Llangollen Advertiser Denbighshire Merionethshire and North Wales Journal

Agricultural Committee's Threatened Strike. r ACUTE LABOUR PROBLEM. j The acute shortage of farm labour in Mont- gomeryshire again came up at the County 1.Var Agricultural Committee at Welshpool last week, and the committee threatened a strike, policy unless there is an acceleration in the aemobil- ioation of farm workers or some other movement to augment the available labour.—The Labour Officer (Mr. D. Price) reported that ten or twelve men a day had been recalled from the agricul- tural companies of soldiers working in tie county, but a large number of the men placed upon the county's list of pivotal men had not been discharged. He understood from farmers in the county that nomen v?e~e available from the Labour Exchangee in the county. An at- tempt had been made by farmers to enter into I mutual arrangements with the men "demobilised from their farms to remain on voluntarily, but aa most of them were from away very few had remained. In view of the great shortage of labour, it was recommended that farmers snould avlail the-m-elves of the assistance of the "V^^meri s j Land Army.—The Chairman, Mr. Forrester Addie, said that in accordance with the com- I mittee's request he had written to Major Collet I of the Food Production Department, drawing at- I tention to the serioua position the county was I i placed in. Norrnaily, ifhey had had over 500 j Roldiora working upon the farms, but that nnm- ber through demobi.HeatiQn was reduced to 380 .i on February 7. To meet the df-fciency of 130 only some 40 of their own. men had been de- mobilised to return, so their deficiency on tJ-i a. t I ficore W,BS 90. Also now the m&nace of havmg to join the army had been, removed, large rrum- bers of farm hands had left agriculture and gone into the timber trade, the co-isen^'i'-nce beiDg that labour at present was far worse than at any time I durin ?he war. The committee were much con- corned as fie quota of mvot?.I men for the countyj was only 180. They requested that the number l of pivotal men for the county be i-,cyeasei to 500. and that the men now on the lift be released at once. Pie also reci.i,eslp.,i an assurance that vigorous action was being taken.-TAie Executive Office*, Mr. J. L. John. said 'the letter was sent ¡I away on February 15, but they had received no reply beyond an acknowledgment. I POSITION REALLY GRAVE. i Gapt. Naylor and Mr. T. Williams said the position WW3 .really very grave as regarded cul- tivation for the next harvest unless they had in- creased labour at once.—Th$, Secretary (Mr. Rd. Morgan) said they were told they could not claim any more pivotal men but must claim the men M contract men.-Capt. Naylor said the position was so serious that the committee should unani- jj mously forward a resolution to the Food Pro- > duct-ion Department stating that in their opinion j it would be impossible for them to continue to J act or be in any way responsible for cultivation j m that 00 unty unles steps were immediately taken to ease the labour situation on the lines ? they had suggested. In moving1 that this resolu- tion be forwarded, Capt. Naylor remarked that [ if the authorities would not do anything the com- i mittee should strike. He did not see why they j should be responsible for the cultivation of the f county if they received no support in the work, j —Mr. T. -Williams seconded this. and said they should take the strongest possible action<Tihe motion was unanimously carried. LABOUR IN THE COUNTY. The Secretary reported the receipt of a letter I from the local Employment Exchange, New- j town-the first they had ever received from that org&nisatkwi—stating that the Local Advisory i Committee had nominated the Rev. J. Griffith, Maior Corbett Winder. Mr. G. Rees, Llanbryn- j | «nairT and the Secretary to eoroperate and de- vote their energies to mattera concerning agri- cultural labour in the county. Thoy would be glad to know the date of the next meeting in j order to attend.The matter wais referred to the* Labour Sub-Committee, of which Mr. J. hcl monds is chairman.—The Executive Officer re- ported on negotiations he had had with I' Lane in reference to a modification of the pro- t>ed new rules for the employment of German i prisoners in the camps at WeIshiMol and Caer- j sws. He had emphasised the necessity of con- t xeying: prisoners to and from the farms, and Capt. Lane had telephoned that morning stating that things would go on as they were for tne time being, the old rates of pay to be in force pending- a decision by the War Office upon that mr tter. He had also agreed that a weekly cer-  tificate from the Newtown Labour Exchange j stating that there WM no agricultural labour •available in the county or only a negligible amount would be aoceptedb lieu of a separate certincate in respect of ea<?h appHcant for Ger- f man labour.—Mr. Jalin was congratulated on J the result of his iiegoti-kilolas. DRAINAGE SCHEME FOR THE 1 SEVERN VALLEY. ¡ 1 The Executive Officer reported that he had replied to the Board of Agriculture in refer- ence to the reorganisation of the committee s work that they did not desire to retain any tractors a-fter May 31. and would endeavour to lease as many tractors as possible to representa- i tive individuals or groups of farmers. He also i asked the Board* at what price they were pre- j pared to sell any of the tractors to farmers. Fifty ( horses would be reqtared up to May 31 and 42 j from that date to September U. A number of j implemenM other than be Tetain- j ed. and in order to ensure the proper control and working of the implements and horSes, the committee thonught it neceSiSary to retain the services of their four district cultivation officers, but all the other outdoor officers wtiuld be dis- missed on or before May 31.—Referirng- to the j sale of other implements, the Executive Officer said the -committee had been criticised for pur- chasing certain makes of ploughs. As a matter of fact the committee did not purchase them. I They were sent down by the Board without the committee's knowledge.—Mr. T. Williams said Ii the department sent down a lot of rubbish indis- criminately. It had not only been a financial waste, but a loss in the working of the land. There was no demand at all for certain of the implements now offered for sale except at beg- ging- priced. The Executive Officer reported that claims for compensation 'in respect of enforced cultivation had not yet been settled, and more claims were coming in.-—-Mr. T. Williams said farmers were i very dissatisfied with the delay, and Capt. Nus. j lor said they should enter a strong complaint as it was a real scandel.-The Executive Officer eaid the Commissioner had written that the depart- j ment's drainage expert would Shortly make a survey of the Severn Valley with a view to in- troducing a scheme for the prevention of flood- ing.—Mr. Edward Jones said he hoped the scheme would be pressed forward or they would have more claims for compensation.

