The Cambrian

NOTES ON MEN & THINGS From time immemorial it has been the Crown's duty to keep back the sea," said Mr. Morgan Jones at Swansea Royal In- stitution on Monday evening. Well, Canute tried it and got wet feet. It ia being proved to somebody's more or less satisfaction that St. Patrick was a Glamorgan man. We understand that re- searches are being made to prove that Twm Shon Catti was a native of Clonakilty. A charter of the thirteenth century re- leases the Englishmen of the Gastle of "Sweineey'' (Swansea) from the custom of taking their food with tiie Welshmen of the castle, and the other gives the same privi- lege to the Welshmen. '< (! A Cork shipmaster whose vessel was lying La Swansea Docks on Saturday told a "Post" reporter who knew and recognised him that there was far more shamrock and green ribbon in Swansea than in his own city. That has been the observation of other Irishmen fresh from the "ould sod." Swansea Streets Committee, when it finally considered its estimates, had at least the sitisfact-ion of being aware that on the whole there has been a steady reduction in the cost per mile o-f maintenance of the roads. In 1889 there were 50 miles of streets in Swansea, and the cost was J3130 6s. 6d. In 1905, with 29 more miles, the cost had dwindled to H81 Û8. lOd. From 1889 onwards there has been a steady reduc- tion, with fitful intervals of heavy passing increases. In 1895, for instance, the cost wa.e- £ 108 odd per mile; this rose to E124 in 1896, amod diminished to L112 next year. In 1899 the total was P,102 odd per mile. £ 103 in the next year. But the general trend is downwards. A match to be played towards the end of the season, for the benefit of the Swan- sea United Service Brigade Fund, between teams representative of the first and the pick of the District League players, will have one interesting feature. Sir James Hills Johnes, a famous soldier-in his seventy-third year-will kick off the hrsi half, and Sir John Llewelyn, in his seventy- second year, will act in a similar capacity in the second half. Sir James, in a letter to Com-xxu-odant Maggs. says: "I never thought of playing football when I was 73 years of age. My consenting is the best proof I can give of my appreciation of your good work in organising and carrying cut so successfully this most useful and iiiucti-i to-be-oommended Servicc Brigade." Saturday, St. Patrick's Day, was very generally recognised at Swansea, in iact; the remairk was mack that the wearing of the shamrock was more conspicuous heu, than even in Cork; also that tbe shamrock ceemed more populaj on Saturday than the leek was on the 1st March. These two phenomena which seem to puzzle some people are due to the same explanation. In Cork, the Irish feel under no such com- pulsion to sport the national emblem a.s they do when in another country, and the same remark applies to the Welsh people. The pop ula-ri- verdicst regarding the St. Patrick's Day* Parade was a very favour- a.bl(1 one. Not only wc4a the procession larger than ever before, but the appearance and conduct of the people indicated a great advance upon former years. In a word, the procession was highly creditable to the Irish people of owansea Swansea Corporation ought to experience no difficulty in realising the full capital value of the Telephone Exchange, should it be decided to sell the property. it would be preposterous to accept the offer of the Postmaster-General, which would in- volve a loss of four or live thousand pounds, especially as the National Telephone Co. are prepared to acquire tiie property on the same terms as were offered to the Hull Corporation; that is to say, pay every penny laid out on the Exchange and give the present Municipal subscribers an under- taking not to disturb their rentals for a period of three years. In view of the fact that no other municipal exchanges are likely to be licensed, there is less reason for con- tinning the four or five municipal telephone exchanges now ion existence. Preferable to sale at a loss would be to continue the ser- vice for the unexpired period of lioense. I In the Civil Court at the Assizes, Mr. S. T. Evans looks upon his "doubb" every time he epoaks to Justice Lawrence. But what a contrast in the respective modes of delivery. T." siips along a.t a terrific pace, and deserves rwver to be reported. The judge is tantalisingly slow as a speaker. The s.s. British King, whose fate in the Atlantic has created so much 6tir, formerly was a frequent, and regular trader to Swan- sea in the Atlantic trade, a.nd, as stated in our Friday's issue, her gallant skipper, Capt. O'Hagan, was very well known in Swansea. His death fills a bright page ;n the annate of the mercantile rnajine. "4- A set of standard weights belonging tc the Borough of Swansea are now- in London undergoing the usual test which is made every fifth year. The measures will be sent up next week. These are required to be sent up for examination every tenth year. The weight set total up to about a quarter of a ton and the capacity of the measures altogether would contain some eighteen gal- lons. --a- Friends of the Svraiisea liorie sJ-.f w, who happen to be members of the Council. made a stiff light of it to obtain tuiancial assistance from the Corporation. In the end they had to be oonteni with a resolution whciebv the to be oonteni with a resolution whciebv the town is committed to a, liability not exceed- ing LSO, to meet any deficit that may be incurred. This is better than nothing, but if granted fine weather, there will real'y be no cause to fear a failure to mase erids meet without a Corporation contribution In connection with the.May Day Show a point- was raised at the meeting of t.he Swan- sea Ciiamber of Trade on Tuesday evening of no little interest. It was observed t,at the principal prizes went each year practic- ally to the same exhibitors. and the sug- gestion was made that under the existing regulations the prizes were left at the mercy of the richer class. One member, as a remedy, proposed that