The South Wales Star

BRIDGEND NOTES. THE VACANCY OX lrlE SCHOOL BOARD. Owing to the lamented death of the Rev. T. Cole there is a vacant seat on the Bridgend School Board, which it is intended t3 fill up at the next meet'ug of +'le Be rid. It has been corfidently hoped that the new member would be unanimously selected from the same church as the late member belonged to. Tais is the most natural course that would suggest itself, and it wouhl also be a tdbuto to the revered memory of the I-,t, v'ce-cha'rma'i. Consequently, the Hope Baptist Church have chosen as their nominee Mr. T. J. Hushes, solicitor. But it has since tianspired that the Welsh Baptist Baptist Chui ch desire representation on the Board. They consider that as the late Rev. T. Cole occu- pied a seat on the Board since its formation that it is only fair that a man of their selection should now occupy the vacant seat. Tney have aeco •- el'igly selected Mr. T. Evans, Wyndham-street. But it should be borne in mind that at the last contested election the relative stsength of the two churches were considered, and the numbers and importance of the Hope Baptist Church sufficiently warranted the selection of the late member i-re- spective of his personal claim. We. therefore, con- sider that the decision then arrived at should remain intact until another appeal to the electors. There can be no difference of opinion that the vacant seat should be occupied by a man who will worthily succeed the late member who was one of the ablest members of the Board. The importance of the position calls for a person of culture; posi- tion, and ability. It is needless for us to dwell on the claims of the two candidates. Both gentle- men are so well 1 iown in the district that it would be useless for us to discuss their relative qualifica- tions for the post. Mr. Waliiii-ton has rendered valuable service by drawing the attention of the Local Board to the scandal of permitting entire horses to congregate for service in the stable-yard in Queen-street, a district surrounded by houses in the centre of the town. It is a disgrace to the authorities that such a practice has been allowed to exist fcr so long a period. We trust our Surveyor will exercise his power in this matter and prevent a repetition of such scenes. The Surveyor deserves a word of commendation for tne excellent report he presented to the Local Board at their last meeting in reference to a number of uninhabitable ho-Lises-or, more properly, polluted hovels—that are found in the town. and also for drawing attention to a number of nuisances that exist owing to very defective drainage. X 0 time should be lost in compelling those persons who reap a golden harvest from the rents of rookeries to make them healthy and fit habitations for man. If this cannot be attained by strnc.1 alterations then let them be demolished, and thereby rid our pretty little town of its olack po Hurry on faithful representatives of the rate- payers with your long-talked-of drainage scheme. The summer is fast approaching, and if the ques- tion is delayed until the winter it will, as Mr. McG-anl very wisely pointed out. be a source of great annoyance, and will cost a far larger amount of mon?y. Who is to be the chairman This is the query one hears on all hands. But with a number of eager aspirants for the distinguished position, the question is difficult to answer. The chair of our local Parliament should not be a pinnacle from which to blow the trumpet of personal vanity or to attempt to win popular esteem by frothing oratorical display. One or two of the candidates have actually canvassed the members. Does this enthusiasm arise from an earnest desire to serve the ratepayers in a still more honourable position, or is it the outcome of conceited and superior notionsRumour has it that personal enmity towards certain members fosters this enthusiasm. We hope not. We are anxious that the most efficient and capable of the members should fill the chair. We disapprove entirely of the unw tse conduct of a contemporary in making bitter per- sonal attacks against certain probable candidates, more especially the unworthy criticism of the late chairman, who has done more for the town than the writer of the scurrulous I'ncs can be expected to perform. "We hop3 wise counsels w*'11 preva'T at the next meeting of the Board, and that an unanimous selection will be arrived at. There need be no difficulty in the matter. We see no reason why the late chairman should not be re- elected. but if a change is considered desirable, there are eligible men at hand. G-ratitude for long sei vice, and a deep interest in the affairs of the town, would suggest Mr. Llewellyn Wallington. But we are not aware that he aspires to the posi- tion. Then we have the indomitable captain of the fire brigade, who has strong claims upon the memuers. for the varied services he has rendered the latepayers. However, we will not dictate. May there be nnaniir:ty and peace. We desire to diaw the attention of our readers to the last paragraph in the ever-interesv" rg Tw inklings' in another column, where our valued correspondent •• Brutus" offers a prize of half-a-sovereign for the nearest guess at the popu- Jation of the Bridgend Local Board district accord- iug to tuiis years' census. The conditions are that all guesses are to be sent to the Editor, addressed to Brutus by the end of this month, and to b" L accompanieel by the paragraph containing the offer, cut out of the STAR," and the full name and address of the sender. The result will be pub- Fshed. and the prize awarded as soon as the returns appear.

