Papurau Newydd Cymru
Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru
17 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
South Wales Coal Crisis. ..
South Wales Coal Crisis. SLIDING SCALE AGREEMENT. GENERAL CONFERENCE AT CARDIFF. The Split Ameng the Leaefors. On Monday a general conference of the South Wales and Monmouthshire Collieries workmen was held in St. John's Hall, Cardiff, to receive the report of negotiations with the employers re withdrawal of notices, and to consider the request of the hauliers for separate representation on the Sliding Scale Joint Com- mittee. Mr W. Abraham, M.P. (Mabon), pre- sided. There was a very large attendance—87 delegates, representing 56,185 men. THE LONDON AGREEMENT. The CHAIRMAN explained that at the last con- ference the miners' representatives on the Sliding Scale were empowered to seek another interview with the employers, and to make the best arrange- ment they could with respect to the Sliding Scale agreement. That resolution had been carried by 62 votes against 35 for a proposal to form a con- ciliation board for governing workmen's wages. Acting on that instruction, and believing it was necessary to hold such a meeting at the first opportunity, the workmen's representatives un- hesitatingly agreed to meet the employers' representatives at the Westminster PalacejHotei, London, on March 27eh. On the following day "be following agreement was come to :— It is hereby mutually agreed between the under. llgned employers' and workmen's representatives that the notice given by the workmen's representatives on the 1st October, 1894, to terminate the Sliding Scale Agreement of the 1st January, 1892, on the 31st March, 1895, is hereby withdrawn, and also that the notices jiven by the employers on the 1st March, 1895, to ter- minate contracts on the 31st March, 1895, are also withdrawn. The members of the Joint Committee (with one exception) are unanimously agreed that they will recommend to the employers embraced in the Mon. mouthshire Coalowners' Association, and to the workmen employed at the Associated Collieries respec- tively, that the Sliding Scale Agreement dated the 1st sf January, 1892. shall continue in force until the SI)th H September, 1896 (being terminable by a six months' notice to be given by either side not earlier than the 1st of April, 1896), and thenceforth until either party S'ves six months' notice in accordance with Clause 5 of e Memorandum of, Agreement dated the 17th 'February, 1893. W. THOMAS LEWIS, ARCHIBALD HOOD, EDWARD JONES, w ILLIAM THOMAS, ORAEME OGILVIE, CHARLES H. EDEN, JAMES WILLIAMS, FRED L. DAVIS, EDWARD DAVIES. T. FORSTKK BROWN, EDWARD P. MARTIN. WILLIAM ABRAHAM, THOMAS RICHARDS, JOHN MORGAN, THOMAS R. THOMAS. ALFRED ONIONS, DAVID BEYNON, PHILIP GEORGE, THOMAS DAVIES, T. D. ISAAC, ISAAC EDWARDS. Witness to the signatures of the parties hereto :— W" GASCOYNE DAIZIFL, Joint Secretaries. LEWIS MILES, Jomt The agreement had been signed by all the representatives on the part of the employers, and, with one exception by those who represented the workmen. AN UNPLEASANT REPORT. Mr THOMAS RICHARDS, in giving a detailed --eport of what took place at the meet- ing in London, said he felt this was »ne of the most unpleasant reports the -representati ves bad had to give to the miners ot South Wales and Monmonthshire. tHear, hear, and I believe so.") But they had to justify their action when they met the impioyers, and before 'oing so he would ltate, what the chalrm < had omitted, that Ahey had met at Cardif to receive the result if the ballot, the figures be ag :—For withdrawal jf notices, 41,356 for the jrmation of a concilia- lion board, 24,109; a majority of 17,247 Ju favour of withdrawal of the notice Ken to terminate the Sliding Scale Agreement. e employers' representatives pub it to them )hat a longer period of time should be given if the notices were withe.-awn, but the workmen's representatives did not t sel justified in accepting '(bat, and the em ioyers said if that mere not done tii. y were not prepared to withdraw their notices. The workmen's representatives considi ved the proposal that the present six months' p riod of notice should be Mctended. A section f the committee were in favour of not making ay recommendation at all, but to let the matter go on as be- Tore, and the majority decided that they should make an extension beyond the six months. Mr David Morgan spoke strongly against making any recommendation whatever, and not only so, but told the others of the workmen's representatives that they were awards if they agreed to the terms pro- posed. ("Oh!") The other members of the com- W. 