The Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times

HOW THE TORIES WON. CERTAIN facts have transpired to explain why Liberals failed to hold the Boroughs' seat. Under ordinary circumstances, and in a square fight between party principles, Mr Humphreys-Owen, or any other suitable Liberal candidate, would have wen easily. That is no mere assertipn. It is a state- ment founded upon the unquestionable fact that the constituency is at heart Liberal. Then why have the Liberals lost? There are three outstanding reasons. Other people may multiply them according to their observation or information, but these three reasons are beyond challenge. Firstly, the Conservatives never before made a more desperate effort. They were never so efficiently organised. Seldom, if ever, did the rank and file of the party strive for victory with greater zeal and untiring enthusiasm. An almost unnatural determination seemed to consume them. It was the effort of a desperate party fight- ing for the last time. Upon the doubtful voters they concentrated constant attention, and concerning this part of their propa- ganda, interesting tales will be told in a future history of local electioneering. Secondly, the influential position of the Conservative candidate as a large employer of labour, not only secured the support and active assistance of his own employees-no other candidate could have commanded that invaluable help-but also that of others indirectly industrially related. That cir- cumstance made Colonel Pryce-Jones the only possible champion of Borough Tory- ism. All this is the good fortune of the Conservative party in these Boroughs, and it represented a stiff handicap against Liberalism. But the third reason supplies the truest explanation of the Tory victory. What undoubtedly contributed most to the Conservative success was the number of flabby Liberals who voted for the other side, either out of sympathy for the old member, or for other reasons equally un- worthy their political creed. That fact is established by the confession of some and the perfectly significant attitude of others. The consciousness of a Liberal majority having been already secured in the country lent force to the "sympathetic" plea which formed one of a combination of purely per- sonal appeals, regarding which, also, several stories, unique in the history of political canvassing, may be related. Personal poli- tics are legitimate enough as the resort of a desperate party, but that they should have overcome the allegiance of particular Liberals is a pitiful reflection. Correspond- ents in three of the Boroughs have informed us of Liberals, who, upon their own con- fession, voted Tory out of sympathy." There is no room in Liberalism for men so flabbily principled. Liberalism and Non- conformity do not value such unconscion- able disloyalists. Who 'could imagine a Tory being won over to the other side by a mere personal supplication ? Such political weaklings, it must be sadly admitted, are only to be found among Liberals and Nonconformists. And if in- quiry were made, it would be discovered, as a correspondent remarks in to-day's Express,' that their religion, like their politics, is of a commercial kind." What stood out splendidly in this contest was the manly, dignified, high principled conduct of Mr Humphreys-Owen, who sunk self and all semblance of personal aggran- disement, in the great causes which he so ably advocated. That lofty attitude and fine personal bearing have won him a reputa- tion worthily befitting the son of an honoured sire. To lose in his first effort by but fifty-four votes, and that only after a few brief weeks before the public, against a popular personality and a big employer of labour against all the powerful forces of Toryism organised to their uttermost extent, and against the adverse circumstances created by the political somersault of the late member is by no means discouraging. Should there be yet another contest in these Boroughs ere they are extinguished by an inevitable Redistribution Act, Liberals will gladly take the field again under Mr Hum- phreys-Owen, tin a state of organisation calculated to secure the conditions of a straighter fight. This election has not been without many useful object lessons, and these will not be lost upon the Liberal party.

