The Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times

SMALL HOLDINGS IN MONTGOMERYSHIRE. A Surprising Hitch. Some Sparkling Personalities. At the County Council, which met in Newtown on Tuesday, Captain Mytton, the chairman, presiding, the Small Holdings' Committee submitted the following report upon their work during the past quarter:— "The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries have finally approved the scheme relating to Pendrei Farm, Caersws, and your com- mittee propose to now enter into a contract with Mr David Davies for the purchase, and they request .the County Council to authorise the raising of the necessary loan. "As mentioned in the last report, your committee applied for repayment of F-21 10s, being one-half of the costs incurred up to 31st March, 1908, and they have pleasure in reporting that this amount has been re- ceived from the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries. Your committee appointed a sub-com- mittee to consider the duties of the special officer, and they have now appointed Mr Pryce Wilson-Jones, to take up his duties on the 1st of April next, at a salary of F-100 per annum, together with travelling allow- ances, but he need not devote the whole of his time to the work. Your committee have had under their consideration several farms throughout the county which have been offered to them by various landowners. In certain cases, after consideration, these farms have been found unsuitable owing to situation, price, etc., but your committee have still under con- sideration certain properties, which they have instructed the special officer to inspect and report upon, with a view to purchase, if found suitable." THE SPECIAL OFFICER'S DUTIES. Attached to the report are the following particulars as to appointment, duties, and remuneration of specal officer under the Act:- (1.) He will be required to deal, with all correspondence, business, and matters arm- ing under the Small Holdings and Allot- ments Act. To convene and attend all meet- ings of the Small Holdings and Allotments Committee, or any sub-committee thereof, and to be responsible for the proper con- duct of the business of the committee, and keep all accounts and minutes of such meet- ings, and to keep any registers and maps required by the Act or by the Board of Agri- culture and Fisheries. (2.) To enquire as to suitable land availa- ble, to visit and inspect any land offered or suggested as suitable, and to make en- quiries as to the suitability of applicants for land, and collect and arrange such in- formation as the committee or anv sub- committee may require. (3.) To undertake the management and supervision of the small holdings and allot- ments to be established; collection of rents and instalments; the preparation of re- ports and other documents required for the -use of the Council or their officers; the lay- ing out and making of roads; the provision of water and disposal of sewage; the gen- eral adaptation of land for small holdings and allotments, and apportionment of tithe rent charges and land tax; where building is undertaken preparing plans and specifi- cations, and obtaining tenders, and super- intending the work in progress and upon completion. (4.) To prepare any necessary schemes for submission to the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries. (5.) To act generally as the estate agent for the County Council for all land to be acquired by them by purchase or lease un- der the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, and to make all valuations that may be required. (6.) To advise the committee and sub- committees generally, and make himself familiar with the Acts of Parliament and reports bearing upon small holdings and allotments. Mr Arthur Williams-Wynn, chairman of the committee, moved the adoption of the report. They would see, he said, that the Pendref farm scheme was practically com- plete, and the committee had now only to Tequest the Council to authorise the rais- ing of the necessary loan. They would also, observe that the committee had appointed a special officer, who would greatly facilitate their work, and relieve members of the committee from duties which were really be- coming more than anyone could be expected 4to perform gratuitously. They had had un- der consideration several farms and several -pieces of land, and it was hoped this might result in the acquisition of land for the satisfaction of more applicants. The pro- cess of getting some of the applicants satis- fied by voluntary arrangement with land- owners had continued satisfactorily, as before. BEHIND THE SCENES. Mr Richard Jones: Inasmuch as I was acting chairman at the last meeting of this committee, perhaps it would be advisable for me to say a word or two about the steps taken to appoint the special officer. There was a selection committee of six appointed (Captain Mytton, Messrs Addie, Grant, D. Pryce, C. W. Humphreys, and myself). We met in order to draw up a list of the duties, which you will find printed along- side of the committee's report. The ques- tion of a knowledge of Welsh came under consideration, and the committee did not consider that Welsh, though desirable, was indispensable. Although there is a great part of the county undoubtedly Welsh- speaking, they felt that if a knowledge of Welsh was,made essential it would restrict the choice, and give them very little ma- terial to choose from, and perhaps rather inferior material. While they did attach importance to a knowledge of Welsh, and said it was desirable that the applicants should know the language, they felt at the same time that a knowledge of Welsh was a poor substitute for professional skill, judgment, and tact. For that reason they were satisfied with expressing the opinion that Welsh was desirable only. The Clerk advertised the position, and we had in re- sponse about 213 applicants. After using our best judgment, we drew up a short list of four—Mr Charles Brettall, Mr Phillip Mytton (son of Captain Mytton), Mr John Roberts, Towyn, and Mr Collinson, assist- ant to Mr Forrester Addie. That was the list the selection committee sent out to all the members, but before the Small Hold- ings' Committee