The Cambria Daily Leader

WHAT LLANELLY DID Interesting Interview on Swansea Trust. A 1903 Experience. I In connection with the position that the Swansea Harbour Trust finds itself in being unable to meet the interest to the Stock and Bond holders in January, a representative of the Leader waited upon Alderman D. James Davies, the e: Alayor, and Chairman of the Llanelly Harbour Trust, and asked his opinion as to the best solution of the very difficult problem. Though Swansea is to some extent a I Alderman I)avit- competitor of Llanellv," Alderman Davies remarked, I can assure you that there is genuine sympathy with Swansea in the unenviable position in which it finds I itself. Of course, it is entirely due to the I war, and Swansea will in time recover. Llanellv also has suffered and it hw only been able to keep things going by secur- ing payment of dues in advance from the ¡ large traders. The way they have sup- I ported us in that direction is very much appreciated. The unfortunate part is that both Swansea and Llanellv could not claim relief from the Government in the same way as the railway owned dork"- I have been able to do. Still, I cannot help thinking that there is a strong ease for (' financial aid from the Treasury." "If that fafls", asked our represen- tive, what do you think Swansea could i do to the tide over the difficulties?" LLANELLY EXPERIENCE OF 1903. I Well, failure to meet the interests is I a serious business. Llanelly has been ) through the mill in the same way. You I may remember that in 1903 the Bank of England advanced a sum approximately near a quarter of a million pounds c 11 what proved to be an insufficient security of a sixpenny rate to the Har- bour .Commissioners. Litigation and the delay in opening the dock meant that the Llanelly Harbour CnmissionerB were unable to meet the interest which had acetmiulated very considerably. I hap- pened to be the vice-chairman when a writ was served by the Bank of England ior that amount, and in the following March I was appointed Chairman of the Coininiksioners. There were two courses open to the Llanelly ratepayers at the time. They could have <ht their loss in a way by allowing the action to proceed, a receiver to ce ,appointed- and they would be Saddled) with a (kl. rate and the income ol the j town estate until the debt had been liquidated. There was, however, a ques- tion of honour about it, and the Commis- j sioners, who were backed by the Coun- cil and the ratepayers, ultimately oo- cided to take the bold course of offering what they deemed to be a sufficient security to enable. the Bank of Englaud to continue their loan for a further vieriod. The negotiations were very pro- tracted. but ultimately they ended m a Bill being passed in 1901, under which the rate of security was increased from six- pence to 2s. per annum. The outlook seemed very dark at the time, and Llan- elly had to work outfits own salvation in five years, when the loan terminated, Slight progress had been made by the end I of that period, but still the Trust could not see their way to go on paying: the rate of interest at 4 per cent, and face pay- ment into ft Sinking Fund which had been suspended under the Act for five years. In this quandary they approached the Bank of England for the renewal of the Itfkn^-for- another period of five years, *jhd asked for a lower rate of interest, and. if it were placed at 3t per cent., they fully expected they would be able to meet their liabilities. All that is old history now. The Bank of England oould not ho* their way to agree to this proposal, unless it was accompanied by a guarantee to increase the security. Therefore, with the view of ridding tliemselves 461 it for all time, they made a proposal to advance the whole loan at 3 per cent., provided the Council guaranteed the payment of interest and inslalmentlil of principal Virtue was in that way rewarded. Llan- elly honourably met its obligations, and this arrangement has since been described by Nomo of the most eminent financiers of the country as onof the best that any municipality or corporate body ever made. I RATEPAYERS' DECISION. Being the chairman again of the Har- bour Trust at that period, I am conscious of the anxieties of those days and the stupid opposition that was set up against the acceptance of the proposals. How- ever, even the decision of a ratepayers' meeting was not tallen as final; a poll wits taken, and that again easily, won the ray for the promoters of the Har- bour Act of 1910. By these means Llan- elly Harbour Trust were able to go on with their training of the river. Loughor by the construction of a spur "\f-all from Carregfach in the direction of the light- house, and they have now so improved their channel as to admit of tnuch larger vessels coming in and out of the port at heap tides. The advantage can be seen in the enormously increased trade of the port during the last few months." MUNICIPALISATION OF DOCKS. Do you suggest that Swansea can take any lesson from what was done at Llan- I elly ?" J If I were a Swansea ratepayer I should i strorgly advocate the inuntotalisation of j the docks. Swansea cannot live without j them. Let the ratepayers take the burden j upon their shoulders." "Apparently you have forgotten that the rates at the present moment are en or- J mous. How can the ratepayers hope to- day to meet the interest due to the Stock and Bond holders ? They might to that extent copy the example of Llanelly. We got over the arrears of interest which led to the Bank of England writ by capitalising this in- I forest. The same thi ng might be done by Swansea, and the burden would not then fall heavilly upon the present day rate- payers. I am sure they all have faith in the docks. It is bound to prosper, and in a few years it will, in my opinion, he able to earn a profit so as to relieve the rates."

