The Abergavenny Mail

NEWENT. GUARDIANS AND RURAL COI-NCIL -Major'W P Thackwell (Chairman) pri -ided at the fort- nightly meeting of the Board of Guardians. The Visiting Committee inspected the Workhouse and found it very satisfactory. The Master reported the number of ininatds as 59, for the same period last year 74 tramps relieved during the fortnight 132, for the two years previously 153 and 127. The folio wing gifts were acknowledged Tea, sugar, sweets, and tobacco, Mrs Beechey cake and sweets, Miss Hutchinson papers and periodicals, Mrs Beechey, Miss Dyke, Miss Newbury, Captain Bruoe Williams, Messrs W J Cook and Sons, and local Press proprietors. The supplemental valuation lists for Newent lighting area and Highleadon were signed. The Newent over- iieers wrote asking for a list of the properties alleged to be unfairly assessed. The Staunton overseers wrote to say that they did not see j their way to alter their supplemental valuation lists submitted for approval on the 9th inst. A I communication was read from the Rural District Councils' Association as to the lopping of trees overhanging footpaths. Messrs Brooks and Badham wrote with reference to thel floods on the highway near the Heath Farm, Dymock.— At the conclusion of the business the Chairman wished all present a very Happy Christmas. THE CHILDREN'S lLTNI[O- -Monday evening was rendered memorable in the history of the Children's Union in connection with the Congregational Church by a very pleasing and successful social. At 6 o'clock the schoolroom was well filled wtth eager and gleeful children. The president having accorded a warm welcome to all, the committee of ladies-Mrs Snelling, Mrs Davis, Miss A Hartland, and Miss R M Morgan-served refreshments, consisting of tea and coffee, sandwiches, cakes, biscuits, etc., which were much enjoyed. An appropriate address was given by the Rev W Pontifex, a recitation by Master Wilfrid Bryan, and an interesting reading entitled Sale by Auction by Mrs Snelling. The Welsh National Anthem, The Land of my Fathers," was rendered by the Rev Kenfig, Miss R M and Master Arnold Morgan. A very valuable contribution to the social was the excellent series of gramophone selections supplied by Mr F Green. A number of hymns were heartily sung by the members, accompanied by the gramophone. At the close I the Rev L Kenfig Morgan called for cheers for Mr and Mrs Eves, Mr Green, for the committee, and all who had assisted. Sweets were distributed j' at intervals, and on leaving each member gladly received an orange and a bun. CHILDREN ENTERTAINED.—On Saturday the children of Pauntley School were regaled with roast beef and plum pudding in the spacious ball-room at Walden Court, through the kind- ness of Miss I M Stelfox, the young daughter of Mr and Mrs J L Stelfox. The ball-rpom was prettily decorated for the occasion, and about 50 children, whose ages ranged from three to 15 years, sat down to dinner. Mr Stelfox carved, while Mrs Stelfox and the house party, consisting of Misses Ivy and Gwendoline Lamb (Dawley), Messrs G R Falconor and Arthur Wainwright (Manchester), with the waiters, attended to the wants of the young guests. After dinner crackers were handed ronnd, the the tables were removed, and the room was prepared for a concert by the house party, which was greatly enjoyed, followed by various parlour games. At the conclusion Mr Stelfox spoke a few words to the children on "Disci- pline." The children then gave hearty cheers, and on leaving each was given buns and oranges. The whole of the catering arrange- merits were satisfactorily carried out by Messrs W J Cook and Sons, Newent.