the first prize takers of one year should not be allowed to com- pete the following year. Something might be said in favour of such a course, only tne inevitable effect would be to depress the standard of merit, whereas the object 01 the show is to encourage tiic- empluynllnt of good horses. If the first-prize takers were excluded the class who' take the keenest jn- terest in the show would f-ei rebuffed. The idea of extending the Swansea bor- ough boundaries re-appears periodic* ly, and sooner or kuer no doubt a-ction will be taken to bring it about. There are several im- portant considerations why this should be done. The greater part of the new dock, for example, is outside the borough, although the undertaking itself is being carried out partly upon the collateral securty of the borough rates. Then there are works in the Morriston district which contribute nothing to the borough rates, and yet tliol" heavy traffic to and from them enta-ils a consider- able expense upon the maintenance of the roads. A reason, however, has been sug- gested for not bringing the matter forward at tii3 present, juncture, for there is just a possibility that to do so would have a detri- irtental etfect upou the expectations enter- tained regarding the establishment cf new works upon the Burrows. It is true that t.Lere is not now any considerable difference between the rates oollected inside and out- side of the bo.ough, but inveistors are notor- iously timid folk, and they may be appre- hensive regarding the future r¿.tl'< which may have to be levied by the Corporatinn. In these circumstances, and especially as no practical step can be takon until the autumn, it would seem the moreprurlent course not to bring this question of the extension of the borough boundary to the forefront just now. I While a brisk controversy is going on in the "Times," regarding the condition of the tinplate trade, the manufacturers and their the "Times," regarding the condition of the tinplate trade, the manufacturers and their workmen are being compelled, in the moClSt practical of all ways, to ior-iii tlheir definite opinions on the point. Orders are only trickling in, and the prices offered are absolutely unremunerative.. On the work- men's side short time is being introduced, and reduced wages consequently earned. Employers, who have the best knowledge of the industry, are most pessimistic, because they are convinced that. the worst stage has not yet. been reached. Mr. Ivor Gwynne, secretary of the Tin Sheet and Millmeoi's Union, is publicly aodvocating the resttiction of the outpul. All this furnishes an elo- quent commentary, not only upon the recent speech of Mr. Llewelyn Williams, but also upon the other speeches so euiogistic of Free Trade, made during the recent general elec- tion. Mr. R. L. Pax ton. in a letter to the "Pall Mall Gazette," points out that nearly all the tm supply of the world is obtained from British soil, and that in a campaign of retaliation this country could cut off the supply essential to the very existence of the American industry. It's a.n ill wind that bloaa nobody any good. The Welsh coal trade stands to bene- fit substantially by the Courrieres disaster in the north of France. Apart from the j diamage to this particular mine, the very I extensive areas that contain some seven or eight hundred corpses of the victims a.re to be walled up and abandoned. The task of f recovering the bodies has been abandoned, in view of the enormous extent of the area affected by the explosion, the probable con- dition of the corpses themselves, and their number. But the disaster has giveti birth in its after effect to a strike that at the be- ginning of this week involved fifty-six thou- sand French min-ers, who demand heavy in- creases in the rates of pay. It is a regret- table and significant fact thai at the funerals of the victims speeches were made denounc- Î iN the mine owners in the bitterest terms— I "murderers" was one of fclie epithets em- ployed—for their alleged culpability with regard to the explosion. The rancour and ferocity of feeling thus excited amongst the mining population, which readily ••■v-VK-d the most extravagant of the denunciations. must be laid at the door of the Socialist party, which in its anti patriotic attitude in I great national questions, and senseless class hatred. i>epresenrs a mcsr, dangerous menace to the future well-being of France. I The funeral of Aid. William Watkins I brought together a large and representative gathering. The deceased gentleman, as a native of Swansea, and a life-long resident, had made many friends, and it goes without saying that there was a general desire to manifest sympathy with the members of his family. With him disappeared the last of a trio of business men who, as builders and contractors, won a reputation which was more than local. The event. of course. will create a vacancy in the Council Cham- ber, but in which ward will not be ascer tamed until the new alderman is selected. If t,his be determined, as it is supposed to be by the order of seniority, Councillor Sinclair, chairman of the Electric Lighting and Tramways Committee, will rcoeive the promotion. It is not, however, certain that the majority of the members will permit themselves to be influenced by considera- tions of right. Personal a-Tid other in- fluences are apt to affect the voting to an in- J ordinate degree. The surprise of the football season was provided by the England v. Scotland match oi Saturday. On paper the Englishmen had not a shadow of a chance, especially as the match was to be played at Edin- burgh, and the Scotch team was regarded by its friends as about the strongest com- bination put into the field for years past. Nevertheless, the Englishmen won, and won handsomely—crossing the line thnce to the Scotchmen's once. One consequence of this is, that the relative form of the four international teams works out into a perfect jumble. Wales defeated England and Scot- land, only to be beaten by Ireland; the Irish beat