .suggestion might be that the money should be contributed by the employers and the State, and if that were done he was firmly convinced that the workers would have no share in the government of the business. The third proposition would be that, the whole of the contributions should be paid by the State, and if tha.t were done, no doubt the State would control the fund, a.s it did the old-age pension scheme. The question for them to consider was whether organised workmen were prepared to allow sums to be deducted from their wages towards paying for the scheme. Mr. John Hill (Boilermakers): Does it not seem like the State endowment of idleness? Mr. Thome: I do not think so. The matter was referred back to the Par- liameniary committee to ascertain the opinions of the organisations affected. With regard to sickness and invalidity insurance, the ChaJÍrmalll said it affected the Friendly Society movement more than the Trades Union movement. If a scheme of this sort were proposed one of its purposes would be to retain the non-contributory scheme of old age pensions, with 70 as the pension age, leaving workmen and employers a,nd the State to contribute the payments necessary on account of invalidity up to the age of 70. The German scheme was started with the object of stamping out Trades Unionism, but- it had had the opposite effect. This subject was also referred to the Par- liamentary committee.

FISCAL RETALIATION. I CAPTAIN CRAIG'S MOTION TO DRAW MINISTERS. Captain Craig's motion for Tuesday next in the House of Commons, devised to draw Ministers on the subject of retaliation, is in the following terms: That this House, while recognising that fiscal retaliation can only be effectively applied upon the basis of a general tariff, welcomes the recent declarations of the President of the Board of Trade that it may bo usefully employed as a weapon in commercial negotiation. To this Mr. Harold Cox has already given notice of an amendment declaring That this House, while recognising that cases may occur in which fiscal retaliation may bo employed as usefully as other m'ethods of warfare, holds that such cases are rare, and that they cannot be dealt with by a general tariff, but only by measures framed to the particular end in view. MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S POLICY. Mr. Joseph Chamberlain was re-elected president of the Birmingham Liberal Unionist Association on Friday night and a resolution was passed endorsing the policy to which lHi had devoted himself. COLONEL SEELY AND THE I SHACKLES OF PROTECTION. Colon-el seeiey, Under-Secretary for the Coloniæ, presiding a.t a. Free Trade mooting of business men at Liverpool on Friday,' declared that Protection in -ly shaw, and under whatever alias, would be a bad thing for the whole country, would tend to corrupt public life, and would be well-nigh fatal to our carrying trade. If in an evil moment England abandoned Free Trade, they would never again be able to shake off the shackles of Protection, which would fall upon them with the greatest force and vigour. SIR W. H. HORNBY ON TARIFFS. I Sir W. tl. liornoy, Oonserva/tive M.P. for I Blackburn, who has been medically for- bidden to attend a Free Trade demonstra- tion next week, has written to the chairman saying that he is convinoed that Tariff Reform would be ruinous to the cotton trade. It preference were given to Canada, they must give it to India. This country could not ask for the open door of Free Trade in the East and at the same time vote for the closed door of Protection in England.

MARCHERS LEAVE CARDIFF I The hunger marchers left Cardiff on Friday for a. twojmonthis' tour. They will proceed via Pontypool to Hereford and Shrewsbury, and thence to Chester, and will then march through North Wales and the Central Wales seaboard to Aberystwyth, Pembrokeshire, and back via Llanelly, Swansea, and Bridgend to Cardiff, where they hope to acquire some land. Mr. Stewart Gray will join the marchers after the Croydon election. Marchers Invade Caerphilly On Friday evening about twenty of the "Hunger Marchers," with their van, accom- panied by Mr. Robert Williams, took posses- sion of a waste piece of ground at Piccadilly- square, Caerphilly. Mr. Williams stated that they hoped before tihe end of the year to be able to rai&c about 5,000 unemployed to maroh to London, visiting the workhouses eJ1 route and demanding alms. Sleeping accommodation a,nd provisions were provided by Adjutant Holmes, of the Salvation Army.

