South Wales Weekly Post

WRITING to the agent entrusted with the purchasing of the stores for the forthcoming Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedi- tion, Sir Ernest Shackleton uses these words "I consider the question of the concentrated beef supply is most im- portant— it must be Bovril Men who trust their lives to their food take no risks, and Sir Ernest Shackleton, planning this expedition with &-4 intimate a knowledge of stores as of ioi and snow, has recognised the scientifically proved value of Bovril. The independent scientific investiga- tion which proved the Body-building power of Bovril to be from 10 to 20 times the amount taken was carried out by one of the foremost physiologists of the Kingdom on behalf of a Govern- ment Department, and the results obtained applied to Bovril and Bovril alone. S.B.B.

ELECTION IN MAY. POLITICAL SENSA- TION- UNIONIST LEADER SAYS "NOT FAR OFF." Speaking at High Wyoombe on Monday the Marquis of Lincolnshire, who as Earl Garrmgton was formerly President of the i>. •sjd oi Agriculture and a member of the Gaixinct, referred to the fact that small- holders had to contribute to a sinking fund on land which will eventually belong to the State, and went on to make the following statement: He had asked the Chancellor of the Ex- dvequar whether he might state that at the first meeting of the House in June next, when the Liberal party was again returned to power, and when the Land Bill was brooight m, provision would be made for this charge to be removed. Mr. Lloyd George had sent him a telegram in which appmred the word "Yes." The words at the first meeting of tihe House in June next, when the Liberal pasty is again returned to power," seem, on the face of them, to indicate a General Election in may. NOT FAR DISTANT." I Unionist Leader's Warning to His I Party. In a letter to the Liverpool Wariring Men's Conservative Association Mr. Booar ¡. writ.es th.a.t he ie oonvijicad thai ft general election is "not far distant." The Unionist headquarters have aleo cir- oukxiaed their agente in the coumtry, warn- ing them to be prepared for a geneml tion in May. In stating his conviction of the approach of a general election the leader of the Op- position (states the "Evening Standard") is not making use of an idle expression or indulging in an empty phopihecy. Mr. Lam's conviction is based upon the know- ledge that aroamstan-cm will amge whxh 'will compel the Government to go to the country before the coming session of ParMa- meatt has ran its full course.

WELSH MAKERS. I WATCHING. REDUCTION OF U.S.A. TIN- I PLATE TARIFF.- Figures are proving that, with the reduc- tion of the American tinplate tariff from 5s. 7id. to 2s. per cwt., considerably more ship- ments are taking place from Wales' across the Atlantic. But the rosiest anticipations, however, do not suggest that Wales will recapture her lost trade with the United States, for mak- ers there have already reduced their prices, and in the leading manufacturing oeritlea Wales could not hope to successfully com- pete under the present conditions. It is far from these manufacturing centros th-at Welsh hopes lie, for the increased railway freights allow of competition on more even terms. The N markets are being carefully watched by Welsh makers, and while some orders have already been booked in this direction there is every prospect of far greater business fol- lowing. DISTINCTLY HOPEFUL. I The rebate trade returns are distinctly hopeful, official figures showing that where- as in 1912 the United States imported from this country for their rebate trade hardly more than 2,000 tons, the figures of 1913, covering some months of the new tariff, fihow the total to be over 21,000 tons. Welsh tinplate makers are reticent to ex- press themselves regarding the future; but one thing is certain, our trade with America is more hopeful now than it has been for toany years past.

FREEDOMS OF SWANSEA. Question of Making Caskets Locally. Swansea Parliamentary and General Puiposes Committee on Tuesday, Mr. pd. Matthews (chairman) presiding, con- sidered "the question of details concerning the conferring of the honorary freedom of the borough upon Sir John Llewelyn, Bart., Mr. Dd. Davies, M.P., Mr. Roger and Mr. John Dyer, J.P. It was stated that on the occasion of the honour being conferred upon Baroness Cederstrom the casket was made at the Swansea Municipal School of Arts and Crafts, and it was decided to ask Mr. Grant Murr%7, the principal, to submit a design for the present caskets. As to whether these are to he made locally de- pends upon the time in which they could be executed, and Mr- Murray was asked to attend the next meeting of the oom-I mittee. THE NEW HIGH-STREET STATION: I « r if rfc ii it A letrer rrom ivilr. -rorwr, Tine general manager of the Great Western Railway Company, on the subject of the proposed unprovement of thse ub* ect of 'the proposo d improvement of the High-street Station, wa§ referred to the next meeting.

COL. J. R. WRIGHT. Out Once More. Many friends of Col. J. R. Wright were ielighted to see him driving out on Wednes- day for the first time since his long illness.

