The Brecon Radnor Express Carmarthen and Swansea Valley Gazette and Brynmawr District Advertiser

Births, Marriages, Deaths In Memoriam. &c. It is our desire that our column of notices under the above heading should be valuable to all our readers. Notices are inserted at the minimum rate of 1/- for 20 words and sixpence for each additional ten words or part of ten words, and must be prepaid. Unless prepaid ther are charged at the rate of 2/6 per insertion. ACKNOWLEDG- MENTS will be charged at same Rate. No notice of this description will be inserted unless authenticated by the name and address of the sender. marriage* LLOYD—EVANS.—On March 1st (St. David's Day), very quietly, at Llandaff Cathedral, by the Ven. Archdeacon Buckley, of Llandaff, as- sisted by the Rev. W. T. Evans, B.A., Curate of St. James's, Haslingden, Lanes., brother of the bride, Herbert James, second son of the late Mark Lloyd, Builth Wells, Breconshire, to 'Mary Elizabeth Myfanwy, younger daughter of Mrs Evans, Troedyrbiw, Llanon, Card., and of the late David Evans. b569 .atf1. RISING.-On the 4th inst., at Llandrindod Wells, the Rev. Williams James Sutfield Rising, beloved husband of Carrie Rising, and only son of the late Rev. Benjamin Rising, Vicar of Moreton, Salop, aged 52 years. Funeral on Wednesday, the 8th, at 2 o'clock, Lianbadarn- Fawr Church. r565 3tt Utemorfam. EVANS.-In loving memory of my dear Aunt, Ann Evans, who died 26th February, 1915, late of 23, Watton. Interred at St. David's, Llan- faes, Churchyard. The shock was great, the blow severe, We little thought the end so near; Only those who have lost are able to tell, The pain that is felt at saying farewell. Sadly missed by her dear and beloved one-Polly.

Acknowledgement. Builth Wells Red Cross Hospital has received two donations, viz., from Gwenddwr School Pat- riotic Concert X5, and Builth Council School (In- '?Itli Nuncil qcliool (In- fants' Department) Patriotic Concert. £ 2 2s. 571 Y.M.C.A. Subscriptions, on behalf of the Y.M.C.A. funds, can be received at the "ltxpress" Offices, Braoon. Official receipts are issued to all doaors. (1026

THE TRIBUNALS. I One of the most responsible and unenvi- able tasks ever cast upon any body of local men is that which has to be borne by members of the Tribunals set up under the Army Service Act. Their work and deci- sions appear to be the chief topic of conver- sation. It would be futile to expect such bodies to give satisfaction to everyone. If they did they would not be doing their duty. We believe they are performing their onerous task, at all events judging by the vast majority of decisions given, conscientiously and fairly. At the same time, it is very questionable whether such a constituted body are the right persons to administer or rather to interpret the Act. When Lord Derby's Scheme was first introduced-before the Service Act came into operation we thought this particular work would have fallen better on some such judicially ex- perienced person as a revising barrister, who could have heard claims and objections by the same procedure as is customary at the revision courts. We thought then, and we believe we stated as much, that it would relieve local men of a very unpleasant duty, and what is more, give greater satisfaction to the general public. The Act itself is more or less intricate, and seemingly re- quires someone of judicial experience to interpret its multitudinous clauses. That it is not so probably accounts for the consider- able confusion and di verse decisions in the findings of the tribunals throughout the country. In some parts we find exemptions given freely, in others, such as London, the opposite is the case, and there is excessive strictness. One London Tribunal took the line that it would give "absolute exemption to nobody—exempting only for a fixed period such as six months—a course which as a London contemporary puts it "is surely in flagrant contradiction of the repre- sentations under which the Derby recruits enlisted, and of the scheme which Parlia- ment supposed itself to have enacted in the Compulsory Service Bill." There seems to be a lack of explicit instructions on im- I porant points of principle, and this probably accounts for the varied decisions on what appear to be parallel cases. The Chairman of the Presteign Tribunal said there were three important points of principle which they must keep in mind. These were National interest, industrial interests, and individual interests. With regard to the latter he very rightly said that what appeared serious hardships" in normal times must be viewed in a different light at the present time. In considering industrial interests regard should be paid to the main- tenance of the business of the country and the feeding of the population. This appears to us to be the most difficult point, and accounts for some of the criticisms prob- ably now levelled at Tribunals which have to deal with farmers' sons and farm labourers. Farming, it must be remem- bered, is the country's chief industry, and although the finest material for the Army could be recruited from the robust sons of the soil, yet we have to bear in mind that the farms cannot be managed, especially at this time of the year, with a very depleted staff. It is a real difficulty, and how it is to be got over we do not know. In the absence of any guidance from the proper quarters as to the position of farmers, we think the Tribunals are acting justly to the nation. They are not supposed to consider personal interests. Since the Tribunals have been opened to the public we find for ourselves that the applicants are subjected to a very severe inquisition, both by mem- bers and the military representative, who, so far as we have seen, leaves no stone un- turned to get all the men he can. It is upon this evidence that Tribunals must decide, and from the cases we have perused, and as we pointed out last week, it is clear that shortage of labour on the land really exists. On the comparatively small farms of Wales one can expect no other, when it is remembered that a considerable number of men-even if it is not a great number- have left for the army. In normal times the Welsh farmer has very little inclination to over-staff his farm, and the man lie em- ploys is usually skilled "all-round," and when one or two men leave he finds him- self in a position not very favourable to his carrying on, let alone the question of in- creased production. How far the employ- ment of women will meet the difficulty we cannot say. It is clear that women must replace men in every employment if we are to raise enough soldiers, and at the same time maintain the indispensable production and business of the country.

