The Cambrian

BALFOUR'S SPEECH MINISTRY MERCILESSLY EXPOSED. WELSH CHURCH BILL A CRIME." r UNEMPLOYMENT AND FIS- r' CAL REFORM. I A great audience of between 4,000 and ¡ 5,000 people assembled at the Drill Hall, Cardiff, oi. Thursday night, listened to a powerful and statesmanlike speech by the Right Hon A. J. Balfour, M.P., the leader of the Opposition. Every available inch of the big hall was occupied. The interior of the building had been made bright by lines of many-eotoured streamers, while the walls were covered with shields and other adorn- ments, the names of all the leading men in the Conservative party being displayed in. large letters set in a decorative back- ground or red, white, and blue. The order ( had pone forth that no ladies would be ad- imittei, but the proceedings were graced by a select pa.rty of ladies who occupied places .immediately in front of the platform. These included Lady Ninian Crichton Stuart, Lady Samuel, the Countess of Plymouth, Coun- tess Grosvencr, Lady Elcho, Lady Phyllis Windsor Clive, and Mrs. Houghton Ga-strell. Lord Flypjouth occupied the chair, and sup- porting him were the Earl of Londesborough, Viscount Tredegar, the Duke of Marlbor- ough, Mr. George Wyndham, M.P., Mt. A. Bonar Law, M.P., Lord Ninian Stuart, Councillor David Davies (editor, "Daily Post") and ethers. Mr. Balfour, on his ar- rival, met with a tremendous ovation, and he looked the pictuie of happy delight at illb reception. MR. BALFOUR'S SPEECH: PARTY'S FORTUNES. Mr. Balfour, who was received with pro- longed cheering on rising, said :—My Lords, ladies and gentlemen,— lour chairman ill hi £ introductory remarks has just told yon, what you all know, that the fortunes of the party are now in a very dliferent position to what they were twelve months, still more two years, ago. He has attributed that ha.ppy change in our fortunes to such efforts as 1 and my colleagues have been able to make to restore the fortunes of a oauee which never, indeed, were lost fortunes— (hear, hear)—but which for the moment were in abeyance. He has attributed to our efforts the great and revolutionary charge which ha.s taken place in the posi- tion of the party. I am most grateful to Lord Plymouth for what he has said, and to you, gentlemen, for the way you have received what he said; but Jet me tell you that there are others to whom a much larger meed of gratitude is due—("No")—aitd those others are his Majesty's present Govern- ment. (Laughter and cheers). We have done our best;—it may be small indeed—but we have done our best. But wliat would our efforts have been had they not been seconded by that admirable phalanx of allies who sit opposite to iis in the House of Commons, and who in their hunt for votes throughout the country have alienated every section of the popula- tion ? A WORD ABOUT FOREIGN AFFAIRS. But before 1 coine to controversy let me say on this occasion, that I suppose it is my duty to make some reference at all events to thai which is uppermost in the minds oi large sections of the population. Let me say one word—and it shall only be a word about foreign affairs. All of us, irrespective of party, have watched with anxiety the position of matters in Europe. W é have abstained in the House of Commons and in the House of Lords from anything in the nature of criticism; indeed, from anything in the nature of commentary upon what the Foreign Secretary and his colleagues have done, for we believe that they a-re carrying on the continuous traditions of Lord Lans- downe and his predecessor. (Cheers). And we are reeolved, so far as we are concerned, that nothing that we say and nothing that we do shall weaken the voice of Great Britain in the oouncile of the Empire. (Cheers). Ladies and gentlemen, there have been times in the history of our country when the friendship of friends has bean cool and the enmity of enemies has been heated to white heat by the idea that the party system in England, in Great Britain, so weakened the forces of our country that we could easily be accounted with by our enemies ajid coilld offer but a poor assistance to our friends. Such positions have existed, as vera know. They shall.not exist if we can- help it dtrring the period that we are called upon rather to take the role of critics than to accept the great responsibilities of directing and, it may be, initiating foreign policy. Of course, 1 don't say—who could sav?—that we, the Opposition, are going to abstain fr'om comment or from criticism. Such a position could never be set UP, but I do say, and I say it with a sense of deep responsibility, that commentary a.nd critic- ism should be indulged in with great cau- tion on such subjects—(hear, hear) and that in no case shall we aim at any party advantage to the discomfiture of the eouritrv. (Cheers). I rejoice to think that foreign affairs are. at all events at the pre- sent °timo, and so far as T can penetrate the future, likely to be entirely outside the sphere' of partv controversy, and I am glad to think also that a recent statement by the Prime Minister makes it likely that on one great part of the problem of national defence we may rest content that the pre- se-t, Government do really intend to carry out whlSt has been the traditional policy of syceFsive Governments with regard to the maintenance of the Navy. (Cheers). OUP NAVY THF. TWO-POWER Standard. There i., indeed, nothing new in my indg- ment in the statement which the Prime Min- ister made a few days in the House of Com- mons. I understood him to make exactly the same statement in substance as far back as March or April last. I think it was when we were discussing the Navy Estimates. I then understood him to sav. as I know now he intended to say. hat we were going to maintain the two-Power standard in the sense in which the two-Power standard has always been understood, namely, an equality of strength with SIJV two other Powers, with the necessary margin. (Cheers.) There were those—I never was one of them—-but there have been those who thought that when a statement somewhat less precise was made bv the Prime Minister six or seven months figo he intended to preserve a loop-hole for escape. (Laughter.) I never thought that, and I know now. what I always believed, that th"t was not the fact—(cheers)—and I rejoice to feel that however we may differ on other questions of naval policy, on this, the fundamental, the a-ll-important point nf national "safety, the Prime Minister of „ Radical Government ha.s announced his ad- hA«ion to that policv to which his predeces- sors and our predecessors have Alike pro- fessed allegiance. (Cheers.) One other ooint. a.rld one other point only, shall I make in ion with national defence. Never forscet—never :orrr,et that a FLEET WTTTTorT AN ARMY IS A FLEET ROBBED of half its virtues. (Cheers.) And let no man be so foolish as to dream that we in these two islands can remain safely sheltered from the storms that shake the outside world, re- moved from every danger by our overwhelm- ing naval strength. That is a va.in and empty dream if the British Empire is to re- main our Empire. Tn the first place, it is not the fact that the Navy, and the Navy alone, can give us adequate home defence. (Hear. hear.) The Navy must be supple- mented by an adequate home force, and it is folly to suppose, and no instructed soldier or sailor does suppose, that merely by mul- tiplying our ironclads and neglecting the whole problem of military defence you can 1 flatter yourself that in any contingency you are sleeping safely in your beds. But apart from that—apart from home defence, and which I am quite certain has not been taken sufficiently to heart by the great commun- ity—we have got interests so vast in our Colonial and Indian Empire— (cheers)-—i-hat we cannot ignore the necessity of keeping an adequate military force. But I go fur- ther and say that if you look back oyer the last two centuries and a half of British his- tory vou will see that this country has never yet been able to keep itself disinterested, as the phrase goes, but our national require- ments for peace, for the equilibrium of Europe, have in different generations proved themselves to be so over-mastering for the most pacific of Ministers, the most reluctant of nations, and the most diffident House of Commons, that they have found themselves again and again forced to take part in strug- gles in which the interests of this country, thougn remotely, were yet so closely and indissoluble involved that we could not stand aside and see the battle fought with- out our assistance, except by the sacrifice of most vital national interests. (Cheers.) Look, then, to your Army, look thgn to your Volunteers — (cheers) — well, Territorials — Volunteers in their new shape. See that they are made adequate for all we can reasonably anticipate they Will he called upon to do. Short of that you will be fail- ing in your first duty as citizens of art Em- pire. (Cheers.) GOVERNMENT'S OMNIVOROUS APPETITE. To tarn. Lard Plymouth, from these gen- eral questions which I am glad to think are, at all events for the present, entirely outside the region of mere party controversy, I turn to subjects upon which the population of these islands is sharply divided—I turn to the legislative programme of the Govern- ment. (Hear, hear.) The present holders of office have an absolutely insatiable appe- tite for legislation. (Laughter.) They are perpetually bringing in new Bills, and some- times they are withdrawing old Bills, (Laughter and cheers.) They require us sometimes with notice and sometimes with- out notice, sometimes in the possession of J our natural freedom of debate, more often j without any freedom of debate at all— (cheers)—-to deal in breathless ha6te, without pause, without intermission, and with almost I as little thought as the Government them- selves give to their own measures—(laugh- ter)—to deal with one strange scheme of legislation after another. I admire this om- nivorous appetite—(laughter)—it has an al- most Gargantuan sublimity about it— (renewed laughter)—but I must say that though the Government have an extraordin- ary appetite for legislation, they are rather coarse feeders. (Laughter and cheers.) They a're strangely indifferent to the. manner in which these plentiful meals are prepared. 