The Cambria Daily Leader

PREFERENCE. I If one may judge by the tone of I one or two Liberal members and newspapers, the Government, in putting forward the Imperial Pre- ference proposals contained in the Budget, has sold the pass to Free-, Trade! How unsound, indeed how ridiculous, the contention is Sir John Simon—no friend of the pre- sent Government!—showed' in a speech at the National Libera1. Club, when he said that the pro- posals for Imperial Preference were really so t-rumpery that it is diffi- cult to raise any serious opposition to them. x There are a few considerations upon this matter which Liberals! would do well to bear in mind. Tn the first place, let us concede that the idea. of Imperial Preference always has held an attractive appeal; felt not only by the Tariff Reformers. There is a quixotic nobility about Imperial Prefer- .1 ence," wrote Mr. Churchill in 1903, in strong contrast to the selfish- ness of manufacturers' protection. I I The idea broke down, in Mr. Chamberlain's day, because he al- lied Imperialism with Protection- ist. The sort of preference he ad vooated .carried as a logical neces- sity a tax on food; and it is the sort of preference against which the country has always displayed a strong antagonism. The present Budget proposals will merely give effect to the decision of the Im- perial War Cabinet and Conference of 1917, which ill turn was founded on the policy "enunciated by Mr. Asquith's Cabinet at an earlier stage of the war. The views upon the proposal ex pressed by the Spectator are of high importance, since that journal has fought continuously and cour- ageously for Free Trade, earning for its temerity, in tJhe" raging, tear- ing" days of the campaign, the denunciation of the majority in its party. Mr. Strachey says in his review this week that there are two ways of giving a preference. Y m can put a surcharge upon thosa against whom you wish the prefer- ence to tell, or you can leave the old tariff where it was and make a reduction in favour of your friends who are to enjoy the preference. Mr/ Chamberlain has chosen the latter course. "In these circum stances, declares the "Spectator." we can hardly think that there will be any very troublesome out- cry from Free Traders who refuse to yield upon any point of that doc- trine. As. Free Traders ourselves, we frankly acknowledge that the time has come for Imperial Prefer- ence, since it was not only em- bodied in the Paris resolutions (in- spired by Liberals early in the war), but was formally adopted at the Imperial War Conference. More over, some indirect taxation is in. dispensable for Revenue purposes. From the Free Trade point of view, a preference is the least objection able form of tariff. Every time you knock off a tax in order to give a preference you are approximating more nearly to the desire of every Free Trader's heart. I This is the point pressed home by fthe Daily Chronicle," which says that the main thing that Imperial Preference within the range of exist- ing taxation does is to make com petition between the producers keener, and offer the consumers a wider choice of commodities at lower prices. If not quite Free Trade itself, it is an advance to wards and not away from Free Trade, universal as well as Im perial. We must not call this Protection, or we shall make Pro- tection popular with people who, perplexed by the benefits conferred by this kind of Imperial Preference upon the consumers, would not be able to see for themselves until too jate that Protection has quite the opposite effect, inasmuch as it re- duces competition and mcreasee prices. As Mr. Garvin remarks this week, Imperial PrTerence now means freer trade within the British Com- monwealth, while leaving our own system what 4t must in all circum- stances remain—more liberal than that of any other country in the League of Nations. „