A SUBJECT FOR INQUIRY. At the County Council, on Monday, Mr C. J. Newell made a somewhat startling statement, which reflects upon the heads of the police. According to his presentation the decision of the Standing Joint Committee to advertise for tenders for police clothing was not complied with. It seems incredible that the contract should first be given to a London tailor and then tenders asked of local tradesmen. Yet that is Mr Newell's charge, and he describes it as a disgrace- ful piece of conduct." The Chairman of the Police Committee says he was satisfied that the resolution regarding contracts had been observed, but if Mr Newell's statement is accurate, such has not been the case. Cer- tainly the matter cannot rest where it is, and those members of the Committee who are directly responsible to the ratepayers must feel it to be their duty to cause inquiry. This is not a question of buying in the cheapest market." The point is, did the police officials faithfully fulfil instruc- tions, and if not, why not ? THE CRUSADE AGAINST CONSUMP- TION. With a whole-hearted devotion, that can be adequately realised only by those who witness the stupendous amount of hard work it represents, our County Member is prosecuting the King Edward Memorial project towards the grand success which it has courted from the start. Apart from the innumerable meetings which he has ad- dressed in all parts of the Principality by way of awakening public enthusiasm and syn'pathy 'for this great national crusade against consumption, the necessary organisa- tion has involved untold personal sacrifice, such as is possible only in one whose heart overflows with a passionate interest in the well-being of his fellows. The fact that during the last ten years no fewer than 40,000 lives have been lost in Wales by the scourge of consumption is surely sufficient to rouse all classes of Welshmen to an intense appreciation of the beneficent pur- poses of this movement. Every man and woman in the Principality ought to feel it a real pleasure to assist, as means afford, in the achievement of an object conceived of human happiness and national pros perity. An opportunity will be afforded all to subscribe, and we are confident that Montgomeryshire people' will respond to the appeal right heartily. A BIG SCHEME. For the erection of a county asylum and the amalgamation of Poor-law Unions, Alderman David Hamer has submitted a scheme which is at least worthy of serious consideration. As to its practicability, we cannot possibly offer an opinion. Expert knowledge must determine that. But the conception does its author credit. The con- ference which has been called to consider the project is probably the best means of adjudicating upon the idea. Mr Hamer advanced a series of propositions seemingly feasible, and the only criticism, which came from Mr Dugdale, at the Council meeting, did not attempt any practical analysis. Mr Dugdale was more concerned with the wish to prove the indifference of the Liberal majority towards the provision of small holdings by this proposal to appropriate land purchased for that purpose. The county is confronted with the obligation to provide an asylum of its own at the cheapest possible cost commensurate with efficiency, and if, as Mr Hamer contends, thousands of pounds can be saved on this undertaking by the adoption of his scheme, the rate- payers will not attach much respect to Mr Dugdale's technical objection, inspired, as it obviously is, by the desire to make party capital. A conference between the Council and the Poor-law authorities will judge of the scheme upon its merits. AN OBVIOUS MISAPPREHENSION. It cannot be too prominently pointed out that the movement in the County Council to review the recent appointment of County Clerk is inspired by no objection to Mr G. R. D. Harrison, who admittedly possesses all the essential qualifications for the posi- tion. Mr Edward Powell has had to re- peatedly mal" this clear, because of un. warranted inc uatif)ns to the contrary. Nor against Mr Harrison's selection by the Standing Joint Committee as Council Clerk and Clerk of the Peace, can any protest be JMude. These appointments are legally, though unwisely, vested in. the Police Com- mittee, who, however, claim the additional right of selecting the Clerk to the Local Taxation Authority and the Finance Clerk to the County Council, simply because these offices were held by the former County Clerk. These were offices created by the Council, who had it in their power to appoint any one or two gentlemen of their own choice, as other Councils have done. To such offices the Council attached specific salaries, and nothing can be clearer than that those salaries were paid for work absolutely distinct from the duties performed by the dark of the Peace. We are inclined to agree with Mr Powell that the Home Secre- tary has misunderstood the circumstances, and, holding that opinion, the Council have done well to again memorialise him on the subject. In itself the Standing Joint Com- mittee, as a non-elective body, is not con- sistent with self-government, but to tolerate its usurpation of the authority of the County Council is unthinkable. SHADES OF WELSHPOOL Tell it not in Welshpool The Llandrin- dod local authority has actually declined