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CARMARTHENSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL.

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CARMARTHENSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL. THE SUNDAY CLOSING ACT. GRIEVANCES OF THE NET FISHERMEN. A meeting of the County Council was held at the Shire-hall, Carmarthen, on Wednesday. Mr W. O. Brigstocke presided, with Mr Gwilym Evans in the vice-chair, and there was a full attendance of members. THE SEAL. On the reading of the minutes, Mr Tregoning asked the meaning of the word" Gwernin in seal adopted by the Council. He had been told that it referred to something about-mob-law. The Clerk said he is not a good Welshman, but he understood that Gwernin was a noun, and also an adjective as a noun it meant the multitude. The Vice-chairman said he had submitted the phrase to some of the best Welsh authorities of the present day, and they had assured him for it was perfectly correct. The word meant the people "-the people as a people. He is quite ready to submit to any expert chosen by Mr Tregoning or the Clerk. Mr Tregoning he said did not object, but simply mentioned that some people outside could not understand the motto. TAXED COSTS. The Council ordered the payment of the bill of the returning officer for the county of the borough of Carmarthen, in connection with the election of County Councillors, which amounted with the taxing fee to £ 77 14s. 3d. The Clerk, in reply to a question, said that was 5s. 9d. less than the returning officer had offered to accept before taxing. RAILWAY RATES AGITATION. The Clerk read a letter from the Town Clerk of Tenby, asking the County Council to approve of the action of the County Councils of Cardigan and Pembroke, in objecting to the proposed in- crease in rates for the Great Western, Pembroke and Tenby, and Manchester and Milford Rail- way Companies. The Clerk also produced a copy of objections lodged against the new schedule by Mr Frank Impey, of Birmingham, on behalf of the County Councils of Cardigan and Pembroke. Mr W. Howell proposed a resolution approving of the action of the Council of the two neigh- bouring counties, and authorising the clerk to I lod-(,e the necessary objections as against all the railway companies which anected Carmarthen- shire In reply to Mr W. N. Jones, the Chairman said that Pembrokeshire had voted R20 aud Cardigan- shire 215 for the expenses of sustaining the objections before the authorities. Alderman Warren said he understood there was a sort of offensive and defensive alliance between the companies in the matter, and they were actuated to this increased schedule as a retort for the action taken against them as to their differential rates for the conveyance of horses, and foreign produce. he resolution was agreed to, but no sum was mentioned for expenses. REPORT OF THE MAIN ROADS COMMITTEE. The report of the Main Roads Committee which that at Carmarthen was read, in which it was stated that the committee had decided to divide the county into two divisions, with a sub- committee for each, to ask Mr John Thomas of the Llandovery District to act as clerk for the upper division, and Mr T. O. Lewis, Carmarthen, for lower division; the services of Mr B. Jones of the Three Commotts District to be dispensed with, and he to be allowed a pension in accord- ance with the provisions of the Local Govern- ment Act of 1888. The report further stated that the salaries of the two clerks were to be fixed bv the sub-committee of their respective division. The Vice-chairman objected to such power being delegated to any sub-committee. After a good deal of discussion, The Chairman suggested an amendment of the report to the effect that the salaries of the two clerks be referred to the Council with a recom- mendation from the committee.—This was agreed to. THE SALE OF THE TOLL HOUSES. The report of the Main Roads Committee referred to the fact that counsel's opinion had been taken on the question of whether the County Council had the right to sell the toll houses, which were property of the County Roads Board and which had reverted to the Council. Mr W. J. Wilson proposed that such of the toll hcuses as did not need removal for the widening of the road, should be rented to the roadman. Mr D. Stephens seconded. Mr W. Howell proposed that the Local Govern- ment Board he asked to approve of the sale of the houses, and characterised the rents of the houses as a frittering away of the property. Mr D. Rixon Morgan seconded. CUSHIONS FOR COUNCILLORS. Mr J. Bourne moved That cushions be pro- vided for the seats in the Shire Hall, for the use of the County Council, the Bar, and the Juries." He said the seats in the hall were, from their construction, the hardest he had ever known. He intended the cushions to be reserved for the use of the persons named in the resolution, and at other times kept locked up. Dr J. A. Jones seconded. Mr W. Howell moved as an amendment that the whole question of the comfort, including cushions, ventilation, heating and accoustic pro- perties of the hall be referred to the Main Roads and Public Buildings Committee. Dr. Rees seconded, and the amendment was carried. THE CUSTODY OF DOCUMENTS. Mr J. S. Tregoning moved That the Clerk I be authorised to buy a good Milner's Patent Fire-resisting Safe, at a cost not exceeding jE35 to be fixed in the Shire Hall, at Carmarthen, as a receptacle for all important books and docu- ments belonging to the County Couticil.The Clerk said that the most important of the records of the county were too large to be placed in a safe. Only a nre proof room would serve the purpose for them. The matter was referred to the M. R. and P. B. committee. THE GRIEVANCES OF THE FISHERMEN. Mr C. E. Morris (Llangunnor) moved That the council immediately take any steps necessary or conductive to obtaining such a modification of the existing by-laws as may make the annual close season for salmon and sewin in all waters within Carmarthenshire the same for nets as for rod and line, and that such close season commence on the 1st of October in each year." Mr Morris said he should have hesitated to occupy the time of the clerk and should have preferred leaving the matter in the hands of a better advocate, but that he felt the object of his motion scarcely I needed advocacy at all. He was sure the matter would commend itself to all present. Another reason for bringing it forward now was that it would give time foi its consideration by those who might be opposed to it. At present it seemed- r he did not say it actually was so-as though the interests of one class were opposed to those of another class. The landowners who must have a considerable voice on the Board of Conservators had interests of their own and they must be recognised on the other hand the tishermen had interests which were much more material inas- A. much as they concerned their bread and cheese