The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard

TIDE TABLE ABERYSTWYTH, For March, 1918. \8 denotes full moon, and N denotes new moon. ft. in. ft. in. 1.— 947t 18 If 17.— 10 54 18 0 2.—10 16 17 0 18.— 11 42 15 7 3.—10 46 16 0 19.— 12 9 14 2 4.—11 23 14 7 20.- 1 14 12 3 .-12 5p.m 13 1 21.- 2 38 11 ll 6.-12 31a.m. 12 5 22.- 4 9 11 8 7 — 1 45 Ll 5 23— 5 19 13 2 8.— 3 17 11 8 24.— 6 9 14 101 9.- 447 13 5 25.— 6 45 16 5 10.- 5 47 16 0 26.— 7 13 17 5 11.— 6 35 18 6 F27.- 7 49 18 3 3}12.— 7 19 20 4 28.— 8 19 *18 8 13.- 8 4 21 7 29.- 8 49 18 7 14.- 847 *22 3 30.— 9 20 18 1 15.- 931 21 5 31.— 9 48 17 1 16.—10 11 19 10 -t Time of first high tide each day, a.m., unless otherwise stated. Aff Depth of tide as measured at Old Dock Sill, Liverpool. Highest rises of spring tides. "The above times refer to winter standard local time and one hour must be added during operation of summer time. (Wallace E. Whitehouse. M.Sc.). University College.

On Other Pages. Y Golofn Amaethyddol 2 Poultry 2 Photos 3 Wales at the Front. Y Golofn Gymraeg 1 6 Ein Bara Beunyddiol 6 Portmadoc Tribunal 7 -Carnarvonshire Baptist Association 7 Carnarvonshire Tribunal 7

THE DEMAND FOR A HEALTH MINISTRY. During the past two months con- siderable progress has been made in the scheme for the establishment of a Ministry of Health, and the most recent _pronouncement upon this highly-im- portant matter was made at the National Health Conference of insur- ance organisations and social workers which was held in London on Friday last. Over 600 delegates attended and there was unanimity of opinion as to the advisability of a great co-ordinating movement in connection with the various departments which are now watching the health of the people. The delegates, who represented the leading thought of all organisations dealing with the welfare of the great masses of population, were of one opinion—and an opinion which they did not hesitate to express—that the present arrange- ments for public health were unsatis- factory. The attitude of the Government to- wards this important proposal was dis- cussed by Lord Rhondda who said that he was authorised by Dr. Addison to say that the negotiations and discus- sions which had been conducted by the various groups concerned with the Ministry of Health were virtually com- plete. His Lordship went so far as to say that he felt satisfied that this great ameliorative measure would be intro- duced shortly after Easter. No pro- posal put forward by the Government for some years had gained such general approval from all sections of the think- ing community. The necessity of some great combination is emphasized when it is shown that six or seven departments are now touching national health. The guardians, the insurance committees, the education authorities, county and urban councils, the Local Government Board, and others, are all -dabbling with human life, and in each case it is not their primary work, but only a side-issue. The first great step should be a combination of the Insur- ance Commission and the Local Govern- ment Board, and after that further arrangements can be made. Those who give a moment's thought to the matter see clearly that this measure is one equally urgent as that of labour in the shipyards or munitions 'for the trenches- Lord Rhondda pointed out that one thousand child lives were lost weekly through mal- administration in the health sen-ices, and during the war 200,000 Jives had -been sacrificed owing to ignorance and "lack of facilities for the proper rearing of children. There are at the present time well over a million weak and "defective children in the public schools of the country, and apart from a few -progressive education authorities school medical service is treated as if it were something objectionable to the com- mittees which make arrangements— apparently in many cases against their will. The very large population living- in the slum areas necessitates work which the new Ministry could well do, and as his Lordship said, one of the first steps would be to see that every town bad a maternity centre as well as a clinic, and that the industrial popula- tion was provided with a great nursing service. Opponents of the measure may say that present methods are achieving- the desired end because the infantile mor- tality has fallen from 113 per thousand births to 93 per thousand between the years 1913 and 1917, but every elementary student of this subject knows what influence weather and other natural causes have upon in- fantile death-rates. Lord Rhondda said the supporters of the measure would not be satisfied until they got this death-rate down to fifty but if this is to be done a more comprehen- sive work will have to be carried out than is at present the case. Rural Wales has a horrible record in this matter. Were it not for the work of Sir Joseph Davies in Merion- ethshire what would be the conditioll of that county? Cardiganshire sleeps on, and in infantile mortality as well as in the death-rate ot tuberculosis, holds a position which is a disgrace. New Government Departments have not been slow to say that their work has been restricted, hindered, and wil- fully undone by other departments which were obsessed with jealousy. If any existing coterie of Government officials think they are going to upset this new department demanded by the social workers of the land, and are going to hinder schemes launched for the saving of child life, then they labour under a serious mis- apprehension. A department formed by demand of the people will be watched by the people, and if Lord Rhondda, who initiated' the sdheme, undertakes this great task (as was suggested this week at the Conference of the National Council of Public Morals), the people have nothing to fear. Whoever takes it up will have to do so with a set determination to bring out into the limelight every case of obstruction, and Parliament will have to deal drastically; with the offenders. This is a matter of life and death. It is not a matter of jug-gling between officials, nor of hair-splitting between departments and the Min- istry of Health must be what the people demand that it should be—a great fighting force for the saving of life.

