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| GRIEVANCES OF THE COUNTRY.

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| GRIEVANCES OF THE COUNTRY. I On Tuesday last, a Meeting.of.the parishioners of Llanedy, near Pontardulais, Carmarthenshire, was held at the School-room attached to Llanedy Church, in pursuance of a wiitten notice which had been issued and circulated among the parishioners some days previously, to take into consideration the various grievances which operated prejn- dieiaily npon the interests of the country generally, more especially so upon the agricultural interest in Wales. The meeting had been called for eleven o'clock, but being the fair-day at Swansea (which circumstance had not been tore- seen), the number expected to be present by the pauies who had convened the meeting, did not attend; however, by half-past one or two o'clock, there was a respectable attendance of freeholders and farmers. About two, a freeholder was elected Chairman, by a show ot hands. He opened the meeting by reading the notice convening it, which was to the effect—That a meeting of the parishioners would be held on the d iy in question, to take into consider- ation the various burthens which oppiessed the farmers; amongst other things, tiigh rents, tor a reduction of which they intended petitioning the landlords — a!s<> the expediency of adopting some measures to procure a reduction in tithes, and also to discuss the question of the necessity, or other- wise,of the Rural Police force, contemplated to be established in the connty of Carmarthen, together with various other grievances. As soon as the notice had been read, A Farmer rose up. to express his opinion upon the establish- ment of the police force He thought it verv hard that, at the present time, when farmers were groaning under already-existing taxation, the Magistrates should inflict upon them another bur- then, which was quite unnecessary, viz., the police force. He characterised them as locusts living upon the country." Most of them would get from three to four shillings a-dnj, which was more than a hard working farmer could now get, and the chief- constable would actually get 500/. of sur- prise followed the last statement). Another Farmer said—The positions in life of the farmers who are in this room, vary greatly. Some of us are freeholders, others leaseholders, and others of ns are tenants-at-will only but we have attended here 10 devise some means of getting ourselves relieved from some of the existing burthens, by which, unless we are relieved, you will all agree, we must sink. Though some of you are freeholders, I hope you can sympathise with us, for you, also, mustfeet the burthen of the times. Others are leaseholders, and many have taken their leases in time), of prosperity, when corn was high, trade and manufactures brisk, and when we could find a ready sale for our corn. Those leaseholders must come to some arrangements with their landlords for a reduction of rent. With respect to tithes, I think they press very heavily on the farmers, and much heavier now than according to the old law. When prices were high, tithes were immediately risen now, when prices are so ruinously low, I hope the titheowners of the county will readily consent to a reduction. As to the new police force. we can tell the "great folks" that it is quite unnecessary in this neighbourhood. If they feel particularly desirous to have a force, let them pay for it, without making any deduction in their allowance from the farmer's rent. We cannot bear another addi- tion to our now heavy taxation. We hope those who wish to have the services of a fiddler will think it to be their duty to pay him. Another Farmer thought there was DO call for police—they only created mischief. There was alwats an increase of crime in those places where a police force was established. Besides (said be), if the Magistrates want police, why not put me a policeman for one year, and another farmer for another, and so on. We would perform the office gratuitously. like that of overseer, and would preserve the peace better, for we would be better known and respected than those straugers, who will be living at the expense of poor farmers. In one place there were no robberies before a police force were established, but afterwards there were constant robberies and other mischief committed; at last it was found that the mischief was done by the police, to encourage their trade— (a laugh); they encourage mischief, because they live by it. Again, in those counties where they are established, they pursue a systematic plan of robbery. If a respectable farmer, by chance, uets a little intoxicated, rather than be pui into Ilia black-hole," he prefers bribing the police. The police make a good deal of money in that way, or how could they build houses, while those who support them can barely liv ? The first person who spoke wished to take the sense of the meeting upon the expediency of having a police force, when all hands werabeld up against it. Another Farmer then said- This meeting has originated with tilt landiordi, of the county. They complained of outrages; they know, that what tbey called outrages, were commitied in conse- quence of the low condition of the farmers, who themselves under- took the removal of grievances which they despaired of ever being removed by the landlords and magistrates of the county. The landlords then desired them to hold meetings in the day-time, to discuss their grievances, which they now did, and he hoped those meetings would be general throughout the county. The farming interest was never known to be so low the cow, which formerly fetched 101 would not now fetch 5/ horses, and other stock, were proportionally low. Corn, certainly, was now beginning to rise, but the farmers had sold all their slock that arose from their poverty. We must show the landlords and titheowners that we cannot live. A Farmer I would rather give up mv farm to ibe parson, than pay tithes now. The previous speaker proceeded—Under the Tithes Commuta- tion Act, the clergyman had taken care of himself at the expense of the farmer. He was now at no expense or trouble in the col- lection. We (continued he) must incur all risks We must dispose of our corn, &c., and after ail give him full tithe in money. A Farmer Yes, look how many gates we are compelled to pay in taking oor corn to market, and after taking it there three or four times, perhaps, unable to sell it; and, after all, we must pay our full tithe. I would ruiher throw out sheafs, and pav in kiud, like under the old Act. It was then unanimously agreed, that the Chairman, on behalf of the meeting, should sign a letter to tbe titheowner of the parish, applying for a reduction in tithe. The meeting then discussed tbe Free-trade question, and the effect upon farmers of the importation of caitle under the new Tariff, After several persons had spoken, A Farmer said that farmers bad been deluded by the notion that the corn-laws were a protection