The Glamorgan Gazette

ST. MARGARET'S SCHOOL PARK STREET, BRIDGEND. BOARDING AND DAY SCHOOL. '•PREPARATORY CLASS FOR BOYS. Private Coaching in any Subject. Juvenile and Adult Dancing Classes. DRESSMAKING AND ART NEEDLEWORK. OIL PAINTING CLASS. Next Term Commences Tuesday, Sept. 25th. The Principal, Miss ALEXANDER (late of •Southemdown), is now in residence. 1134 'OLD MEETING HOUSE, jgRI DGEND. (Bottom Newcastle Hill). SUNDAY NEXT AT 6.30 P.M., 1REV W. PRIESTLEY pHILLIPS, M.A. Subject: "GOOD THROUGH EVIL." 1145

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES & DEATHi. SILVER WEDDING. 3JADKENCE—MITCHELL.—On Sept. 21st, 1892, at St. Mary's Parish Church, Swansea, by the Rev. W. Llewellyn Lewis, Frederick William Laurence, ldest son of the late Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Laurence, of Cheltenham, to Elizabeth Mitchell, only daughter of the late Mr. J. and Mrs. Mitchell, of Swansea. Present address Wyndhan^ House, Bridgend. 1114 DEATHS. ,AORGAN. -On Sept. 19th, at Llangewydd Road, Hannah, beloved wife of J. W. Morgan (Builder), Bridgend, after a long illness patiently borne. Sadly missed by Husband and Children. Public Funeral on Saturday at 2.30 p.m. 1146 IN MEMORIAM. •COCKRAM.—In loving memory of my dear Hus- band, James Cockram, who passed away Sept. 16th, 1916.—Gone, but sadly missed by his iovirig Wife and Daughter, Jennie. In my lonely hours of thinking, Thoughts of you are always near. COCKRA-d.-Ill loving memory of our dear Father, James Cockram, who fell asleep Sept. 16th, 1916.—Fondly remembered by Lizzie, Evan", and Grandchildren. "To memory ever dear. COCKKAM.—In affectionate remembrance of our dear Dad, who was called home Sept. 16th, 1916.Ever remembered by Emily and Jim. Lost from our home, But never from our hearts. 11 "8

A PLEA FOR THE WOUNDED. To THB EDITOR. I Sir,—May I be allowed to ask, What has be- come of the local detachment of the National Motor Volunteers? Is their existence justified merely for the purpose of atjtendance at a weekly drill ? For some time it was customary to see them assist in the transport of wounded men to the local hospitals, and—occasionally—one would see them giving a real joy-ride to some who were unable to get about "on their own." Of late, however, their non-attendance at the local Railway Station, on the reception of wounded men, has been much commented upon, and if is now a very rare sight to see a wounded man sharing the seats of the mighty. Motorists seviu to be getting tired of what was formerly a fashionable habit, yet the wounded soldiers in our hospitals are ]ust as much in need of these excursions. More so, indeed, be- cause motorists have almost ceased to take out wounded men individually. It appears that many local private people (not always the well-to-do!) offer home hospitality to small parties at a time from the local hos- pital, but the crippled men—and I venture to suggest that they are most in need of such out- ings—are becoming neglected, because of the lack of voluntary transport. It is true that the men in our local hospital are comfortably situated amid salutary sur- roundings, yet some of them come and go again, without ever a chance of admiring the beauties of our neighbourhood, or getting a sight of the glorious beach at Ogmore. I think the public will be interested to hear from local car owners on the matter.—I am, Sir, Yours, etc., SAi

BETTWS. j Winning Numbers of E. Griffiths' (Bettws) Prize DTawing:-lst, 449; 2nd, 433; 3rd, 656; 4th, 723; 5th, 1070; 6th, 193; 7th, 1161: 8th, 45; 9th, 441; 10th, 67; 11th, 1788; 12th 1612; 13th, 1220; I 14th, 1771; 15th, 1633; 16th, 1217; 17th, 1011.- David Lewis, Bryn Teg, Bettws, Bridgend. 1140

