The Cardiff Times

The Evil of Deadlocks. COMMONS EMANCIPATION. ( First Necessary Step. WILL OF MAJORITY TO PREVAIL. Lords' Reform a Later Question. The House on Monday again went into Com- mittee on the veto resolutions. The PRIME MINISTER, who was received with Ministerial cheers, moved :— That it is expedient that the powers of the House of Lords as respects Bills other than Money Bills be restricted by law, so that any such Bill which HAS passed the House of Commons in three successive Sessions, and, having been sent up to the House of Lords at least ouemonth before the end of the Session, has been rejected by that House in each of those Sessions, shall become law without the consent of the House of Lords on the Royal Assent being declared, providing that at least two years shall have elapsed between the date of the firsjt introduction of the Bill in the House of Commons and the date on which it passes the IJ ousc of Communs for the third time. For the purposes of this resolution a Bill shall be treated as rejected by the House of Lords if it has not been passed by the House of Lords either without amend- ment or with such amendments only as may be agreed upon by both Houses. The right hon. gentleman said the object of this resolution was to provide simple machinery for avoiding what the experience of the Liberal Government had shown to be a serious and chronic Parliamentary evil, by which he meant the evil of deadlocks between the two Houses The Prime Question. The experience of the four years preceding the last election had brought the majority of the House to realise that the solution or the provision of some effective remedy for this problem was the very first question in our domestic politics. (Ministerial cheers.) The object of the Government resolutions was to secure that which he believed theoretically and ostensibly politicians of all parties realised to be the primary purpose of democratic govern- ment, and that was that the will and opinions of the majority of the people for the time being should in both policy and legislation prevail. The Government believed that the machinery which they were suggesting would at any rate provide an effective palliative for the evils under which they had recently suffered, and that it would brijLg about the desired object with the minimum of friction and change. The vote T of the House of Lords would remain untouched except as to measures in regard to which the presump- tion was overwhelmingly strong that the decision of the House of Commons expressed the opinion and will of the people. He could conceive of cases in which the decision of the House of Commons did not necessarily or even presumptively express that opinion. He could conceive a case in which a scratch majority might be bound together under the coercion of party exigencies for a particular and a transitory purpose. (Opposition cheers.) The Laugh Against Them. Again you might have a conceivable case of a crumbling and decaying majority. (Opposi- tion cheers.) He could see that the memories of the gentlemen opposite went back to the year 1904. (Ministerial cheers.) He could con- ceive a crumbling and decaying majority which had lost all touch with popular feeling,but which sought to take advantage of its waning powers to promote party interests in the last Session of a moribund Parliament. (Ministerial cheers.) Those were cases in which even such a Second Chamber as the House of Lords now was had its uses, and in which under the Govprnment scheme it would be able to exer- cise its powers to prevent abuses. The Govern- ment were as anxious as any of their prede- cessors not to erect an independent power in the State which would be able to override or misrepresent the will of the people, but under their resolutions they believed that such a con- tingency was so remote as to be practically impossible. He admitted that the machinery they were proposing was without precedent, but, he asked, where would you find a Second Chamber like the House of! Lords (Minis- terial cheers.) First Necessary Step. He had no wish to prejudice the question of a joint Session as a solution of the difficulty if and when they had a Second Chamber to deal with, but to continue the House of Lords as a Second Chamber on its present basis would-be an anachronism and an impossibility. (Minis- terial cheers.) The Government regarded this rseolution as the first necessary step towards the emanci- pation of the House of Commons from the thraldom of the House of Lords, and though there would be introduced into the preamble of the Bill which was to follow words which would clearly indicate the need for change in the constitution of the House of Lords as a Second Chamber, the Bill would of course and of necessity in its operative clauses not travel any way beyond the resolutions to which they were now asking the Committee to assent. The Tory Contention. Mr WALTER LONG said the Government were making no attempt to do what the people asked—so far as they asked for any- thing—but were seeking to do that which only a very small section of the people had asked for. namely, the paralysing and the rendering impotent of the House of Lords. Labour Party's View. Mr BARNES said in his opinion it would be a remedy worse than the disease to make the House of Lords into an elective assembly. (Labour cheers.) The Labour party supported the Government's proposals because they would clip the wings of the Lords, but at the same time made no secret of their desire to see the House of Lords abolished Lord Resebery's Son's Maiden Speech. Mr NEIL PRIMROSE (L.) supported the resolution because he was emphatically in favour of a Second Chamber. If the House of Lords was not radically and thoroughly changed, the country would end by wanting to have no Second Chamber at all. He could conceive of nothing more suicidal than for the Liberal party to advocate a single Chamber. There might, he added, be occasions when it became the duty of a Prime Minister to lead his followers to death and disaster, but there woUld be no cause or reason WHY a leader should lead his party to damnation. (Laughter.) Welsh Pride in the Commons. Mr LLEWELYN WILLIAMS (L.) said he was not convinced that a Second Chamber was necessary, but public opinion in this country was not mature enough to ena.ble us to do without it. If it were to continue, he agreed it was better it should be constituted as the present House of Lords was constituted, that it should be based upon the hereditary principle, and that they should not tinker with the historic Constitution of this country. He was a Welshman sitting for a Welsh con- stituency and yet he confessed that he regarded the ancient House o Commons with a pride and reverence which was almost inexpressible. Wales might be called perhaps the eldest child of the House of Commons. Their last Welsh Prince fought by the side of Simon de Mont- fort and enabled that gentleman to call to- gether in 1265 the first Parliament that met on English soil. Welsh members sat in that House in the Parliaments of Edward II. They sat without intermission there from the days of Henry VIII. They played their part in the great stirring drama that was enacted when )he Parliament sat in the seventeenth century, and he confessed he was amazed when he heard Englishmen deriding, jeering, and belittling the House of Commons. (Ministerial cheers.) Representative Government mean the House of Commons. (Renewed Ministerial cheers.) It did not mean the House of Lords. Once this issue between the two Houses had been raised it could not be laid until one or other of the Houses emerged triumphant. He was not afraid of the result. (Ministerial cheers.) Only Empire Disaster Due to Peers. Mr HERBERT SAMUEL (Postmaster- General), replying to arguments of the Oppo- sition, said at every stage of political reform there had been prophecies of disaster, but the prophets had in each case been proved to be wrong The one disaster to the Empire in the loss of theAmerican colonies occurred when thePeers not only enjoyed supreme power in their own House but dominated the House of Commons a The one failure of the Empire—Ireland —was due- to the refusal of the Peers to give the people of that country self-government. (Ministerial cheers.) He commented upon the absence of any alternative proposals from the Opposition. The Government watched with interest the pretence of reform which was new proceeding in another place. (Ministerial cheers.) If that reform were carried through it was the opinion of Lord Newton that the permanent Conservative majority would remain, and it would become impossible to use the Royal prerogative to create new Peers in order to avoid or end a deadlock between the two Houses. Limitation of the power of the House of Lords must precede reform of the Constitu- tion. The Government scheme was the only practicable one. The alternative was offered to the country—either of the permanent rule of the Conservative party or the ending of the veto of the House of Lords. (Ministerial cheers.) Mr Peel was speakkig when at 11 oclock the debate was adjourned.

