The Cardiff Times

CARDIFF WAIFS AND STRAYS. Miss Lassam's Concert. Some time ago Miss D. Lassam, daughter of [r S, Evans-Lassam, Queen-street, promised 3 organise a concert in aid of the waifs and rays of Cardiff. On Tuesday night at the t. John's School, Queen-street, the consum- tation.of the event was witnessed. There was large attendance, and the singing was of a igb standard. Miss Lassam, who was on the I pnunittee which provided the waifs and strays inner at Christmastime, and takes a keen iterest in the homeless lads and lasses of our greets, managed to arrange a capital pro- raxame. Part 1 was contributed to by Miss dith Jenkins, Miss Marie E. Madden, Mr Bert ^ssoon, Mr W. Chubb-Jones, Miss Maud 'radbury (pupil of Madame Clara Novello a^ies), and Miss Dorothy Lassam herself,who also a pupil of Madame Novello Davies. [1' Stanley Bridcut gave some interesting lo-ractei impressions. The second part of le Programme was devoted to an amusing *efcch, The New Butler," the impersona- ons being taken by Mr B. Bassoon, Miss D. ^aam, and Miss Ada Fraser. The accom- anist was Miss E. Jenkins.

WARNE. AND REMANDED. At Caerphilly on Tuesday Hy. Clarke, of Vic- iria.stre,et, Llanbradach, was charged, under le N.S.P.C.C., with neglecting his chil- ren. Mr W. Spickett prosecuted. Evidence ^s.^iven by Inspector Thomas of the house found in a filthy condition, with prac- cally no furniture and no bed clothing. The iildren were bare-footed and poorly clad. ther evidence called alleged that the defen- :tnt played billiards and was a secretary of a Qb. The case was adjourned for a month, ifendant being warned that if there was no aprovement he would be sent to prison.

RRESTED WHILE GOING TO ACONCERT J' t ■ v James Ernest Parmer (26), employed as a locer's haulier at Beaufort, was arrested at ereford while accompanying his mother to a >ncert, and charged with stealing a hand-bag, ilue 10s 6d, the property of Albert Birch, ea-ufort. Farmer was brought before the Tre- ngar magistrates on Tuesday, and prosecutor jid the bag was missed from the bedroom in Qich he and the defendant, who were fellow- dgers, slept. There was a previous convic- against the defendant for stealing a bicycle. Clerk You '"borrowed a bicycle once :fcrc, you see. Defendant: That was at ^rdiii. Mr T. Lewis (chairman): We will yon leniently this time, but don't bor- w in this way again. Defendant was fined s, or 14 days' imprisonment in default.

TOSSING THE PANCAKE. An Ancient Ceremony. Tuesday being Shrove Tuesday the ancient custom of tossing the pancake was ob- served in the Great Hallof Westminster School in the presence df a large number of old bovs," parents, and friends of the scholars as well as the whole of the boys of the school themselves. Just before 1 o clock the boys were assembled in the Great HaJJ those selec- ted-about 20—to compete for the guinea prize awarded to the scholar who secured either the whole or the largest portion of the pancake, being drawn up at the entrance end of the hall immediately beneath the beam over which the pancake wL tossed. At a given signal the school cook, clad in white apron and cap and bearing in his hand the pan containing the nancake,marched into the hall preened by the Dean's verger who carried in his hand his mace. The cook then walked to the far side of the bar and taking careful aim threw the pancake into the air over the beam! Immediately there was a rush for the pancake, the boys falling in a heap in their endeavour to secure the cove- ted prize. There was a tough scrimmage and on the call of time by the headmaster (Dr. Gow) it was found that the winner was W. Tomlinson of the Lower Fifth. Amidst loud cheers the successful boy was conducted by 'the Dean's verger to the office where he re- ceived the customary gift of one guinea.

OPTN-AIR SCHOOLS. LC.C.'s Satisfactory Experiment. In their report to be presented to-day to the Education Committee of the London County Council the Day Schools Sub-Oommittee state that they are convinced, from the experience coined from last year's experiment at Bostall Wood Plumstead, and in the light bfthe results of the open-air schools con- ducted -in Germany, of the desirable- ness of a further and extended experi- ment being -made by Dresent year. They say they are in a position to submit a detailed scheme, but are proceeding with the consideration, of the various questions in the knowledge that it ,is necessary that no time should be lost w sub- mitting a well-considered scheme for the con- duct of the proposed experiment. In order, however, that due provision may be made in the estimates for the financial year 1908-9, the sub-committee is anxious that the committee should recommend the Council to sanction, in principle, a further experiment. A sum of JE2 000 has been allocated to this purpose as provision money in the draft maintenance esti- mates for 1908-9, and the General Purposes Sub-Committee has been asked to take steps for the transfer of this amount from provision money to the estimates.