PROCESSION OF DUKESI RT. HON. J. R. Cl YNES ON CHANGED PUBLIC OPINION Continuing his Welsh campaign, the Right Hon. J. R. dynes, P.C., M.P., address?! at the Elysium, Swansea, on Sunday evening, a very crowded mixed audience, of whom, according to Mr. J. Victor Morgan, who presided, some were meek and mild," ana others revolu- tiorraries." Mr. Clynes, who had a great reception, in a statesmanlike speech, said Labour could not for some time to come be spoken of as one interest. They could do their best work when there was amongst thoni the greatest amount of respectful tolera- tion for that neekscary margin of varia- tion of opinion found in the minds of workmen. One of their greatest safe- guards wsa that of toleration. WEIGHT OF IDEAS. I If there were those present who expected he would roast employers wkh hot words they would go away disappointed. Frankly, if capital was to fall it would bs crushed by sheer weight of ideas. (Hear, hear.) It was only by pitch force that changes—economic and social—thac j they desired could be secured with any confidence that they would permanently remain for the national good. "THE PROCESSION OF DUKES." I The great joy about the world-wide dis- content was that men were coming to understand its cause. Even in their Welsh valleys they saw that the men who were doing the hardest, dirtiest and most dangerous work were living in the shabbiest and dirtiest houses. That could not be tolerated and permitted to last. The greatest question was not increased production, but fair sharing of what we had. (Applause). Public things and things that were doing public service should be nationally owned and demo- cratically controlled. This was not robbery, but bare justice. The land was not that of those who bravely fought and won a great victory, but the land of a, small section of the community. They were not, however, as they were. (Hear, hear). They could see the beginnings of a great change in this significant sum- mons of the miners' leaders—(loud ap- plause)—to seven or eight dukes to coma before him and show him at least some evidence of their legal right, apart from moral title, to these great properties through which they had derived enor- mous wealth. (Applause). It was be- cause public opinion had eo completely changed that the public had rightly agreed to this procession of dukes to pro- duce their titles to a miners' leader. A CALL FOR PATIENCE. I [ But let the unions not seek too much mere trade benefits for themselves; there must be a more steady march- ing together of the Labour forces if the end was to be reached in reasonable time. The miners had done brilliantly, other big groups well; imagine the state of things if all those could come together on the voting day. (Loud applause.) But, all their rights having been won in the last generation, he put in a word for patience. They did not by inflamed outburst effect any permanent change; leUthem use Parliamentary power in the goverment of opinion. ITe was not dis- appointed with the progress being made. The master, property-owning, and governing classes had shown a degree of blindness, folly, and selfishness incredible to those who examined the results as they irresented themselves to-day. Ili IUGGLING WITH INDEMNITIES." Alluding to the statement that Ger- many is to pay 8,000 millions indemnity, Mr. Clynes said she could not pay more than 300 millions in gold. If the re- mainder was to come in goods, what was to become of British trade and property P (Applause.) Even in this kind of jugglery with indemnities they could eoo the folly ofuch a thing as war. (Loud applause.)

I Y.M.C.A. PROFITS. I Sir Arthur K. Yapp Replies I to the Critics. Mr. Bellingham, president of Swansea Y.M C.A., was chtirman at a meeting held in the Llewelyn Hall on Saturday evening, to welcome Sir Arthur K. Yapp, K.B.E Light refreshments were pro- vided, and. the function began with a ehorus from the Y.M.C.A. Gwent Glee Singers, and a eolo from Miss Hessie Mattey. Letters of apology for non-attendance were read from Sir John Llewelyn, Bart., the Mayor and Mayoress, Sir Alfred and Tiadv Mond, Lady Lyons, Rev. and Mrs. Harrington C. Lees, Rev. G. McLuckie, Rev. Beynon Phillips, Mr. and Mre. Astiey Samuel, Dr. arid Mrs. Rawlings, Mr. C. C. Vivian, Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Wil- liam* (Heath-Rcid), and many others. Mr. and Mrs. W. Edwards (Langland) sent a cheque for £ 100. I SIR ARTHUR YAPP. I Sir Arthur K. Yapp said he wanted E20,060 for war work. Swansea could do it. As to the Y.M.C.A. war work, the thing that surprised him was not that there were weak spots, but that on the whole it was so remarkably good. Be- ginning in a small way in 1914, it had become one" of the greatest institutions in the world; yet they bad Jo appoint only men over 52, or those disqualified for the Army. They had found, however, that there