the offer of the Montgomeryshire Imperial Yeomanry to favour the Radnorshire spa with their camp next summer. Why should this favour go a-begging, while Welshpool holds out its open arms and pleads tear- fully for the restoration of its miltary pres- tige, which would be the crowning con- sumation of its ambition ? Llandrindod, like other places, is not so enamoured as Welshpool of the local material benefits that accrue from housing the military, but then, oh, what unpatriotism One can almost hear a hysterical shriek from Powys- land over this degeneracy of our race. 126. At the third time of asking, when the political pendulum might have been ex- pected to swing round, the Liberal Gov- ernment has gone back to power with a slightly increased majority. The various parties are thus seen at a glance:— Britain. Ireland. Liberal 271 1 Labour 42 0 Nationalist 1 83 Conservative 253 19 567 103 People's Majority 61 65 The Government majority stands at 126. Leaving out Ireland altogether, it amounts to 61, and, without the Labour party, 18. Here. we have a majority greater than that of the composite party over whom Lord Salisbury reigned for six years. Yet it counts for nothing, says Mr Balfour, in his defeat and disaster. A straight fight-ad- mitted by Colonel Pryce-Jones-has re- sulted in an overwhelming verdict against the Peers, who demanded it. Having passed the Budget to the order of an elec- toral mandate, they said to Mr Asquith, "You have no authority for dealing with the Veto." Very good," replied the Prime Minister, >" since you repudiate my right to proceed, I shall accept your challenge, and take specific instructions from the people." The people have pronounced, and not all the autocratic insolence of the Tory leader will turn aside the affect of that pro nouncement. Those very men who talk of the danger of revolution and anarchy would fain foment it. But there will be no revolution. A free, demo- cratic nation has declared for the legislative supremacy of its representative House, and neither King nor Peer can dare to thwart the. inevitable. INTERESTING TO FARMERS. We would summon the attention of our agricultural readers to a new method which is being practiced by English farmers by way of bringing their fat cattle to that con- dition of perfection demanded by very ex- acting requirements of London buyers at the Christmas season. It is a system of massage, done several times a day. The animals are brushed and rubbed with the energy which a groom employs on a show horse, and the results are said to be as- tonishing. The coats of the cattle become satiny, and suggestive of the highest state of health. Muscles so swell under the pro- cess of rubbing that the hollows are filled up, and the animals are made firm to touch —a mode of judgment on which dealers and butchers much rely. We read that the in- crease in price following such treatment has more than justfied the trouble expended. Passive exercise," as one of the originators of the method says, is substituted for ac- tive, with equal advantage to the increase in weight and improvement in the health of the stock. Here is, at least, a "practical" idea, which the farmers in Montgomeryshire might feel disposed to adopt without any qualms of having been converted to the scientific."

Newtown Annual Eisteddfod. This annual gathering, which is looked upon as one of the chief musical events of the year will take place on Monday next in the Victoria Hall, Newtown. The committee have been for- tunate in securing the services of two most capable gentlemen to fill the presidential chairs —the Rev Canon Woosnam. Aberbafesp, in the afternoon, and Mr Edward Jones, Maecmawr Hall, in the evening. Mr Emlyn Davies, A.R.C.M., the Welsh baritone, has been secured as musical adjudicator, and from what we have seen and heard of him, he is sure to be a great help to those competitors (winners and losers) who will appear before him. Mr Da vies is also to render songs at each of tho meetings. The entries for the musical items close on Tuesday, December 27th but the entries already to hand ensure a grand musical treat, fully up to the high standard which haa been maintained at this Eisteddfod in past years. The entries for the literary com- petitions are also very numerous, no less than 13 compositions having been received for the chief essay, which is the largest number received in this competition for very many years past. The needlework also promises to be of a high order, and the ladies comprising this committee are to be complimented on the varied selection of the competitions. The art department will also be very attractive. The committee have worked most energetically to make the programme attractive, and all lovers of music will certainly be well repaid for their attendance. Mr Pryce Wilson-Jones will again act in the capacity of conductor. Mr J. A. Jones is the chairman of the Executive Committee, with Mr W.'E. Gordon as secretary. We feel sure that this Eisteddfod, like those which have preceded it, will be attended with the success which it deserves. The meeting commences in the afternoon at two o'clock, and the evening meeting at six o'clock, and the prices of admission will be as usual, the popular ones of two shillings and one shilling for one or both meetings.

