The Brecon County Times Neath Gazette and General Advertiser for the Counties of Brecon Carmarthen Radnor Monmouth Glamorgan Cardigan Montgomery Hereford

MOTOR TRAFFIC DANGERS. Breconshire County Council Debate. Proposed Speed Limit for Dangerous Places, There was a long and interesting discussion at the quarterly meeting of the Breconshire County Council on Friday last on the question of the dangers of motor traffic. It arose on a report by the Main Roads Committee, to whom the matter had been referred, on the now well-known resolution of the Brecon and Radnor Farmers' Union:— I "That we petition the authorities to take the necessary steps to prevent drivers of motor cars, &c., travelling at a dangerous speed while passing farm buildings and houses, and that all motorists should be compelled to give half the road and sound their horns when passing vehicles, equest- rians and pedestrians." The Main Roads Committee endorsed the opinion expressed by the Standing Joint Committee in their report to the Council on the 29th January last and were of opinion that the present law was effective. Mr David Powell (chairman of the com- mittee), in presenting the report, said the Main Roads Committee failed to see what they had to do with the matter. It was really a question of law, and the committee were not responsible for the speed at which motorists passed over the roads. Mr Mervyn Davies said he had been hoping that the Main Roads Committee would have found some solution of this difficulty and per- haps have suggested a speed limit. Mr David Powell: We do not consider it comes within our province at all as a Main Roads Committee. It is a Police matter, and I would rather they dealt with it. The Clerk (Mr H. F. W. Harries) pointed out that the Council had no power to make regulations as to motor traffic or to impose a speed limit. All they could do was to carry out the law as it stood and summon any person driving to the danger of the public. Any person exceeding the speed limit of 20 miles an hour fixed by Act of Parliament was liable to a penalty. The Local Government Board was the only authority who could im- pose a speed limit, and under the present law the lowest speed that body could fix was ten miles an hour. Before a speed limit could be imposed there must be an inquiry an inspector would be sent down at the cost of the County Council to hold a local inquiry, I and it would be on his report that a speed limit would be imposed if imposed at all. It must be evident, he thought, that it would be impossible to impose a speed limit for every house which was on the roadside. That was practically what the Farmers' Union asked for, and he was quite sure that they would never get the Local Government Board to grant it. And if an inspector was to go all through the county and inspect every farm- house on the roadside—(he charged three guineas a day)—the cost to the county would be very large. Mr Mervyn Davies thought the matter should be gone into further, if there was any way of doing it, for the rate at which motor cars passed buildings and through villages was extremely dangerous. This agitation was not confined to the Farmers' Union, but had spread to the general public, and the County Council, as Z5 the county authority, should make a move in some direction. If they had so little power they should make a strong appeal to the Local Government Board to use their power. The Clerk Anybody who is of opinion that a motor car, whatever its pace, is being driven to the danger of the public, can apply for a summons. Mr Davies: Would it not be possible for the Standing Joint Committee to give special instructions to the Police in this respect I The Clerk I have no doubt that if a policeman saw a man driving to the danger of the public he would take proceedings. Prof. Jos. Jones: Even if he were a member of the Standing Joint Committee. (Laughter). n DRIVERS AND DRIVERS. The Chairman (Mr Owen Price) said they all agreed that this was a terrible nuisance, but he did not think it would be possible to get a speed limit. He did not think the 5 Local Government Board would give it to Z5 C, them. The law was quite strong enough to deal with any motorist going at a fast rate, to the danger of the public. There were drivers and drivers; some were considerate in passing buildings or going through popu- lous districts, others went at a terrible rate. Mr Jno. Parry would like to support Ald. Davies, but the question was the way to do it. What speed did they consider dangerous to the public ? He assumed that the Council had no power if it was proved the speed was not greater than 20 miles an hour. Mr Davies, interposing Any man driving through a village or past a farmhouse at 20 miles an hour is driving dangerously. The Clerk emphasised the fact that even if the speed were only a mile an hour, and it was dangerous to the public, the driver was liable. Mr Jno. Parry, continuing, said he did not quite understand the resolution of the Farmers' Union. They asked ihe County Council to prevent dangerous speed, but if they put up danger signals it rested with the driver of the car whether he would pull up and on an open road he doubted whether they would have any action against him on the ground of danger to the public. As to compelling motorists to give half the road, how were they going to do that ? It seemed to him that the members of the Farmers' Union were trying to "pull the legs" of the members of that Council, because they must know the Council had no power in that matter. Then the Farmers' Union asked that motorists should sound their horns when passing traffic-Cnot approaching)—and that was to ask the motorists to make one final effort to frighten horses. (Laughter). He would like to assist the Farmers' Union be- cause they were an influential body of men