'tt,c ciiought the course they took was the best, the opinion that prevailed being that if they could, without sacrificing very much, secure the withdrawal of the notices given it would avoid a struggle, for the men were not prepared to enter into a struggle now. They felt it was better to recommend the workmen to agree to a longer period than six months than enter into a conflict with the employers. Unfortunately Mr Morgan did not fall in with the majority, hence the explanation. On the Thursday they met the employers and told them that if the latter were agreed to withdraw their notices to terminate contracts the workmen's representatives were pre- pared to recommend to the workmen that they should not give notice to terminate the agree- ment before April next year, and that the agree- ment should exist for 12 months certain. Mr Morgan communicated to the em- ployers his dissent from the decision of his colleagues. It also appeared that the representa- tives on the employers' side were not unanimous in agreeing to the terms arranged, but the mino- rity had fallen in with the majority. Some of the employers said this appeared to be an oppor- tune time for going in for a fair percentage, %nd that was 7% per cent. If Mr Morgan had not spoken in such a strong manner the speaker might have bowed to his wisdom, but in view of the strong remarks and the facts of the case he could not agree with him. He thought they had given Mr Morgan sufficient proof that they were no cowards—(hear, hear)—and they were 10 to 1. Mr MORGAN I'll take the ten of you. (Laugh- ter.) A DELEGATE That is a matter between your- selves. Mr RICHABDS replied that it having been made publio an explanation should be made, and stated that it was through no fear or favour that he signed the agreement come to. He believed it was chu best policy to be carried out for the benefit of the miners. (Hear, hear.) The men themselves had decided by a large majority that they were willing to withdraw notice. It was also thought that probably during the ensuing 12 months something mutual might be done as between the men and the employers. But he was convinced that if they were to have a better arrangement in the Sliding Scale terms theymust force the bands of the employers, as they would not likely get anytbingoy mutual agreement. If they were to have a minimum wage, they ought to prepare for it, and it was worth while pre- paring for it during the 12 months. The employers had already told the workmen that as far as they were concerned the present arrangement was the utmost limit to which they could go, and that it even operated against them, and be did not feel that the question whether the Scale should last six months or longer was a matter to fight over. {Hear, hear.) If the men were to fight at all, let lbom fight for better terms. The CHAIRMAN, in reply to Mr W. Brace, ex- plained that the first clause of the arrangement come to in London was binding and the second part was not. If they rejected the recommenda- tion the ;workmen would be at liberty to give notice at the end of six months. He had hoped the recommendation would be accepted. Mr T. DARONWY ISAAC repeated in Welsh what Mr Richards had stated, and mentioned that the chairman on the employers' side apolo- gised for putting the workmen's representatives to the trouble and cost of meeting them in London. MR DAVID MORGAN'S POSITION. Mr DAVID MORGAN said it was painful for him to differ from his colleagues in such a matter, but he had only done what he considered to be his duty. (Hear, hear.) The chairman seemed to have put what he would call a false founda- tion stone down, not intentionally, but without knowing it, because he was not at the last meeting, and did not know the circumstances that led to the resolution which he had read. The CHAIRMAN I was at the last meeting. t" Yes, yes," and laughter.) Mr MORGAN Then you are more responsible. (Laugh ter.) The CHAIRMAN Well, that is the first false position. (Laughter.) Mr MOEGAN I say you are all the more re- sponsible. Proceeding, Mr Morgan said the whole issue was on the ballot paper, and from that ballot paper the representatives had a mis- sion to London, and that was that they did not do anything else than only agree to the result of the ballot. The ballot pap-r read thus For withdrawing notices aud continu- ing for the time being the present Scale." There was nothing more clear than that it meant to continue the then Scale, and that only for the time being. He understood the meaning of these words was that they should get the Sliding Scale continued, and that with the greatest chance of putting it on one side. As Mr Abraham put it to the employers in the first instance, We are here to withdraw the notices ourselves and ask you to withdraw yours, so that we can go on hereafter as if no notice had been given at all." They understood that they had nob the power to bind the men without coming back to consult them, aud that was the y>rrect view. That was that they should fall jack ou the mission, which meant that they had no plenary powers. Then if they hud uo power to bind the men for six months without coming 3»ck, they had no pledge to recommend, and 'j 'XHisidered he was justified :.) what he said in London. The CHAIRMAN protested against Mr Morgan putting words into the mouths of representatives, ALLEGED THEY EXCEEDED THEIR DUTY. III MCMAN objected to snob interruptions, and, proceeding, repeated that he