MAE-TEG LOCAL BOARD OF HEALTH. The usual fortnightly meeting of the above Board was held at the Board-room on Friday evening. April 10, when there were present. Mr. Foster Brown (in the chair), Messrs. D. V»:i.i;ams. E. Rees, T. Rees, D. Da vies. T. King-Ba\ les, J. Fay. J. Tamblyn. J. Evans, and J. Barrow.—Mr. D D sies hid given notice of motion at the previous meet- ing. and he now urged the necessity of doing so. There were many improvements required, and "1 his opinion the best means to be adopted would be to borrow £ 1,000.—Mr. J. Tamblvn hardly lÙcl the idea of borrowing money, and thought the im- provements mentioned should be provided for out of the present income of the Board.—Mr. J. Williams and Mr. Rees agreed with Mr. Tamblvn, and as there was no seconder to Mr. D. Davies' motion., it fell thtough.— There were many complaints of the inadequate supply of water, especially on Cam-road.—Tne Surveyor explained that there bad been a leakage, which had now been remedied.—The Clerk reposed that the postmaster had wiiuen approving cf 1he s'.t3 chorea for the letter-box, and promised to have one e-ecced immediately.—Mr. T. Rees the attention of the Board to the dangerous condi- tion of the wall around the Old Works pit.—Mr. Jenv'n Evans said that The Oakwood Company had built a throng wall. 8 feet high, but that some evil- disposed persons had torn a large hole through it. He promised to see to it being repaired again.— The Clerk read a communication from Mr. W. Powelh the clerk of the Burial Board concerning the road leading to the cemetery past the Crown Row.—Mr. D. Davies. as chairman, explained that the road would be a great boon to the inhabitants of Lltingynvi yd Higher. and moved that the request of the Burial Boad be granted.—Mr. King Davies. seconded.—Carried. A letter was red from the secretary of the "G-oiner Evans" Benefit Conceit Comnrttec." asking for the free use of the hall.— This was granted.—Mr. W. R. Thomas was ap- pointed collector, at a salary of £ 26.— Mr. L. YV. T'chards was appointed custodian at a saHrv of £ 12.