Denbighshire and Flintshire Agricultural Society are not holding a show this year. Mr. Bridgeman says cheap travelling facil- ities are being considered, but it is unlikely any can be given at any rate for Easter. the Prime Minister is enlarging his Cric- cieth residence, Brynawelon, by adamg a wing with reception rooms, bearooms ftftq secre- I tarial staff apartments.

Montgomeryshire Farmers' Union At a meeting of the County Branch at Newtowa, yesterday, Mr. J. Davies presiding, there was again a shaTvconflict of opinion as to asking for sales of army horses in the county. Mr. Longford, Mr. Kinsey and others contended that as a breeding district ttwy had surplus horses co sdl, while Mr, Davies. fre- fegJwys, and others said small holders and others wanting cheap horses should have the same chtuacea as in other counties.-ino vote was taken. Divided counsel also prevaled on the question of acceding to a request of the Worker's Union to meet six representatives to confer on tne Minimum Wage Act.—It was left to the secretary and chairman to frame a reply. A report urging the adoption of the cental system of weights and measures was dapted. and it was agreed to ask Major David Davies, M.P., to intro- duce a bill in "Parliament establishing that system generally.

Montgomeryshire Farmers' Association. The Nrontgomerysh'(.' Farmers' Association, which has purchased two co-operative trading societies in the county and is about to launch out in co-operative trading on a large ??.ale, at a meeting at Welshpool on Monday considered 152 applications for the post of secretary advertised at a salary of £ 400. A short list of candidates was selected, which includes Wr. Dowle of Welshpool, secretary of the Llacfyliia Fanners' Co-operative Society, and Mr. Havercroft Jo-res, Labour Officer for Denbighshire War Agricul. tural Committee. Ample capital for the new trading society is forth- coming, many of '-jihe local landowners have taken the inaxirxuim number of 2(,00 shares o: £ i each,while. a large number of fanners are uk;ng up J:I C¡llli/il Woosnam, Aberhaleap, presided at the meeting.

