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

 D &  New Goods have arrived. Therewillbedi&cultiesinthewayofrepeadngmany?ines. Do not leave it I AIIH fill 111)1 IOC /Opposite the\ TAlGARTH Q/\4"l Too LATE to secure these early consignments. Tailor-made Costumes. Raincoats and Suits to measure. LUnUUK nUUuE ?Market Hau?) T?ninTH M # 1r/\CnlTY7l4 vAb O OSiC r k3UlH HOUSEHOLD LINENS, Etc B Prudential Assurance Company, Ltd. Chief Office: HOLBORN BARS, LONDON. Summary of the Report Presented at the Sixty-Eighth Annual Masting heiu on 1st March, 1917. ORDINARY BRANCH.—The number of policies is sued duriug the year was 48,258, assuring the sum of £ 5,080,989, and producing a new annual premium in. oorne of £ 373,309. The premiums received during the Year were i5,230,170, being an increase of £ 72.654 over the year 1915.. The claims of the year amounted to £ 4,573,917, of which £ 249,689 was in respect of War Claims. The number of deaths was 12,407. The number of endow- ment. assurances matured was 27,065. the annual pre- mium income of which was £ 146.894. The number of policies including annuities in force at the end of the year was 932,539. INDUSTRIAL BRANCH.—The premium.- received during the year were £S.S97,721. being an increase of £ 391,660. The claims of the year amounted to i'4,005,251, of which £87.87!J was in respect of 49,625 War Claims. The bonus additions included in the claim- amounted to £ 112,565. The total number of claims and surrenders, including 16,741 endowment assurances matured, was 398,917. The number of free policies granted during the year to those policy-holders of five years' standing and up- wards who desired to discontinue their payments was 69,775, the number in force being 2,004,282. The num- ber of free policies which became claims during the year was 50,016. The total number of policies in force in tlii- Branch at the end of the ye.ar was 21.305.330: their average duration exceeds thirteen and a quarter years. The War Claims paid during the year, in both Branches, number 52,433 and amount to £ 1,077,568. The total paid up to the present on this account since the outbreak of war exceed? £ 1.860,000, in respect of over 88,000 claims. GENERAL BRANCH.—Under the Sickness Insurance Tables the premiums received during the year were 4C7,780 and £ '3,074 was paid in Sickness Claim. Under the new Memorandum of Association, 13 Sinking fund Policies were issued during the year, assuring a capital sum of £ 131,300 and producing an annual income of £ 2,531. The whole of the fund of R23,390 is reserved fcr future liabilities. The asset- of the Company, in all branches, as shown in the balance sheet Are £ 99,123,746, being an increase of £ 4,328,948 over those of 1915. In the Ordinary Branch the surplus shown is tl.418.240, including the sum of £ 219,331 brought for- ward from last year. Out of this surplus the Directors have added £ 400,000 to the Investments Reserve Fund, which stand- as at 31st December, 1916, at £ 2.000,000. In addition. £ 800,000 has been added to the Special Contingencv Fund, which stands at £ 1,500.000. and £ 218.240 has been carried forward. The Directors have decided to continue the payment of a bonus on all par- ticipating policies of this Branch which become claims either by death or maturity during the financial year. They much regret however that the pre,ent circum- stances do not Justify them in making a general dis- tribution of bonus and the shareholders will again re- ceive no part of the profits of this Branch. The Directors have every confidence however that the in- terests of the participating policy-holders are fully se- cured by the Special Contingency Fund referred to above. £ In the Industrial Branch the surplus shown is *1,000.S92, including the sum of £ 249,282 brought for- Ward from last year. Out of this surplus the Directors have added £ 415,082 to the Investments Reserve Fund. which after deducting £ 15,082, representing realised loss on Securities stands as at 31st December, 1916, at £ 1,400,000. The, provisions relating to Industrial Assurance con- tained in the Courts (Emergency Powers) Act, 1914, have again resulted in a severe strain upon the Com- pany's resources, which has reduced the surplus shown on the operations of the year, and whilst these provis- ions remain in force the strain must continue. In these circumstances the Directors have not felt justified in drawing upon the R350,000 set aside last year to meet contingent liabilities created by the Act, but have met t he loss out of revenue. The Cou-rts (Emergency Powers) Act Reserve therefore stands, as at 31st Decem- ber, 1916, at 9350,000, The profit sharing scheme in the Industrial Branch provides that after payment of a fixed dividend to the shareholders any surplus profit shall he divided into six parts: oil,, part being retained by the shareholders, one distributed among the outdoor staff of the Company, the remaining four parts being allotted by way of bonus to the policyholders of the Industrial Branch. The sum which has already been paid or allotted under this scheme by way of bonus to the Industrial Branch policyholders and outdoor staff amounts to £ 2.825,000. The Directors regret that the- amount of surplus shown this year does not permit of any increase being made to this sum: there is. however, still a bal- a nee remaining, from which bonus additions will be made ,,tne, remainin W",stire-d on all policies in the Industrial Branch on which at least thirty years' premiums have been paid and which become claims either by death or maturity of endowment from the 2nd of March, 1917, to the 7th of March. 