Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser

HOME RULE FOR WALES A Great and Silent Movement. Proposed Central Board of County Councils. Interview with Mr. Lloyd George, M.P. — [BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT]. THE day was fine and dry, but the keen north-westerly wind made one shiver, as it swept round the corner of Chancery Lane at the Strand end of Fleet Street on Tuesday. While I stood waiting for the stream of traffic to pass, hugging myself in a winter overcoat, a cheery voice hailed me. I turned round sharply, and saw a smiling face under a battered hat. It was Mr. LLOYD GEORGE, looking none the worse for his recent experiences at Carnarvon, though his bowler bore marks of the Jingo's blows. Is that the hat ? I asked, suggestively. That's the article," replied Air. GEORGE, with a merry smile. You can see the stamp a'r ddelw' upon it still. My wife has tried to dissuade me from wearing it, but I have grown to love it. A friend in need, you know But have you lunched? I had not, so we adjourned to a con- venient A.B.C., and over a friendly cup of tea discussed the war and the prospects of peace. Then we came back-as all must do who converse with the Member for Carnarvon-to gallant little Wales. "Wbat about this federation of the Welsh County Councils ? I asked. I'm glad you spoke of it," replied Mr. GEORGE. It is one of the most important things for Wales, though Welshmen do not as yet seem to have grasped its full significance." Well, said I, "I remember that a few years ago you moved a resolution on the point in the House of Commons, and that Mr. CHAPLIN made you a sympathetic reply." Yes," exclaimed the Welsh leader, but that is not all. Sir HENRY FOWLER, who probably knows more of local government than any man on either front bench, warmly supported the idea, and pressed the Government to adopt it. You see, there is really nothing novel in the idea itself. Ample provision is made for its realisation in the Local Government Act of 1888. The mischief is that the section has never been acted upon." How do you account for that? In England the stumbling block has been the large towns which are not 'county boroughs.' The County Councils themselves were inclined to put the section in force, and form a federation, but the opposition of these large towns was so vigorous that it has remained a dead-letter to this day. And there is another thing. Municipal government attracts a better class of man to the public service in England than county government. This is not true of Wales— not because the average in boroughs is lower, but the county standard is higher, than in England." "So that in England there is no opposition to the principle of the thing ? No, far from it. Still it is difficult to j do anything in England, so we in Wales are once more going to show our neighbours the way. Our idea is to form a federation of County Councils on the model of the Central Board of Intermediate Education. Naturally, we have not gone as yet beyond the bare outlines of the scheme, but the response we have met throughout Wales has been most satisfactory." "What steps have there been taken already in the matter?" We held one meeting some time ago at Shrewsbury. It was convened by Mr. GREAVES, the lord-lieutenant of Carnarvon- shire, who is a Unionist and a strong supporter of the scheme. And we are going to hold another meeting in London next Friday, which has also been convened by fr. GREAVES. We shall probably elect a deputation to wait upon Mr. CHAPLIN after we have agreed among ourselves upon a workable proposal." And have all the Welsh County Councils joined you ?" "Nearly all. Alas! Carmarthenshire is unrepresented—I can not say why. Some of my friends are never tired of describing Carmarthen as the home of all the virtues, and the nursing ground of pure and undiluted nationalism. Yet it now lingers in the rear of a great national movement. Why ? Radnor is also unrepresented, and so is Monmouth, but that is not its fault, for through an oversight it was not invited. I believe that all the rest will be repre- sented, so that we can already claim to be thoroughly representative of Cymru Gyfan. And what powers do you propose to ask for your new Central Council ? "For my own part I am now, as always, in favour of moderation," replied Mr. GEORGE, with a twinkle in his eye. I should like to base our demand on those already advanced by the English County Councils, that is, that we should have devolved upon the new organisation moderate powers, which can be increased by-and-bye as the Council shows its worth and value, and as it gains in strength, wisdom, and experience. I am sanguine about the result. I think Mr. CHAPLIN, whose Department is already overworked, will be glad to lend a favourable ear to us, and when we rope in Monmouth and the rest, I believe we shall make a permanent addition to the national institutions of Wales. That is our crying need. We must multiply the outward and visible signs of our national unity. They will serve not only to convince others of the reality of our nationhood, but they will educate Welshmen themselves in the power and dignity of 1 Wales a Nation." And before I could ask another question, the Member for Carnarvon was gone.

