The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard

| Tide Table (Aberystwyth) for Dee., 1918. + T + Date Time ft. in. Date Time ft. in. I- 6 17 14 Jl 17—f7 4 18 2 2- 6 54 15 9 18- 7 54 18 8 3—N7 28 16 4 19- 8 43 19 1 4- 8 3 17 0 20- 9 27 18 9 5- 8 42 *17 6 21-10 7 17 11 6- 9 18 °17 6 22—10 50 16 11 7- 9 57 17 0 23—11 31 15 9 8-10 39 16 6 24-12 12 14 9 9-11 23 16 1 25-12 35 13 2 10-12 15 p.m. 15 6 26- 131 12 0 11-12 44 13 11 17- 2 35 11 5 12- 1 61 13 7 28 3 43 11 8 13- 3 2 13 8 29 4: 48 12 6 14- 4 13 14 5 30 5 43 13 8 15 5 15 IS 10 31- 6 29 14 11 16- 6 12 17 4 J f—Full Moon. n—New Moon. tTime of first high tide (a.m. daily unless otherwise stated). tDepth of tide on Old Dock Sill, Liverpool. "Highest rises of spring tides. | Wallace E. Whitehouse. i—as—————wwaa j On Other Pages.

Aberystwyth Agricultural Committee 2 j Comforts for Fighters 3 Photos 3 Thadequate Pensions 3 College and .Farm 6 Llanbadarn Sessions 6 Llanafan Village Club 6 Newyddion yr Wythnos 6 Deudraeth Sessions 7 Portmadoc Sessions 7

lbv two, Friday, December, 6,* 1918. COALITION-OR WHAT? There is some confusion as to the relation of Liberals with the Coalition, and also a failure to recognise how important it is for Liberals (above all others) that the Coalition should be maintained. Without entering into detail of the arguments which have been put forward in official quarters— as to the necessity for .combined effort of all parties during the period of re- construction—it will be sufficient here to put quite different points, and ask what would happen if there were no Coalition at all? What would it mean if the General Election were fought on the old lines? It at once becomes apparent that, instead of a great party of Liberal M.P. 's facing an approxi- mately equal jnumber of Conservatives with a relatively few Labour candidates, this old condition of affairs has been altogether abandoned. Hitherto, Lib- erals in the greater number of constitu- encies have secured the support of those who at the present time will, to a very large extent, be supporters of Labour Party nominees. The Liberal host, therefore, comjes into the conflict very much weakened and if there were no Coalition the prospect of realising Liberal objects and advancing progres- sive legislation .would be but dim. There would be a solid block of Tories returned, a good number of Irish and Labour Party M. P's and a relatively weak party of Liberals. Even if the Liberals came back in sufficient strength j to secure Ministerial Offices, they, would be at the mercy of a combination t between Tories and Irish, at the least, and under the danger of an adverse vote from Labour. They would be opposed by Conservatives, as a. matter of course and would be held by Irish members ready to wreck a Ministry that would not become subservient to Irish demands. At any time there might be a combination of the three opposing parties dragging the Liberal Ministry to the ground. In such circumstances it would be impracticable for a Liberal Ministry to carry through those great schemes of social reform which the circumstances, of the time require. On the contrary, however, with a Coalition Ministry pledged, as Mr. Lloyd George and his Ministry are pledged, to enforce schemes dealing with the questions of helalth, housing, pensions, minimum wages, etc., there is outlined a prospect of considerable progress in the Legislature and it behoves everyone who has at heart the advancement of slocial conditionis to look at the alternatives that present themselves. Will those who question the wisdom of Coalition challenge the advisability of supporting Mr. Lloyd George in his great achievement of harnessing the. Conservatives to his chariot of progress? He not only ex- tinguishes their opposition, which would be set promptly against a Liberal Ministry, but even secures their aid in carrying through those schemes which have so much promise of benefit to the masses of the people. -U 1'1