STATEMENT BY MR CHURCHILL MORE BARGAINING POWER TO PEERS. The House on Tuesday again went into Committee on the resolutions proposed by the Government with reference to the relations be- tween the two Houses of Parliament and th? duration of Parliament. Mr PEEL (C) resumed the debate on the second resolution, which proposes to restrict the veto of the House of Lords in respect of Bills other than money Bills. He said the Government's proposals seemed to" grow more .revolutionary as their majority dwindled. The House of Lords often carried out more truly than the House of Commons the opinion of the majority of the people. Mr Markham's Criticism. Mr MARKHAM (L.) confessed to a feeling of dislike for the Government's veto proposals. He believed in an elective Second Chamber re- sponsible to the people. He did not quite know where the Radical party stood in this matter. (Opposition ironical cheers.) The veto proposals emoodied a policy of negation which was not likely to arouse enthusiasm in the country. He complained that although several members of the Government were avowedly two-Chamber men, they had not submitted definite proposals of reform. He should vote for the resolution, although with reluctance, having regard to the promises of the Prime Minister—weak though he considered them to be. The Government had received & mandate to deal with the question, and it was in his opinion a fatuous policy to go back to the electors for a fresh mandate. The Government ought to press for guarantees to enable them to deal with the veto and the question of re- form. Joint Session—Mr Balfeur's Request. Mr BALFOUR asked the Home Secretary, who he understood would follow him, to develop and explain exactly what the Prime Minister had meant by his reference to a con- ference between the two Houses. For himself he believed that if the means of discussion between the two Houses were improved much friction would he avoided.. He hoped that before the resolutions left that House, the Government would introduce words covering this new proposal at which the Prime Minister had seemed to hint, which, at all events, WAS far less hopelessly irrational than their other proposals. He denied the statement of a speaker on the previous night that the House of Lords bad in the last four years stopped all social reform. You could never have two Chambers whic would always be in accord, and he believed that with the Second Chamber which the Government proposed to create, the differences of upinioD wuuld be increased. Grotesque Misrepresentations. He believed that some gentlemen opposite attributed the present differences to the parti- san spirit of the House of Lords—(Ministerial cheers)—to their desire to embarrass the Government. (Renewed cheers.) Grotesque misrepresentations were not the sort of things about which you could argue. Such sugges- tions by gentlemen opposite depended upon their imputing motives to people of whom they j knew nothing. There was sometimes prevalent even within the walls of the House of Com- mons what the theologian called" invincible ignorance "—(laughter)—and with invincible ignorance there was no argument. (Opposition cheers.) He entirely failed to see how the Government, by their resolutions, were going to escape from the intolerable situation which had caused the icon to enter into the soul of I the Postmaster-General. On the face of thereso- lution the iron was always going to enter into the Roul of the right hon. gentleman during the first two years of a Parliament even with a re- formed Second Chamber. An Admission. In certain respects he believed the inter- ference of the House of Lords with the House of Commons would be increased and not diminished by what the Government proposed, and that what were described as deadlocks would be multiplied. The complaint of the Opposition, however, was that whatever might be the effect of the resolutions upon the powers of the House of Lords for dealing with the details of Bills the Government were abso- lutely destroying the House of Lords as the guardian of the Constitution. They were in- flicting upon this country all the injuries and none of the securities of a written Constitution, and to suggest that the dangers which the Opposition foresaw were fantastic was absurd. (Opposition cheers.) It was surely their busi- i ness to make the Second Chamber system of Government work as smoothly as possible— (Ministerial cheers)—but at the same time to leave unimpaired those securities against rash constitutional revolutions, which in every country in the world were regarded as abso- lutely necessary, the Government were effect- ing neither of those objects. (Opposition cheers.) Home Secretary's Answer. Mr CHURCHILL said the debate had cer- tainly produced a great change in the attitude and manner of the leader of the Opposition. They had that night had from him a thought- ful reasoned argument which was in sharp con- trast to the ingenious quips with which the right hon. gentleman had previously attempted to laugh out these resolutions. (Ministerial cheers.) Mr Balfour's historical contribution to the debase was not very cogent. The exten- sion of household suffrage in 1857-a far greater constitutional chinge than that now proposed —was passed by the House of Lords without I reference to the people. The House of Lords was no safeguard against great constitutional changes when they were thought to be of ad- vantage to the Conservative party, nor was it any safeguard against constitutional changes which were supported by a great movement of violence. He welcomed the admission of Mr Balfour, that these resolutions would increase the powers of the House of Lords, as an effec- tive answer to those who asserted that the Government were setting up a single chamber Government. (Ministerial cheers). t Increased Power of Peers. Mr BALFOUR said they were increasing the power of the House of Lords in things which they did not want, but were putting the country un'der single-chamber government in regard to all the great and vital points. (Opposition cheers.) Mr CHURCHILL was unable to see how I they were setting up single-chamber govern- ment if the powers of the Lords were to be increased. The bargaining power of the House of Lords would be increased under these resolutions. The Government con- of Lords would be increased under these resolutions. The Government con- templated during the period when measures would be undei the suspen- sory veto of the House of Lords a system I whereby every effort would be made, con- stantly ahd continually, to secure the greatest possiùle measure of agreement be- tween the two bodies and make the ultimate legislation as far as possible representative of not merely a majority, but of all classes of the community and they would intro- duce into their proposals the necessary machinery for this purpose. (Ministerial cheers.) The powers which would be preserved to the House of Lords made the speedy reform of that Chamber essential. More powers could not be exercised in perpetuity by a body so unfairly and improperly constituted as the present House of Lords. (Ministerial cheers.) The Camel and the Gnat. The Conservative party had acquiesced in a system of single chamber government when they were in power. They had swallowed the camel, but now pleaded that their gullet was not sufficiently expanded to accommodate the gnat of the moderate, proposals of the Government. (Laughter.) The Government policy was not founded upon pride,butupon the determination that they would not submit to a system under which the labours of a Liberal majority were swept away after an hour's intrigue at Lansdowne House. (Ministerial cheers.) The Government wished to make a national settlement with Ireland. (Cheers.) They wanted to free Wales from its alien Church. (Cheers.) They wished to deal with the grievances of Nonconformity. (Cheers.) They wished to sweep away the electoral anomalies which distorted the repre- sentation of the people and denied the franchise to so many. (Cheers.) They had promised to do all these things, but they could do none of them, although they had a great majority for all of them in this Parliament. (Opposition cries of Oh," and Ministerial cheers.) A Grant of Self-gtvernment. These resolutions represented a grant of self-government they were going to make to themselves. (Ministerial cheers and Opposi- tion ironical cheers.) If these resolutions were passed there would be no revolution and no crisis, but he warned Mr Balfour, who held tne issue in his hand, that rejection of the resolutions would mean a prolonged period of struggle and confusion, the issue of which could not be foreseen. (Ministerial cheers.) Negative Amendment Mr J. F. HOPE (C.) moved to amend the resolution by excluding from its operation not only Money Bills, but Bills further affecting the constitution of the House of Lords. Mr J. A. PEASE (L.) pointed out 'that the object of the amendment was to preveht the Government doing that which they believed the country demanded they should do, namely to restrict the veto of the House of Lords and to create a SECOND Chamber based upon the popular will. (Ministerial cheers.) Mr AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN said the House of Lords now recognised that when the opinion of the country was clear, manifest, and permanent., their own personal opinions must be subordinated to the people s will. The whole object of the resolutions was to prevent an appeal to the people. (Opposition cheers.) Yet the party opposite had the face" to pose as a democratic party and talk about trust- ng the people. (Ministerial cheers.) Reforpi Part ef the Policy. Mr CHURCHILL said when the House of Lords gave way to public opinion upon Bills, like the Trades Disputes Bill, it was beause they considered it would not be in electioneer- ing interests of the Tory party to reject it. (Opposition cries of No," and Ministerial ( cheers.) So far from wishing to exclude them- selves from using these resolutions for altering the constitution of the House of Lords the Government contemplated that it would be essentiai to their policy. (Ministerial cheers.) Advanced Radical Challenge. Sir H. DALZIEL (L.) said he had never con- cealed his opinion that every step in the direc- tion of reforming the House of Lords would be bad for the party of progress. He challenged any Cabinet Minister to say whether the veto resolutions would apply to the reformed or elective Second Chamber. If not, then the present discussion was so much waste of time. (Opposition cheers.) Lord HUGH CECIL (C.) said he would sooner expect the keeper of the table with the three thimbles and a pea to say under which thimble the pea was than the Government to answer the question that had just been put to them. The Committee then divided, there voting- For theamendment. 193 I Aga,inst. 302 Government majority 109 Progress was then reported., and the House resuming adjourned at 11.15 pjn. I J

