Abergavenny Chronicle

Retirement of Mr. J. A. Findlay. i L. & N. W. South Wales Manager. I f We are informed that Mr. John A. Findlay, of Abergavenny, London and North-Western Rail- -way, District Manager for South Wales and West of England, will retire at the close of the present month, and will be succeeded by Mr. A. T. Cotton, the L. & N. W. and L. & Y. Joint Goods Superintendent, Belfast, who was Chief Assistant in the South Wales District from 1889 to 1895. Mr. Findlay, who resides at the Cloisters, and is retiring for health reasons, comes of a family associated with the London and North-Western Railway Company since its formation. His grandfather worked under George Stephenson in the construction of the railway, and was after- wards an engineer on the line. Mr. l iidlay entered the company's service 41 years ago as a youth from school. His father, Sir George Findlay, wanted him to go to Oxford and take his degree, but the son had an in- vincible desire for a railway career, and entered the company's service as superior apprentice at Camden goods station. Afterwards he became chief assistant to the late David Stevenson when the great London cartage agencies were taken over as a result of the company's decision that it was preferable to deal directly with the public than through agents. Important Posts. Subsequently Mr. Findlay was appointed agent at Poplar Docks, where he had charge also of the shipping department in the London district. In 1881 he was transferred to Broad- street, the great North-Western depot for London. It was while on duty there that the great blizzard of January 18, 1881, hindered railway traffic so enormously, and his own office was submerged by snow. Mr. Findlay was promoted to Euston in 1891 as assistant to the goods manager, and subsequently as Euston general manager. It was in 1901—after serving 10 years at Euston—that he came to South Wale,g, Loyalty of Railway Workers. j On Wednesday he told a Press representative that one of the most important conclusions 1*2 had drawn from observation was this Whilst the conditions of labour have changed in a marvellous way from what they were when I first joined the service, I cannot detect any change in the loyalty of the servants to their employers. He thinks that the railway service, with its constant employment and regular pay—although the remuneration might be less than in other trades-is still the most popular employment in the country. There is scope for young men to rise to the highest positions if they start with leal determination to do so." Mr. Findlay is a Scotsman, born at Coltfield, Elgin. He married a daughter of the late Mr. Swainston Adamson, of Rugeley, the eminent railwav engineer. He has two sons with the colours—Lieut. John Findlay, 3rd Monmouth- shire Regiment, and Lieut. George Findlay, Royal Engineers. Both are in France. The former, in civil life, is also in the service of the L. and N.-W.-R. ———

POSITION OF FARMERS. A FAMINE OF LABOUR. CALL FOR ORGANISATION. (By GWILYM DAVIES, M.A.) In parts of the county of Pembroke a famine is beginning to make itself felt. It is the famine of labour. I was told the other day on a visit to a district I know well of what used to be one of the best farms in the county, well stocked, with about a hundred acres under the plough. Now the farmhouse is closed, not a man lives on the land, and, as yet, the owner has not been able to plough any of his fields. This farm is, of course, quite exceptional; it stands alone, but there are farms in plenty where the con- ditions are not promising. Reduced Labour Staff. A farm not very far from the one I have mentioned covers an area of well over 400 acres. To do justice, or anything like justice, to the handling of those broad fields and meadows there should be, I was told, at least seven men and boys in constant employment. The staff, in these last days, has been reduced to two men (one of whom is deformed) and a couple of growing lads, with every prospect of a further reduction soon. Close by is another 300 acre place which is being run, at present, by one man another of 140 acres, 40 of them under the plough, with only the farmer himself. A farm was mentioned where the rental is i400 a year. It is farmed by a widow who has to face the problem this year of making this huge rent, with rates and taxes, wages, and other -extras, with the assistance of two able-bodied farm labourers. Case after case was cited of 260 acre holdings with one man, and in one holding of 150 acres there are just two boys to help. At a 200 acre farm the first teamsman is a boy of 15 years. No extra labour can be got even if 5s. a day were offered, because there is Tioue to be had. Tramps have all but disap- peared, and along the coast soldiers have been withdrawn as watchers of the sea, their places being taken by able-bodied men above military age, who are paid at the rate of 24s. 6d. a week. All the farms of which I heard are not in such a parlous state as those which have been named. Or. some there are three, four, or five men, most above military age. In other instances, the farmers hired at the October fair the men they needed it remains to be seen whether they can keep to the spring what was given them in the early winter. And there is no farmer who does not look into the future as into a glass darkly. This much is certain If the Welsh farm is to he regarded as a Welsh food factory, then the production of Welsh food is going to be con- siderably lf-sened. Let me give a concrete example, facts and figures which are true and ca::not