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"TIPYN (I BOB PETfl" (WJt DO NOT xzczmaAMLI BHABB Tbz OPINIONS sxpaassED bx vsarTEas in this COLUMN-] Llangollen Changing Hands. "Llangollen is changing hands!" This is the burden of a communication from an esteemed correspondent who, writing with facts and figures and dates at his lingers' ends, informs me that, within quite recent times, many houses of considerable pro- portions in the town has changed tenants and, in every instance-with, perhaps a single ex- ception that proves the rule-the change has been from Welsh to English; or, if the nationality of the owner has not been changed it is because Englishman has taken over from Englishman. -Writing in a somewhat doleful strain he states that, acco-rding to his calcul- ations, a greater proportion of the rates of Llangollen are paid to-day by English than by Welsh people and, in a very few years, he expects to find the last remnant of the Cymry moving towards the Vale of Edeyrnion. Going through the list of properties which the correspondent submits, the writer finds. that his contention regarding the increased holdings of Sassenachs in the Vale of Llan- gollen is abundantly justified and as to their paying the greater part of the public charges -"some years ago a leading hotel proprietor, and an Englishman at that, clearly demon- strated to the writer that he paid for his ex- tensive properties one-twenty-fifth part of the -rates of Llangollen—is this really a fair cause of complaint? If it be regarded as an in- justice to Wales that Englishmen should come to the Valley and pay their rates then topsy- turveydom indeed prevails in the delightful Valley, for dwellers in other places the writer wots of would regard such visitors as real benefactors. • V » No Welsh Munroe Doctrine. For some years now, with ever increasing enterprise and success, the Llangollen Town Improvement Association have been booming the beauties of Llangollen and the charms which the delightful valley offers to visitors in search of health a.nd relaxation amid an 1 alluring natural environment. These efforts have achieved splendid results. They have brought people in their thousands to Llan- gollen to spend their holidays in the valley, and what is more, they appear to have attracted others on the look out for a suitable locality for establishing a permanent settlement, who ra-e prepared to outbid the native when a chance occurs of securing a suitable property. To them Llangollen is altogether so desirable a halting place on life's highway that they do not seek to proceed further. They become --solid citizens and substantial ratepayers and pla. their parts worthily in public affairs and, in these circumstances, it is difficult to see what solid grounds for complaint my corres- pondent has to advance. Is it that he desires to set up something in the nature of a, Welsh Munroe Doctrine? It would be the height of folly to contemplate anything of the "kind. Wales has everything to lose and nothing to gain by isolation. Let 'em all come should be her motto but-and this is the point—she must be prepared to meet the stranger within iber gate in a friendly spirit, and to demon- strate that she is thoroughly prepared and equipped to hold her own. After all there is something in the suggestion that the man who, not being born in a country Is, by pure love of its attractiveness drawn to it, and settles down in it, possesses a claim to the patriotic spirit that is equally as strong as that of his fellow who, through no choice of his own, claims the country as his native heath. Industrial Development. i me announcement made this week m re- gard to the sale of Messrs. Monk and Newell's brick works at Ruabon, to a Liverpool Syndi- cate and the probable re-commencement of industrial activities there at an early date, are matters of great interest and importance to the inhabitants of the district. Not only will the opening of a sphere of employment for labour that has been closed since the commencement of the war provide work that is badly needed; but the product of the works, at the present juncture, should stimulate hope- ful reflections; and there are indications that other enterprises of a similar nature in the district are making ready to meet the en- larged demands which, it is expected, will be made upon them in the near future. The need to vigorously combat anything like a spirit of indifference in regard to the adoption of a building campaign devised on broad lines is becoming more and more fully recognised in the Run on -district, and it is good that this faith should be fortified by recent develop- ments. It must, however, be fully and con- stantly realised that the only way in which real progress can possibly be achieved is by preserving the spirit of mutual