were many things that women could do better than men, and they had now more than -10,000 women. Nothing they could say would give an adequate view of the debt they owed to the lads of the Red Triangle; and that humanising elem-et.was more needed to- day than ever. I IN RUSSIA TO-DAY. I In Rusia to-day no organisation was working among British and Allied troops except the Y.M.C.A. and the American Red Cross. That very morning Lord Cur- zon had sent to him for 25 additional sec- retaries for Archangel, and within the, last fortnight, 15 had been asked for for Siberia. v I THE PROFITS. I They had made thrt\e million gross piotit in trading. Whether that profit wafi exhorbitant or not depended enitirely on the turnover. They did not wIant to, but had been forced to become one of the greatest trading concerns of the world. Their* prices were fixed by the Army can- teen. The whole work cost six millions; the public had given three millions, and the other three millions they had to make themselves. Amcric-a, for similar work, had contributed 32i millions. The educa- tional work of the Y.M.C.A. alone cost 2100,000. In advanced positions, close to the firing line, everything was supplied free of charge. B?t what hey could do altogether was just nothing coiii, ,?d with what these men had done for us. iApplauseL They had fed prisoners of war on behalf of the great British public. Relatives visiting those dangerously wounded were all handed over to the Y.M.C.A.. Of all war funds, none had been more carefully expended. They had hidden nothing; they had nothing to hide. Every penny of profit was spent in extension o.f tlie work. They were j ust asking the public for an- ¡ other £ 500,000. I ON SUNDAY. I On Sunday Sir Arthur addrewd the St. Andrew's Church con?Mg?tion in th morning, 8nd that of Mount Pleas?mt in j I the €V?niim <

TOWN TALK. They call it the Daily FAIL aero*' plane now! —■ O: Tp. Still they come. A correspondent say. that eleven of his hens laid 167 eggs ia three weeks. We will now have some &.a. ing stories! —: o: — The exodus to Mumbles goes on, and5 those older season ticket holders who geizi to the station late frequently find the- new arrivals have forestalled them ancfc .taken up the seats. 0:- "Sea Scoutmaster" writee :-With refer"; enco to the question as to why a ship is referred to as "she," one explanation ia that a ship has stays. But why should wer refer to a mail (male) bott also in tha feminine gender? —: o: — Surprising how soon one gets uskd td; things. A Swansea man, who spent his Easter vacation at Langland, and paid his first visit since on Sunday, tells us the scene is strangely unfamiliar wiJthout tho Tyne.. — JO!— realised that tiW Few local people have realised that fiho steamer Dunvegan. now wrecked on the? East COMt, is the ship which the Port?y- non hfcwat went to help at the time sJ? met with disaster. Thatt was when flier familiar figure of BiUy Gibbs passed out. -:0:- If the new members are up to the standard of the old they will be good enough for me. If they prove themselves better they will reflect credit on the parishioners who elected th.r. Nicholas Nicholas at the meeting of that Llandovery Rural Council. — » The current number of the Young Helpers' League Magazine" contains art excellent photo of Miss Iris Kathleen Da vies, of Brynmill, who has been. awarded a silver badge for a meritorious collection towards the funds of Dr. Barnardo's Homes. Bravo r. -:0;- A Pensvlvannia retailer thinks that it is better to make a debtor smile than to make him frown. So on his" monthly statements he has a picture of his three little girls and the startling line, Dad is broke. Please settle at onoe." The ideai works, and money is rapidly rolling in. *»:— v A group of Swansea men wesre diecunping. the prospects of Britishers in the waiting business, when the funny man of the party said they ought to do well, because Qormans are not now tolerated as waiters in Allied countries, except, of course, those who are now waiting for the pmed terms in Paris. —:o: — A recently demobbed soldier relates the following barrack square incident. The squad was receiving a lecture on ths working of a rifle, when the instructor asked one man what was the first thing he would do before cleaning his rifle. See it was my own. sir," was the prompt rejoinder In winning the City and Suburban Royal Bucks