COUNTY MEDICAL OFFICERS. THERE are not wanting signs that the true spirit of progress is- laying hold of the sanitary authorities in Wales. At the meet- ings of the various Councils, proposals have been made to appoint Medical OfficeVs of Health, either for one county, or a group of counties, who would devote their whole time to the duties of their office. Nothing willbe done to get rid of those numerous cases, in which the Sanitary Laws are transgressed, by those who have influence enough to prevent action by the local authorities. Deny it who can, but there are glaring cases of nuisances, which the present medical officers are afraid to condemn, and the removal of which, if they did condemn them, would not be enforced. A poor man would have short shrift in such cases. What is required is a man of good qualifications and ex- perience to act as Overseer or Bishop elf a district, the tenure of whose office would not be at the mercy of local authorities. To secure such a man, a reasonably liberal salary would be necessary, and not the beggarly sums now given and accepted in country districts. The Rev. J. DAVIBS, at the last meeting of the Aberystwyth Rural District Council, showed a progressive spirit in this matter, and, although his proposal received little support, it is to be hoped, that he and his supporters will peg away until they succeed. The discussion proved how necessary the change is, and how hollow and unreasonable is the opposi- tion. One member, for instance, suggested that the post would be an honorary one,and little advantage result. It would be no sinecure for any honest man to fill such a position. Indeed his hands would be full enough to content the public, if he exposed the flagrant evasions of the law on the part of local authorities themselves. The same speaker said, that if the suggestions of their present officers were carried out the sanitary condition of this district would be much better. Surely this is a confession of laxity of which sanitary authorities should be heartily ashamed. It is only in very urgent cases that the Medical Officer can get a hearing. The powers of the Medical Officer are more extensive, under the Sanitary Acts, than most local authorities are aware, but they dare not put them into force for fear of vindictive reprisals. The condition of some of the villages was described as being very insanitary, but nothing is done. The Sanitary Authorities will some day be made legally liable for such neglect. At present it is only conscience which can indict them, and they seem to be nearly destitute of that article. Human life is too sacred to be trifled with much longer in this manner.

——— A MUCH-NEGLECTED SUBJECT. MR. W. J. WATERHOUSE, B.A., B.Sc., (of the Tregaron County School), writes as follows: THERE can be no doubt as to the desirability and wisdom of imparting a love of good literature to an opening mind; and [it is equally beyond question that this is largely a matter of training. I am exceedingly glad that fr. MEYLER has spoken out boldly and forcibly on this subject, and that you have endeavoured to give his words the publicity they deserve. What means are to be employed to attain the wished-for end? The problem has long been with us. Have we found any methods which present even an approximate solution ? So far as I know, remedial agencies in this case are two in number libraries of good literature, and ti-airing in literature classes. Both of these methods are in use at Tregaron County School, and both labour In y under difficulties which would probably be felt in many other cases. As regards the selection of books, that is in the hands of the committee, of which all the stall are ex-officio members. It is thus possible to exclude objectionable works, .md this is looked after with great care. We thoroughly realise the importance of tl e trust committed to us. It is very plain,1 that if a child can learn at school what is to be useful to him through the whole of his career, he is equally capable of picking up at the same time what may exercise a most disastrous influence upon him. It is not enough, however, to exclude bad books it is necessary to procure good ones. Lack of funds hampers us sorely, and in all country districts the pressure of this con- dition is likely to be felt. The public requires arousing to a sense of its responsibility, and all those who endeavour to bring home this responsibility to the community at large are doing humanity a lasting service. Good literature fosters noble ideals, and moulds noble characters. For good, and for evil, man is imitative; every home bears testimony to the fact. We are the guardians of the future, the trustees of posterity. Professing to love. our children, we should eagerly place in their hands books from which we have derived high thoughts and pure pleasures, taking care in so doing not to give too solid material, iiowever good, to those who might possibly be repelled or discouraged by its difficulties. There are hundreds of pure and good children's books which are also true literature, and endless vistas of delight are open to the child who can read them. This