1918. both dates inclusive. In addition to the reserves held against the liabilities shown by the valuation, the total amount reserved for contingencies, including amounts carried forward, ex- ceeds £ 5,650.000. The Balance sheet includes amounts totalling over t-17,750,000 in British Government Securities; this re- presents an increase compared with last vear of about 4-4,500,000. During the year the Company has lent or sold to the Treasury under the various mobilisation schemes secur- ities of a nominal value of £ 6,955,159. The Prudential Approved Societies formed under the Xationa) Insurance Act 1911 continue to make satisfac- tory progress, and the valuable services rendered to the members by the Agency Staff are highly appreciated. The amount distributed in benefits to the members a.t their homes during the year amounted to Rl,320,397, making a t-otal exceeding £ 5,700.000 since the Act came into operation. An arrangement has been made and approved by the Insurance Commissioners whereby the Prudential Approved Society for Miners is absorbed into the Prudential Approved Society for Men. and the Soc- j ietv for Laundresses is absorbed into the society for Women as from the 31st December. 1916. thus reducing the number of Prudential Approved Societies to four. j During the year the Government has continuously availed itself of the services of the Company and its officials; it has been a matter for congratulation that the services so rendered have met with the greatest ap- preciation. The. indoor and outdoor staff- have been further de- pleted during the year by Naval and Military demands, and the Company is now supplying more than ten thous- and men to the fighting strength of the nation. BALANCE SHEET OF THE PRUDENTIAL ASSURANCE COMPANY, LIMITED, BEING THE SUMMARY OF ALL BRANCHES ON THE 31st DECEMBER, 1916. LIABILITIES. £ s. d. Shareholders' capital 1.000,000 0 0 Life assurance fund- ? s. d. Ordinary Branch 4;.881.009:Ö dii Life assurance fund- Industrial Branch 44,553,424 17 9 Insurance fund- General Branch 23,399 8 7 92,461.733 17 0 Investments reserve funds 3,400,000 0 0 Contingency fund 1.500,000 0 0 Courts (Emergency Powers) Act Reserve 350,000 0 0 Claims under life policies intimated and t\. In course of payment. 367,020 15 2 Annuities due and unpaid 5,694 5 5 balance of bonus under life policies re- served for distribution 39,296 14 10 ^P9,123,745 12 5 ASSETS. t s. d. Mortgages on property within the rnited Kingdom 9,009,073 18 6 Mortgages on property out of t-he United Kingdom 372.966 6 2 Loans 11 on parochial and other puh)n 12,408,5sl 19 6 rates 12.408,581 19 6 ra;? on Hf. interest? 1,114.487 0 11 Loans on Reversions 48,963 16 4 on stocks and shares tg 19 0 Loam on Company's policies within their surrender values 2.S04.214 !) 7 Loans on Personal security Nil. Loans to Educational institutions secured on income 39.938 17 2 Carried forward £ 2.5,879,696 10 2 ASSETS (Continued). £ s. d. Brought forward 25,879,696 10 2 Investments — Deposit with the High Court ( £ 16,266 13s. 4d. 4.12 per cent. War Loan, 1925-1945) 16,080 19 1 British Government Securities 17,734,165.2 3 Bank of England stock 143,117 2 10 Municipal and county securities. United Kingdom 1,918,905 17 1 InrJian and Colonial Government se- curities 4,929,284 5 11 Colonial provincial securitie-s 1,322.080 18 1 Indian and Colonial municipal se- curities 3,540,922 5 3 Foreign Government securities 7,201,928 2 4 Foreign provincial securities • • 792,499 16 7 Foreign municipal securities 3,365,484 7 6 Railway and other debentures and debenture stocks and gold and sterling bonds—Home and Foreign 12,808,104 9 9 Railway and other preference and guaranteed stocks and shares 3,253.104 5 5 Railwav and other ordinary stocks and shares 2,933,687 4 9 Rent charges 565,705 12 7 Freehold ground rents and Scotch feu duties 4,784,230 0 0 Leasehold ground rents 9,548 14 8 House property 4,451,470 16 3 Life interests 34,626 14 6 Reversions 1,249,709 11 10 Agents' balances 7,674 9 6 Outstanding premiums 722,737 17 0 Outstanding interests and rents 207,597 2 4 Interest, dividends and rents accrued but not payable 485,345 15 1 Bills receivable Nil. Cash—On deposit 20,000 0 0 In hand and on current accounts 685,997 11 8 £ 99,123,745 12 5 The values, of Stock Exchange securities are determined, under the Articles of Association of the Company, by the Directors. Due allowance has been made for accrued interest, and the book value of these securities as set forth in the Balance Sheet stands considerably below cost price. A careful investigation as to the actual saleable value on 31st December, 1916, compared with the; book value, shows that the Investments Reserve Funds are much more than sufficient to meet any depreciation of the permanent securities. Terminable securities have been valued on a basi", which, with Sinking Funds already Established, provides for the equal- isation of the hook values and the redemption values at the date of maturity. We certify that in our belief the Assets set forth in the Balance Sheet (having regard to the standards indicated) are in the aggregate fully of the value stated therein less the Investments Reserve and Contingency Funds taken into account, and make ample provision for all the liabilities of the Company. No part of any fund has been applied directly or indirectly for any purpose .other than the class of business to which it is applicable. J. BURN, ACTUARY. THOS. C. DEWEY, CHAIRMAN. A. C. THOMPSON. CMNK)?) MM<;I:it. G. E. MAY. SKfMTARy. W. J. LANCASTER, ) D. WINTRINGHAM STABLE, ? "Ikectors. We report that with the assistance of the Chartered Accountants ns stated below we have examined the foregoing accounts and have obtained all the information, and explanation, that we have required, and in our opinion such account,, are correct and the foregoing Balance Sheet is properly drawn up so a;" to exhibit a true and correct view of the state of the Company's affairs according to the best of our information and the ex- planations given to us and as shown hy the books of the Company. No part, of any fund has been applied directly or indirectly for any purpose other than the class- of business to which it is applicable. PHILIP SECRET-?N, I AU'DITOR' W. H. NICHOLLS ? AUDITORS. We have examined the Cash transactions (receipts and payments) affecting the accounts of the Assets and Investments for the year ended December 31st, 1916. and we find the stnie in good order and properly vouched. We have :11 '0 examined the Deeds and Securities, Certificates, etc.. representing the Assets and Investments set out in the above account, and we certify that they were in possession and safe custody as on December 31st, 1916. DELOITTE, PLKNDER. GRIFFITHS & CO., CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS. 13th Fehruarv, 1S17. br615/238 -=-