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WELSH DEPARTMENT. Swansea Correspondent's Attack. METHODS AND TONE INDICTED Church Schoals Cantroversy. Further correspondence between the Board of Education and Mr A. P. Eden (correspon- dent to the managers of the Oxford-street, Swansea., Church of England Schools) has been communicated to the Press. The Board of Education, writing on February 18th states that Mr Eden seemed under a misapprehension as to the policv of Sir William Anson in con- struing the powers and duties of the Board of Education, and quotes from Sir W. Anson as <' follows :— The matter of teachers' salaries is not one in which the Board of Education would intervene unless it could be shown that a reduction of salaries amounted to a failure by the local education authority in its dnt: to maintain and keep eilicient a public elementary school. That reply contained the crucial test of the policy of the hoard and explained why reference had been made by Mr McKenna, to Sir W Anson's action, and thus no conditions existed justifying the argument Mr Eden had raised, i Mr Eden also seemed under a misapprehension regarding the failure of the local authority to pay any salaries at all for six months. Th" • letter points out that the local authority gav:- notice of intention, in view of the managers' non-compliance with the decision of the Board as to the buildings, not to continue mainten- ance of the school after the 31st July. The • managers seemed to be of opinion that it was, the local authority which was in default after July, whereas in fact the recognition by the Board of the schools in question was, in view of the managers' failure to comply with the; Board's decision, only provisional, and it was to be observed that the .assurance required by the Board was not finally received from the managers until the end of October. Having ultimately secured a settlement of the building question, which appeared to be satisfactory to all parties, the Board were glad to secure the recognition of the schools, and the maintenance of the school has in fact been continued bv the local education authority. With regard to the statement that the "only thing settled by the President is that the managers shall make improvements in the buildings of the school costing £11,000, Mr Mr McKenna desires me to state that this is quite inaccurate. The Board has no power and no desire to compel the managers to spend £11,000 or any other sum. The decision of .the Board is limited to the structural re- quirements which the managers must carry out in order to obtain the privileges accorded to them by the Act of 1902. and it might be well to point out that the original decision of the Board, which was modified solely at the request of the managers, involved them in a con- siderably less outlay. Mr McKenna must again express his surprise that concessions which were granted solely on the repeated repre- sentations of the managers should now be regarded by them as an application of coercive measures with a view to involving them in an expense of £ 11,000." Mr Eden's Reply. On February 29th Mr Eden gives a long reply to the foregoing, stating that the letter makes it more clear than before that what the President stated in the House of Commons, on the 5th February about the school in question was inaccurate. In three material points, he savs Mr McKenna does not attempt to deny his mistakes. Coming to the quotation from Sir W. Anson, Mr Eden says the quotation is equally irrelevant, and adds if further evi- dence were needed of what is immediately obvious it would be in the fact that in the case of this school the Board, having been threatened by the manager with legal pro- ceedings. if they still refused to determine this very question, have at last undertaken to do S°" With regard to the failure of the local authority to pay any salary, at all for five months, the managers are not, as you suggest, under any sort of misapprehension about the matter. The summary of events, which you give, the managers cannot admit to be any more correct than your speech was, but they will not prolong correspondence by going into further details. The letter concludes :— Into matters of comment raised in your letter the managers will not follow you, since, as I stated, they wrote solely m order to correct your mistakes of fact. That they feel bound to add that your letter confirms the impression conveyed by previous corres- pondence and interviews that the managers of this school have but a slender hope in looking to the Board of Education for impartial enforcement of the law. You as President of the Board continue to labour under a complete want of accurate informa- I tion as to facts and ever since the formation of the Weish Department the Board's argu- ment^tiye methods have been strangely at variance with the established tone and usage of Departments of State.