was justified in what he said in Lon. don, namely, that his friends exceeded their duty. and that they had no power whatever to go beyond withdrawing the notices. He had used a very hard word, it was true, in the com- mittee meeting (but nob before the employers) in charging his friends with cowardice. He admitted that he might perhaps have found a better word, and that was fear. They were, in his opinion, afraid of a boey. (Laughter.) They in that meeting were doubtless pleased that a strike had been averted but they were not more pleased than the employers were. He (the speaker) was the only dissentient at their end of the table. it was true. It was alleged that there were great dissensions on the employers' side. Sir William Thomas Lewis may have told Mr Tom Richards so. but he (the speaker) did not believe that the facts were as represented. He maintained that It was plain during the whole of the negotiations at Cardiff that the employers rose the 7% per cent. threat merely as a bogey in order to check the men's agitation for the 10 per cent. scale, and he was strongly of opinion that had his colleagues made the same stand as he had in London they would have returned with a clean sheet to go on with the old Scale without having given any pledge at all. His friends on this occasion had acted differently to what they had used to do. Previously they used to make a strong stand before the employers even when perhaps they were weak, but on this occa- sion the whole business transacted in London. even including the audit, did not occupy more than two hours altogether, so it was quite clear that they had not made the stand that they should have made. It was alleged that the difference between him and his colleagues meant merely an additional existence of six months tor the Scale ligreement. In reality, however, it meant 12 months, and they would nob be such fools as to give notice on the 1st of April to finish in October, and so face the winter with a light against all circumstances. He had been blamed for not signing and sacrificing; be was exceedingly sorry that be could not see his way clear to do so. Had the sacrifice meant personal sacrifice only for himself be would have done it but the sacrifice in his opinion was the sacrifice ot principle and a great sacrifice for the whole of the miners of South Wales and Monmouthshire. It involved extreme humiliation on their part, and they would never get him to play so humihating a part aa that, after be bad been before the em- ployers telling them that the men received 10 per cent. less in wages than they had a right to. He had said and he said it now, and he would chal- lenge any man to prove otherwise befor" man and God, that they were being robbed to-day of 10 per cent. of their wages. (Cries of Shame ") After this could they expect him to sign another docu- ment to continue Sir William Thomas Lewis as chairman 1 It was said that the Scale Committee was a Conciliation Board, but he saw no concilia- tion in it except when the employers had their own way. It was all conciliation then. Sir W. Thomas Lewis at the London meetings spoke as smooth as velvet—(laughter)—for he knew he was going to win. He was very different indeed to the Sir William they met at the Cardiff meetings wheri they were fighting for the rights of the men. Mr Abraham, the first day in London, put the case of the men in as excellent a manner as any man could put it. He (the speaker) was never more pleased in his life than he was with what Mr Abraham did on the first day, when he informed the employers that the men's representatives bad no power beyond withdrawing their notice and asking the employers to withdraw theirs as well. If this were so, then it must mean that the only thing they could have done was to fall back upon the old agreement. (Hear, hear.) When the employers tried to push the matter down their throats and to get them to sign there and then Mabon turned round to defend his colleagues, and told the employers that they bad no power to do so, and that they expected the employers to act honourably towards them by withdrawing their notices and let things go on peaceably as before. 1Cheers.) But on the second day when he (Mr Morgan) turned upon the employers and told them that their action in asking the msn to pledge them- selves to anything was dishonourable, Mr Abraham got up and said to the employers, "Gentlemen, we are here—ten of us—and to say that you are not dishonourable." DID NOT IMPUTE DISHONOUR. MABON I did not say that. What I said was that we did not impute to them dishonour. This is the second false position which Mr Morgan has taken. Mr MORGAN (proceeding) repeated the allega- tion, and added that that was not the first time for him to be snubbed by his colleagues before the employers when he he was doing his utmost on behalf of the men. He (the speaker) did not claim to be infallible. He bad some corruption like everybody else. He again expressed his regret at having used the words cowards—(bear, bear)-and would sub- stitute it by saying