MOLESKINS.—Gerrardfl, Furriers, I i Edinburgh, pay highest prices. Cash—Pioneers of this industry. Send far paafticalaflk 231w2-7

SUNDAY TRADING I a WHY PART OF THE I ACT ? f OPEN LETTER TO WATCH COMMITTEE. PROBLEM OF OUT-DOOR TRADING I Gentlemen,—You recently received a dc- putation from tne Swansea Branch of the National League for the Suppression of Sun- day Labour and Trading in Wales. As Sec- retary of an Association that took some part in the previous fight over th." question in Swansea, and of which many of the Sunda% Traders are members, I have been asked to place their case before you. With ail that wad said in regard to the need of one day's rest in seven, we are in thorough agreement. I do not wish to dis- cuss the rightness or wrongness of Sunday Trading per se or the need of legislation in regard to the matter. We should not tor a moment attempt to justify ail sorts of Trad- ing on Sunday. a wlah to see Sunday pre- served as the day upon winch most people have their weekly holiday. The view we take is that if Sunday is to be a real holiday for the vast majority, some amount of la- bour and trading is necessary to ensure the happiness of others, but any legislat-i-on which, provides one day's rest for all em- ployee' and provides reasonable exemptions from any compulsory Sunday Closing i_lav- will receive our support. But as we read the position, the immediate question before the Watch Committee is, not whetiier Sunday Trading is right or wrong, but whether there exists any Statutory Powers for deal- ing with it, and whether it is advisable to exercise such powers as may be possessed. This is the question I wish to deal with. For the sake of argument I will adm:t th?! Sunday trading is bad. I wish to show in as dispassionate and as courteous a. manner as possible that it is inadvisable to proceed m the matter except by agitating for up-to- date legislation. I need not remind you, Gentlemen, that the only Statute which you could enforce against these traders is 29, Charles II., Cap. 7. This is a somewhat long Statute and very little of jt has been repealed. It is urged that although this is an Old Statute it has never been repealed; that it is still on the Statute Book and should be enforced. Allow me to call your attention to its pro- visions, because, contrary to popular ideas, it deals with other matters than Sunday Trading and with other persons than the Shopkeeper. The Act is for the better ob- servation of the Lord's Day, commonly called Sunday, and it commences by saying that all the Laws enacted and enforced concern- ing the observation of the Lord's Day and repairing to church, be put into execution. So much by the way of preamble. We are advised that the first Section dealing with offences for which there is a penalty pro- vided, reads as follows:- And that all and every Person and Persons whatsoever, shall on every Lord's Day apply themselves to the observation of the same, by exercising themselves thereon in the duties of Piety and True Religion, publickly and privately and that no Tradesman, Artificer, Workman, Labourer, or other person whatsoever shall do or exercise any worldly Labour, Business or work of their ordinary callings upon the Lord's Day, or any part thereof (Works of Necessity and Charity only ex- cepted) and. that every person being of the age of fourteen years or upwards, of- fending in the premises, shall fot every such offence forfeit the sum of Five Shil- lings. Let me point out that the offence here is "FOLLOWING ONE'S ORDINARY I CALLI-NO on Sunday. It -a no offence to trade or do things on Sunday, if such do not constitute the ordinary worldly occupation of the per- son. On the previous occasion referred to, only one class of offenders, the tradesmen, were proceeded against, and I notice a great deal was said by the recent deputation about the tradesman. But is the tradesman the only person in Swansea who is breaking thfcs Section? Does the Deputation now wish for the whole of this Section to be enforced? if not, why not? It is still on the Statute Book; or vill they be satisfied if, in the name of Religion and Justice, the trader alone is fined week by week. The nurit Section provides — No Person or Persons whatsoever shall publickly cry or shew forth, or expose to Sale, any Wares, Merchandizes, Fruit, Herbs or Chattels whatsoever, upon the Lord's Day, or any part thereof, upon the Pain that, every person so offendmg shall forfeit the same Goods so cried or shewed forth, or exposed to sale." Now this Section provides a good illus- tration of the absurdity of attempting to en- force this Act to-day. If by enforcing the Act you could Stop Sunday Trading, your Committee might feel justified in enforcing it, but you cannot. and this Section illus- trates very clearly the futility of the whole proceedings. Let us see what happened in Swansea before. As a result of the prosecu- tions the smaller shops closed, but trading did not cease, for 9 or 10 of the bigger tra- ders found that in consequence of capturing a good deal of the trade previously done in the smaller shops they were able to pay the fine and snap their fingers at the Law. and make a good thing in consequence of the VALUABLE MONOPOLY BESTOWED I UPON THEM by the Watch Committee, and the faci. is not without significance that none of these Traders worked with us i<n our efforts to stop the prosecutions, or contributed a penny to OUT funds when the prosecutions ceased. After closing many of the shops it was found that newspapers were being sold to an increasing extent in the streets. It was then thought only faar t,hat a« the shopkeepers had been stopped the street sellers should be iftopped also, and so pollers of newspap-p-m in the streets were proceeded against under the seoond Section. But those who sug- gested this course of action had not paid sufficient attention to the Aot. After the summonses had been issued it was pointed out boy us that it was impossible to stop the sa le of papers in the streets for the fol- lowing reasons:—The penalty under this Section is not a sum of money but forfeiture of the goods; further, that THE GOODS COULD NOT BE SEIZED -it the time they were exposed for sale, and oould not be seized without a warrant, and that a warrant could not be applied for "until after" a conviction; so that it was perfectly obvious, if the goods oould not be seized until some days after they were of- fered for sale, the whole thing became a farce. If the police seized them without a warrant action could be taken against them for illegal trespass to goods. I may say that we have the highest legal authority tn' saying this, and I am quite prepared to sub- mit to Mr. Griffith Jones, who I understand is a barrister, and formed one of the de- putation, or to any member of your com mittee, a copy of the case we drew uo for Counsel's Opinion and the Opinion signed by Horace Avory, Charles Matthews. ,Ld Geoffrey Lawrence. Further, in the d,se of street sellers you have no power even to m- flict costs, so that the position is tbie--by prosecuting the shopkeeper you drive his trade into the hands of the street seller. I respectfully urge that this is a point worthy I of serious consideration. Would you rather have papers sold in the streets than quietly in the shops? As you cannot stop the sale in the streets surely it is unfair to prose- cute the shopkeeper for selling quietly in his shop? The next Section of the Act provides: — That no Drover, Waggoner, Butcher, Higler, their or any of their