be challenged. One of my farmer- friends, himself one of the largest and best- known agriculturists in his neighbourhood, tells me that in 1880 he used to plough as a regular thing about 140 acres. Last year he only ploughed 55 acres this year he will consider himself lucky if he can manage 40 acres-less than one-tenth of the field space under his com- mand. He used to put 30 acres under turnips and potatoes last year there were only seven acres. And for the first time in the long story of that farm hands were so few that he failed to get all his thatching done. Employment. of Women. I In answer to my question as to tne employ- ment of women on farms. I was assured that, as it is, no more can be expected from a large majority of the wives and daughters of farmers. It would be possible for the wives of the labourer and cottagers to do what the wives of labourers used to do 20 and 40 years back. They could .hoe turnips, plant potatoes, and do other useful jobs of that kind. But the labourer's wife, as a rule, is not eager for farm work. In many instances she dees not possess enough energy to get up to see to her man's breakfast before he goes out. As to women being brought back to the land, and as to those pretty pictures of women plough- ing which adorn the pages of illustrated papers, my practical farmer friend laughed. How do you expect." I was asked, a woman or girl to go ploughing in a stony fi 1d all day long, or, it may be, in wet ground, up to her ankles, or I occasionally to her knees, in muck ? Or can a I woman stand the heat and the burden of a long clay's pitching of hay, or do the hedging or thatch a rick < It cannot be done—except in I, pictures." reed 0? Cooperation. The alternative is one and only one. It con- sists in more effective organisation and, above all, in cooperation in the fair distribution of such labour as is left between all the farms so that there shall IK; no farm with more, and none with less, than is absolutely nectssary to keep going. Nor should the landed gentry be allowed to keep more men-servants than are absolutely essential. Farming as usual on any farm is now almost an impossibility on most farms work has been, or soon will be, at an irreducible minimum. For the best type of farmer is as anxious to have his sons and his men fighting for his country as is the best type of employer in any other de- partment of industry. If, however, food- producing can be regarded as important as shell- producing, it must follow that the Minister of Agriculture is right in being as insistent as the Minister of Munitions. It is for him to see that the men remaining under his care are kept at the post where they can render the most effective service to our nation and our Allies.

Personal.Ilr. Abel Sylvanus- Jones, B.A., History Master at Sutton Coldfeld Grammar School, Birmingham, has received a commission in the Army Service Corps, and is now stationed at Leeds. Mr. Sylvanus-Jones is the only son of the late Rev. W. Sylvanus-Jones, who was formerly pastor of the Presbyterian Church, Abergavenny, for a period of over 25 years.

CRICKHOWELL RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL. Mr. W. G. James presided at the monthly meeting of this Council on Monday, at the Town Hall, Crickhowell, when there were present Messrs. Gwilym C. James, A. J. Thomas, W. Rosser, James Howell, James Howat, Josiah Phillips, Henry Thomas, T. LI. Jones, C. F. Cox, John Thomas, P. Parsons, and Rev. W. Arvon Davies. COUNCIL, AND SANITARY INSPECTOR. I The Council again considered the application of Mr. E. R. Morgan, sanitary inspector at Llanelly, who has joined the London Sanitary Corps, to make up the difference between his military pay and salary. The Chairman explained that the matter was left over from the last Council meeting. Mr. Wm. Rosser Cannot we have the com- mittee's report ? The Chairman The committee decided that the question should be considered by the whole Council. The Clerk explained that Mr. Morgan's salary as sanitary inspector was £ 70 per annum, and this was a charge upon the whole district the Council, however, were allowed half of the salary ( £ *35) by the County Council. In addition, Mr. Morgan received £ 20 as superintendent of scavenging at Llanelly, and this sum was a charge upon Llanelly parish alone. At the last meeting the question arose as to whether the allowance from the County Council would be continued, having regard to the fact that Mr. Morgan had enlisted, and he (the Clerk) ap- proached Mr. Harries, the clerk to the County Council, and Mr. W. E. Jones, the Finance Clerk, upon the matter, and both gentlemen were agreed that the Council would be obliged to continue to pay half of whatever sum the District Council paid to Mr. Morgan as sanitary inspector; thus, for instance, if they decided to pav him £50, (25 would be contributed by the County Council. He understood Mr. Morgan's Army pay was £20 a year. Mr. C. F. Cox And Is. gd. billeting allow- ance, making, in all, over /53 a year. This must be taken into consideration. If the billeting allowance is not going to be considered then Mr. Morgan will be this amount better off. The Clerk said it was quite correct to say that Mr. Morgan's pay was IS. 2d. a day, and billeting allowance is. gd. a day, in all 2S. nd., but the billeting allowance did not appear to be taken into consideration by public bodies generally. Mr. Gwilym C. James enquired whether Mr, Morgan consulted the Council before enlisting. The Chairman said he informed him that he intended enlisting, but it was only right