Welsh Amateur Cup. The draw for the third round of the Welsh Amateur Cup took place at Wrexham on Wednes- day night, with the following result:—Carnarvon v. Bangor; Mold v. Buckley Engineers; Brymbo Victoria v. Gwersyllt Rangers; Rhos Rangers or Rusbon v. Summerhill; Bartnouth or Dolgelly v. Aberystwyth; 7ih Royal Welsh Fusiliers (New- town) v. UantyHin; Llanidloes v. Llandrindod Wells or Llanfaes Ironbridge or Chirk v. Johns- town. Ties are to be played on January 14th on the ground of the first-named club in each instance.

GREAT SCHEME FOR THE COUNTY. To call attention to (1) the recent pur- chase of LIwynybrain and Henfryn farms for the purpose of small holdings, (2) the provision of a new county lunatic asylum, and (3) the impending break-up of the poor- law and the utilisation of the present work- houses and to move that a county con- ference-to consist of all the members of the County Council, together with the sev- eral Boards of Guardians-be convened at the earliest possible date, for the purpose of djiscussing the above subjects and their relation to each other. This motion stood in the name of Mr David Hamer on the agenda of business for the meeting of the County Council at Welshpool on Monday. Mr Richard Jones (the vice-chairman) presided, and there were present Colonel E. Pryce-Jones, M.P., Messrs R. Rees, J. Marshall Dugdale, W. Forrester Addie, Edward Powell, A. W. Williams-Wynn, P. Hurl butt, Charles Shuker, A. Vaughan, John Pugh, J. W. Poundley, F. Langford, W. P. J mes, Charles Lewis, Edward Ed- wards, GJffith Owen, E. Parry, J. Pughe Evans, E.,S. Perrott, F. G. Howarth, David Jones, E. H. Roberts, C. J. Newell, John Edwards, Maurice Evans, J. Davies, J. LI. Peate, David Price, C. W. Humphreys,4 Robert Griffiths, Stephen Breeze, John Rees, J. B. Willans, E. R. Owen, J. Hamer Jones, David Hamer, and Richard Lloyd, with Messrs G. R. D. Harrisor^ (clerk), *W. G. Maddox (assistant clerk), G. A. Hutchins (county surveyor), P. Wilson-Jones (small holdings officer), R. S. Forbes (director of agriculture), W. J. Holland (chief consta- ble), Dr Humphreys (county medical offi- cer), and D. Hamer (inspector of foods and drugs and weights and measures). Mr Hamer first dealt with the purchase of Llwynwbrain and Henfryn farms. Per- mit me to say, he opened, that I have known these farms all my life. My father's brother was tenant of Llwynybrain 60 years ago. Llwynybrain especially and Henfryn, to a certain extent, are very unsuitable for the purposes for which they were pur- chased. A certain gentleman wrote to one of the local papers bringing out a lot of facts concerning them, and I know all of these facts to be proved. He has not stated all of them. There are others quite as strong against the conversion of these farms into small holdings. But one fact alone I am to deal with on this occasion. They are unsuitable for small holdings be- cause there is no water upon them, having been drained into the river thirty years ago. I now come to the question of the county asylum. MR. LLOYD NIPS IN. Mr Richard Lloyd: Then I rise to a point of order. This Council has ap- pointed a very strong committee of about 18 or 20 members to deal with the whole question of the present position of the Council in regard to its lunatics. A dis- solution of our partnership with Shropshire comes into effect on the 31st March next. This committee are to consider steps as to how they are to deal with those patients and how they are to deal with them for the future. They are in communication with the Local Government Board, and they have correspondence with the Caersws Guardians. This question has been before the Council for some time, and any proposal or sug- gestion made at this stage outside of that committee, and without its knowledege, would be a very great mistake, and might seriously interfere with it. For those reas- ons it is undesirable (and I won't say any- thing more now) to raise the question at all. At the proper time this committee will report before the Council is bound to any- thing. The Chairman: I have asked the Clerk whether the Council has committed itself to Forden, and he says there is nothing on the minutes, but that the whole question has been referred to a committee. Mr Arthur Wynn: I am right in sup- posing that the purchase of these farms has been already sanctioned by the Council. The Chairman: Yes. Mr Hamer (continuing): I don't wish to interfere with