Llais Llafur

CLYDACH NOTES At a patriotic mooting held under 1. h auspices of the local reception conv ^vittoo at the Public Hall, Sapper D. Smith, N-c.-Air Mechanic William James, and Ptes. Bert Short (Clydach) .and Oakley Phillips (Yni-stawe) were the guests of honour and received gifts of money. Sec.-Air Mechanic James and Pte. Short, both of whom hail from the Swansea Valley, are convalescent and are fortunate to have been trans ierred as patients to the locnl hospital. over largo gathering, and in the course, cf the proceedings made the presentations Oil behalf of the recep- tion committee and people of Clydach. The recipients, who were accorded a hearty rv-'ieome, returned thanks. Speeches I-lev. D. E id dig .J ones and Mr. D. Roderick, A capital programme was provided by the Calfana Brs;*s Band assisted by the Misses Miilv Eva as (elocutionist), and Gi,-(,ii Hopkins and Mr T. Stephens (vocalist«). Mrs. Lizzie Stephens was the accompanist. The proceeds of the evening's effort will he devoted to- wards providing comforts for the soldiers ::1, the Quarr Hospital. was the subject of a. very interesting Welsh lecture given hy Mr David Roderick at a literary moeting of the Young People's Guild held at Calfaria Schoolroom, on* Wed- nesday evening last. 1 he Rev. T. Valentine Evans presided, and during the evening a song was sung by Miss Coin wen Roes. Speeches were made by the chairman, Atrs. E. Roderick and (.Yiossrsfi .J. L. lives, William Francis Mild G<-o"go l)a\'ic s, all of whom warm- ly thanked Mr Koderiek for, his splendid lecture. QUitA-' org?,,ji recital ,as I' given by Mr Eewolyn Davies, organMb of the Church, at Carmel Chapel, after service on Sunday evening last. He was assisted by the Misses Hannah I Williams and Naomi Roes (vocalists), and Messrs. Marios Williams (violinist) and J. L. Thomas (elocutionist). There was a large attendance, and a collec- tion was made during the evening in aid of the wounded soldiers at the local hospital. An interesting miscellaneous meeting promoted in connection with the Sun- day-school was held at Elim Chapel, Craigcefnparc, on Sunday evening. Mr David T. Havard (superintendent) pre- side,d ever a very large1 congregation, Iniid the following contributed to the programme Recitations, Misses Esther Samuel and May Lewis, Master Thos. Yaughan Jones, Messrs John T. JonMi. WIll. John R cos, Rhys John and David Davies; songs, Misses Sarah Ann I Thomas. )Ilaggic Thom, Mm'gretta Havard and Rosie Hopkins and Mr. Xoah J. Havard; duets, Misses Eisie .and Lily Jones, and' Miss Ruth Jones and Mr. Thos. Thomas. —Welsh Llewelyn." j ———————————. I

¡ S??rt-Sighted .Persons ) I. eI"SOnS I ?'  ?? want to bring the >  ? book close to their I   f' ? eyes. It means that J ??????} the object looked at $ does not focus on '1 the retina, the focus comes in front—too soon—the eyeball is therefore too long. We cannot change the eyeball, so we change the fOCil;. V/e put a lens in front of the eye which throws the focus k back to the proper position. Call upon us and learn more aboat this important subject of defective vision. C '7 t J '{' E ") £:! J C. F. WALTERS S F.S.M.C., F.I.O. > QUALIFIED OPTICIAN, Oxford St., Swansea ■ (Ne:1cly opposite National Scho,)\J 3 L ^rrrr^rz

[ CORRESPONDENCE. blEAT SUPPLY IN THE YSTRADGYN- LAIS AREA. To the Editor. Sir,—In a letter which appeared in your last issue, I am accused by Mr. George Lowe, butcher, Ystradgynlais, of causing a disturbance at Ystradgyn- lais. May I explain that I simply, claimed my allowance under the permit granted me by the local food office, and how Mr. Lowe can call that a "disturbance" passes my comprehen- s ion. He also states rhat I said that tho hutehys of Ystradgynlais had more moat the previous than they were Tiiis is quite in- eorreet. and Mr. Lowe is not fair when be that I am giving the public the wrong impression. Mr. Lowe also says that he shared his moat in January. Well, I received none of it; tho meat he shared was received on other permits, as well as his own, the same time. I asked Mr. Lowe on h-h. 4th last for the butchers' permits of Ystradgynlais, so as to go away to buy stock, but these were re- fused me. although it was passed in the butchers' meeting that I was to have some of them. It is ridiculous for Lowe to compare my share with his. when my district is about three times more than his district. The supply I received last week is according to my permit, and I am quite in order with my returns to the food offit. With regard to the Butchers' Asso- ciation. when 1 appealed to the Food Control Committee for a further sup- ply for my district, Mr. Lowe was the one who i;-to tiered with me, therefore why should I continue with the Asso- ciation — Yours faithfully, Gurno.s. JOHN DAYIES, WOMEN'S "PEACE" CRUSADE .1 To the Editor, "Llais Llafur." A meeting organised by the Women's Peace. Crusa de was held recently in the Playhouse, Ystalyfora, and addressed by Mrs. Despard. 