sat again, Mr Collinson and Mr Mytton withdrew their applications. Subsequently, on the proposition of Mr Richard Lloyd, the matter was referred back to the selection commtitee, with a view to having a larger number of gentlemen on the short list who knew Welsh. Mr Addie and Mr Grant felt that this was a reflection on the work of the selection committee, and they declined to sit afterwards. Ultimately Mr Pryce Wilson-Jones was selected to the position. The only check which the Board of Agriculture has upon the action of the Small Holdings' Committee would be this- that if they thought that an unqualified person was elected as the special officer, or an estate agent, they might refuse the ap- plication of the County Council 'for half the cost incurred in acquiring land for small holdings MR. LLOYD ON WELSHMEN. Mr Richard Lloyd: It would be rather interesting to know why Mr Richard Jones has raised this question and given us that long speech (hear, hear). The whole of the duties under the Small Holdings Act have been referred to a committee, except that of raising the money. That committee went about their duties, I suppose, in the best way they thought fit, and brought in a list of names of gentlemen they thought quali- fied to hold the position of special officer. Some of us thought differently. Out of the list brought in only one could speak Welsh, and that one resides in another county, and has since been appointed to a similar posi- tion by the Merionethshire Council. It was thought by some of us to be very important that whoever the gentleman appointed, he should understand and be able to speak the Welsh language, since some districts in Montgomeryshire are entirely Welsh. You may as well send a Frenchman as an Eng- lishman to some of those districts, and that point I raised at the committee. I thought it best to raise it then, rather than after the appointment. Mr Addie and Mr Grant thought it was a reflection on the selection committee, but when I raised the question I distinctly stated that I hoped it would not be regarded as such. Mr Jones has said that if we had confined the selection to Welsh-speakng gentlemen we might have had inferior material to choose from. I am sorry he has such a poor opinion of Wales (hear, hear). I believe we have as good men in Wales for any position—I don't care what it is-as are to be found in England. It has been proved by what Wales has pro- duced (hear hear). I think the committee did excellent work by appointing a Welsh- man, who resides in the middle of the county, and who can do far better work than a gentleman who resides outside of Montgomeryshire, and has several other ap- pointments. I don't know what Mr Jones meant in his reference to the Board of Agriculture that they might withhold part of the grant. Did that reflect upon Mr Pryce Wilson-Jones ? At any rate it was bad taste. It shows what the views of the committee were when 14 out of 19 voted for Mr Wilson-Jones, and the other five votes were divided. The County Council have, I think, reason to be proud of this election. I am proud that I was at the meeting that day, because I consider the committee would have made a very great blunder-unconsciously and unintentional- ly, no doubt-if they had appointed to this position a gentleman who did not under- stand or could not speak Welsh. I was rather at a loss to know why Mr Richard Jones raised the question. I suppose it is because Mr Jones is rather cross with his purposes, and wanted to have a hit at the appointment. I think a very excellent ap- pointment has been made, and I am sure we shall live to see that the right man has been put in the right place. Mr Addie: I am sure Mr Richard Lloyd would not misrepresent me intentionally. I never expressed one single syllable of my reason for wishing to resign from the com- mittee, neither do I wish to do so now. SOME WARM HITS. Mr Hurlbutt: We have had a very plain statement from Mr Richard Jones, and I think his reasons for bringing it up are necessary, and do him credit. It was fol- lowed by what I might call an impassioned defence from Mr Richard Lloyd. Why was defence needed ? Everybody present at the committee must understand why defence was needed. Mr Lloyd's conscience pricked him to make him bring forward a defence like that. There was a chosen committee, whose duty it was to recommend the best qualified men, and without doubt they did so. One man had most excellent testimon- ials; I did not know him before. He was a Welsh-speaking man, but I think the difficulty at the committee was not so much a Welsh-speaking man as a particular Welsh-speaking man who was wanted. That is what I objected to -so much. I have nothing to say against the candidate who has been appointed, but it was irregu- lar to see him canvassing on that day. Personally, I felt I could not stop on a committee when such things were done. The Chairman: The duties of making the appointment were entrusted to the Small Holdings Committee, and Mr Richard Lloyd is quite within his rights in stating what he did. MR. WILSON-JONES RESPONDS. Mr Wilson-Jones: It appears to me the tenour of the whole speech of Mr Jones from beginning to end is a reflection upon my ability to occupy this office (cries of "No, no"). All I have to say is that I hope, with the co-operation of the land- owners and their representatives, and also that of the Small Holdings Comittee, to be able to prove worthy of this very important post to which the majority of the committee thought fit to select me. With regard to my qualifications, if the Board of Agricul- ture thought fit to appoint me as their ar- bitrator for the county under the Small Holdings Act in the matter of disputes, surely I ought to be good enough to fill a position on behalf of the County Council. That is all I have to say. If the same generosity will be extended to me in dis- charging my duties as is given to other officials of the county, I think you will have cause to be well satisfied. I hope I shall live long enough to prove that I am quite capable of carrying out the work. I have had 20 years' experience of planning houses, of building houses, of valuing land, and selling land in this county. I am obliged to