South Wales Weekly Post

 ESNrML&S?V. WELSH FOR WELSH j SCHOOLS. I I EDUCATION COMMIT- TEE'S DECISION. SWANSEA TEACHEPS AND j THE SCHEME. I A special meeting oi the Swansea Educa- tion Committee was held on Friday aiter- roon, Mr. Ivor Gwynne presiding, to con- sider the report of Mr. T. J. Rees, the di- rector of education, on the teaching ot Welsh in the elementary schools. MR. R,E.ES' RECOMMENDATION S. j It will be recalled that Mr. Kees recom- mends that Welsh be compulsorily targht for at least hours per week in the follow- ing schools -lorriston, Peaitrecnwyth, Plasmari, Graig, Pentrepoth, Brynhyfryd. Manselt-on, Cwm, Hafod, Waunwen, and the proposed new school at Treboeth. For ths first year the regulation shall apply to only Standard? 1., II., in the second year to Standards 1., II., III., in the third year to Standards I., II., III., IV., and so on until the minimum time is devoted to the subject in e-very class in the school. He excludes the essentially town schools, namely, Biynmill, Terrace-road, Dyfatty, Si. Helen's, Rutland-street, York-place, St, Thomas, Danygraig, and the Nan-Provided • Schools. He also recommends the commi*- tee to refuse to allow Welsh or any other subject to be an optional one. The Chairman said he had no doubt that they had all read the report, and this might be open for discussion after the reading of some letters that had been received. Mr. Powlesland: May I ask the nature of these letters? I may disagree. If they axe being used with the object of express- ing the opinions of persons outside, I shall be opposed to that. Ald. Ben Jones Aren't you open to con- viction 1 Aid. Miles They are bearing on the sub- ject T j Superintendent of Education (Mr. Rees) Yes" It was explai. ned that th, e letters only numbered two—one from the Swansea Head Teachers' Association, and the otter from the Swansea Oymrodorion Society. j It was agreed that they be read. HEAD TEACHERS FOR PARTIAL TEACHING. The letter from th2 Swansea Head Teachers' Association recorded a resolution, to the effect that whilst recognising that the teaching of Welsh might be made compul- sory in certain favourable districts, the As- Bocjation was of cpinicn that in other parts | it should only bo taught to those children whose parents expressed the desire on the cuL ject, and that such expression be ob-, tained by means of a plebiscite. j The Swansea Cymrodorion Society sent forward a resolution suggesting that facili- ties be afforded lor the compulsory teach- | ing of Welsh in all the schools of the borough. The C "airman moved the adoption of the report of the superintendent of education f Ir the introduction of Welsh in the ele- mentary schools recommended and instruct him to put same in operation at once. Mr. Clancy seconded. Mr. L. Morgan moved an amendment that before coming to any corclusion of the drastic description na.med they should givo the matter full discussion; and, further- more, if the opinion of the committee was fairly unanimous against the advice of the- superintendent, then no teaching of Welaii j should be compulsory in any school. Mr. Powlesland seconded and said he was very pleaded the mover of the amendment was a Welshman. The opinion was a.Uy expressed that the speaker was opposed t:> the teaching of Welsh from antagonism to the language and the nation. ("Shame.") That was not so. (Hear, hear.) He should agree with his children learning Welsh if it were not for the fact that his children were tnose of a working man, and they had not the time to acquire what perhaps he should like them to. Mr. T. J. Rees (education superintendent) must agree boys and girls when leaving school were not capable of taking up any class of employment, and it i took another year or two to fit the child for the most minor occupations in ar: office or anywhere else. If that was 5ù, they were judging by results and not by any miscon- ception, as referred to by Mr. Rees. Instead of others starting off from misconceived ideas Mr. Rees' argument was from miscon- ceived ideas. Mr. Rees was practically agreed that child: en ONLY GET A SMATTERING of the various things taught in the curricu- lum. If that was so, and it proved of no benefit to the children when they left school, how could they increase their subjects, al leady overcrowded, with beneficial results? Through the curriculum being overloaded children did not get a proper foundation of knowledge; what they should do would be to ground them in certain pri/i- ciples, so that they would improve later in life. What was the good cf <ayin? We?h w0uld be beneficia] to a ;?all v/or king with a pick and shovel or shovel- ling coal on the dock Eide? One thing was clear-they could not, advocate Welsh being taught in the schools when they judged from the results of to-day. Mr. Rees urged build- ing up character and intellect. But was it building up the character of our child 1*11 Were our children improving in their conduct ? Did a, child respect its parents more than formerly? He said no. There was certainly SOMETHING WANTING IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM, and to add Welsh was something which was not going to be beneficial. Newport was pointed to, but enquiries showed that many parents there voted without any thought as to whether Welsh would be beneficial or not. Many parents were waiting for the time when their children would leave school so as to be of some assistance in the house- hold. At Cardiff the matter was optional. He had been accused of saying Welsh was of no commercial value. He maintained it. It might be of trading yaks within the precincts of Wales, shops, etc.. but outside Welsh I was of no commercial value If they wanted to introduce Welsh and many of the othe11 sciences in the elementary schools, let the school age be raised, and let the anthcrities he prepa.red to maintain the children an- other two years in school and find food and clothing. He wished to make it clear he was not against Welsh because it was Welsh. If he could wipe out all Languages with a, I pfcroke of the pen hp would. Language differences were used at present to set workers at each other's throats. Aid. Colwill supported, and stated that the Superintendent of Education said the Vest