and the maintenance of other families. He would appeal to the Landowners, those would be primary opposed to the change, on the ground of fair play. The fishermen would be satisfied if the open season was made to commence on the 1st of April and end on the 1st October. He could quite understand that a weekly close season was necessary for nets to permit the fish to get up to the upper waters, but his information was that 48 hours were too many, seeing that the fish had only some 14 or 15 miles of tideway to pass. It mnst be apparent that the present arrangements were all on one side and he hoped the Board of Conservators would see it in the light in which he presented it. He was aware that under the Local Government Act the County Council would have large powers in the matter in January next; but he wished to avoid putting forward that aspect of the case, or to use any argument like a threat. He hoped the Con- servators would take the up and use the means they now possessed to compel the attention of the Board of Trade to the matter. Mr Davies (Cenarth) seconded.—Mr T. Jenkins (Carmar- then), Alderman Edwards, Mr D. Stephens, Mr H. J. Thomas, and Mr J. Lewis supported the motion.—Mr Morris amended his resolution so as to direct that the steps to be taken under it should be a petition to the Board of Conservators, and the motion as amended was agreed to with- out dissent. THE HARDSHIPS OF PETTY J FP..ORS. Mr C. E. Morris again moved That the Council take all possible steps with a view to procuring such modification of existing laws as may decrease the special hardships caused to petty jurors by their being withdrawn from their businesses and occupations, often for more than one day, with no further compensation than the fee of Is. paid to them after service on a jury, and to obtaining for them more adequate com- pensation for such services, as in the case of special jurors and that in furtherance of the above purposes, the co-operation of the Councils of other counties be invited by the Carmarthen Council." Mr Morris said that if his last resolution required little advocacy the present required still less. He had had the painful ex- perience, when under-sheriff on more than one occasion, of having poor farmers come to him begging him to take the risk of allowing them to go home to save their hay which was being 0 spoiled through their being forced to neglect it, and he had been obliged to say that he had no power to give them leave. Then for all this loss and service there was only the payment of Is. if the man happened to be sworn on a jury, and that Is was only sometimes paid. He had known jurors who only received 9d. for their service. The petty jurors had come to town, and maintain themselves for two or three days out of this shilling when they got it. He had frequently had gentlemen coming to him and saying Mr Morris, I hope you have put me on for the special jury." Why ? Because they got a guinea for every time they served, and some- times they were on more than one. That guinea was provided by statute, but there is nothing for common jurors according to statute. He had searched back as far as Edward the First, and he found no provision for the payment of common jurors, not even the shilling. The only thing provided was that if they served upon a jury at assize they might, upon payment of a shilling, have a certificate to the effect, which would exempt them at the next assizes. In reply to an objection that his resolution was an abstract one, Mr Morris urged that the matter was one for petition. If there was any trouble involved he would take it all upon himself gratuitously (applause). He had yet to learn that the Commons of England could not petition anyone. —The motion was agreed to. ALDERMAN EDWARDS. The Chairman moved-" That inasmuch as the election of Alderman Warren to a six years' aldermanship would be contrary to the provisions of the Local Government Act, 1888, and the Municipal Corporation Act, 1882, that be and hereby is declared that Alderman Ed- wards is duly elected to fill the office vacated by the non-acceptance of office by Mr Lewis Morris. —The Vice-chairman seconded, and it was agreed to. POWERS OF COMMITTEE. Rev. W. Thomas, Whitland, moved That we desire to state distinctly that the powers delegated by us as a Council to each committee be for the transaction of the administrative and financial business of the county on our behalf and subject to the approval of the whole Council rather than absolute as many suppose and state, absolute powers being in our estimation incon- sistent with popular representation. "-Rev T. Evans, Cilycwm, seconded.—The motion was agreed to. A COUNCILLOR'S DIARY. The Clerk in compliance with notice given by the Rev W. Thomas, WhitJand, read a list of the salaries and pensions payable by the county.—Mr J. S. Tregonning moved the appointment of a small committee to put together the report giving all the information that would be desirable and useful to the councillors in the form of diary. Mr W. Howell seconded, and the amendment was carried. THE COUNTY SURVEYORS. Councillor W. N. Jones moved That the services of the county bridge surveyor be dis- pensed with and that a yearly sum be paid him by way of pension and that his duties be per- formed by the county roads surveyors."—Rev T. Evans. Cilycwm, seconded.—The Vice-chairman moved That the services of the county bridge surveyor be not dispensed with, but that the whole question of surveyors be referred to the roads committee to report upon, and to fix upon a scheme as to the best way of arranging as to the roads of the county."—Mr Powell seconded, and this amendment was carried. SUNDAY CLOSING IN WALES. Alderman James A. Jones moved-" That, in the opinion of this Council, the Sunday Closing Act has been of great benefit to the inhabitants of this county, notwithstanding the admitted defects in the Law with regard to bona fide travellers and clubs and further, this Council affirms its conviction that, provided the said defects are removed, the Act will still greatly increase the well-being of the people." Mr Mayberry seconded. Mr J. S. Tregoning moved as an amendment that in view of the appointment of the Royal Commission the Council decline to express an opinion at present. On being put to the meeting the motion was declared carried, 6 voting for the amendment. ELECTION OF ALDERMAN. Ballot papers for the election of an alderman, in the place of Alderman David Bowen (deceased), were then collected, and the chairman declared that all the papers received by him being for Mr Morgan Davies, he declared him duly elected. THE LETTING OF THE SHIRE HALLS. It was decided on the motion of Mr J. S. Tregoning that the chairman had the authority of granting the use of the Shire Hall for holding all public meetings other than those for county z, business. The proceedings then terminated.

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