1 am almost bewildered by the rapidity of their legislative procedure. I hear by tele- gram, for instance, to-night, from my friends, who were unable to be present here, being retained by their Parliamentary duties in London—the Government have WITHDRAWN THEIR EDUCATION BILL. • (Prolonged cheers.) But they are going to introduce a new one—(laughter and cheers) —and they are going to ask us to deal with it not later than next Wednesday. (Laugh- ter.) Ca.n we have a finer example of their fertility and of theitr versatility? ("No.") They have been in office since the end oi 1905. The General Election was in 1906, and we are now in the third quarter of 1908 —not a very long period in the history of a Ministry—-and in that period I make out that they have had six different- Ministers of Education—(laughter)-—three at the head of the office, and three subordinates, all chang- ed and. that these six gentlemen have had in charge no less than three Bills, all of which have been either dropped or with- drawn. And these are now to be succeeded by a fourth. (Laughter.) That is safety the mart amazing legislative performance we have everr eeen in the whole history of this! country. (Cheers.) What the new Bill is to contain, of course, we do not as yet know. I dare say it Will be an improve- ment upon its preidecessoifs. (Laughter.) It can hardly be wnrse—(laughter)—and I am mire the Opposition will give it aus we always give every proposal by a responsible Govern- ment—(laughter)—a consideration which is respectful, or at least as respectful as it de- serves. (Laughter.) I do not comment fur- ther upon legislation of which we shall know more, I suppose, on Saturday, and still moift oft Wednesdaj, and of which we know noth- ing at present • I shall coijie to measures of which we do know something. NEXT SESSION: THE WELSH CHURCH. As regards next Session I do not profess to have loaded my memory Wlth ail the pledges the Govenment have given as to the manner in which the next Session is to be occupied, but at ail events we know one thing, we know that as far a.s Wales is concerned there is to be a Bill for severing the ancient Church of this oount-ry—(sharae) —for dividing it from the other portions oi the Established Church and for depriving it of its property. ("Shame" atnd "No.") I need not say tiiat when the measure comes forward it will have from us afi it has had before the most strenuous oppositioai—(loud chefcrs) and 1 venture, before ite introduc- tion, to intake thie appeal to thooe who, though not members of the Church of ¡ England, do not blind their eyee to the great work which the National Church has done and is doing—(hear, heai-)— both in WaJes and elsewhere. Now, remember this is a Government which is always talking oi social reform they have not got time to allow us to diScuse their social reforms. They have always to get them through under exceptional use of the closure. But in the time still given to them before the nation calls them to account they are going to spend deliberately a large portion of next Session m carrying out a measure which, 1 venture to say, no nran not abso- lutely blinded by religious or party bigotry I can regard as anything else than a social 1\ crime. (Cheers). If my Voice can reach them I would ask those Nonconformists, the greatness of whose work I am the laet to deny, whether that work be carried on in England or in Walfes—I would aek them, when they are not politicians, whether they think the cause of humanity, of motrality, of religion, of social reform, Or any of the great causes to which our opponents make such glib appeal on the platform, and for which they do so little off the platform— (hear, hear)—I would ask them whether they think that any of those great causes are going to be advanced by depriv- ing of ite property and cutting in half a Church which most undoubtedly shows, by everv symptom that'a. Church could have. that" it is a living, vital force, working for all that is best in humanity. It is not only folly, it is worse t-ha.n folly, to Fuppose that they are doing anything btit advancing the cause of the party' by such a policy, and if I may venture to offer a. suggestion, a ptofftly wire-pulling suggestion, it is that they will find that they will get as few votes by this particular procedure 3,<: by ány other ex- pedients to which they have had recourse in order to sit-em the flowitrsr tide that is gradu- ally sweeping them to destruction. (Cheers). However, this Bill is in the future, and that, future is not apparently very temofce. Tt is possible that there mav be accidents— (lautfht^r)—even before that futurp arrives. LICENSING BTTX: "WORKING ON THE WRONG LINES." I turn therefore to the present and :t,c;k, yon to allow me to say one final word upon the Licensing Bill—(cheers)—which has oc- cupied so much of our time during the last six weeks, which will, I suppose, bo read the third time to-morrow in the House of Commons, and will then go up for considetra- ^jon in the House of Lords. (Laughter.) Now, in the final remarks which I wish to make on this Bill. I don't ros»ar. to dwell upon the gross and scandalous injustice which I think it does to a very large section of our fellow-countrymen. (Cheers.) Nei- ther do I want to dwell upon the collateral issue, namely, the general discredit, the gen- eral effect upon confidence in this country, which is after all the very basis of the life blood—the very basis of the commercial prosperity, the very life blood of commd- cial enterprise. (Cheers.) I wish in these valedictory remarks—-(laughter and cheers)— to torch more particularly upon its aspect as a measure of social reform; and I do this i because I am well aware that there are many persons, for whom I have the profbundest f respect, in the community who, while not blind to the' weakness or even to the injus- tice of this measure, are nevertheless not prepared to treat, as I think it deserves to be treated, what they regard as a great step forward in the cause oi temperance. Now, if I thought tins was a great step forward in the cause of temperance—-that would not, of course, alter my views as to ite injustice or a6 to the iniquity of passing it in its pre: sent shape—but I should say if the public, if the British public, believes really that the cause of temperance is going to be greatly advanced by those restrictions upon license holders, let them by atil means pay a fair price, to the license holdel1:-(d1.eers)-and then carry out wiiat they beiieve to be a great instrument of moral regeneration. I am very sorry to say that 1 have listened to these debates going on day after day and night after nig'nt, and I am more than ever convinced that these persons who call them- selves temperance reformers and are some- times teetotal fanatics, 1 am niorer than ever convinced that with the best intentions they are working On the wrong lines. (Cheers.) HOW TO EFFECT TEMPERANCE REFORM. I don't believe that by this simple method of restriction you are really going to change the morads and habits of the people, and it is only by changing their morals and habits j that you a.re going to make reform worth having. (Cheers.) if you alEk me whether I ha.ve any evidence for that opinion I would make two answers. The first is, no one has been abie in the course of those debates to show that where a policy of restriction is canned out to its logical consequences and has beootme a policy of piohioitiotl you have done anything but add to the immorality of breaking the law of the land, to the im- morality of exceeding the 'use of strong drink. There is no evidence whatever pro- duced to show that reform has resulted from legislative restriction, and why should it? Is it on legislation that moral reformers, religious reformers, the clergy, xaly when they are dealing with any other topic con- nected with the advance of human morality ? They rely upon persuasion, upon argument, upon the growth of a better feeding, of t>huti gradual progress of improvement, of the whole social environment which gradually makes that which is not a legal crime a sin, makes that which is not a legal crime a sin, a disgrace, and which thus produces a gen- eral change in the dispositions of the conn- try, which we truly cail a solidly based re- form, not depending upon an Act of Pa.r- I 1 liartieat or the interference of the police, or the infliction of fines, but depending upon those subtle, those subtler and great changes which are a true index of social progress, and upon which, for my own part, 1, re-ly go greatly for a future improvement of the country in this as in all other moral and ethical aspects. HIS STRONG ARGUMENT AGAINST THE BILL. But I have a much stronger argument than that. I have the argument drawn from the Bill itself. The Bill and the framers of the Bill seem to suppose, or go oh the assump- tion, that if you restrict the opportunities for drinking in licensed premises you are going to produce a change in the habits of the people. If that is their view, if re- striction be genuinely their creed, why had they not touched the clubs? (Cheers.) Is it not folly verging on hypocrisy—(loud cheers) —to sa.y that you are going to improve the whole habits of the people by preventing them consuming alcohol under police restric- tions and police supervision, while you don't touch their opportunities in the smallest de- gree for obtaining as much alcohol as they like by these two other channels, the holders of the off-licenses and the clubs, which this Bill does nothing practically to touch at aJl/ (Hear, hear.) I never can believe that any man can regard this Bill as a great step in advance in the morality of the country. I never can believe he honestly thinks that unless he is either so ignorant of the pro- visions of the Bill, er so extraordinarily in- capable of seeing that you must have a oo- herent and consistent system—if you carry the restriction beyond a. certain point. I never can see that he can be a sincere be-1 liever in his own creed when he does not dare touch either the clubs or the off-licenses, (Hear, hear.) I don't believe you can touch either the clubs or the off-licenses in any ef- fective way. (Cheers.) I don't believe you ought to. (Cheers.) I don't believe in restric- tion carried out in the manner in which this Government appear to think they are going to carry on a great social reform. '•GROSSLY ILLOGICAL 1NCONSIST- ENCY." And