1 was present, and gave close and anxious attention to the arguments'advanced and I main- tain that what was said did not put the matter fairly before the public, or was in the nation's interests. I listened carefully to Mrs. Despard, but failed to hear any word indicating that we lre not rightly in the war. This estimable lady gave an interest- ing account of her work among the children in London, for which she de- serves the highest credit. She went on, however, to justify the position taken up by "conscientious objectors" in regard to the war, and directly en- couraged a "crusade" to spread their views, or in other words to embarrass the oouutrv in its hour of direst. need. There was indignant condemnation of the treatment of "conscientious ob- jectors. many of whom deliberate- 1y work against the national welfare, and who glory in their hindrance to of the wiir. But J Intoned in vain, Sir, for any mention of 'the sufferings undergone by women, or the wrongs inflicted up- on them, in this and other countries as a result of the aggressive policy of the German war party. Nothing was said of the massacre of women in Armenia with German con- nivance and by their ally; nothing of the Serbian women driven from their homes in winter across a range of mountains without help "n succour, and the lull talc of whose sufferings has yet to be told, or of their present sufferings at the hands of Bulgarian miscreants. Nothing was said ot the cruel p-oiicy which has led to the drowning ol hundreds of innocent women at sea, and placed Edith Cavell, whose whole mission in life was to succour and heal, in front of a file of German rifles in the grey dawn; and last, but. not least, nothing of the suf- fering of the women in Belgium and northern France, whore the "kultur" of the invader has condemned women to imnamoii.blc horrors. These things are kept hack from our land by the lads who have oome forward to stand between ourselves and the foe; and surely the women of England will not assist the enemy by placing hindrances in the way, or be- guile any man away with words of j "peace" before this great and cruel wrong towards their sex is expiated, and in comparison with which the suf- ferings of the. "conscientious objector'' is not one drop in the In ihis matter of national service and sacrifice J like to think of the scones enacted iri Ancient Rome so ablv portrayed by Macaulav, and I think it should stimulate us to greater exer- tion and faith in our cause. This is the picture: The city is threatened by a Tuscan Armv, which is advancing to capture it (and the women of that day know what it meajit if they succeeded). Between the city and the foe- runs the Tiber. spanned by a single bridge, which il the cuemv captured the city v.\j~ doomed. Three men volunteer to hold '.He bridge-head until the- struc- ture mis cut down. The axes are plied by rich and poor alike, and while this is going on the three heroes repel the (I ill, v I i Just before the bridge totter; and falls two of the trio escape •across- it and regain the city. Roratius is left alone "facing fearful odds." When the bridge fell be sl1(\;H11""1 his sword, and burdened with his amioUr plunn< into the nooded river t?i s?'im aeros'v to .;¡fdy, And here is the stir- ring Recount of his welcome reward:— And nf?i with shouts and clapping, And women weeping loud, He enters ih rough the river gate Uorne bv th" joyous. crowd. And wives still pray to Juno For boys with hearts as bold As his who kept the bridge so well In the brave days of old. No conscientious objector will ever o b- tain a reward like that. Brothers! "Hold the bridge." Sisters -do nil you can to help. The need is now. *-A -SAILOR,IS AIOTHER. I