England and Wales, and were b-pateii by Scotland; England beaten by W ales and Ireland, defeated Scotland. In the matter of points, Wales and Ireland are equal first with two wins each, and En-gland and Scotland are equal last with a single win each that is, if as the various unions appear to ha.ve decided, the matches with the New Zealand team are not to be counted in -7, The appeal made by the Committee of the Cardiff Liberal Association to: the prejudices of their party has- not been permitted to prevent, the Education Conference which the Lord Mayor of Cardiff convened at the request of Mr. Lloyd George. Still, i; would be a mistake not to recogniae tha-i the usefulness of the gathering has been appreciably lessened by this unworthy stirring-up of smouldering fires. For one thing, the variations introduced into the constitution of the Conference have naturally tended to give it a haphazard character. However, the results may prove more satis- factory than now seems probable. -Ir. Lloyd George has a great capacity for hand- ling a meeting, especially when the majority consist of his own countrymen who profess the same political faith. The true inward- ness of the attempt to di^redit the Con- ference has not yet been disclosed. It can hardly have originated in the honeet, belief that religious education and other conten- tious subjects were to be dealt with, because it was clearlv explained at the very ou't tha.t the only question to be considered was whether the Welsh people desired to have a Board of Education for Wales and, if 5°- how it should be constituted and what should be its functions. Apparently, there is some mysterious influence at work to account for what, on the surface, appears, to be a revolt on the part of a section against the authority of Mr. Lloyd-George. The chairman of the Swansea Board of Guardians, the Rev. Gomer Lewis, when- ever disappointed in his appeal for the generous treatment of a particular case, <6 apt to tell his colleagues that the Swansea Beard of Guardians is the worst in WaJos. Occasionally this reproach finds its way into the newspapers, producing an impres- sion exceedingly unjust to the Boa.rd as a whole. For so far as the matter can be tested by any recognised standard, t.he Swansea Guardians are disposed to err, not on the side of parsimony, but on that of ex- cessive indulgence. An analysis of the amount collected from the ratepayers for Poor Rates, the amount expended upon eaoh pauper per head, arid the proportion of Poor Rates to the rateabia valne w-ld tell a convincing tale. True, there are numbers of deserving cases in which the scale of the Board could be varied with ad- vantage. On the other hand, however, there are scores, f not hundreds of persons on the relief li^t w"ho havft no business whatever to t < there, and if the Poor Law Administration were not the red-tape- bound •organisoticii that it is, means would be found for, mcfre effectively detecting the importers, and seeing to it that they dis- appeared from the list .to the ,advantage of the ratepayers and the deserving poor. When the Swansea Education Committee took over the Voluntary Schools in Septem- bor, 1904, one of its first actions was to appropriate tiie whole of the Tevennc accruing from the school fees paid at, the Oxford Street National Schools. Since then, the managers have been corresponding and negotiating first to get the proportion nxrd of titeir share of the fees to be used-for the maintenance of the schools, and afterwards to get effect given to the apportionment. Last AutTrnm, tlie" Board of Education fixed the proportion at 40 per cent., but did not have-the effect of inducing the L< Education Authoritv to pay over the imoney. Week after week went by, and eventually the government resigned, and advantage was taken of this to try and re- open the question. Mt. Birrell. the new Education minister, clearly intimated when approached in the matter that a verv strong case would have to be e;ho,n before he would interfere with the decision of h;<) predecessor, and, in due course, the local authority made up the best case it could and forwarded it to the Education Minister. Since then, nothing seems to have been and the patienc-e- of the School Managers hairing, run out, tbev have now c: P 1"1 t tol F,rhw',t, 1<'):fl ("I, it 7 r.. v-ith n writ for t.he recovery of the money thus improperly withheld. In all probability, therefore, the matter will come into the eenrts and heavy Ui-w;tl expenses incurred, which one or --the other will have to pav. Snre'v. it be possible for neighbours, living in the same town and having common interests in the main. to prrive at, snm" arrangement to prevent this avoidable waste of monev. v- "a.A. To whatever extent Mr. James Living- ston may be influenced by rtersonal feelings D>->"ng from more or less iustifiable com- plaints regarding litis relations with the Swansea Football nd Cricket Club, people who are interested in athletics are fairly WEn a^eed that the effort Tie is making +0 secure more genermts treatment for outside organist ior ? oorreeVned with sport is de- serving of encouragement. The main point involved is not whether the crib's charge for the use of the ground is £ 20 (occasion- a-Hv JiaHe to be reduced to £ 10), but. whether the football ard cricket club, is the custodian of a valuable open space, bas been using it in the spirit of the agreement by which Col. Morgan and Capt Morgan as- signed it to the two trustees acting for the cliub. Col. Morgan is convinced that though .c there may have been no technica1! violation of the compact in. substance, the latter has not been observed. His idea at the time was that the St. Helen's Ground should bo used for the encouragement of all forms of manly sport, and that representatives of ,'0 particular form shoxid be aBowed to mon- opolise it a-nd treat others as rank outsiders. the trustees have absolute pos- session of the field, but it is certain that no extension of the present lease nor the grant- inrr of a new one will take