TWINKLINGS, WANTED—A PEOSECUTOK TITiy the law is a fearful and wonderful thing. If a collier strikes a colliery horse with the butt end of his whip, he is promptly hauled up before a local bench of beaks on a charge of cruelty to animals. whereas some of the aforesaid b3aks can torture a wretched lame stag with impunity. and enjoy their "sport." with no one to say them Xay." If some miserable old man seeks to earn a few shillings to keep himself out of the work- house by keeping a horse that isn't in tip-top con- dition. away w '.th him to the lowe.-t dungeon out a hundred big. burly bullies may invade our little town. and. on the pretence of some "match ( ave the mark '). set dogs on rabbits, product 1 more dead than alive, from a sack, and hunt them to death :n an enclosed field, and then go their own way without punishment. But not without indignant protect, so long as my pen can move Shame on ye. cowards anel knaves! "Three months" hard" would do you a worlel of good. WHO slULL BE C,ESAE The Board is dead—long live the Board." By the time these notes are in print, the Bridgend Local Beard for the year of grace 1890 will be no more H-qu\cxcat in }Iii" Hail to the new authority which pliantix-like springs from the ashes of its parents Let us give them a fair field and no favour say I.—But who shall be C-esar Aye. there's the rub. Mr. Millard tells me that no less than three gentlemen have ordered copies of the new version of a favourite old song of mine. The words be.- .-il- I love it, I love it anu who sh-ill dare To elide- me from loving the L. B. chair ? What on earth can all this mean Tal'-uirr of chairmen reminds me of a trite saving of Mr. Spurgeon. The whole duty of a chairman is to preserve order and to observe order." The italics are his. not mine. Mr. Spurgeon is dead on committees too. You all know his definition of a perfect committee, three with two away"; but per hap :• you haven't all of you heard his parsing of the word, "a noun of number- signifying many, but not much." To return. I hope the best man will win on his merits and that the decision will be loyally acquiesced in by all the members of our local sanhedrim. 1 ss THE GENTLE AET. I cm glad to hear such good reports of the pro- gress of our newly-fiedgeel "angling association." I am not one of those who describe the art which good old Israc Walton loved so well. as a hook at one end and a fool at the other." and I heartily wish success to cur young fishermen. There was a rumour in the town on Monday that a whale- had been sighted at the mouth of the Ogmore. Now. Bridcend anglers, here's a chance for you ZJ earn undying fame, and to land a good basketful (indeed a ship-load!) at a blow. I'm afraid, though, the rumour itself is very like a whale," and 'bat I shall be requested to communicate my information to that somewhat indefinite band of warriors yclept the horse marines." I well remember the time when sewin gambolled between the bridges, p'ld old Tom Farley caught trout by the dozen with thread and a bent pin. Ah me Win these halycon day.- ever return When the tanyards cease from nou1ÓIH;, And the tin-works are at rest." ¥ :-< EX ROUTE FOR THE WOOLSACK. A iuiie bird has whispered into my ear that M" S. T. Ewrs, M.P. for Mid-Glamorgrn—(Yes. yes. you need l't remind me of my promise. I am going to give politics a back seat)—entered himself on the rolls of one of the Inns of Court, and will she. -Iy wist on the horizon, resplendent in horse hair wig and stuff gown. More power to his elbow." as Pat would say. There can be no shadow of doubt as to S. T's." great ability and talents. These he hts proved n the full at Saint Stephen's. It is not generally known that Mr. Evans is a very clever pen and ink skctchar—a lightning cartoonist. I wa> almost going to ray. I am told he has a regular miniature picture gallery of local and other "celebrities in a particular little black pocket- book. show n to chosen few. This art i- also shared by Mr. Frank Lockwood. Q.C.. M.P.. who, i. report is correct, owes his first brief to a clever caricature of his Lordship' at a Northern cir- cuit tov. n. what time the now over-worked Q.C. was a briefless barrister. We a 13 wi-h you well. Mr. Evans. Go on and prosper. THE crxsus—AN OFFER. I suppose we must possess our suuls in patienci. for a few month. wh ile the "Xumberingof israci is being tabulated. Lots of guesses are being made as 1(J the result of the advent of blll8 papers so frr as Bridgend i< eor.cet.led. I am a hit interested. too. in discovering the increase in the population of our town. I will give half a sovereign to the reader of Twinklings who will make the nearest guess at the popular'on of the Bridgend Local Bo.t-d di>t riot, according to this year's census. All eom- munications to be sent in to me care of the editor by the end of this month, accompanied by this para- graph cutout of TJu- Wcr. and the full name and address of the sender. I will publish the result and award the prhe as soon a." the return- appear. Now then ye local prophets, hurry up. and wrest a golden ettigy of Her Majesty from the coffers of 'BRUTES.