4 LLANYBLODWEL. WAR MEMORIAL.—A meeting- called by the Secretary of the Parish Council was held at Porthy-waen Schoolroom, on Friday evening, when Mr. Morrish. chaiiman of the Parish Coun- cil, presided, and explained that the meeting had been called to decide upon a war memorial for the soldiers and sailors from the parish who had fallen in the war.—Mi. W. H. Leslie, Bryn. tariat, advocated an institute as a suitable mem- orial, and said he wias prepared to contribute £1.000 towards it. He formally proposed that a committee be formed to go round the parish and ascertain the feeling's of the parishioners and to what extent they would support an institute.—The Vicar. the Rev. J. AIle-a Jones, seconded the proposal, and said that Oswestry was thinking- of a similar mem- orial. He had heard that the Y.M.C.A. were prepared to run the Oswest.ry Institute at a cost of some £ 200 -a year, if the town would find £ 3,000 with which to build and equip the insti- tute. If they at Llanyblodwel could get the Y.M.C.A. to help in a similar manner it would greatly facilitate matters, for the success of an institute depended entirely ong a capable man in charge. An institute was provided for the young men of Porthywaen by Mr. Nichol- son, Col. Lesiie and the Vicar some years ago, and handed over to the young- men to run on their own lines. It turned out to be a' great failure. Tn the present instance they must see to it that provision is made to carry on the work efficiently. A committee was then formed to enter into the matter consisting of the Vicar, Ool. Leslie, Mr. Pryce, Abertanat, Mr. D. A. Williams, Mr. and Mrs. J, Ward, Mrs. W: H. Leslie, Mr. John Watkin, Mr. Joseph Watkins, Mr. John Turner, Miss Ellis, Mrs. Pryce, Mr. A. B. Lewis, Porthywaen Stores, Mr. Richards, Nut Tree Farm, Mr. Walter Lloyd, Porthywaen, and Mias Evans, Lion Inn. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings.

President Wilson has. informed the Demo- cratic National Committee that he will not stand ag&in at the Presidential election is 1920. !K!d?ey Complications, long Rheumatism and Dropsy. Ten Years Cured." Mr. Robert Jones lives at 102, Newtown, Asinford, Kent, and 33 a well-known railway eiee. On OCito.b-e'T 18th. 1910, he said:—" No one seeing me now would imagine that two year* ago I waa an apparently hopeless invalid, with advanced kidney disease, rheumwdigm" aDd dropsy. Yet it is only through, DoarCs Backache kidwy Pills that I am alim to-day. I had gone from bad to worse, till at ia.st I was an almost helpless cripple. Most of the time I lay in bed propped up with pillows, often in such agony that morphia was injected to deaden the pain. I made no progress, and ai-L, last lost hope. Then, however, I decided to try Doan's Backache Kidney Pills, and I rallied as soon am I befran this treatment. "The dropsy gradually subsided; I regained bladder activity, the rheumatism left me, and aftel" the 6th box of these pills I was free from all kidney weakness. Shortly dfterwarde I underwent a medical examination for my present post, and waa splendidly euocessfui—sound prootf of my ab- solute cure by Doan's Pills. (Signed) Robert Jones." Passed for Service Aboard. On January 3rd, 1918, Mr. Jones said:—" Ten yea.rs of excellent health is proof that Doan's Pills acted thoroughly. And then there is the added factthaib I am Medically'Fit for Foreign Service.' To ensure tkesalllM results as Mr. Jones, insist upon the %fsam<> Kidney Medicine- IX) A FX lJACJEACHE KIDNEY PILLS. Sold by all Dealers, 07. 2s. 9d. a bottle from Fester, McCldian Co., S Wells St., Oxford St., London*

Oswestry War Agricultural Society. A meeting of Oswestry and District War Agricultural Committee was held on Wednesday afternoon, Mr. A. E. )?avne presiding. The Secretary, Mr. G. Bailey, read a com- munication notifying the withdrawal of the horse scheme at the end of May, and intimating that the horses and horse implements would probably be add after that date, though it wae hoped that a number of the tractors would be kept work- ing until the end of September. No definite in- formation ma avoai lable. however. On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. Ward Green, it was resolved to inform the Executive Committee of the difficulty small holders would be placed in by the withdrawal j of the horse scheme, and asking that their in- terests should be safeguarded, by giving per- mission to lay land down to grass, which could not be properly worked for corn production. In answer to Mr. S. R. Edwards. Mr. Druce, county agricultural organiser, said he would not like to say there would be no ploughing orders next time. The Chairman said they should do the best they could with the land that was at present under cultivation. Mr. Lewis Ed-wards said more men would have to be released from the Army if the farm work was to be carried on. The Chairman said the people at Shrewsbury were very well satisfied with the way that com- mittee treated the horses they had at work in this district.. Some members asked the prices that had been obtained for the horses which were sold. Mr. Druce said the only people who could tell them that would be the Food Production De- partment m London. Mr. C. H. Hobhs remarked that whatever the horses were sold for they fetched all that they were worth. (Laughter).