I WAR MEAT PRICES. j Revised Scale For Bridgend. On Monday night, at the Public Library Hall, Bridgend, there was a consultation between the Local Food Control Committee and representa- tives of the local butchers, and alter much de- liberation, a satisfactory statement was amic- ably arrived at, the scale of prices finally deter- mined to be operative to the end of the present month. The members present were Messrs. J. G. Jenkins, J.P., (chalrlllau), William Jones, Morgan Stradling, J. T. Hilt, G. Harris, Henry Abbott, with the co-opted members: Mrs. Hera- man, Messrs. Walter M. Powell, W. J. H. Petty, and the executive officer (Mr. Ivor M. Howell). At the outset, the Chairman said the first business wat tne prices to rule for meat. At the last meeting they considered the list of prices submitted by the butchers, and sent it back for re-consideration. He understood a deputation was about to wait upon them to place its views before the meeting.—In preliminary discussion, Mr. Walter M. Powell cited the fixed retail prices for Kent and neighbouring counties, wnich prices were considerably lower than those forwarded to the committee, and at the request of a member he also read the copy of a local quotation w»ntNto a certain authority within 10 miles of the town of Bridgend, and suggested it as the basis of local prices.—Mr. William Jones said on Saturday morning he was in a local butcbl"s shop, where the list ot prices i, as so situated that nobody could see it, instead of being conspicuously to the fore, as it should have been.Mr. Hitt: At Port Taibot the list is in eI,.h. window.—Mr. Abbott: You should in- sist upen a prominent place. At Maesteg and Tondu the list is in a prominent place, and in printed letters, and why should it not be the same in Bridgend:—Mr. W. M. Powell asked whether they would enforce their own list?—The Chairman replied that the prices would be sent to the Food Controller, and if he approved and the butchers did not fall into line, they would then be in a position to take action.—The depu- tation was then admitted, comprising the chief spokesman, Mr. W. J. Edwards (secretary of the Butchers' Association), with Messrs. W. C. Edwards, W. Pearce, and A. Trew. Addressing them, the Chairman said he was sure they were anxious to do all they could for the towns- people, especially for the poorer classes. The committee did not wish to exercise compulsory powers, but to discuss matters in a friendly spirit, and if possible to come to an amicable agreement, with a reasonable profit for the butchers.In reply to a question, Mr. Edwards said on re-consideration they had cut down the prices so far as possible. He had a list of all the butchers in the town whom the deputation repi-esented,-After a discussion, in which the members asked for certain concessions, the Chairman pointed out the fortnight had now ex- pired for presentation of a balance sheet by the ) outchers indivi«k«ally.—The members of, the deputation explained that the preparation of such balance sheet would be a difficult and well- nigh impossible task.—Discussion was next directed to the display of price lists, where they should be placed, the necessity of good-sized letters and figures, legibility, and the like.—The Chairman emphasized that the list must be placed in a conspicuous position, where it could easily be seen by the customers.—Mr. Edwards producing a specimen list, Mr. W. Jones said: That is too small! How do you expect people to go behind the counter?—The Chairman: If these pricee are not perfectly legible, and placed in a position where they can be read, we shall then insist upon the prices.—Mr. Edwards assured the members the butchers would com- ply, and put the lists in the shop windows.— The Chairman then said You have sent in an amalgamated list. You were supposed to send in individual lists-each one to give his own list of prices.-Mr. W. M. Powell: And what about the extra charge for carriage and de- livery.—Mr. Hitt: The bakers, who have the same right, have decided not to make any charge for carriage and delivery.—Mr Edwards: We are entitled to it. I don't say we shall ask for. it.—Mr. W. M. Powell: If the butchers are magnanimous, and do not make this charge, we shall advise the local community to help the butchers by calling for their own meat and pay- ing tor it in cash. The credit system is bad. (Hear, hear.) I think the people will agree to it, and I am sure it will greatly assist the butchers.