the majority for the confidence they have shown in me. MR. NEWELL'S QUALIFIED PRAISE. Mr C. J. Netaell: I see in to-day's paper that unless something is done very shortly in the matter of providing applicants with land, pressure will be brought to bear on County Councils by the Board of Agricul- ture. I don't know whether that refers to Montgomeryshire or not, but the Board is determined to put the Act in force, and carry it to a successful issue. I agree with what has been done by the Small Holdings Committee as far as they have gone. I am sure that the gentlemen on the committee who are interested in land have done what they could in this direction. At the end of that report you will find that a considerable amount of land has been given to small holders in the county, although not so much as some of us would wish. Still it is a very good start; at least I think so. I am specially glad to see that Lord Powis has divided a large farm into three holdings, and in accordance with the spirit of the Act has helped this matter forward. I am bound to believe that the landlords of this county are not obstructing us, but rather helping us. At the same time, I am bound to think that when we have appointed an officer we shall go on at a swifter rate. There are a goodly number of persons anxious to have small holdings, and I hope the committee will make every endeavour to satisfy them. A LANDLORD'S VIEW. A LANDLORD'S VIEW. Mr Rees: I would like to know from Mr Wynn whether he is satisfied with the ap- plicants from the various districts. We are anxious to make the Act a success, and if it is a failure it will be the fault of the County Councils. If we don't do our work the Agricultural Department will do it through their Commisioners. Mr Arthur Wynn: As far as I have seen, the great difficulty is this. A large number of the applicants are men who hold land already, and want a little bit adjoining. It stands to reason that to ask the Council to acquire small detatched pieces of land for the convenience of small holders which are not the property of the Council is to ask them to undertake a very risky sort of thing. Where this can be done it is most desirable, but it is extremely difficult to provide, especially where they want build- ings on a small acreage of land. There the financial difficulty comes in. A rent of only El an acre runs up to C3 with the cost of house and buildings. The difficulty is a financial one. MR. JONES' SURPRISE PACKET. Mr Richard Jones: I am afraid we have not gone into this matter as carefully as we ought. The Pendref scheme is the first we have submitted to the Board of Agricul- ture, and I am very anxious it should be a successful one from every point of view. But I have very serious misgivings about its success financially. Pendref farm, which contains about 60 acres of grass land, is let now to the present tenant for £76, and the commuted tithe is P-5 Is Id. The total of LCSI represents £ 1 9s per acre. We find that when all the outgoings are counted up, it will be necessary for us to fix a rent of £ 1J1 10s on this farm. That is about £2 14s an acre. All that we are spending in order to adapt this place for small holdings is £ 660. All the instalments of the sinking fund are charged against the rent. I shall never forget the expression of surprise on the face of my friend, Mr Ashton, when the matter came up for discussion, and when he found that we were debiting to the rents the instalments to the sinking fund, and that the County Council in 80 years became the possessors of the farms. What an ab- surd thing it was, he thought. It is absurd on the face of it. It seems to me we are acquiring property at the expense of these small holders. It is a case actually of land grabbing after a new style (laughter). I don't know what else to call it. I have been calculating that if Mr David Davies, the owner of Pendref, converted this farm into small holdings on the lines we suggest by S«enjHug £ ,660 order to adaPt he could afford by charging 5 per cent, on that outlay to let it for Y,113 10s. If no move is made m^e7th J' hbe trilate" feel inclined to Wfc t whol.e. matter be referred back to the committee. There are three courses open to us to take. They could ap- proach Mr Davies to carry out the thing himself, or we could consider the question of acquiring the place by lease, or fixing the instalments to the sinking fund on the county rate. It would not be unjust to put it on the county rate, because the, countv TS/MVI+ 1 getting a quid pro quo'. should like to hear the opinions of other gentlemen on the matter. Mr Arthur Wynn: I have listened to these remarks wth surprise, because I thought that Mr Jones was entirely with the com- mittee in the matter of Pendref. Now he finds out what I thought was patent to everyone for a long time. The landlord could afford to let the farm cheaper direct to the tenant than the tenant could get it from the County Council. That is a fact, and that is, no doubt, what is making a certain number of people disbelieve' in the Act. To place the instalments to the sink- ing fund on the county rate is distinctly a matter for the Countv nrmnr>11 -J IT SEEMED TO BE ALL HONEY." Mr Richard Lloyd: I have attended some of the meetings of the Small Holdings Com- mittee, and this is the first time I have heard that question raised by Mr Richard Jones. The Pendref scheme seemed to be Mr Jones s own scheme (laughter). At any rate, he fell in with it entirely. He raised no objection to it We now come to-day asking the Council to take steps to procure the money by loan, and now he suggest! that we take another course. I have always thought that the spirit of the Act was to get small holdings at an annual rent, and to buy farms only where we were compelled to do sb But when this scheme came be- Kn US -It SmmeT t0 be a11 honey, espec- ially with Mr Jones (laughter)—and es- pecially as the farm is situate in the middle of Caersws. He never raised one word against it until to-day. Mr Edward Powell thought that before authorising the expenditure of so large a the land, they ought to have them details of the scheme put before Mr Jones: We have got these. Mr Powell: Well, after what Mr Jones has