place without a verv drastic alteration in the existing ar- rangements. At the present time the idea seems to be to obtain as large a revenue as possible frlml football, and use it freely for the maintenance of the football and cricket clubs, and to get as much as pos- sible from the promoters of every other form of sport for which the use of the I ground is required. Any new agreen-wnt- if one is made, which is doubtful—willi {rfo- vide facilities on eqafil terms.for all organ- r isations concerned with athleticism. < They had a mace and mace-bearer at Llandovery in the old days-and they used the mace, too I A record dated 1830 says toot" little more than splinters of it (t he mace) now remain." Mr, Keir Hardic succeeded 1 Mr, Jas. Holmes, as an orator to a La-bour gathering at tine SwaiBsiea Workingsnen's dub ou Saturday, and was decidedly more moderate in tone. His speech, however, was of a general nature, and the sole local reference was cm injunction to show right on every possible occasion, municipal or parliament- ary, to keep the Labour movement promin- ently in the public eye. He ventured upoai a prophecy, in accordance with general opin- ion, that the Trades Union Group and; the LabcMU- Representative Committees chosen, would within a few years become amalgam- ated and a further noteworthy point was the declaration that, at present, the direct payment of members of Parliament had no place upon their programme. As a matter of party tactics, it is advisable for Trades Unions LO have some leverage upon their par- liamentary delegates, such as their contribu- tion towards his support provides, and which is a reliable means of ensuring that discip- line shall be maintained, and that there will be, in the Labour ranks, none oi that crossing the floor of the House to once alien benches that has been a. feature of Parlia- ment in late years. 1 Poratardjawe Council on Thursday last de- cided not to reappoint Dr. G. Griffiths, who has served under them as a medical officer of health for many years, to that post. The decision was made in consequence of Dr. Griffiths's stale of a cow to a Swansea butcher. The meat was exhibited in Swan- sea Market, where it was found to be in such a state as rendered it wholly unfit for human food. A police court prosecution and fine of L20 followed, and the action of Pontaixlawe Council is the sequel. Dr. Griffiths, however, naturaily commands a great deal of public sympathy in the district, and steps are being taken to secure a re- Yræl of the decision. The question in point is whether he acted negligently in sell- ing the animal, for thirty shillings, to a butcher, without making sure that there would be no possibility of danger to the public arising. The animal had been in- jured by another beast, and it is suggested that it was in consequence of these injuries that the meat went bad. so rapidly after slaughter. Pontardawe Council considered there had been an error of i-tid might-, however, have entailed very serious consequences. Public opinion generally will endorse its action. I Hull Corporation cm Monday refused to endorse the recommendation of its sub-oam- mittee that the terms offered by the National Telephone Co. should be accepted. The Company had offered terms which would be equivalent to buying out the whole municipal concern, lock, stock and barrel, paying a pound for every pound spent by the Cor- poration, accepting all liabilities, and main- taining for three years the municipal tariff in Tespect of the unlimited rate subscribers, It. was. pointed out by the Hull Sub tee that in 1911 the Government, when tak- ing over the N.T.C., would find a quantity of the Hull plant superfluous, and to that extent there would be a loss, aga-inst which the Telephone Company's terms secured the e,orporafiou, This argument, a quite Teu- tonic mixture of oozening and threats., how- ever, had no weight, with the committee. I Subscribers may feel thankful. It is pointed out that if the N. T. C. secured a monopoly again they could, raise their own rates for subscribers on tlieir original service once more, although observing the letter of its g c agreement with the ex-Corporation tele- phone users. Another argument for Swan- sea to consider is that the Hull offer makes: no mention of allowance for the profits which this solitary successful municipal undertaking has been earning. Hurl has given the cue to Swansea. These who have clamoured for the pro- j vision of free meals for school chilAren..wit-h- out counting t-he cost, must be somewhat astonished at the dimensions of the latter. Mr. Birrell quoted figuresv in- the House of Commons on Monday night which estimated the total cost to London per m-eol per child a day, assuming the prime cost of the food to be Id., at a few thousands short of £ 700,000. But the actual expense may, from foreign school experience, be placed at ld. a including all expenses, though in the ry-,);ision of clieap meals the foreigner has a genius that is lamentably deficient in the British housewife in the general run of instances. For Swansea, it is estimated that, working on this basis, the annual ex- pense would be £ 15,000 a year—equal to a. gid. rate—"which is absurd," as Euclid puts it, and "piodeegious," as Dominie Sanup«an would remark. There is not the slightest necessity for giving every child a uieal a day—it would be wanton war-te of public money, and an insult to Tiine. Swan- sea parents out of every ten. The necessi- tous -uld be a very small minority at Swajafea, where the average level of com- fort is high and consistently maintained throughout the year. Probably an enquiry into the circumstances of the child's family --a difficult task, requiring a deal of tact- would rapidly dissipate the alarm which the above figures convey, but if the new Bill is so amended as to secure a daily meal for children without any consideration of their parents' circumstances, as the attitude of the Labour party suggests, it is one to be most strenuously resisted. Such an in- novation as the