Rhyl Record and Advertiser

OOO BARRISTERS AND TRADE BRIEFS PUBLIC DEBATE AT RHYL. On Monday evening, an inter-Society debate took place at the Presbyterian Schoolroom, Prin- ces Street, between members representing the Princes Street Society and members of the Clwyd Street Society. The members of the Princes Street Society undertook to take the affirmative view of the question, Should bar- risters pledged to temperance reform hold briefs for the drink party.' Mr. R. Bromley, Clerk of the Peace, was the leader for the Presbyter- ian side, and Mr. J. Roberts Jones, the deputy coroner, took the negative view on behalf of the Clwyd Street Literary Cociety. The chair was occupied by Ir. Joseph Lloyd, solicitor, who singularly enough happens to be the solicitor to the Licensed Victuallers' Association. He said the subject was of pe- culiar interest at the present moment because of the recent interchange of opinions which had taken place between certain Welsh M.P. s and certain members of the temperance party. It was also interesting because it showed noble aspirations on the part of Welsh people, name- ly, that they desired that their representatives and public men should be men not only of ability but of character. (loild applause) His hearers were to be congratulated upon having the gubject before them thrashed out by two gentlemen holding high positions in the county —(applause)—and he was sure that everything that could be said on either side would be urged by them and their supporters, (applause) Mr. Bromley in opening the debate said that the first question to be taken into consid- eration was — what was the duty ot a barrister ? A barrister was a person who represented him- self to the world as one who was prepared to act on behalf of any person, whether he be plaintiff, defendant, or applicant in any case. That being the case, he held that it was very unreasonable for the temperance party to insist that a barrister who as an M.P. was pledged to temperance reform could not consistently hold a brief for a brewer or anybody connected with the brewer interest. A person accused of a great crime, however much appearances might be against him, was considered entitled to have every .opportunity of having every possible word urged in his defence, and the person to put in those words for the accused was the man who- had been specially trained to undertake a ,case of that sort, and whose duty in Court would be to urge all that possibly could be urged on hi clients behalf. The temperance party seemed however, to run away with the idea that the barrister appeared in court as a personal charac. ter, and not simply as an official party.(hear, hear) To put it as briefly as possible, a Writer was the mouthpiece of the party he represented, not the heartpiece. Way, he asked, should a barrister be asked to make a sacrifice which no other person could be asked to mak. ? it was unfair, unless they were going to put everybody else on the same level (hear, heir). After all a barrister did not come into direct contact with the brewers or publicans, in1.smuch as he obtained his work through the (solicitors. This was a question which must be considered as affecting the whole of the Lnited Kingdom—at present it had ap- parently only been taken up in Wales, and then only in connection with two barristers. If barristers refused 'trade' briefs thev would lose scores of others alD, for there were many people throughout the country who would not hesitate to say that if they were so foolish as to do that they would take uare that they got no briefs in any other matters (hear, hear). If the question were one of prohibition, he was prepared to admit that there was a good deal to be said for the view to be supported by the speaker following him, but as it stood at pre- sent it was quite as reasonable to argue Uyat it was unjustifiable on the part of a magisti^te who had become an M.P. pledged to temper- ance reform to assent in the granting of any licensing application coming before him and his fellow magistrates as it was to contend that a barrister also pledged to temperance reform should not hold trade' briefs. As for the suggestion that a barrister's advocacy of the cause of temperance was weakened by the fact of his having held 'trade' briefs, he main- tained that if sent to Parliament he could there plead the temperance cause with all the elo- quence and zeal of one who had never in any capacity made a plea on behalf of any party interested in the drink traffic (applause). Mr. J. Roberts Jones, leading in the negative, said that the whole question depended, in his opinion, upon the pledge given. There was no need in this free country for a man to pledge himself either for or against anything; but having taken a pledge, he submitted that it would be a dastardly thing for a man to do anything that would "tend to break that pledge. If he 'simply gave the pledge in order to cap- ture votes and afterwards went and broke it, he was nothing more than a scoundrel and a traitor. If The Chairman: I don't think tnat scoun- drel and traitor' used 'n such a manner are Parliamentary terms, but the meeting must decide. Loud cries of 'withdraw' followed this ob- servation, but the cries of 'proceed' prepon- dered. Mr. Roberts Jones continued his argument. After stating that he thought the terms called into question quite applicable, he went on to say that he preferred to go beyond the official capacity of a barrister, on which Ir. Bromley had laid so much stress, and to get at the actual man (hear, hear). Unlike the soldier, who was a public servant, and in time of war had to obey his superiors' orders no matter whether they appeared to him to be right or wrong, a barrister could accept or refuse whatever he thought fit. When a barrister donned his gown and wig surely he did not drop his conscience at the same time! But that was just what the barrister did who was pledged to temperance reform and yet accepted trade' briefs (applause). As the question before them was worded, he submitted that it was as clear as the noonday sun—(a voice Where is it ?' and laughter)—that they must answer in the negative (applause). 