said, I think we should hesitate before borrowing the money. Every gentleman who owns land will tell us that the reason why in this county so many small holdings have been given up, and two or three farms put into one, is in consequence of the heavy outlay upon them, not because of any diffi- culty in letting them. Small places bring three times as many applicants as large farms. We ought to be careful before launching into a big scheme of this kind. We should have a detailed report. H?mer1 Jones: Is the land abso- lutely purchased now ? Mr Lloyd: Yes. Mr Kichard Jones: No (laughter). The contract is not signed. • Mr Lloyd: The question before us to-day is the asking of power to borrow the money. Mr J. Hamer Jones: If it is not absolutely purchased, we ought to be very thankful + £ Jones for placing before us the difficulty we should be in. It is un- doubtedly a prohibitive rent if we are to ask the tenants to pay 54s an acre. I pro- pose we lay the facts before Mr David Davies, providing the farm is not absolutely purchased to see if he can help us out of the difficulty. THE COLONEL WOULD UNDO THE ACT. Colonel Pryce-Jones: I should be happy to join with Mr Jones in trying to undo the effect of this Act of the present Govern- ment (laughter). The Socialist members! would insist upon the Government of the day making the County Councils and mu- nicipal bodies the owners of the holdings, instead of letting the tenants become the proprietors of their own holdings, as was urged by me and other good Conservatives. Therefore, if Mr Jones will move a resolu- tion asking the Government to alter the Act, I will support him (laughter). Under the old Small Holdings Act—(A voice: Which was a failure)—tenants could buy their holdings. Why the Government brought in this one—(A voice: Because it was required).—I don't think it is an im- provement on the old one. It is extremely hard on tenants who are to occupy these farms, and those that come after them, that at the end of,80 years the land shall belong to the County Council, when by paying very little extra the property would be their own. Mr Pryce Wilson-Jones: If we adopt the motion, I think it would be fatal to the working of this Act. You have had a com- missioner in conjunction with the agent and also the Small Holdings Committee going over the ground, and bringing in elaborate reports, making plans and submitting them to this Council, and we agreed to adopt this scheme, and now when the committee ask for borrowing powers we are asked to recon- sider the question. If that is the way the Act is to be put in force, I doubt whether we shall make much progress. I cannot understand at the last moment this change of front. Surely, there must be something at the bottom of it. I understood the County Council was the authority from which the applicants desired to get land. I also understood that the landlords have done all in their power to satisfy applicants directly. ECONOMIC CONDITIONS DEAD AGAINST US." Mr Richard Jones: I think the Govern- ment deserve every credit for trying to check the' migration of the people to the towns from the country, but I say that al- though they have done their best, and the County Councils may administer the Act as well as they can, the results are bound to be disappointing, because the economic con- ditions are dead against us. I am afraid hopes are realised that will not be satisfied. Colonel Pryce-Jones: I quite agree. Mr Richard Jones: I move that the mat- ter be referred back to the Small Holdings Committee. Mr Arthur Wynn: After all the labour spent upon it, after the scheme has gone backwards and forwards between us and the Board of Agriculture, and after it has been approved by the Commissioners of the Board, and finally sanctioned, I cannot submit to such stultification of our work. I should be inclined to resign the chair- manship of the committee if Mr Jones' mo- tion is carried. Mr Lloyd: I am very much surprised at the proposed action to-day, because the matter has been discussed thoroughly from end to end. We have gone over the land and approved of it, and the whole thin has been completed. We have simply to come forward and ask for the money. The committee will be stultifying themselves if they agree to this motion. LET TO THE WRONG PEOPLE. Mr Jones: If this scheme goes on the Council will let the holdings, but they will not be able to let them to the persons for whom the Act was primarily intended. They will be let as accommodation land, and also for people who wish to retire. Mr Lloyd: Why not mention this at the last meeting of the Small Holdings Com- mittee, when, as vice-chairman, you were in the chair ? Although the committee's report came forward for approval, you said nothing of this, and yet you are living in that very district. Mr Ebenezer Pugh: It is rather late in the day to bring this objection forward. It is merely child's play ater the whole ques- tion has been considered for month's, and the impression in the county is that the farm is already bought. The Chairman: I think it is my duty to say a few words. I don't think Mr Richard Jones can be-blamed if he sees that lie is asking the ratepayers to enter into a scheme under which the tenants would be required to pay 54s an acre. Even in the district of Caersws that is too much to pay for land (hear, hear). He has also pointed out the matter with regard to the payments to the sinking fund. and I must say I am inclined towards his proposal that the question should be deferred. It would not be a re- flection upon the committee. At the last moment you find that the thing is not go- ing to pay, and you must think over it a little more. My advice is to accept Mr Jones' proposal. Mr Richard Rees: It would be a mon- strous thing if we cannot carry it through now. On a division, 16 voted for deferring and 17 against.

MONTGOMERY. ODDFELLOMISIIIP.-The value of Friendly Societies to the community in times of sick- ness, such as has been occasioned bv the recent trying weather, is strikingly, exem- plified at Montgomery, where the local Lodge of Oddfellows has paid out more than £ 50 in benefits to its members during the past fortnight, exclusive of the cost of medical attendance.