THE MAKING OF J.P.s. SIR CHAS. DILKE'S VIEWS. The hon. member for the Forest of Dean Division of Gloucestershire—Sir Charles Dilke. J.P.—was the chief witness at Tuesday's sitting of the Royal Commission to inquire into the present methods of appointment of Justices of the Peace. Lord James of Hereford, the chairman, again presided. Sir Charles Dilke in the course of his state- ment to the Commission said his experience of Parliament dated back 40 years. It had been stated by Sir William Harcourt and Mr Lloyd George that the Commissioners of Land Tax were appointed by the county members, and that they, sitting along with the magistrates. chose the Income Tax Commissioners. Mr Lloyd George said that the Government had nothing to do with the appointment of the Commissioners. The Chairman How far does that affect the Lords-Lieutenant in making recommenda- tions ? Witness The recommendations are made through the Lords-Lieutenant of the counties by the clerk of the peace on the advice of tho various local benches. Continuing, he said that in May, 1893, he moved that the appoint- ment should no longer be made only on the recommendation of Lords-Lieutenant. Mr Asquith, then Home Secretary, would not depart from the usage of naming only those proposed by Lords-Lieutenant unless on a clear declaration of the opinion of the House of Commons, which was found in his (Sir Charles's) motion, supported by the Govern- ment. It took away the monopoly of the recommendation by the Lords-Lieutenant, which they as a legal right virtually possessed. Mr Asquith declared the motion a condemna- tion of the then existing system. His (witness's) resolution was based on the enor- mous disproportion of the Bench in favour of one party. The Government also desired to abolish the property qualification, which was as a fact now abolished. The abolition had made little difference in the districts best known to himself, parts of Surrey, Middlesex and Gloucestershire. The Government held in 1893 that public confidence in the administra- tion of justice, e.g., in poaching anl. right of way cases, could only be secured by restoring" a balance, which could not be done by recom- mendations from the existing Benches. The division on inserting the words against Supply was 293 to 240. Lord Hcrschell. witness understood, pointed out that he was limited by the property qualification, and accepted evidence and advice from all sides. He did not reject or invariably accept suggestions from Liberal Associations or members of Parliament. He did not exclude clergymen and ministers of religion, or several other classes generally undesirable, but afford- ing valuable resources when there was avowed necessity of restoring a fairer political balance. The restoration was now facilitated by the abolition of the property qualification. In the two divisions of Gloucestershire which Sir Charles Dilke knew he said the present state of things was-but for the survivors of Lord Herschell's nominations—as bad as it was before 1893. Witness had often received sug- gestions from inspectors of police, who invari- ably made a good case, for additional magis- trates in rural districts. 'He did not pass them on lor reasons he did not wish to give. In Glou- cestershire the rural parishes made into urban districts for highway purposes yielded four or five excellent chairmen—in one case a licensed victnaJJer-but, they were confined to odd cor- ners. Two Liberals "having been repeatedly re-elected chairmen had been made permanent magistrates by a lord lieutent.ant who had not otherwise often appointed Liberals, and who had appointed a great many Unionists to benches already predominantly Conserva- tive. Of these it could hardly be said that they had been appointed as the best men always for their fitness." That was the claim set up. Some new comers were appointed im- mediately on their arrival, scarcely known, and not the persons that any of those engaged in administrative work in the parishes concerned would have thought of. Other evidence followed, and the Commission adjourned.