then, a.t all evente, I am consistent. I don't wish to carry the restriction of clubs further than it was carried in our Act of 1902, and I don't wish to restrict licensee beyond what is carried out under the Act of 1904. Then I am consistent, but what are you to Say of the people who describe us, who have opposed the Bill, as the slaves of a particular interest, as people who are prepared to sacrifice the morals of the com- munity for a temporary political advantage ? Wiiat are you to say of the people who in- duige Ü1 this kind of criticism and yet have not, the common courage, the common con-, saetency, to carry their own doctrines to a logical conclusion—(loud oheers)—leaving to the working classes whom they wish to reform every opportunity for getting drink in one direction while doing everythlllJg to prevfeiuo them gjetting it in another? (La-ughter). It is folly, and, I think, atfi immoral folly, and when I hear excellent people describing themselves as the advo- cates of a higher political mode of thought than that which we poor politicians—(laugh- t-er)—are able to arrive at, acquiescing, con- tent&lly acquiescing, in this grossly illogical inconsistency, I confess I despair of social reform if committed to such hands of those. (Cheers). I need not sav that the views I have been expressing are hot the views of the Government—(laughter)—and MIr. Birrell—(derisive laughter)—the Irish | Secretary, hi particular, made a. most un- measured attack upon the House of Lords for what he supposed the House of Lords Were going to do when this Bill came up to them. I could not help comparing the free- flowing invectives in which Mr. Birreil in- dulged when he was attacking the House I of Lords with the carefully weighed and measured judgments which he passed upon Irish la.w breakers. (Cheere). HOUSE OF LORDS "SAFE AS CATTLE DRIVERS." If he would use but those who boyoott their neighbours, who tyrannise ovetr whole districts in the West of Ireland, who drive their neighbours' cattle, who occupy theit neighbours' land, if he Would use the same figure of invective against them and follow1' it out—(ohrfers)—if he would use the same invective against theun as he uses against the House of Lords, then, gentlemen, I should not t&ke so dark a view as I do at present of the government of Ireland. After ail, have the House of Lords so much to fear? ("No.") I daresay you have forgotten, what I have almost forgotten, a resolution against the: House of Lords—^laughter)—propose^ I tMnk, about a year and a half ago. (Voice June laist year.) Y^es, a little over a year ago, and in which all the heavy Radical at- i tillerv was brought to bear on the second Chamber. I have almost forgotten it (Laughter.) They have almost forgotten it' —(renewed laughter)—and I am quite confi- dent the country does not retain a shred of recollection aboUt it. Indeed is not the whole thing grotesque? These gentlemen have been filing up the cup for tw-a and å half years or thereabouts with the mly re- suit that the more they fill the cup the less the country likes them; the more th*sy rouse the indigna.nt millions agaifist an istfespotis-' ible hereditary Chamber the more til* indig- nant millions slnnv by 6very mean* In their power that they think the iTTespor(ttg:i|0 here- ditary Chamber was perfectly rigl>, (Laugh- ter and cheers.) All this bustle <«» t.he part of Mr. Birrell and his friends ill com. pletely out of date. It rrtay have suited the jiitfrs and harmonised the general political picture when fir £ "<. th» Government came in With their 500 odd majority, Chinese labour and all that, but I can assure them that it is totally out of perspective now. It offends mv artistic &snse—(lotid laughter)—and they really ought to Wait repeating these ancient arguments and vituperative rhetoric until the next time thsy come in with a, majority of 300. (Laughter.) But I think the House | of Lords, in spite of Mr. Birrell s thunder, is I perfectly safe. I think they are as safe—I don't think I can find a more expressive met- I aphor—I think they are as safe as if they I were cattle drivers at work. (Prolonged laughter.) A patriotic resolution against the House of Lords is not, however, the only abstract resolution out of which I have de- rived much private entertainment during the last two or three years. I remember an- other brought in most gratuitously, persisted in most tyrannically, and that was our ab- stract resolution to which the Government devoted two days in their first Session, and in which thev made this House of Commons express its unalterable determination to ma:nta:n the cause of Free Trade. (Laugh- ter and hear, hear.) I remember asking some questions at ihe time as to what ex- actlyT they meant 1 this strange declaration oi policy, which euuid not bind their suc- cessors, could not bind the next Par- liament, and as a matter of fact has not bound this Parliament. (Laugh- ter.) I got no answer, or at all evente I got only the answer which is one M ni°h comes most readily to tf.e lips of the present Government—I got only the answer t'he closure being moved. (Laughter.) SHIPPING: FREE TRADE THEORY. But I thought at the time, and mv antici- pations have not been disappointed, that th ?er" l>ro#e'ss of events would 6Upply the best commentary upon this eccentric Parliamentary performance, and I have not been disappointed. I just ask you to ccm- r ^>r <,ne moment two measures which the Government, in their two years and a half of office, have brought m and carried. Ihe^one—and you are familiar with this i"n Cardiff—deals with the imposition of all t it restrictions affecting British shippiiig to oreign shipping which uses our As 'VOU know, we do not allow British ships to go to sea except with certain regulations "1" the load line and all the rest, in- tended for tile safety of our sailors; most proper regulations, "but which, of course, necessarily involve, and rightly involve, some cost to the sliipowner. We have no power to inflict more regulations upon foreigners. All we can do is to do what we have done, and I think quite riglitiV done, which is to say, if foreigners choose to use our ports they must submit to similar regulations—(applause)—an excellent sy stem 5 but how, I ask you, is it to bs reconciled with the particular profession "of ega-rd for the consumer which is the funda- mental economic doctrine by which the present Government profess to direct all their legislative and fiscal efforts? After all, when they are dealing with sugar, or whatever ekse it is, their theory is—all you have got to do is to consider the interests ot the community qua consumer and the interests of the community qua producer will look after themselves. That is their theory, and it is the Free Trade theory in a nutshell? Then why don't they work oil it? The consumer is the man who wants hie freights as low as possible and who uses ships where the cost of freights is not raised by any regulations. That is exactly what the present Government have said abcut sugar. They say, Why don't you welcome dumped eagar in this country! Quite true, it will ruin our West Indian Islands, but then if the foreigner is fool enough to dump sugar on your floor below cost price why not welcome it? I say that theory is utterly abandoned when you are dealing with this shipping question. Isn t it to safeguard the interests of the British shipowner against the interests of the for- eign shipowner? Isn't it to prevent unfair competition—a cardinal doctrine of our poli- tical faith ? How about the Government s fiscal faith? I think THEY DON'T CONSIDER THE PRODUCER AT ALL. Why? But unfair competition, provided it elided in giving anything cheaper to aaiy- body, wae a tiling which you not only oughu to tolerate but to welcome—a foolish and idiotic doctrine which they themselves, 1 say, ha.ve had to abandon when dealing with the shipping interest. Of course, you i may say, as soriie apologists foi" the Govern- merit may say, thai-it was not to please the shipping interests— the owners of ships and the British sailors—but to protect the for- eign sailor that they had done this-(laugh- ter)—that it was in the interest's of a wide- spread humanity that they required foreign shipping to conform to our doctrines of the load-line. (Laughter). Well, if that is their theory, how far is it going to carry them? 1 suppose then it will be their duty and their successors' duty to consider with regard to production whether goodis that compote in Oulf market with our own products were made bv sweated labour, or under paid labour, or labour acting under unhealthy conditions. That may be quite right, but are the Government going to say that that is their doctrine, and if it is their doctrine, how is it consistent with the only theory of Free Trade that I have been able to under- stand that they intended to perpetuate, as far as they can, the abstract resolution pasised in 1906. QUESTION OF THE UNEMPLOYED. And the same extraordinary inconsistency makes itself particularly patent when they come to the question of the unemployed. Remember that the Free Trade theory m they have been in the habit of expounding it is this, that- if you look aftor the con- sumer, if you devote all your effcrte to get- ting goods at the lowest pttce in the Britisn market, that is the best way to obtain em- ployment for the British working man. I don't understand, if that is Jhear theory how they justify spending vast sums of money out of the rates in order to eai wui the unemployed and make them do which are erither of very little use., or which would not be regarded worth making l it was not that thfey have a desire to give em- ployment. (Cheers.) Then where does the consumer theorv come in? I have never been able to bnne together the two halves of the doctrines of the present Government. I have never been able to make their econ- omic theory for the consumer fit in with tha practical theory of how to dead with the un- employed. The producers only desire us to see men in t.heir own country do work for which they are fitteod--(choors)-and produc- ing goods which somebody wants. Was it anv impr#vefmeait even on the extremest views of Protection to say that out of the rates thev were going to pay people for do- ing that" for which they were not fit and which nobodv wanted? If you are going to sav tihat the State in its public