that his colleagues were afraid of a bogey. He believed that they were conscientious—(hear, hear)—and so was be con- scientious when he alleged that they had exceeded their powers. The second part of the agreement which they had signed was not bind- ing upon the men, but if they wished to make it binding it was open to them as a conference to do so. He earnestly hoped, however, that they would not do so, even though, as he was sorry to think, such action on their part mast of necessity belittle his colleagues who had sijrned it. DAKONWT Oh don't trouble about that. Mr MOEGAN said he was honest when he said he was sorry. His wish had been to agree with his colleagues, but what was to be done when tbsy could not agree ? MRONIONS: Fall in with the majority. (Cheers.) Mr MORGAN I say no, wheu you are violat- ing tbe principles upon which you and I were sent to London. I agree with you that had we bad plenary powers I could have fallen in with the majority, and I have always done so, but this time we had a distinct mission which it was our duty to carry out faithfully without the least violation and as you did not do so, I had the unpleasant work of turning against the whole of you. MR ONION'S DEFENCE. Mr ALFRED ONIONS, in reply, said that as one specially siugled out for attack by Mr Morgan in an interview with a South Wales Daily News re- presentative it was his duty to say a few words in his own defence and in defence of his colleagues. He was very pleased indeed that Mr Morgan had considerably modified the charge of cowardice he bad brought against them, and that he had admitted that they were conscientious. He took it that that meant that they were not conscien- tious cowards at any rate. Mr MORGAN That's it, exactly. Mr ONIONS, proceeding, said that Mr Morgan's admission further meant that they were conscien- tious in their belief that they were doing what was right. Mr Morgan, in the interview, had said that the employers, in a dishonourable spirit, turned round and asked tbe men, before they (the employers) withdrew their notices, to pledge themselves to continue the scale for 12 months. Now, he bad to say that the employers asked nothing of the kind. They made no definite statement whatever as to the time they wished the agreement to continue in force, bub the im- pression they gave was that they desired it to remain in force for considerably more at any rate than twelve months; and the conclusion they had come to was in the nature of a compromise on this important point. Mr Morpran had chosen to attack Sir Wm. Thomas Lewis. Well, it was not his (the speaker's) province nor his duty to defend Sir William, but be would ask the conference not to allow anything that had been said in reference to Sir Wm. Thomas Lewis's conduct to influence their judgment in reference to the action of their own representatives. (Loud cheers.) That was a red herring drawn across the path, and he hoped they would discern it as such. Mr Abraham, when he spoke about Mr Morgan's charge of dishonour against the employers, spoke on behalf of ten of his colleagues, and what he said was not what Mr Morgan bad described by any means. Mabon'a words to the employers were, We do not impute to yon any dishonour- able motives." He (Mr Onions) had been a mem- ber of the Sliding Scale Committee for nearly four years, and he had never heard the employers impute dishonourable motives to the workmen's representatives, and he would like to ask anyone who understood anything of the conduct of busi- ness whether, if dishonourable motives were imputed to one side or other, business would not at once collapse ? (Hear, hear.) It was always their duty, unless they had conclusive evidence to the contrary, to regard each other as doing their best for the sides they represented, and it was in that spirit that he understood Mabon to say on behalf of the ten that they did not impute dis- honour to the employers. He contended that while according to the ballot they had no power to bind the men, he was always at liberty, whether as a leader or not, to exercise his judg- ment in recommending what he considered the best course to the men. (Hear, hear.) Mr Morgan had always claimed that right for himself, and he (Mr Onions) was prepared to carry out his pledge to recommend the men to carry out what he con- sidered to be the right course to adopb. As to Mr Morgan's allegation that the employers would have given in even if they (the workmen's repre- sentatives) had not given any such pledge, well, that was purely a matter of opinion, and in this case it was the opinion of 10 men against one. Ten of them were of the opinion that the employers would not have agreed to withdraw their notices and continue the present Sliding Scale agreement unless they bad given that pledge. They had been asked for more certainly and their opinion was that they had reduced the period to the very lowosb point that the employers would have agreed to. The employers knew the result of the ballot, that the men did not want a strike, and were not prepared