Antiquity of Cardiff. ADORNMENT OF CATHAYS PARK A Noteworthy Suggestion. air T. H. Thomas, of 45, The Walk, Cardiff, has made a notable suggestion to the Cardiff Corporation in reference to the adornment of the open space in front of the City Hall and Law Courts. Mr Thomas's suggestion came before the Property and Markete Committee on Tuesday in the form of a. letter. Briefly the suggestion is that a scheme of adornment should be decided upon by a committee of mem- bers of the Corporation, assisted by architects and artists eminent in their professions, and that when statues or other works of art are erected in future they should conform to or be in harmony with this scheme, the main prin- ciple of which would aim at the illustration through works of statuary of the ancient and modern history of Cardiff. In an interview with one of oar representa- tives, Mr Thomas enlarged upon the idea. out- lined above. As you know," he said, statues of the Marquis of Bute and Lord Tredegar—very interesting and fine works they will be I have no doubt—are to be erected, but as the space is now quite open, and as we have in that space an unrivalled opportunity— I do not know of such a noble space in any other town—it struck me that it would be a very good thing if some arrangement could be come to by which a general ideaas to the decoration of the whole space would be kept in mind. I should like to see adopted some scheme for filling the space gradually with sculptures, in which ancient history and tradi- tion, as well as modern development, would be represented." Some people seem to think," added Mr Thomas, Cardiff is a place of comparatively recent growth because itBdevelopment has been recent, but as a matter of fact it has been a most interesting and important place from the earliest times. For instance, there can scarcely be any doubt that at some time or other Caractacus was upon this spot, for Car- diff was an important Roman centre, and the places which became Roman centres had prob- ably been important at an earlier time. In regard to the traditionary history, we have very close relationship to the Arthurian time. Some of the early ballads refer to Car- diff as having been the Court of Arthur Pen- dragon, father of Arthur. In the ancient ballad called Sir Cleges,' the action is made to take place at the Court of King Arthur at Cardiff. King Arthur's connection with Cardiff is also clear from the incident relating an insult to Queen Guinevere and the Knight Geraint following the black knight Gwyn Ap Nudd "to the place now called Cardiff," where Geraint defeated Ap Nudd and returned to the Court of King Arthur at Caerleon with Enid—a maiden, in all probability, of the neighbourhood of Roath. This story is told in the Mabinogion and also in verse by Tenny- son. Again, Cardiff is the port from which King Arthur's hosts .sailed for Cornwall to punish Lancelot—perhaps the earliest note of Cardiff as a port." Having referred to other historical and mythical figures associated with Cardiff, Mr Thomas said, All these personages should be included in a great scheme of sculpture worthy of the ancient and the modern history of Cardiff. It would be regrettable if that great central space were filled in a haphazard way. I should like to see a great monumental assemblage to include figures from all the historical ages, to see the space become a sort Of Valhalla of the heroes.of olden time, place being found in the scheme also of course for memorials of more modern Cardiff. The scheme would cost money, but it could be carried out piecemeal over a long series of years. Perhaps in the years to come some of the more wealthy citizens woulcji leave money to assist in carrying out the scheme. In the meantime, what I wish to sec is some definite plan decided upon. In drawing up the scheme a committee of the Council might invite assistance from architects like Mr Lanchester and artists of acknowledged eminence in their professions such as Mr Goscombe John. By that means an admirable scheme might be agreed upon. The Property and Markets Committee did not take any action on Mr Thomas's letter, postponing consideration of it till the whole question of the allotment of statuary sites is discussed.

LLANELLY ELECTRIC UGHTmG ORDER SOLD. At a meeting of Llanellv Urban District Council on Monday night the Chairman (Mr W. Bramwell Jones) stated that in accordance with a promise made at the previous meeting he had to inform the Press that the Council had decided to sell their electric light order. They were unanimous on the question, as. that was their only chance of getting electric light for the town, and possibly traction as weU. He was glad to see that" the Llanelly and District Electric Light and Traction Company were' making such rapid progress in the laying down of the new tramway track. Mr F. G. Vivian But there is a strike among the labourers now. Mr Nathan GriSEths It is settled^ <