EDITORIAL NOTES. A Local Government Board inspector lias been inquiring into the housing conditions in Lampeter union. He might with distinct advantage extend his inquiries into the .con- ditions obtaining in Tregaron and district, and if he is bold enough he might visit Pennal where he would obtain material for a report startling enough even to rouse the Local Government Board from its somnolence. « » • In connection with the proposal by the Y.M.C.A. at Aberyst ..yth to raise a memorial to local men who lutvj fallen in the war, it is interesting to note that at Halifax a house, with grounds, has been secured for a similar purpose, and the same idea is being carried out in London, Manchester, York, and other towns. It its evient. that Sergeant-major Fear's ideas for Aberystwyth are in accordance with those of leading Y.M.C.A. centres. The Y.M.C.A. has been designed to touch the life of young men at all points. « w • There is now on foot a British scheme for the reconstruction of what is known as the Verdun area, tiie district over which the battle of Verdun was fought, and which is recognised as one of the most difficult sections of the work of restoration in France. At present nearly fio hundred men and women are engaged, many of them American Quakers, who began to join the War Victims' Mission in Septem- ber, 1917. A large proportion have under- taken to stay on as voluntary workers after the war, and it is expected that new workers set free by the coming of peace will be attracted to the work, which is expected to last as least two years. An appeal will shortly be issued for C75,000 with which to launch the scheme which will be carried on in several departments, relief, medical, building, and agriculture. Speaking at a meeting of the West Riding Women's War Agricultural Committee at Leeds, Mrs. Hobbs, of the Food Production Department, said that the future of the land army was being carefully considered with the view of affording special facilities for selected members to settle on the land. Mr. Cook. of the Doncaster branch of the Farmers' Union, thought that in a few years there would be a displacement of many of the ordinary type of farmer unable to adapt himself to the chang- ing conditions of agriculture which would open up great opportunities for women entering into vacant farms on a co-operative basis. During the war women have proved their ability to conduct the most arduous operations on farms and there is no reason why they should not show themselves equally able to act as princi- pals. Not the least important elements in the manifesto issued to the nation by Mr. Lloyd George and Mr. Bonar Law is the emphasis laid on the importance of the need of improvement in village life and the provision of decent housing and educational facilities and improve- ments. These are subjects that have hitherto caused division and dissention and have riven the nation asunder. Whenever solutions were offered it will be interesting to observe whether the influence of the war's welding of the nation into a homogeneous entity will survive the declaration of peace and whether the tackling of the thorny questions of reconstruction can be dealt with without setting loose the spirit of dissention and party division which has too often thwarted well-meant efforts at reform. How often have well-con-idered measures been emasculated in the non-repliesentative and oligarchal second chamber and the nation thrown into the vortex of contention by the reckless- ness of interested hereditary legislators. # » British watering places and health resorts have enjoyed fairly successful seasons during the war, to a large extent because English people have been unable to take holidavs on the Continent. Now the war is over British tourist agencies are making extensive preparations for Continental travel and home resorts will, as before the war, be seriously affected. In pre- war days it is calculated that something like twenty millions a year were taken out of the country by British people and spent on holi- days at places abroad. Railway and other facilities for foreign travel were provided which were not provided for visiting home resorts, with the result that it cost less to take holi- days across the Channel than in Wales, Scot- land, and Ireland. Nowadays every interest has its association to secure fair competition and, in view of future competition for tourists, it is a question whether home resorts should not have an association to counteract unfair dondiijionst The English League for the -Taxation of Land Values has sent to the Prime Minister and other political leaders a letter which is prac- tically a manifesto on the whole land question in this country. The manifesto challenges at once the "slow, cumbrous, uncertain, and; costly action of Bureaucratic Controllers," and points out that the only hope for relief from the terrible pressure of post-war taxation lies in the people being given full access to the land and that this question lies at the very (root of reconstruction. "The allotment holder, no longer denied access to a patch of land, saved the country from being starved by U-boats," and lie is now asking for an exten- sion of the liberty to satisfy the national needs. The land can be opened up to labour by a method which will impose no new burden on the public funds, and involve no new exten- sions of bureaucratic interference with the liberties of the people—the taxation and rating of Land Values." The manifesto then goes on to point out how the land policy will provide work for the returned soldier, provide land at equitable prices for the many housing schemes, develop agriculture, keep taxation from falling in a crushing burden on the nation, and pro- vide the money for Education, Poor Relief, Main Roads, Asylums, and Police, as well as illowing of the abolition of the taxes on tea, sugar, cocoa, and other articles of food,

0 YOUR DIARY. t In years to come your diary will be more interesting than any novel. I knew a man whose diaries year by year are a history of his life, his aspirations, his suc- cesses and failures. Why burden your memory with detail that you can commit to paper and keep for years for reference at any time. That is one of the pur- poses of a diary. + Have you bought 1919's yet? If not, my stock is unequalled- Letts, Collins, Straker and Crane,. T J. Smith.—I have them all. R. READ, Managing-Editor.