BIUDOEKD AND COWBBIDGE UNION. ELECTION OF (1U A B DI AN S. At the oiu-et it appeared probable that there would be contes' -d elections in several parishes in this 17! ion, bilt as the eventfr1 day drew wi" u- coun- sel« prevailed, and several parishes were saved the ex- pense of a contest. I.11 two parishes only, contests f-H-urrcd. v: Cvvmdu and Llanhar. v. The re«uir or tne-e elections was declared on Wednesdav. as f diows CWMDU. ELECTED. Jai ties Barrow 697 John Thomas £ 70 "William Jones 637 NON-ELECTED. Ccorge JFeiakr 513 The old mem be' have, therefore, bt-cu returned by stiii.-t-ur'al majorities. LLANHARRY. ELECTED. Th- ivas John 35 NON-ELECTED. Evan Lewis 13 Here also the old member has been returned.

FOKEIETN MISSIONARY ANNIVERSARY.—ON BUN- day week, the Rev. John Dixon, of Neath, preached two sermons at the Wesleyan Chapel, Bridgend, on behalf of Foreign Missions. On Thursday, the Seh, inst., the Foreign Missionary meeting was held. In the afternoon the Rev. Henry Adams, a returned mis- sionary, preached a powerful sermon. A public meet- ing was held in the evening, under the presidency of of Mr. W. Riley. The Rev. H. Adams delivered an interesting address on foreign mission work. A vote of thanks, proposed by Mr. R. Price, and seconded by Mr. W. Buckley, brought The meeting to a dose. WANTED TO PURCHASE.—One or two dwelling- houses at Blaengarw or Nanthir. Good frontage required. Katie-street prcfciTe.1. Apply, with frdl particulars, to T. J. Hughes, Esq., solicitor, Bridgend. Advt.

..4- affairs has changed. It is the French and -Belgians who now demand voting by nations," whIle the English are the advocates of pro- portional representation. There was another source of division between the various repre- sentatives. The labour question on the Continent is to a great extent a socialistic question, while in England we digest our socialism and absorb it into our general political system. This is one of the greatest blessings which our con- stitution bestows on us. Every demand and every class are represented in our Parliament. Cries, which would be dangerous were they z, unrepresented in Parliament, become quite harm- less when well considered and discussed in a representative assembly. In other European countries, a great many demands and some im- portant classes are still unrepresented, and their socialism is therefore raw and undigested. The result of this was seen in the Paris Conference in many things the English delegates were totally out of sympathy with their Continental colleagues. But, with all these divisions and divergent aims, the Paris Conference has not been without its importance. It was a distinct step towards an European Federation and it has shewn that there are many points of agree- ment between English and Continental miners. The time for Federation has not yet come, but the conference has brought us nearer to it. » THE IRISH LASD PURCHASE BILL. The debate in the Commons last week on Mr. Balfour's Irish Land Purchase Bill exposed the inconsistence of a Government which came into power in 1880 on the strength of an electoral mandate that the Imperial credit should not be pledged to buy out the Irish landlords, and which now does what it was sent into power not to do. Mr. Labouchere, in moving his amendment, opposed the Bill because the Irish Land Question should be handed over to the Irish Parliament to be dealt with. Mr. Glad- stone opposed it because it was unaccompanied by Home Rule, and because it defied the man- date of 18RG, which forbade the rulers of Eng- land to make use of Imperial credit to buy out the landlords. Mr. Healy opposed the whole scheme of guarantees, not because he did not wish Ireland to handle English money, but because Irish credit was also in some degree pledged. Mr. Balfour's Bill provides that a :1. sum of f 29,000,000 'should be advanced to Irish tenants to buy out their landlords. This sum the tenants will be required to repay to the Government by instalments. But what if the tenants refuse to pay ? In that case the Impe- rial guarantees would be called upon. The guarantees are the Imperial contributions on behalf of paupers, lunatics, and schoolmasters. But it is positively ridiculous that these classes should have to pay the penalty for the sins of the Irish ratepayer. Mr. Balfour argued that the guarantees are merely nominal. Before the guarantees were called upon, he said, there must be an universal strike against the payment of the annuities to the Government, and it would be much harder to organise a conspiracy against annuities than rents. If, however, such a thing as an universal cessation of payment did occur, the Irish would deserve all they got. They would no longer receive the Imperial grants towards paupers, lunatics, and school- masters. Paupers should starve, lunatics should -roam at