CHAPTER IX.

Sectarian Preference-Evidence of Mr. Bryn Roberts, M.P.—a ridiculous Letter-an unauthorised Circular which was not circulatedAbsence of Evidence-95 p.c. of tenantry Nonconformists. Contracts out of Agricultural Holdings Act 1883—not proven―void if made-Contracts out of Custom of Country defended-Copies of Agreements easily to be obtained-Grievances as to "Services" quite unreal-Grievances as to Game, minor-Penal Clauses in Agreements.

Two allegations, dealing with alleged sectarian preferences and alleged contracts out of the Agricultural Holding Act of 1883 and the evidence brought forward in support of them, may be dealt with in this chapter. The first was made in "Adfyfr's " pamphlet and in Mr. Ellis's speech in the House of Commons; and expression was given to it, in that vague and indefinite form dear to the Cymric heart, by Mr. Bryn Roberts, M.P., before the Commission at Carnarvon; and Mr. Bryn Roberts's words may be taken as a typical example of what was said by many witnesses, and denied by many

others.

"Great complaint has also been felt-and that is in recent times with respect to a preference which has been universally believed by the Nonconformists in that neighbourhood to have been given to Churchmen and Conservatives in the case of applications for vacant houses and tenements. I do not think there ever has been any complaint of any Nonconformists being evicted on account of their Nonconformity, nor has there been usually, as far as I am aware (and I do not

THE LAND QUESTION IN NORTH WALES.

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think there has been any at all), any complaint of, say, a Nonconformist's son, living at home with his father, assisting him, not being allowed to succeed his Nonconformist father. But complaints have arisen in cases where they say the houses or the tenements naturally become vacant by the death of tenants who had no wives or sons living at home, and therefore the estate authorities had to seek for tenants from among strangers. Chiefly, since the year 1880, principally after the election of that year, the feeling has been universal in that district that it was hopeless for a Nonconformist to apply for a tenement or a house on the Vaynol estate if there was a Churchman competing."

This amounts to a statement that there had been a feeling that preference had been given to Churchmen, as opposed to Nonconformists, when both were applicants for the same tenancy. Now the statement that a rumour or a feeling has existed is, by its very nature, incapable of disproof. The most that can be done is to show that there has been no

ground for such a feeling or rumour. This Mr. Bryn Roberts himself did by admitting (13,161) that no such feeling or complaint exists now; and Captain Stewart, the agent of the Vaynol estate, supplemented him by denying emphatically (13,395) that differences in language, creed, or politics affected in any way the relation of landowner and tenant. Moreover, the evidence of Mr. Bryn Roberts throws additional light upon the subject. He explained that the monthly meeting of the Governing Body of the Calvinistic Methodists was a perambulatory body. "When it visits a particular chapel it is the universal custom always to inquire as to the success or otherwise of the cause in that particular chapel." In this particular district the monthly meeting seems to have discovered that Nonconformity was losing ground. Ignoring absolutely the natural explanation of the very slight change in matters of belief which may induce

migration from Calvinistic Methodism to the Church, Mr. Bryn Roberts promptly imputed mean motives to the converts. "Weak people—people of slight principle, were disposed to leave the chapel in the hope that when any chance of advancement came they would have a better opportunity of securing that advancement." But conscientious change of view is the natural explanation, and when account is taken of the unpopularity which a man must risk amongst his former associates upon a change of creed, and of the fact that Mr. Bryn Roberts, who is in the very best position to obtain information, could not or would not give a specific instance in which change of creed had operated to a man's advantage, it is reasonably clear that conscience was, and is, the true spring of action in these changes of creed.

The allegation is, however, one which, by reason of its potent efficacy in stirring up ill-feeling, is a favourite weapon in the hands of the party of agitation, and they left no stone unturned to impress it upon the minds of the Commissioners. Thus, Mr. Bryn Roberts produced this letter, printed in the Conservative North Wales Chronicle of May 7th, 1887 (which, by the way, was disclaimed editorially at the time), and Mr. Lloyd George, M.P., referred to the same letter in a question addressed to Lord Penrhyn at Llangefni. Here is the letter:

"It is rumoured that the desirable farm called Hafod (200 acres) in this parish is now vacant. It is to be hoped that Sir Richard Bulkeley will this time give the preference to a Conservative and a thorough Churchman should one apply for the farm, otherwise the Church in the place will suffer considerably. Between emigration on the part of Churchmen, and the filling up of farms in the neighbourhood of late by extreme Radicals and chapel-going people, the Church has suffered considerably. For the past forty years dissent has made its mark; and if due caution is not taken soon, it

will be useless to ring the church bell. The future success of churches to a certain degree, particularly in such a county as Anglesey, depends upon the action of Conservative landlords. They are a power in the country."

But Mr. Bryn Roberts went on to say, in answer to Lord Kenyon:

"I do not think it has ever been a complaint on Sir Richard's estate at all; I think in the past, at any rate, not a single tenant on that estate felt he was under a disadvantage by being a Nonconformist. I only mention it as showing that among a large section of Churchmen that feeling has been very prevalent within the last twenty-five years—I do not think it existed before then, or thirty years at any rate."

Now, as a matter of fact, the letter is, on the face of it, the expression of one man's opinion, and Mr. Bryn Roberts expressly acquitted the landowner to whom it was virtually addressed of having been influenced by it in the slightest degree. But, so far as the latter expresses any opinion worthy of attention, it refers clearly to a belief that farms had been filled up of late with Radicals and Nonconformists and that Churchmanship was the reverse of an advantage to an applicant for a farm. If this was the case (and the rough statistics accessible as to the proportion between Nonconformist and Church tenants go some distance to justify the theory), it would not be by any means contrary to the rules of human experience. There is much human nature in the old story of the schoolmaster who, being accused of favouritism towards his son, administered an exemplary thrashing to him on the spot; and the landowner who chooses a Nonconformist for a tenant may at least be secure from the abuse of the vernacular press for a week or two.

A second wild expedient to which the grievance-mongers were driven was the production of the following circular:

"To the Clergy, Landowners, and Tenants. When the Church and all landed property are so severely and relentlessly attacked, and the spirit of Socialism is so rapidly spreading in the Principality, it has become highly necessary for the clergy and the wealthier among the laity, to know who are their true friends and loyal supporters, and to act accordingly.

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Landowners, in particular, should be on their guard as to the persons to whom they let their land, and should ascertain whether candidates for their farms are the friends of order and justice, or of anarchy and confiscation.

"At the urgent request of several persons of influence, I have opened a Conservative Registry as a medium of communication between landowners wanting tenants, and tenants wanting farms; and with a view of carrying out the suggested scheme, I have to request :

"(1) That incumbents inform me of any farm vacant, or about to become vacant, in their parishes.

"(2) That all Churchmen and Conservatives be made acquainted with the existence of such an office.

"(3) That Conservative landowners and their agents communicate with me whenever a tenant may be required.

"I remain, yours faithfully."

Note that the circular was unsigned and came under notice first when Mr. W. B. C. Jones was under cross-examination at Dolgelley. It had been mentioned in a pamphlet issued by the North Wales Property Defence Association, in terms which left no doubt that its publication had no connection with that body, who, as a fact, at that time believed it to be a forgery and "a regular humbug" (Mr. W. B. C. Jones, 8817), and had discovered it in the columns of the vernacular press. Note also the insinuation contained in a question put by Mr. Brynmor Jones, with a zeal distinctly outrunning discretion.