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Social Work at Cardiff. T THE UNIVERSITY SETTLEMENT. Praise for Professor & Mrs Burrows LORD TREDEGAR AS "OLlVEft TWIST." Viscount Tredegar had a cordial reception as he walked across the floor of Cardiff Ex- change on Tuesday afternoon to attend a meeting in support of the University Settle- ment, and he left the building to the hearty strains of For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." His Lordship is president of the University Settlement at Cardiff, and he was supported at the meeting by the Lord Mavor (Mr Illtyd Thomas), Professor Burrows Sir John G-unn, Major-General Lee, Mr John Andrews, J.P.. Alderman W. H. Renwick Mr W. North Lewis, Mr T. M. Heywood, Mr J- A. Jones, Councillors Vivian and Walter Thomas, Mrs Alfred Thomas, Ac. Lord Tredegar said he was afraid they were getting tired of his name. (JJo, no.) He always appeared on these occasions as a beggar. (" And also as a giver," and applause-) Like Oliver Twist, he was always asking for more. He had a keen pleasure in doing that now, because he knew the splendid work which was being done at the University Settlement. He looked upon these settlements the begin- nmg of the ladder along which the poorest boy, the street aralt, could get to the University. Dr. Johnson once said You can do a great deal with a Scotchman if yon catch him young." (Laughter.) They could do a great deal with anybody only catch him young— whether Scotchman, Irishman Welshman, or Englishman. The University Settlement sought to get hold of the young people. All the work was done voluntarily. (Applause.) His Lordship said he appealed with confidence to the Docksmen for support for a most excel- lent work, and he eulogised the services ren- dered by Professor and Mrs Burrows, who, to the deep regret of all. were about to leave them. Professor Burrows, who was warmly re- ceived, after referring to Viscount Tredegar's great interest in the. Settlement, said their object was to get to know the lives of the great industrial classes, and to provide them with new interests, so that they might spend their money well. Half the vice and misery of I the world came from people not knowing what to do in their leisure time. The intelligence of the industrial classes was one of the nation's biggest assets. The Settlement endeavoured to sharpen the intellect of the workers it helped those who wished to help themselves it held J out a friendly hand to boys whose surround- ings did them no good. It difficult to develop the quality of sticking to things in the artisan class. The Settlement aimed at that its work was both rTHtw«tinml and recreative. Professor Burrow^' 'fcave a few illustrations of how boys bid been rescued from bad homes, admitted into membership, and given a start in life. The total expendi- ture was only jE500 a year, and the members (who comprised men and boys, women and girls) contributed £ 120 a year. It would be im- possible to do so much work (there were 28 educational classes, in addition to a labour bureau, games, lads' camps, etc-) for less than double that sum if it did not depend on purely I voluntary service. Personal service was the essential condition to every valuable work, and personal service they had in abundance at the Cardiff University Settlement. He hoped, therefore, they would not allow this work to be hampered for the lack of funds. Mr T. M. Heywood, in moving a resolution pledging the meeting to support the Settle- ment, paid a high tribute to the work and self- sacrifice of Professor and Mrs Burrows, whose departure, he said, would be a great loss to Cardiff. What they had done would never be known to many. ¡ Mr J. A. Jones seconded. Major-General Leesaid the University Settle- ment showed them the best example of Chris- tian Socialism. The Lord Mayor, Mr John Andrews, and others supported, a.rwl the resolution was carried. Professor Mackenzie, seconding a vote of thanks to the chairman moved by Sir John Gunn, said Professor and Mrs Burrows had really been the Settlement. During the meeting about £100 was pro- mised or given in donations and subscriptions. Viscount Tredegar promised to Provide further furniture for the Settlement, to double his annual subscription, and to contribute JE50 towards the salary of a warden the Thompson family a certain amount towards the same pur- pose Major-General Lee £10 for the emigra- tion fund Mr W. Jones and Mr J. A. Jones jElO each and £2 2s annual subscriptions, and the Lord Mayor gave 12 2s.

MR IVOR GUEST, M.P. Mr and Mrs Ivor Guest have spent a good portion of the winter in town, having held until Monday a short lease of a chouse in Seymour- street from Lord Tweedmouth, who went to live there when he sold Brook House to Sir Ernest Cassel. Wimborne House has been undergoing such extensive repairs that Mr Gnest and his young family could not be accommodated there. Lady Wimbome herself only spent a few days there last month, and she is now in the country, but will pay a flying visit to town in a couple of weeks to attend Lady Allendale 8 big reception on the 20th. Lady Wimbome is one of the great Liberal hostesses, and her parties in Arlington- street are second to none in London. When she returns from Canford after Easter there is to be a repetition of the brilliant entertainmente given by her last year at Wimborne House, one of The finest palaces in the parish of St. James's.—" Chronicle."

CA.RDIFF WOMAN'S DESPAIR. Marie Godolphin (26) W&3, brought up on remand, at Cardiff Police -court on Tuesday, on the charge of attempting to commit suicide by attempting to throw herself into the river Taff near Wood-street Bridge on Feb. 24th., Mr Sydney Jenkins pleaded on prisoner's behalf that she had had domestic trouble and illness which had made her exceedingly un- happy of late. She now realised the folly of her act, and was prepared to give an under- taking that she would not repeat it. Upon this, the magistrates (Messrs T. Andrews and F. H. Jotham) discharged the prisoner.

