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BANGOR NORMAL COLLEGE. I

Second-Lieut. Percy RichardsonI…

WELSH PARTY MELTING.

I PERSONAL,

WELSHMEN INTERNED IN1 GERMANY.

I.THE "LLOYD GEORGE" INTERVIEW.

FREE CHURCH UNION.I

IFUNERAL OF THE HON. LADY…

IFEEDING BRITISH- KOLDIERS

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FEEDING BRITISH- KOLDIERS WORK OF THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE SUPPLIES, LTD. SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENTS AT KINMEL CAMP. It is clear from statements made at the Flint County Council meeting the other day that con- siderable misapprehension prevails concerning the status and work of the Agricultural Produce Supplies, Ltd., and in the interests of food pro- ducers, consumers and the public generally no less than in justice to the Society itself it is desirable to publish a few of the eseer.\a,' facts. With that oibject in view a ropresenta/tivovr. the North Wales Chronicle interviewed on Aloud ay Mr W. H. Pres,-5, general manager to the Agricultural Pro- duce Supplies, Ltd. The first point to emphasise (writes our repre- sentative) is that the A.P.S., as it is now known in Army quarters, is to all intents and purposes a War Office concern. Though registered as a limited liability society under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act, it is under the control of the Army Canteen Com- mittee. Every penny profit from iits transactions is remitted to the War Office. One of its rules explains the objects of the Society as fo I low "The object of the Society shaJI be to carry c<? tbo business of wholesale providers of a.?rlcui- tural produce of every kind for supplying ilb. re- quirements of His Majesty's Forcee, and if so required to carrv on anv tradp-i industries or businesses which may, in the opinion of the directors, seem calculated to conduce to the more efficient working of the Sooiety, and to do all such other things as the Society may think con- ducive to the above objects or any of them. But no such extension of the Society's opera- tions into any other trades, industries or bllsinNses shall be entered zi-ton without the a-bfroval of the Army Canteen Committee. Provided always that the Society shall not either directly or indirectly carry on any undertakings with a view to profit to be distributed or re- served for the benc?t of its members, or other- li. Se tdl wise than for promoting the aforesaid objects." Again: "Shares shall be of the nominal value of one shilling payable on application. Further. "As the Society exists for the purpose of trade income from such trade will resuh. Al! such profits shall be used firstly towards the pay- ment of the working expenses of the Society; secondiv, towards the promotion of its objects as set forth in these rules, but no such expen- diture shall be made without consultation with the Army Canteen Committee- Finally: "Should the Society be dissolved or wound up the balance of funds remaining afrer meeting all liabilities fhalI be returned to the War Office." Those extracts from the Society's rules estab- lish beyond dispute the Society's bona-jides as an organisation inaugurated not for the advantage of any littlo coterie of speculators, as has been suggested, but for the benefit of the Army autho- rities, and therefore for the good of every tax- payer in the Kingdom. As such it commands the readiest and most cordial support that can be in any way given to it by local governing authorities and all interested in our soldiers' welfare. Why I eay "our soldiers' welfare" will be apparent in a minute. A WELSH EXPERIMENT AND ITS RESULTS. j .1 1 a ue origin ox mis notewortny departure in our Army's history is of special interest to Wales, be- cause Welshmen were in the irrr responsible for it While the 68th (Welsh) Division were in train- ing at Bedford last year, Capt. E. S. Williams- Ellis, Purchasing Department Officer to the Divi- sion. appioached at the request of the G.O.C., Mr Nugent Harris, of the Agrieultural1. Organisa- tion Society, to enquire what assistance the So- ciety could give him in obtaining supplies for the various units, comprising 1^000 men, then at Bed- ford, This resulted in an interview between Col. S. Frewen, assistant adjutant, quartermaster- general, and Capt. Williams-E?lis, for the Army authorities, and Mr H. Press (a Welshman ha.'liiin' from Glamorgan), at that time acting as frunt and market garden produce expert to the Agricultural Organisation Society. A scheme was proposed for the organisation of supplies of fruit and vegetables to the Division. It was considered by Major General A. E. Saibdbacli, C.B., D.S.O., officer commandin.g the Division, who promptly approved it and broutght it into being in an order issued on December 7th last year. Not unnaturally, perhaps, so radical a piece of reform could not be introduced even in a "new" Army without causing trouble somewhere, and, surely enough, trouble came one day-some time after the schema had been in operation- in the shape of an oiffcer from London who ar- rived on the eoene to cancel the arrangements, hJ left. after ascertaining its merits, anxious to give it his blessing. To-day the scheme has been .ul-jpVd throughout practically an the principal Hutmont training centres, and in due counie there can bo little doubt but that it will extend its operations very largely, and open up a number of fresh channels not for the moment perhaps con- ceived by its promoters. 