Virile Cardiff Liberals. MEETING OF NEW EXECUTIVE. On Tuesday the first meeting of the new Executive of the Cardiff Liberal Association took place, Aldeman F. J. Beavan being in the chair, and a chief part of the business was the appointment of new committees, repre- sentatives to other bodies, &c. The three delegates elected to represent the association upon the National Liberal Federa- tion were Councillors Seccombe and Forsdike and Mr Allgood (secretary). To the Welsh National Liberal Federation ten members were elected, and the Picnic Committee were re- elected, with power to add to their number, a vote of thanks being tendered to them for their services. The following were co-opted to the Execu- tive:-Dr. Buist, Mr A. Sessions, Mr Beddoe Rees, Mr Fifoot, Councillor Sidney Jenkins, Mr W. Roberts, Mr tj. Wisbey, Mr J. Taylor, Mr W. Leater Jones, and Mr William Lloyd. The General Purposes and Finance Com- mittees were re-elected without change. A Gratifying Report. Mr F. H. Jotham, treasurer, submitted a very gratifying report showing that there was a balance on current account at the bank, and that the deposit account still remained intact. He reported that the conversazione recently held had been most successful. Themonthly statement of membership and subscription showed that up-to-date in the current year there had been 188 new members as compared with 76 in the corresponding period last year that the subscriptions to date had totalled 1230 as compared with E,912 and that the total receipts had been JE331 as compared with E256. The annual report, which had been pre- viously gone over by the General Purposes Committee, was submitted in summary form by the Chairman, and it proved to be of a very satisfactory nature both in regard to mejnbership and subscriptions. The meeting resolved that it should be printed and circulated amongst the members. Reports were given as to the meetings of the Welsh National Liberal Federation by Mr All- good, one of the elected representatives, and Councillor E. Thomas was congratulated on the fact that he had been elected vice-president of the national body. A resolution was unanimously carried heartily approving of the resolutions dealing with the veto of the House of Lords, and assuring the Prime Minister of confidence and support. Acknowledgments of the Votes of Gendolenee. The following letters of acknowledgment have been received in answer to votes of con- dolence passed by the Cardiff Liberal Associa- tion, and were submitted at last evening's meeting of the Executive :— House of Falkland. Fife, 9-3-1910. Dear Sir,—Both my wife and myself are deeply touched by your kindness in writing to us on behalf of the Cardiff Liberal Asso- ciation in qjir deep sorrow. And we fully appreciate the feelings which have prompted you to sympathise with us in the way you have done.-Yours sincerely, Ninian Crichton-Stuart. Dear Mr Ailgood,—I am in receipt of your letter of the 9th inst. conveying to me the very kind resolution of sympathy passed by the Executive Committee of the Cardiff Liberal Association at their meeting held on the 8th inst., and I shall be glad if you will be good enough to convey to the members of the Executive Committee my sincere thanks for their kind resolution, the terms of which I will con,vey to the other members of my family.—Believe me, yours faithfully, (Signed) Clifford J. Cory.