[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.] BIBLE STUDIES CONDUCTED BY PASTOR RUSSELL. JESUS AND THE CHILDREN. The Lesson: Mark ix. 30-41; x. 13-16. The Text: "Gird yoursplves with humility, to serve one another;, for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble."—1 Peter v. 5 (R.V.). The Master knew that the time of his death drew near. He passed hastily through Galilee, en route tor Capernaum. lie desired this opportunity for breaking gently to his loving disciples the news of his soon- to-be completed sacrifice. While he had previously declared that none could touch him because his hour had not yet come, now he declared that he would be delivered into the liazid-, of men, and they would kill him, and on the third day he would rise from the dead. But the disciples understood net and feared to ask an explanation. They were only natural men, for none were begotten of the Holy Spirit until Pentecost. (John vii. 39; Acts i. 8.) As Jews, they had the thought of the Messianic Kingdom upper- most in their minds. Jesus had authorised them to preach the Kingdom at hand, and had promised them a share in the Kingdom. Until now they were not ready for the further information that the Jewish nation would fail to accept him as the Messiah and would crucify him, and that the Kingdom blessings would be deferred for centuries, The Apostles had heard Jesus utter so many "dark sayings and parables that they were bewildered, and wondered what interpretation to give thce words about his death and resurrection. But their minds naturally drifted to the great hopes before them—that Je^us would soon be King, and they would soon be in honoured positions as his associate-s in the Kingdom. They even disputed amongst themselves respecting the honourable positions thev would occupy, and as to which would be greatest. Little did they understand the great trials and disap- pointments which were only a few days I ahead. Jesus gathered them about him and in- quired respecting their dispute; but they were ashamed to tell him. Then he advised them that the selfishly ambitious who would be seeking honour rather than service would tf disappointed. In his Kingdom, self- seekers would find no place. Then he took a child and set him in their midst and said. "Whosoever shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me." The Master sought to show his disciples that it was not their own greatness that was to be considered. The humblest one among them, if favoured by God. would have a high posi- tion. They were to have the spirit of sym- pathy for one another. BLESSING THE CHILDREN. The second part of our lesson recounts that the great Teacher was a lover of chil- dren, even though, so far as the record shows, he did not generally give them his time. When some fond parents brought their children, desiring him to bless them, the disciples, feeling that the Lord's time was too valuable to be thus used, rebuked them. As the subject of the Kingdom was uppermost in his teachings and in the minds of the disciples, Jesus took this op- portunity of pointing them a lesson. They had, perhaps, been feeling too sure that they would be members of the Kingdom class. They had not yet learned what crucial tests would be applied to those who would be counted worthy to .sit with the Re- deemer in Ills Throne of Glorj* and partici- pate with him in blessing all the families of the earth. Jesus therefore said: "Permit the little children to come unto me; forbid them not; for of such is the Kingdom of God." He took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them and blessed them, thus exhibit- ing his own sympathetic love an humility of heart. He could preach to a Samaritan woman by the-"Well, or take time to fondle the children, notwithstanding the weight of the work upon him and the fact that he realised his course was nearly finished. We are not by the Master's words to understand him to mean that his disciples would not be in the Kingdom, and that all in the Kingdom would be little children. To the contrary, no little children will be in the Kingdom. Only developed, tried, per- fected characters will constitute the over- comers who will sit with the Master in his throne. The thought the Lord would im- press is that even his twelve apostles would not be in the Kingdom unless they became childlike, teachable, plastic, trustful. The proper child, unspoiled by its elders, is dis- posed to be very trustful. All who become children of God must reach this condition of heart as respects the Heavenly Father. Whoever does not attain this condition will not be fit for the Kingdom. Impressing his subject still further Jesus said: "Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child shall not enter therein." The followers of Jesus are not to be childish, but must be childlike. because only the childlike followers will ever participate in the Kingdom. But manifestly none can receive a kingdom until the king- dom has been offered. With the Jewish nation this offer came at the close of Jesus' ministry, when he rode Uito Jerusalem on the ass, offeriag himself as their King. HEAVENLY WISDOM BEST. The worldly scribes and Pharisees were too wise to receive Jesus and plotted for his