Weekly Mail

A SERIOUS SITUATION. MEN NOT ALLOWED TO RESUME WORK. Contrary to expectations, the men employed at the Aberaman Colliery, Aberaman (owned by the Powell uuffryn Cdmpany) decided, upon Mr. C. B. Stanton s suggestion to present themselves for work on Monday in the usual way. In spite of the bitterly cold weatner and of the fact that the workmen were aware that they would not be allowed to descend, the men ail turned up. A meeting was held at the pit top, at which it. was decided to send a deputation to the manager, Mr. T. L. Davies, asking him -whether or not they should prooeed to work. Air. Davies' reply way to the effect that the men could not descend to work, but could go down to bring up their tools.

WORKMEN DETERMINED, SATISFACTION AT DECISION OF THE EXECUTIVE. Much satisfaction was heard on all hands j among the Aberaman colliers at the decision of the executive, the drastic action being confirmatory, in a sense, of the firm attitude of the workmen, who are determined to resist to the bitter end. i The locale of the dispute is the Gellideg I Seam, where about 100 persons are employed. For about two years the men worked on the "day wage system, and the coal was cut by means of a machine. Some time ago the company decided that the men should be put on the tonnage basis. This proposali opened the question of the establishment of a price-list, but local efforts were quite vain in that direction. The matter was submitted to the Conciliation Board, but no arrange- ment was effected, the result being the notices, which expired last Saturday. It would seem that the use of the cutting machine plays some part in the failure of the negotiations between the company and the workmen on the probable ground that it is rather difficult to estimate the figure which should be deducted from the recognised cutting-price of the seam in other districts in relation to the services of the machine. It is understood that the price j offered by tho management ranges from 13. Hd. to 103d. per ton; while it is stated; that as much as 2s. 4Jd. per ton is paid for the Gellideg Vein in other places when the work is done in the ordinary way. that is, when the coal is cut with the pick." j One of the workmen's leaders on Monday evening said the term: submitted by the company were wholly out of the question. It is rumoured that the Federation will institute an action for damages against the company in respect of those men who were not working in the Gellideg1 Seam. It may be stated that Mr. E. M Hann is away on the Continent: so that no negotia-i tion.3 can be opened between him and the workmen towards a conclusion of the dis- jrate. The company have intimated to the men that they can present themselves at the office on Wednesday to be paid off, but it 's cfuestionable whether they will do so under all the ciK'umstaaoes. The men have passed a vote of confidence jn their agent tMr. Stanton), whose attitude in the dispute is endorsed in every parti- oular. j

STRONG MANIFESTO BY THE FEDERATION. A sub-committee of the council of the South Wales Miners' Federation met at Cardiff cn Tuesday to draw up the manifesto it is Intended to issue to the whole of the work- men in the South Welles coalfield, mainly by reason of the trouble which has arisen with the Powell Duffryn Company. The manifesto is a very strongly-worded one, and reads as follows} South Wales Miners' Federation, < Cardiff, March 2, 1909. Fellow Workmen,—You will have been informed of the general conference of representatives of the Federation, to be held in Cardiff on Monday next, March 8. Your council have been obliged to adopt thifc course in consequence of the serious situation created in the coalfield by the large number of workmen thrown out of employment by the employers taking advantage of the present depression in trade to relieve them selves of their obliga- tions under the Conciliation Board agree-1 ment by stopping their collieries and trying to enforce reductions in wages, and the stopping of whole collieries under the pretext of disputes having been inquired! into by the Conciliation Board, and failure to agree reported, notwithstanding that the said dispute only affected a small per- eentage of the men employed at the eoliiery. Your council have for a long time endea- voured to preveret serious strife with the employers by levying the Federation members in support of the workmen thrown out of employment through these ami other causes, until they are compelled to believe that their conciliatory attitude has been regarded by the employers as an indication of weakness, and they have beeo confirmed in this conclusion by the tyran- nical attempt of the Powell Duffryn Com- pany in locking out nearly 2.COO workmen to try to enforce an unfair price-list upon the workmen of the Gellideg Seam, Aber- amata, in which at present only about 100 workmen arl) employed. This action on the part of the Powell Duffryn Company although similar in sonc respects to what has taken piace with other firms in the coalfield in a lesser degree—many ol them having made very large profits in the past—is the more astounding when it is considered what enormous profits have been realised by the Powell Duffryn Company in recent years. We append the published profits realised by this company for the last five years, which are as follow:—1994, £248,512; 1905. £164,535; 1906, £218,951; 1907, £441.065; 1908, £406,319; making a total of £1.479.382. Thus it will be seen that the Powell Duffryn Company have realised in profits during the last five years nearly £500,O more than the total capital invested in the concern, and yet they are avaricious enough to lock out nearly 2.0CO of their worl{men in order that by the suffering and hunger of their wi.es and children they may bo enable4 to enforce conditions upon a hundred workmen that they object to. Your council feel that your organisation will be unworthy of the name of a Trade Union that professes to protect its members if the Powell Duffryn Company are allowed to do this without being opposed to the bitter end by the whole of the members of the Federation. At the conference on Monday next ways and means for doing this will be discussed, and the suggestion considered that the Federation members shall pay a levy to raise funds for calling out the whole of the workmen employed by the Powell Duffryn Company. We feel strongly that this or some similarly drastic action must be taken if we are to continue to exist as an organised body of workers. We also contemplate laying the whole position before the Miners' Federation of Great Britain. (Signed) W. ABRAHAM, President. W. BRACE. Vice-president. ALFRED OIONS, General Treasurer. The manifesto is also signed by the fol- lowing; D. Watts Morgan, John Williams, M.P., Ben Davies, C. B. Stanton, Vernon Harts- horn, W. E. Morgan, W. Harris, G. Barker, James Manning, Tom Evans, Tom Harris. John Thomas, Enoch Morrell,- William Vyce, John Davies, John Williams, Tom George, Herbert Jenkins, James Winstone, W. H. Morgan, D. Morgan. J. D. Morgan, Tom Lucas, Evan Thomas, Charles Edwards. THOMAS RICHARDS, General Secretary.