DRINKING AMONG WOMEN Speaking at the annual meeting of the Newport Temperance Society on Friday, over which Mr. W. L. Goldsworthy presided, Mrs. Edwards, wife.of Principal Edwards, of Car- diff, said that her experience was that, not only was drinking on the increase amongst women, but it was bringing in its train gambling and smoking. Mr. T. H. Sloan, M.P., also spoke

CHEAPEST AND BEST- A Penny Tablet of PYN-KA Goes Farther than a Shilling Box of Plate Powder. Does Not Scratch. ld. and 2d. Tablets. Sold by all Grocers and Oilmen. e4 LINSEED COMPOUND" (Aniseed, Senega, Squill, Tolu, &c.) for Coaghs. Of Chemists only. e665.

Putting Up the Rates CHAIRMAN OF MESSRS. SPILLERS PROTEST Mr. W. E. Nichols, chairman and managing director of Messrs. Spillers and Bakers (Limited), is one of the busiest men in Cardiff, but he readily conserited to see a representa- tive of the "livening Express" as soon as he had ascertained the object of the visit. As very large ratepayers," he said, we certainly think the time has oome to halt in extravagant expenditure, for the burden of the rates has developed into an extremely serious one upon large commercial under- takings. My firm has mills, &c., in other large towns in England and Wale6, and the try is the same everywhere, but in Cardiff we must pro teat with special emphasis against the corporation meddling with muni- cipal trading concerns. The deficiency on the tramways is simply preposterous, and I am absolutely against any kind of municipal trading that prejudices the pockets of the ratepayers. It is discreditable to those who have control of the tramways and other municipal concerns that they do not pay their way and provide a profit. I am tempted to use a stronger term, but, per- haps, I had better not." Some members of the corporation hold that the tramways were never intended to be run for the relief of the rates, but simply as conveniences of transit to the public," the pressman ventured to remark. "That is all moonshine," Mr. Nichols replied, and you have only to turn up the files of the Western Mail' to see what the members of the council said to the rate- payers when they took over the business of the old tramways company." Mr. Nichols concluded by saying that mcieased rates seriously affected manufac- turers export trade, and he hoped that at MWin moetin« the city council would I refuse to make the tramways a biggqr hurlen on the rates, but would be strictly baseness-like in their administration. I. Bitter Feeling at the Docks I l'<;enng at the Cardiff Docks is naturally very strong with regard to the raising of the rates 11,t the presnt time. "It is hard enough to make both end? meet as it is," was the "a:t51- 0" of ? ntleman largely in.te- i?ted in ?the ? indumries of the port. "It is -n,ot ttie same as it we derived some benefit from the town improvements. We are on the dock property, and all the advantages of town lighting, <,a.nita,ry measures, &c., do not benelh us at all." A large number of the business men do not nesitate to show their satisfaction upon living beyond the city boundary, and, there- fore, outside the reach, so far as their homes are concerned, of the rate-collector of the city. They, however, have to pay rates upon their offices, either direct or in their rents, while receiving, they maintain, no benefit from the rates. Many of them travel into town and back by train or moto,r-car, and, therefore, have no use for the city trams. A section ot the community very directly affected by the increase are the dry dock and engineering companies, which have at the present time to face such keen competition from the North and other centres of the kingdom. As a leading man pointed out, "The raising of the rates is bound to increase our working costs, and, therefore, is an additional handicap to us in tendering for work. If trade is lost to the town through higher rates, not only the company, but the working men suffer. In a time like the present, with trade so bad and distress so .prevalent, every effort should be made to cut down the expenditure. I don't object to relief works—they are an unfortunate neces- sity at the moment; but increases in salaries might well be suspended for a period, and anything of an unremunerative oharacter cut down to the narrowest limits." Mr. Win. Jones, the managing director of the Cardiff Channel Dry Docks and Pontoon Company (Limited), the Bute Dry Docks Com- pany, and the Mercantile Pontoon, thought it was a most regrettable state of affairs that there should be any necessity to put up rates just now, as trade was so extremely unsatisfactory. The raising of the rates undoubtedly tended to prejudice the busi- ness of the port, and, moreover, had the effect of driving away persons who thought of starting new industries here. Mr. R. Williamson, the manager of the Mount Stuart Dry Dock Company (Limited), was very emphatic on the subject. The cor- poration had frittered away a great deal of money, ;and the rating authority had put the ratepayers to a great deal of expense quite unnecessarily in seeking to increase the assessments of the works and business places. Mr. Williamson referred to the attempt to increase the assessment of his company's docks, which, after costing many hundreds of pounds, resulted in the assessment being reduced £ 1,000.