large, children should grow up unedu- cated, sooner than the exchequer should be defrauded! Is this the ibest way that the much-belauded Irish Secretary can devise to put down a no-rent conspiracy ? It is the clumsiest of all his measures of coercion, and only illustrates how dangerous a thing Land Purchase- will prove to be. Mr. Balfour also claims f his Bill that it will put down dual ownership, The tenant, he says, will be the sole owner. The fallacy of this argument was well shown by Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Labouchere. Dual ownership will not be done away with it will- only assume another form. The onlv difference will be that instead of a dual ownership between a spending landlord and his tenant, there will be a dual ownership between a iiion-st)cmlino Staie and the tenant. If the tenant will not pay his annual instal- ment, he will have to be evicted and the opprobrium of such a step will not fall, as it does now, on the landlord, but on the State. Mr. Chamberlain in 1886 was eloquent in his denunciation of isuch a policy. The work- ing men of England," he said, are about to become Irish landlords, and will have to evict men at the point of bayonets. I will not be a party to such a contingency." But by his silence he now becomes a party to this contingency. It is only another instance of the change that has come over the spirit of the some- time Radical leader. +. THE DEATH KXELL OF THE OPIUM TRAFFIC. The Government were defeated on Friday night on the question of the Indian Opium Traffic. The question is one that has been fought on the floor of the House for the last 50 fo u, years, and we believe that the division on Sir J. Pease's motion last Friday is the first victory which the crusaders against the opium traffic have won. It does seem strange, to say the least, that at the end of the 19th century England should be content to raise a revenue by nursing and encouiaging a traffic whose out- come is disease and degradation and death. Sir J. Fergusson was quite beyond the mark in &aying that we would not now think of making war if China raised her tariff to a prohibitive extent on opium. No one for a moment be- lieves that we are past that stage these many years. The Chinese wars have taught us a lesson which we will be not soon forget. Nor is the contention that if we do not supply China with the drug, some other nation will, of any value. The fact that if we refuse to commit a murder, another will do so, does not give us a right to break the sixth commandment. If another nation consents to supply China with the accursed drug, the responsibility will lie with it England at all events will be freed from the pollution. Of course, the destruction of the injustice will be brought about at a considerable sacrifice to England. Even in these days of increasing revenue, six millions a year would be a serious loss to the public funds of India. But we may have to pay too dearly even for six millions, md England has had to face, and has conquered, greater financial difficulties than this in the ;ause of justice, of morality, and of humanity. The freedom of the slave was not a matter that was easily bought. Pessimists prophesied that the heavens would fall when the slave was freed. The emancipation of the slaves became an ac- 3omplished fact, and s 'U the heavens did not fall, nor was the pr( » jrity of England for a moment checked. Such w'll be the case with the destruction of the iniquitous opium traffic. England will wash her hands of the curse, and will feel but a slight and temporary difficulty from the financial loss. Sir Robert Fowler has rriveti notice of a motion that the loss of revenue to the Indian Government shall be made good from the Imperial funds, and this, of course, every opponent of the opium traffic must agree to. But the six millions can easily be obtained out of the wasteful and extravagant adminis- tration of India. The Army Commission sitting at Simla reported that a million and a half could be saved out of the army expenditure, but that report has not yet been acted upon. The Account Department in India has shown the Hou; e of Commons where another million can be saved but the million is still wasted. A considerable sum could also be A considerable sum could also be saved from the reduction in the excessive numbers of the Indian Army. From these sources and from the ever-increasing revenue of India the S'N mMlions could easily be made up, md England could say proudly to the world that it has nought to do with the accursed thing. YALE OF GLAMORGAN RAILWAY. We are glad to hear from sources which are most trustworthy that there is now every pros- pect of an early commencement of this line. It win have a very important effect upon the large and fertile agricultural district which it will serve. That great tract of beautiful