confidence be- tween. various sections of the community. Happily the recognition of the value of this good-spirit, despite any attempts-and they have not been infrequent-to disturb it has always been preserved and it is an asset upon I which both Capital and Labour in the Dee Valley look to, with the greatest hopefulness, I to assist future progress. Sales in the Open. Necessity is the mother of invention. Who doubts that, at Llangollen, as elsewhere throughout the length and breadth of the kingdom there is a real need for a vigorous cutting down of the prices of the necessaries of life. Without in any way going in for heroic measures it is possible to accomplish much by following up comparatively small beginnings like the provision for the sale of garden produce, etc., in the open air in Parade Street, which, it is good news to hear, has proved quite a successful experiment. It is many years since a regular market was held at Llangollen; and various attempts made in recent years to ensure a revival have met with no great measure of success. The timber structures erected in the smithfield in Market Street, and the facilities provided by the Urban Council by throwing open the Town Hall on fair days for the sale of produce, were object failures. There were absolutely no poods taken to those places to be disposed of. These efforts, it must be borne in mind, however, were largely prompted- by a desire to Mppiy rarmes' wives and others with OP-' portunities of disposing of their wares; to- day it is the consumer rather than the pro- dUOêr who is being considered. Sheer neces-I sity is the parent of the. present departure and the practical attempt to help themselves is deserving the success which everyone hopes I it will command. AWFAa" I
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I PERSONAL. I Canon and Mrs. Davies, who have bean ¡ holidaying at Colwyn Bay, have returned to Wrexham Vicarage. Mr. W. C. Bridgeman, M.P., having dis- posed of the lease of 13, Mansfield Street, has i, kpn 29, Eccleston Square, for a term of years. .Lr. Lloyd George is likely to open the dia- mond polishing factory at Acton when he visits Wrexham to receive the freedom of the bor- ough. The date of his visit is not yet settled. Mrs. Parish (Dorothy Drew), wife of Lt.- Col. Francis Parish, 60th Rifles, and grand- daughter of Mr. W. E. Gladstone, gave birth to a daughter at Burton Manor, Chester, on Thursday. Capt. C. S. Price-Davies, M.C., K.R.R.C., only son of Lt.-Col. S. Price-Davies, Marr- ington Hall, Chirbury, relinquishes his ap- pointment as G.S.O., 3rd Grade, attd. Gen- eral Staff, June 3.. Mr. W. Swire, county director of the ish Red Cross Society m Shropshire, has ac- cepted the honorary secretaryship of the tub- committee appointed to raise funds for the County War Memorial. Among those present at the Montgomery- I shire Agricultural Show at Welshpool, on Thursday, were the Earl and Countess of Powis, Lord and Lady Grey, who have re- cently taken Eithnog Hall, Llanfair, and are in residence there, Maj.-Gen. Sir Francis Lloyd, and lVIaj. David Davies, M.P., Lady Pryce-Jones and Mr. Victor Pryce-Jones. The wedding took place on Tuesday week at Peplow Church of Miss Dulcie C. Stanier (only daughter of Sir Beville Stanier, Bart., M.P., and Lady Stanier, of Peplow Hall) and Mr. Frank Adolphus Hood Stanier (only son of the late Mr. Francis J. Stanier). In view of the popularity of the families there was a large attendance to witness the happy event. The bridegroom served in the 6th King's (Shropshire Light Ijnfantry), and was taken a prisoner of war on March 19 last year. The celebrations in connection with the coming of age of Lieut. John Arthur LLoyd, Grenadier Guards, eldest son of Brig.-Gen. A. H. 0. LLoyd and Mrs. LLoyd, of Leaton Knolls, near Shrewsbury, took place on' Tues- day afternoon, when a luncheon was given to the tenants and employees on the Domgay, Binweston, Llandisilio, and Broniarth estates. Mr. David Jones, on behalf of the tenants, made the presentation of a striking portrait of Gen. LLoyd in Egyptiart service dress, and Miss Vera Mary Williams presented a silver cigarette case on behalf of the teachers and school children. Brigadier-General Sir Henry Percy May- bury, K.C.M.G., C.B., and Lady Maybury are spending a holiday at Uffington, near Shrewsbury. They are occupying rooms at the Corbet Arms Hotel, within a stone's throw of the humble ferry cottage where Sir Henry was born. Sir Henry started life in the en- giseering department of the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway Coy. He has had a most brilliant career and it was at the late Lord Kitchener's request that, in 1916, he took over control of the roads in France and Flanders. Last week Sir Henry and Lady Maybury visited the Glyn Valley and received a hearty, j welcome. He was much impressed with the potential development of the Valley provided increased transport facilities could be afford- ed. The Glyn Brass Band played selections in honour of the visit, and Sir Henry, in a short speech, thanked the men who had helped him on the roads and in the quarries of France. The death occurred last week of Mr. C. E. Charlesworth, of Conynham Hall, Knares- boro', Yorkshire, a former high sheriff and a magistrate for Yorkshire. Lt.