Welsh Journals

Mr. James Driscoll contributes a valuable study of the revolutionary changes which have taken place in the iron and steel industry, and Mr. Hamish Richards draws attention to the difficulties of the transport system in accommodating itself, with a minimum of new investment, to radical changes in the economy. Dr. J. Parry Lewis contributes a note on comparative productivity in England and Wales and also important chapters on national income and expenditure and on population. His figures for national income agree fairly closely in total with those of Dr. Nevin, though there are some discrepancies in the component parts. His analysis of consumers' expenditure reveals some interesting contrasts between Wales and England. The average Welsh family spent more than the British average on food and durable household goods, considerably more on clothing and less on housing, fuel, transport, and services. Lower income groups in Wales also lived above their income to a greater extent than in England, either by running into debt or by getting assistance from relatives. All the contributors make very full use of available statistics which are summarized in no less than eighty-six tables. A careful study of these reveals many interesting facts. For example, Wales has proportionately fewer illegitimate children, but more shot-gun weddings; less property income and lower savings; fewer wholesalers and many more small retailers than England. There are, however, a few surprising omissions. The locational problems of the steel industry and the whole question of industry and transport in rural areas receive only brief treatment, and there is no discussion at all of power, oil, or water. E. VICTOR MORGAN. Swansea. CARDIFF: A HISTORY OF THE CITY. By William Rees. Published by the Corporation of the City of Cardiff, 1962. Pp. 178. 25s. 'Whoso desireth to discourse in a proper manner concerning Corpora- ted Towns and Communities', wrote Thomas Madox (Firma Burgi, 1722), 'must take in a great variety of matter. The subject is extensive and difficult'. Professor Rees has here undertaken such a discourse and has confined his attention to a single instance. What he says about Cardiff, however, is given significance by reference to how it compares with and how it differs from other towns. With that general background he is quite familiar. He is able therefore to draw from relatively slight contemporary records a detailed picture of medieval Cardiff. What can be gathered about the Merchant Gild, the craft gilds (cordwainers and glovers), fairs and markets, the churches, the friars (Franciscan and Dominican) is clearly set out. It is also shown how the borough grew up under the shadow of the castle. Since it was the creation of a Marcher lord it was not subject to the Crown. The vestiges of its origin long survived, for the abolition of the Marcher lordships by the legislation of 1536-42 by no