dealings was neVer to consider the interests of the pro- j ducer. but only going to considefr imme- diatelv the intof^t of the consumers; if to1, regard the community a.s consumers and absolutely ignore their interest as producers, b^ieving that as producers only they will obtain all the benefit, how, theft, can you 'consistently give contributions for the sake of the producer under conditions which n„ke rational paction utterly impossible Jdrivhig people, compelling them to pro- duce that which robody wants, at a price which is so monstrous and co excessive that the State has come to the T-sistance of the authorities and pay the dif- fprenee in the value of the articles produced ? (C'npers ) I confess that the less we hear the present Government of these an- cient orthodoxep the better. They are quite ready to thorow them in our face when it wasS to their interest to do eo, but Whenever the rustical necessity faces them then, as prac- tical men, thev abandon all these theories J thev accept the very doctrine of regard- ih" the 'producer as quite as well worth look- inCT after a* the consumer, and the doctrine ot proteding against illegitimate competi- tion those engaged in production within our own chores- cheers.) p.Drys UNQUALIFIED ADHESION TO FISCAL REFORM. Now in the light of these events is not everything which'the National Union de- cided upon just this time a year ago at Birmingham amply justified? look back upon the doctrines which you then endorsed bv universal acceptance, look baj^ upon the views that were expressed with regard to the necessities of revenue, to arrange- I ments with our Colonies, and to the safe- guarding against illegitimate competition of 0wn industries—look back upon thosr h-pe cardinal points and ask whether cverv I thing which has occurred since November. iqory. has net received fresh endorsement ir November, 1908. (Cheers.) In 1007 the whoV j party represented here to-night gave at Bir mingham its unqualified adhesion to those principles of fiscal reform—(lend cheers)— which I ventured in their name to enunci ate. I am convinced that the 12 month,' I which have elapsed since that date have in duced such doubters in our ranks as thrr were to modify, if not wholly to abandon any objections that thev may once have had • to that view, and that month to month as the policy of the present Government devel- oped and as the necessities of the situation make themselves felt mors and more it be-' comes clear that to friendb a^d foes alike, to the sympathisers in our Colonies and alarmed spectators among our commercial friends elsewhere—-(hear, hear, and cheers)— that fiscal reform is no remote ideal—(loud 1 cheers)—is no distant prospect of which men scarcely dare to dream, or a far-off land- scape which only shows it^'f dimly upon r. vanishing horizon, but that ali tne move- vanishing horizon, but that. ali tne move- ment of thought, ail the political forces, all the trend of economic speculation, are alike driving us to this treat change in our sys- tem-(cheers)-and that most surely, if poli- tical prohecy he worth anything, the time is v not far distant — is in- deed within the aaae—within the reach oi vision of all the great audience I am now addressing—the time I 23 > is coming when that great policy will ? translated from an ardent hope into political reality, and that from the very farthest corners ct the Brit- ish Empire, in the very heart of that Em- pire in this country, the effects will be seen In the closer knitting of our Imperial bonds —(cheers)—in the steadying of the whole in- dustrial machine, in the mitigation of the ever-present pfOblem 1f unemployment— (cheBrs)—m the sa-f$li?,r^in £ ct' great in- terests against the cotf|^na'^ons of increas- ing industrial efficiency backed by the use— I was going to say the unscrupulous, but at all events the unreg^^S use of hostile tariffs oy every comntrclal country in the world. CLOSING WORDS' "MOMENTOUS CHANGE"' BROACHING. And I may sav that the tune will come when all these great pohlems will receive, if not a complete so'i^on—v.-hat problems receive c-omplete and immeciiate solution, however you manage four affairs?—will re- ceive a solution appC;3,chmg to a solution by a rational and reapnable re-arrangement of our fiscal svstem-*cheers)—rendered ne- cessary. in any case? wild financial policy of the present Government—(cheers) —and which, quite afrt.from that, lias jus- tifications which, in judgment-, must ap- peal in the first pia<? every economist: in the second places*0 eYery man who has realised the truth tJat you cannot look at the great industrial community merely as people who consum6,and nUL, as people. who produce—(hear, hea/^ariri in the third place tee every mail who realises that the iiritish Empire depflGS for its pa-manence, its power, and its dstence uIKjn the encour- agement of those cJlmon senuments of citi- zenship which c?,nP\ have their basis and roof in a centraliseLGov.ernment, but which may, nevertheless,|pourisil perennially, use- fully and fruitfully we Oilly use everv me- thod by which wherever they may be planted, look t<L^*s. country, not merely as the head of the ■jI1*P*re' but as a collabcw- ator in the groat ^01 industrial prcduc- tion. (Continued d,eei*'s ) e have not con- cealed our conviv'0118 on this point. Has the country mad| no response? (Voices: "Yes.'A j tell Ju every man on the other side, howfer loudly he may have ¡ talked of his fiscs^ VIews two years ago. now knows in his h§a||' thfJt a momentous change is approaching, Jla:t the breath of the new era is makilf itsff felt, that the dawn of the new day* already visible on the horizon, a.nd tbl( when, and it cannot be long—(cheers)—great part}- represented in this room igea-'ed upon to refmine its duties, p'ATr.v out a constructive policy, they will set themselves to the task ) of carryihg'out ^ese doctrines in a practical shape, they will have had a mission given them by their f,llow countrymen—(cheers)— and whatever be th2 difficulties of the task they will neitlfr s^r'nk from it nor fail in it. (Loud and prolonged cheers, during which Mr. BaHonr r^unler! his seat.) OTHER gfEECHES: VOTES OF THANKS. Mr. Balfourbse<lueutly replied to a vote of tha.nks mo^ by Lord Nmian Stuart and seconded by )ir y-eorge Wyndhjm, M.P. I Coaincilior Val Id Davies (Swansea) pro- posed a vote of thanks to the noble chair- Iran, and said 'ha.t it was usual y only a pleasant forfl,&r' hut he thought he would have their cotf111"11675^6 that evening in reading into the resólllLJOl1 rnoT6 than formal thanks. He thought the)' ought to read into it an I expression of grathude for serrices that did J not begin aJ}£i end with that conference, I but. services extending over a quarter of a century. hear.) They were for- Lunate in their Conservatrve peers in South Wsles, and they were particularly proud of the Earl of plyn'ol!th. (Hear, hear.) He had heen a most generous friend to the Conser- vative party; a trusty guide in days of diffi- cuity and sti"eSSM; a steadia.st beacon in the by. p^t hours. (f-iieers.) One hundred and fifty years 3,0'.0 an of their chairman was winning India for the British Empire. (Cheers.) He WaR the great Empire-builder of the 18th cattily, and the Earl of Ply- mouth. in cot:sc<;r:itmg to the cauf-e of the consolidation elC the Empire his political thoughts of a gifted and trained mind^w"s faithful to the traditions °f his house- (C-neers.) In assisting, as he tvas doing to hrmg about the fulfilment of thftt noble drearn of a greater Empire, draw- ing much ot its strength from its Colonies— n the making—gQ as to increase the Anglo.sa.Kon 'n^'len<e to such an extent ío make it inesisable in the world, the Earl of plymouth was obeying the call of | tne blood." (Hear, heai'.) They wanted gfli«ef! for the democracy they never needed guides moie than they did to-day. -A-t'tei" ^every great war there followed a p9rlo<^ OI exhaustion — a period when the nati01} grew fainthearted—became aweary, and in Jt,.g wearing sighed for re- pose and rest. 1° yield to that impulse was often to yield to sloth that was danger- OUr, te.naiug to imperil the future of the nation yielding to it. (Hear, hear.) He thought at the present time they had need i to beware of dHn ^-othful ease — in the words of Ruskin take care lest the rest be the lest of stone's, which, so long as they vjtere torrent tossed, tempest- driven, mainlined their majesty, but when '• IK- ",liS still and the tempest was -vFi.s.sed suffered -he grass to grow over them, the lichen to feed upon them, and v' re ground down to the /Just. (Hear. hear.) The special xnission of the Conservative party as he conceived it to be, wag to bring the na- tion back to the first principle of Empire— icbeers)—to hold as a frontlet between the eyes the eternal truth that there could be no real greatness without capacity for sacrifice —that there could be, no ascent for man or Empire except through sufferjng (Applause.) (The policy n' *he Liberal party had only to be understood fl0 repudiated. He thpught they were on the eve of a great victory. (Cheers). Ih^re were abundant •signs warning the Libei-als1 to get their outfit, ready an^their ]orig an,| weary march in the w'ldeni^.s (Laughter). During the laft two or 11m*' years they had teen drinking copioitsly of the waters of Marah. (Laughter). Every bve-election had brought to their lips the bitter and brackish waters of fllf^I*)>riij)tment and dis- illusion, for the country Wap otloe more re- covering itB old spuit -the spirit that for 300 years had made crir people the mcist. free 'and vi^o^18 In thr> ww-Id. (H P'1r, hear). The ultimfite victory of the cause was assured, because therp Wns behind it a grooving force that was destined to become irreeistihle. The supreme triumph would be beneficial, not onlv to widelv separated me-mbefs of the Angln.^ltie family, but to all humanity. (Lotid cheers!. The resolution \vus cårrioo with acclama- tion. In r«fwWpe the Ea<rl of PlymutJth acknow- ledged the kind things said of him by the projxioer of the resolution. The memorable meeting was then over. SPEECH BY MR. VT-NABLES LLEWELYN. Mr Balfour had another magnificent- re- ception at the Park Hall. >LT. Vcnablc!" Llewelyn who ppoke at thi, mecting, said he he hod been asked to do so as he came frorh the hinterland f \Yales, and might be able- to give foms re-