Notes and Notions. Sgt. D. Arthur and Pte. T. C. Smith (Beulah) were home on short ileave last week. Hev. E. Beynon (Clydach) has accepted a call to Cwmparc, Treorky. Sgt. S. Jarman, Lce.-Cpl. J. Jarman and Pte. T. Stanton were home on furlough at Llangam- march last week. The heaviest snowdrift seen at Ystradfellte for 35 years took place there last week, the depth, in some places, being 10 to'12 feet. Watton C.M. Church (Brecon) extended a very hearty welcome to their new pastor (Rev. E. G. Davies) at a "social" a few days ago. Mr Ivor Williams (son of Mr Reee Williams, Danygarth, Cusop) has passed the examination for service in the National Provincial Bank. Lieut. E. Williams (Royal Sussex) was home at Talgarth from the trenches on a few days' fur- lough last week. Mr Justice Atkin, who was one of the judges at Glamorgan Assizes last week, received his early education at Christ College, Brecon. Mr David Davies has been elected secretary of Lla-nwrtyd Odd-fellows' liodge in successioa to Mr D. J. Williams, who is leaving the town for Llangammarch Wells. Miss M. J. Francis (Llaethferch), conductress of Llaethferch Dramatic Company, won bes three hundred and seventy-second first prize as an elo- cutionist at Maesteg Eisteddfod on Wednesday. Farrier Quarter-Master-Sergeant C. Jones, R.F.A., (late huntsman of Llangammarch Fox- hounds) has just re-joined his regimfent after some mouths in a. French hospital. Teme Valley Hounds met at Heyope on Satur- day. They also meet at Bucknell to-day (Wed- nesday) by invitation, and at Duttas on Saturday morning. Lee.-Opl. A. K. Morgan (eldest son of Mr and Mrs Tom Morgan (Cwmirfon Cottage, Llan- wrtyd), is now in a French hospital suffering witk a wound in one of his arms. i The War Office reports that Private Tom Dav- ies (GodLre-rgraig, Ystradgynlais), best known locally as "Long Tom," has been killed in action. Private Davies was an army reservist, and wao called to his regiment, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. at the cotnmencenie»'i: of the war. The great economy of the bicycle is illustrated in a ease reported from Taiping, Malay States, whence Mr A. W. Martin writes that he bought a second-hand Raleigh ten years ago, after the first owner had ridden it for eight years, "a-nd the old machine is still going strong." The London Gazette" on Friday night con- tained the following :—"War Office. March 3.— Special Reserve of Officers Reserve Units.—The undermentioned is seconded for duty with brigade machine gun companies. South Wales Borderers (22nd January)—Capt. Wilfrid T. Raikes." A visiting gentleman recently spent an excel- lent day "ski-ing" near Talgarth, and quite sur- prised the inhabitants of Pengenfford by his skill and dexterity on the slopes of the Black Mountain, 1 especially on Castle Dinas. The gentleman ar- •« rived from the direction of Hereford by the first Midland train. k The appointment of Lord Derby as chairman of the Joint Air Committee provided "London Opinion" with the subject for a capital cartoon last week. Two famous humorous artists, Dudley Hardy and Lance Thackeray, make a welcome appearance, and, in every respect, the current is- sue of the witty weekly is well up to its high standard. Mr S. Williamsoia (general manager, Cam- brian Railways Company) presided over a special general meeting of the Cambrian Resorts Associa- tion at Barmouth on Thursday. The chairman said that since the association was formed in 1910 a film of XI,800 had been spent in advertis- ing, the bulk in newspapers, and the results had been highly satisfactory. The proceeds of the Salvation Army during the recent "Self-Denial Week at Hay goes this year towards the fund for providing five addi- tional motor-amb ulances to the ten already at work in France and which were sent by private subscriptions through the Army. Mrs J. Davies (Broad Street) actt;d as secretary, and Mrs W. Lihvall. leader. I llr G. R. Thomas. B.Sc. (Builth Wells), as briefly stated in last issue. delight- ed a most appreciative audience at Llan- wrtyd Wells with his clever lecture on "The lays of a very minor bard." His chairman was Mr T. B. Lewis, and appropriate musical selections were rendered by Miss Bronwen Rich- ards. Miss Gwennie Lewis, Mr W. Thomas and Mr D. J. Price's quartette party. J i Everybody in Radnorshire will be delighted to see that Mr J. Luther Greehwav has 'been again appointed high-sheriff. When he held the oiffce, a few years ago, he made the year notable by his unbounded generosity and extreme courtesy, and if the year sees the declaration of a victorious peace, as all hope it will. then something very notable and great may confidently be expected from die new High Sheriff of Radnorshire. A private (3rd Brecknock8 at Haverfordwest). writing to some Ystradgynlais friends a few days ago, stated :—"Last week sudden orders came to the Officer