for a rupture, and this was taken into consideration by them in endeavouring to force upon the men this important point as to the length of the agreement. He believed there was a greater difference of opinion among the employers than among the workmen's representatives, and that a good proportion of the employers wanted a strike and had prepared for it, believing this to be an opportune time to compel the men to accept a 7% per cent. soale. Had the workmen's representatives therefore resisted the pledge to make a recommendation to the workmen, they should have been playing into the hands of those employers that wanted a strike, and they would have been aobing against the emphatic declaration of the workmen in the ballot that they did not want a strike. He believed that had they not given in on this comparatively unimportant point they would nob have settled in London that day. Assuming that this view was the correct on and ten of them icid adopted it as agninst vne, what he asked was, whit the workmen have told them if they had come back without settling ? If they had, for the sake of this unimportant point, have allowed the men to come out on strike i until a conference had been convened! His impression was that the men would have told them very elearly "Yon have been to London wasting oar time and meney. Go back to London and settle, as we told you distinctly with the bal- lot to do." (Loud cheers.) He emphatically denied Mr Morgan's statement that the whole business in London did not occupy more than two hours. Why, one day they were kept an hour and a half outside waiting the employers' answer to a proposition they had made. He predicted that had any of the employers acted as Mr Morgan had done, had any single employer refused to abide by the agree- ment and endeavoured to force his colliery back to the 7^4 per cent. scale, Mr Morgan would have been the first to thunder out vials of wrath over his head. (Loud cheers and laughter.) And whab was the difference between Mr Morgan's conducb and tJhat of such assumed employers ? No difference. (Hear, hear.) Had Mr Morgan not withdrawn his charge of cowardice some very hard things would have had to be said that day. He (Mr Onions) claimed to possess as much moral courage in dealing with these matters as Mr Morgan had, though he would not perhaps be so loud in his demonstration of it, and be claimed to be just as conscientious in the views he advocated. He asked the conference to declare that they had throughout acted in accordance with the opinions of the great; majority of workmen in that coalfield. Mr DAVID MORGAN, in reply, said that Mr Richards had admitted that the employers did ask for 12 inonths, and that thay all understood it would be so. It was not he but Mr Riohards that had dragged Sir Wm. Thomas Lewis's name into the discussion, and all he had done was to answer Mr Richards. He had not denied the powers of the workmen's representatives to recommend anything, but he did deny they had tbe power to pledge themselves to the employers in London that they would do so. He admitted that the employers did keep them an hour and a half waiting, but they were all well aware of this waiting business, which was meant purely in order to kill time. (Laughter.) Mr Onions had made a good deal of capital of the 10 to 1 phrase, but there was a possibility that the ten were wrong and the one right. (Laughter.) The analogy between his conduct and that of the assumed employer was not fair. He (Mr Morgan) had not refused to go on with the old agreement what he had declined was i -Ho anything different to the old agreement. MABON, M.P., then proceeded to reply in Welsh, remarkmg that the unpleasantness between them had been reduced to a very small compass indeed, and that Mr Morgan bad with- drawn the bitterness attached to the ch&rge of cowards. He declared that his colleagues during the whole of these transactions had not been at alt animated by a spirit of fear, but rather by a spirit of courage, charity, and patience, and it was that spirit that was at the root of their whole conduct as to the pledge. There was not a word about a pledge in the agreement itself. All that it con- tained was a declaration of a unanimous agree- ment on both sides to recommend a certain course. The great difference between them and Mr Morgan was not one of principle but of degree. There was no principle sacrificed. It was the length of the agreement that was in dispute. The Scale agreement in any event could not have been renewed for less than 12 months, and even if they were pleased to carry out the recommendation of the 10, it meant simply a period of 18 months.The resolution of the last conference in Cardiff was to send them back to the employers to make the best arrangement they could, and if this did not appear clearly on the ballot paper, then it was the fault of the ballot paper, and had he been present at the conference when the ballot paper was drawn up ha would certainly have objected to its terms. Mr Philip George had at the conference of the workmen's