death. His disciples were as trustful as little children, and fully believed the mes- sage of God's Word that there would be a Kingdom and that Jesus was the appointed King. who in due time would take his power and reign. The multitude cried, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord!" The scribes and Pharisees called out that the multitude should be stopped from thus shouting. But Jesus answered that the I fchout had been foretold by the Prophet. (Zech. ix. 9), and that if the people did not shout, the very stones would cry out, that the prophecy might be fulfilled. It seems remarkable, that after all the Bible has said respecting Messiah's King- dom and the work which it is to accomplish in the blessing of Israel and all the families of the earth, so few seem to, believe the message, to be willing to receive it as little children. The majority to-day, like the scribes and Pharisees of old, are too wise to believe in the possibility of the establish- ment of Messiah's Kingdom. They realise the need of the Kingdom, but they have cer- tain theories of their own which blind them to the Truth. Some mistakenly hold that the Kingdom of Christ was set up at Pentecost, and that he has been reigning ever since, conquering the world. How unreasonable this seems, when we know that even under the most favourable conditions the heathen of the world double every century. How strange that Christians have prayed so long "Thy will be done on earth," as it is now done in Heaven—and yet have not really believed that the Kingdom which was offered to Israel and which they refused is to be established at the Second Coming of Jesus and the resurrection change of his Church. The glorious Gospel of Christ is, "I will come again, and receive you unto myself." He declares that his Church shall sit with him in his Throne, a Royal Priesthood; and that in his Day the righteous shall flourish and all evil-doers shall be cut off in the Second Death. Well did the Apostle warn us not to depart from "the faith once de- livered unto the saints." Well did he tell us that many would depart from that faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doc- trines of demons (I. Tim. iv. 1). Our Golden Text assures us that the Church now being called, to reign in due time, must be girded with humility. Only the humble will re- ceive the great gift of the Kingdom honours and opportunities.

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I CANADIAN NEWS JOTTINGS. I (FROM Qun OWN CORRESPONDENT.) MONTREAL, December 19th. To-day we celebrate the annivcrsnry of the death of one of our great men. A hundred years ago died James McGill, the founder of McG-ill Uni- versity, and a man to be very greatly honoured among the citizens of Montreal. A native of Glas- gow and horn in 1744. lie came to thfs country at a very early age, amassed a fortune as a pioneer merchant and became prominent in the aiTairs of the infant Dominion. By his will he bequeathed $10,000 ( £ 2,COO) and 46 acres cf land for the foundation of a college which should be "named and perpetually be known and distinguished by the appellation of McGill College." From this small beginning has grown Canada's biggest University with students from every part of the world, and a reputation which, in its science faculty at any rate, equals that of any University in the world. The old Burnside" farm, of which the 46 acres eeii- sisted.,is now dotted with nearly a dozen magnificent buildings, and the University has so far outgrown its original ample accommodation that additional property has lately been acquired to allow for its expansion. One of the most conspicuous features of the grounds is the quaint old monument to the founder, which occupies the slope of the hill opposite the building devoted to Arts and Law. Under it rests all that is mortal of old James McGill. HAPPY NEW YEAR. By the time yon get this it will be too late to. wish you A Merry Christmas," but at any rate you may have my sincere good wishes for a Happy New Year." The past year, in spite of clouds on the finiineial horizon, was not a bad one for us here in Canada. The crop was good, and while the crop i«good we need never feel down-hearted. A gcw. rrop means everything to everyone in C'anao, Even to people as far away from the p otigh handle as I am the crop, and the money It brings to the country, mean more than, perhaps, most of us realise. 'SEVENTY BELOW'—A CALUMNY. I Talking of the crop naturally reminds one of the YYV.t, and from the West comes a bitter cry of misre\ i esentation. Alberta complains that her climate has been misrepresented. People have been saying that the temperature in the West falls to 70 below zero in the winter in fact, even here in Eastern Canada we run away with ideas of the Western winter, even more exaggerated than you do on your side of the Atlantic. But Mr. Stupart, Director of the Meteorological Service of Canada, has come to the rescue of Alberta and the West. The severity of the winter is absurdly overrated, he says, and he brings the records of his depart- ment to prove it. The lowest temperature ever registered in Canada is 73 degrees below zero and that was at Fort Vermilion, away up towards the Arctic Circle. The lowest