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MERIONETHSHIRE LIBERAL ASSOCIATION.

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MERIONETHSHIRE LIBERAL ASSOCIATION. The Council of the Merionethshire Liberal Association held their annual meeting at the Assembly Rooms, Towyn, on Wednesday afternoon. The President, Mr Owen M. Edwards, M.A., Oxford, occupied the chair, and was supported by Mr Osmond Williams, M.P., Dr Roger Hughes, Bala, vice-president Mr John Parry, Bala, treasurer; Mr R. Guthrie Jones, Dolgelley, secretary. There were about eighty delegates present, and several letters apologising for absence were received. A resolution was read from the Barmouth Dis- trict complaining that no public meeting had been held after last year's conference and asking the Association to hold public meetings toelighten the people on the fiscal, temperance, and eduoation questious.-The Secretary explained the oircum. stances that prevented a public meeting being held last year.—On the proposition of Mr John Davies, seconded by Dr Hughes, it was decided to refer the resolution to the different localities urging them to hold public meetings and invite the County Member to attend.—Mr Wm. Jones, Aber- dovev, asked if it was likely that the honourable member would attend the meetings ? Mr Osmond Williams replied that he did not remember ever refusing an invitation to go anywhere (hear, hear). -The President observed that it was important that yonng speakers should be encouraged to take part in public meetings, and advised the different districts to do so,-Mr D. G. Jones, Festiniog, said the motion adapted by the meeting was carried out in several districts as public meetings had been asked for. There was more in the question than might appear at first. The arrears and quotas due from so many districts showed that there was considerable apathy and disinterestedness in the county, and he questioned whether small districts would trouble to invite their member. He thought the Association should stimulate and see that the county member did visit those districts in order to reawaken Liberal forces. — Mr J. H. Richards, Barmoutb, said the reason why the resolution had been brought forward was the apparent apathy in tke county toward the important political questions that were at present before the country. In Barmouth, and other places, the people did not know the views of their member on those questions.—Mr 0. Ð. Roberts, Dolgelley, agreed that it was necessary to enlighten the county on those burning qaestions which were understood only by a few.—Mr D. G. Jones said the Association did not realise its responsibility if it did not take action.—Mr J. H. Richards suggested that an effort should be made to obtain the service of the Welsh members, who would be present at Bala next week.—Mr Richard Griffiths complained 10 that no public meeting had been held at Festiniog. Three years ago Merioneth was at the forefront, but now it was drifting behind. He thought Mr Osmond Williams should go to every part of the county and give an account of his stewardship. -Dr. Roger Hughes having supported the intention of referring the matter to the different localities, the discussion was closed. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. ,I The treasurer submitted the financial statement which showed that last year's payments amounted to 965 17s. 8d., leaving a balance due to the bankers of about £3. The estimated expenditure for next; year was JE60. The total amount of arrears and quotas from the divisions due was £ 93 12s. 4d., but over £50 had been received. He considered their position was fairly satisfactory.- Mr Evan Jones, Bala, said the statement had been considered by the Executive Committee, and means suggested to recover the arrears and quotas.-The report was adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The President, in giving up office, thanked the association for the honour done to him during the past two years." The life and energy of the associa- tion depended on everyone taking upon his shoulders the most important and honourable tasks. -Mr Evan Jones moved the recommendation of the Executive Committee that Dr Roger Hughes should be elected president.-Dr Roger Hughes declined to accept the appointment, but eventually was persuaded to do so—Mr William Owen, Plas- weinydd, and Mr Haydn Jones, Tewyn, were nomi. nated for the vioe-presidency, but the latter with- drew his name, and Mr Owen was unanimously appointed.-On the proposition of the Rev D. Thomas, Dolgelley, seconded by Mr Onmond Wil- liams, a vote of thanks was accorded to the retiring president, who, in returning thanks, said he looked upon his yeara of office as the most important of his life.-Tbe nine representatives on the National Liberal Federation, and the three on the General Committee of the Federation were re-elected, with the addition of Dr R. D. Evans and Dr John Jones on the former, and Mr William Owen on the latter.. The 22 representatives on the Welsh National Liberal Convention and Council were also re-elected.1 THE EDUCATION ACT AND FISCAL MATTERS. On behalf of the Executive Committee, Mr John Davies (Dyffryn), moved the following resolution i. That this association, while emphatically reiterat- ing its condemnation of the Education Act, 1902, rejoices at the firm attitude of such of the county councils, an l < ther authorities, who have refused to levy rates f'.r sectarian schools over which they have no adequate control, and urge. them to adhere to this policy the association further pledgelll itself to do everything in its power to obtain amendment of the Act so that it may be in accordance with the well-pronounced public opinion of this oounty; this association calls upon its members not to vote for any candidate at any election parliamentary or local, who is not pledged to this policy-. -The President formally seconded the resolution which was carried unauimously.