latter contemplate wontd inffict an intolerable local burden, for the benefit chiefly of the children of the class ■yrhich furnishes Labour men with the back- bone of their support. Several well-known members of the Swan- se.a Football Club have intimated their in- tention of retiring a.t the end of the present season, and although a "star" footballer is as fond of "final appearajices" and "final re-appearances" as any operatic tiva. in the present state of feelung, it is likely that the promise will be kept. When the exodus of the "champions" is complete, the roitte.e will be relieved of the impediment to a re- construction of the team-the sentimental prejudices against the dropping of players who have done good work in the past, and the inevitable friction between the young a,nd old players. New wine and old bottles never go well together. It is improbable that the new team will ever rival tiie old one in athletic fame. We may be thankful that the All Whites have been permitted to enjoy such a long period of ascendancy. But the public at large will make no allow- ance for past prestige and laurels, and the gates will diminish accordingly. And con- tinue diminishing unless some new attrac- tion is provided. What that attraction may be there is no difficulty in divining. The relatively enormous gate of L895 taken in the England v. Wales "socker" Intentional • on Monday at Cardiff, provides the clue. Few of the crowd had aver beard of the I W elsh players, who a.It play in English or Border teams; the day was peculiarly un- suited to the i, b 1, of a large "gate, and the game was unfamiliar. Yet a crowd of such dimensions had gathered, and went away feeting most highly pleased with the excellent display of the Nortn Vvelsh eleven, and in a frame of mind to "demand n"iore. Gfynllwchwr, Pontardulais, according to i an ancient tradition, is the birthplace of the j saint-.whose immortal memory is hummed to-day by Irishmen the world over. At Glvn- ilwchwr also was born, about the year 1430, one of, if not the greatest of Welsh bards— "Liawdden" or "Ieuan Llawdden," on whom was conferred the title "Y FwyaJi Aur" after the great Carmarthen Ei&teddfcd of 1451. -+- Is it not a reflection on Welsh patriotism that, although several Scotch publishers have amassed fortunes by publishing Weish theological and other works in innumer- able parts at extravagant prices, yet the publication of the late Chancellor Silvan Evans' scholarly Welsh dictionary has been discontinued at the letter E through lack of support. If a tit-he of our blatant Cymmro- dorion were to subscribe for a copy each the enterprise would be a success. THE CORDER CREED. Your Oobdeanite is cocfcsure right, Of signs he takes no heed, In d-umping stril he sees no HI, Buy abeap's his partial creed. Though British make, our greatest stake, Be tariff undercut, Th e stall his song—"There's nothing wrong, "A tariff; 0, tut, tut." Our makers they may go or stay, Our labour famine grow, Buy ohea.p's the tip, all else may rip, iso say Cobdan amd Co. Swansea. SNAP. It is a connnon fallacy of Liberationists that the Church did nothing to promote education in WaJes during the eighteent-h century. The first day schools in Wales were founded in 1730 by the Rector of Llan- ddowror. Before 1754 over three thousand schools were in operation, and 150,000 Welsh men. wom-i, and children had been taught in them. We find from the annual reports for 1740-42 that the following schools ex- isted in this locality:—St. John's, Swan- sea (number of scholars) 118, Penylan 53, SL Mary's 50, Llacsamlet 90, Loughor 41, Ge-11 igron in Llanguick 135, Cae-gurwen 41, Neath 50. A London journal on Friday published a meteorological department chart, showing the extraordinary twists and curves made during a voyage round the Horn by the Era.to, which left Port Talbot for Tooopilla, on the western side of South America, in June last year. The Erato for twelve days had to face a westerly gale, accompanied by heavy squalls of hail and &now. So she continued to meet, gales from the west, south- west, and north-west, with a temperature which on 28th September fell to 14 degrees Fahr. That vessel's sa.i16 were like iron, she was thick with ice and snow, and ten of the crew were laid up with frozen hands and feet. Imagine working a vessel in that con- dition, under such terrible circumstances, short-handed. Messrs. Sebe and Gorman, in a letter to the press, state that the apparatus vised with such effect by the Westphalian corps during the Courrieres disaster, is really an English invention, having been invented by Mr. H., A. Flouts thirty years ago, and manufactured by them during that period. 9 It is surprising, therefore, that it has been iso lmuch neglected; although the manufac- turers quote a few examples of its successful employment in disa.sters in the early eigh- ties. The fact remains that in the great majority of eases in recent years no such apparatus has been either available or em- ployed, and parties descending the pit, sub- sequent to an explosion, have had to trust to luck and chince--Chose good old British w&"nc;. With this apparatus, or, some-, thing of.the like d--ig11;. which should al- ways be available at a pit, these parties would stand in no danger from after-damp, and would be able to penetrate far into the underground workings with impunity, im- perilled only by the shaken earth and tim- bering, and the possibility of falls.. As matters stand, they have to wait until after- damp has been thoroughly cleared away. But there is always the melancholy citcum- stance that, with the most perfect of aJ)- pliances at hand for rescue gangs, explosions usually do their work with such thorough- ness that nothing but shattered or charred corpses remain to he recovered. There is always in, a saddening humour in the spec- tacle of a dozen doctors hastening to a pit immediately on the news of a disaster be- coming known, though being fully aware that their services will be demanded by two or three maimed and dying men alone.