WELSHPOOL. DAVID JONES AND SON have a few sacks of Seed Oats for Sale. Agents for Molassine Meal etc.-31, High-street, Welshpool. IN CHRIST CHURCH.—On Sunday morning week the congregation had the Earl of Powis to read the lessons, and he did the duty well; the congregation had also the first sermon from Welshpool's Oxford D.D.—it was the Vicar's first appearance before par- ishioners in his red robes. Many clergy- men wait until they are bishops before both- ering about even an honorary "D.D." but the Vicar of Welshpool has taken his "D.D." before becoming a bishop. THE MAN WHO COUNTS.—"The man whose religion costs him dearly is the man whose life will influence Society."—The Rev David Morgan at the Welsh Independent Chapel. WHAT IS SIN ?-The unusual sight was witnessed in the Parish Church on'Sunday afternoon week of Welshpool working t-nen occupying the Corporation pew-the very next to the reading desk-while such prom- inent Anglicans as Mr Forrester Addie (Lord Powis's estate agent) and Mr R. E. Owen, M.A. (head master of the Welshpool County School), took a second seat, rubbing should- ers with a workingman brother. This spec- ial occasion was a service in connection with the Welshpool branch of the Church of England Men's Society, and Mr W. M. Ireland (hon. secretary of the branch), to- gether with a brother-warden—Captain H. M. Westby-was very noticeable in his efforts to secure a good seat for the pro- letariat. The Rev Douglas Morgan (junior curate) intoned the service, and the Vicar- wearing his "Oxford D.D." scarlet gown trimmed with black—read the lesson, which included the words, "Henceforth I call you not servants." About 20 candidates for membership filed in turn from the three front pews towards the chancel, where the Rev Grimaldi Davis addressed each one as "My brother," gave him a bronze medal, and told him to wear it in remembrance of your baptismal vow." These new mem- bers included Dr G. A. Skinner, Messrs R. E. Owen, Forrester Addie, T. F. Hiles, Sin- clair Jones, W. M. Humphreys (tailor), Edwin Gwalchmai, and E. J. Francis. Then came half an hour's sermon, rapidly deliv- ered, by the Rev J. St. Clair Mayne, of Wimslow—the Rev Norman Dodd's rector, and a friend of Mr T. A. Bennett, The Cot- tage. Mr Mayne's subject was "Sin," and his criticism of Determinism would have been particularly interesting to an audience of Lancashire workingmen, where there would probably be many more readers of Blatchford's "God and My Neighbour" and of 'The Claron' than are to be found in any Powysland congregation. The preacher mentioned these well-known publications, and discounted the importance they attach to heredity and environment. "Looking out on the world," said he, however, "we see stunted, dwarfed, miserable, mis-shapen lives, lives that have little, if any. vitality. And what is the root of it all? In many cases, in many cases it is due directly or indirectly to selfishness on the part of other people. Love is self-sacrifice, the giving up of our life, the thinking of others and living for others. And what is sinP Sin is essentially selfishness, the thinking of self and living for self."

THE HEALTH OF THE COUNTY. The Medical Officer and Tuberculosis. The following is the report of Dr Hum- phreys, Llanfair, the medica I officer of health for the county, for the quarter ended December 31st:— Vital Statistics.—From the returns sup- plied to me by the registrars of births and deaths, I find that during the three months 165 deaths were registered, giving the low death rate of 11.8 per 1,000 inhabitants. This is calculated on the population of the county at the last census.' The rate for the corresponding quarter the previous year was 14.0. This low death rate is all the more remarkable on account of the large number of deaths of persons over 70 years of age; 72, or nearly one-half of the number of deaths, were between the ages of 70 and 90. The number of births during the same period was 288, equal to an annual birth rate of 20.6 per 1,000 inhabitants. This is somewhat below the number for the corres- ponding quarter of the previous year. Infantile Mortality.—There were 20 deaths of children under twelve months old, which gives an infantile death rate of 70 per 1,000 births. This is satisfactory as compared with previous records. Tuberculosis.—There were 18 deaths from pulmonary phthisis registered. This gives a death rate of 1.2 per 1,000 population. The Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regula- tions, 1908, provide for the compulsory noti- fication of phthisis among the pauper class, whether living in poor law institutions or in their own homes. These regulations, which came in force last January, authorise local sanitary authorities to take certain measures, preventive and remedial, with the object of combating the disease. In my an- nual report I dwelt upon the importance of sanitary, authorities going a step further by adopting the voluntary notification of phthisis amongst the non-pauper patients. I strongly urge upon the Council to im- press upon local authorities the importance of adoptin gthis measure by arranging with the medical practitioners in their areas to notify the district medical officer of health cases of consumption occurring in their practice, as is done in other infectious di- seases. In order to wage a successful war against tuberculosis, one of the first steps to be taken is to locate the disease by means of the searchlight of notification. This is a matter which, apart from its humanitarian aspect, will well repay taking up. There is no malady more costly to the nation than consumption. Fifty per cent. of the con- sumptive paupers of this country are chargeable to the poor rate, not because they were poor, but because they had be- come consumptive. We are a generation behind Germany and other continental na- tions in this matter. Milk Suply.