Llangollen Advertiser Denbighshire Merionethshire and North Wales Journal

Feeding Stuff Prices. 1 i HIGH COST OF OFFALS. The high cost of feeding stuffs says the agri- cultural correspondent of the "Morning Post" is to some extent balanced by the better prices which are being paid for milk and meat, but there axe inconsistencies which require .some ex- planation. For instance, the price of mutton is i-agarded by sheep breeders as proportionately lower than the terms offered for beef, while in the matter of exchange the farmer loses con- siderably by being denied the use of sound wheat. The price of manufactured foods such as cakes and mixtures, is determined not so much by what we produce in this country as by the terms on which importations are made. Linseed and cotton cakes are invaluable for stock feeding but linseed cake costs somewhere in the neigh- bourhood of L25 per ton, ex mill, and by the time the fanner has had it delivered he may reckon probably £ 1 a ton on the top of that. These are not foods for which the Government can take too great a responsibility as to price for they are more or less subject to the terms of a world market. Of that the farmer is not complaining, but when one comes to the pur- complainin tt? offals of wheat quite a different ,i h .ge of problem presents itself. Since the Ministry of Food adopted recontrol there is no question that the prices of oil and sped have dropped con- siderably, but the maxima are still high. The control ex mill prices for fine and coarse middlings are £ 14 10s. and £ 12 10s. per ton respectively. From these* prices millers may allow a 5s. rebate when milling oIfals are sold to merchants, and where sales are effected in lots of 5 cwt. or less a charge not exceeding 30s. per ton in excess of the control price may. be made. A discoiiit, of fourpence in the pound is allowed for payment within seven days of the date of invoice, twopence in the pound being 1 allowed 'within twenty-one days, from which date all accounts are net. WHAT WHEAT IS WORTH. -,I VV neat is worth, broadly speaking, about I £ 17 per tQu,' and if the farmer could obtain his middlings at the prices named he would do quite welL But most fanners complain about the excessive price of rnillin. offals. One hears cf as much as JS18 10s. per ton being the actual coat, and probably in most cases more is paid for offals than the farmer iteoeives for ih&te wheat. It is also to be observed that wheat, that is damaged, and therefore suitable for poultry food may be freely incorporated in mix- tures, and they are dear. Looking casually through a list of quotations, one finds poultry mixtures quoted as high as £ 22 and over per ton. It is necessary to point these things out, be- cause the public so often overlook the face that the farmer is a. considerable purchaser. He cannot fatten his stock without material other than what he grows, and practically no farm which winters stock is self-supporting. Indeed, the more arable cultivation, the larger will be the farmer's account for concentrated foods. It would be interesting to know what proportion. of millers' offals goes direct to the farm and in what quantities they are sold for incorpora- tion in mixed feeding stuffs. A demand has arisen on the part of farmers that a tax should be placed upon all milling offals exported. It is felt that with the abnormal scarcity of, ieeding stuns every effort should be made to provide If t-he British farmer first, and that the Ministry of Food should put an end to the disparity in the price of wheat offals as compared with that of sound wheat.

Market Drayton Urban and Blore Heath Joint Food Control Committee- have resolved that a strongly worded protest be sent from this Committee against the maximum price of mBk Sxed for this area., with a statement tl at it is the opinion of the Committee that the maximum retail 'price of milk should be fixed [ at not exceeding Ss. 4d. a gallon for t'he I months of December, January. February and ilareh next*