created a record, no horso having previously won the double-event of the Lincolnshire Handicap and tho handicap at Epsom, and the field of thirteen was the smallest that has gono to the post since Merry Duchess won from eight opponents in 1887. —^o:— It is said that one of the difficulties of demobilising the Army and clearing pp the accounts of each soldier is that there are thousands of the same name—6,000 John Smith and 2,000 William Browns, If that is eo, how many John Joneses* Thomas Thomases, William WilliameAs^. and Evan Evanses are there? —: o: — An observant spectator OIl the May Day Demonstration at gwangQ* on Butur4-3r. has a very important comment' to He .says that the few straw hats seen iu- the procession were not worn, as was to be expected, by the clerical marchers* but by those who earai fheir bread by tl4 sweat of their brow. Worth knowing* that! Mr. Leigh Jones, of Messrs. R. E. Jones- Ltd., is an amamteur photographer of much technical 6kill, and he possesses also the artistic eye fdt a pretty picture. In one national competition open to pro. fessionals and amateurs he won the fifth award, and two of his snapshots of "the happy seaside variety have been selec- ted for reproduction in a current London.; newspaper competition. o:- A Carmarthen farmer's excuse for allow-] ing a dirty, smelly pond to remain iiv his yard, neutralising, with other -an-- desirable litter there. all the good things he may have done in his milk sheds, was, that it was for the sake of his ducks.4 To do a supposedly good turn to five or j six ducks, he was seriously prejudicingi the milk supply, and consequently tha health of hundreds of people. — O Do the inhabitanto of certain districts IS characteristics which are peculiar, to the localities in which they live ? ^) Watching the procession on Saturday w,,t-g Aft expert who claimed to be able to say where each group came from by their gait and the configuration of their faoes," and he proceeded to tick off each section • as it went by-Clydach, Llansamtet^ St. Thomas, Sandfields, etc.—with a measure of accuracy which, according to a correspondent, was remarkable. Clever man! -:0=- It is interesting to record, in referenca to the paragraph in the Leader relat-. ing to the Cunard liners in the war, that' the greater portion of the stokers on the Aquitania (tho largest liner that eTer Sew the red or hlue ensign) during thoo period she was _on naval duty wero Welshmen. Practically the youngeptr stoker on her hailed from the Mumbles, and the elder ones took a fatherly inter- est in him, and wherever they went they used to take him and eee that he had a vight good time of it. The intimation that the Board- of Trade are inducing the Railway Execu- tive to issue cheap fares during this and the succeeding month, with the object of encouraging people to take their holidays earlier, has been forestalled by a great number. Judging by the number at pre- sent on holidays at the Mumbles, the idea eeems to be prevalent that it is better to take holidays now when it ie possible to have rooms, than to wait till later. The present booking of rooms ahead predicts a record season locally. -:0: The suggestion that efforts should bø, made to increase the membership of tfio Swansea Cricket and Football Club i* re- ceiving a good deal of support, p*tticu-; larly in the wilit end of the tow. Somo;, people think that an extra special effort- should be made to get hold of the young men, many of whom are rather partial tr, St. Helens. The opinion is Also expressed that some arrangement might be made to meet the case of youths who would, per- haps. find it easier to pay the subscrip- tion by instalments. Some of these latter are pretty keen on joining the club. —:o:— As to why a $hip is called she, there are two views worthy of notice: (1) As the masculine gender is assigned to things remarkable for strength, Murage, majesty, as time, war, winter, so the feiuinine stands for gentleness, fruitful- ness, beauty, as the earth, spring, our country. A ship stands for beauty and grace, ergo, feminine-. (2) Cobbett in his Grammar says that i country peopla call things she which are closely identified with themselves, as scythes, mowers; but things that pass from hand to hand, as shovels, forks, are simply "he." A ship is closely identified with this country's greatness; therefore s 1," ,,1. J