for them. He bad no hesita- tion in saying, that the corn-laws did them no good whatever, while it did them much injury. If there were free-trade, their corn couldfwot be-iotnrred-much-ntprice. as it was all consumed by themselves, and sold to the neighbouring towns. If they snould not have free-trade, he was confident Ihe Iron Works and Coprer Works in the ^neighbourhood Would fail, nnd the farmers would loose their customers. Of what use were high pi ice in -j corn, if there "ere no consumers. That was quite an anomaly. Besides, farmers were interested in the progress of manufactures. They, as farmers, could never think of bringing up more than one of their children a farmer, so that the well-being of the others depended upon the prosperity of trade and commerce. This speaker also bitterly complained of the partial free-trade policy, adopted by Sir Robert Peel in permitting the importation of cattle, while free-trade was not general. After several other Farmers bad spoken, the Chairman took the sense of the meeting upon the question of free-trade io corn and all other articles offood.—All hands were held up in its favour. The new Poor-law was then discussed. It was stated, that the amount of poor-rate for the parish was nearly double what it was under the old law, while the number of poor relieved was less. There are about seven parishes in the Union, and several farmers complained of the unfairness of compelling their small parish to pay towards the support of the poor of the populous parish of Llanelly, which, they contended, was tbe effect of the new Poor-law. # One Farmer said that he now paid 25s. for property on which be paid lis. under the old law. Another complained of the large sums of money paid out of the poor-rate to officials, under the new Poor-law which operated very heavily on their parishes, and deprived the poor of what would otherwise be expended for them. He then read the list of salaries of the Oificers of the Union, viz.:—Medical officers, 1121. auditors, 1St.; clerk, 70/ Iwo relieving officer!>, 104l.; master and matron of workhouse. 40t.; school-master, 10L It was then put to the vole, which, in the opinion of the meet- ing. was the best law for the rate-payers and the poor-the. new Poor-law, or the old, when the poor of each parish were relieved by the overeers. All hands were held op against the new, and in favour of the old law. A long discussion then ensued upon the gate grievance. Our space will not allow us to give e.ich speakers remark, but all greatly complained of the great number of gates, bars, &c., so much so that a man could scarcely go 10 his own farm without paying toll. They were willing to pay reasonable tolls, but tl ought that three or four gates placed within ten or twelve miles was quite unreasonable. They also maintained and hoped that land- lords and magistrates would see the reasonableness of the propo- sition, that lime and all kinds of manure should be exempted from hIll. The question of Church-rates was also disenssed, but they were objected to more from principle—because they thought it wrong that one party should be compelled to pay towards the support of another s religious views, which they thought erroneous, than because of the amount, which they said was very trifling in their parish. After discussing these subjects and agreeing as to the mode of addressing the titheowners and lordlords of the parish, the meet- ing separated. A similar meeiine of the parishoners of Llanon was held on the 9th inst., in the School-house, which was crowded to excess. After several persons had spoken, a series of reso- lutions were agreed to—copies of which were to be for- warded to the lithe-owner and landlords of the parish, and which were to the following effectThe first calls upon the lcindlotth and Itutipike trustees to unite in doing away with the toll grievances, with the numerous side bars. &c.— to exempt all kinds of manure from tol'—to reduce the to 1 on a Ioa I of coal drawn by a horse from 6d. to 3d., and to keep lip only so many gates as will defray the expense of ropairuiff the roads, and concludes by citing an instance of exorbitant toll, viz., from LIanon to Pontardulais, a distance of only six miles, where the full toll of 6d. is demanded three times for each cart drawn by one horse. The second reso- lution. tfter refenin^ to the great increase in the amonnt of titheeand poor-rates, and the great depreciation in the value of stock, butter, cheese, &c., which are the chief articles upon which the Welsh farmer depends for the payment of his rent, c.ills upon the landlords to reduce their rents; but the fanners say, As soon as we advance a little fiom our disires>ad state, we are ready anJ willing to take the buiden back upon our own shoulders." The third resolution says: —" Having heard with deep regret that the rural police is to be established in this county, we, as inhabitants of this parish, beg to state thai they are not wanted, neither will we pay towards their support in any part of our county, as we consider that iheir services are not wanted, and only a burden on the county let those who wish for thei' protec- tion, pay tliein." The fourth resolution expresses a wish that the accounts of the poor and county rales should he made out separately, and ihat the comity treasurer should furnish each parish with a statement of the monies required, at the same time specifying the purposes for which they are 10 be expended, tor they "consider lhat the puolic money is wasted." An objection is also m-ide to the Treasurer's account foi last quarter, in which the expenses for the re- erection of nates, and of watching them by night, are stated III be defrayed out of the county fund. The fifth resolu- tion expiesses the regret of the paiishioners at the hie oinrages, bin at (he same time they state their firm con- viction to ))e, that unless the landlords and tithe p oprieto's make a reduction in propoition to that in the agricultural market, ihe depiedations will not terminate. The last reso- lution sia es the intention of the paiishioners to have a -ti. pendiary overseer to receive and pay all monies i elating to III- poor, for the services of so many Union Officers can be dispensed with, as that would tend materially to restore the couutiy to peace and quietness once more." AN EXTRAORDINARY CHOIR—An old nun named James Jones, abont 90 years of age, has formed one of the ehoirof Bnrford Church, nearTenbury, for upwards of sixty years, and on Sunday, the 30th ultimo, the choir was tren^thened by the addition of his eldest son, his grandson, and his great grandson (so that it embraced four generations), on which occasioQ the singing WM excellent.

F TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.

,I FAIRS IN THE ENSUING WEEK.!

EPIGRAM

THEATRE.

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----------To the EDITOR of…

. THE TRUCK SYSTEM.

Family Notices

SBlp KSWS.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

SWANSEA. FRIDAY, AUG. 18.…