FIERCE ATTACK ON THE COMPANY. In accordance with the resolution of Tues- day, the workmen employed at the Powell Duffryn Company's Aberaman Colliery met at the local theatre on Wednesday, the building being crowded. On reaching the hall Mr. C. B. Stanton was accorded a rous- ing reception. The question of the admission of the press was first considered. Motions were sub- mitted for and against the presence of the reporter?, but Mr. Stanton suggested that they should be allowed to remain. The Lodge Secretary read from Tuesday's "Evening Express" the manifesto which was issued on that day by the executive of the South Wales Miners' Federation. Mr. Stanton declared the attitude of the Powell Duffryn Company must be described ae one for the piling up of huge dividends at the expense of coercing- the workmen into accepting shameful terms. Although matters had apparently been carried on of late as if things were in a. normal state, the fact was that a largo number of the men Engaged at the Aberaman Colliery had been earning very low wages. Doubtless there had been little "ticking." because the men had become accustomed to oppression. Mr. George Hann had told him that he would give lOd. or Is. a ton for cutting the Gellideg Seam with a machine. That was not the way to do business. According to the old arrangement, the price for cutting the Four-foot was lB. Hd. per ton, but at that period there was no Union behind the men, and the com- pany resorted to oppression for all they were worth. He (Mr. Stanton) was, however, of the opinion that any impartial person would characterise the figure as absolutely impossible. He had asked Mr. Hann to make an honest offer, that they might see what could be done, but he (Mr. Hann) suggested that some of the committeemen should go and fill the r coal, while a person should be present to take note of the time during which the men fed themselves. The workmen were quite willing to agree to an investigation, and e (the speaker) would advise the men to perform a fair day's work so that each of the parties could agree upon the price. The men had offered to accept Is. 8d. per ton, but the company would only give Is. lid. per ton, although the figure in their minds Ithe com- pany's) was higher than that. Probably Mr. Hann. in conjunction with other people, thought that the time was ripe to place the whip on the men's shoulders. He (the speaker) had even begged Mr. Hann to con- cede a month wherein to try to come to terms, but ho wati immovable. Were they going to be treated and intimidated in such a manner? Not while he was their agent, at any rate. (Loud applause.) "THE GAME OF THE COMPANY." There were only 50 men engaged in the Gellideg Seam. As the manifesto stated, the game of tho company was to starve the work- men into submission. Although things cer- tainly looked black in the coalfield, they would have to face the position. The work- men's council had been too forbearing and patient in submitting to this or that injus- tice with a view to trying to get things right, with the result that the employers had been driven to regard them as cowards, only fit to be trampled upon. This oppres- sion was rampant throughout the coalfield, but let Mr. George Hann be careful lest his tyranny might be instrumental in bringing about the industrial freedom of the whole coalfield. (Applause.) The council were going to ask the whole coalfield whether the present state of oppression was to be allowed to continue. The employers, he asserted, were fortifying their position behind huge profits, and placing so much per ton aside for fighting the men. With the law in their favour, there could but be one result, unless the men were prepared to resist to the bitter end as one united body. The men, he fur- ther declared, were debarred from doing things which were allowed to be done by the employers. Was not that a huge shame? Were they going to fill the coffers of rich shareholder individuals whose only qualifi- cation was their innate screwing of the workmen on "measuring day"? (Voices: No.") They would not grumble if the employers were honest in their cry that they had to do this because their pits did not pay. But the truth was that they were hoodwink- ing the men behind a profit of as much as 2s, to per ton. He (the speaker) feared that honesty would not show itself until the State owned the coal mines of the country. (Applause.) A Voice: Would you take "D. A." out? THE DULLAS COLLIERY DISPUTE. Incidentally Mr. Stanton referred to the strike at the Dullas Colliery, Llwydcoed, where .the men had been idle for nearly five months. The company had resorted to the old plea that the concern did not pay, but the advertisement in oonne-ctio with the sale of the pit mentioned that it was a profit- able one. Mr. Pentham, the agent for the Dullas Colliery, wanted to clear them off the face of the earth, as if they had no right to live where they had been born and bred. (Voices; "Shame.") The Powell Duffryn Company, continued Mr. Stanton, were trying to starve hundreds of men, women, and little children rather than put tiie Gellideg Seam on a living basis, whilst they themselves rode in motor-cars a.nd lived in luxury. He was quite willing for the public to judge between the men and 1r. George Hann, but he was not going to be debarred because certain people prophe- sied certain things about himself. He did not wish to imply that he was always in the right, but was the other side never wrong? He would like to see established a court of arbitration. The executive were very unanimous in their determination to take the bull by the horns if the employers were going to force the issue. That would be the only way to crush the nameless wrong that prevailed in the coalfield. But the workmen would have to be strongly united and prepared to assist those of fellow-workmen who might happen to be engaged in tbe arde. He was convinced that the workmen s aAxwer would be in the affirmative. (Loud appvvuise.) It had beeu thought that the compvny would nave become amenable to reason before the tools were brought out but, as they knew, much feeling had been shown. Originally, it was contemplated to take action for damages against the com- pany, but such a course had now been changed. Mr. George Hann could do with impunity and regardless of consequences what he (the speaker) dared not do. Mr. Stanton concluded a spirited and fight- in% speech with an appeal to tho workmen to "stand firm, addicg that if they were to loso the battle they would go under quite honour- ably. and not like cowards and curs. (Loud and prolonged applause.) The Chairman remarked that they all owed a debt of the deepest gratitude to Mr Stanton for his vigorous and straightfor- ward resume of the situation, and he felt confident that they would heartily and cor- dially respond to his suggestion that their appreciation should be manifested in the usual volley of cheers. I BRINGING OUT THE TOOLS. Councillor Bowen submitted to the men the result of the deputation who waited upon the management with regard to the tools and the payment of wages. He remarked that Mr. T. L. Davie3 had met them very courteously, and had expressed his readiness to confer upon the workmen all possible facilities to enable them to bring out the tools either on the morrow or Friday, wljile the company would be ready to pay them off on Saturday. Referring to Mr. Stanton's speech, the speaker said that it was one which should give absolute satis- faction to the most pessimistic individual. The meeting unanimously decided that the tools be brought out of the pit on Thursday.