The Minister of Labour says agriculture is to share with coalmining special priority release of men with the Army. Cheshire farm workers' ballot in favour cf & strike if the farmers persist in refusing ribn men's demand for 50s. for a 50-ho.ur week showed a majority of 3,877 to 317 against. In future, says the President of the Board of Agriculture, every vacancy that calls for the appointment of a technical officer or iTi- spector to the permanent staff of the Board Trill first be advertised in the Press. At Hereford Bull Show last week the champion bull Bounds Ideal, realized 1,550 guineas. Mrs. Medlicott's Bodenham Gold- finder, a non-prize winner, made the next highest price—1,150 guineas. The reserve champion, Royal Jewel, sold for 950 guineas. Eight hundred guineas was paid by Major Robinson for Mr. H. Griffith's Star Shell. The Treasury hold that an agricultural sho-.v is an exhibition and as such liable to the en < tertainment tax on tickets of admission, but f when the entertainment is provided by a society not conducted or established for profit the Commissioners are prepared to issue a i certificate of exemption where the proceed- ings do not include bands, horse-jumping Gom. petitions, or extraneous attractions geneiMjy. k | The Board of Agriculture and FisheriesTor | England and Wales, the Board of Agriculture | for Scotland, the Department of Agriculture i and Technical Instruction for Ireland, nrl the Ministry of Food have jointly set up an i Agricultural Costings, Committee, of which Mr. W. H. Peat is chairman, to obtain such in- lformation as to the costs and results of farm- ing as is required by the Departments of Agriculture, the Agricultural Wages Board 1 ard Committees, and the Ministry of Food. i In opening the annual general meeting of the Farmers' Union, in London, last week, the president, Mr. E. Nunnerley, said the nest year or two would be amongst the most diffi- cult and important .-for farmers that there ever had been. If they were not careful the next few years might prove to be as disast- rous for agriculture as were the years between 1879 and 1887. Farmers must unite in their own interests if Britain's oldest and most honourable calling was not to sink to that trough of despair which it did in that terrible period.