The London City and Midland Bank, LIMITED. ESTABLISHED 1836. Subscribed Capital, 124,906,432 0 0 Paid-up Capital, L5,188,840 0 0 Reserve Fund, £4,342,846 0 0 DIRECTORS. Sir EDWARD H. HOLDEN, Bart., Chairman and Ma.naging Director. WILLIAM GRAHAM BRADSHAW, Esq., London, Deputy-Chairman. The Right Hon. LORD AIRDALE, Leeds. ROBERT CLOVER BEAZLEY, Esq., Liverpool. DAVID DAVIES, Esq., M.P., Llandinam. FREDERICK HYNDE FOX, Esq., Liverpool. JOB;, GLASBRUOK, Esq., Swansea. Tho Rt. Hon. REGINALD McKENNA, M.P., London. The Right Hon. LORD PIRRIE, K.P., London, The Rt. Hon. Sir GUY FLEETWOOD WILSON, K.C.B., K.C.M.G..G.C.I.E., London. WILLIAM FITZTHOMAS WYLEY, Esq.. Coventry.. Sir PERCY ELLY BATES, Bart., Liverpool. The Rt. Hon. LORD CRANOCK, G.C.B., London. FRANK DUDLEY DOCKER, E,q., C.B., Birmingham. H. SIMPSON GEE, Esq., IAicestei-. ARTHUR T. KEEN, Esq., Birmingham. FREDERICK WILLIAM NASH, Esq., Birmingham. Sir THOMAS ROYDEN, Bart., Liverpool. HEAD OFFICE: 5 THKEADtfEEDLE STREET LONDON, E.C.Ilwl Dr. LIABILITIES AND ASSETS, 31st DECEMBER, 1917. Cr. £ s d To Capitol Paid up, viz.:— L2 10s. Od. per Share on 2,075,536 Shares of JS12 each 5,188,840 0 0 Reserve Fund 4,342,826 0 0 Dividend payable on 1st Februarv 1918 350,246 14 0 Balance of Profit and Loss Account, as below 733,785 5 8 10,615,697 19 8 Current, Deposit and other Accounts 220,551,768 9 5 Acceptances on account of Customers 8,826,865 17 6 ? L239,994,332 '6 7 £ s d By Cash in hand (including Gold Coin £ 7,000,000) and Cash at Bank of England 44,110,353 13 10 Money at Call and at Short Notice 31,003,560 9 2 Investments:- War Loans, at' cost (of which E408, 418 10s. is lodged for Public and other Accounts) and other British Government Surit.ie." 33,116,534 13 6 Stocks Guaranteed by the British Government, India Stocks and In- dian Railway Debentures 181,789 10 0 British Railway Debenture and Pre- ference Stock, British Corporation Stocks 1,774,673 4 2 Colonial and Foreign Government Stocks and Bonds 660,352 18 0 Sundry Investments 521,463 5 10 Bills of Exchange 35,052,991 17 10 146,421,719 12 4 Advances on Current and other Accounts 68,510,358 1 9 Advances on War Loans 12.645,539 9 0 Liabilities of Customers for Acoept- tanoes 8.826,865 17 6 Bank Premises, at Head Office and Branches 2.837.210 6 0 Belfast Bank Shares:— 49.688 tl2 10 0 Old Shares R2 10 0 paid 148,204 £ 12 10 0 New Shams £ 2 10 0 paid Cost £1.225,908 0 0 Less part Premium on Shares issued 473.269 0 0 ———— ————— 752,639 0 0 £ 239,994,332 6 7 Dr. PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT for the year ending 31st December, 1917. Cr. £ s d To Interim Dividend at 18 per cent. per £ S ell ami. to June 30th, 1917, less Income Tax 322,703 9 11 Dividend payable on 1st February, 1918, at 18 per cent. per ann., less Income Tax 350,246 14 0 Reserve Fund for C-otitingencies 500,000 0 0 Salaries and Bonus to Staff serving with H.M. Forces and Bonus to other I Members of the Staff 304,518 19 3 Balance carried forward to next account. 733,785 5 8 £2,211,2.54 8 10 j £ s d By Balance from last Account 243,538 5 10 Net profits for the year ending 31st December, 1917, after providing for all Bad and Doubtful Debts 1,967,716 3 0 £ 2,211.254 8 10 EDWARD H. HOLDEN, Chairman and Managing Director. DAVID DAVIES, W. G. BRADSHAW, Deputy-Chairman. CARNOCK, Directors. REPORT OF THE AUDITORS TO THE SHAREHOLDER S OF THE LONDON CITY & MIDLAND BANK LIMITED In accordance with the provisions of Sub-section 2 of Section 113 of the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908, wo report as follows:— We have examined the above Balance Sheet in detail with the Books at Head Office and with the certified Returns from the Branches. We have satisfied ourselves as to the correctness of the Cash Balances and the Bills of Exchange and have verified the correctness of the Money at Call and Short Notice. We have also verified the Securities repre- senting the Investments of the Bank, and having obtained all the information and explanations we have required, we are of opinion that such Balance Sheet is properly drawn up so as to exhibit a true and correct view of the state of the Company's affairs according to the best of our information and the explanations given to us and as shown by the books of the Company. London, 14th January, 1918. WHINNEY, SMITH & WHINHEY, Chartered Accountants, Auditors. This Bank is the Proprietor of the Belfast Banking Company, Limited.