the rights of either the Small Holdings Committee or the Asylum Com- mittee, but if I can shed any light it is my duty to do so. Mr Lloyd: Would not that be better done by communication with the Small Holdings Committee and the Asylum Committee ? Mr Hamer should write to the Clerk of the Asylum Committee. There is an import- ant meeting of the Shropshire Visitors and the committee of this Council to talk over the whole matter, and we don't know what will be the result of that. This discussion i might prejudice the case. Nothing will be done to bind the Council. Mr Wynn: May I ask Mr Hamer to es- tablish some connection between the two resolutions. I had not the smallest idea of what No. 1 was whether he was going to point out that the farms were unsuitable. What connection it has with a lunatic asy- lum I could not see. Mr Hamer: That is exactly the purpose for which I have got up. Mr Lloyd: I must ask the Chairman's ruling. Mr Powell: Mr Hamer, surely, has a right to address the Council (hear, hear). AN IDEAL SITE. Mr Hamer: This is one of the greatest questions we have got to face. As far as I can understand, the committee at present are looking to one of the workhouses, es- pecially Forden, for the county asylum. I have no particular objection to Forden. I felt for some time in favour of it, but there are several fatal objections to it. First, you have no water there by gravitation. That is one of the first essentials where you collect a lot of people together. Then it is near the railway, which fact would render facilities for persons of unsound mind to commit suicide. It is near the riverside, which also makes it unsuitable. What I want to point out is that by your recent purchase of Henfryn you have acquired a piece of land which is an ideal site from every point of view for an asylum. What are the advantages of Henfryn ? It is dis- tant from the station half-a-mile it is an elevation surrounded by a plain, conse- quently all your sewers will be working properly. You have also acquired it at a cheap price. You bought it for small hold- ings, and before you are committed to cut it up, I want to secure this site for the asylum, or at all events thoroughly thrash out the proposal. It is in my opinion the best site you can find in the county for such an institution. I presume it cost you something like 1:4,000. You have had 170 acres for that sum. If you take 50 acres out of that, you will find you have pur- chased a building site very cheaply. You can obtain any amount of water by gravita- tion. I propose 10 get it from Llyn Tarw lake on the hill, at a distance of three miles and that is a sheet of water seven acres in extent, and well adapted for the purpose. That water supply could be brought at a cost of £ 3,000. I propose taking a partner into this water scheme. The Caersws Rural District Council are compelled to find a water supply for Caersws. They have got that to face. Our Chairman said last Jan- uary that Caersws could not get its water supply because it would cost 93,000. We could give them a supply under this scheme for £ 1,000. Say the asylum paid 50 per cent. and the small holdings 17 per cent., you would have an ample supply for the small holdings at Llwynybrain and Henfryn. The water pipe would go along the public road. Consequently there would be no way leave to pay for. The Council road and the Dis- trict Council road go all the way to the hill, and the supply would be obtained from a height of 1,000 feet. You will want to have light for the asylum. You cannot get gas at Forden, but with a small turbine you would be able to generate your own electricity under this scheme. Now, if you purchase Forden Workhouse as an asylum, you will have to pay for it as a matter of course. The ratepayers of Forden would receive the income payable by other rate- payers in the county, yet they would have no purpose for that income. I want the conference to agree to the four workhouses becoming county property. That process is a question for lawyers, and not for a lay- man like myself. If they were made county property, instead of union property, the Forden Workhouse would become a suitable place, without spending another penny on it, for all the poor-law requirements of the county. Caersws Workhouse is part of Hen- fryn farm. A large portion of it could go to make the buildings necessary for the small holdings, and thus you would save an immense amount of money. If I have made out a prime facie case, I think a conference should be convened at an early date, perhaps within a month. Mr C. J. Newell seconded. "THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG." Mr Dugdale: At last the eat is out of the bag. With a great flourish of trumpets you went in for buying a big estate for the pur- pose of small holdings. We were all amazed. We heard that some of the farms were not suitable, and next that two of them had been sold. We now hear that two other farms are not suitable, but they are suitable for something else. They are suitable for a lunatic asylum* .