SWANSEA RATES. During the next few days, after the over- seers have met to prepare their estimates, the Swansea ratepayers will know what rates they will' be called upon to pay for tbe next half-year. So far as the facts already disclosed are concerned, the effect is depressing. But for one circumstance it would be worse than depressing. The Harbour Trust holds about £ 16.000 in hand of rates unpaid. pending the result of the law-suit regarding the basis of valuation adopted in regard to the dock property. AH or nearly all this sum will probably be available, otherwise a substantial increase in the rates for the next six months would be inevitable. For the standing charges, represented by interest and sinking fumd of the Corporation loans, show an increase of over £ 10,000; the education rate requires an advance equivalent to an additional 14d. rate, and the Guarrlians want 91,800 more than in the corresponding half-year, the bulk of which snrm to be spent upon law costs. Tha district rate has been fixed at 4s. 4d.. in the £ tiie proportions of the borough rate have vet to be determined, but in all probability wili be higher than ever before. In these circumstances the outlook is the reverse of cheering. The only word of comfort is contained in the state- ment made by the chairman of the Finance Committee at Wednesday's meeting cf the Council, that if the spending bodies prac- tice economy in earnest, and about, L3,000 a year is obtained for the surplus water supply provided by the Cray Works, the rates for 1906 will probably mark the maxi- mum point to be reached, and that even a reduction may be expected a few years hence. The precise value of this reassuring prediction has yet to be tested, but it is something to have any hope of an improve- ment held out by the chairman of the Fin- ance Committee, even though he presents himself panoplied in "ifs" and "buts." For the actual condition of affairs is exceedingly grievous for the rate- payers, and the pinch is most acutely felt. The high rates are handi- capping our manufacturers and tradesmen, a.nd arc chiefly responsible for the high rents against which the great body of ten- ants ore cryimg out. It is fervently to be hoped that the expectations of Mr. Martin will be realised—though the confession must be made that tiie facts upon which they are presumably based are invisible to the public generally—and that the spirit of economy which animates the spending bodies when estHnates axe being prepared, will this yeear endure to the end Otherwise the rates will continue to rise, aggravating the plight of the ratepayers, the thoughtful aramg whom realise the possibility that the town and district may be entering upon a period of industrial depression.

NEATH NOTES. Mr. Bircham Suggests a New Union. "Pleasant" Prospect for the Ratepayers! Was it a parting kick ? Of course, we have all heard that Mr. Bireham, H.M. Inspector under the Local Government Board is about' to leave the South Wales District, preparatory to the enjoyment of a well-earned and well-deserved retirement. But it was rather unkind of him, wasn't it, suggest that a new Workhouse for the Neath Union was absolutely necessary. A new Workhouse! What it mean? Well, it means roughly the expenditure of f £ 30,000. And more than that, too, for as Mr. David pointed out, a modern structure would bring it with a resident medical offi- cer and a staff of nurses. Then, we have to anticipate legislation, which will perhape render workhouses not as necessary as they have been and are. The Paupers' Bill (I do not use the word in any offensive sense), of the NC2.th Union already assumes alarm- ing proportions, and the Guardians were right in deciding to lay their case before the Board above. Away back in the seventies—I think it was in 1876—the Cottage Homes were In' built at a cost of something like .012,000- the idea being to ease the pressure on the Workhouse and to provide more healthy accommodation for unfortunate children. These bouses (now in the charge of Mr. and Mrs. Sair), have been a great success and many a successful man can look back with heartfelt thankfulness to the early training he received there. For all these things the ratepayers have paid cheerfully. They have not even grumbled at the abnormal amounts which the Guardians have paid in out-door relief; but we may expect a o4, roar ot discontent if the Local Government Beard insist upon the erection of a new Workhouse for a capital expenditure (,t thirty or forty thousand pounds, wlmh means much to the already over-burdened ratepayer. Well Baglitil Higher thanks mainly to the strenuous work of Mr. W. H. David, at last had its lights. For a long time t they have struggled to be free from a con- tribution of JB150, which they claimed was not due from them. Some years ago a case, dealing with the assessment of the Port Talbot Docks and Railway Co., was deter- mined at Port Talbot, and as an outcome of this the assessment of the parish referred to was reduoed. Yet the authority continued rating the parish on the same basis as existed before the reduction, and Baglaa not only grumbled, but declined to pay. At last they have reaped the reward, but what about those other parishes which have grumbled, but paid? 45 Everyone locally was glad to learn that the Melyn lad who had used the knife on the engine driver was bound over and not made a criminal of, and everyone at the same time concurs with the remark of the judge that to use the knife is an unmanly thing, but that the lad committed the of- fence under great provocation. Extra- ordinary interest was taken in the case by the Melyn, people, in the first place because the youth was an orphan, and in the second because he is practically a stranger in their midst. A salutary lesson may be learned from the unfortunate affair. In many of the works in the district horse-play and practical joking are rampant, and lads who are not strong enough mentally and physic- ally to take their own parts are made the t "butts" of men who ought to know better. Ijads, when they tirst enter the works, are "put through the miil." To a robust, healthy boy, well a.ble to wait his time, this does not matter much. He can refgb it and in the end generally get his own back, and sometimes a bit mere. But every lad can- not stand this. The youth at the Galvanis- ing WTorks couldn't. Otherwise he would not have used the knife. No longi-ir ar,e, th-e Nleatit I)ovt§- burdened with" at for fcliey lost to "Port Talbot oal Saturday. Lost, and they deserved to lose too. Ibe defeat may be beneficial, and in this -iviv-it mav induce the committee to select the best material available.