un- dulating country which lies between the Great Western Rv lway and the Bristol Channel as it passes from Bridgend to Cardiff has hitherto been without ai-y railway facilities at all. The new line will open up all this country. It will start from the Great Western and Llynvi and Ogmore lines at Bridgend, with both of which railways it will have junctions, and over both of which it will have running L powers. It will pass through Ewenny to St. Bride's, where it will have a station for the favourite sea-bathing place of Southerndown. Thence it will run by Wick and near Marcross to Llantwit-Major, where there will be a station. From this station short and easy access can be ob- tained to the fine old Castle of St. Donat's and to several most attractive bits of i ea coast which will, no doubt, soon grow into seaside resorts. It will then run by St. Athans, Aberthaw, and Rhoose, to Barry. It is difficult to exaggerate the advan- 119 tages which the landowners and farmers will de.ive from such a line. It will open up a market for their farm produce in all the great and growing centres of population. Then again it will afford a short and cheap transit to Barry for the coal in the Llynvi and Ogmore coal district. This district contains a coal field of about 50,000 acres. Messrs. Foster Brown and Richard Evans estimate the contents of this area at upwards of 1,500 millions of tons. We understand that the terms upon which the rail- way is to be constructed and worked by the Barry company are so satisfactory that a good dividend may be expected as soon as the line is completed. BARRY PARISH AND THE SCHOOL BOARD AREA. We published last week a letter from a correspondent signing himself Justitia," calling attention to the desirability of including the parish of Barry in the School Board district. Our predecessor, the Barry and Cadoxion Journal, called attention to this matter on more than one occasion. If any steps are to be taken it is quite time that" they should be taken at once. There seems to be little doubt that the parish of Barry will contain a considerable number of villas. It is the west end of the district, and is not far from Portbkerry Beach and Porthkerry Park. Nothing is more unde- sirable than that the wealthier suburbs of the town should be excluded from the School Board district. Those who are most fortunate in making money in the town, by this means escape paying the School Board rate, and thus do not pay the;" due share for the education of the poonr children of the town. The Education Act of 1870 recognised the fact that a portion at any rate of the cost should fall upon the general public. As long as that is so, it is only fair that the rich as well as the poor should bear their due proportion of the cost. We believe that if the matter was to be put before the ratepayers of the Bfrry parish they would be willing to be included in the School Board district. If, how- ever, the matter 4s not settled shortly, it will be very difficult to do anything, as a large number of conflicting interests will arise. It is satisfac- tory to know that the School Board are in communication with the Education Department on the matter. THE NECESSITY OF AN INFIRMARY FOR BARRY. A great many very desiriable objects are being promoted with considerable energy in the Barry district, and there is a distinct danger of suggesting too many improvements. It is well to have complet d one before another is com- menced. There is, however, one great want which is very k 3rly felt in the town, and'that is the want of an infirmary or hospital. The Nursing Association at Barry, which was established a short time ago, is already making considerable headway, and if a public hospital or an infirmary could be provided, the Nursing Association would work with it most harmoni- ously, The Local Board of the district are just commencing a new year, and it would, we think, be well if they considered the desirability of providing a hospital from the rates, which they can do under the Public Health Act, and which has been done at Meithyr, Aberdare, and other I towns in Glamorganshire. —. THE EVILS OF THE STATE ENDOW- i MENT. Last week we drew attention to the vitality of the Church of England in a new and unen- dowed district like Barry, and we said that the Church, like every other institution, flourishes most where it has to work the hardest. We might have added that the converse of this is also true that the Church is least flourishing where its endowment is most secure. The following figures are very significant as showing how a State endoTi merit discourages the volun- tary contributions of Churchmen to their own Church, and how the voluntary system stimu- late: its supporters to greater efforts and a more bountiful liberality. The figures are a com- parison of two congregations in Nottingham- the wealthiest Episcopal and the wealthiest Nonconform'st Church. The figures for St. Andrew's are taken from the printed report of the Easter vestry meeting in the Nottingham, Daily Express :— ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH Total sum raised for the year, Easter to £ s. d Easter, 1891. 