—The butchers, by mutual consent, re- tired, and after half an hour's absence, Mr. Edwards said they were now prepared to accept the prices, with a few alterations. There was a rather complicated debate on the beef prices, especially those for sirloin, steak, rounds," etc., and the list, until the end of the month, it was agreed shall be as follows: Beef: Hind quarters—Steak, 1/8; sirloin, 1/6; rump, 1/7; rounds, 1/7; flanks, 1/ suit, 1/ fore- quarters—ribs, 1/6; shoulder C., 1/6; scrag, lOd; brisket, 1/3; brisket P.E., 1/ shin bone, 6d. Lamb: Legs, 1/6; loins, 1/6; shoulders, 1/6; necks, 1/2; breast, 1/2; chops, 1/8. Mutton: Legs, 1/5; shoulders, 1/5; loins, 1/5; necks, 1/ breasts, 1/ The committee expressed a very strong opinion in favour of Mr. W. M. Powell's sug- gestion that the public should assist butchers by always paying cash; and the Chairman said he hoped the Press would call attention to, and emphasize, the matter—The prices for veal were dismissed from consideration.—In discussing pork prices, Mr. Abbott said the pork butchers he knew were "coining money."—Mr. W. Jones: I move that the pork butchers be asked to come here.—The deputation again retired to consider. -On their return, the Chairman informed them the committee was unanimously in favour of a reduction of a penny per lb. in the prices all roui.id.M-r. Edwards replied that in the ab- sence of the pock butchers they could hardly be expected to give a definite answer.-Mr. Abbott: Will you agree?—Mr. Edwards: I think we ought to stand by the pork butchers. —Eventually, the matter was allowed to stand over, and a sub-committee, consisting of Mrs. Herdman, Messrs. W. M. Powell, and H. Abbott, with the executive officer (Mr. Ivor M. Howell) was appointed to confer with the pork butchers, and later make a recommendation to the committee.—At the suggestion of a mem- ber, the committee expressed the view that it was desirable always to put on every bill the weight of the meat, as well as the price per lb. The list of prices, it was decided, are to be ex- hibited in all the shop windows.—Mr 1. Howell, in discussion on the distribution to fruit- growers of the sugar allocated by Glamorgan County Council, said there were about 300 lbs. on hand.—It was decided to leave the list open until next week.—Applications were granted to 41 local retailers to be sugar distributors.

KENFIG HILL. Our Late Correspondent.-Through the cour- tesy of Mr. Wm. David, Temperance Hotel, Bridge Street, Kenfig Hill, we are favoured with an interesting communication from Mr. Owen James, late "Gazette" correspondent at Kenfig Hill. The writer is on active service "some- where in the East." In his letter to "the dear boys," he says there are no Kenfig Hill boys on the unit, though D. J. Locke is somewhere about ten miles away, and Spanswick, from Cefn, is at another hospital at a distance of three miles. Then he continues ÍIl this strain :— The more time one spends in this benighted land, the more anxious one becomes of leaving it. As I write, the mercury registers something like 104 or 105 degrees in the shade, and the per- spiration simply rolls off. Clothing is almost a burden, and we often fee} a desire to emulate Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Thank goodness, it is not necessary to wear collars, etc., here. The lightest of drill is more than suffi- cient for our comfort. Some of you may be acquainted with the poem of Kipling called "On the Road to Mandalav." In it the British soldier is supposed to "near the East a-callinV and to evince a desire for returning to the East. Don't believe it; for it is the West that calls, The voice of the East does call in the night in no uncertain manner. You should hear the howling of the dogs (pariahs), the braying of the donkeys, and the weird noise of myriads of crickets in the grass. Goats wander into the tents sometimes, and one of my chums woke the other night to find a "Billy" trying to make a meal off his ear. In the day-time, the flies are a fearful pest, though, thanks to anti-fly pre- parations, the discomfort has been greatly re- duced this vear Mosquietoes and sand flies are also terrible pests. Salonica is a fine town— from a distance. Once entered, the charm vanishes, and one becomes conscious only of its smells. If there are any kind of smells in the world worse than those of certain parts of Salonique-well, it is time to wipe that place off the map and, as for flies, their name is legion. Spring and autumn out here are really delight- fiil, but as for summer, the sooner it is over the better.

