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PRIMROSE L1 AGUE SOCIAL MEETING…

A DISGRACE TO NEWTOWN.

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MONTorOMERYSHiTlE t STANDING…

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MONTorOMERYSHiTlE t STANDING JOINT COMMITTEE. I A meeting of the Montgomeryshire Joint Committee was held on Friday morning at the Police Station, Newtown, Captain D. H. Mytton, presiding, and there were also present: Messrs A. C. Humphreys- Owen, John Jenkins, R. E. Jones, Richard Lloyd, George Morgan, Richard Rees, Richard Morgan, W. Theodore, Captain Hay hurst-France, R. O. Perrot, and W. Gardiner; with Messrs G. D. Harrison, cierk. R. Powell, assistant clerk. G. A. Hutchius. chief surveyor, and Deputy-Cnief Constable Crowden. CHIEF-CONSTABLE'S REPORT. The CiEiiEP- CON STABLE reported that the number of indictable offences was 18, number discovered, 15, number of persons proceeued against, 13, and of these six were committed or trial, three discharged, and four dealt with summarily. The number of per- sons proceeded against for non-indictable offences was 330; of these 282 were convicted, and 48 dis- charged. The value of property stolen was X14 9s 9d and 4d recovered. During the quarter, 6,505 tramps had been noted at the workhouses and lodging huuses by the police, this being an increase of 1,441 as compared with the corresponding quarter la&t year, the increase being principally at the work- houses. Major Godfrey, chief-cons table of Derby- shire, applied for police assistance on 11th September in consequence of the strifce at the colleries in that county. One sergeant and eleven constables were dispatched there on 15th September, two returned on tne 17th October, and the remainder on the 8th Nov- ember. The claim for their services had been sent which amounted to .£312 6s 9d, of which .£112 6d 9d would be credited to the police account, £ 153 5s to the pension fund, and < £ 4t> 15s would go to the men for off-beat allowance. During the quarter one con- stable resigned and one joined. The lorce was now complete, and the conduct satisfactory. The CHAIRMAN said with reference to the Chief- Constable of Derby, he had received a letter from him asking if the Joint Committee could see its way to reduce the charge for superannuation, and point- ing out that the Secretary of State had said that 28 to 35 per cent was a reasonable charge, but the Montgomeryshire Standing Joint Committee had! charged 150 percent. Continuing, he said there were the sergeant and eleven constables sent to Derby. Mr it. LiiOYD asked if the agreement between Major Godfrey and Mr Hughes was the same as that between Montgomery and Shropshire at the time of the election petition ? The CHAIRMAN I believe it is, precisely. D.C.C. CKOWDKN Yes, it is. The CHAIRMAN remarked that he did not quite understand why the sum of 58 per day was cnarged to the Pension Fund. D.C.C. CROWDEN said it was the charge for the officers' services, and was paid to the County Fund, and not to the Pension Fund. The CHAIRMAN suggested that the Clerk should reply, stating that the bill made out by the Chief Constable was in accordance with the agreement, and that the deduction therefrom tor food and lodgings supplied by the chief constable of Derby had already been made. Mr HUMPHREYS-OWEN The agreement is one in use throughout the county, and is printed. The CHAIRMAN Yes, it is stamped. Mr HUMPHREYS-OWEN seconded, and the motion was agreed to. SATISFACTORY. The CLERK said he had received a certificate from the Home Secretary, stating that the force had been tfficiently sustained, both in point of numbers and discipline. THE HEALTH OF THE CHIEF CONSTABLE. With regard to the absence of Mr R. W. Hughes, Chief Constable, ti.e CHAIRMAN aid he baa been ordered to Hastings for the benefit ot his health, and knowing that the committee would not meet until that day, he had taken the liberty of granting him leave ot absence. He had received i letter from Mr Hughes, enclosing a medical certificate to the (ffect that Mr Hughes was still unable to return to duty and he begged to move that they allow him a further 14 days. Mr JENKINS seconded, and the motion was carried. j POLICE CLOTHING. J The next business on the agenda was the cousidera- tion of tenders for the supply of police clothing. The CHAIRMAN explaiued that the committee ap- pointed to consider the tenders had not met becaute the force did not require the clothing. Mr REES asked it ihe withdrawal of such a force of police as was despatched to Derby did not incon- venience the c;»unty. The CHAIRMAN said they had got on very satis- factorily dudiig uhtiir absence. Of course, there was a little inconvenience attached to them at the de- parture of so great a portion of the force, but other counties were inconvenienced when Montgomery had extra constables at the election petition, and