OFFICIAL RETURNS OF MARKET I PRICES. The official returns of market prices for the week ending Feb. 26, compiled from the report& received ] from the Board of Agriculture's market reporters give the following information:- i'at Stock.—A considerable number of markets, in fact, more than half of those Included in the return, have been closed this week for both cattle and sheep. There have also been shorter supplies of cattle at I-ouikm and Newcastle-on-Tyne, the total at all places being ve.y much b?ow last week, although at a few of the markets slight increases were shown. Quality, generally, has not been very good, the' best-fed unimais no doubt being kept back for the higher rates which come into operation on March 1st. The average rata for 1st grade beasts this week works out! at about 80s. 2d. per live cwt., only a small piopor- tkri of the cattle beings super-graded. With a big decrease of 4,000 sheep at Sa-liard, and about 1,000 at both London and NewcasUe-on-Tyne, the total sup- ply again fails considerably r;elow last week's figure, the decline amounting to 11,000. A good many of the best root-fed hoggets have been sold, and the quality of most lots is now rather indifferent, although fat ewes to some clioSCoSmade up to fully t6 1m. per head. Pigs have been shown in larger numbers at many of the country markets, while at Birmingham there was an increase of 850 on the week, causing the total at all markets to be slightly in excess of last week, despite a reduction of 400 at Manchester. Prac- tically all the pigs are now being sold at 21s. per score live weight. Qswestry (Feb. 26).—The market, was closed for fat cattle and sheep. Rather more fat pigs wac on offer. Shrewsbury (Feb. 25).— Market closed for fat cattle and sheep. About 74 ft. pigs, noweveer, were shown, chiefly of good quality and were easily disposed of at 21s. per score' liVe weight. Wellington (Salop) (Feb. 24).—Market closed for fat stock, except pigs, of which 23 were on offer and sold at controlled rates. i Store Stock.—Very little business has been done' to the store cattle markets during toe week, there being apparently litt.e incli-nat-OU cu the part of farmers to purchase anything except beasts-of the best quality and in forward condition. Dairy cows are distinctly cheaper, prices in some cases showing a fall of C7 per head, while inealvers, especially heifers with first calf, and in very little demand. Store pigs have fully maintained their price; oitly in a very few cases do the reporters state that they axe perhaps a shade easier. Oswestry (Feb. 56).—Larger supply of store cattle; trade generally slow at unsatisfactory prices, but barren: cows, heifers, and beasts iu'Jrorward con- dition sold well. Dairy cows in milk were in slow demand at slightly lower quotations, while calving heifers were In very poor request, prices showing a fall of 24 to £ 8 per head. Increased entry of calves and prices a sha,de lower. Store pigs were a rather easier trade. Shrewsbury (Feb. 21).—There was only a small entry of 673 store cattle at this sale, and trsde was again slow, although some bunches of the best cattle realised higher prices. Two bunches of rtr>isg three-year-old Irish Shorthorn bullocks, weighing £ 'j ] cwts. each, were sold at 85s. 4d. per live cwt. to go to Lincolnshire. A small bunch of four very fresh Hereford bullocks of 8* cwts. made 83s., and another small bunch weighing 9; cwts. each 82s.. while three lots weighing between 7 and 7% cwts. realised from 77s. to /9s. 6d. per live cwt. Some Angus-cross heifers of good quality made 76s., and a lot of Short- horn heifers of 1) cwts. 7& per live cwt. A bunch of Welsh cross-bred Eteers of 71 ewts. sold at 80s., some young Welsh Shorthorn bullocks of ói cwts. at 62s., and some young Shorthorn barren cows of 71 cwts. at 663., per live cwt. On the whole, best* quality cattle were dearer a rod made from 76s. to 80s. per live cwt., while others realised from 60s. upwards. I Nothing like a clearance was effected (February j 25).-Heavy supply of dairy cows, but trade very slow, j prices marking a fall of about 1n per tead. Store pigs certainly no dehrer, and trade on the whole per- haps hardly so keen, useful growing pigs being sold I at about TOOs. per head. Wellington (Salop) (Feb. j 24).—Dairy cows made up to ,£.8 10s. for cow and i calf, while other useful beasts made from about R40 j to zC47, but heifers with first calf were decidedly cheaper, several being sold at prices ranging from £17 5s. to £20 lOd., although the better sorts made from £2-6 up to £ 30. Store pigs in very keen demand, I several lots of strong stores masting from 26 10s. to ?& 10s. per head, while £ 15 was paid for & useful j m-ptg gilt. j Grain and Meal.—London.—Milling offals and meal. j —The prices which are now accepted include bran at 260s" coam middlings at £ 80s., American coarse oat- • meal at 6{}Oa" Aberdeen oatmeal at 610s. to aws" Mid- j lothian oatmeal at 635s. to 660s., and Irish rolled oats ¡ at 660s. to 670s. per ton. Rice prices are deemed high in proportion to other articieti on this market and trade Is slow; there has, however, been a steady If ismall business at 450s. per t*rn for broken rice, 340s. for Egyptian rice bran, 530s. for common ground rice, and 590s. for fine rice flour. Barley flour at MOp., meal at 480s., and fine dust at 340s., per ton hsve all found buyers. There have been sales of locust bean meal at 21s. per cwt.,of oat dust at £6 per ton, and of kiln dust at 211 per ton. Oilcake The demand continues to exceed the supply. Linseed ¡ cake at 380s.. and cottonseed cake at 290s. to 800s. per ton are the principal quotations; compound cake I commands a ready sale at 370s. per torn. Brewery and distillery products.—Business is brisk at 265s. for I malt culms, 2855, for dried ale grains, and 305s. for dri,e,d distillery grains, all per ton. I Milk.—London (Huston amd Paddington)—Supplies were more plentiful during the week. and all demands ) have apparently been met, but there were no sales ( on the platforms. Birmingham.—Supplies were sufficient for the demand. M-arehest-er.-Larger sup- ,pli.,es have been offered during the week, which have been sold at prices ranging from 2Sd. to 31Jd. per imperial gallon. t