-(Iaughter)-- and they are suitable for bringing some water at a cost of E3,000, not only for a lunatic asylum, but for Caersws. Every- body will see it is not perfectly possible nowadays for a County Council to acquire land for one thing and then adopt it for quite another thing, and the cost is to be found from the man who has been to sell his property. Mr Arthur Wynn said he did not think Mr Dugdale need fear that the land ob- tained for small holdings could be devoted to other purposes. He thought the Board of Agriculture would not sanction that. Mr Edward Powell said the Council ought to feel indebted to Mr Hamer for bringing this matter forward, because if they were to adopt his suggestion, the sooner the bet- ter they made up their minds on the asylum question. Mr Lloyd remarked that there were a great many important questions to be con- sidered in connection with this matter. An asylum might cost in one place E30,000, and in another place £ 60,000. They must get an asylum suitable for all purposes at as small a cost as possible, on as convenient a site as possible, and that is the point be- fore us. The question of building a new asylum will mean a very different thing from the purchase of some place we may have under consideration. Such a sugges- tion as Mr Hamer had made would double the cost. Mr Hamer, replying to criticism, said that if it were necessary, they must have an act of Parliament to carry out this scheme. No obstacles must stand in their way, if by doing so, as he thought, they could save many thousands of pounds by tha carrying out of this project. He called to mind what the Lunacy Commissioners said with regard to Forden Workhouse-it was incapable of being adapted to the pur- poses of an asylum. He wished to impress upon them that they would always require an asylum, but he hoped the day was not far off when they would not require work- houses. According to his scheme they would have an up-to-date asylum served by a gravitation watef supply. At Caersws, Forden, and Bicton asylum all water was obtained by pumping. In case of fire there was a condition of helplessness. On a division, nine voted for Mr Hamer's motion and six against, and it was agreed to hold the conference at Caersws on January 20th.

After a trial lasting only two days, the two British officers, Captain Trench and lieutenant Brandon, indicted before the Supreme Court at Leipzig on charges of espionage, were sentenced to four years' imprisonment in a fortress. One of the points urged by the prosecuting counsel was that the accused had acted in the inter- ests, on the instructions, and in the service of the Intelligence Department," but he admitted that there were a "whole series of extenuating circumstances," including their own frank statements, and ended by asking, not for a sentence of penal servi- tude, but for one of six years' fortress. Counsel for the defence acknowledged his inability to contest the indictment so far as the Borkum incident was concerned, and then came the decision of the judges an- nouncing a term wliieli-say.- the Dailv Telegraph correspondent1—went far beyond i the expectations of those who had listened to the proceedings.

The Great Gale and Floods. From all parts of the country come reports of havoc wrought by last week's gale. It raged with terrific violecce all round the coast, raising a tremendously high tide, which carried disaster all along the English Channel and the Western Coast Th-) Channel services had to be suspended, and but for the gallant work of the lifeboatmen casualties at ssa would have been very heavy. As it is they are singularly few in view of the violence of the storm. Inland, the country is flooded to an extent that is causing considerable alarm. Vast areas are under water, and agricul- turists are threatened with ruin.