I VALE FARMERS AND CORN-GROWING CONTROVERSY. A meeting of Cowbridge and County Farmers' Club was neld at Cow onugeon luesaay last. [ Air. Henry Kadciirfe (Druidstone) presided, and drew attention to the lact that since tne depu- tation of the Club waited upon Mr. Prothero the Corn Production Act had been passed empower- ing farmers who leu aggrieved at the result of tneir appeals to the Y\ ar Agricultural Commit- tee to appeal before an independent arbitrator, He a.,o. auuded to tome letters which hud ap- peared in tne Pret-s, and pointed to tne syinpa- tnetic attitude of the W ar Agricultural Lum- mittee towards the farmers. Although the quota of acres allotted to Glamorgan to plough w as L,1,000, this area might be reduced on appeal. farmers were anxious to produce more food, but by the cutting up of highly productive pastures tuey would be lessening instead of increasing the luoci supply. Corn could be imported more easily tnan milk, beef, and fodder. Air. Rees Thomas said there appeared to be a misunderstanding as to what the ueputation had reported to meetings of the Club. Iney were not antagonistic to the War Agricultural Committee but were willing to help the committee all they could. His advice was that pastures producing two to three tons of hay per acre should not be .ploughed up. '1 he great difficulty in the produc- tion of corn was tne question ot labour. Air. Edmund D. 1-,ewi4 said he hoped the War Agricultural Committee would deal reasonably with appeals. Glamorgan was not geographic- ally suitable for corn growing, its climate being humid. 'lnere was also a great scarcity of labour. Captain T. J. Yorwerth, speaking as Mayor of Cowbridge, said he thought all the discussion about this question had come about owing to a disagreement between the County War Agri- cultural Committee and the committee of the Club. He suggested that the two committees should meet and settle the question once and for all. Colonel H. R. Homfray thought the farmers were crying out before they were hurt. He defied any farmer to tell him what their com- plaint was. They were treating the War Agri- cultural Committee as if the latter were deadly enemies, but they were nothing of the sort. The Executive Committee had been faced with a colossal task, and had carried it out to the best of their ability. If independent surveyors had been called in it would have cost an enormous sum of money, which could not be tolerated in these times. The Executive Committee had not yet heard any appeals from this district. He took the statement that farmers were anxious to increase their production with a grain of salt. Mr. Edmund D. Lewis said it was quite true that the process of hanging had not been com- pleted. The final execution had not taken place, but the machinery had been set up for the exe- cution. They knew definitely every acre chosen to be ploughed, and they knew, too, that in many cases the Executive Committee would con- firm it. Colonel Homfray said the Executive Commit- tee had not yet met in that district. Mr. Lewis The District Committees have met at Llantwit and Cowbridge, and have given their decisions, and confirmed the Orders. Mr. Daniel Jenkins said the Farmers' Club was preparing its guns. If they went before the Executive Committee without preparation, it would be like going to fight the Germans with- out ammunition. Mr. E. U. David said he was sure the tenant I farmers did not want to create a bad feeling be- tween themselves and the War Agricultural Committee. The farmers were imagining some- thing that had not yet taken place. He had had a conversation with the chairman of the War Agricultural Committee, who took a per- fectly reasonable and commonsense view of the position, and was quite willing to meet the ten- ant farmers. The farmers, Mr. David pointed out, could now appeal to three different parties before being compelled to plough-the district committee, the executive committee, and the in- dependent arbitrator. The Chairman said the work of the Club Com- mittee had been quite straightforward and honest, and as far as they were concerned there had been no misunderstanding. If they found that some of the farmers had-been unreasonably dehlt with, they could help them to appeal. On the motion of Mr. Edmund D. Lewis, seconded by Mr. Rees Thomas, it was decided to ask the War Agricultural Committee to admit the public to appeals. The Chairman said he had been asked to call attention to the election of Magistrates. Forty- four Magistrates had been appointed for Gla- morgan, but no farmer appeared in the list. It was decided to call the attention of Lord Rhondda, the local Member of Parliament, the I' Lord Lieutenant, and the chairman of the Ad- visory Committee to the matter.