EDITORIAL NOTES. The other day a. baker who sold bread less than twelve hours old was fined £100 on the ground that he was conniving at a waste of bread. He has the satisfaction of seeing wealthy brewers who waste grain by the thousand tons yearly rewarded for their work by seats in the House of Lords. it < The War Office announces that compensation for extraordinary damage to public roads caused by timber haulage for national purposes will be dealt with by the Controller of Roads and Bridges. This announcement will tend to relieve rural councils of a good deal of anxiety as the problem of road maintenance had be- come an irksome one. < » It is stated that the Office of Works, a Gov- ernment department, has actually dared to flout tradition in specifying for the use of Welsh slates for roofing a batch of 250 work- men's houses it contemplates building. This is a welcome indication of a change of attitude towards this deserving industry which it will be well for the other departments to follow. • It is announced that a large number of skilled shipyard men is to be released from the army for constructional work at the docks. But the question naturally arises why were these men taken from their vital work? It reminds one of the old story of the Duke of York who had ten thousand men and marched them up the hill and marched them down again. Evidently someone has blundered through inability to I visualise the situation as a whole. Cardiganshire Farmers Union, at their annual meeting at Newcastle Emlyn, decided to petition the National Union for financial assistance m contesting the county parliamentary seat with a candidate representing the agricultural in- terest. Already there are representatives in the House of the National Union, and tl is is a much better policy than attempting to run candidates for individual counties. Again, there is the question of a united front on the part of the farmers themselves. The Welsh and English unions must come to some definite understanding, and the sooner the better. The arrost by a picket of Merioneth Volun- teer Force of a tenant farmer while following the plough, on the ground of non-attendance at drills, seems to call for prompt. investigation. The act seems to savour of high-handedness .and betrays a Prussianism which might be ie- sented bv the community. It is admitted that the man vvns doing work of national import- ance in raising food supplies, and common sense says that a man who has spent long hours ploughing is in no fit state to play at soldiering in the late hours of the evening. It is hoped I that prompt steps will be taken to curb the ardour of those responsible. Mr. Ellis Davies, M.P., has aroused the ire of quarry owners and others by a recent speech at Llanberis in which he inferred that insuf- ficient care is exercised for the lives and safety of men employed in quarries. Considering the hazardous nature of the work in the best con- ditions the figures quoted by Mr. Davies do not seem to justify his sweeping assertion or the conclusion lie drew from them. Even members of Parliament are sometimes carried away beyond facts by their own rhetoric when facing assemblies of voters. Mr. Davies's devoted services to his constituents in the past should be sufficient without any playing to the gallery. A correspondent on another page makes a practical suggestion for retaining the use of the path up Constitution Hill which has re- cently been closed. It is pointed out that if the owner desires to retain the legal right he can accomplish his purpose by simply closing the path for a day or a week in every year. We feel sure that neither the owner of the path or his legal advisers desire to rob the town of what has been an undoubted attraction, and we hope the Town Council will take the matter up forthwith and come to some arrangements on the line suggested by our correspondent. These paths and by-ways around the town are equally as attractive as the uniformed band on the Promenade. The success attending the opening of a Y.M.C.A. at Aberystwyth should stimulate its promoters to still further efforts. It is now clear that the movement has come to stay and is worthy of a fitting home. It'is not likely that the Town Council would raise any diffi- culties against handing over the site of the Skating Rink for so laudable an object. It would prove an ideal spot for the erection after the war of a worthy memorial for those brave lads who went forth to sacrifice that their country might live. The project may appear a bold one in present conditions, but the whole history of the Y.M.C.A. movement proves that indomitable courage and faith has removed mountains of difficulties. Let the local organ- izers secure the site and make further develop- ments when the conditions become more favour- able. The Council in this matter are the trustees of public interests, and if it is shown, as it easily may be shown, that the ratepayers are inclined to look with favour on the dedica- tion of this property to so noble a use then ro difficulty need be expected from the Council. R.S.M. Fear, who has done more for our Boldiers and sailors than any other man in the

Aberystwyth Liberal Club. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Liberal Club was held on Friday evening, Mr. J. R. Griffiths, Market--street, presiding. He congratulated the Club on its satisfactory balance sheet which showed a credit balance of £87 13s. 6d (includ- ing F,24 invested in war savings), which was practically the same as last year though the two billiard tables had been covered and new linoleum provided. Subscriptions had increased notwithstanding the absence of over 100 mem- bers who were fighting for their country. The reading room had heen furnished and he hoped soon additional newspapers and periodi- cals would be provided, including papers show- ing what the other side had to say. The past year was a year of truce; but in the coming year there would be parliamentary and muni- cipal elections and it therefore behoved the Ciub to be prepared to uphold Liberal traditions I and to promote the principles of liberty and progress. I Alderman T. J. Samuel proposed the adop- I tion of the report and hoped that some of the older Liberals of the town would frequent the newly-furn:shed reading room and discuss poli- tical questions with the younger members and particularly the labour question in relation to Liberalism which he believed had much in com- mon. A great deal of the financial success was due to the energy and attention of Mr. Tom Lewis, the financial secretary. Alderman Samuel also congratulated the C'ub on what it had done in the way of war s.-vings. Mr. Barclay Jenkins seconded the proposi- tion and referring to the enfranchisement of women believed that it would be a considerable asset in Liberalism. The baiance sheet having been adopted, Mr. J. R. Griffiths was unanimously re-elected pre- sident whose value as an old election eampaigner was recognised. Lieut. B. Taylor Lloyd, being on active service, was re-elected a vice-presi- dent and the following were elected as the re- sult of a ballot: Messrs. J. Barclay Jenkins, T. J. Samuel, D. C. Roberts, Griffith Ellis, John Morgan, Barfynymor, Professor Levi, and Hugh Hughes, Reliance House. Mr. Rd. Wil- liams. masoni, Glenhurst, South-road, was ap- pointed secretary. Mr. Tom Lewis, Princess- street, re-appointed financial secretary; Mr T. W. Powell treasurer; and Messrs. Robert Wil- liams (Howelis) and E. H. Davies, Penglaise- road, auditors. Messrs. D. Alban Lewis and Lloyd Jones being on active service, were re-elected on the Executive Committee and the following were elected by- ballot: Mr. W. Warrington, Capt. Jones, Lisburne-terrace, Messrs Wm. Edwards, South-road; Tom Jones; W. R. Hall; Daniel Thomas; David Davies, Talfa and E H Pugh. A Gnomes Committee was elected of Messrs. T. J. Mason, J. Barson, E. E. Jenkins, Bob Williams, Wm. Warrington. Geo. Ahem, J. E. Griffiths, and W. Lloyd Edwards. Mr. Barclay Jenkins proposed a vote of thanks to. Mr. Jenkin Humphreys who had per- formed the duties of secretary for the past year to the satisfaction of the members, and Mr Griffith Ellis seconded the proposition, which was unanimously agreed to.

