Welsh Journals

bodies and what are best left either to the larger local authorities or a combination of the smaller bodies. In certain instances, it may even be advisable to go further and to reserve to the central authority certain services now administered locally. Ample power should also be reserved to the central authority for combining local authorities into Joint Boards for those duties such as main drainage, and water supply which smaller authorities cannot undertake for themselves. We hope this point of view will not be lost sight of, because we think it essential both to efficiency and economy. Moreover, the satisfactory adjust- ment of the relations of the central to the larger and smaller local authorities is a necessary prelude to the consideration of any scientific scheme of national devolution. The The decision of the Pembrokeshire Memorial County Council to dissociate itself Association from a national effort to extirpate and consumption is regrettable. Pembroke- Our readers will not perhaps have shire quite realised the position. An individual, then a movement and finally Wales itself see in the wastage of human lives due to consumption a chance to grip the social problem more immediately and at greater advantage than other openings could afford. The unanimity and energy evoked were astonishing: very soon a great voluntary body was added to the national effort of the Principality and, when eventually a Welsh Chancellor made Sanatorium Benefit part of his Insurance Scheme, the House of Commons recognizing the work of that body specifically pointed to it as the channel of administration in Wales. The National Memorial, meeting the larger responsibility, obtained a Charter of Incorporation for an Association representative of every public interest in the country, and to this body an authoritative committee of expert opinion, summoned by the Government to plan the tuberculosis campaign, looked for an effort, unique because of its national character. The Insurance Commissioners for Wales further- more, have, within the limits of their judicial position, recognised the advantages which a single minded effort could do for the tiny populations of the rural counties and have, again with the consent of Parlia- ment, obtained an amendment of the original Act of 1911 to facilitate this object. Finally, four County Borough Councils and twelve County Councils out of seventeen authorities have united together to shoulder with the Association the heavy task of treating every consumptive man, woman and child in the Principality. Across this mass of achievement, the most hopeful mastering of difficulty which our day has known, one County Council chooses to step. Were there any high purpose discernible, any pecuniary sacrifice saved, one would regret and perhaps understand, but to have to face a situation where error and mis- representation have resulted in a decision which leaves the consumptive of Pembrokeshire for a period unprotected and finally at the mercy of a costly sectional scheme is matter only for amazement. Faults there undoubtedly have been on the part of the Association. It may, as is alleged, have failed to consult as often as it should in the early stages the county officials. It may have failed to run the move- ment on sufficiently democratic lines. Whatever the initial defects, unavoidable in launching a big cam- paign, we appeal to Pembrokeshire to come into line, to secure effective representation of its views on (not off) the Memorial Executive, and to bring the national resources of the Association to the service of the premier county." State Aid to At the recent meeting of the Court Welsh and Governors of the University University College of South Wales and Mon- Colleges mouthshire, the oft repeated wail concerning the meagre financial support given to the University Colleges of Wales was heard once again. Principal Griffiths has been untiring in his insistence on the insufficiency of the amount of State aid given to our Colleges, and particularly to Cardiff. Why the support given to him in this matter by the Governors and the members of the College Council has been so wanting in aim and effectiveness is a secret which, as yet, has not been divulged. It is possible that the explanation is to be found in the regrettable fact that those worthy persons have been led to believe that the most helpful thing they could do for the College was to withhold their enthusiastic loyalty and support from the man at the helm I (So much, by the way.) In the words of the President of the Board of Education, Treasury Grants to Universities and University Colleges are concerned with general education of a University standard in Letters and Pure Science." These words imply that the grants are given not in respect of the whole of the students who were in attendance, but only in respect of lull- time degree and post-graduate students. On a comparison between England and Wales, this is how the matter stands Amount of Grant No. of Treasury per Students. Grants. Student England 5,505 £ 158,777 £ 28.8. Wales 1.222 £ 27,122 £ 22.1.