to say that he broached the matter by asking Mr. Morgan what he intended doing. He told Mr, Morgan that he could not in any way commit the Council, but that personally he considered the Council should make him an allowance. Mr. Gwilym C. James: Is Mr. Morgan married? Mr. Josiah Phillips No, he is a single man. Mr. T. Ll. Jones said he did not wish to see Mr. Morgan regarded by his colleagues in the Sanitary Corps as an outcast, and he would support an allowance. It appeared that the members of the Corps were paid by their Coun- cils, and they could hardly treat Mr. Morgan differently. Rev. W. Arvon Davies Who is going to carry out Mr. Morgan's duties in his absence ? The Chairman Mr. Hurley. Rev. W. Arvon Davies And no question as to remuneration will arise ? The Chairman No. Whatever arrangement exists is between Mr. Morgan and Mr. Hurley. A Councillor But 11 Mr.; Hurley can ao tne work now, why not before ? The Chairman said the Housing and Town Planning Act, which took up so much of the Inspector's time, was now practically a dead letter and Mr. Hurley was much better able to do the work in consequence. Mr. Josiah Phillips thought the Council ought to follow the example of other Councils. Mr. C. F. Cox said that if the ^53 received by Mr. Morgan was deducted out of the £ jo it would leave £ 17, and he would support payment of the amount to him. They must remember they were spending the ratepayers' money, not their own. Mr. A. J. Thomas And the County Council would allow us half, £ 8 10s. The Clerk Yes. Mr. A. J. Thomas said Mr. Hurley had promised to do all that he possibly could, but circumstances might arise which would entail expenditure. What was the position then ? The Chairman pointed out that the Local Government Board insisted upon the appoint- ment of another inspector when Mr. Hurley did the work. Mr. Wm. Rosser The work was carried out satisfactorily by Mr. Hurley before Mr. Morgan's appointment, and I do not anticipate any difficulty. Mr. Morgan, who was on leave, was called in, and addressed the Council. He said he felt there had been some misunderstanding. It was true his billeting allowance was is. gd. per day, but it was far too inadequate to meet his daily expenses. All the men in the London Sanitary Corps were paid by their Councils, as it was recognised that the men were lent to the Govern- ment for a special work, and for which men who had no knowledge of, would have to be specially trained. It was to save time and expense to the country that sanitary officials were asked to join the Corps. The small allowance of IS. 2d. was not, it was considered, looked upon as adequate pay. For the sake of comparison, he would take the pay of a motor driver, who re- ceived 6s. a day, and yet had not to serve any- thing like the same time in specialising for his work. He trusted the Council would be able to meet him, as he did not want to stand out in isolation from his comrades. The Chairman said Mr. Morgan's salary was £ïo a year as inspector. They could deduct his military pay, £ 20, out of this and pay him the difference of £ 50, half of which would be re- refunded by the County Council. Mr. Henry Thomas I think myself that £ 40 would be a very fair sum to pay. Mr. Josiah Phillips moved that Mr. Morgan be paid £ 50, half of which would be refunded by the County Council. Mr. J ames Howat seconded, and it was carried. The Chairman I believe we are unanimous. Mr. A. J. Thomas dissented. The Chairman We are all agreed, then, with the exception of Mr. Thomas. Mr. Morgan was called in, and informed of the decision of the Council. He thanked the Council for their consideration and said he was very glad to know that he would stand on the same footing as the men in the Corps to which he belonged. The Chairman, on behalf of the Council, wished Mr. Morgan every success. Mr. A. J. Thomas: Anf-lthat you may return without hurt or harm. (Hear, hear). Mr. Morgan acknowledged the Council's good wishes. CHELTENHAM WATER SUPPLY. I A letter was read from the Llanelly Parish Council complaining of the water supplied to Cheltenham village, Clydach, which was still being polluted by Brynmawr sewage. There were a number of cases of typhoid in the locality, and the time was long past when the sanitary authority should find means to ensure a pure water supplv to the village. The Council were of oninion that some means of precaution should be taken to prevent children drinking from the taps. Mr. C. F. Cox said he could confirm all that was said in the letter about the impurity of the water. He drew a quantity the other day, and it absolutely stank. Such water should not be supplied to the residents. He intended cutting his supply off. I Mr. T. LI. Jones But that will not give a j supply of pure water to Cheltenham village Mr. Wm. Rosser There are a number of springs in the neighbourhood, but the Bryn- mawr sewer ruins above them. Dr. P. E. Hill, Medical Officer of Health, said he had reported time after time about the dangers of leaking sewage. Beyond this he was absolutely powerless. As long as the sewer remained he did not think they could do any- thing. Mr. Win. Rcsser said it seemed to him that the Local Government Board were shielding the Brynmawr Council, and it was no use shutting their eyes to it. Dr. Hill, replying to a Councillor, said that the Local Government Board Inspector, Dr. Morgan Rees, had inspected the pipe line recently, and went to Brynmawr to see the outfall sewer. On the motion of Mr. A. J. Thomas, the matter was referred to the LlaneUy Water Committee for attention.