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CHINESE SEAMEN. EMPLOYMENT ON BRITISH SHIPS. Lesssns From Cardiff. FULL INQUIRY PROMISED. In the House of Commons on Tuesday, In view of the debate on the employment of Chinese in British ships some 32 questions had been put on the paper by members of the Labour party as to individual cases of death or disease among Asiatic seamen, and as to the cubie space allowed for each man. and the conditions of work, &c., on their respective ships. These questions, however, were all postponed by request, Mr Lloyd George stating that he was prepared to circulate printed answers to each of them. but that he i iid not think it necessary to trouble the House with the details. Mr REES (L.. Montgomery} Is it not a fact that when the Merchant Shipping Bill was be- fore the House the President of the Board of Trade had a petition from Asiatic seamen ex- pressing dislike of questions as to cubic space, and deprecating solicitude of this kind ? (Laughter.) No answer was given. Lessons frlm Cardiff. M FENWICK (Lab., Northumberland) drew attention to the conditions under which Chinese subjects are employed on "British ships, and submitted a resolution calling for an immediate investigation by a Select Com- mittee with a view to determining whether the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Aet, 1906, are sufficient to enable the Board of Trade to prevent abuses arising out of the em- ployment of Chinese in the British mercantile marine. He disclaimed any intention of de- manding any protection or preferential treat- ment for British-born seamen over Chinese or others, but insisted that if Chinese were em- ployed on British ships they should not be employed under conditions which practicallv amounted to sweating, and which tended to deprive British-born subjects of their legitimate calling. (Labour cheers.) The ports of the United Kingdom were fast becoming collecting grounds for foreign sea- men, who by the lower rate of wages and food scale they were prepared to accept were driv- ing British seamen out of the service of our mercantile marine, and unless steps were taken to tighten up the Board of Trade regulations British seamen would be deprived of the ad- ? vantages of recent legislation passed for their benefit. (Cheers.) Only on Saturday last. proceeded the speaker, the stipendiary at Cardiff was engaged in hearing an inquiry into the strand ing of a steamship off lTartland Point on January 27th, the result of the inquiry being the suspension of the master's certificate for six months. In giving his judgment the stipendiary said the attention of the Court had been drawn on several occasions during the last five years to the danger to life and naviga- tion arising from the employment on British j ships of foreigners having an insufficient fcnow- ledge of the English language to enable them to understand the necessary orders and to make the communications necessary to be made in the performance of their duty. Two of the crew in this case gave evidence before the court of inquiry, and neither of them under- stood a word of English. Mr JIUSSELL REA Were they Chinamen ? Mr FENVVICK One of them was a Greek. and I believe the other was a Chinaman. It was not stated in the report in the Press. Mr KEARLE: Neither of them was a CHfnnxna.u. Mr FENWICK said his resolution applied equally to other aliens. The man at the look- out was a Greek, who did not understand the English language, and although he saw the vessel was approaching broken water, he was unable to give the necessary instructions from want of knowledge of the English language. The stipendiary went on to say that unless some vigour, care, and vigilance were exer- cised in giving effect to the restrictions on the employment of foreign seamen laid down in section 12 of tbe Merchant Shipping Act the restrictions were both futile and illusory. Crimping at Cardiff. Then there was the question of crimping. People were going about the country touting to find employment formen of f ore ignrtat tonal- ity. The following advertisement coming from the town of Cardiff appeared in the London papers a month or two ago :— Gentlemen,—Encouraged by the fact that owners of ships lately applied to me to supply Chinese crews for them I most re- spectfully venture to call your attention to the fact that I always have good and reliable men in my house ready to join vessels at the shortest notice and in any port of the UnitedKingdomprovided half their expenses of transport and luggage are paid. By em- ploying a Chinese crew you only require about two more than Europeans, but the difference in cost in wages is enhanced by the cheaper scale of provisions the crew demands." The advertiser went on to say that he hoped to have the privilege of selecting a crew for you on some future occasion. He asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the advertiser held