'Drink' briefs were, aiR a matter of fact, the best in the market, and to a struggling barrister were undoubtedly a great temptation. He (the speaker) would be the last to haul anyone over the coals for taking up such a brief, but that night they had to deal with the question from a moral standpoint. It was well. known that briefs of the description they had been discussing were sometimes offered to a temperance man because those interested in the drink party considered-rightly or wrongly—that that particular man would in that way have more influence with magistrates whose opinions agreed with his own. But that was robbing other men and encouraging unfair competitions (hear, hear). Concluding, he s.aid he failed to see the consistency or the good of a barrister advocating temperance reform in Parliament while he accepted trade' briefs outside. The whole question resolved itself into a case of principles versus pockets-(hear. bear)-and he said from the bottom of his heart that the only possible answer that could be given was an uncompromising No' (ap- plause). Ir. E. Parker Davies, speaking for the affir- mative, said that if barristers pledged to tem- perance reform were to be denied trade briefs then the next thing would be that magistrates similarly pledged could not sit on licensing benches. In his relation to the publican a barrister might be compared to the good Samar- itan (applause). Mr. Robert Jones (Ithelfryn) said that if, as had been stated, no barrister M.P. pledged to temperance reform had ever voted strongly in the House of Commons, it was because he was not there to vote when wanted (laughter). They wanted men to represent them who would stick to their pledges both in and out of Parlia- ment, and he urged the electors of Wales to make sure in future that the persons they in- tended voting for were men of that type (ap- plause). As for the argument that a barrister was called upon by declining a 'trade' brief to make a sacrifice which no other person was called upon to make he thought it was only too well known that if many business men yielded to the temptation to go in for a license they would thereby materially increase their incomes. Mr. R. Broadie Griffith said he did not th'ink that barristers broke their pledges to further the temperance cause at all bv accepting trade briefs. It was not by taking extreme suppres- sive measures that temperance reform was go- ing to be effected, but by moderation, to which he would attribute any decline in drunkenness rather than to total abstinence. Mr. D. J. Trice maintained that it was wrong for anyone pledged to temperance reform to take up briefs relating to the drink traffic. A barrister should not seek to enter Parliament by giving any such pledge if he depended upon trade briefs amongst others for a living for by accepting a trade trade he encouraged the sale of that slow poison to his constituents whom he had promised to cure by reform. rr. Robert Jolley having spoken in favour of the affirmative view, Mr. Daniel Evans brief- ly supported the views of Mr. Roberts Jones. The leadens having replied, the Chairman said that what the debaters appeared to have fallen out over was the definition of the term 'Temperance reform.' To those intending to vote upon the question he would suggest that what they had to decide was (1) whether the fact of a barrister taking a brief for the drink party embarassed or delayed or prevented him or others who like him were engaged in pursu- ing temperance reform, and (2) whether the fact that the barrister was a well-known temperance man gave his client an undue advantage which otherwise would be lacking. If their answers to those questions were in the negative then they supported Mr. Bromlev's >side. But if their answers were in the affirmative then there was another question deserving of their con- sideration, namely, was it expedient to deprive a barrister of the means of earning a living ? Upon a show of hands the views of lr. Roberts Jones' side were declared to have be1 carried by 27 votes to 16. The proceedings terminated with a hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman, on the motion of the Rev. J. Verrier Jones, seconded by Mr. Bromley, who said he claimed that privilege as 'the defeated candidate.'

n.w GLASS IS TOLISHEU. It was formerly thought that the processes of grinding and polishing glass were continuous, but cio.scr investigation of ilie subject has proved that ti.is is nor. the case. Glass grinding is effected by the use ut emery powder of various degrees of fine- ness. but it Ua.3 Leeu shewn that this grinding cannot 1 e carried beyond a certain point, however hue a powder may De used. In fact, a continuation of it undoes tile work, and breaks the surface up again. Tue must finely-ground plate, if largely magnified, is shewn to be overed with tiny pits whion no grinding will remove, The work i there- f.,re, coin inued wiiii rouge carried on a pad of resin, which gradually smooths down the elevations between the pits. Hydrofluoric acid gas corrodes ••iiiss very ramd.y, but a weak solution of it melts away the roughened surface, and leaves a fine polish underneath. This method is used where very fine adjustments 1)1' the surface are required, as, for instance, in lanses lor telescopes and microscopes.

BIRTH. THOMAS—At Clarence House, Nov. 5th, the wife of Dr. W. Thomas of a son.