763 17 9 Raised for "Missionary Societies. 89 6 10 CASTLE GATE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH-.— Total sum raised for year 1890.2,833 13 11 Raised for missionary services as follows For L.M.S. 435 8 10 County Union 79 2 2 Church's own Mission in Nottingham 50 0 0 E opean and Colonial Missions 4 4 8 £ 579 15 8 Such are the effects of a State-endowed Church at Nottingham, where St. Andrew's is in the finest position and finest neighbourhood in the town, and such are the effects of the voluntary system. We do not for a moment think that Church folk have the cause of religion less at heart than Nonconformists, but they have been taught to rely on the State for aid, and they do not, therefore, think it incumbent on themselves to make any very great effort to support their Church. This only illustrates a veiy old truth which has been recognised long since by all parties in England. Protection of particular industries by the State has been found to be a most pernicious policy. Not only were other industries placed at a disadvantage, but the vitality and growth of the protected industry itself were stunted and unpaid. Such also is the case with a protected Church and the sooner it is generally recognised the better it will be for the success of the Church itself and for the whole community. 0 THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF LOCAL BOARDS. Ever since the formation of the Barry and Cadoxton Local Board Mr. John Cory has been its chairman, and for the last three years Mr. D. Richards has acted as chairman of the Bridgend Local Board. It has been felt by several that the wisest course for the Board to adopt would be the one which is usual in most other towns-namely, that the chairman- ship of the Local Authority should be an annual office, and should be held by each member of the Authority in turn, according to seniority. The advantages and disadvantages of this system appear to us to be somewhat as follows. The advantages are First, that the fact that the chairmanship is open to each member will tend to increase the the value of the position of members of the Board. It has been said that the almost irre- sistible power of the great Napoleon's a..u.es lay in the fact that each soldier knew that his knapsack might contain a marshal's baton. The position of Chairman of the Local Board is an honourable position, and one worthy of a good citizen's ambition. We have no doubt that the fact of this position falling in turn to all the members will have the effect of causing still greater competition for a teat on the Board. Secondly, this course will tend to make each successive chairman anxious -1-) mark his year of office by some improvement or benefit to the town. Rivalry of this sort will prove very much to the public benefit. Thirdly, each mem- ber will, during his year of office, have special opportunities of acquiring knowledge of the laws and practices affecting local authorities. This will be a great gain. Members of most boards are far too apt to regard knowledge of the law relating to the;r Board as quite unim- portant. Fourthly, this course will prevent any member acquiring undue influence on the Board. If the same man is appointed chair- man year after year, and if he is able to devote a large amount of time to the work, he is very apt to become too influential. Our readers will, probably, easily be able to recall many examples when the chairman was practically the Board. The disadvantages are-first, that some men make much better chairmen than others, and that it is a great saving of time and the business is much better done if a good chairman is elected and re-elected. He gets more and more experience of his work every year and discharges the duties more and more effectually secondly, that if the system of seniority is adopted, occasionally, men are elected as chairman who are totally unfit for the office, but who cannot be passed over without passing on them a marked slight. This merely shows that there are two sides to this question, as to most others. On the whole we consider an annual chairman the best plan, and are glad that the Barry Local Board have adopted this course. ■ ■ ^— LIBERAL WORK IN SOUTH GLAMORGAN. To-night (Friday) ther3 will be two important meetings of Liberals, one at Porthcawl and one at Barry. Mr. Arthur W:iliams is announced to speak at a great meeting at Porthcawl, when he will render an account of his stewardship, and give his opinions on current topics. The hon. member need not be afraid