OFFICIAL MARKET REPORTS. 1 Corwen (Nor. 17).Only 10 cattle graded, while sheep numbered 676, quality being fairly good for the district. (Nov. 18).—Dairy cows sold at very high prices, but the supply vvas small, dealers being busy buying, as far as they can, on the farms. Oswestry (Nov. 19).)—Larger supply of fat cattle, quality also showing improvement. Calves again in sharp request. Useful entry of sheep, but quality only moderate. Store cattle in better demand at rather higher prices. Dairy cows in milk were in very sharp request, but first-class animals were scarce; calvers were mostly lying-off animals and were not in so much demand. Store sheep a better trade, especially animals requiring only a short time to finish.* Store pigs of all classes were in'iiiore demand, especially strong stores, which made up to L12 per'hea\J. i Shrewsbury (Nov. 18).-A decided improve- mpnt both in numbers and quality of the cattle on offer, the entry including a few well-finished heavy-weight. Hereford cows. Sheep were also of fair quality, although not a Heavy supply, but included a bunch of very nice Kerry cross wethers; skins made 12s. to 15s. each. Most of the pigs were of top quality, about 80 being on offer. Veal calves were not in such keen de- mand; one bunch of very good fleshed calves, too big for veal, were afterwards graded for. beef. (Nov. 14).-—Nearly 1,200 store cattle on offer, but there was only a small attendance of buyers and trade ruled sIONV, o,iving no doubt to the .wintry weather and shortage of keep; prices for the best cattle were not so high as last week, the top quotation being 71s. per live awt. for a bunch of Hfordsteers of 10 cwts., while other bunches realised from 66s. to 73s. i per live cwt. Smaller cattle in less forward con- dition-were not in much demand, but one lot weighing 7 cwts. sold well, making 1::58..1d. per live cwt. other lots realising about 60s. and down to 43s. 3d. per cwt. for some 5g cwt. beasts. Shorthorn bullocks made up to rather over 75s. for some beasts scaling 10 cwts., but a lot weigh- ing 6 cwts. only realised 44s. per live cwt. On the whole prices were lower than last week, best strong cattle making from 66s. to 76s.. sec- ondary sorts 53s. to 65s., and others from 43s. to 50s. per live cwt., A large number of cattle were left over unsold. (Nov. <18).—Keen trade for dairy cows at fully last wee'ks prices. Nearly 600 store pigs in the market; small stores decidedly cheaper, ,some just weaned sell- ing at 13s. to 20g. per head, but a very nice bunch of strong pigs realised £ 12 16s., and ah- other lot JSIO 16s. per head. Wellington (Nov. 17).—Small entry of cattle, but quality decidedly better, the supofy including one lot of five specially good bullocks, which averaged over 15 cwts. each and were of extra prime quality. Sheep were also in short supply but some nice quality heavy-weight ewes were included: ram skins made up to 20s. and lamb skins to 16s. each.

Railway Control. I MANAGEMENT INTERESTS AND NEW SCHEMES. I I. Commenting on the Government's proposals (tnnounceci by Mr. J. H. Thomas, M.P., at Bristol on Sunday, the "Railway Gazette," j which represents the interests of the manage- ment, says.- "It is a matter for surprise that the first (public intimation of such a startling change in railway control should have been left for the I railway men's letter to announce. Such a drastic innovation should be introduced by a perfect unanimity of opinion on the subject, and rail- way shareholders, who, after, ail, still own the railways, have a right to be heard though their j' elected representatives. < ¡ l The Joint Board and the Board of Appeal are in themselves excellent conceptions. We have long been convinced that the strong mutuality of interests between railway companies and their employees necessitated the.general recognition of labour and the establishment of some such joint i committee. Mr. Thomas and his associates will have a, | great responsibility. They will find that the I crying need of the moment is the increase of productivity per railway expenditure unit, tad it will be ior them to educate their men to the necessity of more constant endeavour. Let them no longer regard the companies as monopolis- ing autocrats, but rather as partners for t'he j common weal.

I Our Portrait la of Mr. A. E. GILHAM, of 21, Worcester Road, Manor Park, Essex, who writes:- "I have much pleasure in writing to you to tell of the wonderful cure I have hadby uiiing your Clarke's Blood Mixture. For months I had Eosema. in a bad form: water blisters orvrores kept forming on my arm, and when dispersing ¡ left the skin in a raw state. The rritation was i intense, and caused me such great discomfort and pain that I dreaded having affected parts j attended to. I went to my doctor, but it Wa8no use,-and after trying all sorts of ointments, and I i finding no relief, my wife persuaded me to try Clarke's Blood Mixture, and I am o4lv sorry I r did not do so sooner. When I had 'had two bottles, the sores began to disappear, and after ) having seven bottles was quite free from the Eczema, avicl have had no return since. My M friends say it is wonderful. ¡ Clarke's Blood Mixture is composed of ingre- dients which quickly attack, overcome and expel the impurities from the blood; that's why it can be relied on to give speedy relief and lasting bene- | fit in all cases of Eczema, Scurvy, Bad Legs, I I Abscesses, Ulcers, Boils, Pimples, Sores and Eruptions, Piles, Glandular Swellings, | Rheumatism, Sciatica, Gout, etc. Over 50 years' success. Pleasant to take, and free from 8I I anything injurious. Ask for and see you get Clarks's Blood Mixture I Evorybody's Blood Purifier." I Of all chemists and Store, 2/9 per Bottle. B 1

