Abergavenny Chronicle

-n LOCAL FOOD CONTROL. I No doubt the members of the Abergavenny I, Food Control Committee feel a little bit sore at the implication made through the delegation of labour the other night that they have not done all they might have done in the matter of local food control. Criticism in connection with the food question, either local or national, is of course easy to indulge in, as everybody knows. At the same time, the delegates and those they represent may be given credit for being anxious that the best interests of the public and the country should be served, while the members of the committee may equally be given credit for doing their work conscientiously and without pandering to any particular section or interest. A more intimate knowledge on the part of the delegates of the work of the committee, and a better acquaintance on the part of the com- mittee with the ideas and desires of the delegates might lead to a greater measure of mutual respect. The committee may truly be said to be of a democratic composition, and it is but fair to say that the members have the interests of the consumers at heart. Xo one who has not an inside knowledge of local food control work has any conception of the vast amount of labour which is involved, though a mere recital of the infinite variety of forms and regulations and the subjects which have to be dealt with might give a general impression of it. We know from what we have seen ourselves that the additional work, on top of all the other war work, which devolves on the Town Clerk's office in connection with the food question is simply tremendous, and it could not be accomplished if it was not done on a very business-like system. However, we do not think that the work of the officials is in question at all. It is the committee who are on the carpet, and the main point of criticism is that they have failed, so far, to put into opera- tion a local system of rationing so as to ensure a fair distribution of the chief commodities. It cannot be denied, of course, that if a rationing scheme had been in operation during the past few weeks it would have saved much cause for grumbling, and have prevented many abuses. To see the raiders coming down from the hills to grab all they can is not very pleasant, and to hear absolutely authenticated stories as to how some of them have bragged of the large quan- tities of foodstuffs they have obtained, while many local people have had to go without, fills one with disgust. We cannot build a wall round Abergavenny and keep out the people from other districts, even if it were wise to do so. Abergavenny has always done a good deal of trade with people from the hills, and if it were only a case of getting a fair share of what Aber- gavenny has to spare there would be nothing to be said, but there is no sense or reason in out- siders being allowed latitude to denude the town of foodstuffs which are badly needed by local people. How outsiders manage to get such a large amount of preferential treatment, as is evident by their purchases, is a mystery. We know that some of them have plenty of money to spend and that they do not seem to care what they pay for an article they want, but that is a solution which cannot be considered satisfactory. The organised system of grab by the booty hunters would be stopped by a rationing scheme. It is a little disappointing to some people that Lord Rhondda has not yet seen his wav to establish a national system of rationing. We were told months ago that the scheme was ready, we have been told frequently since that rationing would have to come, and Lord Rhondda said the other day that the sooner it came the better. Local committees might, perhaps, be excused if after all the statements which have been made by those in authority they delayed action themselves on the ground that tliev ex- pected from day to day a national scheme to be established which would wipe out all local schemes. The national scheme is not forth- coming, however, and Lord Rhondda seems in- clined, for the present, to let the local com- mittees work out their own salvation and to watch their experiments in that direction. One could not but feel, ever since the shortage was manifest, that the absence of any sort of restric- tion on people who will not voluntarily play the game was tending to make the position more and more serious. The effect has been to prevent many people who badly need it from getting their fair share, and to encourage hoard, ing on the part of those who were able to get abnormal supplies, and so accentuate the shortage. One would have thought that a con- sideration of these facts would have impelled the Ministry of Food to have pushed forward with their restrictive scheme, for a few penalties for hoarding will not bring all the secreted stocks to light. Although the shortage of several articles of food has been somewhat acute, it is not that so much as the feeling of inequalitv which has caused and is causing the trouble. Most people are-willing to bear their share of sacrifice in the matter of food, feeling that in this way they can play their part—and an im- portant part—at home, but they are not so supremely self-sacrificing as to willingly do without what other people can get more than their share of. It is true