JIFF HEADACHE AND TOOTHACHE POWDERS owing to the War are 31d. each 3/- per dozen. But they are worth their weight in gold. I

Crickhowell Board of Guardians. I Mr. Gwilym C. James presided at the fort- nightly meeting of this Board on Monday last, at the Town Hall, Crickhowell, when there were present Rev. W. Arvon Davies, Messrs. T. M. Williams, W. G. James, Wm. Rosser, A. J. Thomas, F. R. Prole. Thomas Jones, Josiah Phillips, James Howells, J. H. Jones, Stephen Devnallt, W. G. Watkins, R. J. Jones, Wm. Jones, David Thomas, Philip Parsons, T. LI. Jones, C. F. Cox, Henry Thomas, Enoch Wil- liams and Evan Williams. RESIGNATION OF WARDSMAID. I A letter was read from the wardsmaid, resign- ing her appointment at the workhouse. The Master, replying to questions, said the wardsmaid was paid a salary of £ 18 a year, and, if he might suggest it, he thought the amount should be increased to £20 a year. They would not be able to get a suitable person in times like the present for less money. Mr. Enoch Williams and Mr. Wm. Jones supported the Master's suggestion. Mr. A. J. Thomas And we are being asked to economise! It does not seem much like economy to voluntarily increase salaries. Mr. T M. Williams remarked that a capable girl could get £ 24 a year and all found, these days. The Master's suggestion was agreed to, and it was resolved to offer the increased salary to the present wardsmaid. PORTER. I The Clerk said the Board were still without a porter, the person who had promised to attend that day with a view to being appointed, not having, so far, put in an appearance. .&

CRICKHOWELL. I INTERCESSION. Intercession services were held at the various churches and chapels in the district on Sunday, and were well attended. THE NEW YEAR.—1916 was ushered in very quietly in this locality. Watchnight services held at Idangattock Parish Church were well attended. STORM.—There was a recurrence of the gale the gale on Friday and Saturday, and a number of trees were blown down, but the damage done, fortunately, was not as great as on the previous Monday. Towards the week-end the Usk river was in flood.

VICTIM OF THE STORM. I BLAENAVON CHILD KILLED WHILST I SHELTERING FROM THE GALE. An inquest on the victim of the recent storm fatality at Blaenavon was conducted on Tuesday by Mr. J. B. Walford (coroner). The deceased was Hannah Maria Styles (13), daughter of William Styles, collier, of Old Pwlldu, and the evidence showed that during Saturday's storm the little girl was told by a roadman, John Champion, to walk behind a cart which was going along the Abergavenny road, in order to protect her from the wind and to prevent her from being blown into the brickworks pond. At that moment a horse attached to a grocer's cart, which had been frightened by the wind, bolted down the road, and immediately after the animal had passed the child was found on the ground bleeding from a severe wound in the neck. She died a few minutes later. It was assumed that she looked out from behind the cart which was protecting her from the wind and was struck by the cart drawn by the runaway. The jury returned a verdict of Accidental death," and exonerated the driver of the grocer's cart from blame.