A LLANDAFF MOTION. The first session of the new Houseof Laymen of the Province of Canterbury opened on Tues- day at the Church House, Westminster. The Marquis ollSalisbury was elected chairman of the house. His Lordship, in the course of some remarks, expressed the view that the house was growing in importance, and would continue to do so. Mr W. S. de Winton (Llandaff) moved That in the opinion of this House (1) it is de- sirable that an alteration should be made in the mode of the appointment of diocesan bishops; (2) the present time is op- portune for the consideration of such an alteration in its bearings^ with reference to both Church and State." They ought, he said, to give attention to this ques- tion to see whether something could not be done to prevent an unwise series of appoint- ments to the Episcopal Bench in the near future. He suggested a mode of appointment, somewhat similar to that of Norway, where the clergy of the diocese submitted three names to the Sovereign., who chose one from amongst them. For the office of archbishop two or three names ought to be sent up by the bishops of the province to the Crown for final selection. I Mr Barker (St. David's) seconded the reso- lution, and subsequently, in the course of a discussion, Sir Alfred Cripps, M.P., moved the previous question, which was adopted by 75 to 30.

PORTHCAWL SURCHARGES. The members of the Porthcawl Council were recently surcharged in two sums of iEl3 3s and £ 5 lis respectively, by the district auditor, Mr Probert. Mr David Jones ap- peaJed to the Local Government Board to be relieved. The Board has replied that the auditor surcharged the other appellants on the grounds they authorised the' respective pay. ments, and the Board concurred in the auditor's opinion as to the illegality of repayments, and confirmed the disallowance and surcharge as lawful. They were prepared, however, in the present instance to remit the (lisallowance and surcharge in the exercise of the equitable jurisdiction conferred upon them. Mr D. Jone3 wished the public to understand that the Council were compelled to do what they did in order to get the money because it was urgently wanted before the loan was transferred.