representatives the day following objected to the wording on the ballot paper, and he (the speaker) on that occasion ruled him out of order as being too late. Now, after all the storm and battle, they had to en- counter what had been graphically described as a mere capful I of wind. Mr Morgan had admitted that they were conscientious. That was all that they asked the conference to say. They had been conscientious; and in that conscientiousness they believed they had saved South Wales from a strike that they had saved the miners from being pushed back to a scale of 7% per cent.; and that they had saved half a million of people from suffering pangs of hunger. They had been animated in this battle net by a spirit of fear, but by a spirit of courage, love, and patience and they were resolved to stand or fall by the decision of the workmen as to their conduct in London. (Loud and prolonged cheers.) The Conference then adjourned for luncheon. AFTERNOON PROCEEDINGS. On resuming after the adjournment, The CHAIRMAN said they had m the earlier part of the day discussed the matter generally, and he did not think they could say much more on the subject. He now called for a resolution which might be discussed. Mr W. BRAOE asked if a vote of thanks would be sufficient ? The CHAIRMAN replied that it should rather be a vote of confidence, and as to whether they should approve the recommendation. Mr BRACE asked if that meant that if the con- ference carried such a resolution it would pledge them to acoept the recommendation ? The CHAIRMAN said it would. Mr EVANS, Blaina, said if they excepted such resolution they would approve of the agreement and the aotion the representatives took, granting the employers further time than six months' notice. On behalf of 3,000 Blaina workmen he protested against that, and moved as an amend- ment that the Scale should be understood simply as it was before, and that they should be at perfect liberty to give notice on October 1st. He believed it was sufficient for the employers to gain a moral victory without at the same time scoring off the workmen's representatives. (Hear, hear.) He believed that if the delegates who were at the last conference gave candid expres- sion to their opinions they would say it never entered into their minds that the employers would ask for a further extension of the time of notice, or they would not have voted on the question in the way they did. He failed to see why they should give notice in and then with- draw it for the purpose of giving longer life to a Scale they did not believe in. (Hear, hear.) Mr J. BRITTON (Penrhiw), said the workmen generally bad not had a fair opportunity of dis- cussing the matter, and he considered that if they at present passed a resolution upon it, they would be doing the men an injustice. Mr JENKINS (Rhondda), after speaking in sup- port of the agreement oome co. said he believed Mr Morgan was rather hasty. They had been talking about organisation, but they were no bet- ter now in that respect than they were years ago. In the course of further discussion, Mr A. TIB- BITT said there was a large majority in favour of the soale, and it had been put in the hands of the representatives to do the best they could in the way of arranging terms. The masters had taken advantage of the disorganised state of the men, and he did not think the representatives of the men could have arrived at a better decision under the circumstances. He hoped the organisa- tion of miners in South Wales and Monmouth- shtre would be made an organisation in reality. (Hear, hear.) Mr RVANS, Blaina, explained, in reply, that Mr Brace said his amendment was to disapprove of the recommendation of the representatives, inas- much as it granted to the employers a longer period for giving notices for the termination of the scale than they would have been entitled to under the Sliding Scale agreement. He did not think it would be right to say whether they approved or disapproved of the action of the representatives, because he believed they acted conscientiously in what they did. The CHAIRMAN said the motion was approval of what the representatives had done, and if they chose they could separate the question of their conduct, for their conduct had been discussed. Mr BRACE and others thought the two questions should be separated, and several delegates objected to that course, ou the ground that if they carried the motion tor approval of the recommendation they would approve of the conduct of the representatives. Mr JOHN THOMAS, Ebbw Val, moved :— That this conference, after hearing the report of the negotiations of the Sliding Ncale Joint Committee, is of opmion that the 10 representatives wbo agreed to recommend that the Scale should exist 12 months before giving notice acted in accordance with the wishes of the majority of the workmen and with the approval of this conference. Mr JOHN JENKINS seconded. Mr BRACE objected to a recommendation binding the conference or the general body of workmen in South Wales and Monmouthshire. Until the