Prudential Assurance Company, Limited. SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT. The 68th annual meeting of the Prudential Assnr- ance Company, Ltd., was held on March 1st. The an nual report, appearing in another colmun, indicates a most prosperous year's working, in which 48,258 policies were issued in the ordinary branct, assuring the sum £ 5,080,089, producing a new annual income of L373,309. The premiums received during the year were fd:ro,170, being an '"crease of £ 72,654 over the year In the industrial branch the preniiiiiii., were £8,89i. ï3. being an increase of £ 391,060. The claims amounted to f4,005,251, of which £ 827,879 was in rc- ^Vject of 49.65 war claim,- The bonus additions inchid- ed in the claims amounted t? 2112,566. The war daim- P?'d during the year, in hoth branches, number 52,433, and amount to £ 1,077,568. The total paid up to the Present on this account since the outbreak of war ex- ceeds £ 1,860,000, in respect- of over 88,000 claims. In the general branch, under the sickness insurance ta the premiums received were £ 7,780, and £ 3,974 Was Paid in sickness claims. j j' The aq't" of the Company, in all branches, as shown ,n the ba)anco sheet, are ?M.?3.746, being an in(.ft'a of £ 4.328,948 over those of 1915. In the ordinary hranch the surplus shown is EI,418,240, including the }!'m of ?2? 9.331 brought forward from last Year. In ''ndustnal branch the surplus shown is ii,ooo. w-. .?, udtns the sum of brought forward from ia?t The balance sheet includes amounts totalling over £ 17.750,000 in British Government Securities. This re- presents an increase compared with last year of about t4.500.000. Tluring the year the Company has lent or -old to the Treasury under the various mobilisation schemes securities of a normal value of £6.995,159. The Prudential Approved Societies, formed under the National Insurance Act, 1911, continue to make satis, factory progress. The amount distributed in benefits to the memlvers at their homes during the year amount- ed to £ 1,320,397. malting a total exceeding £ 5,700,000 since the Act came into operation. During the year the Government has continuously availed itself of the services of the Company and its officials. It has been a matter of congratulation that the services so rendered have been met with the great- est appreciation. Attention is called to the system of conversion into free policies, and the profit sharing scheme in the indus- trial branch, where special facilities are offered the is- sured.

