The North Wales Chronicle and Advertiser for the Principality

AGRICULTURAL WAGES. THE NEW MINIMUM RATES. At a meeting of the Agricultural Wages Board, held in Lon CIOn, ir Ailwyn Fel- lows presiding, a committee was appointed to consider and report upon the suggestions made at the conference held on 7th May between the Board and representatives of all the District Wages Committees for the discussion of matters relating to work of the Board and of the District Wages Com- I mittees. The variation in the minimum rates of wages in England and Wales for male workers made by the Wages Board (which came into operation on the 19th May) is as follows:— (a) A reduction in the hours for which the minimum wagp for ordinary labourers is payable, to 54 in summer and 48 in win- ter, in the counties where such hours have been in excess of these houses. (b) An addition to the weekly wages at present payable to ordinary labourers, of the following sums (subject to slight ad- justment to round sums) :-Workers 18 and under 19 years of age, 3s a week; workers, 19 and under 20 years of age, 4s a week; workers, 20 and under 21 years of age, 5s a week; workers, 21 years and over, 68 6d a week ;with corresponding ad- justments of the overtime rates on the ba- sis of time and a quarter on week uays and time and half on Sundays. In the case of those counties where the number of hours per week are in excess of 54 in sum- mer and 48 in winter, the above additions will be made, not to the present weekly wages, but to the present weekly wages re- duced to a basis of 52 hours all the year round. (c) An increase in the special rates fixed for special classes of workers such as horse- men, stockmen, shepherds, etc., by'amounts corresponding to the increase in the rates for ordinary labourers, except as regards the eight counties referred to above. The Wages Board have at present, under reconsideration the special rates for horse- men, stockmen, shepherds, etc., with a view to a modification of the basis of "cumary" hours for which those workers are paid in a number of counties, but they are not legally in a position to give effect to any alteration in this basis at the moment, and they considered that in the meantime these workers should not be deprived of the increase granted to other workers even where it involved making a new rate which may only bo in operation for a short time. A schedule of the new minimum rates fixed for each county will shortly be ob- tainable on application to the Agricultural Wages Board.

WELSH FARMERS' UNION. I ANNUAL BRANCttI MEETINGS. Mr W. Owen presided over the annual meeting of the Ysbytiy branch of the Welsh Farmers' rnion on Monday evening when addresses were given by Messrs John Jones, Berth Du, Robert Williams, and tlte General Secretary (Mr J. R. Chambers) who explained the new proposals relative to farm labourers' wages and hours o! work. At the annual meeting of the Penmachno branch on Tuesday evening, Mr John tto- berts, Glasgwm, presiding, the following officials were elected for the ensuing year: -Chairmall: Mr John Roberts, Glasgwn; treasurer, Mr R. Thomas, Blaenddol; sec- retary, Mr J. LI. Morris, Ysgwyddfrith; Executive Committee, Messrs Humphrey Roberts, Talgerwin John Thomas, Pandy; Thomas Jones, Llechwedd Hafod Ucha; W. Thomas, Tyddyn Bach; E. Jones, Pen- ffridd; and W. Roberts, Penbedw. At Roewen on Wednesday evening, Mr R. Owen, Glyn Ucha, presided at the in- nual meeting- Mr R. Ellis, Bryn Pin, was elected treasurer, and Mr Hugh Davies, j.un., Gorswen, secretary. The selection of chairman was%i#fr'to the Executive Com- mittec composed of the following :-Mers R. Owen, Glyn Ucha; R. Jones, Llwyd- fan; W. Owen, Sygan Uchaf; Evan Hughes, Ynys Goch; iiugh Davie; Gers wen; J. Owen, Tyddyn Du; Z. Edwards, Parcia; G. Hughes, Llannerch Gwyiim; and the officials. At Penmaenmawr on Thur. jy Mr C F L. Robinson, Plas Ucha, -vas elated 1;4'( re. talY, the appointment of the oihe- Is being left to the Executive Committee, composed of Messr8 Robertson i-ernor), H. Roberts, Penybryn; J. Roberts, F las loiyn Edwards, Penparc; J. Lloyd, Trwyn Wylfa; J. Williams. LI an J. H. Williams, Pcnffordd Groch J. Morris, Brickfield; J. Evans, Pendyffryn; R. Jones, Graiglwyd Farm; H. Hughes, Pant Idda; J. Benja- min, J. Hughes, Ty Mawr; R. Jones, Medina Vi!la; and D. Jones, Llan.

MILK I'llODrGTION IN CARNAR rONSHIRE AND ANGLESEY. RECORDING SOCIETY FORMED. A meeting of* farmers was held last Fri day at Bangor under the presidency of Mr '1'. Prichard, Llwydiarth Esgob, to con- sider a proposal to establish a milk record- ing society for Carnarvonshire and Angle- sey. Professor R. G. White, of the University College of North Wales, and Mr R. N. Jones, live stock officer, explained how milk recording societies were organised and their utility. Mr Parker Mackenzie (Messrs John Pritchard and Co.) commended the pro- posal. The first thing the prospective buyer of Welsh dairy cattle wanted to know was the milk records of the cow. By keeping such a record they would eliminate poor stock. He would be pleased to offer on be- -ed to offer on be,- half of his firm a £ 5 prize at his October sale in Menai Bridge for the cow with the best milk record. Professor White urged a modest start. A society for the whole of North Wales would be very costly to run, as it would be ne- cessary for the recorder to visi4; the farm of each member. Mr Thomas Roberts proposed that a milk recording society should be formed for Car- narvonshire and Anglesey. Mr Meickle, Pantdreimog, seconded the motion, which was carried. Professor White said it was probable that milk would be controlled longer than any other article of food, and it was necessary in connection with milk prices for farmers to be able to go to the Food Committees with fisrures which could be substantiated showing the yield of their cows. With these records they could go to the Food Committees with more confidence and de- mand what was fair and reasonable. Some people seem to imagine that milk was a free gift from the cows. Mr Mackenzie stated that thev should be able to prove that they in Wales had the best dual-purpose breed in tho-world. Welsh black cattle were not well known for their milk at.present- S.Ilf'ra,f members were enrolled, and it was decided to hold another meeting with a view of obtaining additional members.