servants, shall travel or come into his of their Inn or Lodging upon the Lord's Day or any Part thereof, upon the pain that each and every such offender shall forfeit Twenty Shillings for every such offence.' And a fu.rthwr provisian:- "That no Person or Persons shall use, employ or travel upon the Lord's Day with a,ny Baa-t, Whorry, Lighter oa- Barge, ex- cept it be upou extraordinary occasion, to be allowed by some Justice of the Peace of the County, or Head Officer or some Justice of the Peace of the City, Bcaougih, or town Corporate. where the fact shall be com- mitted upon the pain that every Person so offending shall forfeit and lose the sum of Five Shillings for every such Offonoe." I have no doubt that most of the shops open on Sunday come under the fallowing ruews :Confectioners, tobacconists, hair- dressers, newsagents, refreshment shops, few chip potato and fried fish shops, and ■snail general shops. Now I submit that it is worth considering how far you can close these by enforcing the Act. You oould not close the hairdresser hc- cause it has been held Palmer v. Snow, King's Benoh, 1900, that these are not ivradere or artificer's within the meaning oi ;,i1-e Act. You could not clo&e refreshment shop keepers seeing that their license al- lows them to supply refreshments for con- sumption on the promises. In reference to eonfectioiners I should like to point out two things. In the first place the larger one's would remain open in sipite of prosecutions, and in the second place it could BIt any rate be partially evaded by taking out refresh- ment licenses which many alxendy possess, and which give them a legal right to remain opetn the whole of Sunday (S?e Parker v. !farris, King's Bench, 1909) to sell mineral waters, ices, hct drinks, cakes, in fact any- thing in the nature of refreshments to be consumed on the premises. I understand that this class of shop, which is FREQUENTLY KEPT BY A FOREIGNER, is the place particularly complained of by the Deputation, and they apparently think you have only to enforce the Act of Charles II., and these shops will straight avvav be closed. Such would not be the case, and has not been the case, whenever or wherever the Act has been enforced. As I have pointed out, if they like to confine the-iir sales to things of the nature of refreshments to be consumed on the premises. they can have their shops open and fill them with lads and lasses, and the Act is powerless to stop them. If it is true that gambling and other objectionable practices take place on these premises, surely the same thing hap- pens on week-days as well as on Sunday, and there are other ways of dealing with such things. The Act of Charles 11'. will not prevent them. Many of them would no doubt continue to sell on Sunday, ?.s during the week, anything and everything to be -eaten on or off the premises, and of course would then come under the Act of Charles II., ao far as they sold for consump- i tion off the premises; but this would not prevent them opening in Swansea any more than it does in other plaoas. These will, if others do not, open as usual and pa y the fine. Fish potato shops cam open with im- punitty as it has be,m held in Bnllen v. Ward, King's Bench, 1905. that these shops come within the meajiing of oook shops and are exempted under the Act. I haive already shown that you cannot stop the sale of papers on Sunday. I ask then, is it advisable to enforce an Act which will close down a few small shops, and leave open a few of the biggest of- fenders, who will really gain considerably by your action# I further submit that it is unfair to en- force one part of one Section of an Act and ignore the others. If the Act is to be en- forced, let it be enforced in its entirety and let not onlv shopkeepers but others who are, breaking the Act be punished as well. If the object is to secure a better j observation of Sunday, why stop at the Act of Oharles II., and why stop at the shopkeeper? There are a great num- ber of Acts relating to Sunday Observance wholly or partially still on the Statute Book, eleven relating to manufacture and commerce, five relating to travelling, five relating to amusements nnd pastimes. Why not proceed under the Act of diaries r., which forbids meetings, assemblies or concourses of peopla out of their own parishes on the Lord's Day for any sports or pastimes whatsoever? Why not prosecute these well-to-do golf players? Why not prosecute the chauffeur who drives the rich man's car? Surely these things are as much a desecration of the Sabbath as selling a pennyworth of sweets or a bottle of ginger-beer In conclusion, may I point out that it is because of the difficulties in connection with enforcing this Act, the insufficiency of the fines, and so on, that the Act is generally disregarded throughout the country. It is true that occasionally the Act is put into operation here and there, but the Local Authorities have found that doing so, they have stirred up' a "hornet's nest. Look at the two recent illustrations, Southport and York. Here the Traders' naturauyl turned and took out summonses against the Corporation and other persons for also breaking one Section or another of this Old Act. In both cases the prosecutions against the shopkeepers were abandoned. It is proved everywhere that such prosecu- tions are unpopular. The matter has recently been before places like Liverpool, Wolverhampton, Halifax, Oldham, etc., etc., and after considering the matter they decided not to enforce the Act. At Wolver- hampton, before cominer to their decision, the Chief Constable was instructed to address the following questions to the Chief Constables of every Police Force in England (1) Are the provisions of the Sunday Observance Act, 1677, enforced in your jurisdiction? (2) If so, what, do you con- sider the effect c-f the same to be? (3) What method of procedure is followed in bringing the case before the Court? i (4) Have you any local Acts or Bye-laws dealing with Sunday Trading: if so, can you furnish me with a copy of the same? In 98 towns th- Act is not in force; in six of thess towns there are Bye-laws relating to the sale of newspapers and hawking on Sundays; and in fifteen towns the Act is in force more or less. The fifteen towns are :—Shrewsbury ("But not strictly"), Gravesend, Maidstone ("Occasionally"). Bedford, Dudley ("Not satisfactory and looked on as a great hardship"), Hull ("Makes no appreciable difference in number of cases"), King's Lynn, Burnley ("Occasionally in special cases looked upon as a cheap advertise- ment"), Middlesborough ("Sometimes, very difficult to express opinion"), Aocrington ("Yes, so far as shops where there is a nuisance caused by people congregating and causing annoyance to residents and passengers"), B-verley ("Yes, one man, an Italian, is prosecuted weekly"), Liverpool ("Not been enforced here, but on 6th inst. Watch Committee resolved to enforce the Act"), Hereford, Congleton, Great Grimsby. Liverpool afterwards reversed their decision and decided not to prosecute. I have no doubt that in Swansea, as else- where, a number ot people are strongly opposed to Ruridev trading, yet I venture to suggest that the majority of these are opposed to the putting intr- on era tion of this old Statute against offenders. I remain, gentlemen. Yourt respectful'v, WILLIAM LEAVI. General Secretary. I The Shopkeepers' and Small Traders' Protection Association. Chief Office, 160, Fleet-street, London. Central South Wales Office, 102, Broadway, Cardiff. 1 y