OTHER MATTERS DISPUTED. ALLEGED VICTIMISATION AT OGMORE VALE. A meeting of the executive council cf the South Wales Miners' Federation was held at the Federation offices on Monday. Mr. W. Abraham. M.P., presiding, and among those present were Mr. W. Brace, M.P.. vice-presi- dent Mr. Alfred Onions, treasurer, and Mr. Tom Richards, M.P., secretary. Mr. Alfred Onions reported that the Tre- degar Company had given notice to the workmen employed in the No. 2 Whitworth Colliery, Tredegar, in contravention of the Conciliation Board agreement, and it was resolved that the secretary place this matter on the agenda for the next meeting of the Conciliation Board. Messrs. James Winstone and Tom Harris were appointed to investi- gate and report upon notices which had been given to several workmen at the Aber Col- liery, Ogmore Vale, it being contended that these notices had been given for the purpose of victimising, these workmen. Mr. Walter Lewis, who is acting as agent in place of Mr. Evan Thomas, who is indis- posed, attended the council, and submitted various matters in dispute in the Rhymney Valley. A deputation from the Rhos and Wornoe Collieries attended the council meeting, ask- ing permission that the enginemen and stokers employed at these oollieries should I PREPARING FOR THE WELSH PAGEANT. 4» (1) The property master and his assistant at work on a suit of armour. (2) A collection of their handiwork. ——— i. ■ iiii. I Ladies at work in the Pageant House. now be permitted to tender a month's notice to terminate contracts in support of the other workmen who had been out on strike for about four months. It was stated that the officials of the colliery were not only cutting coal for the purpose of supplying the boilers, Ac., at the colliery, but were also supplying their own house, coal for domestic purposes. It was resolved that the permission anked for be given, and that notices should bo tendered that day. This resolution was wired from the council oham- ber, it being necessary to give notice on the. first day of the month. The agenda for the annual conference of the Federation at Cardiff, ol Maroh 22, was approved.

UNPROFITABLE WOKKING. FIVE HUNDRED ABERCARN MEN UNDER NOTICE. An Aberca.rn telegram states that notices have been served on nearly 500 mineiJ at Celynen Collieries to cease work in 28 days. ilio unreuiunerative results in a portion of the pit are stated to be the cause.