SEEN AND HEARD. Nothing extenaato, nor set down aught ID maliae. SHaKS 3PEARB. Ring out, ye merry bells, proclaim To all mankind- The lord that in the palace dwells And every hind- The message of immortal fame, In Bethel's star's propitious name: Peace on earth. Barbaric ages pulsed with hope As this peaen Came ringing down-a mighty psalm Empyrean. The bells intone the psalm again, While babel tongues voice one refrain: Goodwill to men. Santa Claus How the youngsters are revelling to-day among the good things with which good old Father Christmas has filled their stockings What happy memories of boyhood well up in us at the thought What. kindly faces, "which we have loved long since and lost awhile," come out of the mist of years to greet us once again In nights of old (So I've been told) I watched for Santa Claus; But now-alas, How time does pass I knew there never was A bearded man, Who lightly ran kbove me when I lay Yet give again Unto us men An hour of yesterday. Oft we are tossed, And all but lost, Upon life's stormy sea; Let's make believe, Ourselves deceive, He comes to you and me. There are two things to beware of at this season. Have a care for the mistletoe. Osculation has more sides than one. Be sparing when you come to tackle the turkey, and put a limit to the consumption of mince pies, if you would avoid that common forni of gastro-enteritis, yclept, an aching stomach. Yet. well I know, these reminders will be universally dishonoured. It's an ill wind that blows nobody good," however, and the doctors are gleefully prospecting a little harvest among wilful humanity. This is the time that the doctor loves, And he smiles to himself as he dons his gloves For he knows that his task is an easy one, Though it will be late before he's done.- There's Tommy, who's eaten too much plum duff, To prescribe for him is easy enough- There's Kate, who's been to the dance each night, And called him in for she doesn't feel bright;— There's dear old grandpa troubled with gout, One single polka knocked him out.- There's mother, who baked for a week or more, She's quite done up and feeling sore; And Jack, who caught a beastly chill, Round at the hall door waiting for Jill And the married man, who's somewhat frisky, And made too free with lemon and whisk8y; These his patients will be this week They each pay toll for the doctor's keep. Another reminder, my dear leaders Please remember the postman's Christmas box. Faithful in all weathers, year in, year out, he is, worthy of a seasonable gift--an(I also of a poem all to himself. So here's to him:- There's a man admitted by all, Respected by his betters, And though his learning may be small, He's yet a man of letters. Not L.L.D. or D.C.L., Or any of that host, man, No great degrees adorn his name, He's just our friend the Postman. Contented with his bumble lot, Well-known by one and all, He g6ts a hearty welcome at The cottage or the hall. Year in. year out, he's on the road, In apite of snow or frost, man I The elements can ne'er debar The coming of the Postman. He brings us tidings of our friends, Of things both great and small, From brothers, sisters, or mayhap, One dearer than them all. In Cupid's service he is swift, And tho' he doesn't boast, man. There's many secrets locked within The bosom of the Postman. And since the festive season's here, And we have lots to spend. It surely would become us ill To miss our trusty friend. All through the year he serves us well, So dinna count it lost, man, Though you may add your little mite, To recompense the Postman. This is the season of new resolves. Plenty of patterns are to be found in the Prayers and Meditations" of that famous lexico- grapher, Dr Johnson. It is a very human book, showing a man who fails as often as he forms fresh resolutions. I have," said Johnson, "resolved until I am alraid to resolve again. Every man naturally per- suades himself that he can keep his resolu- tions, nor is he convinced of his imbecility but by the length of time and frequency of experiment." Writing in 1761, he stated:— "My purpose is: To avoid idleness. To regulate my sleep as to the length and choice of hours. To set down every day what shall be dona the day following. To keep a journal. To worship God more dili- gehtly. To go to Church every Sunday. To study the Scriptures. To read a certain portion every week." Many years later Johnson was still forming resolutions, find on New Year's Day, 1789, he wrote:-H I am now about to begin another year. I am not yet in a state to form any resolutions. I purpose and hope to rise early in th< morning—at eight, and by degrees at six, eight being the latest hour to which bedtime can be properly extended, and six the curli- est hour that the present system of life requires." Johnson was then sixty. 01 New Year resolutions more next week. At this period of personal stock-taking, the editor of a newspaper feels his position more keenly than most men. Of the ex- istence of hundreds and thousands of his friends he has no idea. Among his readers lie wields a power for good or ill. His re- sponsibilities and obligations to his fellows are infinitely greater than those of the average person hence at this time of retrospection he is smitten with the thought —has his work been ill or well done ? Throughout the year I have been delighted to receive numerous kindly appreciations from readers at home and beyond the seas, and as I write the postman brings pretty greetings from far off lands. While in other parts of the paper controversy rages over local and Imperial questions, I wish at. ordinary times to make this column a corner to which readers can turn and en- joy a quiet serenity in communion with happier things. LUKE SHARPE.