MR BANKS CONTINUES HIS CRUSADE. It will be remembered that some few months ago considerable correspondence took place in these columns with reference to the assessment of property in Prestatyn. Ir. J. Banks, of Bryngwalia, had been summoned before the magistrates for the non-payment of his poor rate, and he appeared in Court to resist pay- ment on the ground of inequality of assessment. He had previously appealed to the Assessment Committee at St. Asaph, and given instances of property that was under-assessed. He frank- ly explained at the time that his object was not so much to secure a reduction of his own assess- ment as to secure a general levelling up so as to establish some uniform basis of assessment in Prestatyn. He complained that although the Assessment Committee had promised to move the overseers of the parish to action that nothing was done, with the result that there existed the most glaring inequalities. The magistrates, while expressing sympathy with the object of Ir. Banks, were obliged to make an order for payment of the rate. Then followed the correspondence referred to, and the ip.atter was given a publicity which it was hoped Trould have had the effect of moving the responsible authorities to some action. Jr. Banks expressed his intention at the time of following the Matter up, and finding as a result of an examination of the most recent supple- mental valuation list, no disposition on the part of the Prestatyn overseers to put right the glaring inequalities' to which he had" "both pri- vately and publicly called their attention, he on Friday appealed to the St. Asaph Assessment Committee for a reduction of the assessment of his residence, Bryngwalia. lie claimed that his house should be assessed on the same basis as other houses in Prestatyn were assessed, and not on the professed basis. His house was assessed at L45 a year, while there were other houses as good and some better than his own which were assessed at only B27 a year. The Committee asked for instances, and JT. Banks mentioned the houses of Ir. Welsbv and Mr. Batters, which he said were as good if not better than his house, and they only assessed at JB27 each. lhshfield, on the mountain, which was a considerably larger house than Bryngwalia, was only assessed at L34 5s. He also alluded to the assessment of Plas. In the rate book Plas was assessed at JE49 10s., but Ir. Banks was able to prove tht the demand note was only issued for L36. When asked for an explanation, the Assistant Overseer ad- mitted that this was so, but that he had made a separate demand note for Ir. Linnell in res- pct of the remaining JB15 10s. The Commit- tee expressed strong disapproval of the action of the Assistant Overseer in thus dividing the assessment. Proceeding, Mr. Banks mentioned some property at Towyn which had not been assessed at all until he pointed it out, although the Assistant Overseer admitted that he knew of the property. Another instance which he gave was that when the rate book was turned up he found that a house at Towyn was rated at fifty shillings a year. He maintained at the time that that house was worth L20 a year, and when he looked at the last rate book -he found that the house had been actually assessed at 218. But for many years previously it had only been assessed at fifty shillings, and it was only when he called attention to it that the matter was put right. Ir. Banks gave a num- ber of further instances of inequalities in the assessments, remarking that he could go on doing so indefinitely, but he feared it was scarcely worth while doing so, and that the only course open to him was to appeal to the Court of Quarter Sessions with the object of obtaining the redress there which he had so far failed to obtain from those whose duty it was to give it. Mr. Banks emphatically added that he meant to continue to exercise the right of a ratepayer to examine the rate book whenever he thought it necessary to do so. He also asked that the Prestatyn overseers should give him some idea of the methods or basis upon which they assessed property.—Mr. Peter Ellis, one of the overseers, thought that was none of rr. Banks' business, but was reminded by the Chairman that it was, and that as a ratepayer Mr. Banks had a perfect right to ask the ques- tion. The desired explanation was not, how- ever. forthcoming. In the result Ir. Banks was asked by the Committee to supply them with a list of the property which he complained was under-assessed. The Committee expressed their intention of having Prestatyn properly re- assessed by the overseers, and if they could not do it they would appoint a professional valuer to do the work. The spirited manner in which Mr. Banks has taken the matter up will, we are sure, earn the appreciation of every thoughtful Prestatyn rate- payer whether he is in the list of the under- assessed or not. The best thing that could happen for Prestatyn is for a general levelling up to take place and when that has been done they would be in a stronger position to apply to the Assessment Committee to be placed in the same position as Rhyl and have an abate- ment of 20 per cent. off the gross assessment instead of ten per cent as at present. By this means the burden of the rateing would be fairly and equally disaributed over the whole of the ratepayers without being unduly oppressive to anyone.

-010-- ST. ASAPH POLICE CHANGES.—We understand that P.C. Edward Roberts has been transferred to St. Asaph to take charge of the St. Asaph Sta- tion in the place of Sergt. Langdon, who has retired. ST. ASAPH PETTY SESSIONS.—The monthly Sessions were held on Monday, Major Birch presiding. The licensee of the Plough Hotel applied for an occasional license for the Smithfield. The Chairman said h could not understand why those having business at the Smithfield could not walk the short distance between the grounds and the hotel if they were thirsty. He did not suppose a man wanted a drink between each bid. The license, however, was granted. In a case heard later amusement was caused by Mr. Joseph Lloyd, the defen- dnt's solicitor, calling upon a witness to hand him a piece of paper from which he supposed she was reading. When she did so he dis- covered that it was a receipt for the advocate's fee on the other side, or as Mr. Lloyd expressed it a 'mare's nest.'

-noll- PRESTATYN. REHOBOTH ANNUAL TEA PARTY AND SOCIAL.—The annual social re-union of the Rehoboth Calvinistic Methodists took place on Thursday evening, and was largely attended. From s'x to eight o'clock tea was served, and was partaken of by a numerous company. The arrangements were carried out by Mrs. Water- house, Mrs. Jonah Jones, Mrs. Thomas Dow- ell, Mrs. Ezra Jones, and Mrs. G. O. Jones. The tables were presided over by Mrs. Hughes, N. & S.W. Bank; Mrs. Richards, draper; Mrs. Lloyd Ellis, Penisa'rdre; Mrs. Thomas riugnes, VTronant iiouse. The tea was followed by a miscellaneous entertainment, in which part was taken by Ir. Henry Dowell, Miss Will- iams, Miss Florence Jones and party. All gave the utmost satisfaction, and a most en- joyable evening was; spent. Upon the pro position of the Rev. Ezra Jones, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the ladies and to the artistes for their services. The new organ is now in course of erection by Messrs. Alex- ander Young and Co., the contract price being £ 400. It is expected to be ready in about a month, and will be opened by Mr. Caradoc Roberts, of Rhos, with an organ recital. ILLNESS OF MR. JOHN HUGHES.—We regret to announce that Mr. John Hughes, the respected Town Clerk, has been seriously in- disposed for the last fortnight, his illness ori- ginating in a serious cold and developing other complications. We are pleased to .say that the latest reports to hand state that he is gradually recovering. N THE FLINT AND DENBIGH HOUNDS Wilt Meet Wednesday, Nov. 11th Llanfair. Saturday, Nov. 14th Mia Hall.