A fitter candidate for the newly-formed Welsh University constituency than Mr. Herbert Lewis it would be hard to find. An experienced Parliamentarian, he was also taken a keen and active interest in Welsh education. Moreover, it is largely through his efforts that the graduates of the University of Wales are to-day in a position to be represented in Par- liament. He has been for many years a mem- ber of the Court of Governors of the Univer- sity of Wales and was largely instrumental a. few years ago in obtaining a new grant of E14,000 a year to the Welsh University Col- leges, and has recently obtained the promise of still further additions. It was on the "Lewiss Report" that the two most important provi- sions of the Education Act of 1918 were based, and it may fairly be saiid that the successful passage of the Act, under the brilliant leader- ship of Mr. Fisher, was largely due to the pre- paratory work done by Mr. Lewis. He is now actively assisting Mr. Fisher to carry another measure of the highest importance to educa- tion—the School Teachers' Superannuation Bill —which will greatly increase the financial pro- vision made by the State for the superannua- tion of teachers and will provide pensions for about 70,000 teachers who do not come within the scope of the existing prov-s-on. It is difficult to forecast the economic future and progress of Germany. But several im- portant facts have already reached this country. It is definitely announced that there is to be no confiscation of capital or tamper- ing with deposits and savings, and the revolu- tion in this direction has taken a very different course from that in Russia. Despite a tem- porary embarrassment, and large issues of paper money, Germany will remain the wealthiest single nation on the Continent. Her natural resources are enormous. Owing to the stringencies of the blockade, the German people have been forced to adopt a rigid economy for which they now feel the benefit, at least financially. The last war loan, despite the disturbing conditions in which it was raised, reached £ 516,850,000. It follows that if our own country is to maintain its position full advantage. must be taken of the improved: machinery for investment. Without seed there can be no harvest. Everyone who continues to buy war savings certificates and stamps through official agencies or otherwise, is help- ing his country to maintain itself. It should be recognised from the first that nothing la to be hoped from the economic weakness of the Germans. For, in order to make reparation and restoration for the damage they have done, they will need money. The demands. of the Allies can only be paid out of industry, a fact which benefits the German nation itself. Our future, therefore, depends on increased production, well-paid workers, and the financial self-control that has expressed itself during the war through the war savings movement.

PERSONAL. The Countess of Lisburne has left town for Crosswood. Mr Lloyd George has promised to visit Crewe next week in support of Sir Joseph Davies, the Coalition candidate. S;r Joseph Davies, is one of Mr. Lloyd George's private secretaries. Mrsi Lloyd Gorge will accompany the Prime Min- ister. Mr. Lloyd George will address two meetings. The Rev. Isaac Jenkins, who has died in Utica U.S.A. was a native of Ponterwyd. Before emigrating in 1866 he was in the Welsh W esleyan ministry, and laboured at Swansea, Llandilo and Machynlleth, but subsequently joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in America. He had attained the age of 82;. About a fortnight ago Lieut. Ernest Evans, who was then one of the candidates for the Welsh University seat was called from France to No 10, Downing-street He withdrew from the candidature, and it is understood that he is now engaged as one of the Prime Minister's private secretaries. Mr. Alfred Jones, son of Mrs. Jones, Tower Hotel, Pwllhtli, has been awarded the honorary degree of M.A. by University of Wales. Mr. Jones is an expert on antique silver plates. He has travelled Japan, Russia, America, and all over Europe, and has written several standard books on silver plates. Being an ex- cellent linguist, lie has rendered valuable ser- vice in the Foreign Office during the war. It had been the Premier's intention to make at least two speeches in South Wales, but pres- sure of other business has disorganised Iiib arrangements. He is confident the people of Wales will appreciate the position and let him off paying them a visit just yet. Only three further speeclies are tq be' expected from him during the election. He has been warned not to over-strain his voice. The Rev. W. Ceredig Davies, formerly of Walton, N.Y., has been installed pastor of tha Pilgrim Congregational Church, Clayville. He is a native of Wern, Cardiganshire. He gradu- ated at the Bangor Theological College, North Wales, and went to America about twenty-fivo years ago. He held pastorates at Minersville, Pa, where he was ordained to the ministry, and also at Cata-auqua, Pa, and Northfield, N.Y. Madame Edith Evans, the eminent Welsh soprano, has died in London as a result of pneu- monia supervening upon influenza. Madame Evans was not much more than seventeen when she achieved the distinction of appearing at Covent Garden in Wagnerian opera. She was engaged for the Grand Season at the Garden, and afterwards sang at the Handel, Worcester, Newcastle, and Brighton festivals with much success, and ever since had been in great re- quest by the leading societies throughout Great Britain. The Rev. J. T. Rhys, late of Swansea, who for the past two years has been doing war work in London, has rendered valuable ser- vices to distressed sailors. When the inten- sive submarine campaign began he undertook to organise relief for torpedoed sailors, and probably addressed more audiences than any- one else on that subject. He raised enough money to provide substantial relief for thou- sands of torpedoed sailors, being very ener- getically supported in this by, among others,. Mrs Lloyd George and Lady Rhondda. Mrs. Lloyd George, who has all along taken a very keen interest in the welfare of the sailors belonging to both branches of the ser- vice, has arranged to have a great meeting at Downing-street on December 5th to further the interests of the Imperial Hostel for the Port of London. Mrs. Lloyd George has already raised for the British and Foreign Sailors' Society war work over 245,000, and she i confident that by this meeting she will attain her cherished ambition of raising the amount of R-W,OOO.

WELSH UNIVERSITY CANDIDATE. Professor Joseph Jones (Labour) has with- drawn his candidature for the Welsh Univer- sity in favour of Mrs. J. S. Mackenzie, who wiip • go to the poll as a Labour nominee. j