WELSH "CHESHIRE" CHEESE. I Welsh farmers who have taken up the making of Cheshire cheese now claim to 1)9 beating the Cheshire farmers in their famous industry. At a farmers' rally at Trewern, Welshpool, where the formation of a co-operative cheese factory is under consideration, Mr J. L. John, agricultu- ral organiser for the County Council, said the cheese from a recently established fac- tory at Caersws had beaten the prices ob- tained by the Cheshire farmers. Mr Havereroft Jones, manager of the Mont- gomeryshire Farmers' Association, speak- ing of the intention of his association to start factories, said the principal cheese factors -told him if they could get uniform- ity in the Welsh Cheshire cheese they would take all they could get.

I FARM NOTES. I In their report upon last week's markets the Board of Agriculture tate that owing to the heavy supplier of oattle at London and Salford, where about 7,300 and 3,200 were s hown, against 3,600 and 1,400 respectively the previous week, the total number at all markets indicated a fairly substantial increase, but apart from the two cases mentioned, supplies at most markets show decreases. Quality generally has been fairly good, some useful well-fed beasts being shown at many places. The supplies of iheep on the whole how no particular change as regards numbers; at Salford there was an increase of 2,750, and at Hull of 750, but at Wakefield there was a decrease of about 1,000. and at New- castle-on-Tyne and Lincoln 400. Owing to the heavier supplies of pig? at Birming- ham and Manchester ,?, total number shown was slightly in cxcess of the previ- ous week, but even then supplies are only very small. An improved demand was noticeable for dairy cows, prices at several places advanc- ing £1 to C.3 per head for the best quality animal. Trad e for store cattle showed very little change; best quality forward beasts being fully as dear as the previous week. Store sheep have, on the whole. ful- ly maintained last week's improved trade, some useful hoggs making up to JE5 13s per head a.t Norwich, while a bunch of 31 Kerry cross ewes vith 42 lambs made 1:6 15s per couple at Shrewsbury. Btore pig- maintain their price, sows and pigs especi- ally selling well. 4 The Hon. Gervase Beckett-, M.P., speak- ing at Scarborough on Saturday, said agri- culturists were losing faith in the Govern- ment, and had begun to lose faith m the Board of Agriculture itself. He commend- ed the appointment of the Royal Commis- e( I the appol sion, and appealed to farmers to give every assistance in getting at the facts. Mr J. N. Thomas, president of the Welsh Farmers' Union, has been appoint- ed representative for Wales on the Agri- cultural Costings Committee in connection with the Board of Agriculture and Food Production Department. j

FORESTRY IN WALES. I DEMAND FOR SEPARATE CENTRE. I CLAIMS OF BANGOR UNIVERSITY I COLLEGE. A strong case for a W elsh Department and School of Fores-try in connection with the local university was madj out by a deputation from the Bangor University College which waited on the Interim Forestry Authority in London on Wed- nesday week. The matter has become vital owing to a revision of the original scheme of the Government, under which, unl ess the Welsh authorities and the Welsh Parliamentary IJttlty are active. Scotland and Ireland will have their own departments and Wales be treated as it has been in tho matter of health admini- stration. Tho deputation" as headed by Lord Kenyon, and included Principal Sir Harry Reichel, Professor Storey, Professor White, Major Breese, M P., and Sir D. S. Davies. M.P. All urged strongly that Wales should have its own School of For- estry, like Scotland and England, and that in the new Forestry Bill the Principality should bo treated as a separate admini- strative unit. In the opinion of the deputation the amount of afforestable land at present lying waste or at l:ast imperfectly de- vel oped is shameful and calls for imme- diate attention. Of the million acres of rough uncultivated land in Wales under 1500ft. elevation, it had been estimated that some 30 per cent., or some 300,000 acres, could be devoted to tlinber crops without serious interference with food pro- duction. The South Wales coalfield alone consumed one and a quarter million tons of pitwood every year. If, said Lord Kenyon, the whole of the mountain and heath land of Wales were planted with trees, it would not do more than meet the demands of the coalfields. It was pointed out that Wales had not been lacking in effort already, for the Forestry School in the Principality was established before the Forestry Schools of Oxford, Cambridge, and Aberdeen -indeed, it was the second established in the kingdom. They asked that the forest officers trained in Wales should have equal opportunities for ad- ministrative and executive appointments in tho homo forest service and in the British colonies and dependencies. The members of the interim authority were not unsympathetic, and promised to report to the Government.