PENLLWYN. The sad death of Mr. Iorwerth M. Jones, Pengraig Stores (son of Mr. and Mrs. Jones, Post Office, Ponterwyd) as a result of fever when serving with the navy at Devonport caused great sorrow throughout the district. Mr. Jones had left home only a fortnight earlier to join the navy which lie had chosen in preference to the army. A few days after enlisting he was seized with fever and re- moved to hospital. His wife and father were summoned to Devonport, but deceased was un- conscious when they arrived and their sorrow was deepened by the fact that he died with- out regaining consciousness. Mr. Jones was a young man of keen business ability and of varied gifts. Even to comparative strangers it was evident that he had powers beyond the ordinary and had he been spared there was a brilliant future in store for him. Six years ago he took over the management of the Penllwyn branch of his father's business and endeared himself to the whole countryside. His musical talents, too, brought him into touch with a wide circle of friends. It was only last year that he married Miss Myfanwy Morris, Peny- wern, Taliesin, and to his wife as well as to the bereaved family the sincerest sympathy is extended. As a member of the C.M. Church the deceased was a devout and regular wor- shipper. The loss of his brother Emlyn a few months ago had undoubtedly affected him and he had frequently referred to his brother's sacrifice when in conversation with his friends. The body was brought to Aberystwyth and the funeral took place on Saturday at the C.M. Burial Ground a memorial service being held in the Chapel after the burial. The officiating ministers were the Revs. D. Morgan, D. Caron Joves, Borth; Llewelyn A. Jones, Aberystwyth; Bedford Roberts, Ystumtuen; and Mr. W. Evans, Ponterwyd: and the Rev. D. Lewis, Capel Dewi. Mrs. Davies was at the organ. The chief mourners were Mrs. Jones (widow); Mr and Mrs Edward Jones (father and mother); Mrs. T. Gabriel Hughes and Miss Eunice Jones (sisters); Master Trevor Mason Jones (brother); Mr. and Mrs. J. Morris, Pen- wern (father and mother-in-law); Messrs. Dd. W. Morris, John O. Morris, Emrys Morris, a'nd Llewelyn Morris (brothers-in-law); Masses Tiley and Lilwern Morris, Penwern (sisters-in- law); Mr. David Jones, Van Post Office, Llan- idloes; Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Jones, Penliwyn; Mr and Mrs Benjamin Richards; Mr and Mrs Jo-si ah Richards; Mrs Emily Jones; Mrs M. A. Richards; Miss Griffiths: Mrs. M. Owen: Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Davies: Mrs. J. Richards; Mrs E. Owen; Mr and Mrs W. Morris, Brynowen; Mr and Mrs 0. Morris; Mrs Thomas, Neuadd; Mr J. Jenkins; Mr and Mrs Evans (uncles and aunts): Mr W. B. Mason. Pentre, Giam.; Mr. W. B. Richards; Mr. J. Edwards, Aberystwyth Mrs E. T. Roberts. Aberystwyth; Miss Lily Jones. Penllwyn; Mr and Mrs Frances Lewis, Mr and Mrs J. Morgan. C.M., Borth: Mr. Jonathan Richards; Misses Mary Howells and Anni" Howelis; Mr. E. Daniel: and Miss Jan-es (cousins).

LLANFIHANGEL-Y CREUDDYN. An address was given at the Church on Wed- nesday by the Rev. E. J. Davies, B.A.. vicar of Bangor Deify and Henllan, on Sunday School work.

(continued from previous column), district, would crown his life's effort if he could bring this consummation about. It is a movement free from the distinctive interests of sects or creeds or the catch-words of parties, yet aiming at the material, moral, and spiritual development of the present and coming genera- tions. It is doubtful if the public realises the extent to which the skilled manual workers have helped the national cause in the financial region. During the recent war savings week thei miners at the Mansfield Pit drew E8,000 in wages, out of which they invested E4,200, mostly in war savings certificates. Through the Caerphilly War Savings Committee alone during last year the mineis invested in Gov- ernment securities £ 10,000. Those instances set one thinking, for coal mining is an occupa- tion that rather calls for relaxation and the easy expenditure that goes with good weekly wages. Those who are paid monthly or quar- terly are far more likely to invest or keep I bank balances and to form regular financial habits. They have less temptation to spend up. Yet the skilled workers, like the army, are realising more Hnd more the value of regu- lar week-by-week subscriptions, with a view to sound finance, so that when the war we shall not be in a morass. Reconstruction depends upon it. And, even if the country could muddle through a sea of civilian waste to a military victory, it is only by rigo;-ous taxation and investment out of genuine savings that we can secure the economic future for the State. The advantage to the individual is obvious. This principle lias long been clear to the trade unions who have never made the mistake of imagining that a badly-supplied Exchequer would win the war earlier than a full war chest, backed by the regular subscriptions of the whole peoplp. The General Federation, of Trade Unions has invested £ 110,000; the National Union of Railwaymen, £ 60,000: the Confedera- tion of Steel Smelters, £ 59,000; and the National Sailors and Firemen's Union, £ 125,000. I The Typographical Association has invested £ 15,000, and the London Society of Compositors, £ 10,000. These are just a selection from the I contribution of organised labour, and are, of course, quite apart from the personal invest- ments of Trade Unionists. -=.