The Flintshire Farmers' Union have de- cided toniake an effort to afford help to their stricken fellow-agriculturists on the farms devastated by battle in France and Belgium. At a meeting of the Merioneth Agricultural Society, on Saturday, Mr. J. Morris Jones (Llanuwchllyti) was apppinted secretary. Mr. J. M. Howells (Aberdovey) was elected presi- dent, with Mr. R. T. Vaughan (Bala.) as vice- president. It was agreed to hold the next show at Towya^ > i

r 'LIQUOR CONTROL. PREMIER AND TEMPER- I ANCE REFORM. A deputation from the Temperance Council of the Christian Churches of England a no., Wales waited upon the Prime Minister at 10, Downing-street, on Thursday, to urge the importance of temperance reform. It is understood that none of the speakers sugges- ted total prohibition, but an official account of their representations is held over, as also is the reply made to them by the Prime Minister. The proceedings were not open to representatives of the Press, The deputation was a somewhat remarkable one in regard to its composition. It included representatives from fourteen denominations,. which, beside the Church of' England, em- braced Baptists, Roman Catholics, Congrega- l- tionalists, the Society of Friends, the Mora- vian Church, Presbyterians, Primitive Method- ists, the Salvation Army, United Methodists, Wesleyan Methodists, and other bodies. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of ■ London, Bishop Bidwell, representing the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, who was prevented by indisposition from attendiflg in r person, the Bishop of Willesden, Lord. Clwyd, Dr. Scott Lidgett, Sir R. Murray Hyslog, the Right Hon. T. R. Ferens, Sir Alfred Pearce Gould, Sir George Toulrnin, Sir Ernest Lamb, the Rev. Henry Carter, the Bishop of ;• Croydon, Dr. Clifford, Colonel Dace, Lieut.- Colonel Joy, the last two representing the Salvation Army, the Archdeacon of St. Albans, Mrs. Perrera, the Rev. J. Stevens Roose, Dr. Charles Harford, Dr. Claud Tay- lor, Father Irwin, Mr. A. Pye Smith, and other clerical and lay representatives of the different denominations attended, and. the total number of visitors was somewhere about sixty. l MEMORIALS PRESENTED. The proceedings lasted about an hour and a half. Mr. N. L. Pisher was associated with" the Prime Minister in the reception of the deputation. The Archbishop of Canterbury introduced the deputation, and the speakers were Sir Alfred Pearce Gould, the Rev. Hy. Carter, the Bishop of London, Bishop Bilwell, the 'Bishop of Croydon, and Dr. Clifford. The four principal points submitted for the Premier's consideration were :—(1) Assurance of the support of the Christian Churches in any legislation making for sobriety; (2) main- tenance of the present restrictions in any new legislation; (3) insistence on the importance of the "nine points"; (4) the attitude of the churches towards the Trade Bill, in regard to the matter oi restriction. Memorials were presented from the Houses of Convocation, ..> Free Church leaders, and members of the medical profession. Each of these bodies in- cluded in its inenforial the following resolu- tion:—" In view of the great advantages to the efficiency. and moral well-being of the nation and to public health and order which « ha-ve followed the restrictions placed on the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquor during the war, we earnestly request his Majesty's Government to maintain those re- strictions until. a satisfactory measure of re- form has been enacted by Parliament." THE "NINE POINTS." The "nine pomts" on which the Temper- • t ance Council of the Churches and the deput- ation strongly insist are:-(I) Sunday clos- ing (2) restriction of hours for the sale of tlrmk on week days; (3) reduction of the num- ber of licensed premises; (4) increase of the power of local licensing authorities,; (5) con- trol of clubs; (G) the abolition of grocers' licenses; (7) the prohibition of the sale Of in- toxicating liquor to young persons; (8) local option (defined as the right of a locality to vote on thi*e options—namely, no change," "reduction," "no licence "); and (9) the pro- vision of alternatives to the liquor tavern for non-alcoholic refreshment, recreation and social intercourse. The Prime Minister was reminded that in December, 1918, he wrotel that so far as he was able to judge from the terms of a letter submitted to him, the prin- ciples embodied in the "nine points" were, principles which he had held for many years, and that he was of opinion that the time would soon arrive when this question would have to be dealt with in a comprehensive manner. Meantime, he felt that we ought to try to benefit from our experiences during the war in relation to the regulation and control of the drink traffic by the State. In regard to the Liquor Trade Licensing Bill, 1919, the deputation offered-a number of criticisms. While approving the provision 7 that clubs must make annual application for registration and the prohibition of the "long pull," the memorialists condemned the pro- posal to abolish the licensing justices, and a number of other suggestions included, exten- sion of the present hour for the sale and supply of drink from five to seven in Londoa,and from ffve to six in the country. tI i PREMIER'S REPLY. The Prime Minister replied at some length to the representations made to him, and undertook that they should have careful con- ? sideration. Apart from this, the only in- formation which the deputation felt at liberty to communicate afterwards was that they con- sidered the results of their meeting with the Prime Minister and Mr. Fisher very satisfac- tory. Later in the evening, the following official announcement eoiieerniiig the deputation was issued from 10, Downing-street:— "The Prime Minister, accompanied by Mr. R. A. L. Fisher, President of the Board of Education, received a deputation this after- noon from the Temperance Council of the Christian Churches. The deputation was in- troduced by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the case for the deputation was placed before the Prime Minister by the Rev. Henry Carter, Sir Alfred Pearce Gould,, and the Bishop of London. The Prime Minister re- i e. Prime Minister re- plied, and a vote of thanks to Mr. Lloyd George was proposed by the Bishop of Croy- don and seconded by Dr. Clifford. It is hoped to issue a fuller report later."