T Frogmore Street Baptist Church. I FIFTH MONTHLY ORGAN RECITAL. I By its series of monthly organ recitals the Abergavenny Frogmore-street Baptist Church has gained a reputation for providing rich musical treats. This reputation was enhanced by the fifth recital, which was given on Thursday last, when the proceeds were on behalf of the Soldiers Fund for providing shirts. There was a fairly good audience, and the offertory amounted to £ 4. The artistes were as follows Organist, Dr. T. D. Edwards, L.R.A.M., A.R.C.M. (the well-known Welsh organist and composer) soprano, Miss Blodwen Lloyd, R.C.M., London (the new Welsh soprano of the London and pro- vincial concerts) bass, Mr. B. Gregory Evans (Chicago, U.S.A., principal bass Pittsburg Welsh Prize Choir) elocutionist, Mr. John Owen, Abergavenny. Dr. Edwards showed himself to be a musician of the first rank, both as an organist and a composer. His work on the organi was very fine. His playing of his own] compositions, Intermezzo Caracter- istique and Improvisation on Hyfrydol," was a great treat, and especially the way in which he rendered the air and variations of the tune Hyfrydol on different stops and pedals. Rural Scenes and Russian Military March (arranged by David Clegg) were also exception- ally good, and in the former the organist brought in all the animal sounds to be heard in farm life. In the organ fantasia The Anthems of the Allies the following countries were represented Wales, Japan, Russia, Belgium, France, and Great Britain. In the finale Rule Britannia and God save the King were played simul- taneously, the former on the pedal organ and the latter on the manuals, and the rendering was a brilliant one. Very few, if any, finer sopranos have been heard in Abergavenny than Miss Blodwen Lloyd, who possesses a beautiful voice of exceptional range. She sang in rare style Hear ye Israel (Elijah), and in response to an inevitable encore gave a magnificent render- ing of Tosti's Goodbye." She also sang, with brilliant success, the new patriotic song Land of mine (composed by the organist, Dr. T, D. Edwards), and as an encore gave Bird of love divine" (Wood). Mr. B. Gregory Evans dis- played a magnificent voice and true artistic ability in the aria I am a roamer (Mendel- ssohn) and in response to a well-deserved encore gave Mate o' mine." He also gave a stirring rendering in Italian of Non pia Andrai (Nozzi de Figaro), and, being encored, responded with The little Irish girl." Mr. John Owen was as popular as ever in two recitals, The Druid's Stone (Borrow), and Three Sonnets." ————

I LLANWENARTH ULTRA. I INTERCESSION SERVICE —Last Sunday, being the first Sunday of the New Year, was duly observed as the appointed day of National Inter- cession in connection with the war. In spite of the unfavourable weather, both morning and evening services were well attended. A special form of prayer was used, and the collections in aid of the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John of Jerusalem amounted to £ 5 8s. 4d.

UNATTESTED MEN. I To the Editor of the 11 Abergavenny Chronici.e.. I SIR,—As I have been, in a sense, attacked in your issue of the 31st ult. by a gentleman who prefers to remain anonymous, I take it that it is up to me to explain myself, and so I ask your courtesy for a short space in your valuable columns in which to do so. I am a co-opted member of the Local Agri- cultural War Committee, and as the subject of farmers attesting was on the agenda at the last meeting, my case was cited as a typical one. I had mentioned the fact that I had not attested, and so was asked by the chairman (Mr. Morgan W. David) to give my reasons, which I did, and they are as follows:- I am farming a farm of about 200 acres, and thereby supporting a widowed mother and two sisters. I have neither brother nor uncle nor any relative who could in any way look after my farm should I be away on military service. Military service for me, and for one in a similar position, would simply mean selling off the stock and giving up the farm. Nevertheless, on the strength of what the Mayor of Abergavenny explained in his excellent speech, referred to by Attested," I thought it was my duty to attest, as I hope I am as loyal to the country, at any rate, as a number of the attested men who know that they should not leave their business for military work, but are relying on appeal to the tribunals for exemption. I consulted a number of knowledgable in- dividuals on the Tuesday before the nth of December, and received much conflicting advice. Suffice it to say that I was advised by a Local Tribunal man, and by a local canvasser, that in my case I ought not to attest. On the Wednesday we had a County Farmers' Union meeting in Newport, and the question having been fully discussed,ithe issue remained undecided, but a telegram was dispatched to Lord Selbourne that night asking him to wire advice of a yes or no character. This he did not do, but posted a pamphlet which ap- parently implied exceptions in certain cases to the general rule of attesting.. I then went to an authority who, I thought, would be best quali- fied to advise, and his advice was clear and un- mistakeable. He pointed out to me that it would be unwise for me to put my name to a contract that I could not, in my position, hope to fulfil without doing more harm than good, and from which my first step would naturally be to obtain release and exemption. This advice turned the scale, and thus I did not attest. In addition to this, Sir, I would like to refer Attested to