AberystwythFish Supplies. ABORTIVE PUBLIC; MEETING. A public meeting to consider local fish supply was convened by the Corporation by poster and bellman for Friday evening at the Town Hall, but there were one or two only present at the hour of commencement and as about a couple of dozen only attended subsequently the meet- ing was adjourned to Monday evening. The ex-Mayor (Alderman C. M. Williams) who took the cTiair, explained that the meeting had been called after a rather sudden decision and no handbills had been issued. It was therefore suggested that the meeting should be adjourned to Monday evening. Dr. Harries would, how- ever, state briefly the points he wished to be discussed. Dr. Harries said the matter of a supply of fish at a low price was one of vital importance to the town. The objects were to provide food, a mar- ket for the sale and distribution of fish locally at the lowest possible price, to procure fish from away when local supplies fell short; to purchase or hire fishing boats and tackle, to provide cold storage and curing appliances, and to enter into contracts with local fishermen for the purchase of their catches. Mr. Matson thought Dr. Harries had omitted the principal thing which was the provision of means of procuring fish Dr. Harries stated the various profits in the taking and sale of fish before it reached the con- sumer. The poor working sailor who risked his life must first have his profit. Then there were charges for carting to the Station, carriage to Birmingham, cartage to the market, payment for cold storage, commission on sales under the hammer, and retailer's pi%fit. Those were seven transactions between the fisherman and the consumer. It would therefore be seen where the money went. If every house in Aberystwyth had a pound of fish per day the total would be 2,000 or at Is. a pound JE100 a day, but if that fish was bought at landing price without intermediate charges it would save Aberystwyth £16,000 a year. The difference between whole- salers' price and the retailers' price meant E940. The ex-Mayor said Captain Bloomfield, of the Board of Fisheries, and Dr. Travis Jenkins, of the Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries Board, had promised to give Aberystwyth every help possible by lending a boat and gear and sending an experienced man to train fishermen. Mr. Enoch Edwards, who said he had been a fisherman, said there was no need to send an expert fisherman to Aberystwyth. If the Cor- poration improved the Harbour so that boats cou:d come in and go out safely there would be plenty of fish. He had been out and got a good haul of fish and then did not know whether he could come in or not. The ex-Mayor was afraid they would have to do the best with the Harbour as it is. Mr. Enoch Davies—We have boats and we have men. The ex-Mayor-Then it is a great pity that you have not combined to provide fish for the town. The meeting was then adjourned. COMPANY TO BE FORMED. A further attempt to hold a meeting was more successful on Monday evening when there was a fairly-large meeting, over which Alder- man C. M. Williams, ex-mayor, presided, with the support of several members of the Town Council. In commencing the meeting the ex-Mayor said he need not say how important fishing was at the present time when there was a shortage -of meat. That meeting had been called to discuss how to secure a plentiful and cheap supply of fish from the Bay. Dr. Harries, asked to explain his proposals, said the object was, as the ex-Mayor had said, to procure a plentiful supply of fish at. a low price. That was more easily said than dene. In the first place, he thought, they must form I a small company to provide a market for the sale and distribution of fish caught in the Bay. How the fish were to be caught he would explain later. They wanted to sell locally fish caught locally at the lowest possible price- (hear, hear) and to procure fish from away in case the local supply fell short. Other objects were to purchase or hire trawling and other boats, if necessary; provide all necessary tackle, to provide cold storage, fish salting, and curing plant, and buildings; and to enter into con- tracts with local and other fishermen for the purchase of their catches. How could those things best be done? They would have to form a company or syndicate with sufficient capital to make a start. They would have to approach the Town Council to provide a suit- able fish market. The syndicate would appoint 1 a salesman and run the market, or part of it, under the direction of a committee. He would try to point out the benefit of the scheme. Be- fore the war the charges for fish at Aberyst- wyth were enormous, and since the war the charges were so high that fish were placed be- yond the means of the poor. They could not oven get a smell. The Food Controller had now put a veto on that and had fixed the prices of fish, ex-ship. Take cod, for instance. The price for cod ex-ship was 9id. per pound; but when it had passed through many hands it sold wholesale at Is., retail at Is. 3d., and cuts at Is. lOd. It would therefore be seen how the prices jumped. Supposing they allowed one pound of fish for every house in Aberyst- j wyth. Two thousand houses would take 2,000 pounds of fish. The difference between landing price at. 9bd. and retail, price at Is. 3d.—5^d per pound—would be JE45 16s. 8d. a day, or over £16,000 per annum. Those figures applied to small fish only, or fish sold whole. For cut fish the difference was enormous. On cut fish the difference between landing and retail price is Is. Oid. per pound. Supposing the 2,000-lbs. of fish per day were sold at 3d. a pound below the fixed price it would mean a saving to the inhabitants of jB25 a day, or 1;9,125 a year. In other. words, to buy 2,000-lbs. of fish per day from the retailer would cost consumers C45,625 per annum, as against £ 36,500 if bought under the proposed scheme, the intention of which was to supply the public at wholesale prices. The next question was how to get the fish. First, they must get a market in charge of a good salesman. To get fish they must have boats. The Bay was teeming with fish. Local fishermen, he was sorry to have to say, had 1 not taken a very active part in fishing. They either said they had not the boats or the nets, or that the Harbour is not suitable. His sincere wish was that the fishermen should get boats and nets and supply the market at land- ing price, as was done at Hoylake and other places. As they sometimes risked their lives they should receive better remuneration than they had received in the past when they sold mackerel at 7d., 8d., or 9d. a dozen, which the retailer sold at 4d. and 5d. each. That would not do. Why should fishermen and consumer be robbad? He asked the inhabitants to take an interest in the formation of a syndicate and the fishermen to join hand in glove in co-operating and the syndicate would help them. The in- habitants were going to have fish at wholesale prices, and if it was not done by local men it would be done by others. The moment i market was ready there would be an offer c, trawling boats if the syndicate could not g: locally what it wanted. In less than forty- eight hours he could get one of the finest fish- ing boats in the kingdom at the owners' own cost who would keep an inspector to see that the fish were not. landed at New Quay, Aber- dovey, or Pwllheli. There was also an offer by the Board of Fisheries of an equipped trawler free of cost: but the men to sail the boat had to be provided, and they could be provided. If necessary, he had been offered a fleet of steam trawlers to fish the Bay at the owners' risk and the catches would be handed over to the syndicate. If they could not arrange with local fishermen, fishermen would be brought to Aberystwyth. It was therefore local fisher- men to say which they preferred-to form a syndicate and work with local men, each help- ing the other, or for each party to go its own way. At any rate, the present position could not be allowed to continue. It was monstroi> to "llink that fish could be sold on landing I 7d. a pound and in less than five minutes re- tailed at Is .6d.. and even Is. lOd. a pound. He proposed that that meeting cordially approved the formation of a limited liabilitv company, with the object of obtaining a plenti- fill and cheap supply of fish for Aberystwyth I and recommend that if such company was formed the Town Council :o;11ould render it every facility and help. What the company would charge for fish would be landing price with the addition of, say, one penny per pound, which would enable the inhabitants to obtain fish at about ICUd. a pound The ex-Mavor said he was o-lad Dr. Harries had made a strong appeal to local fishermen. There were many competent fishermen in the town and it was hoped they would fall in with the scheme. The Town Council, lie was sure, would render every possible help. Mr. T. H. Edwards seconded Dr. Harries's proposition to form a company. There was a wide margin between 9id. a pound and Is lOd., and that was what they wanted to do away with. He sympathised with the fishermen be- cause of their difficulty and arduous work in L -L.-