FLINT COUNTY COUNCIL AXD THE EDUCATION ACT. SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the llintshire County Council was held at the Council Chamber, Mold, on Wednesday, for the purpose of deal- ing with recommendations of the Provisional Education Committee with reference to bring- ing into operation in Flintshire the Education Act of 1902. There were present Aldermen P. Pennant (Chaiman), G. A. Parry (Vice- Chairman), Dr. Easterby, J. Hall, J. Herbert Lewis, M.P., Peter Jonrs, J. Bellis, H. Lloyd Jcnes, \Y. Elwy Williams, W. Davies, J. Reney, and Councillors H. J. Roberts, R. 1.1. Jones, C. W. Jones, J. L. Muspratt, Robert Jones, Hugh Davies, J. Lloyd Price, J. Kerfoot Evans, Lord Mostvn, C. P. Morgan, Thomas Parry, W Astbury, J. Peters, Urias Bromley. Dr. J. Humphrey" Williams, Lloyd Jones (Halkyn), E. Sydney Taylor, and T. W. Hughes. The following minutes of the Education Com- mittee were presented At a meeting on Octo- ber 3rd a deputation consisting of lr. J. W. Connell, of Connah's Quay, Vice-President of the Flintshire Teachers' County Association (N.U.T.^ and Mr. Fred. Phillips, the Secretary of the Association, attended to lay before the Committee the views of the Association as to the representation of the elementary teachers in the county on the Education Committee. It was resolved that the elementary teachers be entitled to two representatives on the Educa- tion Committee, and that six names be sub- mitted by the teachers of elementary schools in the county, of whom not less than two shall be teachers in provided schools and two in non- provided schools respectively (in the case of the first appointment in Board and Voluntary Schools respectively that all certificated teachers, whether head teachers or assistants, be entitled to vote. It was also resolved that the secondary school teachers be entitled to one representative on the Education Committee, and that three names be submitted by the teachers engaged in inter- mediate schools in the county that all gradu- ate teachers (whether head teachers or assist- ants) be entitled to vote. With regard to the eight remaining members it was resolved that two of them be women. It was further resolved that one member be appointed in respect of each, intermediate school district in the county, viz., Hawarden, Holywell, Maelor, Mold, St. Asaph, and Rhyl; that the Local Governors under the Intermed- iate Education Act for each county school dis- trict be requested to recommend four names from which the County Council may select a member for that school district; that one of the persons recommended must be a woman, and that one must be a person (not a member of the Local Governing Body) who has been closely connected with elementary education, and for the first appointment in the case of county school districts in which there are School Boards, such person must be a member of an existing School Board. The Clerk pointed out that until the appoin- ted day the Evening Continuation Classes would have to be carried on under the same arrange- ments as in the past, and that the sanction of the County Council would be required. It was resolved that the County Council be recom- mended to sanction the carrying on of Evening Continuation Classes on the same terms and conditions of previous years. At a subsequent meting the Committee pro- ceeded to consider the report of the School Attendance Sub-Committee, held on 13th Aug- ust, 1903, the report having been referred to the Special Education Committee for further con. sideration. After careful consideration, it was resolved to make the following recommenda- tions as to future arrangements for school attendance, &c. :—(1) That the services of the Clerks of the School Attendance Committees be dispensed with as and from the appointed day. (2) That the services of the Clerks of School Boards be dispensed with as far as school attendance purposes is concerned, but that they might be retained wherever practicable as Clerks of the Managers of the provided schools, their salaries being revised in consequence of the necessary reduction in the work which will devolve upon thann. (3) That every school attendance officer employed in the county should devote the whole of his time to the dut- ies of his office, except in special cases sanc- tioned by the Education Committee. (4) That the minimum salary to be paid should be J352 per annum, and the maximum j375. (5) That the districts into which the county shall be divided for school attendance purposes should be coterminous with the existing county school districts, and that school attendance officers be appointed for each of the following districts as follows:—Hawarden, 3; Holywell, 3; Maelor Hundred, 1; Mold, 3 Rhyl, 2; St. Asaph, 1; subject to such modifications as may hereafter be considered desirable by the Edu- cation Committee. (6) That each of the school attendance officers be required to wear uniforms, which will be supplied by the Education Com- mittee. (7) That an inspector of school atten- dance officers be appointed for the county at a salary of JB120 a year in addition to travelling expenses. The officer appointed to devote the whole of his time to the duties of the office. (8; That the attention of the Education Com- mittee be called to the great difference existing between the School Attendance Bye-laws in force in the county, and that steps should be taken forthwith with a view to revising all the bye-laws so as to make them more uniform throughout the county. (9) That the Educa- tion Committee be recommended to make ar- rangements for the taking at an early date of a census of children of school age residing within the county A conference between the Sub-Committee of the Special Education Committee and represen- tatives of British and Undenominational Schools in the county was held at the Town Hall, Rhyl, on October 26th. This conference had been arranged with the view of considering upon what terms the British and Undenominational Schools in the county might be transferred to the County Council as provided schools. The representatives of the Welsh Calvinistic Metho- dist Connexion stated that they were in favour of handing over Gronant British School, Car- mel British School, and Rhuallt British School to the County Council upon a lease at a nomin- al rent, and subject to the understanding that there should be effective Bible teaching to be imparted by the teachers in the schools, and that the schools should be perfectly free and undenominational. The representatives of the managers of three schools expressed their con- currence in the views of the connexional re- presentatives. The representatives of the Managers and Trustees of