HAVE YOU PAIN? J. Swift, Attercliffe, Sheffield. savs: "The first dose gave me great releif. I can confidently sav that one box of these pills has done me more good than all the medi- cine I have taken." Mrs A. Wilkinson, of Nelson, states: "My sister, who suffered from weak kidneys, took one box, and it has done her more good than pounds spent on Medical Men." HOLDROYD'S GRAVEL PILLS, a positive cure for Gravel. Pains in the Rack, Dropsy, Bright's dineasea of the Kidneys, Gout Sciatica. 1/3. of all chemists. Post free, 14 stamps. HOLDROYD, MEDICAL HALL, Cleckheatou.

l BY "UNCLE TOM." i Brecon, March 13th, 1917. My dear nephews and nieces,—I have to draw your attention, this week, to our competition for March, and trust you i,;i!l ill compete. Since I wrote you last I have received the two fol- lowing acknowledgment cards and wish to heartily thank my little nieces for writing me H) kindly;- "Council School, rpper Chapel, near Brecon, 5/3/17.— Dear Uncle Tom, I beg to acknowledge the receipt of P.O. for 2/6 which was first prize in the February com- petition. I was delighted to get first- prize this time again. Thanking you very much for it and for your kind congratulations. With best wishes, I remain, your loving niece, Eleanor G. Evans." "Council School, Upper Chapel, near Brecon, 5/3/17.— Dear Uncle Tom. I beg to thank you very much for the P.O. for 1/6 which was the second prize in the February competition. I was very pleased to get the second prize, I also thank you for your kind congratula- tions. With best wishes, I remain, your loving niece, Lilian M. G. Williams." With kindest regards to you all! Your affectionate UNCLE TOM.

MARCH COMPETITION. Best essay on "The Wild Flowers of Spring." Open to elementary school-children in Brecon and Radnor. i Include name. address, and age in your contribution. Marks will be given as follow :-Intelligence, 160; English, 80; spelling, 80; and hand-writing, 80. Prizes.—1st, 2/6; 2nd, 1/6; 3rd, 1/ The essays must not exceed 250 words. The com- positions must also be the bonafide work of competitors themselves. The last day for receiving essays will be Saturday, March 31st. and these should be properly stamped and addressed to Uncie Tom, care of "Brecon and Rad- nor Express," Brecon.

Suggested inscription FOR A PIGSTYE". BY "JOB TOSSER." Sir- The following lines are the result of a medita- tion on patriotic pig-keeping. They suggest, what is probably the fact, that the pig is prepared to be a powerful ally in return for fair treatment, and on reasonable terms. What sound- are these that reach mine ear, That nearer come, and yet more near; That set my sober brain a-whirl, That give my tail an extra curl? "Place for the Pig!" I hear them cry "Build up hi- old Ancestral Stye." The time of my decline is past, My lines in pleasant spots are cas; In days of- Peace, midst War's arruy, Man yet shall fifld the Pig his stay; Where'er old Britain's speech is heard Shall Bacon he a household word. The Pig that. honest salt is worth Loves well the Land that gave him birth: And, "I'm prepared," will boldly say, "To die the Death when comes The' Day," His heart with courage rare and fine Is fillM-a Patriot to the chine. But I would grunt an humble pray'r, Ano beg for treatment fair and square; To butcher's bench I'll gaily go If I but gain a quid pro quo; Grave deep these words upon my stye- "Come hero no Food Controller nigh." JOB TOSSER.