Aberystwyth Rural Council HOUSES AND MILK. Aberystwyth Rural Council met on Monday, Mr. David Lewis presiding. The Clerk (Mr. Hugh Hughes) read a letter intimating an increase in the prices of macadam, also concerning sanction given by the Govern- ment Department for the expenditure incurred on the road from Pontrhydygroes to Devil's Bridge. A communication was read from the Local Government Board asking the Council to in- struct their medical officers and sanitary in- spectors to furnish a return of unfit houses with a view of building after the war.—The Council gave instructions to that effect, the informa- tion to be supplied to the Housing Committee. In reference to a, circular from the local Government Board on the subject of the pro- vision of milk for children, expectant and nurs- ing mothers, Mr. Daniel Jenkins said in that matter Aberystwyth was well served and would be well served as long as the Food Committee allowed the purveyors a living wage; but if the prices were interfered v ith he feared a collapse.-The Chairman: Have vou had a living wage during the wiuter.-Mr. Daniel Jenkins: Well, we have existed somehow. Mr. Isaac, surveyor, reported that Pontyr- hendy, had now been c. mpleted satisfactorily and would be a great improvement if let alone. -A Member: What does that mean?—The Surveyor replied that a bridge had been inter- fered with by evil-disposed men in the past.- The Chairman: It is for you to find the offenders and get them punished. The medical officers were directed to notify all cases of tuberculosis to the Memorial Asso- ciation. fwe I^pe,<:tor (,MrV James Hughes) reported that a blockage had occurred in Borth water supply and instructions were given to remedy the defect. The Inspector also reported cases of scarlet fever at Taliesin and that the usual precautions were taken.

RHEIDOL VALLEY. Last week, in saying that the directors of the Cyvmystwytn Company had visited the mine, it should have been stated that the mine referred to was Caegynon. A concert for the benefit of soldiers from this SaTurday BetheI Wesle-Van Chapel on Three more hands engaged at Dolfawr plant, on°sJ)yr and his two sons left on Saturday. Two boys will resume on Mon- woodland connected with the Kneidol Mine. farmers who did no^ finish ploughing by the 16tu, the specified date, are now taking advantage of the fine weather and are trvin? to redeem the time.

CAPEL BANGOR. All were pleased to see the late Curate on Thursday evening at the Church and to hear work the sub-iect of Sundav School AilfolIIo.