CHESTER RACES. I PHENOMENAL ATTENDANCE. I The present-day racing boon was respon- sible for astounding iigures of attendance and receipts at Chester Races last week which altogether wiped out the records of prev ious years. The official returns of the three days established both individual and collective records, which the coming Y'l' 'J will find it difficult to equal, unless the phenomenal racing crowds are to be taken as a permanency and not as a post-war re- action. In making comparisons it should be borne in mind that 1914, the last recorl year, is taken as a basis instead of 915, which for obvious reasons was abnormal in many respects. The figures for 1914 and for this year are as follow :— Tuesday.—Attendance: 1919, 22,580 1914 11,306. Receipts: 1919, 99,196; 1914, t4,597, Wednesday.—Attendance: 1919 80,983; 1914, 57,792. Receipts: 1919, £ 19,437; 1914, £ 6.942. Thursday.-Attendance :1919. 34,200 ;1914, 19,298. Receipts: 1919, £ 7,993, 1914, £ 2,014. Total attendance: 1919, 139,763; 1914, 88,396. Total receipts: 1919, EM,628 7s; 1914, £ 13,913. Reserved seats and badges in the County Stand for the three days realised £ 5,2bb, the attendance being 3891, as compared with L2929 and 2811 in 1914. £ atfcersall'e total receipts were £12,927 as against £3,483 in 1914, the respective attendance being 10,052 and 3,269. The Grand Stand takings were £ 3,365 as against £1,749 in 1914; tnose In the Dee Open Stand being £ 4,399 as against 22,179 in 1914; the attendance on ihe course being 101,522, and the takings 210,152, as compared with 65,427 xnd £3.271 in 1914. The Corporation are entitled to uni.- eighth of the takings, but the entertain- ment tax will take some of the gilt off the gingerbread. In all probability the lates will be helped to the extent of abojt 4d in the £

I WELSH LAND SCHEMES. I 1 2000 ACRES WANTED BY EX- I SOLDIERS IN MONTGOMERYSHIRE. I Montgomery County Council, on Satur- day, took a definite t'tcp towards securing suitable land for creating small holdings for discharged soldiers and eailore. The Small Holdings Committee re- ported PA application* for approximatel y 2GOO acres, and recommended the purchase of land in the Berriew, Montgomery, and Caersws districts, and in the western part of the county. It was ak-o recommended that the Parish Councils of the county be asked to make a return of the; holdings which have been allowed to be merged into the larger farms since 1860. The Chairman said that if the proposals materialised they would be the mean. of placing a great number of men on the ♦

r FALLEN NORTH WALES RAILWAYMEN. MEMORIAL SERVICE AT BANGOR I CATHEDRAL. The memorial service held in Bangor Cathedral, on Saturday afternoon, which paid tribute to the railwaymen from North Wales who felt in the war, was of a solemn- ly impressive character. It wad a service to do honour to a section of a com- munity who nobly played a large part in winning the war, not only in the actual fighting line, but in feeding the guns and bringing the wounded to the hospitals. Invitations had been issued for two rela- tives of each railwayman who died in the country's service, and free travelling facilities were provided for attending. The congregation. whidh filIe-d the old fane, was drawn from all parts of North Wales, and included the following official, -.LNIR H. Thompson, district tra- ffic superintendent; Captain Na^h, O.B.E., marine superintendent, Holyhead: Mr W. J. Owen, a-isistant district superintendtenit; Mr F. B. Griffiths, a.s'i^tant marine enper- intendent; Mr B. Walker (representing Mr H. F. Perkins, provisional engineer, who was unable to attend owing to iH- ness); Lieutenant-Colonel Acres, A.D.R.T., Western Command; Mr Pitchford (i-cpre- senting Mr Whittam, Shropshire Union Railway and Canal Co.); Miss Hiekton (Hotel Department Holyhead); Mr W. G. H. B inney, Mr H. Tandy, BangoT; Mr W. O. Jones, etc. The clergy present were: The Bishop of Bangor and his chap- lain (Rev. W. Williams), the Dean, Arch- deacon J. Morgan, Canon Edmund O. Jones (who is in residence), Canon T. Ed- wards (Gwynedd), with Minor-Canons J. Eastwood and M. A. Hug'li-es. The service, identical wifci similar ser- vices held in the principal English Cathedtrals, did not quite follow the lines of memorial services heM in Bangor, though the major pa.rt of the prayers woco from the Burial Service. While tihe con- gregation were assembling the Cathedral Organist (Dr. Roland R.er,) played Men- delssohn's seldom-heard funeral march which forms part of the famous" Songs Without Words." The opening hymn, Ten thousand times teff thousand, in sparkling raiment bright." struck a. jubilant note, but the ypgositencej of many of the comforting lines were striking:- Oh, then what raptured greetings, On Canaan's happy slioire, Wnat knitting sever'd friendships up Where partings are no more; Then eyes with joy shall sparkle That brimmed with tears of late, Orphans no longer fatherless, Nor widows desolate." Then came the solemn opening sen- tences of tue BuriaPService, "I am the Resurrection and the Life, eaith the Lord," recited by Minor-Canon Eastwood. In place of one of the customary psalms the Cathedral Choir chanted the 23rd. "lha Lord is my Shepherd," to Barnby's familiar single music. The Lesson from Solomon iii. 1 to 10, But the souls of the righteous are in tCie hand.. of God. and there shall no tor- ment touch them," was road by Canon Edmund 0. Jones, and the Dean offered a prayer :— "To remember with thanksgiving and with all honour before God and men, the railwaymen of Great Britain and Ireland, who died giving their lives in the service of their country.") With the congregation devoutly kneel- ing, silence was kept for several minutes, broken by the opening strains of Weisley's anthem "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace," another departure from the usual memorial anthem. Ihe hymn "Jesu, lover of my soul," having been eung. the Dean, from the Lectern, read prayers from the Burial Service with a special supplication "for those whom war I has made desolate and broken hearted," and that those remaining may be worthy of thosa wluo have given their lives for their country." rrom the organ came the great Han- delian lament from Saul," and as the massive strains died away two buglers from the "Clio" Training Ship, sounded the "Last Post." This was a supreme moment, and while the haunting tonea reverberated through the Cathedral, many over charged hearta found relief in deep sobs and tears. The crashing chords of the National An- them signalled fciie end of the service, and in loyal acclamation, the congregation sang with special fcignificance the prayer- "Send him victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us, God save the King." As the concluding voluntary the Organist played "Worthy is the Lamb," from the "MaasTah." I THE BISHOP'S TRIBUTE TO RAILWAY WORKERS. The Bishop of Bangor, from the en- trance to the Penrhyn Memorial Rood Screen, delivered a brief address. They were assembled, lie aid. to take part in a scrviee which must be unique in the history of even that historic fane. They were met together to honour a body of men w hose work .was unknown to those who lived in past centuries. Of the 186,475 railwayinen of Great Britain and Ireland who joined the forces, 18.957 were killed in action or died of wounds. Some of them were attached to mgiments, but a section of them went out as railwaymen and as railwaymen they died. There were an d as ra' days when railways were unpopular in the land, but in about four or five years after they were built, railwaymen showed what great use they could be in time of national emergency. During the Crimean war our soldiers were dying by the hundreds owing to lack of food and clothing and tf.ie com- mon necessaries of life, and all the time, only ten miles away, in the harbour of Balaclava, there were ships laden with stores which could not be taken up to the exhausted troops owing to the diffi- -oulty of communication. It came to the mind of the Duke of Newcastle, the Minister of War. to construct a railway, and it was built by the same engineer who was responsible for the Clietst.& Holyihead line. With the advent of that railway the difficulties vanished. Nowa- days it seemed almost incredible that sudi a difficulty should have occurred eipecially when thev contemplated the gigantic efforts made by railwaymen during the te- cent war. Those who lived olos0 to the railway remembered how in August they heard the continual rumbling of the trocp trains, and liow they read in the news- papeM ono morning that 200,000 men had been landed in France and Belgium with- t7al h B t that did not end the work of the railwaymen. Having gent the men to France they followed them. The railways torq up hundreds of miles of their permanent ways, and* sent the rails with thousands of engines, carriages and truake over to the theatres of war. Both &ets of railwaymen made good"—thoss who went over the top and the men who, who with eholls bursting around them and in constant danger of projectiles from the enemy's flying mauhines, conveyed sup- plier of shells and ammunition to their fighting comrades. Now the war had oeased, men were busy obliterating traces of it, and where the rail had laid the plotigli would, he hoped, be eoon at work. But the memories of those who fell would always remain. They sa.w t ,e path which led to duty, and they walked unflinchingly along it. With the sorrows of the re- latives they all sympathised and prayed that God would comfort them.

