Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser

TREGAROJN WATER SUPPLY. DR. LLOYD once more called attention, in his annual report to the Rural District Council of Tregaron, to the need of a proper supply of pure water at that town. The matter has been discussed on several occasions, and more than one scheme has been mooted to remedy the defect. But, in spite of the fact that all are pretty well agreed upon the necessity of securing a better supply, nothing has been done and things are now as they were in the beginning. The Medical Officer says the matter calls for immediate atten- tion, and there can be no question that he is in a better position than anyone else to know what is actually required aftd what should be done. It has been stated over and over again that the present supply is inadequate, inconvenient, and, what is still worse, im- pure. Dr. LLOYD is by no means given to writing alarmist reports, and the ratepayers of Tregaron may rest assured that his recom- mendations are not only safe and sane but are deserving of their most serious con- siderations. Neglect and indifference may for a time travel along smooth and easy paths, but in the long run they are bound to pay a heavy tribute; and Dr. LLOYD has reasons for believing that some persons have already had to sacrifice their lives to a false economy which is satisfied with impure water. There is an abundant supply of pure water in the immediate neighbourhood of the tOivn, and all that is required to bring it within easy reach of all is a little enterprise and determination on the part of the inhabitants themselves.

7:=: AN OBJECT LESSON. A SUB-COMMITTEE of the Glasgow magistrates who have just visited Liverpool have reported very favourably upon the efforts made there to suppress drunkenness and disorder and reduce the number of public-houses; and the facts brought to light in that city should afford a striking object lesson to the country generally. In Liverpool about the year 1895 the police force was reduced by 100 men, and within the last two years the force has been again reduced by 100 men, as crime had continued to largely decrease. The head constable, in recommending the Watch Committee in January, 1900, to allow the police force to remain 100 men under strength, gave as his reasons for so doing that the continued and great diminu- tion of crime and disorder, and the very satisfactory condition of the city in these respects, justified a decrease in the strength of the police force. By adopting the recom- mendation the Watch Committee were able to reduce the year's estimate of police expen- diture by X-6,000, and should the reduction of strength remain permanent it will result in a saving to the city of about X8,000 per annum." The deputation was satisfied that the great reduction in crime and disorder was due to:-(I) The action of the police, as directed by the Watch Committee, in the better supervision of licensed premises, and in securing the more rigid enforcement of the Licensing Acts. (2) The action of the licensing justices in (a) considering the applications more thoroughly (b) consider- ing the needs of the different localities; (c) refusing to renew licences where not needed or where complaints are made; and (d) sup- porting the action of the police. (3) The action of the public, as represented at the licensing meetings by the Vigilance Com- mittee of citizens. The deputation, among other things, recommended that the Glasgow police should be asked to adopt a procedure similar to that followed by Liverpool, and (1) to visit, inspect, and report on licensed premises; (2) to issue caution notices to licensees; and (3) to warn licensees into whose premises a drunken person is seen to enter, or in which a drunken person is found. Further, they advised that at the licensing meetings the magistrates should divide the city into districts-possibly the present division of municipal wards would suffice-and should specially consider the requirements of each district, so as to ascer- tain whether the licensed premises in the different districts exceed the number which is meet and convenient. Jt is explained that the mode of inspection in force at Liverpool is by plain-clothes police officers, a sergeant and constable being :told off to accompany each other, and the same men are not called upon for such duty for more than, one month at a time.