t "CARBOSIL" is a brilliant water softener, t bleacher and washing soda in powder. MWs Contains no soap and is far stronger, MM/ handier and more elective than the old- vjilk MM/ ia.shioned lump soda. ijmf It guarantees fine usable soft water for bedrooms, vlSk Mm! bathroom and laundry. Indispensable for all scullery and JSJy kitchen work. For washing greasy pots, pans, scrubbing JP7 and whitening floors, cleansing sinks, and purifying drains. Vafc &,LON 01; WA -;k WATER SOFTLENER u AND SODA the help my •v? helps Tjp By appoinLUlll:lt to tUJ f If you are drinking any other cocoa, will you do this ? iSw Place half a teaspoonful quantity of boiling water of the cocoa you are using to each and then TASTE in one cup, and half a BLINDFOLD, or without mI/ teaspoonful of Rowntree's knowing which is which. M in another, add an equal You will appreciate the -EL JL Rowntree Flavour 1 It appeals to a refined taste, its favour. Many who fancy The deliciousnes3 of Rown- they do not like cocoa at all tree's Elect Cocoa, the delicacy change their minds when it's Ik I of its aroma, are two points in Rowntree's. Vs J .oO_ 00. ———B—B———MB 11—11——^——I

Assize Venue. NEWPORT FRIGHTENED AT THE COST. At Tuesday's meeting of the Newport Cor- poration, Councillor W. M. Blackburn, J.P., presiding, tl e question of removing the Assize Courts from Monmouth to Newport was raised by Mr J. II. Williams, who objected to any expenditure. The rates of the town were, he said, bound to be affected, and this would influence works proprietors not too come. Mr J. EL Williams It would not only mean Assize Courts but new police stations and so on. A motion by Mr Williams that the com- mittee do not further negotiate in the matter was lost. Mr E. A. Charles and Mr Robjent commented on the fact that they had not yet been pro mised the Assizes for Newport, and urged that they should have a definite promise before be- ginning to build. Mr Fred Phillips replied that the present proposals did not commit the Council to anything. They were simply mak- ing inquiries. Mr John Moxon was surprised at the opposition to the proposal. There had been garbled and misleading statements about the town as to what the cost of the courts would be, yet when it was proposed to make inquiries about the cost it was objected to. On a vote being taken 23 voted in favour of a committee making inquirieas to the cost, etc., and 7 against. You cannot have the penny and the bun," said Alderman T. Parry in reply to criticisms that the profits frorrfthe waterworks had not been transferred for the relief of the rates. In the course of his remarks on the subject the Alderman said that since the Corporation.had acquired the waterworks they had decreased the trade charges of water for large consump- tion from 6d to 3d, and that was one of the means of bringing Messrs Lysaght's under- taking to Newport. That reduction meant £ 13,820. Then, in connection with their ship- ping, they had reduced the charges for ship's boilers from Is to 6d, which meant E5,427, and there had been a reduction of 1 per cent. to consumers- on the high level, meaning some £ 6,059. The Water Committee had therefore given M,306 to the ratepayers. They would see by the figures that concessions bad been made to the town of nearly iCI0,000 in excess of the amount contributed. The water under- taking had not cost the town one penny. Mr J. Twomey urged the Parks Committee to consider the question of providing a skat- ing rink for children in one of the parks in order to attract them from the streets. The Mayor All right. In the report of the Watch Committee it was reported that Head Constable Sinclair had reserved a letter from the Chief Constable of Monmouthshire commending the services of Detective-sergeant Caldicott in arresting two men who broke into stores at Llanhilleth. The magistrates at Llanhilleth had also eulogised the smart work of Detective-sergeant Caldi- cott in the same case. It was resolved that the commendations should be recorded on the minutes. Here's this transporter bridge matter," remarked Alderman Wilkinson. You are going to paint it. What will it cost?" Alderman Greenland About "0 or £ 600. Alderman Wilkinson: You will find it will be more than that. On the recommendations of the Small Hold- ings Committee it was decided to take steps for the acquisition compulsorily of the Hart- ridge Farm, Christchurch. Watching the Coast. The Mayor submitted a resolution in favour of establishing an efficient system of coast watching, and added that the resolution should be forwarded to the proper authorities. The motion was agreed to. THE CLAIMS OF USK. At a meeting of the Pontypool Rural Dis- trict Council held at Usk on Monday ovening, Mr W. H. Charles, J.P., presiding, Mr T. W. Brooke urged the claims of Usk as the venue of the Assizes in the event of their removal from Monmouth, on the ground that Usk already had the necessary buildings and the prison was adjacent. After discussion no steps were taken in the matter.