ever recorded at Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, was 56 below; that was a considerable time ago, during an ex- ceptionally hard winter, and the exceptional cold lasted only long enough to get into the socords. As a rule, five or ten below zero is the point -at which the thermometer hovers during the coldest weather, and when there is no wind blowing that temperature is not nearly so cold as it sounds. Mr. Stupart, bye-the-bye, has cold contempt for unscientific weather experts. The Indians, on whom some rely for weather forecasts, are worse than unreliable, he says. You never can place any faith in what the Indians predict," is Mr. Stupart's pronouncement. A few years ago they said that British Columbia was not going to have any winter-it turned out the severest on record." GOOD LUCK AND BAD. I To come back to the record of this year, there has been a curious mixture of good and bad luck in it for many people. Take the Grand Trunk, for example. They had an extraordinary stroke of bad luck the other day when their shops at Port Huron were burned down, and there was a general feeling of commiseration for the road, whose work was interrupted at a moment whea there were heavy demands for new rolling stock to be ready next spring. But by an extra- ordinary stroke of "accidental foresight," so tie speak, the company had just purchased a series of shops at Elshcn, just outside Chicago, not in- tending them for. any very immediate active work or for work of the kind done at Port Huron. So now the Port Huron employees have been moved over to Elshen, and the work so sud- denlv and disastrously ended in Canada is being carried on across the border until the Canadian works can be rebuilt. "OUR HOME COUNTY." A Western correspondent sends me an account of a very successful Yorkshire celebration held at far-away Saskatoon. There were nearly 200 guests, all Yorkshiremen and women by birth or marriage, and they celebrated the occasion of their meeting in a style heartily characteristic of their county. Mr. J. Eadon-Ilenney, a prominent Yorkshire Westerner, proposed the toast of" Yorkshire Our Home County," and Mr. H. Stirk, secretary of the Saskatchewan Yorkshire Society, spoke eloquently on the reason for and meaning of the gathering. A meeting like this in a small Western city may seem a small thing to chronicle, but 1 mention it as illustrating one of the pleasantest features of Canadian life. It is safe to say that all those pre- sent at the meeting are proud to proclaim them- selves as inhabitants of Canada, but they have lost none of the pride in their old county which they brought with them. All over the Dominion you find the men of the different counties associated to. gether, and every year there are great gatherings great," at any rate, in good fellowship, even where only a few of the Men of Kent," or the "Somersetshire Society," or whoever they may be, can manage to get together. The Scots have a reputation for clannishness which they certainly sustain, but the English also can remember old associations and keep up old traditions. A NARROW ESCAPE. j Very nearly you did not get this letter at all!! Your correspondent had a narrow escape from being resolved into his original elements, only five nights ago. Coming home in a tram, I, in common with other passengers, was mildly amused by the antics of two workmen in an obviously happy condition. One of them fell while climbing up the step, and when on the car itself, both men lurched about, bumped into one another and other people in a way that would have been amusing if it had not been uncomfortable for all concerned. Eventually the men became so extremely lively that the conductor was obliged to stop the car and call for a policeman, who duly trundled them off to the cells. Next morning we who had been passengers in the car were able to realise how narrow an escape we had run. In the pockets of each man was found a stick of dynamite complete with fuse and fulminating cap. At any moment if the dynamite had hit anything hard-well, it is not pleasant to think of what would have happened. The men, it seems, have been working for a contractor and had stolen the dynamite from hia storer-

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. INCOME TAX DEMANDS. I To the Editor.' I Sir,—The collectors of taxes are now making their annual distribution of demand notei tor the current year, the tax for which is payable on or before the 1st Januaay next. Before paying the amount demanded your readers should be careful to ascertain that the amount is correct, and that they have been allowed all the deductions to which they are entitled. Particularly they should see that they are not paying Inhabited House Duty and Land Tax, for which they are not liable, as it is generally impossible to obtain any repayment of these duties. Reyayment of Income Tax overpaid can now be claimed for the three years ended 5th April last; this applies, of course, more especially to income derived from invest, ments, house property and annuities, and also claims in respect of life assurance premiums and the allowances for children under 16. j Yours, etc.. j TAX ADJUSTMENT (SCARFF'S) AGENCY. 386, Oxford-street, London, W.