leads me to say a word on the teaching of literature. I think it would be well if the Central Welsh Board, when considering its schedules, especially for the junior certificate, would bear more strongly in mind the comparatively slight diffusion of good and accurate English in the Principality. Let me explain what I mean. This year I have been reading part of the Tempest" with my classes. It is the most finished and ripened expression of SHAKESPEARE'S dramatic art; but it is full of allusions, and archaic words and idioms, which serve merely as pegs to hang etymologies upon, that I feel very certain that, to use an old phrase, they could not see the wood for the trees." I do not mean to disparage critical learning: I simply affirm that it is unsuited to the capacity of such children as I have to teach, and I have no reason to believe them abnormal. I will go so far as to say that Mr. CYRIL RANSOME's "Short Studies in Shakespeare's Plots" helped them to under- stand what they were about, more than all Mr. ALDIS WRIGHT'S notes. What I would suggest, is that some book or books showing the children how to see excellencies for themselves, and giving them sound ideas of the elements of literary criticism would probably in the end satisfy the Board better than the present plan, and would be far more congenial to the children themselves. Some text, or a portion of a text, with a good running commentary, and an initial or final detailed criticism would be of great value. t

NOTES AND COMMENTS. — Towyn Advancing is the subject of an interesting article by "Philip Sidney in this week's issue. Sir Lawrence Hugh Jenkins, chief justice of the High Court of Bombay, and Lady Jenkins arrived at Cardigan on Saturday evening, and were accorded an enthusiastic welcome. A report of the visit will be found in our Cardigan District Letter." Dr. Abraham Garrod Thomas, of Clytha Park, Newport, Mon., the high slieriffof Cardiganshire, has been placed on the Commission of Peace for the County of Cardigan. Dr. Thomas was born at Pant- eryrod, near Aberaeron. He studied medicine at Edinburgh and in Germany, and has for many years carried on a large practice as doctor at Newport. An inquest was held at Leamington on Wednesday week last on the body of a lad named Entwistle, aged fourteen years, who hanged himself on Monday. A fellow- servant said that the deceased told her he had read a terrible book, which kept him awake all night. A large number of "penry dreadfuls" were found in deceased's room. The deceased had naturally been of a bright and cheerful disposition. This week we/ print the first instalment of some interesting records of the County of Cardigan, ranging from the reign of Henry VIII. down to the early part of the present century. These are culled by an experienced hand from the original MS.8. at the Record Office. These chronicles of the doings of our forefathers are of the greatest value, and will whet the curiosity of the present generation in many parts of the county. Speaking at a meeting of the local governors of the Aberystwyth County School last week, Mr Owen Owen, the chief inspector, said that he was exceedingly well pleased with the marked improvement that had taken place in the organisation and work of the Aberystwyth County School, and, without in any way reflecting on the work done at other schools, he might safely say that the school's progress was more marked than any school he had yet attended. A correspondent complains that the state of the Marine Parade at Barmouth is in a very iinNitisfactory state, and expresses the hope that the Council will spare no effort to improve it before the summer, and that a more reasonable treatment will be meted to the members of the male voice choir. All the better-class visitors, he add*, find more real pleasure in listening to the strains of centuries in our old Welsh airs than to the sentimental ditties of the Magnets. ^—mibm jnwiggaaa—a————r Announcements of the scholarships exam- inations of the county schools of Aberystwyth and Tregaron are public this week. The news of the relief of Mafeking is hourly expected. Colonel Baden-Powell states the garrison can hold out until June 18th. The will of the late Evan Price-Price, of > ^lorfa Mawr, Llanon and Glandulas Alanwrda, has been proved,, the net personalty being < £ 1,968. I Mr. W. A. Dew of Bangor has been zn ejected president of the Institute of Auctioneers for the United Kingdom for the current year. In his speech at Birmingham last week Mr. Chamberlain made it quite clear that it was the intentions of the Government to annex both of the South African Republics. What is an epistle ? asked a minister in chatechising a Sunday school within a hundred miles of Aberystwyth at a recent anniversary. The better-half of an Apost.le" quickly answered a, smart little boy., who had no doubt been cramming his genders. —————— Mr. Lloyd Morgan has given notice to move for leave to introdvee a bill to provide for the payment of the expenses of jurors attending assizes and quarter sessions. If the bill bccomes law it will redress an unquestionable grievance; and one from which not a few in