-Col. Prvce- Davies married Air. Charlesworth's daughter, and news of his death was conveyed to Lt.- Col. Pryce-Davies while he was presiding at a meeting of Fprden Board of Guardians on Wednesday. Mr. Charlesworth, who was in his 71st year, was a well known figure in the West Ridiiig, and for the greater part of his life he was prominently identified with a variety of interests in the county. Six years ago he filled the offic<? of high sheriff of York- shire. His eldest son, Major John Stobart Charlesworth, joined the Colours in Decem- ber, ,1914, and after serving in Egypt and on the Western front died last year after a rief' illness from pneumonia, following inftuenza, at the age of 43. His second son, Lt..Col. C. B. Charlesworth, commanded a battalion of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, and his third son, Capt. W. &. Charlesworth, also saw much active service with the same regi- ment. 1
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I HIGH SALARIES. I I SALOP INSURANCE- COMMITTEE'S PROTEST. At a. meeting of the Salop Insurance Finance and General Purposes Committee at Shrewsbury recently, an application was received from h ly, the members of the office staff that the civil service scale of bonus (award 84) 31 the Arbitra- tion and Conciliation Board be nade applicable to them. As a result of the feeling expressed at the meeting the committee have sent an emphatic intimation to the Mirusiry of Health that they unanimously refuse to .ant the sub. stantial increases in salaries of the committee* j staff proposed by the Ministry, xhe committee strongly protested against the action nf the Ministry in making very large additions ■ to sa!- aries already very much larger han before the war to be paid out of the pockets or the tax- payers, many of whom are fax worse off than I the salaried officials, anJ at a time' w hen tbt expenditure of Government Departments is £ 2,000,000 a day more than the income ot the country. .——————————
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A lady and two boys, aged twelve and fiv, I visitors from Manchester, lost themselves on the rpountains at Barmouth and were dis-1 covered by two farmers on Tuesday in an ex- i hausted condition.
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OSWESTRY RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL. THE HOUSING QUESTION. I MONEY TO BE BORROWED FOR SITES. A meeting of Oswestry Rural District Coun- i cil was held on Monday. Present: Mr. An- drew Peate, chairman, Mr. J. W. Davies, vice-chairman, the Rev. O. F. Jacson, Messrs. T. Ward Green, E. Fox-Davies, H. Cambidge, T. Cambidge, T. Cartwright, J. Vaughan, J. H. Platt, J. Powell, J. Stewart, W. E. Stamer, H. O. Stokes, J. Price, E. Roberts, assistant clerk, C. B. Barnes, surveyor, R. H. Rich- ards, sanitary inspector, F. Lloyd, water in" spector, and Dr. Beresford, medical officer. WATER SUPPLIES. A letter was received from Mr. John Jones, Treflach Farm, relative to the Council's pro- posal to take over a new water supply for Porthywaen, and saying that he and Mrs. Vaughan objected to the Council taking this water, which was their only clean water supply. The Vice-chairman said Mr. Jones must be under a misapprehension for the Council were not interfering with his supply at all. The water inspector reported that he had i collected £ 217 in water rates. The daily1 average consumption of the Whittington supply was 48,000 gallons. There had been no short- age in the water supplies in his district dur ing the month. According to the report of the sanitary in- spector, 9,000,000 gallons of water were used at the camp during the month. The spring at the Gloppa was insufficient to supply the race- course with water. It would cost £ 16 to put the racecourse pump in order, and he could not guarantee that even then they would be able to obtain water from it as the well was absolutely dry.—Mr. Stanier asked that steps should be taken to prosecute boys who dam- aged the pump by putting stone into it, and the inspector was authorised to take such steps and to have the pump put in order.