SIX HOURS' TRIAL. At Swansea County Court on Tuesday, before Judge Bryn Robert-, an action was heard in which Hancocks Breweries, Ltd., sued Morgan Jones, farmer, of Velindre, for X19 Ils, dam- ages to a horse and cart, alleged to have been caused by negligent driving. Mr Gaskell was for plaintiffs and Mr T. R. Harris for the defence. At a bend in the fbad between Gorseinon and Grovesend plaintiffs' cart collided with defendant's cart, and it was alleged that defen- dant was driving recklessly on the wrong side of the road. The defence was that the plaintiffs' driver was the one who was reckless, and evidence was called with the object of showing that just prior to the collision plaintiff's cart was driven so recklessly that people had to jump out of the way to avoid injury. Defendant counter- claimed for damage to his cart. After a hearing occupying about six hours, the Judge found there was fault on both sides, that there was contributory negligence on the part of plaintiffs' driver, and' plaintiffs were not entitled to recover, and that defendant was on the wrong side of the road. Judg- ment for defendant on the claim and for plain- iffs on the counter-claim.

FASTEST MOTOR BOAT. Monte Carlo, Tuesday.—The Coupe des Nations, the most important international motor boat racing event of the year, was won 'at Monaco this afternoon with the utmost ease by the Duke of Westminster's racing launch Ursula, which covered the course of 100 kilo- metres (62I miles) in the recftrd time of Ih. 26min. 59sec. The Duke of Westminster him- self was at the helm. The Ursula has once more proved herself the fastest motor boat in the world. The launch has a total displacement of less than 5 tons in racing trim. She was specially designed and built t.o compete for the Coupe des Nations at Monaco last year, winning the event with per- fect ease in competition with four other nations, her speed on that, occasion working out at about 40 miles an hour.—Central News.

Tramp Terror. CARMARTHENSHIRE OUTRAGES A quarterly meeting of the Carmarthenshire Standing Joint Committee was held at Carmar- then on Tuesday, when Mr D. Evans, Manordaf, Whitland, was appointed chairman for the ensuing year in succession to Earl Cawdor. The Finance Committee recommended that the County Convteil be asked to furnish £ 3,040 for police maintenance for the quarter ending June 30th. Mr Trubshaw, Llanelly, in propos- ing the adoption of the report, said that the previous precept was £ 2'450. The additional amount was due to the purchase of police clothing and the superannuation deficiency account. He observed with pleasure that the Probation Act had prevented crime recurrence, and brought about reformation in young people. (Hear, hear.) The motion was adopted. TH^Chief Constable (Mr Pictou Philipps) reported that in the past quarter there was an increase of 25 charges—781, as against 756. There were districts which were inadequately policed, owing to rapid and continual develop- ment, with consequent increasing population, more particularly in the Amman Valley and Llanelly. It was necessary to increase the force in order that the Government grant might not be jeopardised, as well as to satisfy the requirements of the crowded districts. In rlc the Amman Valley Petty Sessional division there were 24,000 people in 4,792 houses, and, according to what was averaged in all counties in England and Wales, this district was entitled to 22, instead of the nine constables stationed there at present. He recommended an increase to 14, which would represent rather more than one constable to 1,700 people, a higher average than that obtaining in any other force in England or Wales. Since the census of 1901 there had been an increase of 970 inhabited houses at Llanelly, and a sW- plemental population of approximately 5,000. He recommended an additional three con- stables there, which would still only maintain the total strength at about the average for urban districts of a like character. Other parts of Carmarthenshire were being formed into thickly-populated areas, notably Tumble, where the population had increased since the last census by over 2,000. No addition for this locality was recommended, although it would become imperative in future. By the last census the proportion of population to con- stables was one constable to 1,392. The average for all other county forces in England and Wales was one to 1,106. Carmarthenshire was unique in being the only force in England and Wales which had not during the same period increased its strength notwithstanding a greatly increased and increasing population. The cost of the eight constables required to provide for the additional population, esti- mated at over 16,000, would on appointment amount to S282 13s 8d per annum (half the actual cost), the other amount being payable out of the Imperial Exchequer funds. He added that there was a standing agreement for mutual assistance in cases of emergency be- tween this AND other forces, adding thab the Glamorgan and Cardiff forces were prepared to enter into such agreements, while Pembroke- shire was prepared to enter into a like agree- ment. The chief constable was given permission to take steps to ratify the3e agreements, and his report was adopted on the proposition of Mr Dudley Williams-Drummond, seconded by Mr T. Jones, Llanelly. The first-named remarked that since he had been honoured by being placed in the chair of the Court of Quarter Sessions he had noticed ^ITH regret the increase of offences in rural parts, where old women and others had been terrorised by tramps, who had broken into wayside houses, and it was evident that constables were needed in those parts. The surveyor (Mr W. Lionel Jenkins) was instructed to prepare an estimate for the erec- tion of a suitable courthouse at Ammanford. On the motion of the chairman a vote of sympathy was passed with Mr John Johns, Parceithyn, chairman of the County Council, who isserionsly indisposed. The Chairman proposed a vote of thanks to the outgoing chairman, Earl Cawdor. Mr W. David, Llanelly What for ? Mr Williams, Ammanford Not for his ab- sence, surely ? (Laughter.) The vote was accorded. PORTHCAWL WANTS MORE POLICE. At an ordinary meeting of the Porthcawl Chamber of Trade on Tuesday, Mr R. E. Jones presiding, it was decided to petition the chief constable for the county in order to secure an increase in the constabulary at Porthcawl. It was also resolved to hold a dinner to celebrate the victory obtained at the recent election of the Urban Council. The Chamber has decided to bring out an illustrated guide to Porthcawl. It was also resolved to petition the Postmaster- General for a Sunday delivery of letters.