it was a good thing for them to recoup themselves. AN IMPORTANT QUESTION. Mr THEODORE asked if the Chief Constable had power to engage a solicitor to appear in a case, lor instance, permitting drunkenness on licensed premises. The CHAIRMAN said the Chief Constable consulted him before doing so. They would recollect that when they had a professional man it caused a gre tt ex- pense, and he did not grant permission to engage counsel simply to have an argument in Court, only when it was necessary to have legal assistance. Mr THEODORE drew attention to a recent case in which a publican was summoned for permitting drunkenness on his licensed premises, The evidence of the constable seemed to be very clear, but the other side hud a solicitor, and the case was dismissed. It struck him that if they had had a solicitor they would have obtained a conviction. Mr REES agreed with Mr Theodore's remarks, and said the policeman had a very good case, and he was quite convinced that if a solicitor had been engaged the man would have been convicted. The CHAIRMAN said no app,ication was made to him for legotl assintauoe. D.C.C. CROWDEN said the Chief Constable thought if the evidence was laid clearly before the Bench he did not see any necessity to engage a solicitor. Mr R. E. JONUS said there was a difficulty which often arcse. The constable who proved the case often laid the information, and then if a sergeant or inspector intervened,, if there was a solicitor on the other side, he often objected. He suggested that the information should be laid in one name, that of the officer in charge of the Court, who could then cross examine, which duty was not able to be petformedby many constables owiug to their imperfect acquaint- ance with the English language. Mr THEODORE That is a point on which I agree. Thv, CHAIRMAN asked it' either Mr Rees or Mr Theodore wished to carry the matter further. Mr THEODOHK was remarking thut the Bench ought to give the police officers every consideration, when The CHAIRMAN said the committee were not sitting in judgment o:i the decision of the Bench, and the subject then dropped. A GOOD OFFICER. Inspector Lake, of Llanidlues, applied for an increase of salary, and giving as his reasons that the district now under his charge was a very extensive one, extending in each direction upwards of 20 miles, witnout railway communication, except one short distance of eight miles. There existed in Llanidloes a very lawless gaiis: of violent characters wbo required constant watching vigilance and determin- ation. He mentioned as an instance the case of Enoch George, a native of the town, buf who had resided in the colliery districts of South Wales, who was recently convicted of a violent assault upon him- self, itud for which he was sentenced to one month without the option of a fine. The CHAIRMAN said at the last meeting- of the committed an application was made by Iiispecto- Lake for increasing his salary £ 5, as since his removal frotn Wd-hpool to Llanidloes he lost £ 5 per year as Inspector of Lodgir.g-hou-e. In reply to the CHIII'-MM, D.C.C. CROWDEN said the Inspecror received £ 97 10j. and X5 for acting as Inspector of Explosives. The CHAIRMAN said he bad not long been promoted from Sergeant 10 Inspector. D C.C. CROWDEN said it was about two yeirs. Mr. LLOYD regretted that the committee at its last meeting did noj yield to the sipplication and increase the Inspector's salary by £ 5. He lost the £ 5 not through any fault of his own, but because he was removed from Welshpool to Llanidloes by the Clii, f- Co;istable. Anyone who knew anything al'nut the C unty Police was aware that Inspector Lafce was a superi .r officer and a very gODd man indeed. That. was genera ly admitted whereever he had been shationed, and ho had been in the for^e since 1879. He was c-ip-tble of fillintr a better position than the one be At present occupied. Ho did not think there was any ddvan'ag-) when they hftd a. g-ood man to refuse an application of tiits soro, unless it w,is ce trly proved shat ha was paid for as much a he did. Ho proposed that his salary be inoccased from £ 97 10s. to £ 105. Mr. R. MOKGAN said that was more than he applied for. Mr LLOTD replied that when the letter was c~n- sidtsred at th>. last meeting, it WAS refused V>Q the ground that if Inspect- r Lake wanten mor" money he was to make an application. He would jU, t SKV that, the cou ity fr rce was about one of the loweso paid of a v county. D.C.C. CROWDEN said that after Inspector L&e had served three years as an inspector, he would be entitled to au increase. Mr JENKINS seconded, on the double ground that Llanidloes division was a large area for the police to \do their duty, and that there was a periodical infkix j of men from Glamorganshire, men who were 3.111 connected with the town. They came there to spend their holidays in the summer, and it was a difficult task