who paid a large proportion of rates in the county, if they could only point out the way it could be done. The only thing he could suggest was to arrange police traps and get a few convictions; these would be reported in the motor journals and help to stop the dan- gerous driving. Mr Parry concluded by moving that the matter be referred back to the Farmers' Union for their further con- sideration (laughter) a motion which found no seconder. Mr W. S. Miller professed himself in favour of a speed limit at particular places— through Brecon, through the villages, and in .n Z5 n other dangerous places; and he contended that to say that the existing law was sufficient was not correct. When a man was killed by j a motor, they said "It has not been safe," but until he had been killed they said "It is perfectly safe." Their business was to pre- vent people being killed, and he would move that they ask for an inquiry with the purpose of having speed limits fixed for dangerous places. Prcf. Jones seconded. Mr A. A. Mitchell did not drive a car him- self, but he sat beside his driver; and he would say seriously that the farmers did not give the road as they ought, and drove to the danger of the public as much as the motorists-he did not say all of them. They did not seem to understand that motors had come to stay and they must give way to faster traffic. He opposed Mr Miller's motion partly on that ground and partly be- cause he thought an inquiry would be a very great cost to the county. The law, as Mr Harries had pointed out, was perfectly clear; for driving to the danger of the public, what- ever the speed, there was a remedy. Mr Idris Davies would like to know how many convictions there had been in the county for furious driving. The Clerk I cannot tell you the Police records would show. Mr Idris Davies I will move that the attention of the Police be called to furious driving in this county. FARMERS MAY HELP POLICE. Mr David Powell urged that tfce present was not the correct time to embark on un expensive inquiry, and suggested that it would be better to ask the Acting Chief Con- stable to instruct his men to pay particular attention to cases of furious driving, and that the Council should express a pious hope that the Farmers' Union would back up the police and give information whenever they saw a car being driven furiously. With that object he seconded Mr Idris Davies's amend- ment. Mr C. W. Woosnam supported the amendment. He thought farmers could help very considerably in a manner they did not realise. Where farms were situated close to roads, they should exercise more care in keeping their stock off the roads. With regard to the request that "motorists should be compelled to give half the road, and sound their horns when passing vehicles," he had to drive to Brecon that day and passed from 12 to 15 farmers going to market in their carts, and without a single exception they were on the centre of the road. He did not mind having to check speed to enable them to turn to the side, but it was singular ( that one had to sound one's horn half a dozen times to get them to move. He quite agreed that every precaution should be taken, and did not mind how severe the restrictions were for villages and dangerous places, but he thought some consideration should be shown on the other side by farmers and others conducting traffic. Mr J. T. Boucher asked how the present law could be said to be effective when it could only be made eft'ective at enormous expense. An inquiry with a view to reducing the speed limit at dangerous places would cost a lot of money which they could not afford. It had been said that a car could be driven to the danger of the public at one mile an hour, and surely it was ten times as dangerous at ten miles an hour and twenty times as dangerous at twenty miles an hour. The present law was not effective as it was administered in Breconshire, and he should like some stronger intimation than had been proposed to go to the Standing Joint Committee, asking them to instruct the Police to be on the watch for motorists who brofce the law and drove to the danger of the public. It was a very difficult thing for a man in charge of a restive horse to give the evidence necessary to prove that a motorist had broken the law. He felt inclined to support the motion of Mr Miller, notwith- standing the expense it could not be very tremendous. Replying to Mr D. T. Jeffreys, who asked for information as to the steps neces- sary to get a speed limit, the Clerk said they must make representation to the Local Government Board that certain places in the county were dangerous, and in their opinion a speed limit ought to be made. Then the Local Government Board would send an inspector to hold an inquiry. Mr David Powell if Crickhowell, Llan- wrthwl, Seunybridge, and Trecastle are said I to be dangerous places, you would have to have an inquiry at each place ? The Clerk Yes, and if any farm houses ¡' were mentioned, the inspector would visit each one and hold an inquiry there. Mr D, T. Jeffreys It would necessarily I entail an inquiry for every place considered dangerous in the county ? The Clerk That is so. I' A BEAUTIFUL BIT OF RED TAPE. Mr Mervyn Davies That is a beautiful 1 bit of red tape. (Laughter.) Mr Miller asked whether the matters involved would not all be dealt with at one inquiry, the inspector visiting the places in question. The C!erk replied that the inspector I would visit every place and take evidence I there. He would not bring witnesses from Ystradgynlais or the north of the county to Brecon. It had always been the custom to hold the inquiries in the localities. Mr Miller Accepting that interpretation, ¡ I agree with Aid. Davies that it is entirely red tape. Referring to Police action, Mr Miller said he believed the Police did their I