"A LIT fLE BLUFF." BLAENAVON MINERS AND OWNERS' DEMAND. A meeting of the workmen employed in the Blaenavon Collieries was held at the Primi- tive Methodist Church, Blaenavon, on Mon- day for the purpose of considering the demand of the owners for a new agreement in June, and also the question of increasing the weekly contribution to the Federation so as to provide an out-of-work fund. The meeting was addressed by Mr. W. Harris, Rhondda district, and Alderman John Davies, Dowlais. The former explained the central council's scheme for an out-of-work fund. Referring to the owners' demand for a new agreement after the 1st of June, lie said that was, pos- sibly, a little bluff on their part. Still, it behoved all the workers to be as united as possible in order to resist to the utmost those demands. Alderman J. Davies said the employers had made up their minds that they were going to get the agreement changed, and if they were going to be defeated it would only be by unanimous action on the part of the work- ing men in opposing them. On June 1 every man would receive notice to terminate con- tracts, and they would either have to yield to a new agreement or fight such a battle as they had never fought before. MOUNTAIN ASH NOTICES. Notices to terminate contracts at the end of the preseait month were handed to about 70 day and night-wage men on Monday fl/t the Deep Duffryn Colliery, Mountain A$i, belonging to Messrs. Nixon's Navigation Com- pany (Limited). The notices given at the beginning of Feb- ruary to the day-wage men at Messrs. iNixon's Cwm Cynon Colliery took effect on [Saturday. Several of the men have found employment in the neigh bowing collieries. The notices given to the men employed at the Miskin Colliery, Mountain Ash, belonging to Alderman Prosser, Treharris, have been suspended until March 6 in order that a settlement may be arrived at if possible. Alderman Prosser asks for a reduction of 5 per eent. and certain alterations in the price- list. The matter has been left in the hands of Alderman Morrell, the men's agen.t. OWNERS' ATTITUDE TO EIGHT HOURS ACT CRITICISED. Presiding at a meeting of the Ebbw Valo and district miners on Monday, Mr. Evan Davies referred to the attitude of the employers with regard to the Eight Hours Act. The threat to terminate the present agreement at the end of June. be said, appeared to be an attempt to thwart the object of the Government's legislation, and thereby tamper with the. men's wages. Before a reduction of wages came about through this method the fight at the end of June would be one of the most fierce that had taken place in labour history. Unless the employers took a reasonable course towards the men in their employ, they, too, would make a determined stand to keep their wages as they were at present. ABERGWYNFI COLLIERS TO RESIST REDUCTION. The workmen at the Glymcorrwg Colliery, Abergwynfi, after hearing addresses by Messrs. Wm. Jenkins and W. E. Morgan (miners' agents) on the question of the owners' demand for a reduction in wages, resolved | that no concession be granted whatever. It was agreed to allow the men who are working in the hard headings to continue to work until they reached the coal. | There is at present a dark cloud overhang- ing Abergwynfi, and the prospects are very dismal, as all the workmen are idle. The meeting approved the out-of-work scheme. t

CONDEMNED DWELLINGS AT I. MERTHYR. SHOCKING NEGLECT COMPLAINT FROM DOWLAIS. Mr. F. S. Simons presided at a meeting of the health committee of the Merthyr Corpo- ration on Wednesday. The committee decided not to recognise Women as deputies of ] common lodging-house—Dr. Duncan (the medical officer) reported five houses at Dow- lais, one at Merthyr, and one at Treharris as unfit for human habitation, and recom- mended that application be made for orders to close seven houses at, Dowlais unless they were rendered habitable There had been an extension of the epidemic of scarlet fever to Ddwlais and Penydarren.. A glaring case of neglect at Dowlais was reported by Miss Thompison, the inspector of midwives. In one home which she had visited she said there was a woman who was the mother of 23 children, only five of whom were now alive. Two of these children were so sadly neglected that their lives were en. dangered. She had cautioned the mother, and had arranged to closely follow up the case.

DEATH OF ME LEWIS WILLIAMS. t A LONG AND USEFUL LIFE ENDED. We regret to announce the death of Mr. Lewis Williams. J.P., which occurred on Wednesday iporning.at his residence in The Parade, Cardiff. Mr. Williams was 66 years of age. He was born at Swansea, and when a mere lad his parents removed to Cardiff, his father founding the business of the present firm of iron merchants, Messrs. John Williams and Son, about half a century ego. From small beginnings the business grew to la.rge proportions, the firm, of which he was chairman and managing director, now employing about 300 men. He married Miss Elizabeth Morgan, of East Barry, and leaves I a widow, five sons, and six daughters. Of the latter, four are married, namely, Mrs. Arnott, Pontypridd; lirs. Percy Thomas. Newport-road. Cardiff: Mrr, Ernest Holman. Streatham, London; and Mrs. Stanley Brad- ford, Martock, Somerset. He was a justice of the peace for the city and for the county of Glamorgan, and regularly 6at on the bench. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. There have been 'few movements of a politioal, educational, or even of a religious character connected with what might be more properly called the modem development of Cardiff with which the name of Lewis Williams was not in some way associated. He was a man of small stature, of nervous tem- perament, but xn-ithba cast of countenance that indicated great flrmuese of character. THE LATE MR. LEWIS WILLIAMS. p,- m E53M 1-;1I Parliamentary elections he was a prominent and effective speaker on the Liberal platform, his facile oratory being at all times acceptable to his audiences. He was one of the founders of the Cardiff' Liberal Association, and was closely con- nected with that organisation till the last. But it is -in connection with educational progress in Cardiff that Mr. Williams will be bc-st remembered. lie became a mtember of the'first Cardiff School Board, and on Mr. Batchelor's retirement bec.ame chairman of that body. The Higher Grade School was then brought forward, arid the education given here gradually closcd up all private venture schools of what might be called a middle-class character. Parents in good posi- tions sent their children to this school, and. though complaints first arose at the competi- tion of the Cardiff School Board, the results have been, on the whole, very satisfactory, Ther. catae the intermediate schools, and Ml Williams saw his great aim accomplished, a medium through which the children of the poorest classes could step from the gutter to the college. Mr. Williams workfed with the strength of a giant to secure the location of the college at Cardiff. Money was required, and he made a personal appeal for aid among the wealthy colliery proprietors of the district. The "battle of sites," as it was called, extended, over twelve months, and in that time Swan- sea had only secured £ 12,000 and a site, while CMrdiff had raised C23,01.0 and a site. The Dean of Llandaff and 7.1r. Lewis Williams placed tho claims of Cardiff before the arbi- trators. anft. secured the location of the college at Cardiff. Ho was also prominent in the promotion or the Barry Dock and Railway Company, and, one of the first private .round-table confer- ences in connection with that successful undertaking was held in his own library at Alston House. It was an open, secret that he had been invited to allow himself to be put forward as Parliamentary candidate for more than one constituency, but he always urged that hisl business calls precluded him from accepting such a poeition.