- This they have not done of bite. I fancy I see a glimpse of November. for is it not true tliet a committee of the Cor- poration visited the courts at Penydre and elsewhere en Monday night, with the view of "spotting deserving cases" for ga& lamps? There are some unlovely spots at Penydre, and "under the Latt." Light is wanted there. Light ir, also wanted in legard to the ownership of some of these tenements, which are little better than pig-styes. A Jong time a.go Dr. Morris, the. medical c officer of health, said some strong things. It is time he took strong action. What is the matter with the "local atmos- phere" this week ? There lias been some- thing strange about it. It seems to have bean much agitated..The mechanical mix- ture has evidently been disturbed. People seem to be painfuily alert. One is regarded with looks suggesting suspicion. What, don't you know? Why the irrepressible Clement Robert Truernan has returned from sleepy London. N eath possesses a remarkable dog-no not a bull dog this time. It is a retriever, and with "dogged" persistency (and despite all warnings, cuffs and kicks) it cor tjnues to lie daily in the track of the trams in London- roau. When it bears a tram approaching it yawns, gets up slowly, and nines aside until the groaning billy passes. Then it resumes its old position and waits for the next. It is a lazy dog, spending its time between eating and sleeping in the middle of the tramway. It is also an animal in which the spirit of self-preservation is stiongly marked, and an animal which is I of more than ordinarv canine intelligence. This was clearly shown on Tuesday. He was lying in the middle of the tram-road, just opposite my home, and the two o'clock express tram was rushiing down London-road. The driver rang the ball and shouted. But the dog never moved. There it lay, sleeping peacefully. Just be- fore the tram reached it, it realised its peril- ous position. There was no time to get out of t-ne way, and it seemed *11 Lomb&rd- street to a French ha-penny that there would be an increase in the supply of sausages. But the dog upset all calculations bv stretch- ing itself flat, aind the tra.m passed over it without harming it in the least. lhe animal looked around after the groaning thing had passed, and then resumed its nap. Quite a crowd of Neathites went to Car- diff on Monday to witness the International Soccer match, and they, with most others, were surprised at the dimensions of the "gate," and the enthusiasm displayed. A crowd of nearly 20,000 to witness a Soccer match, and on a Monday, too, should have the effect of opening the eyes of the execu- tive of the Welsh Rugby Union, which, by its miserly actions, is fast alienating sup- port. Peaple are beginnin.g to ask "What is the Welsh Union doing for club football? What right have thev to bask in the sun- shine of riches, while the poor local club, struggling for existence, is facing extrac- tion? What is a paltry dole annually of JB25 to necessitous clubs?" We- in Ncath feel the pinch keenly, for our field cost's us over £100 a year, amd we are in debt to the extent of over 2500. Have we not a per- fect right to approach the custodians of public money-the Welsh Union—and say: "What are you going to do for us?" If the reply is "nothing, then let us, in company with other necessitous clubs, tc.k- strong action to place our position before th° public. A wealthy Una or: has no right to leave its affiliated clubs starve. "OBSERVER."

BATH AND WEST AND SOUTHERN COUNTIES SOCIETY. We would remind intending exhibitors that entries of Horses, Cattle, Sheep, Pigs, Cheese, Butter and Cider, and for the But- ter-making, Milking and Shoeing Competi- tions, in connection with the. Society's Exhibition, to be held this year at Swindon, should reach the secretary on or before April 5. Further particulars will be found in our advertisement columns.

SWANSEA MUNICIPAL 'PH0NE& PURCHASE PROPOSALS: OFFER TO THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL. GOVERNMENT OFFER OF .017," "RIDICULOUS." At the Swansea Council on Wednesday* t.he Mayor presiding. Mr. Dan. Jones submitted the report oo the offer by the I'ostmaster-General to pur- chase the municipal telephone system. When the question of a Corporation tele- phone first caine before them there were many complaints that it would not pay. Not only had they got a good service for themselves, but they had also got the N*a- tional Telephone Company's rates reduced. They had not made a call on the rates for the first year, while last year there w.as a profit of .£287, in addition to payments of J;:935 on interest and £729 placed to the sinking fund. Ha predicted a much better- surplus for the current year. The Govern- meat had decided to purchase the National system in 1911, and in competitive areas such as Swansea the Government had ap- proached them with an offer to purchase. The Postmaster-General offered P,17,000, and this at the time they considered to h. ridiculous. It was evidently baeed upon the figures the Postal engineers obtained ,I ain when they visited the town but the Post- master-General was frank, and said it was an offe" that could be subject to discussion, giving the imprassion that the offer could "give a little spring up." The committer wished that—(1) the whole of the capital ex- pended (including the cost of obtaining Ut- ter-communication) be repaid to the Cor. poration. After the fight they had had with the National Company, the town felt that whatever they had spent in getting in- ter-communication ought to be treated ac capital, and refunded as such. (Applause.) It might be said that