SWEEPING CONCESSiONSI GLASGOW PAPER AND ULSTER CRISIS. The 1. Glasgow Herald" on Wednesclay says: on Tuesday afternoon the Prime Minister will make a statement in the House of Commons which may completely change the politic.il situation in regard to Ulster. I It is reported that the concessions to be announced ate of the most sweeping descrip- ti(mi and cover practically everything short j (? eotohMMn."

BIG 8CHEME. i< I IMPROVED TRANSIT. MOTOR 'BUS FLEET FORI SWANSEA AREAS. I Important Project. I An important company is being formed with capital of £ 5C,1XK)—styled the South Wales Motor Company—with headquarters at. Swansea, to provide a fleet of motor buses for working the immediate districts d Swansea. The company's activities locally at the cutset will consist, ir, placing up-to-date motor 'buses on the Mumbies-road; from Cwmbwrla outwards to Llanelly from Ynis- rorgan to Pontardawe, and from Morriston towards Neath. The 'buses will be of handy type, and EACH WILL COST OVER £ 800. I There will be about 12 at the outset. I The vehicles wul act as feeders.to the l present tramways, and by the facilities thoy will offer for easy and swift transit will make Swansea more than ever an attractive marketting and other centre for all the sur- rounding areas. The fact that MT. Tegstmeier (chairman of the Swansea Tramways and Improvement Co. and ot her companies) is to be chairman of the new concern provides the assurance that SERIOUS BUSINESS IS MEANT. I Action is to be taken at once. In fact, eo II far as the motor 'buses entering the borough I are concerned, the Swansea Watch Com- mittee will probably be asked to inspect one of the new vehicles at the next meet- ing. 3