1. HOW IT WORKS. At !ho entrance to a substantially-built corru- gated iron shed, possibly 80 feet long by 35 feet mde, within a Mones throw of the main road pacing Kinmel Camp—one of many 'simrlu etruc- tures in this city of timber and corru- gated toofing-there was on Monday an Army transport waggon loaded with vegetables which a number of "Tommies" were busy remov- ing inside the shed where they were placed with all the order and precision one asvot-iateb NTitli everything military. This was one of the So- ciety's new depots. I asked an attendant where. the good s came from. "Just been brought from the railway station," was the reply. "1 believe the fjoodh came from Liverpool, but heaven knows wliore they were grown. Mr Press eventually threw more light en the matter. He explained that local producers had iKt been able so far to meet the demand for cer- tain supplies at Kinmel Camp, and that conse- quently he bad to procure them from elsewhere. "Y ou see," said he, "our position between the Army and the.producer—the farmer, the market gardener, the allotment holder-is precisely that of the middleman. The only difference, and you will agree that it iq a very important one, is this -wh.p,nevei we make a profit on anything we buy not a penny of it is kept by us. Apart from trie small percentage wo are allowed for our work- ing expenses we get absolutely nothing out of the transaction. It is all handed over to the military authorities. Before long I hope to buy the bulk of the vegetables, fruit., etc., we want for this camp from local growers, This will save the railway charges, and provide a convenient market for looa.1 growers where they may count on getting fair pri ces for their oom- modities. At Bedford, for the week ending January 7th, at least 80 per cent, of the produce issued to the Welsh Division was obtained from local growers. There is no reason why the same thing should not prevail at Kinmel. All it wants is a realisation by local growers of the needs of this place and a desire to supply them. That the district can cope with it there is not the remo-t-est doubt, for soil, climate and all other conditions arc here highly suitable, as in few other parts of these hdaiide. This is a market that can be" relied on to take regular quantities Co-operation in this way between local producers ajid ourselves would prevent on one hand produce coming into the etistriot from distant parts, and on the other the little local produce that is now available going to Liverpool and Manchester for disposal on com- mission. The A.P.S. as the accredited agent of the Army Canteen Committee desires to get into touch either through local farmers' Organisa- tions or direct where there are Ho such organisa- tions existing with .every class of producer, large or small, and so avoid having to deal with men in distant parts, which involves the trouble and ex- pense of bringing goods here from far away places. You will realise that this mtaner saving a large and unnecessary expenditure with regard to railway carriage; then we have the holding up of railway trucks and transport originally in- tended for other uses by the Government^ the saying of middlemen's profits, and a hundred and one other economits that can be effected by per- fect local organisation. The Society will re- quire in the spring every description of market garden, produce, and particularly en oh things as spring cabbage, early turnips, lettuoe, tomatoes, and all descriptions of salad material, and later supplies of peas, beans, and riew pota w-ll these things, apart from our, iimnediato require- ments in the way of potatoes, carrots, turnips, swedes, cabbages, and autumn-grown friiite. The demands of the Society for these commodities ara practically unlimited because what we cannot use in one district under a particular contract we can always make arrangements or suggcfi altei-natijo mèthods;o'f disp6o&l by-i?a?oii of our c?ose &soœa- t?on with the -4: OS* br:lnchi i1It_li.a.td 0060ti?a &H over the )?i?tnehea"'4md ito *A"tid ',¡ I ?"'