At Aberavon on iTinrsday Edward Allen, labourer, was imprisoned for a month fc mdeoency. f pert to the Unionists of this district as to how matters were paogressing. He w*ao glad to siy that the healthy tone visible in many parts of the country7 was equally plain in the hinterland. He ventured to suggest i hat any attack levelled at the House or Lords would not at present meet witn any succe.is. The Jlousb of Lords represented the feeling of the country in a moie pracucai and concrete manner than the present House of Commons did. (Applause.) Perhaps the promoters of that meeting had paid hiin the compliment of seconding thtis resolution as he had the honour of carrying the Unionist standard en tv.\> occasions, and he was also t)18 ;-011 oft; tu v."ho had fought on many occasions. His father and himself had fought eight ba-tUes—(applftuse)—and he was ijuite convinced that during the whoie ot the 24 years that those eight contests cover- ed there had not been one minute when a Unionist candidate could stand on a. plat- form to uphold lias principles and look with greater confidence than he could at the pie- sent time.

CAUG BEB-HANDED. COUPLE OF ABERAVON BURGLARS. On Thursday midnight P.C. Eiuston, Aberavon, found a window broken at Mr. Groom's "bungalow." Baglan-road. Ho summoned P.S/s Hale and Harris, and the house Was raided, and two men inside were promptly secured. They gave theiT names as W ilfred d- liams (20), labourer, Yelindre, and 1 nomas Thomas, labourer, Newport, and were late.:r brought before the magistrates and remand- eel until Tuesday. I

WAS HE DRUNK ON DUTY ? It SEVEN SISTERS PIT STOKER CHARGED. I At Neath on Fndav Dd. Davies, stoker, Seven Sisters Colliery, was summoned for being intoxicated on duty.. 3fT. D W. Thomas, manager, e&m tha. noticing the steam at low pressure he en- tered the boiler-house and saw defendant intoxicated. He was allowed to continue his work, but with another man lookm0 after him. i Defendant, who said he had had no beer that day, was, timed 10^- anc^

CHILD FALLS FROM A TRAHi. EXCITING INCIDENT AT PEMBREY STATION. Just as the down7L5Ta. ni. egress from London was leaving Pembrey un Thursday evening, passengers on th plat- form were alarmed by seeing a chila .a- ,'s« out of a corridor coach proceeding m the rK?ecfcton of Carmarthen, and a frantic mother immediately jumping out after the ^The train was immediately stopped, and it was fcund that the youngster jured, but the mother suffered some • o- injuries.

-===- SWANSEA'S BELGIAN TBAM-EAILS j* FREE TRADElFs"ATTEMPT AT EXPLANATION Mr. Soutter gave another ''Free> lecture on Thursday at the -en a Sv.-an«a. There wore fifty persons pre.~nt, and the proceedings were g oomy Speaking about the Belgian rails used at. High-Street tramways contnac u waf a blessing to hare the rails from Lei- giu.ni. so as to dve the Swansea men-and oth ens—employment. The foreigner ae &ä.id, would not be paid back by money from this country for the rails, but would receive goods, etc., in exchange. j

PQNTARDAWE GUASDIANS, | NEW OFFICES: CHRISTMAS RELIEF- | At Thursday's meeting vf. Ponta-rdawe Guardians, Mr H. Lloyd, J.P-, Believing Officer G. Jeffreys applied for an increase of salary, stating that it was lower than that of any other officer in bouth Wales <ioin^ the same work.—Mr Morgan moved that it be increased from £ 101 to £ 115, but was told that notice of motion was n-e- C0ssaI"Y. Additional Xmas out-door relief will be given as followsInfirm Zs., ordinary Is., childr&n6d- It was decided to adopt the Holly-street site for new offioes. A prize of £ 10 will he offered for the best plans, cost of building not to exceed £1.500.

MORRISTON FUNERAL. THE LATE MR. WM. DAVIES, WHITE HORSE HOTEL. The funeral of the late Mr. Wm. Davies, the esteemed landlord of the White Horse Hotel, Morriston, took place on Thursday a.t Llansamiet Churchyard, the coffin being plaoea in the family vault. Deceased was well known, having been employed far over fifty years at the Morfa Copper Works, whalst he was a staunch Churchman, being a member of St. John's Church and Choir. Those present included Messrs. John. Davies, Joshua, Davies, Caileb Davies (sons), J. H. <ITB and William Joseph (sons-in- law): Willie J. Llewelyn and D. Owen Davies (grandsons), J. Evans, Graham Liddi- cott, William Jones, A. J. Collins, Griff Poulett, Griffitn Joseph, D H. Thomas, I Oakley Walters, J.P.. Thomas Johns (Cae- mawr), Joo Johns, Ebowzer Edwards, ex- Sorgeant Bowen, M. Panneir ^stationnicU5t«r) j T. W. Samuel, J. GrriffitliB, ex-P.C. Tanner, and Waiter Jones (churaliwa-rd&n). Revs. D. W. Morgan, B.A. (Llaneily), D. Wil- liams, M.A (vicar), and Alban Jones. B.A., officiated. Messrs. Walters and Johns car- ried out the arrangements.