SIGNED IN A BARN I WEST WALES WILL I CLERGYMAN AND FARMER'S DAUGHTER. In the Probate Court on Tuesday (before I Mr. Justice H or ridge) the case of Jones v. Owens came on for hearing. This was asuit, brought, to test the valid- ity of a will, dated 28th May, 1909, of Mr. Richard Jones, a farmer, late of Caecetn Farm, Pontyeates, Llanelly, who died on April 1st, 1910. The plaintiff, Mr. John Jonej (elder son of the testator) asked for tiio revocation cf probate of the will, and the Rev. David Gorlech Jones, of Bodiwan, Kidwelly, and Mr. Thomas Owens, of Heil- gwyn, Pontyeates, as executors, propounded the will. Mr. D. Cotes Preedy (instructed by the London agents of Mr. T. R. Ludford, Llanelly) appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr. Llewellyn Williams, K.C., M.P., and Mr. Wil-lock (instructed by the London agents of Messrs. Brodie and Walton, Llanelly) for the defendants. Mr. Llewellyn Williams, opening the case in support of the will, on behalf of the de- fendants, faid they were the executors. The will had already been admitted to probate in common form. The plaintiff was the eld- est son of the testator and he knew of the existence of the will but did not dispute it at the time. The testator started life as a schoolmaster; then he became a licensed vic- tualler and a farmer, and bought two farms. He also had some other property. In the will, which the defendants were setting up, he left all his property for life to his wife, who was still alive, and after her death the property was to be divided between the younger son, Thomas Jones, and his daugh- ter, Elizabeth Jones, subject to all annuity of JS20 a year to be paid to the plaintiff, who now disputed the due execution of the will. He had made a will in February, 1906, and in 1909 he asked the Rev. D. Gorlech Jones to draw up A NEW WILL for him, which varied very little from tne earlier will. It diminished the plaintiff's annuity from L20 to 215 and made provi- sion for a house built on the farm called Mcorland being shared by the second son and daughter. The will was drawn up ac- cording to the testator's instructionis and was signed in a barn adjoining the house in the presence of two witnesses. The tee- ttor stated that he made greater provision iar the younger children because he had previously given money to the elder son. The Rev. David Gorlech Jones gave evi- dience as to the execution of the will and said he read it over to the testator who said In was satisfied with its provisions. Cross examined by Mr. D. Cotes Preedy, witness said the estate amounted to about £ 2,600. This farm is likely to become very valu- able land, is it not?-—I do not krlow any- thing about the value of the land. But collieries have been springing up there?- Y es, there are some. I suggest it is worth £5,000 Y-Oh no. Witness denied that he had any interest under the will. Are you not engaged to Elimbeth Jones, who practically takes it all? Do you in- tend to marry her?-No. (Laughter.) Do you hope to marry her?-No. (Laugh- ter.) Were you not engaged to Elizabeth Jones in 1906?—No, I was net. Have you ever been engaged in your ];ife? — Mr> DID NOT A LADY SUE YOT3 I for breach of promise of marriage7-1 never I made any promise. I did not pay a farth- ing damages. His Loidship- What happened to the I breach of promise .suit? Witness It was dropped. His Lordship (to counsel): Suppose he did intend to marry the daughter; there is no undue influence pleaded in this case? Pi-eedy I a.m not suggesting undue influence. Mr. Herbert Lloyd gave evidence as to attesting the will and as to the testator's capacity. a farmer, a l so spoke Mr. William Harris, a farmer, alao spoke to attesting the will. Mr. Thomas Jones gave evidence to cor- I i rooorrate. I Mr. Cotes Preedy: The Rev. Gorl, ech, I 7- VERY FOND OF YOUR SISTER 1 | isn t her Witnep'; Well, like everybody else. Mr. Cotes Preedy Oh, they are all fond of her! (LaughteT.) At the close of the evidence Mr. Cotes Preedy said he had niven advice to his client and he -would not further contest the I case. His Lordship gave judgment for defend- ants and nronotmoed for the will, with costs. I

I WELL-KNOWN SWANSEA I CASHIER. —— I Sudden Death of Mr. Harry Rees, I of Russell-street. The many friends of Mr. Harry Roes, of 24, Russell-street, Swansea, will learn with sincere regret that he died on Tuesday morning. i The deceased, who was 39 years of age, was cashier at the office of Mr. W. J. Reee, the Laurels, in which employ/ he had been from boyhood. Although not robust, he was onlv taken seriously ill on Friday last, and toO the con- storiiatiiin of his family he passed away as sstated. He leaves a widow, who is the daughter of Captain Wm. Tamlin, the well-known Swansea pilot.

The Deputy Borough Coroner held an inquest at the Land ore Police Station on Tuesdav afternoon on John James (72), of 37, Freeman-street, Brynhyfryd, who died suddenly on Shnclay. Dr. Thomas stated that deceased was dPMl when he arrived, and a verdict, of "Death from natural causes" was returned.