the discussion on the position of young farmers, which took place at the quarterly meeting of the Agricultural Committee of the Herefordshire County Council, held at the Shire Hall on Wednesday, Dec. 22nd, and re- ported in the Hereford Times" of Dec. 24th. For the sake of brevity, I will quote but one paragraph Mr. Parry Jones stated that Mr. R. Moore, the Clerk to the Hereford Rural Tribunal, wrote to London on this very point, asking whether both starred and unstarred men (engaged in agriculture) could appeal, whether they had attested or not, and the answer was that both classes could appeal." May I also cite a letter which appears in same issue on page 6 ? The instructions of Local Tribunals read "A case under Sections iii., iv., v., or vi. of these instructions may be considered, whether the man with respect to whom the case arises has or has not been attested.' Section vi. reads Where a man alleges that he is, or is alleged by his employer to be, actually engaged in an occupation which has been regarded as a starred occupation for the purpose of the National Register pink form, if the man in question has not been marked with a star, that man, or if he is an employed person, his employer may appeal to the tribunal in the prescribed form in dupli- cate that the man should be treated as a starred man. My opinion is that the Parliamentary Recruit- ing Committee has been overzealous in advising men, i.e., farmers of military age farming large farms that are indispensable to the country, to attest. Their idea was to swell the number of recruits, the country to find the money to pay fees to doctors, recruiting officers, and cash to attested men, which will be wasted when such men are exempted. The situation is plain that all men should be attested except those in lists A, B, and C, issued by the Local Government Board, which lists include munition workers, coal mining and agriculture. All farmers come under list C. Might I also call your attention to a speech made by Lord Selbourne at a meeting of the Winchester and District Agricultural Associa- tion at the Winchester Guildlwll, on Saturday, December nth, where, in reply to a farmer who stated that some of his starred men had gone to attest on tne statement of a recruiting officer that the Government wanted them to do so, he (Lord Selbourne) said it was not the wish of the Government that starred men should b2 enlisted or attested." j Letter above cited is written by a member of the Herefordshire County Agricultural War Cominitteel It is thus, Sir, that my education, to which Attested refers, shows me that there are points in the scheme which are not so clear to others as they are to him, and if these points call for such intelligent discussion, and puzzle such men as those whose words are reported in the Hereford Times above, one must congratulate Attested on being so clear-sighted that he can rush in and sktle them offhand. One wonders why such a man prefers to remain anonymous, and to throw his stones from behind a hedge, unless, perhaps, he is practising taking cover for trench work. All honour to those farmers who have seen it to be their duty to attest, but is there not also. Sir, a place on the earth for others who, while equally anxious to do the right thing, have not seen their way marked out so clearly ? I am, Sir, yours respectfully, PHILIP WILLIAMS. Red House, Llanarth, Jan. 1, 1916. P.S.-Perliaps the Daily Mail has been from the outset one of the most consistent sup- porters of Lord Derby's attestation scheme. Yet I commend to the notice of Attested the article in issue of above date entitled Single men with dependents."

THE DANGERS OF IGNORANCE. I Sir O. Lodge on Our Self-Satisfaction. 1 VALUE OF WAR TRAINING. I The annual conference of Educational Associ- ations was opened on Monday afternoon in the University of London, Imperial Institute-road. The meeting took place in the Great Hall, where a large number of members of the 28 associations concerned listened to an address on Education after the War by Sir Oliver Lodge. He spoke with severity of a neglect in this country of in- tellectual things, and said the widespread ignor- ance of natural facts, even among our leaders, and the consequent contempt for investigation and expert knowledge, constituted another danger. GERMAN AND ENGLISH MISTAKES. I Sir Oliver Lodge said the war had opened the eyes of the nation to certain perils which, during the long era of peace had been overlooked, or if not overlooked accepted in a conservative spirit. Two danger signals had been conspicuous-one sent up by this country, one sent up by our foes. The heavy" pedagogical grind, the desperate worship of material good, the soulless ad hoc preparation for business, the concentration on a purely material ideal and its elevation into the region of worship and sentiment-that was the warning signal issued by Germany. The old sentimental delightful Germany, with a message to the soul of the human race, had been slain, and a ruthless monster had taken its place. Until the dragon had been exterminated, neither Germany nor the rest of the world could have peace. But our country had unconsciously hoisted its own danger signal too—not soul- destroying, but bad enough, and desperately unwise. The neglect of intellectual things, the satisfaction with book knowledge, the inatten- tion to facts, the concentration on physical prowess, and on a passive kind of material prosperity, the widespread ignorance of natural facts even among our leaders, and consequent contempt for