SWANSEA DEVONIANS DINI. DEVON AS "THE EARTHLY PARADISE." GIFT TO MR, W. J. TRETIARNE. Swansea Devonians assembled in force a.t the Royal Hotel, Swansea, on Thursday evening, for the fifteenth anniversary din- ner. Over 150 gentlemen sat down. Mr. W. J. Troharne f president) occupied the chair. The Chairman, in giving "Devon, OUT County- sang the praises of Devon and characterised it as the earthly paradise and I a county that was not excelled in the whole fail land over. He referred to the intellect- ual attainments and enterprise of Devonians, and said tliey as a body were an aicquisition to any town, and Swansea had much to be thankful for from Devonshire men. Swan- sea ought to be very grateful in having such men as their vice-president, Dr. Lati- nier tbe late Mr. Burnie, and Mr. John Uyer. whose devotion of his great wealth to alleviate suffering was well known. (Ap- plause.) There wa.s something in Devonian blood that lmprired Devonians to success. Mr. S. T. Drew teecreta-ry) presented Mr. Trehame with a. silver-plated, inkstand. Mr. Treharne, in acknowledgment, said he should regard the unexpected g-ift. as a cryis- talu isatioii of the good wishes they had al- ways expressed towards him. Mr. Beef (president, Cardiff Devonian So- ciety) having spoken, the president had to leave for North Wales. Mr. G. Colwill then took the chair. Mr. R. J, Parr (director N.S.P.C.C., of which Mr. Treharne is solicitor) epoke of the hoauties of the county and the lustre and glorv added to England's long roll of famous men by Devonians. Mr. J. Joiic- (commercial traveller) pro- p.osed "The Town and Tiade, to which Mr. W. Newccmbe replied. The following contributed to the musical 'I ■programme:—.Messrs. T. H. Spicer. H. ilavies, J. Blight, and Torn Jones. Mr. J. D. Jones accompanied.

HUGE SOUTH WALES DEAt — TAFF CO'S STUPENDOUS PUR- CHASE. BUTE AND RHYMKEY INTERESTS i ACQUIREB. An agreement was entered into on Thurs- 11 day to sell the Bute Docks and Railways to 1 the; Taff Vale Railway Company, who have a alio acquired the Rhymney Raiiway Com- 1 pany. The purchase price is not yet dis- closed, but the talc is to be effected princi- pally by the exchange of stocks of the two vendor companies for those of the Taff Vale I to be created to enable the deal to be ef- fected. a -I lie sale of the Bute Docks to the Taff Vale Company does not mean the disposal of t th.3 freehold of the Marquis of Bute. The royalties, shipping dues, and ground rents t now payable to the Bute Estate wiU be con- tinued. ( These are the main lines of the agreement, but the fuM terms have not yet been ar- ] ranged This is especially the case in regard ( to the Rhymney Railway, the basis of the f purchase value remaining outstanding. An orncial statement to this effect will probably be made. ( There will, it is expected, be tremendous ( apposition to the proposals. The Barry 1 Company and the freighters, and probably i the Great Western, London and North Wes- t terry Midland, Brecon and Merthyr, and j Alexandra Railway and Docks Companies t are sure to very strongly oppose.

( I ATE ?fiF.. J. F. RICHARDS' ESTATE. QUESTION'OF A £1,000 POLICY. A meeting of creditors in re J. R. Rich 1 a.rds (now .ieoeasedj, and late of ..Fisher- street and Gwydr-gardens, Swansea, solici- tor. will be held on December 1st. i The business includes consideration of a proposal that Mr. Arthur M. James, solici- tor, Swansea, be appointed to take counsel s opinion with regard to a claim to a policy of £1,000 on the bankrupt's < life, and also with regard to the validity of < an agreement entered into by t.he deceased in connection therewith.

————————————-——=: < WAS ASOUT TO GO TO BED. ] SWANSEA LABOURER'S SUDDEN DEATH. < John Morris (47), labourer,, No. 25, Fisher- i stre-st, Swansea-a lodging-house kept by < Daniel Lane—died suddenly shortly after Thursday midnight, the probable cause*of s death being heart failure. Deceased, who < had lived at the house for three weeks, died, it is thought, just a-s he was about c to retire to bed, for when P.C. Abbott c arrived at the house at one o'clock the body was on the bed undressed. It was ë taken to the mortuary. è Three weeks ago deceased visited his a brother's residence, at No. 1. Thomas- street, and then complained cf being un- ( well. 1 |

1 1 BENGALI ASSASSIN TO HANG. ( AUTHORITIES REETT^E TO FORWARD I PETITION. I (Press Association Foreign Special.) Calcutta. Friday.—The Local Gorem- m-nt acting en standing orders, has refu.'M t to" forward the petition of Hatyendro to he t Rin<r. and the jail superintendent has be?n { directed to carry out the execution as w- 1: dered, 1 The vernacular journal ("Ba-sumati"') says "No Bengalis will be present at the execution ( only white men. What rort of justice is 1 this? The clea.d* bodies should be disposed of according to religious custom, otherwise cur religious rites will be tampered with. 1 The punishment of criminals ends with their death. With that also ends the connection of the authorities with the criminal."

— 1 LATE MRS, C. W. SLATER. INTERMENT AT MUMBLES CEMETERY. The funeral of the late Mrs Slater, wife of Mr C. W: Slater, solicitor, took place at Mumbles CemetxJry on Thursday afternoon. A n < n v r;al service was first of all held .wt t/, c' Verity an Cliapel, the HOTg G. Lang, T. Dixon (Swansea), and T. Darlington (Lon- don), officiating. Mcr; Evans (orgacist) played "I know that my Rfdeemer Live-th." Mourners wprp Mr W. Slater (husband), Miss Slater (daughter). Rev J Freeman (Leeds'), Mr Walter Freeman (Swansea), Mr C F Whitehead (Manchester), nephews; and Mr E Atherton (London), brother-in-law; and amonsrst those who attended the obse- ouies in the cemetery were: t)rs Ra.wííngs, J.P., and H. Rawlings. ReV. I. Newton. Messrs J. Aeron Thomas. D. J Davies, T Thomas, F C Eddersbaw, LI Jen-cins, J B Jenkins, Dd Roberts, C IT Qukkp, T H Taylor (Swansea) and a number of Mumbles friends. Weraths, etc., wew sent by the follow- ing. Husband and daughter," Rev and Mrs Freeman, Mr J E Hovrartb (Tnndou). Mr and Mrs Atherton 'T~eaMstone), Mr and Mrs Horsfield (Manchester). Old friends of Bruns- wick Chane,],, Mumbles WesVyan Chapel, Mumbles Choir. Miss Slater's Society Class, Mr Slater's Bible Class, M't and Mrs Aeron Thomas, Office Staff. Mr and Mrs R. Lewis, Mr and Mrs J. S. Brown, Mr and Mrs D. Roberts, Mr and Mrs J. B. Jenkins. Mr and Mrs C. H. Quick. Mr and Mrs Cumming Evans, Mr and Mrs W. I>av,ies. Mr and Mrs W, Burt. Misses Andrews, Mr; Pric. Mr and Mrs Biddle, Miss Beynon, Miss Knight, Mrs C. Davies. Captain and Miss Tucker. and the Committee ef tbe B.W.T.A., Mum- bios Branch. Mr D. C. Jones. Cnsl'io-eo,are, Swansea, carried out the arrangements.

GLYN NEATFT LANDLORD FTNFT). A f Npath. on Eridav, Daniel Jones. Di-i 's Rock Hotel. Glvn Neath, WHS sumn>oned for permit tin tf drunkenness and f filling drink t., an intoxicated person.—P.C. (Griffiths jfrur.d a ma.n named TViJb'nms dttmk —if-h brer in front of him. Defendant was fined 10. and costs, the bench remarking ^hev vc-uld benr Mr. Jones' good character p r.uPQ. he having kept the bouse nineteen y.-a^s without complaint.—The summons for supplying a drunken person wns withdrawn.