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duty as well as it could be done, but they 1 had not the necessary power at their back. At the next County Council election he expected this would be one of the questions prominently before the public. He was not playing to the public; he did not care whether he was on the County Council or not, but be felt strongly that the law did not protect the public as it ought to do. Some- times farmers might appear to be slow in getting out of the way, but they did not use rubber tires as a rule, and unless a motor horn was sounded loudly they did not hear. He had never heard of a farmer who would not be most glad to get out of the way. Mr Woosnam There would be no need to get out of the way if he kept on the proper side of the road. Mr Miller I don't think you can expect a man to drive in the ruts on the side of the road all the way from Builth to Brecon. Do you do it ? (Laughter). Mr Woosnam My instructions to my driver are most rigid, to keep on the proper side of the road. Mr D. T. Jeffreys, not being a motorist, sympathised with Mr Miller, especially as he had had to run away from motors, but he felt that there would be great difficulty in carrying out the motion. He was not satisfied that such an inquiry with regard to the whole of the dangerous spots in the county would be practicable, and very careful consideration was required before they took that step. He urged Mr Miller to consent to a reference to committee to consider the advisability of applying for a speed limit for dangerous places in the county. Mr Miller agreed, and reference to com- mittee was thereupon carried, and Mr Idris Davies withdrew bis amendment. A proposal to establish a special committee for the purpose was dropped in favour of I giving the task to the Main Roads Committee. The Clerk suggested that the Farmers' Union should be iovited to point oat places they considered dangerous and why they so regarded them. Mr Mervyn Davies I may say the Farmers' Union will be only too willing to point them oot. Mr David Poweli What about the districts where there are no farmers' anions ? Mr Davies They are all over the county.

The Windsor Magazine. I I Sundry articles of notable interest on themes from the War give real importance to the programme of the May 11 Windiior Magazine," especially as all of them Are lavishly illus- trated. The part of the Universities in the War, and their varied contributions, not only of personnel for the Forces, but of other valu- able help in different forms, are surveyed by I J. D. Symon in an article for which the authorities have contributed the principal statistics. Many interesting photographs illastrate the varied activities involved. Among articles which take us into ibn firing-line at I the Front, with much nitrating letterpress i and mauy illustrations, nta a long account of the work of the Roy si Arm Medical Corps, which contains a good of ut-w and up-to- date information nON published for the first time, by permission of the authorities, and a survey of the work ot tbe Array Chaplain in the Field by W. G. Fitz.(hratd. Uoder the title of Warrior Sportsmen," Mr E. H. D. Sewell brings down to date the record of well- known Ragby football players serving with the Forces. Prominent amoog the fiction of the number is a long, complete story of absorbing interest by Justus Miles Forman, powerfully illustrated by Maurice Greiffen-bagen, and short stories on various themes are contributed by Maxjirie Bowen, Eden Phillpotts, Rodoph de Cordova, E. M. Bryant, Theodore Goodridye Roberts, and other well-known authors. The illustra- tions to these sturies reach as high a standard of black and white work as is customary in the Windsor," and owiug to the varied nature of the themes they include effective contrasts between oomedy and tragedy, historical romanca aod modem ate. I

TO THE FRONT IN A WEEK. Three Cocks Sapper's Varied Experience. SAPPER G. CECIL PRICE (son of Mr George Price, Three Horse Shoes ?I Inn, Yelindre, Three Cocks, who a short time ago was in the Railway Clearing House at Penistone, near Sheffield, joined the Royal Engineers in November, 1914, was sent to France within a week of enlisting and is making good progress. In a letter he states that he is one of the head clerks in a batch of twelve, is in the best of spirits, and has been at least in a dozen places, at one time uncomfortably near the firing line.