NEW RAILWAY STATION AT PONTYPOOL. The new Poritypool Road railway station, to be called the Pontypool Road Junction. was opened on Monday without any ceremony beyond the firing of a few detonators when the first train from the station left at 7.20 a.m. for the Vale of Neath. The station is chiefly of brick and iron structure, with an islamd platform about a quarter of a mile long. The station is fitted with an elaborate suite of offices, waiting, and refreshment- rooms, and will provide what has been a j long-felt want on this portion of the main line to the North, and will enable the officials of the company to cope with the passenger amd other traffic far more expedit-iously than previously, as well as affording grcater com- fort and convenience to the travelling public. The station has takesa about two yeans to con- struct..

I GRAVE CHARGES MADE AT NEATH. A DOCTOR AND EX-MAYOR ACCUSED. Exceptional interest centred in cases involving allegations of fraud aud false pretences which were set down for bearing at Neath Police-court on Friday. The defen- dant. were:- Dr. J. W. Thomas, physician and sur. geon, The Wern, Neath. LfwL John Jones, insurance agent, of Gnoll Park. The charges set forth in the summonses were that Dr. Thomas in March. 1909, at Neath had claimed 10s. 6..1. by false pretences from the Colonial Mutual Life Insurance Company, Australia; that in March, 1908, at Neath, Lewis John Jones had unlawfully conspircd to obtain from the company a life policy on the life of David Charles Davies, Resolven, and another on the life of liaigaret. Jane Evans, of Pontardawe, in January, 1909, and that Dr Thomas in the month of January, 1939. attempted to obtain by false pretences the sum of 10s 6d. Mr. Ivor Bowen (instructed by Mr. H. S. Stockwood) appeared for the society, and Mr. Edward Powell for the defence. At the commencement Mr. Edward Powel' said he wished to apply for an adjournment He said their worships would notice the! charges were particularly serious. Dr. Thomas was an ex-mayor of the town, and he was charged with false pretences and con spiracy. Defendant had only been served with the summons o,n Tuesday last. Having regard to the gravity of the charges and the position of the doctor, he had briefed Mr. B Francis- Williams, K.C., the leading counsel on the W-eish Circuit, and sufficient time had not been given for the preparation of the i defence. Mr. Ivor Bowen strenuously opposed the application. It was an extraordinary cage, hp said, and longer notice had been given to the defendant than had been suggested. It was a prosecution undertaken upon due con- sideration and after due inquiries had teen made. It was a very important prosecution, affecting insurance business throughout the whole district. Mr. Bowen said it was very difficult t» get his evidence, and he asked to be allowed to call his witnesses that day, so as to get the sworn statement on the depositions. The Chairman said under the circum- stances it would be a great deal better for the adjournment to take place. Mr. Bowen: It is not a personal Hatter, and I am afraid I am in a difficult alld res- ponsible position, and I feel my r^ponsi- bility. The Chairman: We feel our responsibility" as well. bility. The Chairman; We feel our responsibility" as well. The Clerk: If we adjourn the case until Saturday week you will see that Mr. B. Fraaicis-Williams is here? Mr. Powell: Yes, sir. The caee was accordingly adjouried until Saturday.

PASSIVE RESISTANCE NOT I DEAD. ANOTHER BATCH OF CiSES AT NEWPORT. Are there any passive resistors here this morning?" asked the Magistratos'-clerk at Newport on Wednesday, as a long list of rates defaulters was being called. Yes." someone answered fiom the well of the court. "We should like to have our ca?e? all heard together." "Good gracious! I thought passive resist- ance wa6 dead." exclaimed One of the jus- ance was dead." exclaimed One of the jus- tices in surprise. There were found to be h^lf-a-dozen sur- vivors of the craze, viz., the lev. G. H. Cook, the Rev. T. B. Ho wells. 5nd Messrs. D. Edward; A. Bryant, S. Swinton, and Wil- liam Jones. The Rev. G. H. Cook. who spoke for five of them, said they refused to pay the rate on the ground that it was 14od for sec.taria,n cut poses, and as long as the law remained as it was they felt that t\y must object. The presiding magistral (Mr. T. Cordey): It is funny that you are tilling to take the rates from other people to pay yours, but you don't allow them to have a reasonable share. The Rev. H. Abraham (who was seated at the table): I am afrailj discussion is not allowed, or else I should iike to answer that. Mr. S. Swanton said 1 his case a portion 0 of the rate had been s:anding over for two years, and the superintendent collector had taken no steps to collect it. The Clerk: Then you are a lucky man. Mr. Swanton: Not quite so lucky as you think, beoause he has taken steps to have my name taken off the btrgess roll. The Clerk: Oh, that is very serious. Mr. Swanton: Ithinlt the superintendent collector should be instructed by your worships that he shculd take the necessary steps to recover the amount and not resort to the mean way of doing business of having one off the list. The Clerk: We btic no authority over him. You must go to tiifi cverseers. The Rev. H. Abraham said the matter had been taken up with the overseers and col- lector, who had n playing a sort of game of battledore and shuttlecock with the ques- tion, but he did zigt think any such treat- ment wa3 likely occar again. The half-dozen registers were ordered to pay.