DRINK AND THE WAR. Sir,—My friend "Brynllys" has evidently lost his temper which is unfortunate. He reminds me of an old friend of mine who, like myself, was fond of his "oc- casional," but who often talked more sense even when under the influence of drink than one could ever expect from many an extreme teetotaller who never touched a drop in his life. On one occasion he arrived home sU?htiythewcrse, when his wife, who had an un- governabk temper, started her usual tirade against (Ilriiik-ttie trade and everybody connected, and event- ually worked herself into a state of uncontrollable frenzy. The neighbours rushed in to enquire as to the cause of the uproar, when the old boy sitting quietly by the fire casually looked round and explained that it was really nothing of importance save that he had taken a drop too much and that it had got into his poor wife's head. I am afraid that many of the extreme section of the teetotal party in their fanatical frenzy succeed in work- ing themselves into a far more dangerous state of in- toxication than any man can do simply by taking drink. There are one or two points in the letter of "Brynllys" which I must briefly deal with. First, there is his conten- tion "that Prohibition will ultimately reduce drinking al- most to vanishing point," which, lie goes on to say, rather lamely, "can be substantiated to a great extent by the results in other countries." May I put it to your readers that "Brynllys" has not the least data to go upon when he makes this statement. I would ask him tlit, following plain and simple question, and, I also ask him to give me a plain and simple answer, yes, or no. "Has Prohibition reduced drunkenness to a vanishing point in the cities of the State of Maim, U.S.A.?" Let us have no storm of words to obscure the issue but a plain straightforward -reply. Again "Brynllys" denies having committed a breach of the truce. I say, de- liberately. that the question as to the best methods to adopt in order to combat the evil of excessive drinking is one which is extremely controversial, and I again re- peat that the present is not the time to indulge in dis- cussion of this nature. Yours, etc., "CYMRO.

Montreal's Shipping Record. INTERESTING STATEMENT. j According to the record compiled, the year's shipping for the Port of Montreal was the largest in the history of the city. There came to Montreal" for cargoes, dur- ing the season, 685 .sea-going vessels, with a total ton- nage of 2,119,051. The grain delivered from the ele- vators of the .Montreal Harbour Commission and the Grand Trunk Railway totalled 71,646,455 bushels. Of this amount, the Harbour Commissioner's elevators pro- vided 46,391,926 bushels, and the Grand Trunk Railway ele- vators the remaining 25.254.529. The receipts of grain in the elevators of the Harbour Commission, as shown by the Harbour Commission reports and the Grand Trunk Railway, a., shown by the Montreal Warehousing Company, total 77,11^.632 bushels to the end of Novem- ber. The season of 1916 differed from all its predeces- sors in that 70 per cent. of the grain which reached the port came by cars overland instead of in lake bot- toms from the Great Lakes. So many of their vessels have gone out to the ocean trade since the war began that it has seriously hampered the carrying of grain by boats. More than 80 went out this season alone. As liners ami transports carried a. great portion of the grain and flour, they carried it during the season at rates fixed by the British Government. The Govern- ment requisitioned nearly 50 per cent. of the available space for food-stuffs and grain. The coal cargoes from the Maritime Provinces were noticeably few. as com- pared with other years, on account of the shortage of tonnage, but a .corresponding increase was observable in the amount of coal brought down from the lakes in lake bottoms.

For Cyclists and Motor Cyclists I LAS V AND FASCINATING LOCOMOTION. The cyclist who has not yet learnt the joys of the -ir lia, ,till a IGt t learn in the actual plea, ure of cycling. The Sturmey Archer 3-speed gear has made cycling easy a.nd fascinating to hundreds of thousands of cyclists, and has been well described as the equivalent- of the pneumatic tyre and the free-wheel as a necessity to a high grade bicycle. Its counterpart. the Sturmey Archer countershaft gear for motor cycles is to-(lar doing magnificent service at the front where it is the standard gear for use in every British machine, but, of course, no supplies are available for the public till the %N,a.r is over, as the entire output is taken over for War Office requirements. The principles upon which this wonderful invention lies are fully explained in the l>ool;lets issued by the Company. Copies of t-heise will be sent free to any cyclist or motor cyclist who will spnd his or her address to Sturmey Archer Gears, Ltd.. Lenton, Nottingham, and they are well worthy of study by everyone interested in making cycling and motor- cycling easier and more pleasant than it was before.

At Ystradgynlai? Council, on Thursday, Mr J. Cook Rees (architect) reported that the 42 houses erected bv the council at and Colbren had cost £ 9,883 13 4d. In reply to a member, he said the scheme was a success.