A 2iD. MIL I 2 "MORE POLICE" CRY EXCHEQUER CONTRIBU- TION POSITION. Swansea Pointer." Th-e SwajYs-ea Oonst13 is urging the addition of 58 more men to the force, to make it thoroughly efficient and up to the numbers in other large towns. The Watch Committee have yet to consider' the matter. The matter is a very important one, not only from the police point of view but from the ratepayers', and we axe able to state on the best authority that such an addition would MEAN A 2d. RATE. I There is an impression that the Exchequer contributions equal half of the cost of the -i l f of the c?)st of the police force. This is quite erroneous. The Exchequ-er grants are diverted for a variety of purposes no increase can be anticipated, and should the local police authority divert any more money to the police they would be taking it away from other objects which would have to be met from the rates. Con- sequently the result would be as broad as it is long. Last vear BETWEEN £16.000 and £ 17,000 WAS RECEIVED by Swansea from Exchequer contributions. This sum does not come in one sum, but is made up of various amounts at various in- tervals, a.nd Swansea has got to administer the money in accordance witli the Acts of Parliament. More could be allotted to the police, it is true, but, as indicated, other objects would suffer accordingly. Last year the total cost of the Swansea Police Force came to £ 19,403. THE EXCHEQUER CONTRIBUTION represented £ 7,512. This source provides part payments for police, melical officer's salary, main roads, sala,nes (proportion) of union officers and registrar of births and deaths, teachers in .poor-law schools, and Education Act charges. If after meeting these charges there remains any balance it would go to the credit of the rates. But experience shows there is no balance. If you expend more on any one of these objects (given above), said Mr. Ashmole, the Borough Accountant, to a Daily Post reporter on W&An ocn a "L- expense MUST COME OUt OF THE RAT and by, for instance, adding 58 more police- men the cost is increased JB5,300, equiva- lent to a 2d. rate. As a matter of fact, the Exchequer contribution grant for the present moment has reached its end, and it can stand no further grants and if fur- ther grants are charged on it. the deficit will ha-ve to come againat the general rate." Conuently the position resolves itself thus. Are the ratepayers agreeable to 58 moTe policemen being added at a cost of a 2 id. rate I The view of many people i. that such a large number is not absolutely necessary. THE POLICE INSPECTION "OFF" I The annual police inspection by Mr Dunning, Government inspector, was ar- ranged to take place at the Drill Hall. Swansea, on Wednesday morning, at 11 o'clock, but after the men (150L including ing mount-ed men, had turned up, the in- timation was conveyed that Mr. Dunning. though in Swansea, was suffering from malaria, and could not make the inseection that day. The proceedings consequently had to be postponed, and the inspection will take place in a week or fortnight's time.

SWANSEA'S NEW CLOCK. TUESDAY'S "W'INDING- UP" CEREMONY. LATEST ADDITION TO Y.M.C.A. | BUILDINGS. "May I express the hope that the clock I may be a model of rectitude to the Asso- ciation of which you are so worthy the head, and prove of use to the people of this neighbourhood. With the&e few words Mr. Walter Webber handed over the new Swansea Y.M.C.A. clock (which he had presented) to Sir John Llew- elyn, the president of the Association, on Tuesday afternoon, in the presence of a select company, on the roof garden of the Association buildings, at the Page-street corner. Amongst those present were the Mayor and Mayoress (Aid. and Mrs. Corker), Sir John Llewelyn, Lady Llewelyn, Mr. Joseph Hall, Mrs. David Davies, Mrs. Hil- ditch, Mr. and Mrs. T. P. Cook, Mr. aaid Mrs. R. Lewis, Mr. and Mrs. D. Meager, Mrs. Morris, Mr and Mrs Glendinning lox- ha.m, Mr. S. Palmer, Mr. Hield (deputy town clerk), Mr. Fish, Rev. Gilbert Rees, Mr. and Mrs. H. F. Hood, Mr. A. J. Dickens, Mr. D. Thomas, and many others. I The proceedings opened with prayer by the Rev. Gilbert Rees, and then Sir John Llewelyn, in accepting the gift from Mr. Webber's hands, said the gift was most use- ful and acceptable, and on behalf of the Association he thanked Messrs. Webber and Son. Sir John then handed to the Mayor a presentation key, with which his Worship opened the clock chamber and WOUND UP THE CLOCK, which will be maintained by the town. The Mayor, in a few well-chosen words, said from a public point of view the gilt would be greatly appreciated by the bur- gesses. He spoke in high praise of the work the Y.M.C.A. was doing, and the unselfish and devoted interest taken by their presi- dent, Messrs. T. P. Cook, R. W. Jones, Napier, and others. In the name of the town he wished the institution, which was doing such a noble work, every good wish possible. Mrs. Walter Webber then started the clock and switched on the electric light. By invitation of Messrs. Webber and Sou, Ltd., the gueits them partook of tea in the Llew- elyn Hall. Sir Jolin Llewelyn, in proposing a hearty vote of thanks to the don or 3, said Mr. Webber had always supported the institu- tion, and the usefulness of the gift he could assure the firm was vary greatly appreci- ated. It would serve as a reminder of the passage of time, which was so important to old and young alike. Mr. T. P. Cook seconded, and sipake of the fgood work Mr. Webber had done. Mr. Webber, in reply, said it w&s a great satisfaction to know the gift waa ao appre- I ciated. Mr. Joseph Hall, in proposing thanks to Sir John Llewelyn and the Mayor, said the former had once again shown the VERY GREAT PRACTICAL INTEREST I ho took in the Y. M. C. A., and he hoped they would not only increase in membership, but i that the funds so necessary would be in- I as well. As regards the Mayor, his Worship had always shown his sympathy 1 with every good work. Sir. John Llewelyn, in acknowledgment, il -,iT. J' al in said the Y.M.C.A. alwavs had a VERY WARM COHNER IN HIS HEART. The Mayor, in conclusion, wished the association every success, and assured Mr. Webber the town greatly appreciated his handsome gift.

INQUIRY AT SWANSEA.' PROMOTERS OF NEW I INDUSTRIES. An enquiry of Mr. W. Law, the gigneral manager 01 the Swansea Harbour, on Tues- day, elicited the information that several of the eiolit firms said to be negotiating fbr sites for works at Newport are also making inquiries at Swansea. In one case, that of a cement industry, Mr. Law added, the firm is making en- quiries at a number of other places, too, such as Bristol, Gartdiff and BaTy.

