Welsh Journals

It will be seen, the grants to Wales are £ 6.7 per student (or, in the aggregate, £ 8,187) lower than they would be if Wales was treated on the same basis as England. This is a serious discrepancy. Rate Aid to The Welsh Colleges also suffer Welsh grievously as compared with their University sister institutions in England in the Colleges matter of grants made to them out of the rates. The leading County Education Authority in England is, perhaps, that of the West Riding of Yorkshire. That authority contributes to the Universities which serve its area, viz the Universities of Leeds and Sheffield, annual grants equivalent to £ 17 for each student from its area in attendance at those institutions. The leading County Education Authority in Wales is that of the County of Glamorgan but alas, the grants made by that authority to the University College which serves it are equivalent to less than £ 4 for each student from its area in attendance at the College! This discrepancy of £ 13 per student is also very serious-particularly having regard to the act that the Glamorgan students at the College number about 300. Voluntary And what shall be said of the local Aid to Welsh men of wealth ? Apart from the University recent magnificent gifts to the Colleges Medical School at Cardiff, the record of the wealthy donors in Wales pales into insignificance beside that of wealthy donors in England. Here are a few instances of individual gifts made to Colleges and Universities in England during the past three or four years :­ Bristol: £ 200,000. Reading: i 100,000, £ 50,000; £ 50,000, Liverpool: £500,000; £ 91 ,000 £40,000; £ 35,000 £ 30,000. Bedford College: £ 100,000; £ 30,000; £ 30,000; £ 20,000; three of £ 10,000. University College, London: £ 30,000 130,000; 17,000; two of £ 5,000. London University £ 215,000 £ 100,000 175,000; 170,000; £ 60,000; 130,000; £ 10,000. Cambridge University: 1200.000; f-20,000 i 10,000. These are scales of endowment which Wales (particularly South Wales) could emulate, if not actually approach. What is needed is a re-awakening of that strong and indomitable belief in the University and its Colleges which inspired the men of a generation ago to establish these institutions. The acquies- cence of the present generation of Welshmen in the starving of the Welsh Colleges is inexplicable. Let this reproach be speedily removed. Newport's For some time past the South Opportunity Wales Papers have been full of rumours, concerning the large in- dustrial developments, which are contemplated at Newport. One important firm at least-The Man- nesmann Tube Company-has definitely acquired a large site, and intends to erect works which will employ many hundreds of men. In the present early stages it is to be hoped that the Municipality will look well ahead, and shoulder some of their consequent responsibilities in real earnest. We have far too many glaring examples of badly planned, hap- hazard industrial areas in South Wales, due to a too hasty huddling together of buildings in the rush of material prosperity. It is inconceivable that Newport will allow itself to be exploited in the same way. instead of giving a lead in the direction of order and comeliness. She has the advantages of an old town's traditions and a considerable amount of public spirit among her citizens. We look to them to see that the town is improved, and not irreparably spoilt by the acquisition of new wealth and population. In the first place, if a start has not already been made, it is essential that a comprehensive town-planning scheme should be inaugurated the Council should make an immediate application to the Local Govern- ment Board for permission to prepare such a scheme for the undeveloped land within the Borough. Perhaps, the adjoining Local Authorities might be induced to combine in promoting one scheme for the whole district. Provision ought to be made in the town-plan for the works' areas in situations convenient to railways, docks and main roads. Even more important than the works themselves are houses for the workmen and their families. Working- class houses too often are built indiscriminately in odd and end corners, with no attention paid to their hygiene or surroundings. Newport has now a chance of laying down a policy for the proper housing of its future citizens. In addition to houses, schools will be required, also places of worship, new shops, and other large buildings. These would naturally have their allotted places in a well thought out scheme of development. Action must be swift and decisive, or else damage will have been done beyond hope of repair. The We publish this month an article on National the National Library, and also some Library illustrations. The cost of the entire scheme, when complete, will probably work out to something like £ 300,000, including the surroundings, such as terraces and other details designed to give dignity and scale to the buildings. The parts under construction entail contracts reaching