—I am glad to be able to re- port that all the sanitary authorities of the county are now taking active measures with the object of safeguarding the milk supply in their districts. Midwives' Act.—I posted circulars to the registered midwives of the county, calling their attention to section 10 of this Act, which requires that they should in the month of January in each year notify the local supervising authority their intention of carrying on the practice of midwife dur- ing the ensuing year. There are 82 women registered in this county. Of this number, 63 only have as yet sent in notifications; the remaining 19 who have not complied with the section of the Act have, therefore, rendered themselves liable to be struck off the register. As it is possible, however, that these have not realised the import- ance of the matter, I propose, with your sanction, to send them another reminder. These persons are periodically visited and inspected by the district medical officers of health, and their reports are quite satis- factory. During the time these women have been under observation there has been a marked improvement in the manner in which they carry out their duties. No com- plaints of negligence have been received. On the 1st of April, 1910, the Midwives' Act will come into full force. After that date no person will be allowed to practice for gain or to call herself a midwife without being registered under this Act. Those who wish to register after 1910 must undergo a course of three months' training and pass an elementary examination. .A large number of those now on the regis- ter are getting on in years, and there will be in the immediate future a great shortage in the supply. This is an important matter which the Council will be called upon to face, and I propose at an early date to submit a special report, and to offer suggestions as to the best way to meet the difficulty. The Sanitary Committee of the County Council have submitted this report for ap- proval, and draw special attention to the following points:— (1) Your committee view with satisfaction the present low death rate and low rate of infantile mortality in the county. (2) Tuberculosis.—They recommend that the County Council should impress upon local authorities the importance of adopt- ing the Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regu- lations, 1908, in their respective districts. (3) Midwives' Act.—They recommend that notice should be sent by the Medical Officer of Health to all midwives who have not no- tified their intention of practising, as re- quired under the Act. After the 1st April, 1910, no unregistered midwife may act, and, seeing that difficulties will arise in the fu- ture from the scarcity of midwives, your committee recommend that two young women annually should be sent to training colleges, and that a grant of E20 each be given out of the county fund subject to such conditions as the committee may approve. At the County Council meeting, on Tues- day, these recommendations were adopted, the last one being referred to the Higher Education Committee. )

Scalded to Death. Before Coroner J. T. C. Gittins and a jury, of which Mr R. George was foreman, an inquest was held at the Bradnant Farm, Llanidloes, on Tuesday afternoon week, on the body of Leslie Williams, aged three years and five months. Mrs Ann Williams, the mother, who was the first witness called, stated that at about 11 a.m. on the 9th inst. she was washing. She had put some hot water into a bath. The water was hot, but not boiling. She left her three little children in the back kitchen while she went to the spout to get some cold water to cool that in the bath. While there she heard the boy screaming. She went in at once, and saw the boy in the hands of her mother, Mrs Brown. The child was dripping wet. She immediately took off his clothes, and found he was scalded very badly. She applied linseed oil, covered him in a blanket, and sent for the doctor. The little boy died about two a.m. on Wednesday. Mrs Ruth Brown, the boy's grandmother, stated that she was in the front kitchen on the day in question, and hearing the little boy screaming in the back kitchen, she ran there, and saw him in the bath of hot water, and trying to get out. She got him out, and handed him to his mother. Dr J. Vaughan Owen stated that he was called to the Bradnant, and arrived there about two o'clock. He examined the child, and found extensive scalds reaching from the nape of the neck to the buttocks. There were also large blisters on the abdomen. He dressed the wounds, wrapped him up, and put him to bed. The jury returned a verdict of death from shock, caused by accidentally falling into a bath of hot water.