Emmanuel British School, Rhyl, stated that they were prepared to hand over this school to the County Council on similar terms to those on which the Gronant, Carmel, and Rhuallt Schools would be transferred. It was stated that there were two schools at Ffynnongroew. One of them was the old school, which the Managers and Trustees were prepared to transfer to the County Council ab- solutely to be carried on as a provided school. With reference to the recently-built Infant School, which had been built at an expense of £1,300, about half of which sum had been paid, the managers were prepared to arrange for the absolute transfer of the school to the County Council upon condition that the Council under- took to pay the building debt remaining on the school. The representatives of Lixwm. British School stated that the managers were prepared to lease this school to the County Council at a nominal rent or to transfer the school abso- lutely to the County Council, whichever course might be deemed the more advisable. The representatives of Ewloe Green British .School stated that it was connexional property, held on the usual trusts of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Connexion, and that the buildings were not impressed with any educational trust. They were prepared to lease the buildings to the County Council, so as to enable them to carry on a provided school, but the County Council must be prepared to pay a rent for the buildings, it being suggested that JB15 a year would be a reasonable sum. The Clerk was instructed to prepare draft conditions for the transfer of the above-men- tioned schools, and to circulate same among the members of the Flintshire County Council for consideration at the next meeting of the Council, after which they would be submitted to the Managers and Trustees of the British Schools. C. W. Jones asked were they to under. stand that only two of the Committee were to be ladies. It" would be an insult to the ladies to limit them to two representatives. He thought four would be little enough. Alderman J. Herbert Lewis, M.P., explained that it was decided to give the elementary teachers two representatives. It was, of course, possible that one of these may be a woman and one a man. If so the lady would be in addition to the two ladies. They had to decide how the other members were to be allocated. After a great deal of consideration they came to the conclusion that the only fair method of allocating the remaining members was by giving one representative to each inter- mediate school district. That would absorb six members out of the eleven three teachers would bring up the number to nine. That would only leave room for two ladies specially appointed as women. Of course, it was pos- sible that one of the teachers would be a woman, and it was also possible that out of the six members appointed by the different districts one or more may be women. He entirely agreed with the substance of Mr- Jones' objec- tion, and so far as he was personally concerned he should only be too glad to see a larger number of women members on the Education Committee. Their work in some respects was simply invaluable in connection with education. The difficulty, however, was that they had originally limited the number of outside repre- sentatives to eleven-one-fifth of the County Council, and they could under the circu stances only find room for two directly appoin- ted women. It would be possible for the County Council to amend the scheme so as to") increase the number of members. The Chairman said that with regard to the outside members none need necessarily be a man. lr. C. W. Jones proposed that at least one of the names submitted by the teachers must be a woman. lr. Thomas Parry thought that was unduly tieing the hands of the teachers. After some discussion lr. C. W. Jones al- tered his amendment to the effect that the names to be submitted by the teachers be men or women. Dr. Humphrey Williams proposed that the names of the teacher representatives must be those who are in actual service :n the teaching profession in the county. Alderman W. Elwy Williams said if they li- mited the choice in this way they would be taking away with one hand what they gave with another. The teachers might have a represen- tative not actually engaged in teaching whom they would desire to see appointed. Mr. R. LI. Jones said that the object of having a representation of teachers was that they might have the assistance and experience of those actually engaged in teaching in the schools who could detect at once any wrong working as an engineer could locate a failure in machinery. Dr. Humphrey Williams' proposition was carried by twenty votes to eight. With reference to the district representatives an amendment by Alderman Herbert Lewis that the County Council do not necessarily bind themselves to adopt the names recommended by the different districts was carried. With regard to the proposals as to the school attendance, Alderman Elwy Williams expressed the opin- ion that it was unfair to settle this important matter until the Education Authority was com- pleted by the addition of the eleven co-opted members. They were disfranchising them in respect of a matter of considerable importance. Mr. R. LI. Jones asked whether they were going to be influenced by eleven members ? If so, it would be the case of the tail wagging the dog instead of the dog wagging the tail. Alderman Elwy Williams said his contention was that as they were electing these 11 outside representatives because of their expert educa- tional knowledge, they ought to avail themselves of their advice and experience in such an im- portant matter as school attendance. Alderman Herbert Lewis agreed it was a very important matter, and in order that an opportunity might be given to fully discuss it, he thought after discussing and amending the scheme that day they should submit it for final approval to the Education Committee when it came to existence. [r. J. L. Muspratt expressed his agreement with the view of Mr. Herbert Lewis. Dealing with the recommendation of the Committee, he said that at the present time there was scarcely a single school attendance officer in the county who devoted the whole of his time to the duties of that office. The Committee had adopted the principle that every school attendance officer must devote the whole of his time to the office. It was very undesirable that work of this kind should be connected with insurance collections and employment of that sort, for it interrupted the continuity of the work. lr. Sydney Tavlor suggested that as an inducement to effective work on the part of school attendance officers they should, in