school is the 0113 which best teaches the child to k good, to ba strong, a.nd to make the fullest use of the intelligence with v.hich God has blessed him." And that ideal was to be obtained by AN OVERLOADED CURRICULUM— bv teaching them a smattering of knowledge and nothing taught perfectly. To teach Welsh was going to mean a series of aero- bxtic performances in labial guttrai and nasal 10tmds--(lallghteri--without doing justice to the subject. As a born Welshman, whose farther could speak Welsh well, he (Alderman Colwill) said lie was biiierly o pposed to the teaching of Welsh. Th-3 time tables of boys' schools phowed that without swimming and manua l instruction there was not sufficient time for it. Even in Standards VI. and VII. there was no time allotted to grammar. A Standard VII. toy—the latent acquisition to the British Empire—recently persisted to him that! Johannesburg was situated in India.. whilst he failed to name the four great oceans and the great continents, and though he knew there wa.s such a thing as the Magna Cha if A, he did not know what it meant Ifr. Protheroe He was a Welshman. (I?ua:hter.) v that lais on Aid. Colwill pro-ceded tn say that lads on t<'n'm? school ca.me for the first time up a?a'ngt THE C.T'TM REALITIES OF LIFE, an ] did they mean to say that the people with whom they came in contact were in- capable of espiessiog an ogioigg 211 tie §qb%l ject and were incapsable of making a com- panson. of the education of bygone days witn that given to-day? He questioned whether they were getting the same value for the outlay. The b superintendent of edu- cation was so much afraid that he objected to a plebiscite, for if there was one he would be floored in the first round. The Chairman Question. Ald. Colwill proceeded to say that as time loii^d along the inhabitants in their indus- trial centres were becoming more cosmopoli- tan, and not manv years hence YIDDISH WOULD BE MORE I PROMINENT in Swansea than eitner Welsh or English. (I-a ughtor.) .Ad..1Iiles :.Or Chinese. (More laughter.) I 1Colwill asked if Welsh was to be taught what oJier &n?ject was to be deleted. )Irs, ?' ?' ?'??-s said that that was l• point I!he wanted answered. She ftth. ? pr,)nf .;h c wante. d answere d Stie felt, as a Welsh-speaking woman, that she had a right to an opinion. She spoke Welsh to her cniidren. and nothing else, and she wanted to say it had been a disadvantage to them as compared with the English children in the elementary schools. lr. Lewis said he would like that ex- plained. WELSH AS A DRAWBACK." I VN illiaiiis repeated that it had been a diawoack to her children, allld the reason was that die spoke to them the Welsh lan- guage as taught to her by her mother. It was only Wels], of a kilid, as she was never giYn the chanco of learning grammatical X?' -e l s b and the resul t \\?n,aud the result to her children was I tn^ at when they wrote in English thev thought Lij Welsh and tra-mlated accord- ingly, which set them back in their forms compared with the English children She would say that if they had been taught proper Welsh from childhood it would have been helpful and it was in that respect that she quarrelled with the Director of Education, who suggested that if Welsh was taught it should be started in Standard VII. No, if she was going to vote in favour of Welsh it must be taught in the infants' department, especially in such a district as MoTriston, where in the infant schools the teachers spoke in English and the little ones did not understand them. And so let the infants have the privilege of being taught Welsh on the best baais and by the best teachers and then it would be helpful. It was a big thing for her to say, but they had very few Welsh teachers who could epeak or teach proper Welsh. Although Mr. Rees had received many replies from tea- chers that they could teach Welsh yet s he said emphatically it was not so. She had been in schools where they spoke Welsh, and it "was" Welsh" why it was a dis- grace. Mr. John Lewis faid he did not think they had ever listened to such extraordinary ¡ views on WeM: sentiment and Welsh mat- ters. Mr. Powlesland had made a, dead set against education in general. Mr. Powlesland I hope you will not read anything iito my remarks what I have not said. <> Mr. Lewis maintained tiiat the teaching of Welsh in a Welsh town like Swansea b: adened the child's views and gave him an acquaintance with Welsh national move- ments, Wehih heroes, and Welsh literature, and he believed that if they "lived another twenty years the whole town would be un- animum; in saying, Well done" to the par- ents cf the past in taking the bold step that they did. Let them be up and doing and show the Welsh nation that they did appreciate Welsh for its literary value and for ite ed ucational value. Mr. David Griffiths entirely agreed, eR- pecially in regard to the literary value of Welsh. Didn't they want Wekh in their own country? Mr. Powlesland There it comes in- VALES FOR THE VELSH. Mr. Clancy said as an ardent nationalist who bad done something to support the language movement in Ireland, he sup- ported the chairman's resolution. He was born in Wales. Mr. Clancy, proceeding, said a nation without its language would soon lose its nation. He would like to see every Welsh parent summoned who did not speak Welsh to the children at horde. Surely something was due to the sentiment of t.he land they lived in. Mr. Powlesland Do you believe in the utilitarian movement I Mr. Clancy I do. Mr. T. J. Rees 'Superintendent of Educa- tion) FaJd hLs remaiks applied to infants. Aid. Ben Jones supported the resolution, and said within the 1?:: six years the langu- age was on the upward tendency. Let them observe the position Welshmen had attained to— Mr. Owen M. Edwards he cited. He would not like to see it compulsorily, but a child with two languages held a decided advantage in many respects. Their big fhops had assistants who understood the Welsh language. He was told a Welshman could learn trench much quicker than an Englishman. Tho Welsh language was the key to other language*. Don't let them overload the curriculum, but at the same time DON'T LEAVE THE BEST THING OUT. I He hcped they would ?ivo the matter &I trial araH events. *1 