GLAMORGAN COUNTY COUNCIL WAR AGRICULTURAL COMMITTEE. To THE EDITOR. Dear Sir,—I notice in to-day "Western Mail" that at a meeting of the Cowbridge Farmers' Club a statement was made that the farmers had a right to appeal against the decision erf the Board of Agriculture's Committee by way of arbitration under the Corn Production Act, 1917. This is incorrect, for by Section 11, Sub- Section 3, the provisions of this part of the Act are not to come into operation until the ter- mination of one year from the passing of this Act or the termination of the present War, which ever is the earlier. The Executive Committees are acting under the Defence of the Realm Regulations, which are specifically embodied in the above section, and there is no Appeal under these regulations from the Executive Committee's decision.—Yours truly, truly, H. A. PHITCHARD, Secretary to the Glamorgan Agri- cultural Executive Committee. 13 St. Andrew's Crescent, Cardiff. Septem ber 19th, 1917. 1143

I OUR ALLOTMENT HOLDERS. Their Status and Prospects. j Having gone in for the three "tioiis 11 -regis- tration, affiliation, and organisation—and incor- porated itself with the Agricultural Organisa- tion Society, Bridgend allotment holders are now on a legal and more satisfactory basis, and in a position much more beneficial and more assured for financial and other reasons. "Stick it" has been the motto of our allotment holders who on Wednesday night last week (under the presidency of the energetic chairman, Mr. Walter M. Powell) met at Bridgend Free Lib- rary, and discussed matters relating to past ex- perience and (founded on such experience) hopes of still greater success inthe (it is feared) try- ing time that is to conilf In addressing the allotment holders, Mr. Powell reminded them that last year they were unfortunately placed in being unable to secure a sufficiency of early seed potatoes. Now, however, they would, he hoped, be in an infinitely better position, as in tackling the question thus early, and in associa- tion with the "A.O.S. they would have the benefit of the best markets, of the best prices, and the best quality, (ilear, hear.) Consider- ation had also been given to the utilisation of the land during the winter, and the useful sug- gestion had been made that if it was too late for planting, it was not too late to go in for manuring with a view to catch crops. (Hear, hear.)—Mr. R. Phelps (Whitchurch), represen- tative and secretary of the district organisation, in an interesting address cited statistics show- ing that with the production contemplated, the country will be independent of the submarine menace. He urged the members to let the sec- retary know what seed they would require, and to do it at once, when prices were far less than they would be six months hence. Food pro- duction would be a far more important matter by the end of 1918, and it behoved them to get the very best out of every plot. From one of the large growers they would get the best at the lowest price—a remark which also applied to manure, lime, and other commodities. By forming themselves into an organisation, they would also save money, and reap the advantages of combination, and as a Society registered under the Industrial Provident Societies Act, they would be on a legal basis, and on terms of equal responsibility, at the same time that they enjoyed a security they otherwise would not possess. By combination, again, they would build up amongst the members a spirit of uni- versal brotherhood, in accordance with the motto, "Each for all, and all for each." (Hear, hear.)

r BRIDGEND COUNTY SCHOOL. j Central Welsh Board Examinations, July, 1917. The Examiners' Returns for the above exami- nations are to hand. They show that thirty candidates secured the Senior Certificate, twenty-two the Supplementary Senior, and sixty-two the Junior Certificate. Ten of the Senior candidates completed Matriculation re- quirements, and fifteen secured the special cer- tificates required for entering a Training Col- lege. Of the Junior candidates, one achieved Marks of Distinction in eight subjects, which must be nearly a record, and several obtained Distinction in four oj five subjects. The names of the successful scholars were as fol'.ow SEXIOR CERTIFICATES.—Redvers Harold Cole, William Daniel Court, Margaret Helena Davies, Frederick Goulden, Arthur Malin Granville, Evelyn Amanda Griffiths, Theresa Hopkin, Margaret Anne Howells, Catherine James, Marie James, Gladys Catherine Jenkins, Mar- garet John, Edna May Jones, Emily Mary Jones, Rhvs Jenkin Loveluck, Edith May Mark, Adeline May Matthews, Doris Morgan, Mary Aune Owen, Gertrude Jane Powell, John Edward Rhys-Griffiths, Ceridwen Ridgeway, Bessie Scourfield, Henry Hector Tanner, Eleanor Annie Whittaker, Elizabeth Ann Williams, Gwvn Herschell Jones Williams, Rachel Mynyrfa Wilson, Olive Emily Wood- bridge. SUPPLEMEXTAHY CERTIFICATFS.