THE DIARY OF A SMALL- HOLDER. (By "LEO.") I Monday, 11th r eb.—Notieed that many of my black currant bushes are suffering from, "swollen bud," a very disastrous disease which was rather rampant in this looality last spring. The disease is occasioned by the Black Currant Mite, and once it gets a hold on a plant it is difficult to get rid of. Severe pruning is the best method to adopt where a large number of trees are affected, but in small gardens hand picking should take the place of prun- ing. The unnaturally swollen buds should be picked off as soon as seen, and care should bo taken to take no cuttings from any 1 a ffected as the mites hide under the \:rk. and in the folds of the rind. Tue.d.ty, 12th F(,]).-Wisdisapjx)int- ed to-day when sending for the geese I had intended obtaining from neigh- bour, to find that he had sold them, and, it seems, at a prioe 2s. each be- low what I had offered! I am, how- ever, in touch with several breeders who have goose to sell, but these are at ti very high price. Nevertheless, as I am determined to get some I shall have to write for some of these imme- diately, or the breeding season will be d in g seqwn will be over. I tried some goose eggs in the inciib-stors last season, but although I had some goslings "down" I was un- able to start any eating, and so lost them all within a week of hatching. I shall use geese or hens for hatching uprposes this season. Wednesday, 13th Feb.—I have, at last, concluded a deal with incubator vendor, he having allowed me a dis- count of E3, which is satisfactory. Shall put the machine into commission as soon as repairs are completed. Heard of a person to-day who adver- tised some rabbibts (does in kindle) at £1 per pair. He was so overwhelmed with orders that he had to return C65 in P.O.'s and oheques. Evidently the meat shortage ia stimulating the rab- bit breeding industry. This reminds me' of a book I read some time ago which dealt with Swansea and its en- virons. There was a reference in it to a large rabbit warren on the Drym Common which was established by a Dulais Valley farmer. It appears to have flourished well at that time. Surely, something of the same kind is possible still, and should pay hand- somely just now, as the improved breeds of rabbits, notably the Belgian "Hare," and Flemish Giant would command big prices in comparison with the small, wild, bunny. Tuesday, 14th Fsb.—Heated up my 60-egg incubator this morning, and, finding the heat quite steady at 103 deg., inserted the eggs in the evening. I am rather anxious to know how fer- tile they are, so I did not put in all my supply. I was satisfied with 34 white wyandotte, and 10 white Leg- horn eggs, making 44 in all. These should hatch on the 6th or 7th March. but I shall know the percentage of fertility in five or six days. Friday, 1.5th Feb.—Received orders for 3 white Leghorn pullets, June hatched, and March hatched cockerel this morning, but was requested not to forward them until Tuesday or Wed- nesday of next week. Have nothing left to dispose of now ut oneb pen of Buff Orpongtons. Had a small stock of oats in to-day as I fear ducks are getting too fat on soft food twice a, day. The oats are a poor sample, but I prefer them to torpedoed wheat, which sometimes has the effect of scouring the birds badly, probably ow- ing to the presence of sç.a salt in the grain. Saturday, 16th Feb.—Had letters from brothers at the front this morn- ing, in which one ef them states he has spotted me as the author of this diary, and he hopes I'll continue with it, as he thus obtains detailed news of our doings at the homestead. He adds that the "Llais" will be more interest- ing than ever now. My ducks com- menced laying to-day after nearly two niontils' xest. The first to re-start was a young duck hatched last April from a sitting of eggs I had direct from Mrs. Campbell. Had nice white egg indistinguishable from a Leghorn or a Minorca egg. The little pigs were weaned to-day when just under eight weeks old. We have deeided to keep two of them; the seven others will go next week. Sunday, 17th F-eb.-Tlie 26th dis- appointed enquirer for pigs had a look round to-day and left disgruntled. Was there ever such a call for pigs? Saw in papers that weaners were sold at Newport this week for L3 3s each, and there is no doubt that we could obtain the same if we pitt«l one en- quirer against another, but "first oome, first served" has been the rule with us, although we shall doubtless be £ 7 the poorer as a result. I have decided to oopv the natural broody in my mode of working the incubator this time. I shall not turn, oool, or air the eggs for at least four days, and after that period I shall oool once a da-y only, turning ,the eggs aftetr cooling. I shall compare this method with that which I followed last year and report results. LEO.