ti-;al q.4 a,'] ev?nts. said they ought to have ii the teachers views individually. Teachers j with 30 ind 40 years' experience should i certainly know a great deal. In one schooi he visited that morning there were not fax boys in the w hole sdhool who could speak Welsh. Mrs. Roberts said the curriculum was too loaded and if there was an addition some- thing should be dropped. Aid. Miles thought that should be un- derstood. Mr. M. Williams failed to see the use of teaching English boys Welsh. Ninety per cent. on leaving school would never open the Welsh books again. If all the boys attended Secondary Schools his view might be different. More enquiries should be made from the experienced teachers. He would hke a census of boys in the schools who spoke Welsh and where Welsh was spoken at home. Mr. Evan Jones said Plaj&marl. Brynhy- fryd, and Morris ton were thoroughly in ac- I cord with the scheme. WELSH WAS NOT GOING TO DIE I 60 soon as some wanted. I Mr. Powlesland said rio one was tramp- | ling on the Welsh language at all. The Chairman You (Mr. Powlesland) trod on the Welsh language just now and every Welshman must feel it. Mr. Powlesland said his contention wae not against the language or Welshmen at nU. Mr. Evan .Tont said Welsh improved children's intellect and they would be under a disadvantage if they did not know Welsh. Many English people wanted Welsh taught and all Wel:'h parents wanted it taught. WeJsb wag taught in tome schools already. Aid. Devonald said he was willing to go further than the superintendent, and would like to see Welsh in all the schook If one knew Welsh one karnt other languages more quickly. Let them go to the Cwrnfelin Works, and they wou ld find a large numbet of men talking in Welsh, though they knew English. In connection with the poor law he instanced Welsh as a necessity, many of the people coming in who could not speak English. Mr, Powlesland They are pretty old, then. The Chairman No. Mr. Powlesland said that was another de- fect in their education, then. The Chairman said he could go within 13 miles and an En.glichma.il would not be un- derstood by nine out of every ten. Mr. Laugharne Morgan said he was very disappointed at. Mr. Rees' first epistle to the Council. He (Mr. Rees) did not point out the disadvantages. Mr. Devoruild There are none, Mr. L. Morgan said he wished Mr. Devon- aid would STOP GRUMBLING AND I Mr. Kees tooK a sentimental ana ymxotie view, assuming children went on to other .schools or professions. Twenty-eight per cent were errand boys and 42 per cent. v. ent to works and small industries. Only 14 par cent sought a further education. And vet he wanted to cram another subject into yet  e ?,?anfe d to Cra.YD aii-c?ther sub j ect into an overc'owded curriculum. Not !)?Jf th- present subjects were sufficiently mastered, through the 9Yf £ £ row<&iyL. • The §auiisitiofl. of knowledge was live object of a boy going to school primarily; the training was essen- l i a l fnr T' tially for a living. The boy ashamed ci his language or country would, the superintend- ent said, probably soon be ashamed of him- self. Any boy who was ashamed of his country should be shot. Thtir Welsh teach- ers were sufficient for the present needs, ac- .cording to the super i nten dent. What more did they wa.nt? Ald. Devonaid kept interrupting Mr. L. Morgan, and the latter was heard to ask Mr. Devonaid if he could not keep quiet to ask the chairman's permission to leave the room. (Laughter.) In response to another interruption Mr. Morgan remarked. He's got them again." BUSINESS NOT PATRIOTISM. I Mr. L. Morgan said it was net a patriotic appeal to Welshmen so much as the prac- ticai question "Do you believe in Welsh be- ing o *'i- onal." Of thp "nnkfiown or Second- ary Schools, 14 per cent." probably returns would show that only 7 per csnt. actually went 00 other schools after leaving the ele- mentary schools. A proper census, he thought, would greatly surprise the Cymrodorion Society. "SAVED THE TEACHING OF ENGLISH In reply to Aid. Miles, Mr. T. J. Rets said there was bound to be some alteration in the time tables ;f Welsh were taught. Every moment taught in Welsh saved the necessity of teacliing English. Ald. Tutton epoke of the extension to the facilities derived from Welsh no matter whe- ther the boy ever followed up the study. He did not favour consulting the teachers, for they, as members, were the Education Au- thority. Aid. Miles said he would support Welsh in every school. He lived in a district where Welsh was daily taught and he real- ised the important; part it played in the northern part of the borough. Aid. II on kin suggested the boys and girle who had attained-the 7th Standard should bo t&ught the Mabinogion. He hoped Eng- lish friends who had come to live anongst them would respect their national sentiment. Compulsory teaching would be to the better- ment of all the boys and girls. Mr. F. Parker thought Mr. Ilees's re- port, was the happy medium. The Chairman said thoss* who had made speeches against the report was an argu- ment against an overloading curriculum, but that was not an argument against Welsh. Mr. Powlesland could not make an audi- ence 13 miles from Swansea understand in Mr. it every we"(. English. l es l in d (I lio Llid it evet y we, i c. The Chairman said if Welsh was an ad- vantage in learning another language, it be- hoved them to study the children's grctest good. THE AMENDMENT LOST. the amendment (\Veish not to be a com- pulsory subject) was put and four voted for it, viz., Messrs. L. Mjargan, Powlesdaand, Colwill an d M. Williams 14 voted against, i Mr. Colwill moved that the question of 1 compulsory teaching of Welsh in elementary schools stand in obeyance until the Saiper- int,end-eait of Education preeentg to this com- mittee a, report showing the gabjeote that could be deleted from the schools curricu- lum so as to provide the necessary time for the teaching of W?Ish. He w-" not op- ? posed to the teaching of Welsh if they oouB show how they ocuLi Bqweze it into the p,r,p?-rA oY('ferowdd OUrI 'u 1 um. Mr. Powles land seconded the amendment. Seven voted for the amendment and nine aigajinst. The report was thon adopwd. which means compulsory Welsh in Welsh districts.