this district have to suffer from time to time. In view of the meeting of the Welsh parliamentary representatives on Friday, and of the fact that Mr. Chaplin has consented to receive a deputation from the county councils of Wales, the interview with Mr. Lloyd George (which we print this week) on the subject of his motion in the House of Commons the other day, viz: the extension of the powers of the county councils in the Principality, will be read with much interest. The county councils have given a very good account of themselves—at any rate in Wales—and the time has now come when, in the interests of local government, they should be invested with further and wider powers. Mr Ritchie, on Friday, received a deputa- tion of cyclists, who laid before him the grievances of cyclists against the railway companies, especially the want of accommoda- tion, irresponsibility for loss or damage, and the high rates. Mr Ritchie expressed warm sympathy with the deputation, but was afraid the existing state of the law did not empower him to take steps to remedy the evils they complained of. He thought it absurd that English companies could not do what was done by companies on the Continent and in America. The vast army of cyclists was increasing yearly, and the railways could not for ever refuse their just demands. Cyclists had votes, and could, through their representatives, introduce legislation to enforce their reasonable claims. Farmers, evidently, cannot expect much help from Mr. Balfour. His reply to Mr. Jeffreys in reference to the Bill for placing railway companies on the same footing as owners of road locomotives in respect of liability for damage caused by sparks, was not very sympathetic. While admitting that the existing exemption of railway companies was anomalous, Mr. Balfour,, when asked whether iie would afford facilities for passing the Bill, chaffingly remarked that Mr. Jeffreys would "probably be able to conjecture what fate would befall questions addressed to the Leader of the House asking for such facilities." The Government while admitting the fact that a large acreage of growing crops and plantations are annually destroyed by fires caused by sparks from railway engines, for which no compensation can be obtained by the farmers from the railway company, while road traction engines are liable for any damage caused, will not take the slightest trouble to afford an opportunity of getting through the House of Commons a very short and simple measure urgently needed in bare justice to agriculturists. Mr John Burns, M.P., delivered the first of a series of addresses on the New Imperialism and the New Imperial- ists, in Battersea Park on Sunday. In a stirring address Mr Burns pointed out the fact that many years ago, when Lord Beaconsfield was flooding the Empire with Oriental ideas, Mr Joseph Chamberlain said that unless such a spirit was severely repressed he could see no limit to the dangers which might befall this country. And what the Oracle of Highbury said in 1870 Lord Salisbury repeated on Wednesday last, when he said that England had friends nowhere and enemies everywhere, with the result that the nation, in the last resource, would have to depend upon its own fighting capacity. Anything more cowardly and contemptible he had never heaxd in his life. Continuing, Mr Burns dealt with the statements which had been put forward by certain organs in the press as to the character of the Boers and their treatment of the wounded and prisoners, statements which he held to have bee disproved in various ways. Some people were saying that after the war was over there would be a struggle with France. This he denounced as a. mad and criminal idea. He was glad that the Queen was too wise to take notice of what had appeared in a portion of the French press. At the Council of the Chamber of Agriculture last week Mr Jeffreys, M.P., in moving a resolution approving of the Highways and Bridges Act (1891) Amend- ment Bill, and expressing the hope that it would soon become law, dealt with the question of compelling railway companies to strengthen their bridges sufficiently to carry agricultural locomotives. The amendment, said Mr Jeffries, was a very short Act for the purpose of enabling county councils to meat with railway companies to strengthen old bridges under the existing line. Under the old law the county councils had no power to spend money in strengthening the bridges. Were they to spend the money the auditors would surcharge them, and not allow it to come into the account. A short Act should be passed to enable the county councils to come and not only assist in the strengthening of the bridges, but spend money for the purpose. It was a very reasonable object. Why, it might be asked, had it become necessary to strengthen bridges ? In former years they only built them of a certain height and certain strength to carry traffic of those days. The traffic had now increased largely, and they were carrying large traction and agricultural engines over the roads. At present nobody had any power to order them to alter the bridges, because they had been built under Act of Parliament.