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Sudden Death of an Aberhafesp Farmer. Mr J. T. C. Gittins held an inquest at Penybank, Llanllwchaiarn, on Monday week respecting the death of Mr John Jones (68), farmer, who died there suddenly on the previous Sunday morning. Richard Henry Jones, Cefnhir, de- ceased's son, said he saw his father last a month ago. Clement Charles Jones, Penybank, another sort, who lives at home, said he used to help him out of school hours. On j Saturday last his father did not go out of the house, but was downstairs, and al-I though he did not complain, witness thought, his face looked whiter than usual. Deceased said on Saturday night, "I can't eat any, bread and butter." Then they both went' to bed about tight o'clock. Witness woke on Sunday morning about six, but did not, get up until about 7-30 a.m. His father woke about seven o'clock, and asked wit- ness for a cup of tea. He had often done that before. Witness got a cup of tea with milk in it, and took it up for his father, who was still in bed. He left the tea with him, and had his own breakfast downstairs. While having it, lie thought he heard some- one groaning outside. He went out, but could not see anyone, and then went up- stairs about 8-20 to ask his father if he was to put sticks on the fire. Witness opened the door, and asked the question. Deceased was lying on his left side, with his hand under his head, and did not answer him. He thought there was something the matter with him, and went for their neighbour, Mrs Crewe. She was not at home, so he went to Aberhafesp Church and told her, and she followed him home. She went up- stairs, and at her request lie fetched Mr Crewe from his house. The groan he heard was one short one. He thought it must have been his father. Deceased dug m the garden a week last Thursday, and was in Newtown last Tuesday. He used to get tired walking up the hill to his house. Mrs Susannah Crewe, wife of Mr George Crewe, Scafell Cottage, said she lived a field's breadth from Penybank. She had known deceased well for the last ten years. His wife died eight years ago, and since then she had often gone to the house to attend to him if he was poorly. He was ill about two years ago, and last January he i had diarrhoea. Before then he had told her I he thought his heart was bad. She had j seen him stop several times while walking up the field. On Thursday he was at her house for about two hours. He then said he was very well, and had not been so well for a long time. But on Friday, between one and two, he came and told her he was very bad. Deceased said he was very sick, and had a little pain about his heart. She gave him a little brandy to take up to his house. She followed him, and stayed two hours and gave him some brandy, and he got better. She saw him again on Friday afternoon, but not on Saturday. Deceased said if he wanted her, he would send for for. About 8-45 on Sunday morning his boy came to her at Aberhafesp Church, and she followed him to his house. On going into his room, she saw him lying in bed on his left side, with his hand under his face. She asked him twice if he was ill, but he gave no answer. She put her hand on his forehead. Deceased gave one long breath, and she heard no more. He died in a minute or two without stirring. The col- our of his face was yellowy-white, and his mouth was drawn a little to one side, and the lips purple. He was lying quietly, and the bed-clothes were undisturbed. She didn't think he ever kept any drugs in the house. Dr Shearer said he attended the deceased twice. The first time was five years ago during a long illness, and the last time about two years ago. This last time he was suffering from an attack of colic. Both times when he attended him he noticed he had a bad heart. He was of opinion from his knowledge of deceased and the evidence given that day that the cause of death was heart failure. The body was well nour- ished. A verdict of death from heart failure was returned. I

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PONTDOLGOCH. SOCIAL.-To wind up the Saron and Shiloh United Literary and Debating Society for the seaon, a most enjoyable social was held at Clatter Council School on Wednesday week. Tea was partaken of by all the mem- bers of the society and a few invited guests. The tea makers were—for the gentlemen, Mrs Jones, Henblas, and Mrs S. Morris, Clatter; for the ladies, Messrs Z, Jones, Church House, and E. Rees, junr., Maesy- pandy, assisted by a band of willing help- ers. It was surprising how tasty the gen- tlemen made the tea, all the ladies present saying it was the best tea they ever had. at? 1SrlST> ^S0 mention Mrs H. Jones and Mrs M. Pntchard for their yeoman service in handling the knives among the bread and butter and cake. After the tea a mis- cellaneous programme was gone through. bongs and duets were given by Messrs D. Jones, C. Jones, J. T. Jones. W. Jones. and li. Jones, and Miss Alderson, Pertheiryn, and Miss Evans, Penlan; recitation by Mr y Morgan, and a recitation by Mr R. Wil- liams. Gramaphone selections were given y Mr D. Jones, Garthbwt. Competition in reading at first sight, memory test, and drawing a pig with chalk, blindfolded, on the blackboard, which "created much amuse- +^e i J^so place. Votes of thanks to w6 T y teamakers were proposed by Mr W Jones, junr, Glynawel, and seconded by Mr E. L. Morris, New Shop, to the gentle- men teamakers by Miss Jones, Tanrallt, Tv/r by Miss Evans, Penlan; to Mr .Morris, New Shop, for supplying the provisions, by Mr J. T. Jones, Tanrallt, and seconded by Miss Jones, Church House; to the chairman of the evening, Mr W. Jones, senior, Glynawel, by Mr R. Williams, Red House, and seconded by Mr R. Jones, Pertheiryn; and to the secretaries of the society, Messrs R. Williams, Red House, and E. L. Morris, New Shop, by Mr E. Jones, Henblas, and seconded by Mr E. Rees, senior, Maesypandy. The following eight were elected on the committee for next winter.:—Messrs E. Rees, junr., Maesy- pandy, W. Jones, junr., Glynawel, Thomas Jones, Clatter, E. L. Morris, New Shop, E. Jones, Henblas, R. Jones, Pertheiryn, J. T. Jones, Tanrallt, and R. Williams, Red I House. The singing of "Hen Wlad fy Nhadau" closed a most enjoyable evening.