THE EDUCATION BILL. THE opposition to the Government Educa- tion Bill grows as its various clauses become better known and their purport better understood. The Executive Committee of the Federation of School Boards of Wales and Monmouthshire, which met at Shrews- bury on Friday, decided to offer the most strenuous opposition to the Bill. In a short interview given in another column, the Rev. J. WILLIAMS, of Cardigan, gives an outline of the line of resistance that he believes the N onconformists will take. While agreeing with the principle of placing the education of the country under one authority, Mr. WILLIAMS believes that Nonconformists will take a stand against the provisions to devote the ratepayers' money to the maintenance of schools not under their control by direct representation. The Bill, naturally, creates a greater interest in England than in Wales and beyond Offa's Dyke, the Free Churches are already adopting resolutions condemning the Bill as being retrograde in more than J one respect. There is, however, a fairly general feeling in the Principality also that the attempt made in the Bill to meet the religious difficulty really tends to accentuate religious differences, which should have no place in a National system of education. There is a strong suspicion also that the Bill will deal a fatal blow to the existing school boards; and the National Education Association are preparing a mani- festo giving some startling figures to show the increased burden that will fall upon the ratepayers in addition to the existing school board rates. The additional burden en- tailed by the measure that will fall upon certain districts will be enormous. The National Union of Teachers has formulated its view of the measure in a resolution ex- pressing approval of the main principles of the Bill, under which may be created local authorities controlling and maintaining all forms of education within wide areas, and has recorded its satisfaction with the Govern- ment's desire to place our educational system on a sound basis, but the Union is of opinion that the measure cannot become educationally effective unless the permissive clauses of the Bill relating to elementary education be struck out and it be made compulsory upon the local authorities to take over the control of elementary as well as of higher education. Strong representations are already being made by leading supporters of the Government in favour of the abandon- ment of the optional element in the Bill. But, on the other hand, there appears to be the fullest determination to get the measure as a whole through the session at whatever cost.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. ..0 The Unitarians of Cardiganshire cele- brated the centenary of their church at Capel y Groes last week. The news of the death of Mrs Saunders- Davies, late of Pentre, was received at Car- digan with general regret. Colonel J. R. Howell, of Pantgwyn, has been appointed Chairman of the United Counties Hunters' Society for the ensuing year. At the meeting of the Dolgelley Rural Council on Saturday Mr. R. Jones-Griffith, solicitor, was appointed clerk in succesion to the late Mr. W. R. Davies. Lord Kimberley, who was Leader of the Liberal party in the House of Lords, died at his London residence on Tuesday, after a long illness, at the age of 76. Elsewhere we give a report of a meeting of the Aberystwyth Board of Guardians, on Monday, when the case of the late Anne Jones was again under consideration. Pend- ing legal proceedings, we must abstain from making any comment. The Carnarvon County Council having considered an appeal by Lord Penrhyn against the assessment of the Penrhyn Quarry have decided to oppose such an appeal at the quarter sessions. At a public meeting held at Lampeter on Monday evening a resolution was adopted disapproving of the decision of the Town Council to appeal against the verdict of Mr Justice Kekewich in the recent lawsuit over the water supply question. At a meeting of the Cardiff Trades Council last Thursday a resolution was passed urging the suppression of Sunday trading, and a motion submitted favouring a service of Sunday trams was lost by a large majority. The Rev Evan Evans, Dylife, Llanbryn- mair, died in a painfully sudden manner,, on Saturday evening, while on his way to a preaching engagement. He was well known throughout Montgomeryshire and North Cardiganshire. The Technical Instruction Committee of the Carmarthenshire County Council propose that a deputation of farmers and landowners shall visit Ireland to inspect and report upon the system of agricultural co-operation established in that country, with a view to the establishment of creameries and cheese factories in Carmarthenshire, At a meeting of the Welsh Patagonia. Committee at Cardiff on Monday it was de- cided to proceed at once with the transfer of Welsh colonists in Patagonia to Canada, conveying so many as the funds will allow. It was also decided to make a further appeal to the Canadian Government for material assistance. Dr. Hugh Jones, in his annual report as medical officer of health to the Dolgelley Rural District Council, expressed regret that no real progress had been made in earring out schemes to remedy various de- fective water supplies in the district. The condition of the dwelling-houses also needed improvement, notwithstanding that con- siderable progress had been made in this, direction during the year. The Birmingham City Council spent several hours on Tuesday discussing the report of the Watch Committee in the in- quiry which they were directed by the Council to make into the conduct of the police force towards the crowd on the occa- sion of the Lloyd-George riots. The report completely exonerated the Chief Constable and his principal otticers, but admitted that certain officers, whom the Committee had failed to