a licence as recruiting agent for Chinese seamen. If not he thought drastic steps should be taken by the Board of Trade to put an end at once to this state of things. The advertisement gave also a food scale for the Chinese which was practically about one- third of that which was laid down only two years ago as adequate for European seamen in the mercantile marine. He sincerely appealed to the Board of Trade to grant an inquiry in order that the labours of two years ago might not be made, in the language of the stipendiary at Cardiff, futile and illusory. Mr H. Wilson's Outburst. Mr HAVELOCK WILSON (Lab. Middles- brough) seconded and declared that no class of employers were more inclined to take ad- vantage of their workmen than shipowners, although he admitted that there were excep- tions. During the past year shipowners had taken to employing Chinamen on the foreign- going tramp steamers, so that over 50 per cent. of the men employed on their vessels were Chinese or lascars. By this means the ship- owner was evading his responsibility under such measures as the Workmen's Compensa- tion Act. Shipowner's Protest. Mr AUSTEN TAYLOR (L. Liverpool), speaking as a shipowner, declared that if the speeches to which the House had just listened were justified the terms of the resolution ought to be very much wider. He was not there to justify the illtreatment of seamen of any nationality, but he contested the idea that ship- owners as a body were the unscrupulous men which Mr Wilson would have the House believe. (Hear, hear.) He was not prepared to accept without proof the figures given by the hon. member. He hoped the House would wait to be assured of the real position by figures drawn from official sources before allowing natural feelings of a racial kind to influence it unduly. Board of. Trade Determination. Mr KEARLEY (Under-Secretary Board of Trade) explained that both prior to the passing of the Act of 1906 and since every considera- tion had been given by the Board of Trade to matters likely to be detrimental to recent legis- lation, and steps had been taken to gather information. He himself had made investiga- tion into the employment of Chinese in home ports, and he was informed by the marine superintendents of Lon- don and the leading outports that during the last two or three years there had undoubtedly been a growth in the employment of Chinamen in home ports. There was a general consensus of opinion among marine superintendents that recent legislation was likely to accelerate that tendency. He took exception to Mr Havelock Wilson's remarks respecting shipowners as a class, and said the experience of the Board of Trade was that a more upright, honourable body of men willing and desirous of doing the best they could to improve the lot of those they employed they had not come in contact with. He was authorised to say that the Board of Trade had no objection to an inquiry into this matter, but not by a Select Committee which would cause delay. The Board of Trade thoroughly realised their responsibility and were deter- mined to investigate the matter with a view to checking abuses which threatened to arise. Language Test Abuse. Thexlanguage test exemption, he continued, was undoubtedly being abused. Nearly every Chinaman who presented himself for employ- ment said he came from Hong Kong or Singa- pore, and demanded exemption on the ground that he was a British, subject. Any docu- mentary evidence that might prove to the con- trary had always disappeared. Quite recently a superintendent in Cardiff or Barry refused to admit six Chinamen as British subjects unless they could prove their nationality. They trooped out of the town. and in a very short time returned armed with the statutory declarations, which had been obtained presum- alby from a Commissioner on payment of the statutory fee- That gave an idea of the freedom with which the language test was being abused. Mr Kearley added that the person alluded to as advertising from Cardiff to engage Chinese was, of course, not licensed, and if the Board of Trade could obtain suffi- cient evidence he would be prosecuted. They were determined at once to require Chinamen in United Kingdom ports who claimed exemption from the language test to afford proof of their place of origin. He hoped the motion for a Select Committee would not be pressed because he was confident that the Board of Trade would be able to deal with the matter satisfactorily. Mr JOHN WARD (Lab., Stoke-on-Trent) said organised Labour in this country would strenuously resist the ousting of British labour whether in the mercantile marine or any other trade by Asiatics who were paid and fed on a lower scale than Europeans. He considered the offer of the Board of Trade very satisfactory. Mr WATSON RUTHERFORD said the in. crease of the Chinese colony at Liverpool was causing considerable anxiety. Mr FENW ICE withdrew the resolution-