Land purchased or agreed to De pur. chased by County Councils for land settle- ment in England and Wales totals 20,014 acres, at an average price of J643 per acre. Arrested on a charge of street betting, James H. Hudson proved to the Totten- ham magistrates on Tuesday that ne ?a harn m ii ecting for a neighbour's iunonl expenses, a custom ia the district, and he was discharged.

THE POWER OF COAL. I IN PRIVATE HANDS. (From a Correspondent.) Just before he went to the House of Lords, Mr Prothero, President of the B sard of Fisheries and Agriculture, re- ceived a largo and influential deputation whofle object was to urge the appointment of a Ministry of Fisheries. Mr Prothero, speaking from a wide ex- perience of Government Departments, ex- pressed his belief that to create such a separate Department would inevitably leid to bureaucracy and its innumerable evils, and that the growth of officialism would stifle the very aims which the deputation had in mind. Mr Prothero, I imagine, was led to this opinion as the considered result of his knowledge as the responsible and very succcssf ul head of a great public department which finds a parallel in the movement to establish State control of coal. The gentlemen who represent the miners on the Coal Commission and who are doing everything that human ingenuity can de- vise to prejudice the public against the pri- vate ownership of coal mines got a sharp "jolt" this week from Lord Gainford, who is perhaps better known as Mr J. A. Pease, a prominent member of former Liberal Governments and an ex-Liberal Whip. Mr Smillie and his friends on the Commission anticipated with glee "baiting" the peers whom they called as witnesses. It was to bo a "slaughter of the innocents;" those royalty owners who were fattening by the sweat of the miners were to be held up to the world as vampires. But, alas for the Smillie brigade,the "innocent" peers turned the tables on their cross-examiners, and one of them was actually applauded when he left his seat! Inifead of the case, for nationalisation being strengthened, it was distinctly weakened. Lord Gainford declares himself an uncom. promising opponent to the nationalisation of the coal mining industry. There were lively passages between witness and Mr Smillie about the efficiency, or otherwise, of Government Departments, and the form- er said he had never defended the ineffici- ency of Departments over which he had had control. It was not the individual he blamed, but the system, and he gave it as his opinion that the nation had had enough of Government control and State manage- ment, and added that the very fact that general nationalisation had been talked about had paralysed some enterprises. This statement, coming from a former member of a L'beral Government with an unequalled experience of the working of Government Departments. should make the supporters of nationalising in- dustries patise in their steps. One result of State direction of fishing —to return to the opening sentence of this article would undoubt- edly be the keeping up of prices, and if that contention holds good with regard to an industry -which has assumed enormous dimensions it would, I think, apply with greater effect in the case of a gigantic enterprise like coal mining. Fishing and mining are highly specialised undertakings, and the first fruits of State control of coal would be the creation of jobs for highly paid officials, a crippling of initiative and general enterprise and a paralysis of that energy and resource- fulness which marks the conduct of that industry to-day. How have the great industries in the United Kingdom attained their enormous success? Not under Government control, have they? No, in the hands of private ownership with no taint of politics. Once the Government get control of the great industries of the country, ruch as the railways and coal, the time will soon come when we shall have to play second fiddle to a great country like Amciica. We are the leading traders of the world, and we have tecurtd this pre-emmenc position through competition amongst private traders. True, in the past wages for the worker were not what they should have been, but thanks to combination amongst members of Trad e Unions evety working man and woman now receives a living wage. Why then spoil the good results that have been secured after years of lighting and struggling, for spoiled they assuredly will be if the State be. comes our master. Give me for choice a humane private pro- prietor. You can get some sympathy out of him, but I can tell my fellow-workers with the utmost confidence that in Government employ you are simply a cypher or a num- ber. State control has been introduced during the war, and the industries con trolled have been and have felt like shackled giants. If State control is the won- derful thing it is said to be why is there such an outcry for this and that industry to be released from Government control? The fact remains that these huge con- cerns have been built up and organised and run, not by Governments of any sort, but by individuals and small boards. In- domitable courage and farsightedness in in- dividuals brought, for example, the Cunard Steamship Company into its present splen- did position, and the same qualities un- doubtedly put not a few of our coalfield, on their existing basis. State control would mean dear coal, and df „r coal means penal. ised industry. Coal is the basis of by far the greater proportion of existing motive power and remains the foundation of the world's wel- fare and progress. The immense ship- yards of Belfast and Glasgow, to name only two of these concerns, the wonder- ful mills of the Bradford and Leeds dis- tricts, the invaluable furnaces of Sheffield and the countless businesses throughout the country—let me quote Flintshire and East Denbighshire for example—all these depend on coal for their successful opera- tion, and the moment that you get con- troi of the commodity by the State you would find that thbre is a rise in the cost of every necessity of life. And if we have dear coal—and it is likely to be dearer than it is to-day—our foreign buyers will become conspicuous by their absence. We shall gradually lose our for- eign trade because, depend upon it, the cheapest seUer gets t40 best market.

I BANGOR CHARITY ? ORGANISATION SOCIETY. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Bangor Charity Organisation Society was held on Friday at the Town Hall. under the chairmanship of Mr W. P. Matthews. Lord Penrhyn was re-elected, president, the Mayor (Mr R. J. Williams) vice-presi- dent, and Mr W. P. Matthews chairman of the committee. The Chairman stated that Professor Gib- son, wlio had been the backbone of the So. ciety from its inception, having initiated many of its useful branches, desired to be relieved of the position of vioe-chair- man, and he moved his appointment as a vice-president. This was canried, and Mr H. F. Perkins was elected vice-chairman. Mr Ivor Pryce was re-appointed treasurer; and Mrs Gibson and Mrs Lloyd Edwards hon. secretaries. Mrs Orton was substi- tuted for Mrs M. A. Hughes on the Ex. ecutive Committee. The 12t,h annual report, presented by the Secretary (Miss Pinkerton), stated that, alti.iough there had been a noticeable fall- ing off in the number of applications for assistance, yet the cases in whioli help had been given had been ones wliicih called for the utmost sympathy, and for steadjy and continuous visiting in addition to the material! assistance given. The greater part of assistance given had been in cases of sieknefs. and they had been a;blle to tide over a difficult time in several households wihere, th rough the serious illness of the bread-winner, disaster threatened. Du- ring the year, 59 cams were assisted, 12 not assisted, one withdrawn, and eight en- quiries and report. Of the 12 cases not assisted, help was not found necessary in four. Through excess of work, Professor Gibson had resigned the vice-chairmansihip of the Society. Miss Kiittwon having left Bangor had resigned from the Executive Committee. The Society was in great need of friendly visitors, savings bank col- lectors, also more subscribers. The Children's Heauth Ccanmittep stated that the district nurses continued their regular visits to the schools, and re- pol't?j or defective children who were under observation. Every child in .s.Kiliaol was examined, and it W3.s very satisfactory to compare the reports, more especially with regard to the cleanliness oif the children, there being a conspicu- OilS improvement from year to year. The thrift work was still maintained in spite of the fact that many of the collec- tors had had their energies diverted to other directions during the war, but thanks to the Secretary (Miss A. E. W il- liairus) tho work went on. Many of the depositors were now banking their own money at the Post Office, and keep their own savings banks. The amount collect- ed was JBIOS 4.5 7d. The banks at the schools continued as successfully as ever. They had lost one of taeir best workers in Ir.3 W. G-. Williams, of Garth. The amount collected at the schools was as follow., :-St. Paul's, E27 7s 2d; Garth, £ 50; and tho Roman Catholic School, 110.