*These columns are freely open to the ventilation of any matter of public interest, local or general. I Offensive personalities or abusive epithets are, however, rigidly excluded. Every communication must be duly aud properly authenticated. il casi-s. w 11 ere anonymity is desired, the wri*er uiuot privately and confidentially furnish ine Editor with hta name and address, as a fj guarantee of good faith. The Editor cannot undertake to return any rejected communication. Letters received on the Saturday preceding the week of publication are more likely to be in- j aerted than those arriving later.

DYDD GWYL DEWI. Sir.-At the Welsh patriotic meeting held in the Kingsway, London, on St. David's Day, several Brecon- shire people were among the audience. Brecon, Tal- garth, Ystradgyniais and Aberda-re each had their re- preventatives. Although all were keenly disappointed at the absence of the Prime Minister, the meeting was a unique one in many respe-cts. The music had the charms that only Welsh music has, sung as only Weisli people can sing. The rendering of some of the fine old Welsh hymns, sung with the heart and soul of the huge audience, carried our minds back to the little Welsh chapels among our native hills, whence we had 'leard those hymns before. Stirring addresses were ielivered by Mr John Hinds, Lord Rhondda and Major, !;eneral Sir Francis Lloyd in our ears and carrying the [ impression that verily it was good to have been in Kingsway Hall on St. David's Day. Yours, &c., tondon. -'larch 1, 191-1. MILWYN WILLIAMS. London, March 1, 1917.

FOOD ECONOMIES. Sir.-ln these days of food shortage a few hints as to the prevention of waste may not be out of place. The common habit of peeling raw potatoes and throw- ing away the peelings is extravagant and wasteful since the most nourishing part of the potato is to be found immediately beneath and adherent to the skin. Potatoes should be boiled or baked in their jackets and those who have good teeth will find that by eating the skins they will find that appetising resistance which ren- ders meat attractive, and they will not only obtain a much greater proportion of nutriment, but they will find it possible to dispense with meat with less feeling of de- privation. Those who find that they cannot masticate and digest potato skins should partly boil potatoes and then peel them, when the thin exterior coating will peel off leaving the inner coatings of the peel with all the nut-rime: preserved, and the cooking can then be completed. The almost universal habit of throwing away pea pc is equally wasteful, for, they can be employed to ma an appetising soup with a delicate flavour quite equal t«. that of the pea itself "and if grated and passed through a sieve a thick and nourishing soup can be prepared with or without the addition of a little stock. Bread which is the staff of life and the chief food cf millions of our population should be prepared from flour containing a larger proportion of the branny elements than is even provided for in the Government regulation bread, and the "germ." properly treated, should be in- cluded. There are various breads upon the market which any baker can supply made frcm such flour which are even richer in the proteids, phosphates and enzymes obtained from the inner surface of the brau. than is "G.R." bread. The habit of putting a spoonful of salt on the side of the plate is extremely wasteful, and the same ap- plies to mustard, the requisite quantity of either of these condiments should he sifted upon the plate so that nothing is lost. When tea and coffee are made in a pot there is often a greater proportion wasted than consumed. If these beverages are strained off from the leaves or grounds respectively, they can he heated up and used again. No thrifty French peasant throws away coffee liquid, she rather heats it up and pours it through a small quantity of fresh coffee, and in many farm houses in Normandy and Brittany even the coffee grounds are pre- served and used a second time. Soap is not a food but it is a valuable commodity and if small pieces are collected and mixed with a small quantity of hot water the mixture being heated till solu- tion is obtained, a new cake of soap can be made from the leavings which are commonly thrown away. In these days we can afford to waste nothing, and wastage due to thoughtlessliess is as serious as if it re- sulted from deliberate extravagance. Perhaps these hints may stimulate your readers to think of others. Yours, etc. 1, London. W., London. W., C. R. RUTLAND. If March 7th. 1917.

DRINK AND THE WAR. Sir,—May I say just a word or two in reference to the letter written by Mr Tom M. Williams on the above subject, In the first place, he frankly agreed that pro- hibition does not prohibit. Then why introduce it? He talks of restriction. He must surely know that we ha Yc it already. He must also know that no one in this country objects to such reasonable restriction as the Government- consider necessary under the present e xtera ordinary circumstances. Again, he must he aware of the loyal manner in which the "trade" and ail connected with it have accepted the situation, in many instances at great sacrifie-e to themselves. What he does not appear to have grasped though is that when the supporters of tcetotalism advocate restriction without limit and base their advocacy upon the as- sumption that, in so doing. they are assisting the cause of real temperance, they lay themselves open to grave opposition from those who hold that compulsion of any kind is far from being an elevating and civilising force. Vr,nro i Lampeter. 0. HARRIES.