Wedding Cards and Invitations in the newest styles printed at short notice at the I Reporter" Office, Ledbury When you buy a SINGER; SEWING MACHINE | You also buy the help and benefit of vm THE 'SINGER' SERVICE I I I whenever or wherever it may be required. ft L In other words, everything required connected with your Sewing Machine Q —needles, oil, cotton, repairs, parts, or lessons-you can obtain locall ly. There are over 900 Singer Shops, and 5,000 Singer Salesmen in fjt (N Great Britain and Ireland, and each is always ready and anxious D n to give you their expert advice and assistance. U 5 WITH NO OTHER SEWING MACHINE CAN J R'i YOU OBTAIN SUCH A SERVICE V THE SINGER Jl I SIGN Jgyijfel SERVICE (I OF THE SHOPS J ? (OF THE C?Q?S?  f If you require anything for your Sewing Machine, apply to W FJ SINGER SERVICE SHOPS IN THIS DISTRFCT: Qj t #o, Commercial Street, Hereford J 3, St. Nicholas Street, Worcester Vj ? SUB-SERVICE SHOPS: JJL ? Ross, 2. High Street: T. PARSONS, Sales Manager ? Y Link, 6, Colston Buildings, Worcester Road jf4/J ?? USE THE SINGER SERVICE  My complaint in regard to the Singer Service should be addressed to .??!   ?tL?-??—???'at? Singer Sewin Machine Co., Ltd., Management, 42 & 43, J ) 1 \J? f?  D'?? St. Paul's Churcbytrd. London, B.C.   ir/ J   

PROFITABLE POULTRY CULTURE. BY RALPH R ALLEN, Lecturer to the Herts County Council; Editor of Monthly Hints on Poultry, &c. (All rights reserved.) A SUCCESSFUL BREEDING-SEASON. INTRODUCTORY. It's been such a bad breeding-season," is a remark one frequently hears, and I am afraid often made use of as a consolation when failure appears. Overbearing this expression so constantly, and feeling absolutely convinced of its fallacious self-deceptive nature, it occurred to me that a treatise thoroughly dissecting and subjecting to critical examination the many details which conjointly make or mar a breeding-season would not only be most acceptable to many, but also assist them to avoid the pitfalls (which otherwise only ex- perience, at a great expense of both money and time, could teach them), and thus eventually abolish, or at all events minimise, the use of this most objectionable and delusive observation. The increased interest in poultry culture has naturally attracted both brains and capital to the industry, causing rapid develop- ment in knowledge, management, stock, and appliances, and my opinion, founded on practical experience, is that by perseverance and an intelligent application of the informa- tion at our disposal, we are in a unique position, almost if not entirely independent of nature. With us, then, is the responsi- bility of success or of failure, and as we willingly accept the pleasures of the former, let us equally be honest and acknowledge our errors w hen the latter obtains. Occasion- ally failure may be caused by circumstances over which we have not control, but in the great majority of cases a careful perusal of the information contained in this treatise, practically carried out with that indomitable energy so essential in poultry-farming, will entire success. < It is not my intention to write a scientific book, nor to give the why and wherefore such works abound. I am simply desirous of placing before you errors, both of com- mission and omission, which militate against success, and details which must receive attention to command success. The suggestions are divided into three parts, the first extending to the time we have obtained our eggs, the second devoted to the incubation stage, and the third to rearing the youngsters. My New Year's wish to you is that my thesis may be of practical assistance, aud that you may enjoy and experience a more successful breeding-season than hitherto. A DEFINITE OBJECT. There are so many different departments in poultry culture that unless one possesses a definite policy and strictly adheres to it, be may be compared to a rudderless ship-he may land safely, but the hw of averages is decidedly against him. Whether exhibition or utility, fattening birds or selling eg-s, or even the day-old chick industry attracts your attention, the determining factor of your enterprise is a successful breeding-season. W* J.I IIWIIIMIIlBIWiWgMMgaWWBM———■El—- The preliminaries to be observed to ensure success, in a greater or lesser degree, vary under each of these headings, and again differ if the objective is two or more in combination consequently I cannot be too authoritative in advising you to map out a course of action, and to strictly adhere to it, opportunities