I SOUTH CARNARVONSHIRE C M. SUNDAY SCHOOLS. RESULTS OF SCRIPTURAL EXAMINATION. The result of the annual Scriptural ex- aminations of the South Carnarvonshire C.M. Sunday S(hool Union have just heen announced. The prize-winners are as follows:— Class under 1C years of ago.—1, hate Williams. Bwlchderwydd, Ci iecieth; 2, Annie M. Jones, Brviiengan; 3, (■. A. Thomas. Llaiibedrog, Arthur E. O. Pike, Portmadoc (English), and R. Gordon Wil- liams, Bwlchderwydd, Criccieth 4, Trevor Williams, Gosen, and David Parry. Mor- iah; 5, Wi'uie Jones, Tydweiliog, A. E. Morris, Graig, Katie Griffiths, Brynmawr, and Mary E. Griffiths, Tydweiliog. Class from 10 to 12 years.—1, Ivor Jones, Llanbedrog; 2. Maggie Jones, Bwlchder- wydd, Criccieth; 3, Maggie E. Roberts, Chwilog; 4, Rachel Jones Roberts, Pen- mount, Pwllheli; 5, Lizzie Morris, Bwlch- derwvdd. Criccieth. Class from 12 to 14 years.—1, Dilys Wat- kin Williain>, Tabernacle. Portmadoc; 2, L. Winifred Williams. Tabernacle, Port- inadoc; 3, Catherine E. Owen, Bwlchder. wydd. Criccieth: 1, Ben. Hughes. Bwlch- d¿rwydd, Criccieth; 5, Jennie Morris, ( BMlchdfrwydd, Criccieth, and J?nie Wil. liams, Nm-ill. Class from 14 to 16 years.-l, John Edgar Rhys Evans. Portmadoc (English); 2, R. Walter Hughes, Garth. Portmadoc; 3, Nellie Davies, Chwilog; 4. Mary Roberts, Nevin; 5, Laura Rowlands. Tabernacle, Portmadoc. and Lizzie Griffiths, Pantglas. | Clasj from 16 to 18 years.—1, Annie ..Tonc". Engedi; 2. Mary Williams, Nevin; 3. E. A. Jones, Nevin; 4, Mary Jones, Moriah 5. M. Mrry Roberts, Garth. Port- madoc. Cla-ys from 18 to 32.-1. Maggie Hughes, Morfa Nevin; 2, Catherine M. Hughes. Morfa Nevin; 3, Annie Williams, Capel Mawr. Criccieth • 4, Mary Evans, Tyd- weiliog: 5. R. Irene Tfiojijas,. Tai-.ei-i-cle, Portmadoc. Clasri over 23 years.—1, Sallie Willinms, Bwlchderwydd; 2, Elizabeth Thomas, Gosen

KINMEL PARK COURT- MARTIAL. A PLEA OF INSANITY. At the General Court Martial inquiring at Liverpool into cases in connection with the Kinmel Park Camp mutiny, a plea of insanity was put forward on Wednes- day, on behalf Private Wal Bray Hamelin, Canadian Medical Corps, who was stated to have been in the front line of the rioters, holding one of the poles support- ing the Red Flag. A doctor expressed the opinion that the prisoner was unfitted for ordinary soldier's life, and that under such conditions as existed at the time of the riots he would be incapable of knowing the difference between right and wrong. The Court adjourned.

CHEAP FARES FOR SCHOOL I TREATS. The Railway Executive Committee states that the railway companies will en- deavour to make arrangements for the conveyance of children in connection with school treats between now and the middle of July, and have agreed to the issue of reduced fares. Any school authorities who wish to take advantage of this offer should communi- cate as early as possible with the com- panies concerned, as they may not be able to meet all tho applications for special trains, and desire that Saturdays should be avoided..

THE 1921 EISTEDDFOD. I CARNARVON'S APPLICATION. I The guarantors in connection with the im ifation to hold the 1921 National Eis- teddfod in Carnarvon have 'ippointcd a deputation, including Mr Lloyd George, to convey the invitation to the Eisteddfod Assoeinti >n at Corwen. Steps are also b,iiig taken to appoint an Executive Committee to draw up a list of the principal subjects.

ECCLESIASTICAL PROVINCE OF WALES. A conference of Welsh Ohurchmen haa j been called for June 11th to consider the formation of a new province of Walea.