(Continued from previou column.) taking the fish; but if the scheme was carried out they would receive the same price as they had been receiving and Aberystwyth would have fish before it was sent away to other places. The meeting had been told that five or six people had a dip in the basin who took nearly all the profit and did very little of the work and that was what should be discontinued Car- digan Bay was noted for its fish, yet no one could say that it had been fished in the past as it should have been fished Why, with a bay full of fish, should Aberystwyth be dependent on other places for a supply? In former years he knew that fish caught in the Bay were sent away and then sent back to be sold at Aberystwyth. With a syndicate, the support of the Town Council, and everybody working with a will, he believed the scheme would be a success. Mr. Enoch Edwards said the syndicate could not expect the fishermen to sell soles and brill at 9^d. a pound. I Dr. Harries said he had referred to the price of cod. Mr. Enoch Edwards, continuing, said if a syndicate were formed it would have to per- suade the inhabitants to eat skate and dog fish, which were as nutritious as any other fish! There were not enough soles to supply twenty people; but there was plenty of skate. The inhabitants would not eat rough fish, but they would eat haddock which was the blue dogfish. Mr. Matson asked if Dr. Harries had consid- ered restrictions in the sale of fish ? He under- stood that a fisherman could sell at what price he liked; but a syndicate would have to sell at control prices. Dr. Harries replied that fishermen under a certain age were not. allowed to go out trawl- ing and the difficulty would be in getting men whom the Government would allow to fish. Mr Morrison asked Dr Harries to come down from the clouds a bit and say what money he wanted--not. to salt and cure, but to provide fish to eat. Dr. Harries replied that, that would be the first object but in compiling articles of asso- ciation it was advisable to include everything, even though it was not intended to do every- thing at the start. The Town Clerk, speaking unofficially, said that nobody could say that the fishing industry at Aberystwyth was a credit to the town, or that it was conducted on business lines. They knew the fishermen, what they had to undergo, and the miserable remuneration they got. The object as he understood was to form a small company with a capital of C200 or P,300, which would be quickly obtained, and to secure the whole local supply from the Bay. Instead of sending the fish away, one-of the first objects of the syndicate would be to I arrange with fishermen to buy from them at the same price as they received if the fish were sent to Birmingham and sell it to the inhabit- ants, less the charges of middleman and cost of carriage to that city. There were, however, times when fish could not be got from the Bay and there was no reason why fish could not be obtained from elsewhere for the market and everybody have a chance of getting it at the same price. He knew instances where one in- habitant was charged Is. 6d. a pound for fish and the same sort of fish being sold to a neighbour at Is. Id. With a fish market and a supply of fish the price would be reduced to the consumer without injuring the fishermen. He hoped the meeting would approve the gen- eral principle as an encouragement of the gentlemen who were prepared to invest and who would give an opportunity to everybody to come in. Mr. John Evans, deputy town clerk, asked to explain what the Town Council Committee had done, said the Council had not been idle and had received useful information from Mr. Wright, of the College, and from Dr. Travis Jenkins, according to which there was ample 0 w fish in the bay within the three-mile limit to supply all the places on its shores. One great difficulty was this. Fishermen, like everybody else, wanted regular means of making their living. After considerable correspondence with the Board of Fisheries and the Western Sea Fisheries Board the Council had secured that fishermen were now allowed in boats of a certain beam to use motors while trawling within the three-mile limit, so that fishermen could trawl in waters where the big trawlers were not allowed to go and could trawl any day on which it was safe to take a boat out. There were plenty of fish; but the difficulty was that it was impossible to get a regular supply and impossible to get a regular market. He thought they should be content at first to meet the present need. It was said there were no fishermen. There were three or four expert fishermen unfit for military duty who. he be- lieved, were prepared under a responsible com- pany willing to take the catches from day to day, to fish on every possible day, jiot send their catches away, but dump them down in the market at the prices which they could obtain elsewhere, less carriage. The fishermen need not worry about selling. All they would have to do was to catch fish and sell it to the syndicate. The Council was precluded from the undertaking as it would be municipal trading, and the Council had no more right <o open a fish shop than to open a drapery shop. The formation of a company would get over that difficulty and the Council rould 1", at its .ek to help and bring influence to bear to secure relaxations of regulations, if necessary. The proposition approving of the formation of a company was unanimously agreed to. Mr. T. H. Edwards suggested £ 1 shares, and Mr. Rufus Williams 10s. shares, so that a large number of inhabitants would be interested in the undertaking, and the ex-Mayor s: id the suggestions would be considered. On Mr. Matson's suggestion a committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs Leitch, Professor Edwards, Jervis (Queen's Hotel), T. H. Edwards, E. P. Wynne, Matson (Talbot Hotel), Rufus Williams (Lion Hotel), T. J. Samuel, T. J.Morrison, C. M. Williams, F. Bennison (Lisburne Arms), Captain Lloyd, harbour master and Mr. David Ellis.

Distribution of Sugar for Jam. APPLY NOW. The following are the general outlines of the scheme under which sugar for jam will be distributed to growers of fruit during 1918:- Forms of application can be obtained on and after March 23rd at the offices of the Local Food Control Committees, and must be re- turned on or before April 4th. Applications will be considered only when they are made by persons actually growing the fruit which they wish to preserve. The form of applica- tion will require the applicant to state, among other things, the number of persons rationed for sugar os members of his household and the amount of fruit he is likely to have available for preserving. The extent to which such applications can be I met will be determined by the Director of Sugar Distribution, in conjunction with the local food committees. Two classes of permit will be issued to appli- cants, one for soft fruit available between the 8th June and 31st July, and the other for hard fruit available between 1st August and 30th September. "Soft fruit" will be taken t mean any fruits normally ready for preserving before the end of July; and in this category rhubarb may be included. "Hard fruit" will be taken to mean any fruits ready for pre- serving after 31st July, and in any area where vegetable marrows are usually preserved the local committee may in its discretion include them also in this category. Where local co mittees decide to include marrows, they will require applicants to state what weight of marrows they have included in the estimated weight of fruit likely to be available for pre- serving. It has been decided tha-t in no case shall the total amount of sugar for making jam for home consumption exceed ten pounds per h — of the household. There will be many people, however, who will have fruit in sufficient quan- tities to enable them to use more sugar than this, and* in those cases they will be invited to state what weight of fruit they are prepared to convert into iam, on the understanding that they are to place the jam so made at the di posal of the local committees at prices not ex- ceeding the current wholesale prices. It is requested that all correspondence on this subject may be directed to the local committees and not to the Sugar Department of the Min- istry of Food.

ABED. Y.M.C.A. A debate was held on Friday in connection with the Literary and Debating Circle when the question "Should the Churches Provide Amuse- ment" was discussed. Mr. Harri Richards opened for the affirmative seconded by Mr. David Evans. Mr. John Williams, who opened for the negative, was seconded by Mr. Wihiam Morgan. Excellent papers were read and a dis- cussion followed. On a vote being taken the majority was for the affirmative. Mr. T. E. Jarman presided in the absence of Mr. W. Ed- wards, chairman of the Circle, who was unable tc be present owing to illness. A vote of sym- pathy with Mr. Edwards was passed and also thanks were accorded the speakers. The meeting of the General Committee was held on Tuesday evening, Principal Prys in the chair. Mr R. T. Greer wrote regretting his absence owing to a bereavement. The Enter- tainments Committee reported that steps were being taken to form cricket, swimming, and harriers clubs and the Social Services •'Com- mittee suggested that steps should be taken for the collection of data respecting the timber industries. A proposal which met with general acceptance was the holding of a service for young men and lads on Sunday evenings after the ordinary church services. It was re- ported that the services at the Red Cross Hoo- pital during the winter had been successful.