The Government are trying to expedite housing schemes. by offering to pay private builders a subsidy based on the cost of the building of working class houses erected on lines approved by the Ministry of Health. There was a partial eclipse of the sun OD. Saturday afternoon, but as Old Sol was at the time totally 'eclipsed by clouds in most parts of this district the event probably, pad unnoticed by our

HOUSING IN WREXHAM AREA. f A PRESSING DEMAND, -1 Matters concerning the provision of houses, a I somewhat serious epidemic of scarlet fever at Cefn,and the question of the rent of the Council's offices came before'the Wrexham Rural District Council at their meeting on Thursday. The Housing .Commissioner's approval, with certain amendments, had been received in refer- l ence to the house plans in connection with the schemes at Rhos, Rhostyllen, and Rossett, where 20, 78, and 14* houses respectively are to be erected. He also approved of the plans for the lay-out of the first portion of the site for the Hossett housing scheme, subject to a number of conditions.. The engineer favourably reported upon the suitability of the Glanllyn sire at Gwersyllt for the erection of 205 houses, and it was decided to ask the Housing Commissioner to inspect the site at an early date. In reference to a resolution, of the County Public Health Committee urginf the Housing Committee to take alt necessary steps for the erection of army huts as temporary measure to relieve the present needs of the distsict, it J wa,s resolved to defer consideration until the next i meeting, pending a detailed report Ry the en- gineer as to the total cost involved in the scheme, and also to ascertain whether the provision of huts rank for financial assistance under the Act. A letter was read from the Holt Parish Council inquiring. as to the possibility of erecting houses at a maximum weekly rental v 3s. The Parish Council was informed in reply that it was very doubtful whether practical effect could be given to the suggestion in view of the present cost of building. It was announced from the Ministry of Health that they proposed to set up a small committee to afford guidt\{lcc to local authorities in the raising of capital for housing schemes, but that in the meantime the Ministry of Health was pressing the Treasury to assist the Rural District Council of Wrexham in regard to their imme- diate commitments. The Clerk reported that he had interviewed a. representative of the Chester and Wrexham District Savings Bank with the object of raising a loan for the construction of streets and sewers in connection with the housing schemes at Rhostyllen and Rhos, and had ascertained that the. bank would favourably consider an applica- tion. Instructions were given to negotiate fbr the borrowing of the amount required. Failing to secure the whole of the money necessary for their housing schemes, the Council decided to make a further application "to the Ministry of Health and the Tfteasury to authorise the Public Works Loan Commissioners to issue loans adequate for the purpose. I NO HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION FOR 1 FEVER PATIENTS. A considerable number of scarlet fever cases had been notified, and out of a total of 43 32 occurred in the parish of Cefn. Owing to the insufficient accomodation at the fever hospital, 26 cases had to remain at home, and strict isola- tion in every case was consequently impossible. In the corresponding' month of last year there were 54 cases notified, of which only 