Commanding, bidding him to get ready immediately 270 men for India, and so busy times followed in issuing Indian khaki, rifles, etc. The whole of the draft. were given five days' leave, who were, due back at headquarters on Thursday. Most of the boys hailed from Builth and Crick- howell, though there were many from Ystalyfera, 1 Ystradgynlais and Pontardawe." fl B Mr Owen Price (chairman of the Brecon Rural « Tribunal) announced, at a meeting of the tri- S bunal on Friday, that he had been offered a seat by the President of the Board of Agriculture on 1| the Appeal Tribunal. If he accepted it be would a have to resign his seat on the local tribunal. The ■ members expressed their high opinion of the value M of the chairman's services and refused to accept his resignation, and Mr Price thereupon said he would accede to their requests and nominate some- one else. "Sir Francis Edwards, M.P. says the Lobby correspondent of the Wales Daily News," has—on the ground of ill-health-declined to ac- cept the position of representative of Wales on the final Tribunal of Appeal in regard to exei-np- tions from military service, and Mr Haydn Jones is objected to for the position by the Welsh Unionist M.P. 's. This objection, it is alleged, is due to the active part Mr Haydn Jones took in re- gaiul to the Welsh Church Disestablishment and Disendowment Bill." Mr Tennant, replying to questions by Mr Sidney Robinson, states that instructions wer« now being prepared under which theological stnd- ents of all religious denominations would i)4 treated alike in regard to the question of mili- tary service. No alteration had been made in the decisions already announced in reference to medical students. The regulations had been framed upon the same lines as those for theologi- cal students. If there were any distinction per- haps the treatment of the medical students wan more generous. At many of the schools in Brecon and Radnor a personal letter, addressed td "The Children of Wales," on behalf of the Welsh National Fund— of which H.R.H. Prince of Wales is president, and the Earl of Plymouth, Mr Lloyd George, Sir James Hills-Johnes, 'C.. and Lord Kenyou, vice-presidents—was read on St. David's Day. The letter was issued over the signature of General Owen Thomas, and notified the establish- ment of "The National Order of the White Cross" for the children of Wales, who assisted the national movement in the interests of the sol- f diers and sailors. her little Mrs Bowen, who. with her little daughter j Elsie. aged 11, was drowned in the Maloja disas- ter, was a sister of Councillor W. J. Esmond. j College Vieyv, Llandovery. Her husband was ] I employed at H.M. Dockyard, Gibraltar, and she left England to join him at Gibraltar, where he i has been employed since the beginning of the j war. She was a native of Neyland, Pembroke- shire. Mr Esmond, deceased's brother, pro- ceeded to Dover to attend the inquest. The bodies were brought to Neyland for interment on Thursday evening. The little boy, age 8. who survives, is at present in the charge of his uncle, Mr Esmond. « J His Majesty, the King, has been pleased to ap- point, for the second time, Mr James Luther Greenway (Greenway Manor, Penybont) high- sheriff of Radnor, and the latter hais elected the Rev. Albert Jordan, M.A., L.L.D. (rector of Llanbadarn-fawr) to be his chaplain, and Mr Hugh VaugJian-Yaughan, his under-sheriff. Not for the last 190 years has any gentleman held the office of high sheriff twice, and there have only been four suel) instanees during the last five hun- dred years. Mr Green way, who has been all invalid for the last 3 months, has now quite re- covered, and we extend to him, on behalf of our readers in both counties, hearty good wishes for a successful year's tenure of the dignified office. I I Two historic Welsh estates have been. or shortly are to be, broken up by sale under the auctioneer's hammer. Both are situate in the Swansea Valley, covering what is now an import- ant industrial district. One, upon which Ystalv- fera. and Ystradgynlais are built, is known as the Gough Estate (Yniscedwyn), the mansion, where Col. Fleming Gough resides, and occupies a spot. known as one of the homes of Prince Brychan. Then, through his father (Prince Owain), the chieftian Edwyn came into the property—hence Ynig-ced-wyn. The Goughe came to the estate through marriage with the ancient Awbrev fam- ily. and have been settled there for generations. The other estate is that of Cilybebyll, on which Pontardawe is built. The mansion-house (The Plais) is situate on a high eminence on the way to Neatoh, &nd is an Ial and stately building, commanding a magm?cect view. It has long been ??th !e-i of the Lloyd family, Mr J. H 7p Llyd J.P., being the present holder. Cily- bebyll is said to have been visited by St. Paul in A.D. 60, and the church is one of the oldest in the Principality. j