-Edith Aldridge, Lilian Gladys Blvton, Rachel Bronwen Davies, Winifred Ann Edwards, Annie Ada Fudge, Susannah Florence Grant, Gwladys May Gwyther, Olive James, Morfydd May Jenkins, Elizabeth John, Phyllis Averill John, Annie Margaret Jones, Enyd Jane Jones, Edith Evelyn Lewis, Idwal James Lewis, Gwendoline Anne Lowe, Evelyn Cecilia Mathews, Rosa Dorothy Morgan, Edith Pope, Mary Olwen Price, Olive Emily Richards, Constance Walters.' JUNIOR CERTIFICATES.—Lily Mary Addis, Eilu- ned Sarah Barnett, Ernest Percival Beel, Wini- fred Mary Bissett, Edna May Coblet. Stella May Cobley, Olive Rhoda Coles, Donal Cecil Beeche Comlev, Gladys May Curtis, Hubert Francis Dare, Hopkin David, Frances Olwen Davies, Margaret Helena Davies, Arthur Evans, Eliza- beth Margaret Evans, James Carnel Griffith Evans, Maldwyn Evans, Margaret Claudia Evans, Brinley Gilbert, Dorothy Agnes Grant, Eric Norton Grindley, Margaret Ellen Gwyther, Marv Catherine Hopkins, Rose Mary Hopkins, Brynwen Mary James, Flossie Eileen James, I Harold Leslie Jenkins, John Ruskin Jenkins, David Dilwyn John, Archibald Jones, Isaiah Thomas Jones, Mary Louisa Jones, William Francis Jones, Mary Margaret Joseph, Ivor John Jury, Beryl Mary Lakin, Elizabeth Mary Lewis, John Lewis, Islwvn Llewelyn, Thomas Davis Matthias, Doris Morgan, Jane Morgan, Mabel Morgan, Olive Morgan, Sarah Jane Mor- gan, Blodwen Owen, Randolf Thomas Parry, Illtyd John Pearce, Eleanor Margaret Elizabeth Price, Enid Elizabeth Puffit, Iestvn James Rees, Hannah Ellen Thomas, May Thomas, Nancy Thomas, Mary Grace Warren, Merville William Watkins, Sydney Bevan Watkins, Archibald Glyn Williams, Cuthbert Llinaeus Williams, Gladys Mav Williams, John Alured Williams, Rudolph Thomas Winn. 1 —

VALE NOTES. I (By Pela-gius.") I The Agricultural War Committees (Central J and Local) have come into much criticism at the hands of the members of the local Farmers' j Club, who resent in strong terms reports that have appeared in the local Press casting serious reflection upon the integrity and the object of the members .f the deputation that waited on Mr. Prothero, and the truth or otherwise of the I deputation's report on that interview to their I constituents. They base their defence on the ] following extracts taken from the official short- hand note of Mr. Prothefo's speech to the ctepu- ] tation :— < No. 1.—What we want to get is three million acres more under corn cultivation. That is a very different thing from ploughing up three million acres of pasture land. No. 2.—It is three million additional acres of land under corn and potatoes that we are out for; it is not three million acres of pasture to be ploughed up. That makes all the differ- ence. No. 4.—Now I agree with you as to the ab- j solute necessity of keeping up the milk supply I of the country. There is no doubt about it, that, if- the milk supply fails, nothing would be more likely to provoke popular disorder, I indignation and discontent. We all know the reason; it would attack the child life of I the nation. I am entirely with you on that I point—that we must at all hazards keep up j the milk supply of the country. No. 6.—We know, for instance, that you can ¡ get corn crop after ccrn crop for 25 years in succession from the same land, provided that I you feed it and keep it clean, and that, taking a corn crop after another, again means a re- duction in the amount of the pasture to be ploughed. Nos. 7 and 11.—If the grass is of that rich character which in its present condition is j contributing as much food, either human or animal, to the national stock as it would I under tillage, I think it should be left down. You have pleaded also what I know to be per- fectly true, that these hill farms supply a great quantity of hay. There is no doubt j about that, and the land that produces two tons of hay to the acre is, I think, doing its duty to the nation. j No. 8.—You must not suppose that we have set you any cast-iron task. What we ask, you to do is to find out the position in which you stood in 1872, and see how near to that position you can get in the 1918 harvest. If you cannot reach it you must say so, and tell I us how near you can get to it, and why you 1 cannot do more. We do not set you any rigid task of so many acres to be ploughed up in Glamorgan. We put before you an ideal, and I say, "How much can you do?" That is the. position so far as that goes. ) !\(I. 10.