-=- WORKHOUSI APPOINTMENTS AT PEMBROKE. A special meeting of the Pembroke Board of Guardians vas held on Tuesday, when 77 applications for the posts of master and matron at tl^ workhouse were considered. These hailed from all parts of the country. Eventually tlje following three couples were selected for interviewMr. and Mrs. Bratt, Newcastle-unier-Lyme; Mr. and Mrs. Evans, Newcastle-Enlyn; and Mr. and Mrs. Roberts, Stockport.

A PROMfSE BY MR. M'KENNA. + THE GRANTS TO SECONDARY SCHOOLS. Mr. Runeiman on Tuesday received a depu- tation from the Parliamentary committee of the Trades Union Congress, the members of which complained that the cost of secondary education was becoming almost prohibitive to the children of working men. Mr. D. J. Slhackleton. M.P., who introduced the deputation, said he wanted to call atten- tion to what they considered to be a definite promise on the part of the Board of Educa- tion. On May 15, 1907, the matter was raised on a vote, and a debate took place. Mr. M'Kenna, who wa.5 then President of the Board, made a promise. It was on the occa- sion when the additional grants were going to be made, and Mr. M'Kenna distinctly stated that before secondary schools could receive these additional grants they would have to give 25 per cent, of free places, adding that these would have to be abso- lutely apart and must not be confused with scholarships. Mr. Runeiman, in reply, said the difficulties in the way centred mainly aroutud local finance. There were limits beyond which the department could not for the moment drive local authorities, but the State had not been idle in giving assistance to these authorities, especially in regard to secondary education. for the grant of £480.000 in 1906-7 was increased to £691,000 in 1907-8 and to £802,000 in 1908-9, and, so far as he could see at the present moment, the amount would be even higher next year. He had every desire to facilitate matters, and his sympathy was entirely with the deputation in respect of the claim that where scholarships were granted by outside authorities it was not reasonable to include them in the 25 per cent, of free places. The situation, however. was rather better than had been stated, for of the schools required to provide free places in 1907-8 368 had provided more than 25 per cent. Mr. Runciman agreed that the best staffs and the smaller classes necessary for efficient secondary education should be open to the •working-man's child, and promised to do all he could to prevent the schools becom- ing class schools or the fees becoming so higth as to be prohibitive except to the well- to-do He hoped before the regulations were issued that he would clear away some of the obstacles, and that his action would meet with the approval of the deputation.