I THE BRITISH ARMY. HOW "TOMMY" IS LOOKED AFTER. SCOPE AND BRIGHT PROS- PECTS FOR YOUNG MEN. This is the first occasion on which any Government Department his ever used I popular advertising to make known its needs or its advanta'^s. The object of the ad- vertising i?? not. ?'tc?ethRr to aft recruits at the moment. As a matter of fact, M- ve :,t;ng at the pp???nt time is particularly good, but it is felt that comparatively speak- ing very few people Know anything about the ¡real conditions of life in the Army, or realise at all properly the manv advantages of the men in the rAnks of itis Majesty's Army. The main (hct of the advertising is therefore to tell in plain language ju?t what are the conditions of SOT vice in the Army. No man ever went through his term of service in the British Army without coming back to civilian life a better, .wronger, and shrewder man for.the experience. Hi3 daily discipline and round of duty breads charac- ter and a certain self-repression tiia-t is be- yond price to him when he comes out, time-expired," to resume civilian life. And arrangements are now made to help him to a good post of discharge. NO WORRIES. The sports, the drill, the open-air recrea- tions, the librar'es, 'he billiard rooms, the hundred and 0113 amusements, indoor and outdoor, in which th;< young soldier can in- dulge, make his life at least as ^^a-sant and enjoyable as the civilian's—and aiways it is healthier and more manly. There are no worries in a soldier's life. He is clothed, fed, housed, and looked after by the State— and all these things are done for him to- day so well that none can complain. there are nearly 1,200 officers on the ac tive list who havs riren from the ranks. The opportunities for promotion were never good as to-da.y. Th ere are the laurels foi distinguished conduct on active aervice. There ara the chances to see the remote cor- j TIers of our Empire—every man may vclun- I teor for service abroad. There are pros- pects in a hundred direction. SOME OF THE ADVANTAGES. Among tne many advantages of a soldier s life which will b, "atured in the advertise- ments are that he is a good class of man, for the average Tommy to-day is better educated, more temperate, more ambitious, more virile, and in every way more com. panionable than nis predecessor of ten and twenty years ago "? t.h? life ? largely an outdoor one; that he has ample leisure fur recreation of all sorts; that modern bar- racks have nearly all the advantages of a club; that the iocki is well cooked and plentiful; that there 1.l'e long holidays, and that the pay is good when it is remembered that the soldier has ,.<rovided for him free, his lodgings, rations and clothing.

I SWANSEA SCHEMES. EMINENT COUNSEL TO BE CONSULTED. The Swan.^ea Parliamentary and General Purposes Committee have considered t,he questions of a comprehensive sewerage scheme and the suggested extension of the borough boundaries, and have reeolved that a ooasultation be held with Mr. E. Honcr- at,v.9 Lloyd, K.C., Mr. C. C. Hwtrihinson, K.C., and Mr. Midgley Taylor in regard to the matters, and that order that such con- ference may be ;<s valuable as possible a sub- committee, consisting of the chairman, VICrJ- chairman, Aldermen David Da vies and W. H. Miles, be appointed to draw up with the Town Clerk a stateroeut. setting nut the difh culties with which tile Corporation are be- set and the various alternative methods of procedure available with a view cf taking counsel' s opinion as to the best scheme or schemes to meet the circumstance.?. It will be recalled that both Mr. Honora- tus LJovd and Mr. Hutchinson were briefed when Swansea promoted its big drainage pn joct in Parliament. Mr. Honoratus fAloyd wm unable to appear at the last moment and Mr. Huthill",on led for the promoters. JB235,000 OUTLAY. I The OMt of tbp "chpme now recommended by Mr. Midgeley T?yl?r is about £ 236,030 I and he stiH lecommends the outlet to be constructed off the Mumbles Head. I EXTENSION CF THE BOROUGH. Regarding tn" xtemolou of the borough, I now that t?a rates of many of the Juth authorities R? ?q?a.1 to P?d in some cases I ?,:mr(, than the borough rateg the oppo?tion to the scheme is not likely to li- so great I ap)a anticipated in some quarters, i

I" WHIJE ELEPHANT." I LLANELLY AND PUBLIC HALL IDEA. At Lianelly Free Library Committee on Friday eveiwng (Mr. Edwin Morgan in the chair), there was a general discussion on the present inadequate library accommodation. It had been suggested that the Council be asked to include a library in their public hall schema. MT. D. R Jones stated that in his opinicn the Public Hall was "dead" for the time being. He could not see where the money was to come from. Mr. R. Stuart said a Public Hall would mean £ 1.200. Mr. David. Jennings .stated that it would be nearer a heltvv annual expenditure for the upkeep had to be. faced. Several members expressed the opinion that such a binlding would be more or less a "white elephant." and it was decided to urge the Council to take some steps to pro- vide adequate library accommodation.