WELSH PAGEANT I In face of the remarkable interest taken throughout Wales in the National Pageant, the importance of next Monday evening's meeting of guarantors at the Cardiff Oity- haill should not be minimised, for the Lord Mayor (Alderman Lewis Morga,n will explain the progress made by the numerous commit- tees, an-d the Pageant Master (Mr. G. P. Hawtrey) will sketch, in fair detail, the epi- sodes and historical processions that have been decided upon by himself and his co- adjutor, Owen Rhoscomyl. The book of words has been praet-ically written, but will not be published for two or three weeks. By it, and by the visual experience at the pageant, a new light will be thrown upon Welsh history, thanks to the definite researches of Owen Rhosoomyl and the dramatic genius of Mr. Hawtrey, and the fog under which the past of the Cymry has been so long misrepresented in English text-books will be removed. King Arthur will be proved to be not a mythical figure, but, more strange still, three Arthurs —three Kings whose reigns covered a con- siderable period of time, and whose separate identities have become fused owing to the recurrence of the same name and a hitherto unscientific and incomplete historical research amongst musty documents in the British Museum and the Peniarth and other libraries. It would be unfair to forestall Mr. Haw- trey in disclosing the exquisite character of the dramatisation of the various episodes, &c., but those who have been privileged to peruse the draft book are enthusiastic in their praise. The National Pageant of Wales is going to make history, or, to be more correct, it will revolutionise several preconceived ideas of ajicient Welsh history.

RELIEVING DISTRESS The result of the Exchange collection on Fri- day for the relief of the distress at Cardiff Docks amounted to C4 7s. 6d. in silver, to which Mr. W. J. Thomas, Ynystiir, added L20, and Mr. Tom Morel £ 5, malting a total of £29 7s. 6d., and a total for the two days of £45 18s. Mr. Thomas in the first place pro- mised L10, but, after witnessing the poor people being fed at Bethel Chapel, he generously doubled his subscription. It has been decided to close the Exchange collection on Saturday, but Messrs. Henry Edwards and W. Matthew will continue to receive subscrip- tions as long as t-he distress lasts. PROVIDING WORK. Cardiff Distress Committee met on Friday and provided work for 190 men, but only 163 turned up. The Chairman (Sir William Cross- man) announced that Mr. Arthur Burton, manager of the Palace Theatre, had for- warded £7 10s. to be spent on food for the unemployed, and this, with a sum of about £ 2 12s., the residue of a fund which had been in the hands of Mr. Harpur (city engineer), made a total of about £ 10. The committee agreed that it would be unwise to themselves dispose of the money, and it was unani- mously resolved to hand it over to the dis- tress committee at the Docks. A letter was read from the Local Government Board announcing that, as a result of the special application, the Cardiff committee would be allowed to continue operations until April; and, further, that if the committee saw fit to put further public works in hand the Local Government Board were prepared to allow 331-3 per cent. on the cost if the unem- ployed were put on the work; but the com- i mittee came to no resolution on the subject.

WELSH LABOUR PREMIER I An Adelaide correspondent telegraphs: — The state of the health of the Premier, the Hon. Tom Price, is, I regret to say, causing serious anxiety to his friends- He was unable to attend the Premiers' Conference at Hobart. and has since been growing- worse. Mr. Price, who is the first Labour Premier of South Australia, was born. in 1852, in North Wales, and he ma,rried a daughter of I the late Mr. Edward Lloyd, timber merchant, of Liverpool.