"NOT AFRAID." 1 SIR E. GREY ON WAR I NO SLACKENING IN I ARMAMENTS. No Reduction. I Sir Edward Grey delivered an important speech on armaments and foreign policy to the Manchester Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday night. His chief points were — We are not afraid of theidea of war but we are penetrated by a sense of the waste of war. Only forcible interference—and that might have been a hazardous proceeding—could have prevented the Balkan wars. I The day may come when, if war breaks out between two countries, other countries may rush. to stamp out that war with as I little suspicion of each other's motives as I people who rush to put out a fire. I In the Balkans no single difficulty had I been made .1 greater by British policy. I THE ARMAMENT QUESTION. I The enormous and growing expenditure on I armaments presses on the springs of in<ius- try. That expenditure is not a British but a I European question. Slackening off in armaments by one coun- try does not mean a diminution of expendi- ture in others. If the leading horse n a race slackens and iis thought to be exhausted, the others do not slow down. When we started building Dreadnoughts Dreadnoughts were already in the air, and would soon in any case have been in thF water. The increase in Dreadnoughts abroad goes on without reference to British expenditure. SHOCKED AT THE WASTE. Germany is building under the naval law of many years ago. It could not be saic: that France, Austria, and Italy are build- ing against us. If we cut down our programme it will not affect the building programmes of Europe. British dislike of armaments will find strong expreesion in Parliament. I hope the motive will not be mistaken abroad. We feel the strain leaet, but we are shocked at the waste. In the long run excessive expenditure on armaments might sink the ship of European prosperity and civilisation.

LACK OF FORESIGHT." I MUMBLES-ROAD WIDENING SCHEME. WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SAYED. Swansea Council met on the sands near the Slip to consider the proposed Mumbles- road widening scheme. The Council was almost fully represented and the Deputy Suiveyor (Air. Swarbrick) produced a plan of the proposed widening. fhe idea is on the town side to cut off the Victoria Park and Cricket Field from a, point near the Baths to the grand stand of ihe Cricket Field (which will remain), whilst on the other side it is proposed to exchange a portion of the promenade for a portion of the North- Western coal yard. The Recreation Ground wall will also be thrown into the road way, the footpath to be between the present avenue of trees. Subsequently the Council met at the Guildhall, the Mayor (Aid. Corker) in th £ chair, when Aid. Merrells moved a resolu- tion approving of the proposed widening, and requesting the Town Clerk to take the necessary steps for the carrying out of the scheme. Mr. Hill seconded. The Mayor said they were perfectly satis- fied that the proposed lines laid down were the most suitable. In reply to Mr. PoWlesland and Mr. Ben Jones, the Mayor said that details would be considered later. Mr. Hemmings asked if anv terms had been come to with the Mumbles Railway Company ? Ald. Merrells said that there had been no negotiations, but under the scheme the company themselves would have to do cer- tain work in the shape of removing the rails. They might rest assured that the Corporation w.ere not going to give anything away. Mr. Lee pointed out that terms should he arranged with the N orth- Western people, as their station yard might be curtailed. "APPALLING" LACK OF FORE- SIGHT. Aid. David Davies complained that the want of foresight of the Corporation was perfectly appalling. Nine-teen years age they sold the freehold to the company for £400. when they might have entered into a lease or a yearly tenancy. Ald. Davies further stated that the, Corporation must also get an equiva- I lent for the improvement from the Mumbles Railway Company, and that if the Cor- porattio-n failed to effect an exchange with the North-Western Company, the Mumbles Railway Company might be invited to nego- tiate. The resolution was carried.

MONEY AND CHEOUE MONEY AND CHEQUE. SWANSEA YOUNGSTER IN TROUBLE. Croy Kenneth Walt-ers (11) was charged at Swansea Juvenile CourL on Tuesday with stealing Jb7, 53., a cheque, and postal order on the 29th ult. Charles Taylor, chief clerk with Messrs. Rees Davies and Sons, fruit merchants, A lexandra-road said defendant had been an errand boy at the stores. On Thursday, the 29th ult., a bag containing a cheque for £3 8s., gold and silver to the value of L7 5s., and a postal order for 2s. 6d. was placed in a desk. The boy was in the stores at the time, and knew they kept money in tne desk. witness lelt the onice for a while, defendant sweeping the floor in the meantime. In the evening witness ex- amined the desk and found the bag and con- tents missing. So, too, was defendant, and did not turn up next day. Fredk. Edwards, another boy of 11, said lie was playing in New-street when Walters cajne to him and said, I've got some cop- pers." He took out aome money in a bag, and witness saw gold and silver. They went to No. bt New-street, where defen- dant went into the house and brought out one Jimmy Davies, the three then going to Clifton-row, and later to Tontine-street, eventually going home to tea and then to the Palaoe." I hey I BOUGHT SWEETS ORANGES AND POP with the nionoy, and went to a confec- tioner's after leaving the Palace." and then up the bank to plant it" burying it in the earth. On Friday he gave Detec- tive Barry a purse with some money that was left. Detective Barry said defendant told him that he took the money, gave some to other boys, and hid the rest. The boy took him to the bank whore some silver and copper was unearthed; other money V3 2s. 3 £ d.) was banked in a waste patch of ground near Clifton-row. Witness was handed a purse containing 5s. at 53, New-street by Fredk. Edwards. The cheque and postal order had been throwr, away. The mother said she had no idea of what the boy was doing.. Detective Barry said Mr. Rees Davies j had missed stamps, etc., before, and &d onoe forgiven him. Defendant was bound over for three years. ¡