PLOUGHMAN'S 'DERBY.' WEST GOWER MATCH: I RECORD ENTRIES. The fourth annual West Gowoer ploughing mafljoh took place on land placed -at the dis- posal of the wminitt-eie by Mr. W. G. Davies. Scurlagie Castle Farm. The judges were: Ploughing Mr. D. Evans, Tjjgswyn, Po-u-.iirdukiA; J. Rees, Ooimhwrdd, IAhaIn- >geni;eoh and Mr. J. If. Jaxnes Oefngolau Farm Gowerton. Horses: Mr. G. H. Bev, n (Messrs. Corker and Bo van), and Mr. John White, Blaok Horse Hurd, Pontandailais. There was a record number of entries de- jJt the inclement weather. The following were the prize winners;- Channpiocn d.a.1: 1, T. Da vies, Pbenoiiy- menin, Lianelly; 2 and 3, divided between D. Beynoti, Lnngoaks, and D. Harry, Killi- biou; 4, W. Hopkins, Cefngorwydd 5, D. Thomas, Walxerstone; 6, S. Gordon, Weob- ley Castle. First class 1, Mansel Davies, Rhean- fa.wr ygi, W. Davies, Greeiilane. Second class: 1, W. Harry, Ch'?)?-&n; 2, J. Beynon, W?bhm.?or; 3, .Herme D?-ics, .Hardun?- down, 4, ? Beynon, ??g?un Farm 5, W. Dn.vi?. New "?enllys; 6, .1. C,.ent Bank 7, A. Tucker, Old RenUy&; 8, T. P. B3?iik; 7, A. Tua-er, Old Renjiys; 8, E. p' Bova ci?ss: 1, H. Acs, RcynoMeton; 2, E..R?N's Burry 3, A. HowcU. Over?on. Special prize tor best ploughman in boys' claes 1, H. Acp, Reynoldston; 2, E. Rogers, BuTrv. Bek finish W. Harry, Overton. Beat back in Glees 2: W. Harry, Overton. Specit4 for toe most valuable paia. of horses on the field 1, Messrs. Clement Bros. Scurlo&c; 2nd best, Mr. Mansel Sevan, Overton. Special to the driver of the neatest and cleanest, turnout: 1, W. Barry, Overton 2, C H. Fisher, Pilton Green. Best brood mare: 1. Clement Bros., Scur- ls're; 2, Beynon Bros., Pitton Farm, Rhos- sily. AFTER THE (XWlftsriTION. I. I- I Alter tine competition a ninner was neld at the KiUJor ArthlIT Hotel, Reynoldston, provided by Mrs. MieIl, to which a gtoodly number eat down. Aftrr fittl justice had been done to the good things provided, Mr. A. Anthony, Pen- rice Castle, was voted to the chair, and af- ter a good musical programme had been aone through, a<n en jovabte erven ing was wrought to a close t srnganig of the Natooujid ..1

LAND OF MY FATHERS. BRILLIANT SPEECH AT SWANSEA. AMERICAN CONSUL-GENERAL AND WELSH IDEAS. Proposing the toaet of the Swansea Chamlier of Commerce" a.t the annual ban- quet of this body, hold at the Hotel Metro- pole, on Saturday night, Mr. John L. Urif- fiths, Consul-Genera! in London for the United States, gave a striking speech which, &t the close, elicited prolonged cheers. Among my earliest recollections," said, is that of falling asleep to the soft crooning of a Welsh lullaby. Wales me a Land of poetry and song, of mystit and romance, passionate patriotism and tense religious fervour, of splendid heroisms and glorious martyrdoms, a land of smiling valleys, rugged mountains and wild moors, which, if they could speak in audible lan- gua.ge, would tell the story of how b-Ta-ve men and heroic women through the cen- turies have preserved their love of country and their love of God. (Applause.) It is perhaps needless that I should add that Wales -9 the land of my ancestors, and when I return to it I feel that I am coming back to my own people. (Hear, hear.) Wher- ever you find a Welsh community in America -a,nd this must be true the world over- you find an intelligent, industrious, resource- ful population—a people consecrated to high purposes and who never forget in their sense of devotion to the country of their ad- option the debt they owe to the country of their birth. Fortunately, we do not judge a country by its size or population, but by its achievements, by its struggles and tri- umphs, and even by its failures, when-ever they resulted from the crushing force of overwhelming odds. (Hear, hear.) And so judged the history of Wales must be an in- spiration to her sons and daughters wher- ever they may be as they recall the great. deeds that, have been performed to keep tflf: name of Wales on the map of the world and her language on the lips of her children. The Welsh mav I)P- aiiii T know thev are. ACCUSED OF BEING NARROW AND BIGOTTED, or being emotional and fanatical, of abounding in weird fancies and strange pre- judices, of being perhaps too little inclined to respond to the gre-at rush and sweep of world-currents as they swirl by. But no one has ever accused them of being disloyal or treacherous, or being craven or cowardly. (Hear, hear.) They have won distinction on the bench, at the Bar. in the pulpit, in jour- nalism, and in statesmanship, in literature, in science and arts, in trade and commerep —you find them everywhere except in the gaols, workhouses and pllltnti.a,ries(-much laughter and applatiaol-or if you find them there they mifst have been corrupted by con- tact. (More laughter.) I want to speak to you to-night, very briefly I trust, on the mfying and civilising influence of commerce. The time ie p?st when nations can live unto themselves alone. They rejoice and sorrow together. The failure of crops in Russia or the Argentine industrial disturbances in England, France or Germany; financial dis- j quietude in London or Paris. or New York or Berlin, or Rio de Janeiro. Buenos Ayres i or St. PeJtersblLr are so far-reaching and world-embracing in their oonsequences tliat. we have realised at laet, thank God. that we CANNOT THRIVE ON THE DISASTERS ot our neoghbours. The expansion of com- merce is more responsible than any other influence for international good understand- ings. (Applause.) With ocean cables, switt transportation, and the frequent and gene- ral interchange of commoditiep. w"fh Eng- land turning to the rest of the world for her foodstuffs and the'Vest of the world turn- ing to England for Cotton and woollen manu- factures, Bor cutlery and old masters (laugh- ter)—and other things, the probability of war. it seems to me. is far more remote than in the far off time when nations were walled in and left in grim isolation, securing their commerce, as they did their territory, by conquest a.nd holding both by the sword. (Hear, hear.) That time, I am pleased to say, is so far distant that we can hardly re- call it." (Applause.) In this connection Mr. Griffiths said tSie I celebration of the centenary of peace be- tween England and America would not ha.ve been possi ble but for the accomplishments of commerce, and he rejoiced that in America they rejoiced with Browning that the best is yet to be." <:nd the faith they held was not only to maintain but to exalt the ideals of democracy in the Western world. (Ap- plause.) In every department human know- ledge bad been greatly extended. The con- ditions of life compared with fifty years ago had been vastly improved, and notwith- stanclintr the LAMENTATIONS OF THE PESSIMISTS I they knew that men and women were never as pure and strong, never as unselfish and usef u l, as they were to-day, and,knowing this, they kii-ow that the would was moving for- ward more rapidly and more surely than ever in its history towards the connimma- tion of some divine purpose, the significance of which they could only comprehend. (Ap- p fa use.) He declared that England need not be depreseed at her progress, and spoke of the part the Swansea Chamber of Com- merce was taking in the deveiopmenft of the trade of the country, resuming his seat amidst loud and prolonged cheering.

