Welsh Journals

population of 3,437,000 derived from this means an income of £ 2,319,590, while in 1915-16 England and Wales with a population of over 36,000,000 — more than ten times as large-collected only £ 2,276,699. The total number of licensed premises in Wales in- cluding Monmouthshire in 1916 for consumption on or off the premises was 6,300-but with off licenses added, the total was 6,875. The number of licenses to be cancelled annually would thus be from 1,260 to 1,375. In the nine years 1905-1913 a total sum of £ 8,073,127 was paid out in compensation for 8,961 licenses, say £ 900 per license-a figure declared by some to be excessive for Wales-four licenses for instance having recently been suppressed in Carnarvonshire at an average cost of £ 282 each. Of course, in South Wales, the values would frequently be considerably higher. If, however, compensation at the rate of £ 900 per license were arranged in Wales the total cost of instant suppression would only slightly exceed £ 6,000,000 — not greatly in excess of say seven months drink bill. Over the five year period, the amount involved would be about THE FIELD BEYOND THE HILL There's a tattered field of glory lying just beyond the hill, Yet you sing the old, old ditties as you struggle towards it still And you call the ancient greetings as you enter death's retreat; Has the sunlight lost it's wonder that the shadow is so sweet ? For the men who lie a-sleeping in their narrow homes of clay Chorus'd just the same old ditties-and t'was only yesterday I watched them in the sunlight as they strove to breast the hill And awaited their returning- am waiting,-waiting still. They sleep on alien ground, their pallid faces still and cold; The fire has flickered from their eyes, and shadows grim and old Are creeping round the weary lids, that none has sought to close The summer sun has killed the day, the scent has spoiled the rose. THE WELSH OUTLOOK £ 3,600,000, equal to an annual charge of- £ 720,000 — say seven per cent. upon our present expenditure, an amount readily recoverable by increased license duties and excess profits duty. It is doubtless impolitic to legislate much in advance of public sentiment, and Temperance Reformers might quite consistently with their pre-war principles and policy concede to localities particularly urban and industrial, the right by a majority of say three-fifths of the new electorate to veto the further reduction of licenses after the first 40 per cent, had been closed, and similarly stipulate for facilities for expediting the work of reduction and suppression. Now-a-days all recognise that there must also be a constructive side to Temperance Reform-interesting itself in the provision of Institutes, Libraries, and facilities for social intercourse and recreation-but the resources released by diminished expenditure upon intoxicants would render the provisions of such facilities a work equally feasible and desirable-very well within the com- petence of a self-governing Wales. E. T. John. Oh, o'er the hill there's glory for the soul of running fire, Though the torch of splendid sacrifice flames on a wanton pyre, And the leaves are falling, falling in the death wind's bitter chill, And the harvest-fields of sorrow wait the reaping o'er the hill. But there comes the deathly chanting of the souls who fought the fray And the faintly-whispered greeting from the grave-strewn battle way; Blood is calling, blood is calling from the ground beyond the hill And it hears the answering echo of your voices singing still. Thunder on, then, guns of Carnage There is blood to wet your tongue, Ay, and tears of bitter anguish e'er the curtain fall be rung Thunder on, ye guns of slaughter! drink ye, red lipped, to your fill- There are lads to greet you, singing, in the field beyond the hill. D. H. Tripp.