— — — "u —? It is estimated that if all regiments at home were to adopt this system of furnishing themselves with supplies—and they are tailing in aa rapidly as the necessary arrangements can be made—it would mean a saving of many thou- sands of pounds. How that is possible will bi gathered from the following little incident. A short while ago Mr Press had occasion to see a farmer living near a certain camp about i;oms cabbage supplies. The man said he had about 80,000 cabbage for sale at Is per dozen. On re- consideration he reduced th3 price to 10d and a cheque for £100 was there and then made out to him as payment on account. Thia prompt method of doing business obviously; pleased the farmer, who hastened to inquire whether he could do more business with his cus- tomer. Mr Press saw his opportunity, and asked why the demand for Is had been made in the first place.. "Well," came the astonishing reply, "I thought it was time I were doing a bit more for mysell out of these 'ere cabbages. Last year I sold a big lot to a chap for 6d a dozen, and he sold 'em straightway to the Army folks in the camp closo by for 6d per dozen." Under the new soheme the farmer received 4d per dozen more for his produce, and the soldier- had better quality at a lower price, besides saving on his 5 daily allowance. That is the sort of thing that was going on unde-r the old rotten regime, and the fact that Welshmen have had so large a share in putting an end to the wretched business is something to be nroud of. 4 THE LOCAL COMMUNITY'S GAIN- There is another advantage that, will appeal perhaps more directly to most readers. The innovation has had an appreciable effect upon prices of vegetables charged to the public. Mr Press points out that prior to its operation at Bedford the price of potatoes locally was equiva- lent to £9 6s 8d per ton; the price in January was 20 per cent, les.s-a reduction from lOd to 6d a peck (10 lbs.). The advantage to the soldier is the improved quality of the goods supplied jiis table. Hitherto complaints v I titrlK Ul the poor stuff servr.. p ii canteens. 1'iie u<.vernnient pant top prices fc". vegetables tor camps, and only too often the goods supphed were of the lowest standard. This was due in some measure to the want ol a system of grading goods and the absence of an efficient system of inspection. In this as in other respecta there is a complete reform under the Army Can- teen Committeo and the Society s administration with the result that all eatables now supplied for Tommy" are of a good uniform qualitv, and al- ways fresher than in other dans because local produce is moro generally used. Perhaps the greatest, advantage of all from the scheme will be its- beneficial influence on agricul- ture in this country. No industry has been more grossly neglected in Britain than fanning and its allied business of vegetable and fruit garden- ing, and in promoting both there are in this splerh did idea the germs of vast possibilities. COLONEL THE HON. STAPLETON COTTON'S VIEWS. I was fortunate enough to meet at Kinmel Colonel the Hon. Stapleton Cotton, to whost enthusiastic support the success of the A.O.S. in North Wales owes so much, and as a practical man with a ripe experience of farming and ma: ket gardening his views on the new scheme are in- teresting. Asked how he viewed the operations of the Society from the standpoint of the general farmer he replied: "Well let me take the public first. I look at it in this way; you and I have to pay taxes. Every halfpenny saved means lega taxes for us, so that we a.re all directly and practically interested in the scheme. Now the farmer's point of view: The whole tihmg tends to increase production be- cause here you have a market on the spot. It also tend! to straight-dealing in every way, better prices for tho producer and securing supplies for the consumer when they are fresh. Finally, it tends to leduce the prices to the con- sumer because there is no middleman to take unreasonable profits, and no great freightage." Colonel Stapleton Cotton went on to point- out that in North Wales locally-grown vogetablee and fruit were really a negligible quantity. "Yet there is a very large market in the coast towns," he added, "especially during the summer and early autumn. Supplies mostly come from Liverpool and other Midland centres. Liverpool is supplied very 'largely from Evesham and the market garden centres of Worcestershire. The same stuff is then sent on to Colwyn Bay, Illiv), Bangor, and other North Wales towns. By the time it gets here much of it is very stale and naturally much dearer owing to freightage which, you must remember, is about 16s per ton from Eveeham to Liverpool, and 14«; from Liverpool here. If the stuff were grown here in North Wales we would not only be saving this freightage, but we would get the supplies in a fresh and healthy oondition. Anglesey and North Wales generally are eminently suitable for the growth of all sorte of vegetables and fruit. We can, for instance, prow broccoli up here just as well as they can in Cornwall, and yet our supplies are largely derived from that country.

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