THUMBNAIL IMPRESSIONS. Here are two opinions on the Rokeby Venus from the Morning Post corres- pondence column:— I am no specialist in the works of Velas- quez. But I never believed that the Rokeby Venus was from his brush-an impres- sionist criticism merely.—Mr Andrew Lang. A signature on a picture proves very little. A great work is signed all over. Before a picture which such a sum as that paid for the Venus should represent criticism should be dumb. It shonld be a perfect and complete work of its kind-the Rokeby Venus is neither.—Mr Arthur Hacker.

VIOLENT DEAN FOREST COLLIERS. Two colliers, named George Merry and Denis Hart, of Elwood, Dean Forest, were charged at Coleford on Tuesday with doing damage to windows, the property of Hobert Williams, a labourer, of Ellwood, and also with assaulting Williams. It appeared that at midnight on the 2nd April the two defendants went to Williams's house and i,kecl for lodgings. On being told that they did not take in lodgers, the defendants commenced throwing stones at the windows, and at, the defendant, later assaulting him, knocking his pipe out of his mouth. They stayed kicking up a row" about the house for an hour. The Bench fined each 12, 8s costs, and Is damage to the window; and 5s and 8s costs each for assault.

Lady Committed for Trial. eo DID SHE INTIMIDATE VOTERS? At a special sitting of Eddesbury Petty Sew sional magistrates Miss Louisa Char- lotte Wilson, spinster, of Tarporley, was com- mitted for trial at Chester Assizes on two charges of threatening to inflict temporal lost upon Samuel Rowland, namely, the loss of future contract for the care of dogs, in order TO induce him to refrain from voting for the Ron- Lyulph Stanley, Liberal candidate for Eddas- bury Division of Cheshire. The evidence showed that Miss Wilson sent a letter nrior to the election to a Mrs Bell, Tarporley, asking her to tell another woman whose husband DID occasional work for her, and who WBM a Liberal, that she would not support anyone who did not support the interests of HA* country, church, and education. Owing TO Rowland being a Liberal he had been TAKEN off: her .L,ist, and if the Liberal gotinshcwqafd not spend Mr money in Tarporley. Since the election Rowland had had no work as a tailor from 1Ii,>. Yv ilson, and he had suffered loss IN other ways as puppy walker. Sir William Cobbett, for defendant, urged that Miss Wilson's intention was to tell Rmv- land and others that she wished to place HER work in the hands of those who supported HER party, and not to induce them in any way. In the second case, defendant wrote ROO" land that he was a strong supporter of STANLY and he must not do any work for her. Magistrate Summoned. Before the same Bench, Charles Bell, county magistrate, Norley Hall, was summoned for inflicting temporal loss on two men in his em- ploy by discharging them for having voted for the Hon. Lyulpli Stanley. The evidence showed that Mr Bell sent employees on his estate in a motor car, deco- rated with Unionist colours, to vote, and o the way hack two men, who were Liberals, flaunted Liberal colours outside the car as they passed the committee room. The following Saturday t,hey were discharged by Mr Bell, and ordered to leave cottages on his estate. The defence WAS) that the men were dis- missed because they showed impertinence tP Captain Higson, owner of the car, by flaunting Radical colours on a Unionist car. Mr BED stated he had never used any influence to get I his men to vote for any party. The Bench dismissed the case.

SEQUEL TO ASSIZE ACTION. At Cardiff Bankruptcy Court on TUeidaf (before the Registrar, Mr Harry Cousins) Alføll George Rowley, a commercial traveller, for merly of Richmond-road, Cardiff, stated in bie examination by the Official Receiver (Mr Geø. David) that the receiving order was iniAO against him by a creditor who was the def." dant in an action at the Assizea is which he (Mr Rowley) brought for dama.¡" for personal injuries, but was uunt" cessful, AND had to pay the costs. ø. was formerly in partnership in a provision business, which was dissolved through the accident. The examination was formal11 closed. Debtor, addressing the Registrar, said be desired to make a statement. He had gi notice of appeal from the decision of the J t1 at the Assizes, on the ground that it was a mw carriage of justice, and if the decision of tis" Judge was quashed he hoped to be able ts annul the bankruptcy proceedings.

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