CORN PRODUCTION ACT, 1917. AGRICULTURAL WAGES BOARD (ENGLAND & WALES). I Order varying th,e Minimum Rates of Wages at present in force for Male Work- era of J8 years of age and over throughout England and Wales. mIlE AGRICULUTURlAL WAGES X BOARD (England and Wales) Here- by give Notice as required by the above Act that they have made the following Order:— 1. The wages payable for employ- ment in agriculture in each area des- cribed in column 1 of the Schedule to this Order of male workmen of the re- spective classes and ages mentionc-ti in columns 2 and 3 of that Schedule shall be not lc-e than wages at the respective rates specified in column 4 of that Schedule for the hours specified in col- umn 5 thereof. 2. Provided that where a whole-time workman is employed by the week or any longer period, the wages payable to him for the hours of work agreed be- tween him and the employer in any week (excluding hours of overtime em- ployment) shall be not less than the amount specified in column 4 of the said Schedule and applicable to that workman notwithstanding that those hours are "less than the hours sjjecificd in column 5 and applicable to hiin. 3. The differential rates fen- overtime employment in each area described in column 1 of the Schedule hereto of male workmen of the respective classes and ages mentioned in columns 2 and 3 of that Schedule shall be the rates speci- fied in column 6 thereof. 4. For the purpose of the above rates overtime employment shaH mean: (a) in the ease of each of the said areas and of workmen of each of the said classes and ages such employment as is described in column 7 of the Schedule to this Order; (b) in the case of all the said areas and workmen of all the said classes and ages all employment in ex. cess of 61 hours on a Satuiday or on such other day (not being Sunday) in every week as may be agreed between J the employer and the workmen except time spent on fuch day by Horsemen, Cowmen, Shepherds, Tcammen, and other classes of Stockmen in connection .with the feeding and cleaning of stock. 5. In the said Schedule the expres- sion "employment in summer" shall mean employment during the period commencing on the first Monday in March and ending on the last Sunday in October, and the expression em- ployment in winter" shall mean em- ployment during the rest of the year, except as respects stockmen, horsemen, and s hepherds (other than Moorland Shepherds shepherding lay sheep and cattle) in the area comprising the ad- ministrative county of Derby and the county borough of Derby, in which case "summer" shall mean the period commencing on t ht first Monday in May and terminating on the last Sunday in September. 6. For the purpose of the above rates the hours of work shall not in- clude meal times but shall include any time during vhich. by reason of wea- tlun- conditions, an employer has pre- vented from working a workman who was present at the place of employment and ready to work. 7 This Order shall apply to all malo workmen of the age of 18 years and upwards who arc whoily or partly em- ployed in agriculture within the mean- ing of Section 17 G) ,f tiie Cc.rn Pro- fbction Act. 1917. in any are- described in the Schedule to this Order during such timo as they arc so employed. 3. This Order shall come into opera- tion on the 19th day of May, 1819- G. From and after the date on whicS this Cider comes into operation the Or. ders heretofore made by the Agricul- tural Wages Board and fixing minimum or overtime rates of wages or defining overtime employment shall be varied 01 cancelled so far as may be necessary to give effect to this Older. EXTRACT FROM SCHEDULE CONTAINING RATES OF WAGES FOR MALE WORKMEN Of 18 YEARS OF AGE AND UPWARDS, coming into force on the 19th May, igig. ANGLESEY AND CARNARVON, DENBIGH AND FLINT, AND MERIONETH AND MONTGpMERY. 1 2 3 4 5 16 f 7 ,¡ Hours of Ovc rtime Employment to whiob '& Work. Rates. Overtime Rates apply (in C-,v k. "?T? 7 addition to the time on OM   time on oaa Description Classes of A< es. ? EgcEg- Jj • £ day in each week f'hwhic? oi Areas. Workmen. g '2 I ¡: Ë E. c: 1o. in vei-tiiiie rates are paya? of Areas. Workmen. ?c-? 