23 could, be moved to the hospital. It was therefore, fairly obvious, observed Dr. Th&mas Roberts, the Jnedi- cd ofncer of health, that the question of isolation I hospital accommodation needed serious attention. This question was referred to the Joint Fever Hospital Committee. Captain Percy Lloyd Jones said the figures, revealed a deplorable state o?, things which N.: far more serious than appeared on the surface. During the past month 32 houses had been in- spected, all of which were defective., including one which was in such a condition that it" was deemed unfit for human habitation. In this easel the Council resolved to serve a notice under Section 17 upon the- owner. HIGHER RENT FOR COUNCIL'S OFFICES. 1 lire lease ot the Council s omces at Midland Bank-chamoars expires at the end of the year, and the bank had intimated that if a renewal was desired they would require w considerable increase in the rent, namely, from £ 70 to £ '125. The latter figure was reduced after an interview to JB105. During the discussion which ensued, it was sijated tjhat wevferal prospective tenants were ready to pay more than this, but that the bank were giving the Council a preference. There appeared to be a famine in business offices in the town" and on the rare occasions upon which premises of this character became vacant there was a. struggle to secure them. A suggestion was made that accommodation isliould bc, sotight at the Imperial Hotel, which is still in the occupation of various Government departments, including the Ministry of Labour, but Mr. Arthur E. ifcrans said the owners were writing almost every week wanting to know when they could have possession. With regard to a suggestion that the Council should buy their own offices,- it was pointed out that 'a considerable poÜion of the r urjnted trict might sooner or later be absorbed by the borough, and Mr. Stokes (Ridley Wood) observed that if they did not renew the lease they Would find themselves in a few weeks without a roof over their heads. He expressed the opinion that they would not be able to build offices for another ten years. Sir Watkin Wynn (who presided).—I quite agree with you. By a majority of 17 to 15* it was decided to renew the lease for another three years, at a rehtal of £ 105. A long debate took place regarding the ques- tion whether any advantage might- accrue to the Council in transferring their banking business to the owners of the Council's offices, and the clerk was directed to prepare a statement showing "the difference which would have resulted had the business been placed with the London City and Midland Bank instead of with the present treasurer." S ROBERT J. THOMAS, M.P., TRIES TO GET THINGS MOVING. Sir Robert J. Thomas, M.P., in the House I of Commons, asked the. Minister of Health whether he is aware that the housMig plans of the Wrexham Rural District Council, for I 1,700 houses are hung up owing to the lack»of funds, and that preferential treatment is I given to local authorities whose rateable value happens to exceed a, certain limit irre- spective of the urgent Seeds of populous min- ing villages and of th4 necessity of giving employment to many men during the winter months and that every effort has been ?ade by the local authority to obtain funds from banks, insurance coys., Frieiidl? Societies, e., without success; and whether he'will use ?ia influence with the Treasury to make the heeeflpry grants without elay. I Ð rl"}Addi SO n replied that this case is re- i ceiving further consideration.