they ought to go in for good-will, but under the circumstance# they had little chances of getting it, as the Postmaster-General had been very explicit on this point. The committee demanded that-(2) existing rates be maintained until the system of the National Telephone Com- pany is taken over by the Post Office, so far as concerns existing subscribers and sub- scribers connected prior to the transfer J future rates to new subscribers to be speci- fied in the agreement for sale (3) staff to be taken over on terms not less favourable tbao. those agreed to in the case of the National Telephone Company; (4) Post Office to work the system; and (5) the Postmaster-General to obtain inter-communication between th6 Post Office system (which will of cours* then include the Corporation system) and the National Telephone Company. It was only reasonable, Mr. Jones continued, t4 insist upon existing rates being maintained, and as for the Post Office working the sys- tem, that was to prevent the National Tele- phone Company taking it over in twelve months time. The committee wanted an inquiry to borrow £7,000 to complete the system. The totll cost of the Corporation telephones had been £ 26,961. Mr. Martm: Can you anticipate the cur- rent year's working? Mr. Dan. Jones: I am afraid I caamat. Mr. Livingston asked how mu::h of the £ 7,000 had already been spent. Mr. Jones: About £ 2,000. Mr Jones informed Mr. Tutton that the offer of £ 17,000 was based on figures winch they were not responsible for. Mr. Tutton: They must have had asceea to our books and known that the system cost us £ 26,000 odd. How nlùch do yoa think they are likely to "spring?" Mr. Dan. Jones I suggest that we get aJ. our capital back. Mr. Tutton: I don't imagine for a mom- ent that a Government department would offer an increase of £ 10,000. Mr. Jones said the offer did not incloo. the exchange buildings, which would men all additional £ 2,000. Mr. Tutton urged them not to embark os this additional expenditure of £7,000 before they knew and were certain of getting back all they had spent. It would be unwise to spend more money if they might only get a portion back. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Hopkin -asked whether the chairman of the Telephones Committee anticipated that the profits of the system woold continue to increase. Mr. Jones refust-d to bind himself by pro- I mises of the future. Mr. Solomon found it hard to feel that the Corporation was to surrender a system which they inaugurated and worked so well, but yet there was the satisfaction that it would go to the Post Office and not to the National Company. The Post Office was to pay good-will to the National Company for any system with unexpired licenses in 1911, and if this system passed over to the Na- tional Company there would be an addi- tional and unnecessary Lax on the rates when the Pest Office bought it back again in 1911. There bad been a saving of 22,000 tc telephone subscribers by the Cor- poration having instituted their undertak- ing, and even the National Company was being better conducted. Town Clerk said it appeared to him, f they adopted the committee's recommenda- tion insisting on being recouped their capital expenditure, there was no need to trouble about what that cost had been. It was dif- ficult to know bew the Postmaster-General arrived at his offer, as they were unable to know what the figures he had been furnished with ivem. The Town Clerk read a lengthy letter from the Postmaster-General which went into considerable detail. The Postmaster offered C17,000, exclusive of the. exchange buildings, and the actual expenditure sinoe September last. Dr. Latimer: Then you lose, anyhow? Town Clerk How? Dr. Latimer: You lose the interest YOll have paid on the capital. Town Clerk said as to the loan, it was ad- visable to have the inquiry held, in order that they might at once proceed with the extension, in case the Postmaster-General's offer fell through. They were not bound to borrow the money. Mr. Tutton moved an amendment as re- gards the 27,000 loan to the effect that in- stead of the request that the Board hold the inquiry forthwith, the resolution should read, "that the inquiry oe suspended pend- ing the negotiations with the Post Office, and the publication of the accounts of last year's working." Alderman Martin said he took it the posi- tion was that the Corporation might have expended a. large capital amount lying dor- mant, and if this C7,000 was required to make that dormant capital alive and remu- nerative, then the sooner they went about it the better. If the Postmaster did not accept the Corporation's terms, the Corpora- tion would probably carry on the under- taking themselves. Mr. Livingston wanted figures up to date, coupled with Mr. Tutton's amendment. Mr. Tutton agreed, and the more infor- ma-tion they got the better. The Mayor said he was talking to some membeis of Parliament last week, and was told that if the matter came before the House of Commons they would have justice and the whole of the money returned. The late Postmaster's offer was ridiculour simply nonsense. Mr D. Jones explained that the R,7,000 was wanted to thoroughly use the pipes and cables which were laid in several districts. A vote on the amendment rmultd as fol- lows: For (9)—Alderman R. Thomas, D. Wil. liams, Messrs. Colwill, P. Davies, Latimer, Livingston; B. Thomas, Tutton, and W. Williams. Aga.inst (22)—The Mayor, Alderman Lee, Martin, Matthews, O'Sullivan, .Spring Messrs. Cadwalladr, Corker, Devon aid ù Harris, Hopkin, D. Jenkins, D. Jones, Howel Lewis, Lovell, Merrells, Morris, Miles, Sinclair, Solomon, Hon. Odo Vivian, and H. Watkins. Alderman D. Matthews asked a question about inter-communication, desiring further information, and said an inspector had told him that practically the law decision was against the Corporation, and he should not be able to secure inter-communication after June. « Mr. Dan. Jones said they would be glad to get such statements in writing. Major L rdew had made his report, which had been sent to counsel, and nothing further could really be said. The minutes were then passed.