men had been balloted upon this recom- mendation no one had a right to express anything but his individual opinion. (Hear, hear.) One of the most important arguments used at last conterence as to why they should continue the present agreement was that the circumstances bad changed since the notice had bsen given, and that they were in an unfavourable position for going into conflict with the employers. If that argument held good within six months it would hold good for 18 months, and iu that time something might turn up to enable them to get what they wanted. Even if they did not accept the recommendation the scale would oontinue, the only difference being that it would terminate sooner. If he thought they were not going to get into any better position than they occupied now he would prefer an agreement signed for 18 years instead of 18 months. It was because he believed they had very nearly touched bottom and could not get anything very much worse than they now had, that he wished their bands to be free and be thought it would be unwise to bind themselves to any term which would prevent them taking advautage of any circumstances that came in their way. (Hear, hear.) It appeared to him Mr Morgan's action was the right course, as the ballot was taken on the question of continuation of the present scale and the withdrawal of the notices on both sides. They had nothing to do with the question of confidence in the represen- tatives, it was the recommendation tbey had to deal with, and before it was passed it should go before the men, for gthere was plenty of time yet for that to be done. (Hear, hear.) He suggested that it be referred to the men for ballot, as to whether they would accept the recommendation of the committee to bind them- selves for 12 months, or confine themselves to six months' notice. An Aberdare Delegate proposed a resolution to carry out Mr Brace's suggestion, and discus- sion was resumed as to the action of the com- mittee, delegates from Dawlais and elsewhere saying they had been SENT TO SUPPORT WHAT THXY HAD DONE, and others stating that the men had not an oppor- tunity of fully cOlIsideriu the matter. Mr ALVHKD ONIONS (xptaiued that when the committee decided to recommend to the confer- ence that they should not givo notice for twelve months no one thought of it being a vote of con- fidence, but tbey were forced into the position by the interview Mr David Morgan had with a reporter appearing in the Press. Mr Morgan used the obnoxious epithet that the committee were cowards. Although Mr Morgan had'par- tially withdrawn the word, they felt it very much, and they bad written to the newspapers stating that they were prepared to submit their conduct to that conference. Originally they had no thought of making tbe matter a vote of confidence. Mr BRACE: Why do you do it now there is no necessity ? Mr MORGAN explained that he never ielt nor intended to convey that the other members of the committee were cowards, such as being dishonest men. He had already admitted that he could have adopted a better word for expressing what he intended to say. He held that the right way of dealing with the recommendation was to send it to the people who decided the other issue. The CHAIRMAN I don't know where we are coming to. I am sorry to have heard Mr Morgan making this statement now. I will appeal to him if on the Friday I did not ask him, when he was in his calmer moments, that he meant it, and he said, "Yes"? ("Oh.") Mr MORGAN: That you were dishonest? The CHAIRMAN: That we were cowards. Mr MORGAN: Yes, I did say so on Friday. (Laughter.) The CHAIRMAN That was on the day after the meeting. (To Mr Ben Davies, who was clapping his hands:) You may clap, but we are not cowards (Applause.) Mr DAVIES I clapped for his courage in saying what he did. The CHAIRMAN: If Mr Morgan withdraws the word" cowaril "I am willing to accept that as an apology. Until that is done and you confide in us, I am no more a representative on the Sliding Scale Committee. (Hear, hear.) Mr MORGAN I say distinctly I will not with- draw more than I have already done. The CHAIRMAN Very well. Mr MORGAN I have done what I thought to be honest and just in dealing with the subject. The discussion of the subject on the agenda was resumed, "a Tredegar Delegate, who, along with his colleagues, represented 3,000 men, said they were sent to support the aotion of the committee, believing that they had done their best in the circumstances, and that they had not acted as if they thought they had plenary powers. There had been A LOT OF TALK ABOUT ORGANISATION, but it seemed to him they were spending time aud money in squabbling with each other instead of getting it. (Hear, hear.) Mr G. LITTLR moved as an amendment:— That the whole question of accepting or rejecting the recommendation to bind the workmen not to give notice to terminate the Sliding Scale agreement for 12 months be relegated to the workmen for consideration and ballot. Another Delegate seconded. Mr EVANS, Blaina, reminded the chairman of his amendment. The