BREWSTER SESSIONS. SEX LICENCES REFERRED BY PONTYPRIDD BENCH. The adjourned brewster sessions were held at Pontypridd on Wednesday before a full bench of magistrates, presided over by Mr. T Poscoe Jenkins. Objections were lodged against the renewal of nine licences, and six cf these were sustained and the houses concerned referred to compensation. Mr. St. John Francis-Williams (instructed by Mr. Ernest Roberts) submitted plans for extensions and alterations to the Bridge Inn, Trsforest. Mr. Ivor Bowen (instructed by Mr. T. Millward) opposed, and the appli- cation was ref ised.—Aji application which was made for the alteration of the Royal Oak. Treherbert, by Mr/ Gerald Bruce, was granted. In the case of the Tremains Hotel, Cwm- park, to the renewal of the licence of whioh an objection was lodged, an application was made by Mr. J. Sankey (instructed by Messrs. Morgan, Bruoe, and Nicholas) for the removal of the licence, so that the house might be re-built. at another spot about 100 yards away from the existing building. It was proposed to spend altogether £4,500. if Wlis application were granted the monopoly value would not have to be paid, but in view of the fact that the con- sumption of intoxicants would not 1-e increased, he maintained that this should not be called for.—Mr. W. Jenkins, J-P. having given evidence as to the desirability of the reipoval of the house, Mr. Ivor Rowen (instructed by Messrs. Treharne and Tre- hame) opposed on behalf of those interested I in other licensed houses in the vie-inity, and argued that it was unfair to the other nouses and also to the county that the new house should be immune from the payment of monopoly value.—After a retirement, how- evor, the Bench granted the application, sub- ject to minor alterations in the plans sub- mitted. Deputy-chief-constable Cole applied that the Prince of Orange Hotel, Dinas, be referred to compensation, on the ground that it was badly conducted in 1907 and 1908, and that it was not required. Mr. G. Bruce (of Messrs. Morgan, Bruce, and Nicholas) f appeared on behalf of the owner, and Mr. J. Bryant on behalf of the tenant, for the renewal of the licence. It wae decided to refer the house to ■compenaoxicra.—On the application of Deputy- cliief-oonstable Cole, who n-ave evidence to the alleged congested state of the district, the Bench decided to refer the Railway Inn, Llantwit Fardre, to compensation.—With regard to the Greyhound Inn, Tonteg, Mr. St. John Francis-Williams applied for the renewal of the licence on the ground of the prospective development of the district, but the Bench referred it to compensation. —In the case of the Bridgend Inn, Trehafod, Deputy-chief-constable Cole stated that no fewer than 55 persons had been proceeded against for being illegally on the premises I on Sunday, and also maiJltained that the dis- trict came under the category of a congested area. Mr. Ivor Bowen also appeared to oppose the renewal. Mr- 81. John Francis- Williams, who applied for the renewal, characterised it as preposterous to suggest that a house which was admittedly doing five barrels a week was not wanted. The house was referred to compensation.—Mr. 51: John Francis-Williams (instructed by Messrs. W- R. Davies and Co.) applied for the renewal of the licence of the Great Western Hotel, Hopkinstown, explaining that any structural alterations which might be suggested would be made. The Deputy-ohief-constable objected on the ground of its being in a congested area, and the Bench referred it to compen- sation.—The licence of the Cable and Anchor Inn, Trallwn, on the ground that it was not I required to meet the wants of the neigh- bourhood, was also referred to compensa- tion. Mr. G. Bruoe applied for the renewal of the licence.—In the case of the King's Head Inn, Ynysyngliarad-road, in which the complaint was of the Sunday trading done. the Benoh reduced the house to a, six-day licence one. Mr. St. John Francis-Williams applied for the renewal of the licence of the Bailey's Anns, Glyntaff, which tho Bench granted subject to two of the doors being closed.—A double licence was refused for the Forest Hotel. Treforest, which already had a licence to 9611 beer. Mr. Raymund Allen (instructed by Mr. Stanley Jones) applied for a new licence for the Ely Hotel, Tonyrefail, which was required consequent upon the development of the district. The Bench, however, inti- mated that it was not the custom of the court to grant provisional licences, and they were not now prepared to depart from that custom, and the applied1011 was thereupon withdrawn. TWO MONMOUTH HOUSES SACRIFICED. At the adjourned licensing sessions for the borough of Monmouth on Wednesday the Globe Inn Chippenham Gate-street, was sent up for compensation, together with the Black Lion Inn, St. Mary-street. On behalf of the Plough Inn a memorial signed by 169 of the inhabitants of the district in favour of the renewal of the licence was put in, and the licenoe was renewed. ABERGAVENNY LICENCES REDUCED. The brewster sessions for the borough and county districts of Abergavenny were held on Wednesday. There were objections on the part of the police to the renewal of four licences, three in the county and one in the borough. Mr. J. G. Bishop appeared on behalf of the licensee of the Waterloo Inn, Llanfoist, and eta ted he did not oppose the application for the house to be referred to the compen- senation authority. ¡ Mr. H. S. Lyne, Newport, appeared in oppo- sition to the licence of the New Inn, Swthog, and Mr. J. R. Jacob appeared for the ownei, trustees, a.nd licensee. Mr. Lyne stated that the grounds of objection were that the house was not required, was structurally deficient, and difficult for police supervision. Police- constable Mussell proved visiting the house on 21 occasions. Nine times he found it unoccupied, on eight occasions there was only one customer, twice the hoflfee wds locked uip, once the landlord's little sou. aged twelve, was in charge, and on another occasion was a party of twelve or four- teen persons, inside. The house was referred to the compensation authority. Mr. Lyne also opposed the licence of the Mardy Arms, Mardy, and Mr. J. R. Jaoob represented the licensee a.nd the life tenant. Polioe-constable Thomas admitted that the house did about the best trade of the four in the village, but the principal objection to it was the difficulty of police supervision. The Bench gave notice that they would require the Mardy Arms and the Crown and Soeptre to be brought before their liotioe at the next general annual licensing sessions.

FISHERMAN AND WIFE'S DEATH. Edward Johnson, a fisherman, aged 40, was remanded at Hull on Monday charged with the manslaughter of his wife. The prisoner, who was given a good character by the police, is alleged to have struck the deceased owing to her, admission of immorality during his absence.