addi- tion to their fixed salaries, have a bonus based on the attendance. Alderman Herbert Lewis said the suggestion was one worth considering. It was very de- sirable and necessary that every effort should be made to get as high an attendance as possible. At the same time it was possible that if a bonus were given it might have the tendency to an oppressive exercise of powers. They had to consider the physical health of the children, and there were some, more particularly infants, who were better out of school than in school. lr. C. W. Jones proposed that the question of appointing an inspector of school attendance officer be deferred until such time as they ascertained whether such an officer was necess- ary. Dr. Humphrey Williams seconded. He thought there might be one. of the school atten- dance districts where the work was less arduous than the other districts, and they might give him thirty or forty pounds a year for reviewing and supervising the work of the other officers. Ir. J. L. Muspratt agreed that the considera- tion of this proposal should be deferred until the Education Committee came into existence. It was agreed to delete the recommendation. After the Council had gone through the re- commendations, Alderman Herbert Lewis suggested that the final confirmation of the proposals be referred to the Education Committee. lr. R. LI. Jones said they had gone into the thing very exhaustively, and he failed to see why they should for the sake of eleven mem- bers delay finally adopting the proposals. Mr. Herbert Lew;s' proposal was agreed to. THE TERMS OF TRANSFER OF BRITISH SCHOOLS. The Committee presented the following an an outline of the terms and conditions of the transfer of British and Undenominational Schools to the Flintshire County Council to be conducted as provided schools, the school pre- mises being held for a term of years:- 1.—The school buildings shall be leased to the County Council at a nominal rent. (N.B.—In the case of the Ewloe Green British School, which is not subject to an Educational Trust, the Trustees stipulate for the payment of a reasonable rent.) 2.—The County Council shall keep the pre- mises and all school furniture, fittings, &c., in good substantial repair, and shall from time to time execute such repairs, alterations and additions as may be necessary for con- ducting the school as an efficient elementary school. (In the event of the retransfer from the County Council to the Trustees a propor- tion of the cost of structural repairs must be repaid.) 3.- The County Council as the Local Edu- cation Authority will see that efficient Biblic- al instruction is imparted in the school, such instruction to be of an unsectarian character, and to be imparted by the members of the teaching staff of the school. 4.—The school shall be conducted in all respects free from sectarian or denominational influences. 5.—The Trustees or Managers shall be en- titled to the use of the school buildings for such purposes as they may deem fit at such times and subject to such conditions as may hereafter be determined. 6.—The County Council will undertake all expenses connected with the preparation of a lease of the premises, including the expenses of obtaining the concurrence of all necessary parties, and will carry through the necessary correspondence with the Board of Education. The recommendations were adopted. APPOINTMENTS. Mr. R. Llewelyn Jones was appointed to re- present the County Council on the Central Welsh Board, and Mr. J. L. Muspratt on the Court of Governors of the University of Wales.

"BRA X (Regd.) BISCUITS. Brax Biscuits are made from Brax Flour, and contain the most nutritious and most easily digested constituents of both Wheat and Malt. The Proprietors of CEAWFOUD'S BISCUITS especially recommend them as a. palatable and wholesome food.

Sensational Developments. THE JUDGE AND THE LATE RHUDDLAN POSTMASTER. STRONG REMARKS. SEVERE CROSS-EXAMINATION. The combined assizes for the Counties of Denbigh and Flint were opened at Ruthin on Saturday, before Mr. Justice Gainsford Bruce. Local interest was centered in the charges preferred against Mrs. Margaret Frances Roberts and Miss Garner, formerly employed at the Post Office in Rhuddlan, and against Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Parry, of Upper Llandwrog, who was also at one time employed at the Rhuddlan Post Office. In anticipation of the cases being heard on Saturday a large number of people were present from Rhuddlan, in addition to the witnesses and those immediately connected with the case, the courtroom being crowded with well known residents both from Rhyl and Rhuddlan. But they had their jour- ney in vain. Finding that it was not likely that a start could be made on Saturday, Mr. Ellis Jones Griffith, M.P., who was engaged on behalf of two of the prisoners, applied that the case might be taken on Tuesday after the Colwyn Bay manslaugh- ter case. On Tuesday, when there was more cer- tainty of the case being reached, there wa even a larger attendance of interested spectators and hearers, and they had cer- tainly no reason to complain of plenty of sensationalism. It was resolved first to proceed with the charges against Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Parry for stealing in August, 1901, two postal orders of the value of eight shillings and sixpence and a fourpenny stamp. Counsel for the presecution were Mr. Trevor Parkins and Mr. Clement E. Lloyd (instructed by Mr. J. B. Allanson, Carnarvon), and the prisoner was defended by Mr. Ellis Jones Griffith, M.P. (instructed by Mr. A. W. Lewis, of Messrs. Bromley, Jones & Co., Rhyl). Mr. Parkins, in opening the first case against Parry, said the prisoner was for a long time an assistant at the Rhuddlan post office with her uncle, Mr. Thomas Evans, who was sub-postmaster. She continued in the post office until she was married in 1902. It appeared that on the 20th of August, 1901, Mr. Richard Williams, of Rhuddlan, went to the post office for two postal orders for 7s. 6d. and is. and a four- penny stamp, altogether 8s. iod., an amount which he owed Mr. John Swan, of Bir- mingham. Parry handed the orders to Williams, who put them in an envelope and handed it to Parry to post. There were no other women in the post office at the time. Mr. Williams heard a few days later that the postal orders had not been received. The orders were placed in the envelope blank, and a few days afterwards they were cashed at Penygroes post office by Mrs. Jane Owen, a relative of the prisoner's, who alleged that she had received them from the prisoner in payment of a skirt she had sold to Parry. The first witness called was Richard Williams, wheelwright, of