LADY GLANUSK Opens British Waiters' Club. Lady Glanusk opened a club for British waiters at 58, New Compton street, Charing Cross road, London, on April 28tb. The club has been established by the British Hotel, Restaurant, and Club Employees' Society, on the committee of which are the Countess of Leicester, Lady Glanusk, Lady Mansfield Clarke, Constance Lady Wenlock, Mrs Herry Daman, Sir Lionell Darell, Mr Charles E. Machern, Mr J. L. Rolfe Mit$h§|}, and Mr W. Harrison, many of whom were present, and several of whom spoke. There are at present 300 members of the club, but this is only a beginning, and if half the hopes of the committee and the efforts of the of the committee and the efforts of the secretary, Mr George Sims, ftuctify, there will soon be a need for a more extensive house. Meanwhile, in the extremely com- fortable-looking rooms at their present p address the members may welcome their Allies, but Germans are not admitted, and are not to be. An anti-German crusade is one of the objects of the Society, of which there are patriotic members" who bind themselves against the employment of the German waiter in the future.

AN APPROPRIATE PRBSKNTATION TO CANADA'S WAR MINISTER.—Maoje General the Hon. Sam Hughes, Canadian Minister of Militia, was recently presented with the first 18 pounder shell wbich had ever been forged and finished in Canadian engineering sbopq. Mounted 00 a mahogany stand, the shell, made from Nova Scotia open hearth steel, WHS presented by Colonel Cantley. Two months ago it was not considered possible that the particular s'ieei required for the mannfastarf of thene shells could be made iu CJU«-1»I. G-O>-R*! tjogbes, however, had faith in tbe ability of Canadian steel companies to do '"0. and repeated experiments, notably Ly Caionel Cantley, the steel was made, and hVcrjthin". with the exception of the copper bö.ud, rpquired fo. the manufactnre of the shell is now being made on Cauadi&n soil.

HAY GUARDIANS. Proposed Appeal to Government re Prices. The Rev. W. E. T. Morgan presided over the fortnightly meeting of tho Hay Board of Guardians, held on Thursday, and others present were Mrs E. C. Crichton, Revs Hubert Griffith, D. D. Morgan, and Leigh Spencer, Messrs J. P. Bishop, A. Bishop, R. Breese, Charles Butcher, John Daviee, Joseph Davies, Enoch George, J. WatkeyS Jones, John Jones, Evan Meredith, W. V. j Pugh, D. F. Powell, T. Stokoe, H. Yorath, and R. T. Griffiths (clerk). In accordance with notice, Mr Stokoe moved—" That the members of the Hay Board of Guardians wish to call the atten- tion of the Government to the constantly increasing cost to the consumer of bread and other necessaries of life, which in rural districts constitutes a special hardship to the families of agricultural labourers and depend- ants of those serving with the Colours. They wish to express the opinion that so great an increase is not a national result of the present situation, there being no shortage of crops or supplies which can sufficiently account for it, and the trade routes being kept open at very little extra cost for cargo insurance. It seems evident that on the way from the pro- ducer to the consumer the cost is artificially increased by the advantage now taken by middlemen, and causes a tax on this country's need, a fact which is borne out by the enormous freightage rates now being charged. r, Z5 el and the huge profits being made by merchants, shipping companies, and also by the current balance sheet of Messrs Spiller & Bakers, reported last week. That so far as the increased cost may be due to removable causes, it urges the Government to take steps to deal with it with the least possible delay, in order to appease a feeling of resent- ment that threatens trouble in the labour ranks and is bound to prove detrimental to further recruiting, and that where it may be found impracticable to remove the causes, this Board of Guardians strongly recommends a tax ot 100 per cent. on abnormal profits, where such are clearly proved to be directly due to the War, and to be hostile to the interests of the country as a whole and of the working classes." Mr Stokoe emphasised the importance of dealing with the matter at once, but after some discussion the question was ad journed for a fortnight.

Hawkstone Otter Hunt. Owiag to the War, and so many members having military eugagewsctlil, shu Hawkstone Otter Hounds will not hant this season bat it is hoped that the club, which still exists, wil: hunt as usual when the War i3 over, and the members have returned from serving tbeif country.

THE VALUE OF FARM PROPERTY, implements and live stock in Outario is placed a 1 405,950,940 dollars. CANADIAN ATHLETES FOR THE FRONT. — MAAY well-known athletes of Ouafra have bl:;eù gazetted lieuteuanti in a list recently issued by the Canadian Militia Depirtaieut, Several bad already received their appointments and bive- departed to join their resp^ouve rejjimeuS*' They arM all in the Army Sit- vieli Corp-?. Many other Cauadiaa athletes are now taking coarses of iustraction to qualify in the aear fatore.

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