CENTURY AND A HALF OLD WAY. STILL IN VOGUE AT MORRISTON. i On Thursday a number of the members of the Swan&ea Scientific Society visited the Monriston Tinplate Works (by kind permis- sion of Mr. Wm. Morris). They were re- ceived at the works by Mr. Morris and Mr. Ivor Davies, and under the personal guid- ance of Air. Morris th",y proceeded over the works. Iu the Midland Works the first noticeable feature was the suction gas plant, which is an auxiliary to the steam pl, whereby aU secondary power is independent ■A fhe main ?t?a'm pow?r. TLp."? is a ma.g- nifioent engine (driving a fly wheel 160 tons in weright and 32 feet in diameter) which dri ves fi ve hot millfl and eight pairs of cold rolls. The tinnirug house and the examining 1 Inom were also seen. At the Morriston Works, what vw par- ticularly initcresting was the tinning of host charcoal plates by hand, without any flux, siibsta.ntiallv the some AS WAS IN YOGVV. 150 YEARS AGO. 1 1 1.1-1 This is the only won:s in vvaies niu wie pre- sent dav where this process lS now (>&rrioed out. The stockrooms were next, Y'lit<"d and it was not-iced that some of the plates were being packed in a tin lining which is hermetically sealed and then encased in boxes for transport to hot climates. The tirade if mostly with America. Australia, and India. Texn plates are mainly cent to the Balkans, Sorvia nnd Roranaria, a-nd are used in the building of houses. Mr. Morris gave eoroe very interesting information regarding the marpfaofcure of tinptates. after which a hearty vot. of tihanks waa accorded him for hL kindnes-s.

SENCHENYOD COLLIERY DISASTER Mayor of Swansea's Relief Fund. Amount previously acknowledged, £ 1,628 4s. Id. Salem Congregational Chapel, Llandovery. £ 1 18s. lOd. proceeds of con- cert at Llanyrnewydd Church Hall, Pen- elawdd, per Rev. D. Rees, £ 10; Moss Em- pire lid., proceeds of sacred concert at the Empiie, 2nd Nov., 1913, £ 75 12s. 3d.; 1 Paritycrwys Congregational Chapel. ( lyiaeh- ou-Tawe, p-r Mr. John Clement, £ 2 8s.— T0U4, £ 1,712 _5&. 7<L ,0

I SWANSEA MER-  CHANTS. ? CHANTS. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE I AN N UAL." HIGH LEVEL MAINTAINED: EVENING'S GUEST. The annual banquet of the Swansea I Chamber of Commerce, which took -,Iaoe I at tlie Hotel Metropcxle on Saturday night, was honouired thi-s year by the attendance of Mr. John L. Griffiths, Consul-General in London for t.he United States, who was the chief guest of the evening. The outgoing president (Mr. W. T. Fan; filled the chiei seat at the oross-table, and he was sup- flortOO by Six Allied Mand, Baat., P. C., M.P., the Deputy ^Layor (Aid. Dd. Ltevies), Mr. T. P. Cook (vice-president), Mr. J. T. Duncan (president of the Cardiff Chamber of Commerce), Mr. Hyam Goldberg. Mr. Saunders (H.M. Collector of Customs) M. Morawiecki (Flench G:u?ui), Mr. Wm. Law (harbour manager) R?v. W. W?bk.Lris- J(mea, Mr. W. H. Edwards, Mr. Samucl Stephens, Signor Ansaklo (Italian Consul), Mr. L. G. Jeffreys, Mr. Wm. Howell, Mr. Alec M/affat, Cd pvctm Jenkins, Mr. E. P. Jones (the esteemed secretary), and others. IfOl-d Glantawe and the Mayor (Aid. T T. Coriker), in conaequsince of indisposition, and Sir Griffith Thomas, by reason of his re- cent bereavement, were unable to be pre- sent. The loyal toasts were submitted from the chair and musically received. Mi-. T. P. Cook, in proposing "The Hooseis of Parliament," said at this particu- lar juncture in their affairs it was most ap- propriate they should drink to the health of both houses. They would all echo the wards of the Sovereign, and hope the grave issues which lay before the houses might i load to a lasting settlement thro'i/gh mutual co-operation, mutual goodwill, and oonoes- sions on the part of aJl sections of tha I House. (Applause). I THE BOROUGH MEMBER. Sir Alfred Mond. M.P., said in reply that he considered being elected president of the Chamber of Commerce a high honour, and he would do all he could to further its interests. Before they met together again, it was more than likely there would be ser;ous constitutional changes in the House of Lords. As a man of business he was in- clined to agree with the proposer of the toast in his references to the unbusiness- like procedure of the House. There was no dcubt the Parliamentary machine was badly over-worked, and the demand for devolu- tion of many matterR to local parliaments was an idea which was spreading irrespec- tive of party more and more. They were endeavouring to do the wrork in one Parlia- ment of three or four legislative assemblies. They did not sufficiently realise that in the Act of Union with Scotland and Ireland they had absorb*! the legislature of the two countries. They had to pass Bills for Scot- land, Ireland, and sometimes separate Bills for Wales. TheTe \as no legisl<1 t me in the world which was asked to undertake such a task, and no legislative machine could effi. cientlv carry it through. And when upon thaL. was super imposed the greatest Empire we had ever seen, the question of devolving powers to local authorities was a business proposition. Proceeding, Sir Alfred said he thought tha country was of opinion it wanted two Chambers and not one. With regard to the Session just opened, he did not think any sane or sensible man would not echo the ex- pression of Mr. Cook that difference ot State, and policy xrirrhi be solved by reason- able and statesmanlike management. (Ap- plause.) The debate at the opening of the Session filled him with confidence that the nation ulrl ëfect;vel:v deal with any prob- lem that nresented itself. (Applause.) He noted with a CERTAIN AMOUNT OF ANXIETY I the continual alienation of men of business I from the House of Commons and the coun- sels of the nation. They