-Mr. Lewis and Mr. Howell put to me very strongly the case of the small farmer, and I entirely agree that it is no good asking i a man who has no experience of arable farm- j ing and no equipment in the way of horse6 or j machinery to plough. I do not see how he could do it. On your hill farms, I further do not see how nSachinery will help you very much. But some of the hill farms might be able to do a little with what they have got. I The members of the deputation base their defence on this and the whole tenor of the ver- j batim report, and we are informed that the Farmers' Club are taking measures to ask for i an explanation on the, what they think, changed attitude of the Agricultural Board. The views expressed by the Minister of Agricul- ture in regard to asking small-holders to plough, differs somewhat from the interpretation placed on the order by local committees. ) ) The majority of the appellants at the local tri- bunal last week were men who hold from 30 to 60 acres of permanent pasture farms. And with three or four exceptions their appeals were dismissed. A case in point will illustrate nearly all the appeals refused A tenant, farming 36 acres of pasture land, was ordered to plough a field of from 5 to 6 acres. This field has been put down 27 years. The tenant, an agricultural labourer, has spent much of his capital on artificial manures for this field. It is now one of his best pasture fields. There are no farm buildings to stable horses, nor any barn or granary to put corn after threshing. He must purchase imple-1 ments to work the land; also a team of horses. The committee's reply to this is: "We will pro- vide tractors." Every farmer knows that after a field is ploughed, much work remains to be done before the land is in a proper state of cul- tivation to be sown, and on most small fields a tractor is unsuitable. We recently witnessed a i field being ploughed on a holding of this des- cription. A large headland was of necessity left by ploughing the field. This was ploughed by the tractor inwards towards the hedges, and will have to be ploughed every time the same I way, if done by tractor. This will not be good farming, for in time the parts adjoining the fences will gradually become a bank. 9 0 There appears to us a danger that in their praiseworthy zeal to increase corn acreage, the War Committees will strangle the small-holders, and then what of the cry we so often hear of "Back to the land"? It is to be hoped the Central body will visit the Vale, and carefully consider before deciding on the appeals now pending.

SMALL TALK. A Bridgend query: If "Charley's Aunt" is enough to make a cat laugh, what about our Belle of -New York" <* The old inhabitant is everywhere a valuable asset, especially to tap for reliable information. And who shall say but that Bridgend has ad- vanced by leaps and bounds after the statement made by Mr. Wm. Jones the other night? < < w On Monday evening, at the weekly meeting of our Local Food Control Committee the executive officer announced that 41 applications had been received from retailers for permission to dispose of sugar—whereupon Mr. Wm. Jones (in re- miniscent mood) exclaimed Forty-one Dear me I And I can remember when we had only three < A careful observer noted it as a rather curious coincidence that after the adjournment for lun- cheon at Bridgend Police Court on Saturday, and the Magistrates "had done ample justice to the inner man," the first name called on resum- ing business was that of "Antonio Belli." < < The question is still asked: Whv did the gentleman take the clock with him for that so- journ at Ogmore by the Sea. The clock is sadly missed (especially during these darken- ing evenings) to regulate the time of our coming in, and our going out. • • • Marvellous indeed! but still not quite a record. In these wonderful days of rapid tran- sit and swift delivery, of flying machines, and the like, what was once deemed to be impos- sible is now very often accomplished. At first sight its seems incredible, but it is neverthless a fact that the other day a telegram "all the way from Manchester" got all right to Bridgend,, and well within an hour was safely delivered to its destination, which is quite 100 vards from the Central Post Office. 0 0 High-souled patriotism! The weeping and wailing of the young ladies -who accompany wounded soldiers to Bridgend Railway Station, and wish them ever such impressive and sorrowful farewells. The soldiers may be mar- ried, or they may be single. The only thing that concerns the ladies-and the only thing that matters—is that the heroes have fought and bled noblv for their country. < The Blackmill and Glynowgr exhibition of flowers, fruits, etc., was splendidly arranged, and also was eminently successful. Therefore, it is gratifying to learn that the committee con- template making the show an annual event. t.e in p a Everybody genuinely hopes that it really will be as suggested. The public delights to have two strings to its bow, and to be happily conscious that helping the soldiers and sailors is by no -? and sailors is bv no means one of the least of the pleasures of the day. • • What's in a name? Not much to the Sunny- sule man who on Tuesday night landed home in torrents of rain, wet to the skin-in spite of his "Mack" and his "gamp"! • « • From Sunnvside to Sunnyside House! Of all the wonderful sights at the Bowling Green fete and sports in aid of the Bridgend Cottage Hos- pital