Rhuddlan. He said that on the 20Lh of August, 1901, he went to the post office at Rhuddlan and purchased from the prisoner two postal orders for 8s. 6d. and a fourpenny stamp. He took down the numbers of the orders in the presence of the prisoner, and after- wards went to the house close by to write a covering letter. He placed the letter and the postal orders in an envelope and ad- dressed it to Mr. John Swan, of Birming- ham. As it was then almost time for the mail ro leave he did not drop the letter into the letter-box but handed it over the counter to Mrs. Parry. A few days after- wards he heard that Mr. Swan had not received the orders and he reported the matter at the post Office, subsequently as- certaining that the orders had been cashed by Mrs. Mary Jane Owen at Penygroes, but he heard nothing further of the matter until last June, The witness was subjected to a somewhat severe cross-examination by Mr. Ellis Jones Griffith as to whether he was not mistaken in several instances, particularly as to whether he had handed the letter to Mrs. Parry, and also as to whether he did not see Mrs. Mary Jane Owen in the post office at the time, and in the course of it he fainted, and was some time before he was able to continue his evidence. John Roberts, a clerk in the employ of Messrs J. Swan & Co., Birmingham, said that Mr. Williams at the time these orders were posted by him owed some money to his firm. He looked at the postal orders produced, they were not received by him or anyone at his firm's office Owen Roberts, postmaster of Penygroes, depos- ed to cashing the postal orders produced, on the 24th of August. They were signed Mary Jane Owen. He could not swear that Mary Jane Owen was the person to whom he had paid the money. Cross-examined Mary Jane Owen lived two or three miles from the house. He had been sub-post- master of Penygroes tor eighteen years and knew Mary Jane Owen well. The incident happened on the 24th of August the day of the flower show. His attention was next called to the matter three or four months afterwards. Although there was only one Mary Jane Owen that he knew in Penygroes, he could not recall her calling at the office, and when the inquiries were made by the postal authorities he told them he could not remember who the person was he had paid the money to. There was a four- penny stamp attached to a shilling order. Re-examined Mr. Ganson came to see him some time this year. He knew Mrs Owen by sight when the orders were cashed but not by name. Mary Jane Owen, said she was the wife of Robert Owen, second officer on the steamship Tinterella and she lived at Upper Llandwrog. She looked at the postal orders produced. She saw the name Mary Jane Owen at the foot of the postal orders and also in the body. She wrote the names, and the orders came into her possession through the post office and she received them on the 24th August, 1901. That was the day of the Penygroes Flower Show. When she received the postal orders there was a letter from E. A Jones the prisoner (who was then unmarried ) She had not that letter as she had destroyed it. The letter simply expressed the hope that she had reached home allright. There were no other words in the letter that she could rememher. She could not say whether any reference was made to the postal orders She received the letter about eight o'clock in the morning. The envelope bore the Rhuddlan post- mark. She changed the orders the same day at the Penygroes post office. She was related to Thomas Evans, the late sub poster of Rhuddlan, and she was staying with him on a visit in the month of August, together with her niece, Miss Hughes. While she was on a visit at Rhuddlan, she received a parcel containing a skirt. She tried it on in the presence of the prisoner, and found it was too small for her and prisoner said she would buy it as it matched her blouse. Witness said it would be allright and she agreed to sell it but no pries was named, but she said she could not give it. Prisoner said she could not pay just then. She told prisoner that the skirt had cost her 12S., but that she did not require that much for it. When prisoner said she could not pay for it then she told her to pay for it when it was convenient. Witness left Rhuddlan on the day previous to the date that was •T# on the postal order. She stayed in Rhuddlan nearly a fortnight. The skirt arrived about the middle of the first week she arrived there, and the conversation referred to took place some days before she left. Prisoner said goodbye to her, and that she would send the money after her, that they were paid at the post office every Friday. She left Rhuddlan on the Friday morning. During the time she was staying at the post office she did not go into the post office itself. Most of her time she spent at Rhyl at the seaside together with her niece She generally started for Rhyl somewhere between half-past eleven and half-past twelve, being always accompanied by Miss Hughes. They stayed at Rhyl until late at night; she endeavoured to get home by about a quarter-past nine or half-past, and she did this every day. The reason why she timed her arrival home by that time was because MrEvans wished to get to bed in order that he might get up early. The mail generally left about quarter-past nine at night. Sometimes she used to arrive when they were putting the letter bags in, and at other times she met the mail cart. There was one Saturday that she did not go to Rhyl because it was raining heavily all day, and that day she was sewing in the kitchen. Mr Evans went to bed as soou as the mail left. When she received the two orders she wrote a letter the beginning of the following week to the prisoner stating that she had arrived home safely, and that she had been to the flower show. She also said that she had received the orders. She looked at the envelope produced and remembered receiving it. It bore the Rhuddlan post mark 30th July, 1903, 9-15. She received that letter about eight o'clock the fol- lowing morning. She wrote that on the envelope the time she received it. Cross-examined: Her correspondence with the prisoner with reference to the matters in question were very brief. The envelope produced contained nothing, but it was to prove that she could receive a letter posted at Rhuddlan at night on the following day. That letter came as a result of an arrangement between her and the detective. She had always lived at Penygroes. She generally went to Bwlch-y- llyn post office and could have cashed the orders there, but she cashed them at Penygroes because she happened to be there that day. She had cashed orders at Penygroes before. Mr. Roberts was not known to