 I I ISNOW YOUR VICTORY! I BOOKLET HAS SAFELY I annnrrmk ACT ON IT 1J ABR!YEB?———-?R?' '?? I

I ALLEGED THEFT OF BOOTS James Brennand (2G), loco fireman, and | Thomas Boyle l9). seaman, were charged ) at Swansea on Friday with breaking and entering: the warehouse of, David Lloyd on j tl StrAnd. Swansea, and stealing a quan- j tity øf boote, valued -at a twasiderabiv j suia- fhipt. Roberts said that having Tfcga.Nl to the seriousness of tho charge he would j ask idt remand -in custody until Monday I week, whicii. was agreed to.

L_ I For Chr?t?T):? Oisars and CilMrvtt"? J ?Tit-Bite.' ?. Wi-H?-gtve? S?at)6?a. I

j .?f'?'n? Bwsie ,Tone and I?j? Winifred j ?e?is. "E!Hah" Cf?.c?t- TabMxacle, MoI '-?eieio? SMtuda?. Zi'th De?emb?r.

| Over 50 Years' Reputation for Value. | I! LEWIS LE .IS & GO. I Gents 0 f. I ents ut ..ltters' ¡ and osiers. II EXCEPTIONAL VALUE !NSMARTLY.TAtLORED I J GENTS' OVERCOATS. j FASHIONABLE STYLES IN READY-TO-WEAR )i GENTS' SU)TS. |! BOYS AND YOUTHS' OVERCOATS IN THE i NEWEST TWEEDS. x j JUVENILE VELVET TUNIC SUITS AND «| JERSEY SUITS. | j GENTS' RAINPROOF OVERCOATS | IN POPULAR STYLES. V, ii!! i GENTS' VELOUR HATS AND TWEED CAPS IN I ENDLESS VARIETY. | • | j ) Large Selection of Practical Xmas Gifts, com- prising Gents'Woollen Scarves, Shirts, Pyjamas, II Silk Mufflers, Umbrellas, Handkerchiefs, Gloves, I Ties, Collars, Woollen Underwear, &c. '? ————— t GENTS' DRESSING GOWNS. 21,28, 29, HIGU STREET, II SWANSEA. j LEWIS LEWIS (SW AN SEA) LTD. ||