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THE Eisteddfod's Opportunity. Sir,-What I mean by this heading is, that the eisteddfod, though a mighty power in our midst for good, in many ways sadly neglects one of the noblest of all arts—the cultivation of the speaking voice. Aspir- ants after music, in all its branches, poetry, essay-writing, drawing, and painting, re- ceive valuable help and warnings, but never a word of instruction is given for the train- ing of the articulating organs, so as to de- velop intelligent and effective reading and reciting of the prose and poetic productions of our great masters. There is no satisfac- tory adjudication of this branch; the com- petitor leaves the platform as ig- norant of his or her merits or demerits as they were before; not a word has been said about grouping, emphasis, inflection, pause, pace, pitch, and force, and of drawling, mouthing, and chop- ping of the words. A voice that has not been trained to inflect and emphasise pro- perly and to pause at will can never convey the meaning to the hearers of a chapter from the Bible or a selection from some standard work, though the meaning may be clear to the mind of the reader himelf. I defy any man wrho is not master of the use of the grave and acute accent to read the first chapter of the Epistle to the He- brews, so as to extol the Son of God even above the angels, who have retained their unsullied integrity. If the wrong inflection is applied to the word "angels" the whole i meaning is destroyed, and the Son, instead of being exalted, is lowered. If the wrong inflection, again, is applied to the word "angels" in verse7 of the 2nd chapter, these holy beings are in danger of being classed among the fallen angels, and man thereby placed morally in a more degraded state than the rebel spirits that were expelled from glory, which is certainly not the teach- ing of this Epistle. If such terrible blunders are liable to be committed by the untrained speaking voice, is it not time that serious attention should be paid to so important a matter ? Why is the Bible so entirely excluded from the competitive field ? Why not offer a hand- some prize for the proper delivery, say, of the 3rd chapter of the Book of the Prophet Daniel P Here is scope enough for the orator or the dramatist to exercise his genius. To begin with, the learning thor- -I- I- ,1.1 l'a.r"t. OIT'1o --l OUgili> U1 lllib Ullitpiei uouiu DC au "r lent elocutionary drill. The chapter opens with a beautiful natural narrative; then comes the herald, which should be deliv- ered in grand monotone. This style, when mastered, is thrilling and sublime in effect. But monotone is very different from monot- ony; the latter is insipid and wearying to listen to, and is fatal to pathos, sense, and beauty. Then comes the descriptive -part- of the accusers, the angry king, and the noble bravery of the three nonconforming lads. The climax is magnificent—the con- verted king in ecstacy of joy standing on the brink of the raging furnace, commanding the release of the martyrs, the destruction of their enemies, and the universal recog nition of their God. Let this chapter be delivered in the right spirit by a cultivated speaking voice, and the effect on the audience would be unsurpassed by the finest effort of a vocalist or instrumentalist of the high- est capacity. Is not such an effect worth striving for in days when the Bible is so little regarded and read ? W. CHRISTOPHER. Llanwyddelan Rectory.

The Easter Vestries. Sir,—The meeting of the Easter Vestry is th great annual opportunity for asserting the right of parishioners to the free and equal use of their parish church, and for protesting against the in- fringement of those rights by the appropriation or letting of seats to a favoured few. Where seats are simply appropriated without payment the question may be raised in the simplest form by moving a resolution to this effect:—"That the churchwardens, as officers of the parish, be directed to make no further appropriations of seats in the church, except those held by faculty or prescription, be free and open to all." Where pews are let the churchwardens should be asked for their authority to levy pew rents. In ancient parish churches pews cannot be legally let unless under the sanction of a special Act of Parliament. Churches erected under the Church Building Act of 1818, and the subsequent amend- ing Acts are in precisely the same position as ancient parish churches unless a "scale of pew rents," as it is called, has been issued authorising the churchwardens to let a certain number of pews at specified rents. If such a document has been issued it ought to be found in the parish chest, and the churchwardens should be required to pro- duce it. If they cannot do so, or justify their action in some other way, a resolution should be proposed calling upon them to discontinue their illegal practice. All candidates for the office of churchwarden should be closely pressed as to whether they are ready to accept and te act upon the recommenda- tion of the Committee of the House of Lords on Spiritual Destitution, of 1858, as follows:—" Re- turning to the normal state ef things, where it remains unaffected by any special privilege, we have seen that the body of every parish church belongs of common right to all the parishioners;. and this right cannot lawfully be defeated by any permanent appropriation of particular places." I shall be very glad to send copies of leaflets to those who are desirous of making an effort to free I their churches, and to offer advice in cases of special difficulty. We have an excellent form of' petition to the vicar and churchwardens to b& signed by parishioners who are in favour of free- ing their parish church. It is printed in legible type on a large sheet of paper, and will be sent post free on receipt of two-pence in stamps.-I am, etc., RONALD E. BILL, Sec. Free and Open Church Association- Church House, Dean's Yard, London, S.W.

Welshpool Shares Newtown's Opinion. The opinion expressed in the following earnest statement by a Welshpool man is our opinion,, too. It is pleasing and encouraging to know that it is the same over in Welshpool as here at home. The opinion given to-day is that of Mr J. Hughes, a signalman, living at 24, Mill Place,. Welshpool. "For a considerable period I have been a sufferer from pains in my back," said Mr Hughes when speaking of his case. ,At times they got so bad that I found it difficult to get about. At night the pain tormented me so much that to get proper rest was out of the question. It was through reading of Doan's backache kidney pills that I resolved to give them a trial. Before I had taken one box of the pills I noticed, a difference. I gradually improved, until at last the pains disappeared. Now I am feeling as well and strong as I could wish, and I am sure I owe my freedom from the racking pains to my using Doan's backache kidney pills. I recommend them with confidence to other sufferers. (Signed), J, Hughes." If you suffer from gravel, backache, urinary disorders, dropsical swellings in the ankles OR limbs, rheumatism, lassitude, weakness, dizziness, cold hands and feet, or any symptom of kidney and bladder trouble, Doan's backache kidney pills- will cure you as they have cured many men and women here in our own town. Doan's backache kidney pills are two shillings and ninepence per box, or six boxes for thirteen shillings and ninepence. Of all chemists and stores, or post free, direct from Foster-MoClellan Co., 8, Wells street, Oxford-street, London, W. Be sure you get the same kind of pills as Mr Hughes had.

The anarchy prevailing in Persia is causing serious trouble on the Bussian frontier. A large foroe of Government troops is reported to have pillaged a number of villages and cofgunittw) many atrocities.