TALYBONT. On Wednesday week the annual eisteddfod was held at Tabernacle Baptist Chapel. The competitions were numerous and of a high standard. The Committee offered four silver cups and medals in addition to prizes. The ap- pointed chairman was Mr. T. Ll. Edwards, Tyn- ycae, who delivered a short and patriotic speech. Mr. Edward Evans, Lerry Stores, with his usual wit, conducted the proceedings. The adjudica- tors were: Music, Mr W. Dunn Williams, G. and L., Carmarthen; recitations, etc., Llew Meirion, Dolgelley; art, Mrs. R. W. Morgan, Maesnewydd; Mrs. T. H. Edwards, Aberyst- wyth Mr. Emlyn Jones, Taliesin; and Mr Wil- liams, Brynymor. The accompanist was Miss Katie Griffiths, L.L.C.M., who also performed the duties of secretary; Mr. Howell Jones, Min- ffordd, acting as treasurer. The awards were: Recitation (under 10): 1, Master Ben Jones, Penybryn; 2, divided between Master Hughie Hughes, Tynrhelig, Miss Annie Jones, Com- minscoch, and Miss Annie Jenkins, Talybont. Knitted tie. Miss Evans, Penparke, who also won the prize for d'oyleys. Solo (under 12) 1, Miss Maggie Davies, Talybont; 2, Miss Doris Davies, Talybont; 3, Miss Bessie Pugh, Tre- e-aron. Recitation (under 12), silver medal: Master Humphrey Beechey. Tre'rddol. Stock- iuq's: Mrs. Sarah Anne James, Bontgoch. Welsh composition (under 14): 1. Miss Dorothy Owen, Pentrebach; 2, divided between Misses Dilys Humphreys, Braichgarw, and Nellie Davies, Rhydfach. Solo (boys under 16), silver medal: Master Harry Evans. Penvgarn. Stanza: Mr. D. T. Richards, Clydach-on-Tawe. Recita- tion (under 14): 1. Miss Phoebe Jones, Peny- brvn; 2, Miss M. O. Jones, Comminscoch. D'oyleys: Miss Evans. Penparke. Solo (girls under 16), gold brooch: Miss Gwen Morgan, Talybont. Action song: 1, Knitters; 2, Black- smiths, Miss Griffiths' parties. Recitation (children under 16): 1, Miss Maggie Davies; 2nd and 3rd. divided between Master Harry Evans, Pnvgarn. and Miss M. Olwen Jones, Commins- coch. Novice champion solo (silver cup): Mr. Jame;; Evans, Penrhyacoch. Hair tidies: Mrs. Captain Jones, Aelvbryn. Female open recita- tion (silver cup) Miss M. Davies, Berth. Tre- garon. Children's choir: Talybont, led bv Mr. Tom .Jenkins. Poetry on "Lord Rhondda" Mr T). Jones, Cilie Farm, Llangranog. Hazel and I black thorn sticks (si:ver medals) Mr. James Miorgan, Eclwvsfach. Hand-made apron: Mrs. .Tone, Minafon, Talybont. Quartette: Divided I between Sergt. Thomas's party and Mr. Isaac Davies. Penrhyncoch, party. Champion solo (silver cup): Mr. Edgar Williams, Machynlleth. P:>.T!Y. unuw a Sych Bob Deigryn" Taliesin. led bv rr. Evan Morgan.

I BORTH. The following were omitted from the 1; j subscribers to the fund for local soldiers in serted in last week's issue :—Mr. Hug-h Hughes, postman, 2s. 6d.; Mr. Evans, 2s. 6d.; Captain Williams. Dinorwic, 3s.; Mrs. Mevler, Mund- ing, 2s. 60.: Mrs. Edwards, Crossing, 5s.: Mrs Robert*. Snowdon, 2s. 6d.: Mr. Andrews, Rail- way Hotel, parsnips, carrots, leeks, and beet- root, half-dozen onions. a2068 A concert was given on Friday evening to welcome home Sapper Richard Rees and Privnt^ Johnny Richards. The former is home from hospitsl and the latter from France. The Rev. D. Caron Jones presided and a Ion? and varied programme was gone through. Each soldier was presented with a guinea Driver John Edward Jones, Troedyrhiw, is home prior to proceeding for service Overseas. The death took place -on Tuesday of Mrs. M. Jones, Cambrian-terrace, at the age of 79 years. Deceased leaves a sen and three daughters.

FRONGOCH. Mr. Morgan, formerly of Tanberth, F'c. Valley, and since engaged at Cwmystwyth Mine. has been appointed foreman carpenter at Fron- goch. Mr. Robert Nancarrow, M.E., manager of Glogfawr. restarted the mine and is to be congratulated on his enterprise.

i- Correspondence. NORTH ROAD FOOTPATH. Sir,—Quite recently the short zig-zag foot- path leading from the north end of North- road, Aberystwyth, to the top of the hill has been fenced off and stopped. This path is the easiest approach to the hill, is very pleasant, and is much appreciated and used both by visitors and townsfolk. The ground over which it passes is, I understand, private pro- perty, and might be made into an excellent building site. In the meantime it is very desirable that it should be available for the public. If a gate were put at the top and bottom of the path, and locked up for a day or two in the year, the private rights would be maintained. The owner could hardly be ex- pected to go to that expense; but if he were willing to allow conditional access to the path the Town Council might perhaps provide gates. The matter may seem a small one; but the comfort of visitors and the popularity of a watering-place depend on just such small things as this. At any rate, it seemed worth while to make the suggestion.—I am, yours etc., T. Stephenson. Epworth, North-road.