Nine policemen and two civilians were required to carry Mary Dance, a negress, of Mobile, Alabama, to the police station, where she was charged with disorderly behaviour.

BACK TO THE LAND. a CARDIFF & GLAMORGANSHIRE. SMALL HOLDINGS AND ALLOTMENTS. -=-- A RUSH OF APPLICANTS. Over 2,000 Acres Already Askeel For. The inevitable reaction has come. For three generations past the trend of population has been from the land to the towns and cities, until the evils of overcrowding have become in the latter only too manifest. The whirl and rush and maddening maze of things in our big centres—a life so strenuous that only the fittest may survive—has awakened in the bosom of many the desire for ampler air and room. It is the old story, the return to the simpler life of earlier days, the doctrine which Rousseau preached to a decadent France more than a century ago. In those days the movement spread far and wide the feeling took different form in different miruLs, and some strange experiments were made. One notable example not; without interest to us along the Bristol Channel shores was the mad resolve of Robert Southey, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and their young Quaker friend Lovell, who came to Bristol about 1793 with the intention of embark- ing on a ship for America, there upon the banks of the Susquehana river to found what they were pleased to call a Pantistocracy, where they should live the simple life. It Was a Fine Ideal, hut they none of them had any capital, and there was no friendly Legislature to lend them financial aid in the shape of four-fifths of the purchase money It may be observed in passing that, in the case of Southey and Cole- ridge they both fell in love while in Bristol, and their ideals were diverted into another direc- tion. This little digression will at any rate serve to point the moral that the tendency of to-day is in a sense a repetition of what was witnessed a century ago—another example of the old truism that history repeats itself. But there is one important difference between then and now. The lapse of a century has witnessed the learn- ing of many lessons, social and economic, and to-day a wise and beneficent Government is lending State aid to the movement. The pass- ing of the Small Holdings Act of 1901 is prob- ably destined in the iuture to rank as a red letter day in the history of this country, for the advantages which it confers are many and its possibilities are such as will confer benefits not only upon those who actually take advantage of its provisions, but also upon those whom they leave behind them in the city and the town. The Small Holdings Act of 1892 was optional in every way, but the Act of 1907, which came into force at the beginning of the present year adds persuasion and Compulsion to the System. Its outstanding feature is that holdings must be provided for in every county and county borough in which there is a demand for, them. It is no longer left to the County Council or county borough to decide whether they shall provide them or not., and it is now the de- clared intention of Parliament," to quote Mr Sidney Clarke, that everything possible shall be done to create a demand for holdings and to stimulate and awaken a desire to obtain holdings in the hearts of the agricultural and. labouring classes." Under the Act a County Council may delegate its powers to Councils of boroughs 01" urban districts in the county, and a county borough may. if they deem it advis- able, appoint borough or urban district Councils to act as their agents. A small holding is defined as an agricultural holding" which exceeds one acre and cither docs not exceed 50 acres, or, if exceeding 50 acres, is at the date of sale or letting of an annual value for the purposes of income tax not exceeding £50." It will be the duty of Councils to establish a Small Holdings and Allotments Committee," consisting either wholly or in part of the mem- bers of the Council, but in the latter case the members must be in a majority. The powers conferred on Councils for the acquisition of land are important. A Council may obtain land for the purpose of providing small holdings by Purchase, Lease, .Gift, or Exchange. A purchase may be by voluntary agreement or compulsorily, and the land acquired need not necessarily be situate within the area. of the acquiring Council. If a Council proposes to sell the holdings, however, the land can only be acquired volun- tarily, but if they propose to let the small holdings land may if necessary be acquired compulsorily. It is to be noted that according to Section 33 of the new Act, where land has been hired by a Council compulsorily, and it is shown by the Council to be required by the landlord to be used for building, mining, or other industrial purposes, or for roads neces- sary therefor, it shall be lawful for the land- ^rd to resume possession of the land or part ereof upon giying to the Council 12 months' notice. H Another important feature of the Act is that a purchaser of a holding must pay not less than one-fifth of the purchase money on com- pletion and the remainder by instalments within 50 years, but of course if a purchaser desires to buy outright there is nothing to pre- vent him doing so. An applicant must culti- vate the holding himself, and may build a house upon it, but only one house must, except under certain specified conditions, be erected upon one holding. At the termination of tenancy there will be Compensation for Tenants in respect of the planting of standard and other fruit trees, fruit bushes, and the planting of strawberry plants, asparagus, rhubarb, and the other vegetable crops. A Council may pro- mote and assist societies on a co-operative basis, having for their object the provision or profitable working of small holdings. Councils may borrow money for the purchase of land, the loan being repayable over a period of 80 years. So much for the main provisions, a word or so in conclusion regarding what has been done thus far by the Cardiff County Council and the Glamorganshire County Council. Both these bodies have advertised asking those desirous of obtaining holidays, whether by purchase or lease, to communicate with them, and in both cases the number of applications which have already come in are indicative of a very widespread desire to take advantage of the provisions of the Act. In Cardiff the total amount of land applied for in small holdings totals little short of one thousand acres, the total number of applicants being between 90 and 100. In addition to this there are about 800 applicants for allotments, averaging 30 perches in size, making a total of about 150 acres. The latter will, of course, have to be near the city boundary. Though the date for making applications is over, the Corporation have decided to take applications up to the next meeting of the Parks Committee, which. it is anticipated, will deal with the matter and report to the Council at its April meeting. In the meanwhile the Glamorganshire County .Council have received between 50 and 60 applications for small holdings, and these probably average about 20 acres each, which would bring the total area of land required up to about 1,200 acres, or nearly two square miles, but the county are still receiving ap- plications, many of-the forms sent out not having yet been returned, so it is probable that the total will be largely increased. It is understood that the committee of the County Council appointed to deal with the matter wlil meet to-morrow (Thursday) to go through the applications already received.