SOUTH BUCKS BYE-ELECTION. Nomination and polling days for the South Bucks hye-election have been fixed for February 11th and 18th respectively,, the writ having been received. <

A SLY DOG." U!j? EARL S APPLICATION. JOURNAL'S ALLEGED CONTEMPT OF COURT. An application was made on behalf of Earl FitzwillLarn in the Divorce Court, on Tuesday, for a writ of attachment against the editor and manager of Nlodei-ii So- ciety," and against the manager of tha firm of printers of that paper, far alleged contempt of court in publishing references to the pending Leslie-Melville divorce case, in which Earl Fitzwit ;am is one of the co- respondents. Counsel submitted that the article pub- lished would have the effect of prejudicir.g the parties of the litigation. Calling at- tention to the passages complained of, he .said that there was a paragraph headed, Is Lord Fitzwilliam a badly-used man or a sly dog?" which read :— Lord Fitzwilliam, if guilty, must he a sly dog, because at the time that King George and Queen Mary were enjoying his hospitality last summer in Yorkshire, n-t a soul knew anything about the little trouble at Wentworth, and Lord Kitz vill'am lad alwavs been regarded as ONE OF THE "UNTOUCHABLES' of the nobility." The paragraph went on: Lady Fitz- william is broken-hearted as a result of the trouble over the coming divorce, as if Mr. Leslie Melville is successful it will mean the parting of the ways at Wentworth, Woodhouse, and she and Lord Fitzwilliam will have to part under a decree pf Sir Samuel Evans or oue or other of the Divorce Judges." Counsel contended that the publication of SUCH SCURRILOUS FALSEHOODS might influence the jury. Counsel for Mrs. Leslie Melville said that that lady denied absolutely the charges against her, and supported the application. Counsel for Mr. Frank Harris said the latter was not the editor of the paper or writer of the article. He was the managing director. Mr. Harris had had an opportunity of apologising, and had net really done so. Defendant was removed from the couxt in the custody of the tipstaff. n,:

BOTHA'S REASONS J WHY THE LEADERS WERE DEPORTED. G-eneral Botha sets out the reasons why he deported the South Africa strike leaders in the Indemnity Bill, the text of which has now been published. High aiut'nocriiti es on constitutional law in this country have thrown out the suggestion that General Botha in talking the drastic action he did may have had evidence of a revolutionary Labour plot. No reference is made to tihis in the Bill, wbjich alleges that the men farmen ted in- dustrw stcrffe, and caused great dangier to persona and property.

SUNDAY PAPER TRADE AT SWANSEA. POLICE AND DELIVERY: TEST CASE PROBABLE. The probability of a test case to decide whether boys delivering newspapers on Sun- day—as distinct from selling them-was fore- shadowed by Mr. Henry Thompson at Swan- sea Juvenile Court on Tuesday. A case had arisen -In which a boy named Richard Thomas was charged by P.C. (107) Francus -who has charge of the juvenile department of the activities of the Swansea force-with street trading at 10.40 a.m., under the ags of 16, on a recent Sunday. Mr. Thompson was instructed by the Shop Keepers' and Small Traders' Association,, and said he had hoped to make that a test case; it appeared, however, from the officer's evidence, that the boy (who wa8 ultimately fined 2s. 6d.) was not delivenng papers but offering them for sale. Mr. Thompson said the position of the Associa- tion, and a Home Office expression of opin- ion, wa. tliat,t-he delivery of papers did not come within the scope of the Act or bye- law. The Swansea newsagents, he eaid, were going to do away with the hawking of papers in the streets on Sunday. B it they were going to instruct the boys TO DELIVER PAPERS AT THE HOUSES I of their regular customers on bunaay. tn the case in question he argued that there was no case to answer as the bye-lav., i!' which the prosecution had been taken lia4 not been proved.-The Bench, however, 86' stated, fined defendant half-a-crown.

THE DANGER OF INDIGESTION. Indigestion is a very rer.I danger, n men- ace to your health and strength. It iobs you of the nourishment you should obtain v ryll 4o f from the food you eat; it loads the system with impurities that find their way into the blood, causing headaches, languor, at d blotchy skin. Certainly you can't affo:d' to ignore indigestion. It won't let you, in. any case. You will, therefore, be well ad., vised to take an occasional dose of Mother Seigel's Syrup, the great Temedy for the common ilments of the stomach, liver, and bowels. There is nothing better for indi- gestion, or for biliousness, constipation, flatulence, headaches, and pains after eat- ing. Not only does Mother Seigel's Syrup speedily banish the symptoms of impaired digestion, but it keeps them away altopeth'