investigation and expert know- ledge-that was another danger. What had become apparent was the ignorance of our governing classes-of all classes. The fact that education had not led to widely diffused knowledge and was not designed to lead there, that it failed to stimulate any healthy intel- lectual interest in the majority, had now at length glared at us too prominently to be over- looked We had been learning from our enemies. In initiative we had been behind. The courage and the personal character of our men of all classes, and our women too, had saved us. But we had been saved as by fire. NEGLECT OF EXPERTS. I In this commercial community surely there were experts in trade and manufacture, men of experience and ability eager to help and advise and serve at the outbreak of the war. They were not called in, they were not trusted. He put it down not to viciousness, but to ignorance. Only gradually did the need for their services loom on those in control of national affairs, and now at length there was organization. But it was a kind of Nemesis. The manufacturers had long refrained from calling in the scientific ex- pert, and so they themselves, with their accumu- lation of detailed knowledge of trading and buying and selling, were not called in either. Briefly, to sum up the contention of manu- facturers all over the country, inspection by the inexpert was an extravagant farce. He put it all down to disbelief in real education. Speaking of the kind of education represented by the Third and Fourth Form standard, he recommended that it should be of a more bodily character, and that pupils should receive instruc- tion or practice in a variety of more or less mechanical enterprises. In educational institu- tions food should be available both for mind and body but forcible feeding should be applied to neither. The habit of going direct to nature for facts was to be encouraged. As a basis for more systematic and higher scientific instruction a substratum of fact was needed. Every teacher must appeal to what the boys already knew. The ordinary commercial facts ought to be known to everybody also the main facts about the human body. Elementary physiology was of the utmost importance and all manner of hygienic details ought to be inculcated, if only as a measure of self-preservation. PREPARATION FOR LIFE. I In spite of the thorough and excellent system of training of teachers, he doubted whether we were giving in our primary schools the right kind of education as a preparation for life, especially in country schools. The nation was beginning to realize how amazingly important it was to keep people on the land and to give them an interest in country life. But what were we doing to encourage it ? Agricultural life was heartily encouraged and honoured in France, and the surprising and genuine wealth of that country was the result. Again, in the education of girls, were we giving sufficient attention to home management ? Surely no education could be more vital than a knowledge of how to deal with infants, how to preserve them from prema- ture death, and bring up the citizens of the future in health and strength. He would not speak at length about the wasteful madness of allowing the mass of children to stop their education just at an age when it was going to become fruitful for all present must fully recognise it. To turm our coming citizens loose, at a critical age, on the discipline and companionship of the street, was destructive of all dignity except in the strongest characters, and it surely gave Democratic government no reasonable chance at all. Discovery and utilis- ation of the brains of the nation was an aim hitherto insufficiently attended to. Workshop routine was not stimulating, and the preparatory training was not of a helpful kind. Yet among artisans was a great amount of brain power, at present not half utilised. Now and again a Faraday or a Watt had risen from the ranks, but only by dint of exceptionally strong personal character, and in face of great difficulties, or else by what seemed like accidental aid. THE PRESENT OPPORTUNITY. I How to continue real education throughout life, and devolop the powers of every human being, or at least to devise conditions which should not seriously crush out such development, was a problem worthy of an exalted patriotism for nothing could be more beneficial to the country. Class misunderstandings and petty jealousies, perhaps even trade union rules, stood in the way and workmen themselves were often each other's hinderers. That was a state of things which had grown up in peace but the present stress should bring to an end these sad evidences of civil war and industrial strife. When would there be such another oppor- tunity for inculcating the virtue of patriotism and self-sacrificing devotion to country and the duty and nobility of service of all kinds ? Edu- cation for boys who left the primary school was chiefly needed in the direction of bodily dis- cipline and character training. Here was where the essentials of a kind of military discipline were so appropriate. Yet the aim might be much more general than military service. Imagin- ation was needed to realise the opportunities for service at ordinary times, and it was but seldom that they were looked for. They would not be looked for, nor thought of, unless something was done in the direction of disciplinary bodily training. It must be part of the education of the ordinary citizen to recognise an opportunity for service in a life of honourable industry, in a life of creation rather than in a life of destruc- tion, in the arts of peace rather than in the arts. of war. (Cheers). +