"New Tracks on old Trails in Asia Minor" was the subject of a fascinating lecture by Rev. M. Linton Smith, son of the P^an of St. David's, at Sketty Church fLl:1 on Thursday night. Eighty lantern vWs were shown of plaees and scenes of R ] mi^es journey. Mr. Smith said tb«=> n-oim < tainou* scenerv was tlfe finest in l np 'crld. Mr. Tumin and Captain Jenkins spnk.- j(, :1 vote of thanks. Proceeds were for the nr igan fund. Mr. R- F. Browne worked the lantern. "7"" St. Andrew's Presovterian Chapel (Swan- sea) annual tea and concert was he'd on Thursday, the plaice being prettily decoY- ated. Nearly 300 partook of tea. Mesdai&eR D, Connor. J. Moddox, Terrell. D. A. Suth. erland, M-acKelvic, Black, Clement, and Misses Clement. Jones (2k Lee (2). Nellie ltavies. and L. Essen. Mesdames Fred Wil- liams. Hopkins. D. Jones. Young and Misses Thomas. Marling, and Gladys Terrell sery- ing it. The concert, was a great success. The wedding took place at St.. Peter's Church, Gookett, of \1r. Leyshoii John Job, son of Mrs- Job. headmistress of St. Peter's Schools, 3.nd Miss Alice Kilner daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kilnor. The Pop- lars, Sk'itty. The bride wae given away by her father. Bridesmaids were MLcses B. Kil ner. Winifred May Kilner, (iladys (treen, and Lizzie Davie- Mi. Leyishon iJliams was best. man. Revs. J. H. Stewart (r icar) and E. -J. Jone6 ofhciaterl. The honeymoon is being spoilt at Bristol.

f RIGHT TO WORK CONFERENCE. SHOULD SWANSEA COUNCIL SEND DELEGATES? COUNCILLOR THOMPSON'S ENER- GETIC PROTEST. ífEAIED DISCUSSION: LABOUR MEN SORE. At the Svcajisea General Purposes Com- nittee on Friday, the Mayor (Councillor Futton) in the chair, representatives were isked to attend a light-to-work conference in London next month. Mr Mol\m€ux nioved that the letter lie on tL2 table. Mr. Thompson seconded. Mr. Corketr asked what possible gain eoaid be got by sending a deputation. • The Mayor said the conference was to oon- sider the "great question of unemployment iiid leg-ielation to meet- it. Mr. Corker I think that has bee11 done jy the Government. Mr. Harris moved tliat the Mayor Md Mr. Miles (chairman of the Distress ComrreV ,00) attend the oonfearenoe. Mr Morris supported, and spoke of the! distress now prevalent In the town, some of whom—factory hands—had not been getting 10s. a week for the past five weeks. The Government, he had not touched the fringe of unemployment. Mr. Thompson Shame. On-position was strongly given by Coun- cillor Thompson, who entered a strong and emphatic protest against usoiese deputations to Ix>ndon at the expense of the ratepayers. He believed the conference would be en- tirely futile and useless, but reminded his Labour friend; that he, and others who thought with him, had due regard and a.p prociation for the sufferings of those now out oi employment, but he must not lose sight of the laet that they, as a Ccimcil. were first of a'l custodiatis" of the public purse. ("Hoar, hear," "Hurrah.") He heard "Hea.r, hear" and "Hurrah" from people who had no gtake in the town. Alderman WiiHams I protest I have as much a stake in the town as Councillor Thompson, and a little more. MT. Merrells: I have seven times as much. (Laughter.) The Mayor pfiid that perhaps Mr. Thomp- son woidd put it in another way and say "more or less." Mr. Thompson adopted the words "more or less," and proceeded to ask what possible effect Swansea's representation would have upon Imperial legislation. It would be unique if any deputation from Swansea opened their mouths, and he opposed the amendment on the ground that it was use- less waste of public money, and that he and others were pledged to Hut a check upon it. Mr. Merrells declared tha.t for anybody to sit down idly and not take part in a na- tional movement to relieve the unemploy- ment and distress of hundreds of thousands of people was positively wicked. Mr. Corker suggested that the money spent on these deputations would be better employed by relieving the distressed. Alderman Matthews thought it was the iuty of the Council to attend a conference m what was a national question. Alderman David Williams said he had jonie to the conclusion that Mr. Thompson lid not know be was in the Council to look if tor the public welfare—Mr. Thompson "YeTY good of him")—and went on to sug- gest that he might know, had he had some little experience of the horrors of unem- pic.Tiient. At leaft TWO MEN AROUND THAT TABLE did not know what it was to earn a. copper for five weeks. In other remarks Alderman Williams said that Mr. Thompson had the audacity to appeal to the working men to put. him in the Council. Mr. Thompson And they will do it again. Mr. Tunbridge expressed sympathy with the suffering, and would not have it said 1 at he wa-- there to object to a deputation o a conference to deal with unemployment, out suggested that a special day be set apart to first discuss the question. Mr. Owen cited cases of distress, and sug- gested that starving humanity cid not ap- peal to Mr. Thompson. Mr. Thompson: Brazen tongues. Mr. Owen: I am disgusted to sit with them. Mr. Thompson, with tantalising coolness, made a personal explanation that he wa.s in such deep sympathy with the unemployed that he was prepared to subscribe to any dis- tress fund. Several labour Members We don't want your charity. Alderman" Williams Keep your fund. Mr. Thompson was glad that he could div cfusp the matter without any undue heat. (Laughter.) Mr. Owen: No, you have never had a hungry stomach to take it oUt of you. By twelve votee to four it was decided to send the Mayor and Mr. Milos to the con- ference -■ 11 11 'I

NEATH COUNTY SCHOOLS. ANNUAL PRIZE DISTRIBUTION. SIR JOHN LLEWELYN AND WELSH SECONDARY SCHOOLS. The annual prize distribution of that most successful institution-tne Neath County Schools—took place at thê Gwyn Hall, Neatli. on Thusreday afternoon, when a large assemblage gathered in cedebration of the 12th anniversary of the schools. Alderman Hopkin Morgan, J.P., presided, and was supported by Sir John and Ladv Llewelyn, Sir Griffith Thomas (Mayor of Neath), Mr. F. W. Gibbins (High Sheriff of Glamorgan), and the members of the Board of Governors. The Chairman said nothing gave the Gov- ernors greater pleasure than to meet the parents and the public on this, tbe crema- tion of the 12th anniversary. (Applause.) When the schools started twelve years ago there were under 100 students^ now the pupils numbered over 300.. (Applause.) Their whools. from every poult of view, would bear vein" favourable comparison with any county school in Glamorgan—(applause) and the pleasure of the Governors was ex- ceedingly enhanced by the presence of Sir John Llewelyn, an old and exceedingly popular neighbour. (Renewed applause ') oJ The Headmaster (Mr. J. Q. Lawis, M.A.) then presented his report-, and Lady Llew- elyn presented the pri; 0b to the successful students Sir John Llewelyn, who was heart!iy re- ceived, delivered an interesting axldresp. He congratulated bareiitr- and children in having present as chairman Mr. Hopkin lorga.ii, who bad been "'0 olos-ly identmcd with the schools since their inauguration, SIr Griffith Thomas, their Mayor, and such an excenent headmaster and staff- The Intermediate Education Act. said Sir John, was passed ir 1889, and lie fed been closely tissociatoc with the framing of schemes for submissior to Parliament under the Act. The queetior the\ now had to consider was Was the ex pend-itnre of those siums of monej7 justified' He thought in would be able to show that, ii Was. (Appla-use.) There were altogether 3t Secondary Schools m Waleis, with a pesrmnri- ent stafi of 656. The last report of the in" spector showed that there were 12,499 chil- dren attending these schools. In Glainor- gan there were 16 schools of this class, and he wa.- pleased to be able to etate that the Neath County Schools held a very prominent place in this group. (Applause.) In these 16 schools there was an attendance of 3,517, while in the Neath Schools the attendance was over 300. After twelve years of experi- ence of th-eae Secondary Schools he felt tha' the chairman and he could stand before anj audience -md s-ay that the money had bee! verv well spent indeed. Now, continuec Sir" John, the County Council proposed U build a separate school to a-coomniodate 16( girls. All this showed that they could not stand still. (Appla-n^e ) He appealed r( the children to take great pains to ie*varc their teachers for their loving care, and tht governors for the great amount of time Autl trouble they took in tiie axhninistra-t.on ui the schehie under the ACI. "And," con eluded Sir John. "J say that at the end oi twenty years' experience oi the Act we shah have proved (UT Crjse and performed inn d; ty to Our eolmtrv." (Tx)iid applause.) s\ Grifithi Thomas moved vote 0 thanks to Sir John and Lady Llewelyn. aiK I this- having been seconded by the Higl Sheriff, was carried amid great applause.