and circumstances permitting. I A WARNING. I Although I lay great stress upon tabulat- ing a definite policy and adhering to same, Jet one of your chief considerations in arriv- ing at it be, What are my capabilities ? This involves questions of experience, finance, acreage of farm, location of same, suitable breeds adapted to your neighbour- hood. a study of local markets and their requirements each and every one of these must be carefully considered before the decision is arri ved at.. SELECTION OF STOCK. Having decided your plan of campaign the selection of breeding stock to suit your requirements becomes the first necessity. The selection may be made from stock you. already possess or acquire by purchase. It is not my province to attempt to influence you to any particular branch of poultry culture, simply to assist you when that determination is made. I am attempting t. cater for all, so that some of my remarks will be general and some apply only to indi- vidual requirements. It is, however, opportune at this stage to mention that, beyond their initial cost, pure- bred birds are no more expensive to breed and rear than mongrels, whilst; the prices realised by the sale of stock and eggs of the former more than remunerate for the extra primary outlay of capital. Their increased prolificacy, if judiciously selected, is also a point worthy of consideration. [ [Any enquiries concerning poultry- keeping addressed to our expert, Ralph R Allen. Savvbridgeworth, Herts., will be answered through these columns free, but those requiring a postal answer direct or sending birds for postmgaem examination must remit a half-crown postal order.]

A NOTABLE NEW YEAR NUMBER. A very brilliant New Year number is provided in the January issue of the" Windsor Magazine," which shows no falling off from the high achievement of the preceding Christmas Number in either variety or im- portance. Among the fiction by famous novelists, for instance, is to be found a large second instalment of Sir H Rider Haggard's fascinating new romance from the career of his famous hero, Allan Quartermain, The Holy Flower," in which the interest of this strange adventure mounts steadily higher, and shows that this is to be one of the most important of its distinguished author's many works. Then there is the second complete episode in Halliwell Sutcliffe's charming new series, The White Horses," in which the author's characteristic style gives charm to a period of English history somewhat earlier than those which he has previously treated with such success, and that master of rustic comedy, Eden Pbillpotts, contributes one of the most delightful short stories of Devonshire life and character that has yet come from his prolific pen. Among the other stories are a very beautiful and touch- ing little romance by Warwick Deeping, a brilliant comedy by Dornford Yates, and a strenuous story of adventure by Fred. M White. Among the articles is an interesting account by Miss N Hadden, the well-known artist, of a journey made by herself and two friends with the Bedouins to Wady Abu Salama, on their annual pilgrimage, which is accom- panied by a number of illustrations- from the author's drawings made at the time. Charles G D Roberts contributes a new study of Wild Life, which is as picturesque as any of its predecessors, and under the title of Famous Brothers there is a second series of portraits of well-known men of our time who belong to groups of two or more brothers of either parallel or divergent talents, the aeries including excellent likenesses of Lord Charles Beresford and his brothers; the Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, and his brother; the two Zangwills Silas and Joseph Hocking the five sons of the late Lord Russell of Killowen Lord St Davids and his two brothers, Colonel Ivor Philipps and Sir Owen Philipps; H B Irving and Laurence Irving, and other men well known in various walks of public life. The ifne-art feature consists of a survey of the art of that versatile Victorian painter of many Biblical and other historical subjects, Edward Armitage, R.A., which is accom- panied by seventeen reproductions from his principal pictuies, including a finely-printed plate in colours from his dramatic painting, Julian, the Apostate." Other articles add further variety to a number of exceptional value and importance which is finely illustrated throughout.

18 sent to the Reporter Office, Ledbury, will I ensure a copy of this paper being sent post fiee every Friday evening for a quilrter (13 weeks).