her except by sight and there was no acquaintanceship. She was related to Mr. Evans, Mrs. Roberts and Mrs. Parry. She had sold a white skirt to the prisoner some time previously for which she paid her 4s. 6d. in the house some time before this—about twelve months or eighteen months previously, very soon after she had sold her the dress. She had paid for the blue skirt to Lovey and Co., Carnarvon. She had a receipt for it at home. The detective had asked her to see the receipt but she failed to find it. She had not paid for the skirt when at Rhuddlan, but did so some time after she got at home. There was an entry in Lovey's book of the sum she owed for this skirt. The skirt produced was the one which she sold the defendant. It was not lined. She could not say whether the skirt was worth twelve shillings, but that was what she paid for it. She had never fixed any price for it, but said she could not take less than six shillings for it. Asked why the prisoner should send her 8s. iod. when she had mentioned six shillings, the witness replied that she did not say that she would not take more. She mentioned six shillings because half price was better than none. She would have accepted six shillings. Prisoner knew why she sent more than six shillings witness could not explain it. Counsel: You thought that 8s. iod. was a proper sum for that object there ? Witness: I thought it was better than that it should go to waste, what I said all along was that I should not accept less than six shillings. I should not have grumbled if she had only sent me six shillings. I suggest to you that you stole these postal orders ?—I did not. I suggest to you that you were in the post office before nine o'clock on the 20th of August, 1901 i- And I say I was not. I suggest that you were repeatedly in that post office during your stay at Rhuddlan ?—Not once. Both on the public side of the counter and the private side of the counter ?—Not once. That Mr* Evans frequently turned you away front the post office ?—Not once. That he was suspicious of you ?—He never said anything. I suggest to you that you have taken other things from that house ?—Never. A white silk handerchief and a brooch ?—I have never heard them mentioned. Did you ever give a white silk handkerchief and a brooch to your sister, Mary Elizabeth Hughes ?—I have no sister. Do you know Mary Elizabeth Hughes ?—I don't know her. She is dead I understand. Did you know her when living ? —Yes. I don't suggest that you gave her a present when she was dead. Did you make her a present when living ? —No. Did you make her a present of any kind ?—No. I suggest to you that you took a jacket and a pair of boots from Kinmel View when the post office was there ?—I never heard of such a thing. I suggest to you that you repeatedly obtained goods on credit at shops and that your mother had to pay for them ?—Never. I suggest that you have borrowed money from people and never paid them back?—No, bring one to face me. Mr. Wynne, Mostyn ?—No. Now really, madam. I invite you to be careful. I am going to call him later on. Did you borrow a sovereign from Mr. Wynne, Mostyn ?—My mother was living then. Did I say anything about your mother being living or dead ?—My mother has been dead for many years. That was the time I asked, not for myself. Did you borrow a sovereign from Mr. Wynne, Mostyn, yourself?—No, I borrowed one on behalf of my mother. Did you pay it back on behalf of you mother ?— Yes, to Mrs. Wynne. When ?—A long time ago when I was there. Do you suggest that this woman Parry was receiving wages ?—She said so. Don't you know perfectly well that she never did receive any wages ?—No, what she told me was that they got their wages every Friday night. What I suggest to you that happened is this. This blue object arrived and it didn't fit you ?—Yes. Was it made to order ?—No, it was ready made. It wasn't a fresh model or anything of that kind (laughter) ?—I cannot say. Did you try it on at the shop ? Yes. And in three days it didn't fit you ?—No. Was it you who had grown bigger or the skirt that had grown less (laughter) ?—I cannot say. I know that the gentlemen of the jury, any more than myself, know nothing about this subject—at least I hope not (laughter). Do you mean to tell even me —a man (laughter) —that after three days this thing did not fit ? —I said it was too narrow. That means that it did not fit ?—It didn't fit me very well. But did it fit you at all if it was narrow ?—It didn't look well when I noticed it properly. I don't know what too narrow means. It means in plain male language-(laughter)-that it would not go round you ?—It did reach round but it was tight. You could not walk when it was too narrow ?— No. You would sit down but you would not walk ?— No, not that way either. What was wrong with it ?—It was too narrow. I don't want you to indicate the part. Still it fitted you allright three days before and when it arrived in Rhuddlan it was too narrow ?—I thought it fitted allright but when I looked at it did not, and I left it at the shop to make it shorter. And then it became narrower. I suggest to you what happened is this. This thing arrived. You found it did not fit and then Mrs. Roberts tried it on ?—No. Mrs. Roberts is a lady of a build not dissimilar to you ?—It was Miss Jones who tried it on and she bought it. Did Mrs. Roberts try it on ?—I didn't see her. Did Mrs. Roberts and yourself say that the thing was too narrow ?—There were only Miss Jones and myself there. Did you then send for Miss Jones who is a little narrower and did she try it on ?—There was no need to send for her, she was in the room. Did you offer to give it to Miss Jones as a gitt ?— No, I said I could not afford to do that. Did she then go downstairs and saw Mr. Evans. the postmaster, and did she come back with 4s. 6d. in her hand ?—No. And did she say to you "Uncle says you must take this ?—-No. That was in the presence of Mrs. Roberts and the prisoner ?—No. Do you say that you were fairly well in funds at this time ?—No, I don't say so. Did you tell the magistrates that you never received 4s. 6d. from the prisoner ?—I said I did not receive 4s. 6d. in orders Did you not tell the magistrates that there was a white shirt for which you had received 4S 6d ?—I told them that she had paid me 4s. 6d. in the house for it. She said she had sent a postal order for 4s 6d. and I said she had paid me 4s. 6d. in the house. Were you rather in need of money when in Rhuddlan ?—No Do you know Mr Idwal Parry ? —Yes. Do you remember telling him on the last Saturday you were there that you were rather short of money ?—No. You had plenty of it ?—No I had sufficient for my needs. (Continued on next page.)