- Mr Evan Jones then moved the following resolution:- (I That this association re-affirms the principles of free trade in this country and condemns the proposal to depart from those principles, believing that such departure will be detrimental to the social and commercial condition of the country." In the course of his remarks Mr Jones said Wales, at any rate would not be deceived by Mr Chamberlain's proposals. -In seconding the resolution, Mr Robert Thomas, Llandderfel, said Mr Chamberlain wanted to lead the people back to an old desert. So many storms had fallen on Mr Chamberlain's head that he rose the fiscal policy as an umbrella to shelter himself, but he woule soon find that it was only a parasol (laughter and cheers).—The resolution was unani- mously carried. QTJAEBTMEN FIND FAULT. Mr Wm. WilliamsjCaegnyn, proposed a resolution in Welsh, on behalf of the Conglywal division, passed at a meeting held the previous evening, expressing the electors' disapproval of the services of Mr Osmond Williams, and calling upon the Association to move in the matter of having a representative who would be in sympathy with the aspirations and interests of labour. Mr Williams said there were about 160 electors present at the meeting, which was one of the most largely attended meetings ever held. He.complained that Mr Osmond Williams had not held public meetings in the district for three years, since the election. Mr Williams was also absent from the House when the Penrhyn question was before Parliament and Merioneth quarrymen thought that was a most important question.—Mr D. G. Jones asked the meeting to consider that question quietly to save any unpleasantness. If the resolution was not seconded as it seemed likely, let the meeting leave the matter alone for the present. He did not want to create a disturbance—(hear, hear)-but wished that the complaint from Conglywal should be fairly heard. As an Association, all the districts should co-operate. He had no doubt that after having an explanation from Mr Williams as to his political views, everybody would be satisfied (hear, hear).- Several members rose to speak, but as the proposi- tion had not been seconded they were ruled out of order.—Mr William Edwards, Tanygrinian, had an opportunity to say that the statements in certain papers to the effect that meetings were held to bring forward a Labour candidate were erroneous and misleading. No meeting had been held, and he could not say who had imagined those state- ments in the Press.—Mr William Williams said no mention of a Labour candidate had been made at the meeting already referred to.—The resolution was not seconded. SPEECH BY THE COUNTY MEMBER. Mr Osmond Williams, M.P., was then invited to opeak. He said he had intended to make a speech on the political topics of the day, but his time was occupied in dealing with the matters which had arisen at the meeting. At the outset Mr Williams apologised for being unable to speak in Wolsh. If lie'fcried to do so he would not be doing justioe to himself or to the meeting in replying in any lan- guage other than that in which he could express himself best. He was grateful to Mr Richard Griffith and Mr William Williams for speaking out in the way they had (hear, hear). He was not one of those who did not like to know the real feelings that actuated those who spoke against him and the people they represented. He was aware, and must have been aware, since the election of 1900 that there was some opposition to him as a candidate. He knew there were no feeliBgs against his per. sonal character, and knowing that he felt the gentlemen who had opposed him were doing so in the interests of the county representation and he had given expression to that sentiment before. If the accusation which had been made against him was boiled down to its logical conclusion it came to the point that he had not held sufficient public meetings at Festiniog. They must remem. ber that there had been no public meetings in Fes- tiniog for years before, but he asked them to recol- lect that he had held one or two meetings there during the election of 1900, and the following year he had what he innocently thought was a most excellent meeting, and one of the best he ever had. As to last year, Parliament had sat from October 16th until December, and it was bis duty to be there and look after their interests, and it was almost impossible for him to have held a meeting. This year he had been in the House of Commons until August 15th, but since then he admitted that he had only spoken once at a public meeting, and that was at Bala last week. The reason why he had not spoken more was that he thought it would be wrong of him to hold a public meeting before giving an account of his stewardship to the Associa- tion. He had been told that it was a great mistake to hold public meetings in the constituency before he had accounted for himself to the county associa- tion. He was also told it was a bad policy to hold meetings at a time of the year when the days were long for there was no inducement for the people to come and hear speeches. Speaking to them as a man to man, he would point out that Merionetlrjwaa a large county and had tremendous different industries and interests, and it was very difficult to go from place to place. The only plaoe he had not yet spoken at however, was Towyn. It was for the districts to ask him to hold public meetings (hear, hear). He could not be expected to write to each place asking the people to meet him. He had always accepted invitations, and would be glad to do so (sheers). He did not think there was a single instance in which he had refused to speak. He looked upon their requests and com- plaints as compliments to himself. Another com- plaint was that he did not obtain the services of great parliamentarians as the late Mr Tom Ellis used to. Mr Ellis had brought down men who were now Ministers of the Crown, but at the time they were only backbenchers," belonging to the rank and file of the party. It was a difficult thing to get a Minister of the Crown to come and speak. He had implored some of his honourable friends to come, but they could not because so many other constituencies were requiring their seirices more (urgently. It would be a great com- pliment to him personally, if they did come, and he had done his utmost in persuading them, but in vain. He would have been delighted to bring down some of his friends on the back benches, one of whom he particularly mentioned. He referred to Mr John Burns, MP., for Battersea —(cheers)—who was one of the ablest men in the House, and he (Mr Williams) was proud to regard him as one of his personal friends. He had invited Mr Burns to come and spend at his place a week fishing, of which he was so fond. John Burns replied: Is it only fishing P (laughter). I promise to come if you do not take me to any public meetings (renewed laughter). He (Mr Williams) said he could not promise that, and Mr Burns would not come. He had invited the six members of Parliament, who were to take part in next week's ceremony at Bala, to be his guests, but as yet he had only received two replies. He sincerely hoped they would all accept the invitations, and he would do his utmost to get them to speak to the different localities (che«rs).