DANIELS Genuine Sale of Drapery Goods PREVIOUS TO STOCKTAKING. COMMENCING JANUARY 10th, 1916, for 21 Days only. Great Reductions in all Departments. COATS, COSTUMES, BLOUSES, FUR;, &c. SPECIAL REDUCTIONS IN GENT'S DEPARTMENTS: RAINPROOF COATS, SHIRTS, HOSE, TIES, GLOVES, &c. Market Buildings, Abergavenny. PURITAN SOAP is used in Britain's happiest homes 260

Torture of Armenian Women. GERMAN CALLOUSNESS. The following account of Turkish atrocities in Asia Minor and of the attitude of the Germans there has been furnished by Miss a British subject and a missionary of the American Board (Boston) in Turkey. Miss has just arrived in Egypt from Beirut. The incidents she relates occurred, for the most part, in the late summer and autumn. She herself saw and talked witn the refugees at Aleppo and Aintab. At Aleppo were the remnants of 5,000 exiles who had started from Kharput. When they began their journey they were of all ages and of both sexes. Among them were many intelligent and refined young women who had graduated from Constantinople College and the Euphrates College. Their treatment at the hands of the gendarmes, and their fate as occupants of harems, are almost unthinkable. When the refugees came to cross the rivers that flow into the Euphrates, the able-bodied men were drowned. Farther on, the survivors, now only old men, women, and children, were stripped of all their clothing. Naked, they waded through streams, slept in the chilly nights, and bore the heat of the sun. They were brought into Aleppo for the last few miles in third-class railway carriages, herded together like so many animals. When the doors of the carriages were opened they were jeered at by the populace for their nakedness. Of the 5,000 that had started from Kharput only 213 were left On the way from Kharput one party of 40 women came to a river at dusk. The gendarmes told them to strip and wade across. This they did, thinking that the gendarmes would follow with their clothing. Instead, they turned back, taking all the animals, baggage, clothing, and food with them, and leaving the naked women alone for the night. Another caravan of refugees came along later and found the women in their unhappy plight. One evening two gentlemen went out for a wa'}; near Aintab in order to getaway from their cares for a while. They went where they ex- pected to find nobody at all. By the side of the road they noticed a heap of ill-smelling rags, around which scavenger dogs were circling. They drew nearer, and saw that the heap was a woman in a dying condition. One of the men rushed off to get some hot milk for the woman. When he came back and put it to her lips she barely had strength to say, Would that you had not brought me this, for I had longed to die." She did die a verv short time after saying this. As was discovered later, she was a young woman of a very good family. FATE OF ORPHAN GIRLS. In Marash an orphanage had to be given up to the Turks, who turned it over to men. Its occupants were girls and young women, made orphans by the massacres of 1909 and preceding years. Many of them were cultured young women. The condition of those not yet dead is worse than death itSt if. In a German orphanage at Marash there were more than 1,000 girls. The order for expatriation came, and, in order that she might shield a few of the older girls, the headmistress kept them under her own pro- tection. Soon there came a telegram from the German Consul at Aleppo, saying, You have hidden some girls. You have no business to do such a thing. Give them up." The girls had to be given up, and were taken away to suffer the inevitable at the hands of their Turkish masters. This so angered the headmistress thatrfhe went to Constantinople to protest to thei German Ambassador. She tried repeatedly to interview him on the subject, but failed every time. She was told curtly that it was none of her business. Broken-hearted, she returned to d-j what little relief work might be possible. Near Aintab the refugees weic not permitted to camp near any water, nor were they even allowed to go for anv. Miss ——— finally secured permission from a Turkish gendarme to give a pittance of food to the miserable multitude. While she was distributing it, the gendarme suddenlv became excited and began striking her. The reason for his action was the approach of some German officers on horseback. One of them rode directly at Miss with the plain intention of riding her down. However, she braced herself and suffered only a bruise from contact with the horse's head. She was then rsuhed off by a gendarme at the command of the German officer. The officer also said, in her hearing, to the Turkish gendarmes, "You are too easy with the people. Draw your whips and beat this crowd." The Turks obeyed, and began beating the suffering crowd of old men, women, and children. A certain influential neutral resident in Turkey protested to a high Turkish official against the unnecessary suffering oi the refugees near Aleppo and asked to be allowed to take some food to them. He told the official that the people were dying at the rate of 400 a day, and that more would perish unless aided at once. The request was not granted. The official merely shrugged his shoulders and said, What do you suppose we are sending them out theta for ? t, Printed and Published by M. MORGAN AND CO., at 26, Frogmore Street, Abergavenny in the County of Monmouth. FRIDAY, JAN. 7, 191t.