teemed to git a smaller number of business men in the House of Commons, and a greater number who, when they were there, were anxious to re- tire from the political sphere. It was not good that business men should cease to take an interest in a nation' ? affairs, but. at the same time he did not see business men got much encouragement. (Applause.) Mr. J. I;. Griffiths (whose speech is re- ported in another column) gave "The Swan- sea Chamber of Commerce." The Ohairman, in reply, spoke off the im- portant duties of the Chambea, and said they worked in perfect harmony with the otiier bodies—Corporation and Harbour Trust. Chambers of wore very l necessary from the point of view of carry- ing forward matters of general interest— more especially the meetings of associated chambers of commerce. There also existed chambers of commerce of the Empire, and Mr. Farr dwelt upon the importance of the congresses held. He locked forward in the early future for the Swansea. Chamber to invite the Associated Chambers to hold one of their autumnal meetings at Swansea whiern he felt sure they wonld return with a favourable impress-ion of Swansea and its manifold industries. He thanked the cham- ber members for the very aigreeable year of office he had passed through, and paid a well-deserved compliment to Mr. E. P. Jones (the secretary) Soar his assiduous work and interest. Mr. E. P. Jones, whose health was drunk mussic.al honours, referred to the open- ing of the new Exchange Buildings, which would take place this veer. The Chairman's health was also drunk with miisicaJ honours. Mr. H. Goldberg, in prop.ing" Thjp Visa tors, said Mr. Duncan (president of the Cardiff Chamber of Commerce) was not ■unknown to Swansea, and his local connec- tions were large and important. CARDIFF PRESIDENT AND D.A." Mr. J. T. Duncan, in reply, said -with re- ga.rd to his remarks at tti-e d I Dne-r at Cardiff and Mr. D. A. Thomas's dis- ckimgr, he had not suggested that any 1- 1 1 actual agreement existeo "ft ween the Miners' Federation and the Coal Owners' Association, but these bodies appeared to go hand in hand in keening up the price of coal. If this was not so the coincidence was remarkable. The Federation re- stricted the output by means of stoppages on one preMxt or another—generally, from his observation, before the contracting time, or when the market was easing off and prices drooping. The result of the stoppage is prices rally, and wages are kept up to timr maximum. Coalowners profited again by enhanced prices. Those whose oollieries have been stopped are compensated for their Kiss by the Association The price of Car- diff coal was relatively too high, and it was no part of the functions of the Chamber of Commerce to help to artificially raise and maintain the price of (oal for the benefit of one section of its mambers. The remedy, in Mr. Duncan' r, judgment, was to pay the colliers a definite sum per ton for cutting coal, abandoning the celling price scale of wages, and then the Federation would have no temptation to restrict the output in the fear of the men's wages being reduced. As regards Swansea doc! delays, he hoped something would be done to remedy them. (Applause.) Mr. G. Morawiecxi, French Consul at Swansea, then proposed "The Town and Trade," and said although only having re- cently arrived in the town, everything tended f" show not only the town and port were very prosperous, but the prosperity was increasing almost dailv. In 1902 the total trade of the port was slightly over four mil- lion tons; in 1912 if exceeded six million tons, and in 1913 it was over seven million tons. He expressed legitimate pride that thp French colony in Swansea closelv united, and doing their share in the general work of the port. had shown themselves worthy of the courteous and hospitable manner in which they are treated by the people of the I town. (Applause.) Aid. D. Davies (Deputy Mayor), in ac- knowledging the tonst, Raid towns like Swan- sea could not exist except bv disfiscnriatr r>v pit and works the natural beauty of the country. Swansea's wealth came entirely from the soil, and he humorously remarked J that those who wished Eivi- tlie most success 1 were h04ling to iaakti ul a. void covered by a tLin crnsfc. (La.ught?r.) Pceecling, Mr. Davies 8pok', of the great obligations the t?wn was face4 with, and in this connection mentioned tha4 the Imperial Government was not doing itit duty by local bodies. The Government wa< IMPOSING FRESH OBLIGATIONS year by year, and insisted upon new dutiet being carried out, while, all the time it -at, not increasing but diminishing its contribu* tions to the local rates. One reform greatly wa.nted in Parliament was to compel he 1m. pcrial Exchequer to come to the rescue of local bodies and contribute a, fair share of tha expenditure being insisted upon. (Ap- piause.) The town was advanc- ing and improvements wer being effected on ail sides, and one of its great assete wall confidence on the part of public men, the Swansea Chamber of Commerce, public men generally, and the ratepayers. (Applause., Mr. San 10el Stephens also replied, and said commerce was by what they lived—an«i they would do so for a very oonsiderabla period and people did not love Wales less because they used her so much. Trada ail Swansea would have bean more but for stop- pages and congestion on the railways. Some- times he believed traders were very largely to be blamed, but he did think it was strange railway oompanies had never invited traders to some friendly conference with the inten-, tion of getting rid of the congestion. (Ap. piause.) The National Anthem waa then heartily sung, and the proceedings terminated.. Mr. Huliey's band played selections dur- ing the evening.