SWANSEA VALLEY LIe., BAIlt WAY. ^4 POFPTAFTDAWFI BODY APPBAIT> ÚOUNTY COUNCIL. G^lS PROBLEM: AN AMUSING pootardaw-e District Oouncii met on Fit day, Mr D. E. Parry presidine. With reference to a complains abaiA Neuadd Pit owing to a choked euiv^rt the Surveyor said vue County Surveyor bad or- der^ed a Large "bomMt" grating to t- iljiad. aond bars to preveat floating retnse beisatf deposited. With care by the roadman, the culvert should carry the lueavutt euitm water. It was agreed to pla-oe public ooav^fti- enoes at Main-road, Gurnoe, a.nd Gough.-roai4. Ystaiyfera. Clerk said the Hotne Secretary would p^< mit a magazine for explosives at GorstOt Brynammau, if the neighbours didjit. ject.—'I'he permit will therefore bo gTantod- It was announced that a Locai Govern- ment Board Inquiry would be h.3ld at CUffh- dach. on November & into tbe a^limtt6t to borrow £14,000 for drainage. TTios. J. Evans, Rhiwfawr. was appoiuHal caretaker at the Smallpox Hospiti»5. Saiiitery Inspector Edmunds repbnwd cas<s of infectious diseases. Mr S. Davies mov<>d to petition the Mid. land Railway to establish a passenger sta- tion at CwmDydJeli. He said tb-! eoHjpAny had promised to move many time's- but no" thing had a*>ne.—OarrnC Dr Jenkins, CSvdach, pr"»poseff ftriat tb* Joun-ty Council, liho were the onJy authority to consult, should he urged to proc-ed with the Jight railway from Ynisforg^aa to YniiB^ meudw. Had they steeped in f»i,r or five years ago they would have had their rail- way now. The County Council «a.- playing the game of the dog in the manger. Throug-fi want of a railway, many workiM n'.1!i1 had now to walk long distances. llvert in the part of the valley the Midlat..t mm runs through, except a.t Alltwen and C«ijrbe. bebyll. (Laughter). He did not <> why a,1> rangeroents could not be mad* K, obtain electric power from the Swansea Trftffiwa Co.—Mr Theo Morgan seconded. Mr 0. Oaviea staid the Midland paaeeng service wa5 most inadequate. He had be told there were often as many as twet persons in one carriage. Mr Powell said this wonld put a rtoj to the Midland Railway running a workir .1'. train. Mr Phillips fYnismetidw> said the rt' way was an absolute necessity. There w: ? fit; question but that it wonld be well patfr''iii**i. The resolution was unanimously ado^rf*^ Mr F. R. Phillips called attention to tJi* Pontardawe gat" supply. Tliey were n-it g-t-t,- ting vaiue for their money, and he niv-ived that the Council complain of the poor tn.aV'ty of gas supplied, the state in which la:¡.p. are kept, etc. Mr Morgan Davies seconded and said at his house they had to put the gap out two or three nights a week, more especially ~n Sunday night, wlien the cha-pels af^ lit. Then the gas went out itself. CLat!bWKr. Be was glad Mr Phillips. a promoter of th"1 Ga« Company, had made this pfopcsitioii (Laughter). Mr Phillips: Do-n't you think I deserve some credit for looking after the inffepresrte of the ratepayers af: well as those of the ooin- pany P fLa.ti|fliter and at!!>1ause). The resolution was carried. It was decided to call the attention M Messrs Player to the gas supply at 01., da^ifi

SWANSIA TECHNICAL SCHOOL STUDENTS' MARKED SUCCES6ES. In the results of Technioft! Oal- lege May exam ination. the Board of P/iiK* tion has awarded bronae medals to Mr. -b>i'.r! Robert*, Gefn Mvddfai, Yelindre, for fii*t ciaes success in the honoars stage of fsgti- cttltural science and rufal economy, and to Mr. P. Douglas Wikon, 80. Oxford-stn-eeet, for first- cla-«s success obtained in the hon- ours stage of the principles of mining. The City and Guilds of London Iftstit'lte has awarded MT. R. R. Thomas. 36. Brrn- foad, a bronze medalt "nd 3\); for his paper worked in the April examination on nCk- work, which indicates that Mr. Thc;?ia.« paper was the second best of the large lltUh- bef sent up throughout the kingdom.

PERSISTENT BURGLARS. iLNOTHER "RAID" AT NEW CUT, SW ANSEA. Burglars have paid another visitataoD to the New Cut, Swansea, and one of the tvro premises already entered on several occa- stem, that of Messrs. Mills, English, iron- monger, has been the object of atter,' >on. On the prevkras visit the intruders got pril.c- tically nothing, but during Thursday night entry was effected from the rear, and a qurtntifcy of cutlery abstracted frv^ the cases and carried away. The adjoining premises—Messrs. East- man's—were this time not troubled, which is understandable, for on a p^viotis ar- tranoe the burglans only secured a bone for their trouble! •

TBI WISHING CAP." PERFORirtANCE BY PORT TENNANT rij LiTTLE OKES. Why did Mr. Balfour make a speech in Cardiff on the same night as the pertormance at !?t. Stephen's (S\tanse») Parish Hail of "The Wishing Cap, by the Band of Hope? The operetta was just as well worth a tuil report, if there had bGeti space for i. The story of a little girl stolen by gipsy** Wife just as pretty, f"d the representation of "Elsa," by little Mi.ss Porter, ano of Katisha, the by Mi^ Evelyn Jones, aha the smgmg of Llama Durden (Miss Gladys Davies) just as de- i iigbtfiM- I Other principal characters were r armer I Durden (Mr. F. Parrott). Ike, gipey queen's I husband (MIf. Gilbert Wilcocks), Beh, bif brother (Mw. Harrv Crayford), Polly, daary- ? maid (Misa May Davies). Dorothy, "IIOUH; maid (Miss E Cooperl. Sue. Kit. Peg, Meg, j I.JÛll. Mattie, and Phoebe (Misses R. Lovcr- ing, E. Ijovering, A. (Jil'ard, E. Mefeer, g. Bow-en. Lily Rnss and L. Reichen) fairies. Misses A. Heywood, V. Darke, and L Davey. Miss Griffiths, organist of St. Stephen's, accompanied. as did the celebrated Ha-rrcp String Band, and the whole was tinder the able oondiictorship of Mr. J. S. Grifhtbs. Rev. D. Thomas, proposed a vote d' .-Sich was seconded bv Mr. Body- combe. The coitcrt was repeated on Frv r

1 =- KINGSBRIDGE LANDLADY'S nEATH ) The death took place on Thurssday ever L inf;, after an illness otfiv00 weeks, of Mr:, Elisabetb Hile.« i51). landlady of the Tavert I y-Trap. Kingsbridge, Gorseinon, whic-h ? iiouse she bad kept for twenty yeafs. Mt* niles underwent an operation six months ago for an internal complaint. She leaves a husband, Mr. Arthur Edward Hiles, sm-er E cbildi-en. a birntir-r (Mr. Forsdike, of tbl, 1 L. and N.W. Railway Hotel), and two sis tefs (Mrs. Thomas, Coliseum Hotel), and Mrs. Johnson (Christopher Hotel. Swansea', f The funeral of the d^ce^-sed lady, who wa< l highly respected on a,ll bands, will t.ak.. i place at Gk>\ve,rton Cemetery on Mondny af t#fhobn.