to face his constituents. His services to the Welsh party have been most valuable during the session, and he has been indefatigable in his attendance at the House. The electors have lost none of their old affection for him, and will not need an address to enable them to resist the soft wobing of Sir Morgan Morgan. At the same time, it is most necessary that the members of every important constituency should now and again address the elector-, and keep up their interest in Liberal work and organisation. There is even greater need of political activity at Barry than elsewhere in the South Glamor- gan division. There is often great confusion in the issues of every election in a new place. Electors have such frequent and intimate business transactions with political oppo- nents that it is often very hard to make them dissociate the man from the cause. We know of many thorough-going Liberals who have voted for Unionists and Tories simply for this reason. Political thought has not become formed at Barry as yet, and there is much truth in what Mr. Oliver Jones or some other mild and genial Tory said in the meeting of the Conservative Committee which took place some time ago. Shake hands with all said this political Mentor. u Speak kindly to everybody. That is the way to get votes." We are afraid that politics has not emerged from this primitive stage in many cases in this district. It is therefore most important that the political education of the electors should not be forgotten. They should be taught that there is a principle at stake in every political election, and that every honest man should vote for or against the principle, irres- pective of the claims of the person who advocates or opposes it on their private gratitude. It is also momentous, now that a general election is within measurable distance, if not immediate, that the Liberal register should be as perfect as possible. We therefore earnestly exhoi t all the Liberals of East Barry to be present at the Liberal meeting which is to take plane at the Barry Public Hall to-night. THE STATE OF HOLTON. The Ratepayers' Association has risen iTrom its lethargy, and a meeting was held on Tues- day n;ght to discuss the state of Holton and the district. Why was not the meeting held before the recent Local Board election? It may be, of course, useful to draw the attention of the Local Board to the frightful condition of Barry Dock, but we would have thought that, if the fault lies with the board, the best way to provide a remedy would be to secure the return of a representative of Holton on the Board. At the time, however, when a gentleman from Holton was seeking the suffrages of his fellow-ratepayers, the Associa tion, which is now so vigorous and full of energetic life, did nothing to secure his return, or to obtain pledge s from any of the other can- didates. The Association is certainly to be blamed for not making use of the election to press forward the claims of Holton but, even now, we think that it can do a great deal of good by bringing to light the terrible condition of Holton. The disclosures made by trust- worthy witnesses in the meeting held on Tues- day night were revolting in the extreme. The back lanes reeked with filth and sewerage, the floors of cellars and kitchens were covered "_th the overflow of cesspools and soil-pans, and in some cases the plastering was mixed with liquid filth. Such a condition of things is simply in- tolerable, and something must be straightway done to remedy, it. But the question is, what can be done ? It is easy enough to discover I abusebut it is difficult to suggest a remedy. We venture, however, to make one sug- gestion. In the Tuesday night meeting several complaints were made against the scavenger. The scavenger's cart did not go round some of the houses for a pexiocl of five or s'x w: eks at a stietch, and in one case the inhabitant left the house because the nuisance 1 ame intolerable. The scavenorj-'r is at present let out by con- tract, but the contiast is not craned out faith- frlTy, as few contract- perhaps are. We would sujg—t that the Local Board should, instead of Jetting the scavenging out on contract, contract to do it themselves. Another ciying evil that should be, and can be, immediately stopped, is that of impure water. The Gas and Water Company have engaged to supply Holton with good water, and the rate- payers can compel them to abide by their engagement. If the green sediment in the water is, as was freely said, highly poisonous, it will be an easy matter to compel the Company to procure a supply of water free from taint. We sincerely sympathise with the men of Holton, but we think that, if they were a little more ready with practical suggestions for a remedy, the district would be put at an earlier date in a more healthy and wholesome condition. -u_