— The inspector was instructed to meet Mr. Stamer and Mr. Vaughan on the racecourse J and try to obtain a water supply. DAYWELL SUPPLY: WARM DISCUS- SION. Mr. Platt said Daywell people could not wait until the Bath Pool scheme was reauly j The Charman; Mr. Berrington is prepar- j ing a schema. Mr. Piatt: We cannot wait. The Chairman; Then you must take steps to get it done. Mr. Platt: When the engineer met me at the place he said the water was not fit for human consumption. I say it is a standing disgrace to this Council not providing a proper water supply. The Chairman Then propose a resolution and get a supply. Mr. Stamer: It is rather unfortunate that these remarks should get into the paper. This Bath Pool scheme will take in Daywell. We are doing our very best for Daywell; it will be taken in hand along with the Bath Pool scheme, and you may as well wait until we, have a proper scheme. The Chairman: It is easy to get up and make a speech; it is not so easy to get things done. It takes a good deal of work to get things through. Mr. Platt: Other schemes are carried out, Morda for .instance. The Chairman: That scheme was defeated six months ago. The Sanitary Inspector: I reported at the last meeting that all the wells had failed there. Mr. Platt: Where do they get their supply from? The Chairman: Pumps. Mr. Stamer: We know the source to get a supply for Morda, but we do not know the source for Daywell. Mr. Platt; The Liverpool mains are only a ^quarter-of-a-mile from Daywell. Mr. Powell: It will cost a lot of money if you are going to lay pipes for a quarter-of-a- mile from the Liverpool mains; then when you get the pipes laid you will havfe to pay a big price for the Liverpool water. [ Mr. Stamer: Instead of the report going out that we have done nothing, it ought to be recorded that we have a scheme in view for Daywell. You cannot definitely report to- day, but it is seriously under consideration. Mr. Ward Green: For 25 or 30 years the Council has been gradually working round these small places, until we have the best sup plied district in the county for water, and we hope before long the whole of our district will be well supplied, including the place I am interested in, the Pentre. It has been a very big work supplying Pant and other places. I hope within a year or two, now the war is over, that we shall complete our schemes. The Medical Officer: No district has done more to obtain a good water supply than we have done. Mr. Fox-Davies: We have more water sup- plies than any other Council. The Medical Officer: Yes. I have done my best for Daywell. The Rev. O. F. Jacson Were there no com- plaints about these houses being rigged up wfShout water? The Vice-chairman: Have the owners made any efforts to sink wells for a water supply like other owners have done? The Chairman: This Council can condemn these houses as unfit for habitation if the owners don't get a water, supply. I Mr. VaughanHow many houses are there at Daywellf I Mr. Platt; About 20 houses. The Sanitary Inspector: There is a pump I there but the water is not good. I have re- ceived an unsigned postcard from Hengoed, How long are we to wait for water?" Mr. Platt; There is an old pump there but no water fit for use. It is not a question of bringing ,the matter up to be reported in the papers report it. People have Complained to me from time to time, and as their represent- ative it is my duty to bring the wstur before. the Council. the 'discussion on this particular subieet I ww then allowed to drop. I HOUSING SITES, J The Housing Committee reported thkt the approval of the Ministry of Health had been received for the acquisition of land as building sites a.t Moreton, Weston Rhyn, Morda, and three places in the parish of Wkittinetoa. The district valuer had negotiated with tblt owners of the sites and recommended thm 'j Council to purchase as follows: Goboweig (1 acre 1 rood 35 perches, from Mr. T. Lovett), £ 200; Babbins Wood (1 acre, from Mx. J., Butler, The Llys), £ 100; Morda (3 acres, from Major Parker Leighton), £ 500; Ifton Heath (20 acres, from Lord Trevor), E80 per acre (subject to the approval of the mining engin- eer, Mr. Lloyd Jones, who has been ked t6 report whether there is any question of sub- sidence at Ifton Heath owing to mining c;:or-t ations) Grimpo (11 acres, from Rev. 0. F. Jacsoii), C80; Eldridge (1 acre, from Rev. i, F. Jacson), E60. The Rev. 0. F. Jacson: My original offer was about C30 an acre and legal expenses. I am prepared to stand by that offer. The Chairman: The valuation officer has reported the value at £60 an acre. The Rev. O. F. Jacson I don't want to make any profit out of the land it is for the advantage of the district and the estate. (Ap- plause). Mr. Stamer: But we have the report of the Government valuation. The Rev. O. F. Jacson: I have offered to give the stone absolutely free. I had some- thing in the back of my head when I offered to sell the land at £ 30 an acre, roughly speak- ing, and that was that I should be allowed to pull the string