I LATE REV. W. D. THOMAS. I Thirtv-tlye Years' Pastorate at I Brynamman. A large crowd gathered to pay the last tribute to the Rev. W. D. Thomas, lqjte pastor of Gibea Ohapel, Brynamman, I who died suddenly last Saturday, at the age of 59, having ministered at Gibea for b',ii years. The sB;hys^d*Dav%«f ifi. 'Morgan (Pontardulais),. and the Rev. Williams (Ffaldybrenin) conducted the service at the house. The deacons acted as thiet bearers. An impressive service was held at the chapel, which was crowded. The Rev. John Llewellyn conducted it, and the Jfcevs. Williams (Pontardulait), Davies (Mymyddbach), T. D Davies (Llandyssul), B. D. Davies (Gwaun-cae- Gurwen), Ben Daviei (Pantteg), H. James (Swansea), and Mr. William Jones (the oldest deacon) and the Rev. J. Lee Davies took part, and eulogistic references were made to the deceased pastor. At the gztiveeide the lwv. H. Parry (Llaneamlet) and Roderick (Cwmgorse) officiated. The coffin was bedecked with beautiful floral tributes. A host of letters had been received from friends expressing sym- pathy with the family, and votes of con- dolence were read from a large number of churches in the neighbourhood. Amid general manifestauons of sorrow the mortal remains were laid to rest alongside of those of ffhe noted divine, tho Rev. Rhya 4'rim (Cwmllynfell). first pastor of Gibea Church, built in 1842. The chief mourners were Mra. Thoma$ (widow), Mr. Llwyd Thomas, B.A. (Pont- ardawe), Mr. Arafnah Thomas (minis- terial student, eons), and Miss Eiluned Thomas (Swansea Training College, daughter), Mr. Rees Thomas (brother). Misa A. Thomas (niece, Llansawel), Mr. David Thomas (brother, Ynysmeudw), Mrs. Margaret Jones (eister, Gorseinon). Mrs. Jane Davies (sister, Cwmtwrch), Mr. John Jones (brother-in-law) and Miss H. J. Jones (niece, Llanwrda). Mrs. Williams (sister-in-law), Mrs. Thomas (niece, Windsor-terrace), Mr. and Mrs. J. Moy Evans (Swansea, brother-in-law), Dir. and Mrs. T. M. Evans, M.A. (brother-in-law, Ammanford), Rev. E. Tudor Evans, B.A. (brothor-in-law), Mrs. J. W. John (sister- in-law), Lieut. Moy Johu (nephew, Ynyshir), Mrs. Davies (.sister-in-lnv, Glyn-Neath Post Office), Mr. and Mm. Stephen* Evans (Swansea), Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Davies (Pontardawe), Mr. and Mr* Stephen Davies (Pontardawe), Mr. and Mrs. Tom Williams (Pontardawe), Mr and Mrs. J. Jenkins (Cwmtwrch), Y. and Mrs D. Davies, L.T.S.C. (Cwin- twrch), Mr. DavidThoma (Ammanford)„ Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Williams (school master, Penllergaer), Mrs. Wm. Jone? (Gorseinon), Mrs. FIlen Jones (C-urnos).4 nephews and nieoe-s.

For Christmas Cipars and Cigarettes. Tit-Bits," 1, Wind-street Bwanssa.

Chief Choral Prize £ 30 Mon is ton iCth Annual Eisteddfod, Boxine Day.

MORRiSTON XMAS TREE. < w Thanks to the generosity of Councillor G. W. Peacock, Swansea, in providing Christmas toys, the children at the Graig Infants' School, Morriston, were in happy mood on Friday afternoon, when the distribution took place prior to the closing of the schools over the Christmas holidays. After a short and appropriate programme of songs and recitations, Councillor W. J. Davies handed from the Christmas Tree an acceptable gift to «ach of the children.

I Schubert's "Unftnijahcd Symphony in B Minor," Tabernacle. Morristop, Saturday Evening, 27th December.

£30 Prize for Male VcAvm Morriston sotit Annual Eisteddfod, Saturday. Dee 27th.

"1- 1 BRING THEM TO I f wiDGERYSj l  ( I ,'THE I KIDDIES' PARADISE | | The House of 10,000 Joys. I « Dolls | Dolls' Prams 9 Tricycle Horses | Pedal Motor Cars « Rocking Horses jS, Mechanical Toys MECCANO. i I' Fancy Leather W Goods, Handbags, Purses. S Letter Cases and f V. Heaps ofo th e r suitable Presents. SHOP EARLY. JS ? 2?2, OXFORD STREET f 'J Also Big Show of Toys at our. Market Stall- I*1 ? ?????????. ??? ?.. '■ ,r l 7P- j'4ll" ??. h ?? ??..