—Mr Rd. Griffiths said he wa.s satisfied with Mr Williams' explanations as far as they went, but he was under the impression that last year's meeting at Festiniog was a confer- ence.—Dr R. D. Evans said he was chairman of that meeting which had been announced as a public one (loud applause).—Mr Osmond Williams, having thanked Mr Evans for his statement, proceeded to say that he was labouring under the disadvantage of succeeding such excellent men as the President and the late Mr Tom Ellis, the latter being one of the best and noblest representatives of any county in Wales or England (cheers). It was rather hard that they should expect him, after taking to politics in middle life, to be equal to Mr Tom Ellis. More than his best he could not do (hear, hear). They could not, however, expect to find Lloyd George's and Tom Ellis's growing on blackberry bushes (chesrs). Referring to the Penrhyn question, be said he had tried to obtain the feelings of the quarry men at Festiniog on the point. He was no employer of labour and his feelings were with the labourer—(hear, heal-)- and he had shown that in regard to leaseholds the workmen had bought on his estate. He admitted he had not gone into the Penrhyn question until it became a political one. It was a question which really did not interest him, but he had been anxious to know the feelinga and opinions of the quarrymen at Festiniog, and from what he had found those feelfngs varied very much. He thought he would leave the question alone until he received a oommand or desire from the constituency. As to the assertion that be was not present in the House when the question was discussed, he denied that and said he voted for the Opposition and supported Mr Asquith (cheers). He would have done the same with Mr Wm. Jones's private Bill only that he was ill in bed at the time. With regard to labour questions generally, he said that, as far as he bad been able to understand the requirements and aspirations of labour men, they were identical with those of the Liberals, except, as his friend Mr Will Crooks had said, they were grouped apart from any party. He (Mr Williams) was not a man of that sort, because he supported the Liberal party (cheers). He did not think Merioneth was yet ready for a Labour candidate who would keep himself from the Liberals (applause).— Mr Hugh Jones, ohemist, did not think Mr Wil- liams's explanation would satisfy the quarrymen in regard to the Penrhyn question.—Mr Williams re- plied that when the question was made a national one and Mr Asquith brought it forward as part of the Liberal faith he had supported it.—Mr Hugh Jones I am quite satisfied with that (cheers).— Mr R. Griffiths asked if Mr Osmond Williams was prepared to support labour questions when Liberal principles were not involved ?—Mr Williams re- plied that he had been elected as a Liberal candi- date. Liberals and Labour were distinct, so far as the latter grouped itself apart.—In reply to a further question by Mr Griffith, Mr Williams said he was not opposed to labour principles. He had always supported his labour friends when they brought anything forward (cheers).-A delegate asked if Mr Griffith made any difference between Liberal and Labour principles ?—Before an answer was given, several delegates asked Mr Williams to conclude his speech with his views on the fiscal policy as many were anxious to leave.—Dealing with that question, Mr Williams then said that Mr Chamberlain's policy was nothing more or less than a red herring thrown across the path of the nation to divert its attention from the many criminal blunders which the Government had been guilty of (cheers). Mr Arthur Chamber- lain had described his brother's policy as a raging, tearing propaganda — (laughter) — while an American statesman had said that Protection was founded on the one idea that it was possible to do business at a loss. Mr Chamberlain bad said the new policy would benefit agriculture, but in his opinion farmers would benefit not in the slightest degree. Protection, as it was intended, would benefit, and make those people richer who were already rich. How could the farmers of this county expect to benefit? (hear, hear). The first advantage would go to the Colonies after having preferential tariffs to develop their virgin soil. There would be a rise in the price of food, and rise in wages, Mr Chamberlain said, but did not farmers think that there would be a rise in rents ? Owners of land would get the benefit in the long run. Another point was that this country was differently situated to any other country in the world. What might be successful and facilitate trade in other countries with their ample resources, would simply ruin England. They were faced with the appalling fact that in this island there were forty million inhabitants with only a capacity of feeding about one-tenth of them. If Mr Cham- berlain's policy was not checked it woald mean starving and reducing the people of this country to beg (cheers). Iu conclusion Mr Williams asked that the Association should move a vote of con. fidence in him, and hoped he would be able to explain his views further in the different localities. -Dr. Roger Hughes then proposed a vote of con- fidence in Mr Osmond Williams, which was seconded by the President, and carried unanimously.

♦—■—— WREXHAM HORSE SALES.

-....» ST. DAVID'S COLLEGE,…

♦ THE MONTGOMERYSHIRE CONCORDAT.

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