An Interesting Fact. Sir.—It was of some interest t" mf, s it muet have been to many others, to idet tify the politics of people in Newtown on polling and declaration day by the colours tbev wore What I specially noticed was the donning of the blue after the declaration of the poll by persons who b'1;.d been careful to show no party preference previously. Once they knew the result out they Cftme ablaze with blue. Some of your readers may be able to deduce pome instructive ideas from facts like these.— Yours, etc., Qui VIVE.

THE PLURAL VOTER UNDER NOTICE. THE declared intention of the Government to pass a Plural Voters Bill at an early date is an exceptionally bitter pill for the Tories, to whom this class of elector i a valuable asset. It is a long time since the inequity and absurdity of the plural vote were ex- posed and admitted. They are now admitted by Mr Balfour himself, who explicitly stated that a referendum" would be conducted on the priiiciple of one man, one vote." If he acknowledges that the direct pro- nouncement of the country upon a particular policy can be most truly made by eliminat- ing the plural elector, what ju-tification can there be for preserving the present electoral system, which in one notorious instance gives four brothers 120 votes ? Tn fourteen constituencies at the General Election twelve months ago, the number if outvoters in each division largely exceeded the Conservative majorities. And yet we talk of the representation of the people. This is but the representation of stone and iime and soil. But the most a.Moma.'ous thing is that it is not always the quantity of stone and lime and soil which a man owns that enables him to obtain more votes than one. That privilege is secured by a division -of his property throughout different for- stituencies. Thus a man may own ha'u a million pounds worth of property scattered over a city, and yet have but a single vote. On the other hand, if he owns a house in the city and another in the neighb)-iring county he has a vote in both places. If the purpose of the plural vote is to give extra electoral weight to property it does it in a ridiculous way. By the studied investment of several thousand pounds any man might a'cquire the vote in scores of constituencies, while another man, like Lord Powis, owning a vast territory in one county, has only one. The unfairness of the system which permits the plural vote has not altered since Mr Chamberlain condemned it. I consider it an anomaly," he said, altogether incon- sistent with the principle for which we stand,—the principle that every nousebcIJer. at all events, has an equal stake in the good government of the country. His life. his happiness, his property, all depend upon the legislation which he is entitled, like everyone else, to assist in framing. Tf we are to make that distinction, I am not c.uite certain whether it is not the poor men vho ought to ha\e more votes than the rich man, for individually his interests are more direct than the rich man's. If you have bad legis- lation it may lessen the income of the one, but it may destroy altogether the means of subsistence of the other." Incidentally, it may be recalled, as an illustration of Mr Chamberlain's astounding renunciation of principles, that notwithstanding this declara- tion, he voted against the Plural Voters Abolition Bill in 1906, introduced by Mr Lewis Harcourt, which restricted electors with several property qualifications to the selection of one constituency. The same reason which prompts the Tories to stand by the plural voter inspires them to fight against the proposal to hold all elections on one day. The plural voter and fleets of motor cars are advantages which Toryism is wishful to retain, but plurality has got to go in the interests of equitable representation and a reliable national mandate. And as surely will the small pocket boroughs go in a later scheme of electoral reform, which must simuitaneously do justice to the lodger voter, now disqualified for the best part of two years when he migrates to other apart- ments only across the street.