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TEACHERS REJECT PROPOSALS OF EDUCATION AUTHORITY. The Herefordshire Teachers and the National Union of Teachers have rejected the proposal to increase the salaries of some of the head teachers made by the Hereford- shiae Education Committee on Saturday last. The Education Committee granted increases of from tl to £4:0 where they considered the Government reports justified such increases, the total increase amounting to XI,232 103.. and in addition to that X70 was added to the salaries of assistant teachers. At a mass meeting of the teachers held at Hereford on Monday a resolution was unani- mously adopted demanding a scale. The resolution read as follows That this meeting of the Herefordshire teachers emphatically declares that the proposals of the Local Education Com- mittee are totally unsatisfactory, and that no solution of the present difficulty can be arrived at which does not provide a scale of salaries satisfactory to the Union and the teachers of the county. This meeting expresses its full confidence in the county association and the executive of the National Union of Teachers, and uphold them in their determination to obtain a scale of adequate salaries. The chief speaker at Monday's meeting was Sir James Yoxall, M.P., secretary of the National Union. Mr W A Nicholls, the local representative of the Union, said the Local Education Authority bad offered only one increase of 140, and that was in respect to the school at Ross. The headmaster formerly received £ 180, which amount was reduced to Y,160 by the Education Committee. Now he had been offered Y,200, which was the biggest salary in the county. Two others were offered an increase of £ 30, but they were nearing the end of their service. Eleven increases of 120 were offered, but the bulk of increments were from £5 to £10 (43 of £10 and 49 of £5). In 60 cases no in- crease at all was suggested. The local authority had not touched the cerlificated assistant teachers and had done nothing for the uncertificated teachers. There was no guarantee whatever that there would be any improvement in the salaries in the future beyond the statement that the position of the teachers would be considered every year. The Union was aiming at a scale of adequate salaries for good service. The teachers, whose notices expire next month, state that the strike will proceed, in which case practically all the schools will be left without teacher. ————— —————.

SIR J. YOXALL, M.P., AND THE I QUESTION OF SCALE. There is every evidence that the teachers of Herefordshire are determined upon a strike. For the last nine years they have been agitating for a scale of salaries, but this has been refused, the local education authority preferring to deal with the head masters and teachers upon their individual merits. The Salaries Committee have been revising the salaries so as to make them not less than those paid to teachers holding similar positions in similar counties, and on Saturday last the Education Committee granted increases amounting to over £1,300 per annum. On Monday the teachers refused to accept this as a solution of the trouble. Interviewad on the subject, Sir James Yoxall, M.P., secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said The Education Committee's decision acknowledges two things, although grudginly-first, that the teachers have been most inadequately paid in the past, and, secondly, that the National Union of Teachers is a powerful organisa- tion, whose requests, when they are reason- able, must be entertained. The increases in salaries seemed to be based upon no system. Some of the increases are as low as 11, one as high as £ 40, only two are Y,30, the bulk being X5 or Y,10, while many have no increases at all. No principles that one can discover have been applied to the offers of amended salaries, and length of service does not appear to have been counted. These proposals are unsuitable and the teachers at their meeting on Monday renewed their request for a sale. As to the National Union of Teachers, the local Education Committee evidently do not recognise the kind of body they are dealing with. It has been acknowledged in Parliament over and over again that the union is working chiefly for the benefit of I the school and the child, and also secondarily for the private benefit of the teacher." It j was not an aggressive or selfish body. Every resonable method had been tried, but the Herefordshire Education Committee had shown a lack of comprehension or concession. The union would now stand by its present position. During the year 1912 there was an increase in the membership of the union of 10,000, and the total strength was now about 88,000; while ample funds were forthcoming no matter how long the present dispute lasted. If the Herefordshire teachers left, 1 who would take their places ? There was a dearth of teachers everywhere. It would only be by raising the salaries at the Here- fordshire schools to an almost extravagant extent that the committee would be able to attract teachers from elsewhere, and surely it would be botter to induce the present teachers to stay. Sir James added that if the local education authority desired to know what the union considered to be a suitable scale for teachers  in Herefordshire they would be happy to j furnish the information or if they would I like to meet representatives of the union and local teachers they would attend, provided they were beard together and not separately. He personally was quite ready to do anything reasonable, proper, and fair to the teachers to assist in the direction of a settlement. But," added Sir James, We are firm upon the question of a scale which shall be satisfactory."

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