Hoe's is sauce that Time has tried. Not a thing of yesterday; Those who use it always say They are more than satisfied. elfl

I A Silver Jubilee I I CARDIFF ROWING CLUB I The Cardiff Rowing Club celebrated 1 t twenty-fifth anniversary with a dilille, ø the Royal Hotel on Friday night. Close lld 100 members and friends, including the ed Mayor (Alderman Lewis Morgan), attended the festivities, which were presided over .Jf the genial head of the club, Mr. W. ø Howells, of Pantycelyn, Llandaff, who supported by Mr. A. R. Thomas, Cathedra road (vice-captain). Among the messages of congratula received was one from Mr. Herbert if. Tholilly son, Whitley Batch, Liandaff, one of I foundation members, who sent a message ° congratulation to the president and h' otbet fellow-members on having conducted tali club successfully to so resectable all antiquity as that of a quarter of a (Laughter.) He had taken some part in tb struggles of the early years, and it was g!?'' fying to know that the club was now 004 of the welI.tablished and, he beHe? highly-appreciated athletic ol the district. (Applauses He hoped that t would carry off the cups ,t manv rega? and continue to give healthy and n?" exercise and sport. (Applause.) 1Ø ?ith an experience as an ath'e?e of 01'e?'I years, the President did good i:?Hce tt-be toast of the club. He rc?callfd s? interesting reminiscences of his C?q,rly boating days and of the club'? efl ^t struggle. They lost ?5 on their 6? regatta, although they ran it n con? tion with a fat woman 8nd gorilla sb? 'Laughter.) Dwelling .m.i ufe value 0 rowing clubs, the PrŒident said that t? helped more than anything else to bring Olit the best characteristics of nen To be  successful oarsman required dogged  sevpranw. H.e appealed to the pr? to ? the oLub to enliet the svmpathy of the yo?" men of Cardiff. Healthy and vi'eorou? ? in?- ? would provide them with far  training of character than the football 1ie (Applause.) 1 Mr. A. R. Thomas, the captain of the el" in responding, waa glad to say that they Stl .11' retained the support of people who help' in the formation of the el no. of !-1r. Walter RosoorJa proposed the toa £ l. .-The Old Members," describing them as finest body of men that could be found..< Mr. D. Morgan Rees, in rcspendi?. sajj that 'i. n the days when he was a member the club there were no motorcars nor trl vjl cars to put 5d. on the ratee. (Laugh?t They th? a.d to be content with rowing i? w't every evening in order to get up to the ??? to Play billiards a.nd ohalk their cue on ceiling, and because they were all teeto?? had to drink cider. (Laughter ) He prod? a bill of sale for £ 100 which the club at one time obliged to give to ?fr. ? Butler, Mr. Ward, and Mr. H. M. ThoinP? who had become guarantors to the bank ¡,vJI that sum. Things were different now, he was sorry to find that, although finances were all right, their niembe-"6bill remained practically the same at it  years ago, viz., about 100. He thought ibl wa? due more or lœs to the fact that stretch of water for rowing in C?rdi? ? so inaccessible. He suggested that the f Poration should weir the Rive" Taff ? fll .,be, up towards Canton Bridge,, and that thef should extend to the people residing Or'00 western side the Fame pnnlf>g'ü: ae they "? on the eastern side with its lovely lake 5? Roath.

A CARDIFF CONVICTION I -——- I A recent Cardiff conviction, in which J Rmth men were concerned, has a,wa?'h? more interest amongst the people of t, bo neighbo,urhood since the dismissal of tb? ?,? stable concerned, and it is pointed out by t,, friends of Messrs. Stewart and Power, ?t' were fined, that the police-court comv?.?H was partly scourm upon eYidence ? ^tr underwent coji&ideraMe shading when "?tyf jected to croas-exa?mi nation by Mr. Sy"t' Jenkins and members of the watcb ?,0, mittee. They, therefore, urge that, ? tbi public interest, as well as for the cq,?ra'ct. e, .I4 of the two men most ?ncemed. every?"'?j;e possible should be done to wipe out -0 conviction, or, at any rate, to minimi^6 it$ effects as far as practicable.  It is understood that Mr. Jenkins h? ?% consulted in the matter, and that ^0 giving it his consideration. In SOO 0 quarters it is being ur?ed that t.he flop 0 Secretary should be memorialised by pil bpL$ petition, and the probability is that tuo course will be resorted to.