3 ? ? 5 ? > s -o c; in all areas under clanse 4 areas under ct.mset The admini'-r\Vorkmer-I I II -I 1 strative ployed wholly counties of or mainly as¡l (18 &: under 1911 3ï¡ó [| 9d; d A„ empIoyment jn fxceM Carnarvon Horsemen, >19 „ „ 20 39'- 61 I 9?? ? ?? -?en?j? oyment !n exceM Carnarvon Horsemen, ?20 2038?,0 'I tf ? 61 ?d.  (exeep the Cowmen 21 39?6 id ludi g Sunday). parish of Shepherds or'? '2 1' ?d 41/- lod: I/- L'ys'aen) H?-?"< All employment OH a Sun- |/1Q„ un 19 33/. 9d. lId. ?.?. All employment in oij ilia) exccss of 54 hours in any andAnglesey (Baili.fb). If 2I10 ? 0 29? 1 I3t5// in Other Workers! *1 '54 48 o>i4 l 1"15L ° j f week (excluding Suaday) in 21 and over. ? 3?6 ? t 10d. t? ¡ "Summer. All cmploy- I I I ,?,.t in excess of 48 Lours I ¡ in any week (excluding Sunday) in V inter.' The admini- Workmen em-? ? AHemp]oymentinexcessot strative ployed wholly' 'R" 9d 111ei' 61 hours 10 any week tlD- counties of or mainly as:(J £ & under R.'lid "1 61 ?"s in ati; week ?" x I j ,<V,i! j n<j ) eluding Sunday) ill Sum- Dnblgh and 1, eammen, 1)19 201 61 511, i 96 d, Ilid ? ii,er"; all employment in Denbigh and Teammen, \\]Z •• '.Z' j}-61 58 i <ud nfd ) f excess of 58 hour, in any F)in< and the Cowmen. o;-???;?."?.?,.?. J• !t { I ,Aa parish of Shepherds or>41, /0 week (including Sunday) in Uysfaen in Baihrfs. j j Winter. the admini- I AH employment on a SUD- s t rativ f j ?y; all employment in county of | 18 & under 19' 334 -u ?d. |llid exce? of 54 hours in any Carnarvon Other W oikerSjl 19 20 34/- 1 week (exc)uding Sunday) fa C)tbei- NA'o?-kers 20 211 35/- 9id. |Il#d f "Summer" all cmpioy. 21 a ?d o?er..36/6 1 Od. t/ menl in excess of 48 hours j I I ill any week (excluding j Sunday) in "Wintc! The admini-Workmen em- All employment in excess strative ployed wholly I *unter%L\ $" jji of the hours of employment strative p!oyed whotly q,, ltH O (including Sunday work ) counties of or mainly as Hours cus- ? 11d  \inebr1,,¡ng 'SUl1lI;]Y wo r) Menoneth Stockmen, 20  tomary in the J." > customary in the area in Merioneth Stockmen. { •• 21 40" ternary in the ?' ?L ) customary .n the arta in area. ?lOd- j? ? ) "? ease of Stock?n. and Mont- Teamsters, 121 and 41'ó I area. 10d' l?- ¡the ease of Stock1en. gomery. Carters or lane O\CI. Teamsters. Cartcrs (r She*. Shepherds. j herds, as the case may be. I. ?ll employment on a dun- Ither Worker  {18 & under 19' 33/- ) 9d. Ild. eniplc?yiiici-,t in ex. J 19 ? 34/- ? ,0 ?d. llfd f cess of 54 hours in aaf ther Orker5¡{ 20 211 )ii. ild week (exclticUligun?ia;ria 21 and c?,r. i36.? ) 10d. ?l?- ..Stiiiiiiier" all emplay- ment in excess of 48 koun Dated this sixteenth J, ay of r May. 191V. in any week (excluding Signed by order of the Agricultural Wages Board (England and Wales). Sunday) in Winter." Agricultural Wages Board. F. POPPLIiWEIX. tIO. Pùl Mall. London. S.W., 1. Secretary. N'OTE.—* These rates are at present under reconsideration by the Agricultural Wages Board. X INCREASES TO SAVE YOUR SECURE A SUPPLY?. ft"- POTATO CROPS I OFTHIS WONDERFUL I. FROM BLIGHT: NEW POTATO 5 PRAY \,? ? FROM BLIGHT: NEW POTATO ? PRAY )SS- .???????? EARLY.  /With the addition of cld.watr only, you obtain a uniform solution of 2*? ? No troublesome PrelimInanes-You can go right ahead, Sprayi,nn g INSIST ON CETDMC THE BW. Avoid worthless Substituteswhich only disappoint and do more harm than good Blighty is packed in convenient sizes-I 11 Waterproof Bags 14.28. 56 and 112 lbs. and in Greaseproof Cartons, of 1 lb., 2lbs. and 4lbs. n Prices-I ton. f 50; 1 cwt„ 60s. 56 Ihs., 35s. 28 lbs., 21s. 14 lbs., 12s, 6d 41bs 4s 6d ■ 21bs„ 2s. od. 1 lb.. Is. 4d. Special Terms to Large Users. s.. Ask your dealer for literature or write direct to the makers of tb8 A world famed MAPLE BRAND COPPER SULPHATE. X THE MONO NICKEL CO., LTD. ,YOU MUST USE e (H"rt¡';ulful'aISec/iclI). YOU MUST USE ?. r???.) YOU MUST USE fi V London, S.W.I. 8Q. N RtG trao £ ijr T X BURGUNDY MIXTURE 6 L L I G H T T 1:-