and Nursing Association, the most wonder- ful was perhaps the single stem with 11 pears attached, grown in the garden at Sunnyside House, and exhibited upon her stall by IIrs. Michael Davies, of Sunnyside House. w < Local catohe-, of the The biggest fish (4lb.) was caught by Mr. Walter Purfield at Pwllt Rock, until Mr. Willie Harris came along and captured another monster of precisely the same size. The biggest trout, lib. 15oz., was landed by Mr. Fred Harris, brother of Coun- cillor Geo. Harris-a truly harassing family for the finny fraternity. Mr. A. P. Owen is a good second with a lib. lloz. trout. The euphemistic terminology of them that rule the roost is probably meant to precipitate the millenium. The new nomenclature is seen at its funniest in its application to institutions to which everybody (except officials) desires to give as wide a berth as possible. The lunatic asylum is now an "institution for the feeble- minded or the mentally distressed," and the workhouse is grandiloquently, though thinly, disguised as (per example) The Bridgend and Cowbridge Poor-Law Institution." Yet the tramp ward is still the tramp ward, and not a place of retreat for indigent university gradu- ates and others; and the police cell is still the police cell, and not a convenient place of call for the temporary rest, refreshment, and relaxa- tion of noble knights of the road. A spade as ever is a spade, and these institutions (whatever the name) do not suggest anything akin to the ministry of loving kindness and reconciliation— any way, not yet! Men do not gather grapes from thorns, nor figs from thistles—nor "spuds" from onion seeda (revised version), as in the funny tale told by the famous Tondu pedestrian. The soldier on leave was telling a thrilling story to the "gentlemen of the bar." One of the dramatis personae was a certain Tommy, who was said to have "run amok in the trenches." Suddenly one of the distinguished company in- terfered, and broke in as follows: Oh, half a mo'. Stop that chewing of the fat. We know thev have mules out there, but there ain't any mokes to run after." ? Mr. W. A. Howell, P' *c?d (member of Peny- bont District Council), is a bit of a wag in his way. So, at the meeting of the Tribunal the other day he said, "I see thev have a menagerie at the Asylum." The remark had reference to the fact that two of the gentlemen on the list to be reviewed were attendants from the Asylum bearing the names of "Swan" and "Sparrow." Not birds of passage, anyhow! Men props! War weariness! Recently, the entrance to the Ship Hotel having become slip- pery-for horses—the Council ordered to be laid down a nice new set of "stone setts," so that there is no more reason for compliant. The question now discussed is whether the stability of the coping and railings in front of the hotel is real or imaginary. If there is a real weak- ness, why should it not be at once seen to (as were the stone setts) instead of leaving it all to the row of studious hobble-de-hoys who pass away valuable time (especially on Saturday nights), in sitting en the coping and leaning against the rails, the while passing comments on lady passers-by? On the other hand, if there is no weakness to be overcome, why don't the young gentlemen, if they are weary, recline on the comfortable seats a munificent Council has provided? If, again, they are fit, why don't they attach themselves to one or other of the varioug forms of service to which, at the call of duty, the country has given of its very best? V. • • Will others of the smart set please copy the example of the lady with the coloured umbrella Variety and beauty of tint would give a really razzle-dazzle kaleidoscopic appearance to Caro- line Street—a sort of moving rainbow—that would lwln to lift our depressed spirits in these dull all; digmd days! The insistent cry in some quarters is, "Oh, for a business Government." Well, in our local legislators we have a "business government." which was seen the other night in the aptitude with which the Food Control Committee (in con- ference with local butchers) applied itself to its duties, and tackled every technicality. Mrs. Herdman (the lady co-opted member) made a first appearance, and was warmly welcomed. As the complicated business proceeded, her presence was more and more appreciated—and little won- der^.since the poor housewife knows most where the shoe pinches, and it is only fitting that on the committee she should be sympathetically re- presented by one of her own sex. Mr. J. G. Jenkins, as chairman and schoolmaster, had his exemplary "class" well in hand. w < The Brewery "boys" on Wednesday had a joy- ous picnic (the usual affair), on this occasion at Ogmore. They wrestled bravely with the foam— of the sea—seven of 'em with a patent net. The catch, however, was insignificant. The ban- quet in the bungalow was the feature of a day which was blessed with fine weather at its close.