that Abergavenny has been behind some other towns in taking up this question of rationing, but it must be remembered that those towns which have adopted what is probably a temporary system have been forced to do so by the serious local conditions and the existence of the queue evil. Abergavenny has not been so badly off as these places, and it is only within the Iast' few weeks that the abuses of the present system have been so evident. Quite recently Lord Rhondda issued a scheme of rationing for adoption by local food control committees. The Abergavenny Committee have been considering this matter, and have formu- lated a scheme in common with the whole of South Wales and Monmouthshire, so that each district shall be on the same basis, but these I schemes cannot be prepared and put into action I immediately. The public gellerllly, however, did not know of the action the committee were taking in this direction, and that is one of the causes of complaint. Though some people may contend that the committee might have acted a little more promptly, it is not true to say that the committee have ignored the desirability of rationing. The knowledge that the public generally are keenly watching the results of their efforts may perhaps spur the committee to a little greater activity, but it must be remem- bered that the committee's work cannot be fully effective unless it has the whole-hearted support of the public as a whole. There are many individual grievances, and it is perhaps natural that the aggrieved parties should attribute blame to the committee for not remedying them. The committee on their part may legitimately protest against being blamed for not remedying com- plaints which have never been brought before them. All complaints should be brought before the committee, and the complainants should be prepared to back up their statements if necessary. We know that many consumers who have legi- timate grievances are afraid to bring the action of the offender into question, because tradesmen iniglit penalise them by refusing to serve them in future, but this is a matter which can be dealt with by the committee, who have a good deal of power and can ask for more power if it is neces- sary. And this leads us to say that it is not only the duty of food control committees to deal with the regulations and orders which are issued to them they should make it their business to send recommendations to the Food Controller on matters which they find require attention and are not provided for in the regulations. The Food Controller is no doubt anxious to know of all the varied difficulties and grievances which the committees throughout the country are encountering in their practical experience, and to sympathetically hear any suggestions for i heir betterment. Where the Ministry of Food has failed to release the supplies which are due to local traders, the local committee might take the matter up and find out whether it is due to laxity or whether the supplies are being held back in the national interest. For committees generally, however, to follow the example of Ebbw Vale, and demand the sending down of additional supplies to their respective districts, would be a dangerous attitude to adopt and would soon resolve itself into a feverish com- petition between the respective towns for as ( much as they could get. Apart from the stocks which are kept for the Army and Navv, there are no large reserves of food in the couutrv which can be drawn on indefinitely. The question of milk has been mentioned, and while the public would no doubt welcome a municipal scheme by which milk could be supplied more cheaply, without any loss to the rates, this is a matter which is beyond the ordinary scope of a food control committee. There have been com- Iierc have I*eil coin- plaints with regard to the distribution of milk, and it is stated that infants in the town are having to go short of their staple article of food while others are getting more than tliev a bso- Intel). need. There is, however, a Milk Supplv (Priority) Scheme to deal \Vith this diflicuhv, whereby any retailer delivering milk in anv area may be directed to deliver such milk to any consumer in priority to any other person in their area. Several applications have already been made to the Abergavenny Committee in this connection, and arrangements have been mace by the Food Office with the milk vendor to supply an extra quantity of milk. In the matter of meat, the complaint has been not so much the price list fixed by the committee as that the list has not been strictly observed in all cases. The best way of protecting the consumer is for the butcher to provide with every piece of meat sold a ticket on which is recorded the name of the joint, the weight, and the price. It is stated that the committee have ordered this to be done. Our information, however, is that it is not generally carried out, and it is for the committee to see that when they issue an order it is observed. It is to be hoped that members of the Food Control Committee will not carrv out their ex- pressed intention of resigning their positions in order to make way for the critics. That is not the spirit in which to take criticism. Every food control committee is subject to criticism, and. that is one of the-penalties of doing public work. Even Lord Rhondda himself is criticised, but he does not talk of resigning in consequence. Local food control will not be made perfect merely by the substitution of Smith for Jones and Brown for Robinson, but there is always room for men of practical ideas and common sense to help in local government, and there is nothing like a little responsibility* for making the critic appreciate the difficulties which have to be encountered in matters of government. AL