VALUE OFHOUSE OF LORDS. LORD DUNRAVEN SPEAKS AT BRIUGEND. Lord Dunraven and Mr. W. Brace, M.P., were the guests of the evening at the annual banquet of the Bridgend Parliamentary Debating Society at the Dunraven Hotel c-n Wednesday night, iir. Michael Davies, tho 't SP,"a,k" presided over a. large gather- lng, Lord Dunraven, responding to the toast of the Houses of Parliament, submitted by Mr. H. Longstaff, said it was not a very ea.-y task to respond for the branch of t,he Legis- lature to which he had the honour to belong. The House of Lords was a peculiar body. It had an honourable and a venerable antiquity. It was the oldest legislative Assembly 111 the world. It was far older than the House of Commous, which, however, was the real parent of all the Parliamentary institutions existing all over the world. His own impression was that the House of Lords was not really absolutely dead. He listened the other night to a most interesting debatu on the Indian Councils Bill. The Secretary of State introduced the Bill, and of tho nine other lords who spoke there was only one who had not been a Viceroy or Secretary of State for India, or a, Governor-General, or a Governor of a Province in India. He frankly admitted that the debate was a very dull one, but it was an extraordinarily wise one on account, of the opinions of, those men, differing as they did on many points, for the speeches they made were all replete with wisdom and knowledge acquired by men holding the most responsible positions on the spot. That, of course, was the real strength of the House of Lords that it con- tained such a vast number of members who had either served a long apprenticeship in the House of Commons or held high muni- cipal offices or positions of great responsi- bility all over the Empire. He was inclined. to think the House of Lords would last, because it received such a oonstant infusion of fresh blood whenever the Radical party was in power. (Loud laughter.) He believed they had had 29 new members during th40 past three years. Well, he supposed that as long as the world would last there would he a Radical party, and he thought it was prob- able that the Radical party would be. at any rate, occasionally in power. As long as that would occur, it was obvious, as the Radical party was such a splendid recruiting agent for the House of Lords, that that body would be continually reinforced by peers coming up from the other side of Parlia- ment. Certainly, if he were in an insurance i-ffioe he would insure the House of Lords pretty cheaply. (Laughter.) It did not affeel 4ira much personally, because in a couple oi years he would be getting his old-age pension (Laughter.) As a matter of fact, he bad triec to do something towards reforming the House of Lords, and brought in a Bill about 22 years ago. He could say it was a perfect splendid Bill—(laughter)—but it did not End favour with the Radical party. He wae sitting last -ession on a Committee 01 the House of Lords that .vas trying to devise a scheme for reforming that body, but that also fell perfectly flat. The Radical party apparently would ha,3 notping to say to it. Ilfr William Brace, M.P., also responded. and said t,hat while he differed larrely with many people on the question of the House of Lords, and would always at the proper time and plaoe both speak and vote accord- ing, to his judgment, he would like to say that the reservation he had always held was that there wera a number of members of the House of Lords who by right of capacity and sincerity of purpose would grace any assembly. Any alteration that might take place in the position of the House of Lords ought not to preclude from the service of the nation such noblemen as Lord Dunraven. (Loud applause.) lie felt be. would be lacking in his duty as a man of the people if he did not take thet opportunity of expressing his obligation to Lord Dun- raven for his ready sympathy with the masses of the people. He had never read anything in his liJe that moved him more than his lordship's pathetic appeal on behalf of Ireland, and the Government would be well advised in incorporating into an Act of Parliament some of the principles that Lord Dunraven suggested for the future government of Ireland. After referring to the splendid services of Lord Dunraven in connection with sweated industries. Mr. Brace said they were upon the eve of realising what had been a dream of his for more than twenty years— a shorter day for those working in the mines. One of the first politicians who ren- dered service to the miners to secure this reform was the Earl of Dunraven, and in the records of the society which he (Mr. Brace) represented there was a resolution of thanks t) his lordship in regard to this great reform. (Applause.)

FOOTBALL FRICTION. MERTHYR STIPENDIARY'S GOOD OFFICES. The case which has stood adjourned from time to time, in which Mr. John Benjamin Evans, treasurer of the Merthyr Northern Union Football Club, was summoned by Mr. W. T. Jones, secretary of the Merthyr Ama- teur Rugby Clufl, for maliciously damaging the press box in Peaiydarren Park by forcing it open on the 16th of January, when a match was being played between the Kangaroos and the Welsh League, has at lastt been settled. On Tuesday Sir Marchant 'Williams, the Stipendiary, had before him in his private room Mr. F. P. Charles and Mr. F. S. Symons, the solicitors conoorned in the case, a,nd suggested terms of settlement. Later, in open court, Mr. Charles mentioned that the parties bad agreed to these terms. and thanked his worship for his intervention. The Stipendiary said he was glad that terms had been arrived at. and expressed a hope that the friction would disappear.

CRIMEAN VETEHAN DIES IN KNIUHTON WORKHOUSE. Mr. Fred Green, coroner, neld an inquest at Knighton Workbouse on Tuesday on the body of an inmate named Henry Powell, a Crimean veteran, who died on Sunday. From the evidence it appears that the deceased was crossing the yard after attend- ing a concert on the night of January 22, when he fell into a gutter and broke his thigh. This ultimately caused his death. 'Iho deceased, who was 79 years of age, came of an old Shropshire family, residing at Selley Hall, Knighton. He served in the Rusisian War as a quartermaster in the Com- missiaria.t Department at Scutari, and after- wards in South Africa.

CONSTABLE IN THE PANTRY MERTHYR LANDLORD FINED FOR "HARBOURING" HIM. Upon visiting the Quakers' Yard Inn, Merthyr, at 10.55 on the night of the 18th ult Police-sergeant Dove found Police-con- stable Pound hiding in the pantry under the stairs. The constable, it was stated, had gone into the house to inform the landlord, William Williams, that the big doors of the premises were open, and in token of grati- tude the landlord had supplied him with a (Irin-lr. On Tuesday Mr. Williams, who waa defended by Mr. F. P. Charles, was sum- moned at Merthyr Police-court for harbour- ing the officer, and fined 20s. and costs.

A MORRISTON MELEE. THREE MEN CHARGED WITH WOUNDING. Three men were brought up at Swansea on Monday charged with unlawfully wounding a man named Joseqb Phillips, at Morriston, on Saturday night They were Edwin Griffiths (22), a labourer, and Lewis Lewis (19), collier (who were represented by Mr. Pattison), and Thomas Rees (20). a tin worker. A medical certificate was presented showing that prose- cutor was lying at Swansea Hospital suffering from a grievous injury to one of his eyes. and prisoners were remanded on bail for a. week. It is stated that in a melee prose- cutor's eye was practically kicked out.

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