for the police co control them, and keep down the riots created by them. That entailed great danger and trouble upon the police officers, and Inspector Lake was certainly one of the best officers that was ever at Llanidloes. His judgment, his courage, when necessary, and the way in which he had managed these people he had referred to bad elicited the warm enconiums of all people of property and station living in the neighbourhood. He was entitled to every consideration at their hands, and he should have granted to him an increase. He would not stick at the proposal to increase his salary by X7 10s., but if the committee desired, let it be £ d. That would place him on an equality with what he received at Welshpool, a much quieter and better regulated district for the police officers. Mr THEODORE opposed the motion. No doubt Inspector Lake was a first-rate officer, but there were many other officers who could put forward the same claim. Looking at the depression of the farming community of Montgomeryshire, he did not think it was a time to increase salaries, and the application appeared to him to be untimely. Captain HAYHURST-FRANCE reminded Mr Theo- dore there were other people in the county who pair. rates as well as farmers. In this case he considered Inspector Lake had a special claim upon them. Mr R. MORGAN asked if it c inld be proved that the Inspector's duties were greater that when be was at Welshpool. If they were greater the application was not unreasonable. D.C.C. CROWDEN said if the duties were greater he had an additional man than ever before. Mr MORGAN Am I to infer they are not greater ? D.C.C. CROWDEN He has two men now instead of one. Mr THEODORE mentioned that it was the borough of Welshpool who paid the .£5, and not the county. It was ultimately agreed that the salary should be increased X5 per year. SURVEYOR'S REPORT. Mr G. A. Hutchins, county surveyor, submitted a report, shewing the repairs and alterations done at the various police stations in the county, which was adopted by the committee. SUB-COMMITTEBS. The agenda stated that the Chairman would move a rule with regard to the convening of meetings of Sub-committees. Mr JENKINS asked leave to say a few words on the general question. The members of the Council from Machynlleth or Llandidloes, or south of Newtown had to wait about two hours at Newtown before they could commence their business. It was very incon- venient to the members of the upper county. They arrived at 10-25, and he should be obliged if they could give them employment until the 12-15 train came in. The CHAIRMAN We cannot snit all parties. Mr JENKINS remarked that the gentleman from the north of the county could get to Newtown about the same time as the members from the south, if they would only get up a little earlier, but still if they had something to do during the interval of waiting, it would be better than walking about sight-seeing and spending their money on worthless objects (laughter). Mr HUMPHREYS-OWEN said he quite appreciated the question raised by Mr Jenkins, but if the meet- ings were early the representatives from Llanfyllin would have to get up at such a very early hour. Mr R. E. JONES said if the meetings of the Council were held earlier it would only mean the postponing of the sight-seeing from the morning till the after- noon (loud laughter). It was then agreed to adopt a resolution to the effect that the Clerk, in conjunction with the mover of any motion for a sub-committee, agree upon the time and place of meeting of any sub-committee referring to the clerical work of the Joint Committee, but in all cases of sub-committees relating to the county buildir gs or works, the Connty Surveycr, in conjunction with the mover of a resolution for a sub- committee, should agree in convening the meeting. LESS RED-TAPEISM. The CHAIRMAN read a circular from the Home Secretary with regard to certain arrangements made with a view to expedite the consideration of pi >ns of new police buildings or alterations submitted for sanction. The Home Secretary referred the plans to the Surveyor-General of Prisons, and he had author- ised him to correspond directly with the Standing Joint Committees, and if they had any future plans -to submit he desired the Committee to send them to the Surveyor-General. TIMBER TRAFFIC. Mr PERROTT asked if the police could not do something to regulate the timber traffic between Meifod and Llaneaintffraid. The road was dangerous? and in some places steep, and when there were four or five four-horsed timber carriages in procession they could understand it was dangerous to travellers when it was getting dark. The CLERK said the Committee had no power to interfere without they broke the Highway Act. The Committee then rose.

LLANGITRIG. -----.-

NEWTOWN NATIONAL SCHOOLS,

Stf) BURNING FATALITY AT ABERMULE-

IEXCURSIONISTS AND THEIR RIGHTS.

LLANFYLLIN.