A twinge?—ouch!— I touch of the old trouble ? Get the Kruschen habit and — good bye, gout! Half a teaspoonful in hot water before breakfast — every morning! Of all Chemists 1/6 per bottle. All British

Reflections on Traveling. (By a Sentimental Wallah). It may be as foolish as it now is superfluous to advise those who desire cheap and extensive travelling facilities to join the army or the navy; but at once time the advice might have been an attractive inducement on a recruiting poster. Some of us have been more or less privileged to see in different ways a great deal of the country—and of the world—at the country's expense. That is why, having recently been on the move, I have had the opportunity of gathering impressions of travelling instead of indulging in reflections on camp life. What a difference! What pleasure there was in seeing hills and mountains, broad acres, hills and lakes, villages and towns-even though it were only a swift glance through a railway carriage window. After confinement to camp, or barracks, in depots, or hospitals, restricted by the routine of regulations and supervision, sight of free open country aroused memories of past freedom and enlivened the emotion from the deadness of thraldom. It made one forget the war-many parts of the country I saw looked so peaceful and entranc- ing. They were a glorious contrast to the other parts with their evidences of war preparations aggressively evident. I crossed over land and sea. My mind was all the more impressionable because I had not travelled so far before. It. was a long, long way," though not so far as several relatives, friends, and acquaintances have been taken by the exigencies of the war. Some of them, who had never been far from their homeland, or their country parish, have had to travel to the distant corners of the earth and many have gone on that journey from which they will not return—out of the world conflicts, out of life's uncertainties with its sadness and glad- ness, out of all temporal troubles, activities, and vanities. There are others who have vet survived the trials, discomforts, and dangers, who have had change of scenery, of country, and of destina- tion, who have been moved automatically from place to place, from one war area to another, to face adventures that should gratify the most daring and to travel on journeys that would seem unending. Perhaps none has enjoyed the changes more than the Welshman transported to Mesopotamia and Palestine—the Bible lands —if he could have forgotten all about the Turk during his sojourn there. Many Welshmen have been given the opportunities and facilities —free, if not always the safest or the most comfortably and advantageously arranged-of visiting places which from innocent childhood had become familiar and dear to them by sentiment and tradit..ion-opportunitAes pecu- liarly enough which they would not previously have dreamt of as being within the reach of possibility but for the war and its extraordinary happenings. The war has been aptly described by a well- known writer as "The grand exaggeration." It has exaggerated noble and ignoble passions, individual frailty and the might of massed troops, human ingenuity and the efficiency of gigantic guns. It has also among many other things exaggerated the facility with which men can be moved from and to different parts of the world, the means of transit with all the wonders, novelties, excitements, and restrictions connected with war travelling in its various aspects compared with the conditions in peace time. Another form of this exaggeration I saw in the large towns was the craze for wealth and extravagance, for recklessness and vice, for discontent and agitation, anything as it were for relaxation, or distraction, from the strain of the war and the weariness of its prolonga- tion. Theatres, opera houses, picture palaces, and pantomimes were full with prosperous and happy-looking audiences. There seemed plenty of money to spend; but while luxuries were abundant the shortage of necessaries added to the irony of it all, as the food queues testified. Crowds thronged every public conveyance, re- sort, and rendezvous, all doing, or pretending to be doing, some work of national importance. The towns can keep their traffic and hustling. I am with Ceiriog— Mab y mynydd ydwyf finau Oddi cartref yn gwneyd can; Ond mae'm calon yn y mynydd, Gyda'r brwyn a'r adar man. One evening, after I had once again settled down in the camp I sat by the hut fire brood- ing over my journeyings when my attention was attracted by a conversation. Ii It's all right in the army," said a young- ster. He had not seen much of it, but evidently had come to decisive opinions. "You can see more foreign parts," he added, "than if you were out of it." "Oh, yes," remarked an older soldier. "You go from one dead-?jid-?]ive place like this to another." Then he told us where he had been and what he had seen, or, rather, what he had not seen, and recounted his experiences. When we were out on the desert," he explained I wished I were somewhere else, and when we got to France I wanted to be back in Egypt. The best time I had was seven weeks in dock (hospital) and my ten days leave at home on top of it; but after that I was more fed up than ever. You can take it from me there's nothing satisfying in the army." Is it not the same idea—the same longing for the rest, peace, and satisfaction which no- where in the world can be found except at home—that has been so prettily tut meekly expressed in the old couplet:— 'Rol chwilio, treiglo pob tref Teg edrvch tuag adref.

THE VICARAGE OF ST. MICHAELS. The Rev. David Williams, M.A. (vicar of Morris ton). has been offered by the Bishop of St. David's, and has accepted the living of St. Michael's, Aberystwyth, rendered vacant by the appointment of Dr Jones Powell to the vicarage of St. John's, Cardiff. The Rev. David Williams is a native of Llangeler, was ordained in 1888 to Blagton-on-Tyne. and has spent 25 strenuous years in the Industrial centres of South Wales. He was for a time curate of Holy Trinity Swan- sea, and later vicar of Clydach-on-Tawe. In 1904 he was appointed to Llangyfelach, with the per- petual curacy of St. John's, Morriston. He built the church of St. Teilo and a fine parish hall, as well as parsonage houses at Llangyfel- ach and Fforest Facli, and renovated the anoi- ent church of Llangyfelach. Mr. Williams, who is a fine preacher and active worker, has two brothers in Orders, one being the Rev. Henry Williams, vicar of Whitchurch, and the other the Rev. W. J. Williams, in the Diocese of Liverpool.

Meatless Menus. French Pancakes (for four).-oz. fat, 1 oz. sugar, 1 dessertspoonful Cooks' eggs, 1 oz. flour, li-oz. potatoes. Melt the fat, mix in the sugar, then the egg. Beat well. Add the flour and potatoes ana mix well with quarter pint hot milk and water. Bake in a moderate oven in four saucers. Spread with jam and cut in four. In preparing potatoes for all dishes, boil and dry for a few minutes and rub through a sieve. Lemon Pudding (for nine).-3 ozs. sugar, 2 oz fat, 3 ozs. flour, 4 ozs. ground rice, 5 ca. potatoes, 1 good teaspoonful baking powder, pinch of salt. Grate the rind of a lemon, -or add any other flavouring preferred. Mix with water to a batter and boil for two hours.