—— 1. BLOW TO THE BILLj NONCONFORMISTS AND f DISESTABLISHMENT. I REMARKABLE PETITION TVI PREMIER. A petition against the diaendowmenfc clauses of the Wekh Church Bill has been signed by Nonconformists in the dio- cese of St. Asaph. The signatories were lim. it-ed to Nonconformiet-s ever the a,ge of isl, and include 29 ministers and lb8 deacons. Luring the whole course of the campaign againsb the Bill there has been no more striking revelation of hostility to the wii. In spite of attempts to kill the petition, the Nonconformist committee in charge of it* with Mr. John Williams, Llanrhraadr, jJen- bigh, at its head, has gone on undauntedly. The straightforwardness and honesty of uia movement is exemplitied by the open n in- ner in which those responsible are desirous of presenting it to the Government. Mr. John Williams, of the Cottage, Llan- rhaiadr, Denbigh, wrote to Mr. Asquitn as follows cii February 7th: On behalf of a committee of Nonconform- ists resident in the diooeFe of St. Asaoh I respectfully ask if yon will be pleased to re- ceive a deputation to present a protest against certain proposals in L- tne Disestablishment and Disendowment of the Church in Wales. That protest i as already been signed by a largo number of Noncon- formists." Nn reply was received to this letter, and a telegram was sent on February 12th ask- ing for an answer. To i!iis telegram the Prime Minister replied that, the "letter of February 7th wan under consideration. To avoid delay and to meet the conveni- ence of the Prime Minister the committee have in the meantime sent him the protest with the following letter: — This protest expresses the conscientious opposition of Nonconformists to the pro- posals to deprive the Church in Wales of her unclosed ancient churchyards, and to take away for secular purposes & yem oi her ancient endowments. This protest has been limited to Non- conformists resident in the diocese of St. Asaph and over twenty-one yea 1-3 of age. We invite your special attention to the fact that the protest has been signed by In that number are included :— Calvinistic Methodists f<j09 W esley ans. 3,3534 Congregationalists 2,771 Baptists 1.-&86 Other Nonconformist bodiee. 1,021 "Among the signatories are; 2.9 Ministers or preachers. 158 deacons. 56 holding various offices. 18 justices of the peace. WHAT THE FIGuRnrS MEAN. I "These figiires will finow you tnat tiio signatories are drawn from all grades and denominations of Nonconformity in the dio- cese of St. Asaph. The highest percentages of signatures came from the purely Welsh country parishes. In many of th^te parishes more than half the adult Nonconformist population signed the protest."

LLANELLY LAND DEAL POINTED QUESTION IN PARLIAMENT. M Charles Bathurst, of Lydney Park, i ha givea notice to ask the President of the Hoard of Agriculture whether nego- tiations are in progress for the sale of three acres of Crown foreshore at Llan- elly to Richard Thomas and Company, Limited, tinplato manufacturers. Whethc-r the price of such land do. mand.-A by the Crown is E480 with the further proviso that all minerals and sub- strata are to be reserved to tin Crown, and that no reduction is to be allowed in the roni, payable in respect of premises which ir;ctiiae the above land under a lease granted by the Crown to Sir Arthur Scepnej deceased, and now vested in Richard Thomas and Company, Limited, saojtct moreover to the purchasers beard- ing the whole cost of conveyance and sur- veyor's charges. Whether such ground was reclaimed from the sea and entirely made by the tipping; of refuse from the works by the said Richard Thomas and Company, l'in,!t<;d, and their predecessors in title; ana hew, under the above circumstances, the price of JE160 per acre demanded by I the Crown has been arrived at.

I" COMPELLEID TO SELL." LORD TREDEGAR'S BRECON ESTATE. A CONSEQUENCE OF DEATH DUTIES. Lord Tredegar has decided to part with the greater portion of his Breconshire estate, comprising, it is understood, 7,000 acres. This important step on the part of his lordship was announced at the rent audit Ginner at Brecon on Friday by Mr. H. F. W. Harries, the agent, who stated that Lord Tredegr.r had told him that he would he compelled to sell the property to provide the very large sum of money he had to pay ill death duties. Tenants on the estate would have the first opportunity of purchasing their holdings, and Lord Tred-egar would do everything he possibly could to help them in doing so. It is understood that 7,000 acres of the Breoonshire estate will come into the market, but that the Manor of Brecon, including the Great Forest and the Dderw House and farm, will be reserved.

MR. JOHNNY JAMES. Appointed Sub-Agent for Anthra- cite District. At the monthly meeting of the Anthrar cite Miners' Association, held at the Unitarian Schoolroom on Saturday, Mr. W. Owen, Blaeriargwen Colliery, in the chair, the final ballot for the position of sub-agent resulted in J. James, Gwaun- cae-Gurwen, securing 9,310 votes, and Stepli,:ri Davies, A-nrnai-f)rd, 6,306. Mr. wa& elected.