discover, lost their heads, and of their own volition assaulted inoffensive persons. The report was discussed at great, length, and eventually carried by 38 votes to 17. Colonel Davies-Evans, the Lord Lieute- nant of the County, has convened a confer- ence to discuss a subject of very vital importance-the crusade against consump- tion. Colonel Davies Evans and Mrs. Davies-Evans, especially, are taking a deep and active interest in this question and, probably, but very few know of the good work they are doing quietly in their own immediate neighbourhood to enlighten public opinion on this matter. It is to be hoped that there will be a full and representative gathering at Lampeter, on the 25th inst. The Attorney General of the Isle of Man, speaking at Douglas, strongly condemned the Education Bill of the Imperial Govern- ment. He denounced the proposal to abolish school boards, which had done so much to raise this country educationally, and to substitute for them bodies which were not directly responsible to the ratepayers as pregnant with educational disaster, and he especially objected to the part of the Bill which, if passed, would have the effect of applying rates towards the teaching of forms of religion of which ratepayers might dis- approve. Mr G. H. Perris speaking at the Inter- national Arbitration and Peace Association at Monaco, said that the existence of great armaments, employed in upholding class in- terests in the countries possessing them, when not employed in assailing other nations was, he urged, the great evil to be dealt with. So long as they exist there will be constant danger of war, constant opportunity of making mischief, and constant temptation to use the costly and otherwise useless machinery at a strong nation's disposal; for trampling upon weaker nations. No adequate reform can ba expected until nations and individuals have the courage to dispense with violence and the appliances incident to it as means even of self-defence. The Bishop of Manchester, speaking at the annual meeting of the Diocesan Societies, said he could give the Education Bill hearty support. There was only one fatal blot upon it, and it was the clause which. made it possible for a local authority either to take on or not take on the particular voluntary schools within its area. Obviously if the propositions contained in the bill were- expedient and necessary they ought to, be. compulsory. If they were optional, then it. might be possible in some districts to prolong unjust and intolerable differences between. schools and further to continue those jealou- sies and strifes which had really been the curse of our national system ef edncation.. About eighty thousand people had assembled at Irbrox Park, Glasgow, on Saturday, to witness the football, match between England and Scotland. A few minutes after the commencement of the game a portion of one of the stands col- lapsed, and over three hundred spectators were precipitated to the- ground from a height of about forty feet. Eighteen wen killed, and nearly three hundred injured. The game was proceeded with, owing to the fact that the majority of the- spectators were in ignorance of the serious nature of the accident, and it was feared that if the gamt4 was stopped a riot might result. The stand was of comparatively recent construction having been erected within the past thred years. Mr Ritchie's Licensing Bill is being gene- rally welcomed by the friends of temperance as a step in the right direction. The tone of the discussion on the motion for the second reading on Monday was gene- rally favourable. Mr Caine and Mr Whittaker, who spoke for the tem- perance party, supported the principle of the Bill, while- expressing disappointment that a lasger measure had not been introduced. The chief attack had been made on clause four, which provides that when a drunken person is found on licensed premises, the licensed person shall be bound to prove that he and those in his employ took all reason- able steps to prevent drunkenness. Mr Ritchie stood by this clause, saying that a terrible amount of crime took place owing to persons leaving public-houses ina drunken condition. It was a very serious evil, and it was not too much to insist that publicans should do their uimost to prevent it. The black list" had also been criticised, but the Home Secretary said that it would be of great service in small towns and country places, and also in large towns. Tee drunk- ard was a pest and the enemy of society, and also of the trade," and it was right that he should be punished, and also that those serv- ing a known drunkard should be punished also. —-——— An interesting meeting of the Warwicle. shire Chamber of Agriculture was held at Warwick on Saturday, when Mr Oscar Bowen's recent paper on "The Board of Agriculture—as it is, and as it might be" was discussed. A committe which had con- sidered the paper reported that in their opinion the Board was not sufficiently re- presentative or effective in action," and that it did not adequately understand or ap- preciate the practical difficulties of farmers in carrying out its orders." They were of opinion that" a properly constituted board of agriculture would take a far more active part in organising agricultural experi- ments." They therefore endorsed Mr Bowen's suggestion that the Board be brought into closer touch with the agricul- tural community if the representative element were introduced into its construc- tion; and accordingly suggested that the Board should include one nominee of the agricultural interest from each County Counil, who would form a very useful body through which the Board of Agriculture might obtain direct information in regard to any particular locality. The Chamber adopted these suggestions, and ordered them to be forwarded to the Central and Afcaoci- ated Chambers of Agriculture.