SLEPT IN EMPTY HOUSE. A Merthyr Tragedy; James Gravell, who worked on the rail bank at Cyfarthfa, lived with his sister. The house was closed on Tuesday week Gravell's sister re- moved her belongings to the house of a neigh- bour, where there was no accommodation for her brother. The windows of the old house were taken completely out, but on Wednesday night Gravell returned there, and slept On the floor. He did the same on Thursday and con- tracted pneumonia. He worked on Friday night, and on Saturday went to the house where his sister had found shelter, and complaining of illness was seized with a fit. Dr. Flood was sent for, and Gravell was removed to the in- firmary,where he died. At the inquest on Tues- day Dr. Ward attributed death to fatty de- generation preventing the heart from sending the blood through the lungs owing to the presence of pneumonia. The disease in the lung had probably been broughton by the man sleeping in the empty house. A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was re- turned.

BRECONSHlftE AGRICULTURAL SHOW. Annual Meeting If the Society. The annual meeting of the Breconshire Agricultural Society was held on Tuesday afternoon at Breoon, Mr Councillor David Powell, J.P., Brecon, presiding. The financial statement showed that the total assets of the society amounted to JE334 12s Id, incloding a balance in hand on current account of jE59 9s 6d. The accounts were adopted on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr J. Meredith, Brecon. Mr Rees Williams, J.P., Brecon, wrote resigning his position as chairman of various committees after 44 years' service. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Rees Williams for his valuable services to the society. Mr David Powell, J.P., was elected to fill the vacancy caused by Mr Williams's resignation. It was decided that the annual exhibition of the society be held at Brecon on Wednesday, September 16th next. On the proposition of the Chairman, seconded by Dr. G. P. Francis (Mayor), it was unanimously resolved that Mr Sidney Robin- son, M.P., be asked to act as president of the society for the ensuing year: Mr James Morgan, J.P. (manager Lloyds Bank. Brecon), was appointed treasurer in the place of the late Mr Wm. de Winton. On the motion of Mr Owen Price (Nant- vrharn), a committee was appointed to watch th6 interests of the society in connection with the Veterinary Surgeons Bill, and if ncccssary to petition against the measure. Mr Price said the Bill would interfere very materially will) tht: work of the farmer.

r Anty Drudge Rests While Fels-Naptha Works. CM us Gadabout—u Well, well, wdl! To look at you one might think it was late afternoon rather than early Mon- day morning. Aren't you going to wash to-day ?" J.nly Drudge—" Wash Why, I had half my wash done before you did your hair this mornm'. And the other haIrs being done now by Fcls-Naptha soap-in that tub yonder. After I've rested awhile longer, I'Jl rub and rinse the clothes and hang them out to dry. Quick work, isn't it rU Dirt is indestructible. All the chemicals, all the boiling, all the rubbing and all the washerwomen in the world cannot destroy it. Boiling soiled clothes melts the dirt to a mush and works some of it into the weave of the cloth. That's one of the reasons white goods turn yellow after washing. It you use the ordinary soaps or wash powders, they burn or rot the fabric as well as loosen the dirt and you've got to boil and rub hard into the bargain. With Fels-Naptha it's different. Fels-Naptha injures neither dirt nor fabric. It separates them, and you rinse the dirt away. 2 Wonderfully Penetrating. For Sprains, Sore Muscles, ^jSj Backache, Rheumatism, JBH Sciatica and IBDH Stiff Joints. Price 1/1 t Of ill Chemists, m- pest tree from Wholesale Depot 31&32&t<twHUj, VJfr ^fflU London, E.C. ■ JHH with bacon for break- I aj fast- it takes away H that greasy flavour, I 1 and gives quits a new I enjoymenttotbe meat Y au cannot break T7jT) Q*JJ I) by any amount of hard wear or bending. They are made perfectly pliant and flex- ible with the Side-Spring. h allows them to give with every move- ment of the figure. There is nothmg so comfortable es they are. And they wear-wonderfully. ? They can be cleaned and then are just as good as new, for they always keep thofshape. This trade mark is on every genuine Corset. c 3M1 to 10/6 AfrgE and Stores, r—— "J.B CwjdhFarfoty, i- Gt. Aacoots Strecf, ES Manchester. mark Q AS- °-P:Co- ft || Burry Port Co-operatmr Society hold thei quarterly meeting on Saturday. Sales for the quarter, £1,172, an increase of £111, and a divi. i j con^» on share capital was de- ^°r 1907. £ 4,323, an increase of Air John Eager was elected president.