I "A RESIDENT'S" CRITICISM. Sir,Kin,dIN permit me a little space in your valuable Paper, in order to give vent to the feelings of many of the residents in Hay. During the small hours of Sun- day morning last, a very serious fire broke out at the Bridge-End. Newport Street, endangering the lives of the six occupants. Immediately messages were sent to the several firemen to attend, and. apparently, at least an hour elapsed before they appeared on the scene. Even up to the very end, some members failed to appear. What is wrong with the Brigade V That something is the matter is quite evident! -Another question is "What has become of the fire alarm that once existed in the town? Perhaps the local council ma be able to throw some light upon this question? One thing is quite certain, that had the alarm now been in existence, much precious timE" would have lxen saved, to say nothing of valuable pro- perty. Such a scene as was' enacted last Sunday morning is a standing disgrace to the town of Hay and indeed to the county of Brecon. Yours, etc.. A RESIPENT.

REPLACES MEAT AND EGQS 1 Shrewd "ATORA" Beef Siiet makes the lightest; puddings and pa-stry and the creamiest milk puddings. No skin, no iiimps, no waste. H ■lbs. cqu-aJs 2 lbs, raw suet. Always fresh. Ask vour Grocer for "ATORA." 1 -lb. boxes, 14. J lb. Rd. Refuse substitutes. "For England, Home and Beauty, Original !l)rewing by Rex Osbairm I PURITAN SOAP is all that its WWM name implies Made by Thomas, Bristol, Soapmaken for nigh 200 years. 193W

Food Production Propaganda. LLANWRTYD WELLS MEETING. l-nder the auspices of the Breconshire War Agricul- tural Committee, a public meeting was held at the Vic- toria Hall, Llanwrtyd Wells, on the 5th inst. Great credit is due to Mr E. E. Lewis, Erwbeili, who was responsible for the organisation, for his efforts in bringing together such a large number in spite of the Inclemency of the weather. The chairman was Mr J. T. Evans, Abernant, and he was supported on the platform by Mr W. S. Miller, Mr Walter William* (Brecon), Mr E. E. Lewis (Erwbeili), Mr Rogor Evans (Tynmaes), and Mr Dd. Thomas (agricultural organisier). The chairman said that it was hardly necessary for him to explain the object of the meeting, as it was ar- ranged to consider the best means of increasing the food production of the country. This terrible and destruct- ive war made it necessary to increase the food product- ion. It was really difficult to realise and comprehend the dangerous position that they were in. Their coun- try being relatively small, only a small proportion of what was needed could be produced at home, even un- der the most favourable circumstances, but owing to the war, with millions of men abroad, and their require- ments infinitely greater than if at home, the needs of the country were vastly increased. It was pretty well understood that in the past this country had depended for food supplies and all kinds of raw materials from abroad, and to a certain extent they had neglected their own resources from the land. That was not to be wondered at because the people of this country could occupy themselves more advantageously in manufactur- ing. mining, and other profitable occupations, and' buy their food cheaper from foreign parts. In his opinion food products would have increased in prices even if there was no war. for there was a shortage all the world over. Further their supplies from abroad which were absolutely necessary, were now being danger- ously reduced by the German submarines, as some of the finest and largest ships in the world and thousands of tons of material were being sent to the bottom of the sea. Proceeding. Mr Evans said that the greatest dan- ger at present was the shortage of bread, potatoes, etc., and it was their duty to look in that direction, and do what they could to meet the requirements of the country. (Applause). They were living in a. district- of a peculiar kind. Some districts were more suitable for corn crops than others. Large areas in England and some in Wales were particularly adapted for the raising of corn, while there were other areas better adapted for grass and hay. The Danwrtyd district, with its heavy rainfall, its stiff and adhesive soil, was of that cla". but notwithstanding that it would unouestionaMy be much better to raise more corn than they did at present. for the best results could not be obtained even from stock raising unless there was a- itatn proportion of corn also raised for fodder and 19. (Applause). Mr Miller followed with a strong appeal to increase the produce of the land in the national interest and not for profit. Mr Walter Williams and Mr David Thomas put the question with great force to the audience.

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