STOLL'S PANOPTICON, 11Ret I For tho ensuing week Stoll's panCpt.i, I PMlarmonic-hali, St. Mary-street, ?' d presents a programme with a multi,pl icityai a-ttr??ctdcDB, and patrons of the P??c? resort are reminded that there are rnrtb8 on Wednesday and Saturday at 2.30. of pictures the scenes and tableaux iHuStr*; of The Last Days of Pompeii" sho?"' particularly popular. A subject b.,+ra, les$ beautiful is tJ??t descriptive of the C'arnj-l ,a, at Ndoe. Meet instructive and entert??  at Nice. Most instructive and enteral are the piotureeque and romantic V, Of Japan and its industries, and there are Otllef eubjects varying in character. An attraCt feature is the engagement of the Youiigj. .?- feature is the engagement of the YcuO? p/ traJian Troubadours, including MLs ?py Jones, lady banjoist and violincellist. -??' }]?f en?ag?mentts include that, of Mr. Arthvjjy I Perry (tenor vocaJist\ late of the ? ,cd? Manmecrs and Carl Rost Oper CompaB'?'

THE PUBLIC EXCLUDED ( < I The proceedings of the Awr8 Vi¡;r Council have of late been of such a ch?a.?t? that the public have found pleasu ill attending. The practice has resulted ill 1$ resolution being adopted, aft?r s,,eT1l1 i1J. opposition, to conduct the proceeding" ,,l private. ill-' At the !&st meting. at Blakeney, two. W  habitants ppMented themselves, and a motlsi:C was promptly proposed, and carried bygi* votes to three, that they be excluded- 'JIg opposition dclared that there was nothilt! in the business on the agenda which '? in any way justify the action of the nJ???I)' in excluding the public, and an 'Llrl ply wrangle followed, but eventually th? a,te- payers left the room. nett Later in the meeting Mr. James Ef sur- was appointed nuisance inspector a ite of veyor at a salary of C40 a year, in ? Pn the Local Government Board's object1

ADEQUATE WATER SUPPlY I -,) I On the motion of Mr. Courthope (?" w¡1S in the House of Commons on Friday 1 ?. agreed that it be an instruction to the mittee on the Cardiff Corporation Bi? ?p? the I?Ti?lly Water Bill that they haveP"v^af to inquire whether the promoters have1l1 11 adequate provision hy the Bill for the ?"p? of water at reasonable rat?s to the a £ r.<,ul- tural community within the area of sn} and to any person or persons from ??? any existing or natural supply is. or  be, withdrawn owing to the works or '?'?? t-ald?a authorifed by the Bill; and that j, further have p?wer to ins<rt in the Bill 51! to I clause or cla-uses as they think necessary to I impose upon the promoters the obligate provide such supply.

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE i The Cardiff Chamber of Commerce I,$ 'VO issued a statement showing the cost Of tDo autumnal visit of the Associat ion of ??- t?' bers of Commerce to Cardiff in Scpt???ef la?t. The subscriptions amounted to j) 17s., of which JE1.1M 8 s. 6d. (half of t!? t'ot? .11) was returned to the subscribers. ??' <' ¡1 received amounted to ?15 2s. 6d.. ma.?? ?'g ? t?Lal of £ 1,214 Ils. The total expanses ??0 £ 1,155 5s. 9d., leaving a b<ih?n<?e in 0f zC59 5s. 3d. .2! .-t#.

THE "WEEKlŸ MAIL' WwLH\H M!!SHasL 12 pages and 84 columns? I is the Best Weekly Papef I published in South Wales and Monmouthshire. It Contains:— I (1) THE BEST GENERAL NEWS. (2) THE BEST I-OCAL INTKLLIGBH^ t5) CABTOON BY.. J.ii.S." (4) SERIAL STOBY. (5) 8HOKT STORY. (6) FARMERS' PAGE. (7) GAHDENfNG NOTES. (8; FASHIONS. (9) LKG4L AND MEDICAL ANSWERs' (10) SPLENDID ILLUSTRATIONS. I It is the Best Paper for j | Friends Abroad. PRICE, 1o. I Published every Friday & SaturdaY- I <