Correction.—Captain W. D. Le ycester M.C., who was mentioned at the last meeting of the Town Council as having mon the Military Cross, was referred to by the Mayor as Lieut. This was an. error. National Institute for the Blind. -On Monday evening a lecture, in aid of the National In- stitute for the Blind, was delivered by the Rev. David Griffiths (himself blind), chaplain to the National Institute, who gave an interesting account of the work for the blind in general and in the training and after-care of the soldiers and sailors blinded in the war. The Mayor (Alderman Z. Wheatley, J. p,) presided, and in his remarks hoped Abergavenny would liberally support the good work being done for the blinded soldiers. Prisoner of War in Switzertand. Drummer i Bennett, of the Monmouthshire Regt., who is a British prisoner of war interned in Switzerland has written to his mother, Mrs. T. Bennett, 4 1 Merthyr-road, Abergavenny. In his letter he states that he is learning electrical engineering and if the men like to continue they will have "a 12 months' course in Blighty. The men had been told, he says, that the Government would provide them with a job if they passed out at it and when they got back home they would perhaps have the 12 months' course at Cardiff, for the South Wales men. Band of Hope Festival.-The first annual festival in connection with the Free Church Band of Hope Union was held at the Frogmore- street Baptist Church on Tuesday evening, and proved very successful. The orga-lsl ng tary was Mrs. J. W. Lawrence, and the Band f Hope workers from the various churches t charge of the children. The children san? various temperance hymns suitable for iuverile' and solos were rendered by the Rev. T I 1 ewf and Miss Gertie Morgan. Mr. John Owen pre- sided and the meeting was opened by the Rev. Gwilym Davies. Mr. Alfred Williams (St Arvans) gave an interesting address, and the artistes and chairman were thanked bv the Rev J. P. Millward. Y.M.C.A. Annual Meeting.—The annual tea and meeting in connection with the Y.-If.C.A. was held on Thursday in last week. A large number sat down to the tea and the hall was full for the meeting in the evening. Mr. W. Jacobs presided in the absence of the president, Mr. Ceo. Davies, and was supported by the Rev. M. Eo Davies (Vicar of St. Mary's), Rev. Gwilvm Davies, Rev. J. P. Millward, Rev. T. J. Lewis' Rev. J. Bosward, Rev. S. H. Bosward mil h?' K.&M.fcr"0"/5' the Rev. M. E. Davies and the Rev. E. Symn "?' who gave excellent addresses. Mr W T gave a summary of the financial statemen?t w? showed that there was ,? in hand onre? expenses. The Secretary, Mr. R. Beavar a comprehensive report of the work during the past year and of the outdoor and indoor meet ings which had been held. Miss Williams presided at the organ.

GOVILON. PRESENTATION. A committee has been formed at Govilon, with the Rector, the Rev. T. P. Clarke, as chairman, to raise funds for the purpose of recognising soldiers and sailors on their returning home on leave. On Monday, the 21st January, the first presentation arranged b the committee was made, when a lilinilloll" wristlet watch was presented to Sergt-Far Herbert Morris, who has been at the front since 1914 and who took part in the battle of Mon and in subsequent engagements. Mr £ > | Davies, Hope House, presided over a representa- tive and enthusiastic gathering and the presen tation was made by Mrs. Humphrey, Llan- wenarth House. A musical programme had been arranged, and the following took part Miss Fulford, Mrs. Acland, Mr. T. Prosser, the Misses Philpott, Miss Primrose Morgan, and Miss Gertv Prosser, and the Rev. D. F. Walters addressed the meeting. Farrier-Sergt. H. Morris, in responding, urged upon everyone the importance of doing everything possible to help the country at this time in the production of food, and stated that if those left at home did their share, the could rely upon the boys at the front not failiV" them.

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES 4 DEAT HS MARRIAGES. BEVERIDGE—KIRBY.—On January 26th, at Frogmore St. Baptist Church, by the Rev Gwilym Davies, M.A. (Pastor), Thomas William Beveridge, eldest son of the late -Air. T. W. Beveridge and of Mrs. BeveriVK. Carlton House, to Caroline Elizabeth, third daughter of the late Mr. W. P. Kirby 111d of Mrs. Kirby, Chapel-road (by licence). ÎêINDLA V,PROTlIHROE.Oll the 25th of January, at St. Frances Xaviers, Hereford by the Rev. Canon Dolman, O.S.B., John Adamson Findlay, Lieut. 3rd Monmouthshire Regt., younger son of Mr. and Mrs. John Findlay, Tne Cloisters, Abergavenny to Ursula Blanche, younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur W. Protheroe, Mai.semore, Ilaii- drindod Wells. IN MEMORIAM. GOUGH.—In I.-oving Memory of our dear Mother, who passed away 12th February, 191O, at The Woodbines Abergavenny.