as regards having an out* I house for a W.C., and a pigstye. The Chairman said Lord Trevor had signi- fied his willingness to sell land at the Pentre for a sewage outfall at the same price per acre as land for building site, and it was recommended that the Council should pur- chase this land. He had nothing to find faulti with in the figures recommended as purchas- I ing prices of various sites. I Mr. Fox-Davies: Has anything been done I at Llanymynech? "7' The Chairman: No. We shall not proceed with building anywhere until the water oues", tion is satisfactorily settled. At Ifton Heatltf we have given instructions to proceed, but aM the present time there is no water supply, and we are up against opposition from ripar- ian owners with regard to the Bath Pool water' scheme. Until that difficultv has been over- come no houses will be built at Ifton Heath. Very great powers have been granted to the Housing Committee to acquire water supplies, but we don't wish to do anything in that way., We hope shortly to negotiate satisfactorilyo, for the acquisition of the Bath Pool water supply. We have managed to buy property from Lord Trevor on satisfactory terms, and f I take it the Council is willing to take pipes which are no further use to Lord Trevor. I hope further negotiation will do away with the opposition set up against the Bath Pool scheme, but we cannot build 38 houses and start the scheme .at St. Martins without an l adequate water supply. I hope the people will I understand that the District Council are ex", tremely anxious to cut the first sod, and if we can only overcome this opposition to the Bath Pool scheme, we shall get along with the building. The Bath Pool is such a splendid water supply and would be a great advantage.) We shall have no more complaints from Mro: Piatt if we can get that scheme. (Laughter).] That would be a treat. (Renewed laughter). Mr. Stokes asked whether anything had beexi done about the sites at Trefonen, because one ha,d already been sold. • The Chairman said the Council had given; warning that they intended to acquire these sites, and if people bought the land, they did so at the risk of the Council acquiring the building sites. The Chairman then proposed that the Coun- cil should apply to the Ministry of Health, for permission to borrow a sum of money sufficient to pay for these sites, 8,; follows: Gobowen, £ 200; Babbins Wood, ?100; Morda, ?500.i Ifton Heath, £ 1,600;. Grimpo and Eldridge, ?l?C; compensation to tenants and leeal charges, £ 600. ;fji3 Vice-chirman seconded the propose I 6);1, which was carried unanimously. I
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LAfEST NEWS IN BRIEF field Marshal Lord Allenbv had an en- thusiastic reception on his arrival in London from Palestine on Tuesday. Mr. Lloyd George, accompanied by Lord Milner, Mr. Bonar Law and Mr. Churchill, I returned to London on Tuesday night from Paris. John Biggin, a clerk, 18 years of age, was sentenced by Mr. Justice Darling to twelve months' imprisonment on Tuesday, the jury, having returned a verdict of manslaughter against him in what is know as the Wine Shop Tragedy." Denbighshire Education Authority have stipulated that applicants for the post of headmaster at Llangollen County School must be "honours" men. One applicant states: I am an Honours man in theology and Hebrew, and I have been 40 years a mission- ary in Chili. I have had no experience of teaching, and I am 70 years of age!" Why should war get the best out of man- kind and peace the poorest?" That sentence of the Premier's was the substance of his ad- dress at the Brotherhood Congress in London on Wednesday night, when he called on the nation to make as fine an effort in peace as it had done in the war. An Army Council instruction now issuei extends the application of the expression extreme compassionate grounds as eligible for demobilisation to sons whose parents are wholly dependent on him, the only son of a widow or widower in necessitous circum- stances and over 60, a sole surviving son of a widow in necessitous circumstances, where one or more sons have died on active service, a. brother .with one or more sisters dependent on him and the proprietor of a one-man business, under certain conditions. I. At a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Welsh National Liberal Council, on Tuesday, Sir Francis Edwards presiding," Mr. T. Salathiel, Caerphilly, was appointed secretary, and the following were co-opted on the committee, in accordance with the new constitution adopted at the annual meating Messrs. Towyn Jones, M.P., Llewellyn Wilo liams, K.C., Cyrus J. Evans, retiring secre- tary, Cardiff; Sir Garrod Thomas, Sir Eliiig Jones Griffith, Alderman R. A. Jnnea, Ruabon; Miss Parry, Mold; Mrs. I\-rlc^s, Teaby; and Mrs. Tom Jones, Newport*