PENMAENMAWR. I COMRADES OF THE GREAT W AU. —A meeting is shortly to be held at the Young Men's Institute to consider a sug- gestion that a brunch of the Comrades of the Great War" be formed at Penmaen- mawr. THE PROPOSED WAR MEMORIAL. -The Vice-Chairman of the Urban Coun- cil has convened a public meeting for to- morrow (Friday) to further couni-ler the proposed memorial to local men wh,) have fallen in battle. ON FURLOUGIH.—sAmoiig th ;se spend ing a few days' furlough at their homes this week are Pte. John E. Hughes, Llys lielyg; Gunner LleVelyn Jones, BrwJirin ho is visiting his home for the first time after being away for 12 years) and Corpl. Cecil Roberts, Norwood. UNEMPLOYED CONTRIBUTIONS. —A Referee's Court respecting the un- employment contributions was held nt the Labour Exchange on Monday, when about 30 caees were dealt with.

GLAN CONWAY. I WEDDING. —On Saturday at St.. Fran- cis' Church the marriage of Pte. T. Ellis, Royal Sussex Regiment, and Miss Parry, of Llanengan, A I>ersoch took place. The best man was W. Williams, and the brides- maid Miss Parry, sister of the bride. The bride was given away by her cousin, Mr T. Roberts, Conway. The Rev. J. Davies officiated.

Lord Glenusk, Lord Lieutenant of Breconshire, Í6 giving his country rcsi- dence, Ivy Tower, at- Crickhowel, as a hospital in memory of his two sons who were killed in the war. Campbell's Dye Works at Perth were totally destroyed by fire on Tuesday after- noon. The damage is estimated at fully half a million pounds.

WITH PEACE Many changes will came If ia need of ready cash, we are pre- pared to Advance from 910 upwards PRIVATELY on NOTE OF HAND only No Fees Charged. Easy Terms: Short T arm a Specially. J GEOHGE PA YN E & SONS, 3, Crescent Road, RHYL. ESTABLISHED 1870. £10 to £ 1 000 Advanced Privately to Farmers, Traders, and others, OB Note of Hand, any distance. Buisinem completed through the l'oel,.—N at. Adv. and Inv. Society, Lid, 41, Corporation- street, Manchester. Branch: 32. Farrar- road, Bangor. el OUI TERilS arc Is 6il ia the Cl latereel Private English firm advances £ 20 upwards to ladies and gentlemen, without tiurcliCM. jt:20 loan will cost you £1 10 0 £ 50 „ £3 15 J icioo 1:7 10 0 Larger amounts in proportion. Being Uw actual lenders you have no fees to pay.-& LOIW. Ltd., 105, AtARKET-STREKT. MAN- (HI KS'l'ER. REL|EF poR r.LL BROWN'3 BRONCHIAL TROCHES. IN THE I3UMMER TIME when /our THROAT u dry and irritable, or if troubled with ASTHMA, or a FIDGETY OOUGH, you wiU obtam great relief N you give ttz TROCHES & tri&L Tb? Mugu lor singers "W ?pe?ktM?