vote was then taken as between the motion to approve the action of the committee and their recommendation, and the amendment to disap- prove, when THE MOTION WAS CARRIED by 55 as against 14 given for the amendment. The amendment to relegate the question to the collieries as to accepting the recommendation was defeated by 52 votes to 25. THE HAULIERS' REQUEST. The Secretary (Mr Lewis Miles) submitted a request from the Hauliers' Union that they should have a direct representative on the Sliding Scale Committee, and that the representative should be their agent, Mr Morgan Thomas. He added that a reply had been sent by the commit- tee stating that inasmuch as there was to be a redistribution of seats, the matter would be laid before the conference. The CHAIRMAN said there was a precedent in the appointment at one time of a representative of the enginemen and stokers, bub the question was whether it would be wise to accede to this request as the present members represented that class. Several delegates spoke on the subject, some advocating that the request be granted and others that it be not. A Roadman from the Albion Colliery said some of the men there disapproved of the action of the Hauliers' Union in asking for a special representative, but if one were appointed they hoped he would also represent the others. Mr THOS. RICHARDS pointed out that there were a number of districts, and which was to be represented ? That was a difficulty he did not think could be overcome. He did not see why they should allow one man to represent the whole coalfield while they could get men to represent the various districts. Besides, there were members of the committee who possessed a knowledge of the hauliers and the other branches of the trade. He did not see why they should distinguish between one class of labour and another at any colliery. Mr Thomas's ambition was to level op, but the last place in the world to secure that was on the Sliding Scale Committee. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) He would advise the hauliers to level up as much as they could, but to do it quietly, and not make a lot of noise about it. If the hauliers wished for a representative on the Sliding Scale Committee, the allocations would be made shortly, when they would have an opportunity of nominating a man to represent the district in which they were strongest; and he was inclined to move that the request be not granted. An Aberdare Haulier said that with the exception of one pit the hauliers throughout the district were not in favour of class representa- tion. A Blaina Delegate advocated the granting of the request. Mr BD DAVIES said that the remarks with reference to new agents of hauliers were not applicable to him, for the Albion hauliers and wagemen, after having been connected with tbe Hauliers' Union for a short time, had seen the errors of class or sectional organisation, and had acted accordingly. Mr DAVID MORGAN desired to correct a certain statement which had appeared in the Press, alleging that he had in London BLAKED SIB WILLIAM THOMA3 LEWIS for having great sympathy with hauliers. This was not true. He had blamed Sir William for not acting straight towards the hauliers. Sir William admitted being the author of the letter sent by Mr Dalziel to the hauliers. In that letter Sir William commenced by expressing sympathy with the hauliers, and ended by dis- approving their appeal, and he (the speaker) blamed Sir William for his vagueness. He did not in London express either bis sympathy or his disapproval of the hauliers in any shape or form; but he had always upon the Sliding Scale and elsewhere done all he could in favour of the hauliers. He did not, however, believe that that Conference should admit class representation upon the Sliding Scale Board in any shape or form. Mr T. RICHARDS, while expressing sympathy with the hauliers and admitting that their standards ought to be raised, said it was only possible to do so by a strongUnionandgoingabout the business in a proper manner. He had certainly no intention of urging the hauliers to continue their present methods. MABON invited someone to move a resolution. The employers, in their letter to the hauliers, had suggested the possibility of increasing the number of seats on the committee from 11 to 12, but; at the same time disapproved of the idea of class repre- sentation. No one, however, had any distinct notion as to how this question was to be dealt with. The Lower Duffryn Delegate said that the resolution passed in that colliery was that they should not split from the colliers. A Merthyr Vale Delegate, on behalf of 2,000 workmeu, said he was authorised to move that the hauliers be granted a seat on the Sliding Scale Committee. The Ferndale Delegate, representing 3,000 workmen, said he was similarly instructed. The Tredegar Representative said that in that colliery they quite approved of hauliers being represented, but not separately as a class. He moved that they be allowed a representative, but to be elected just as the other representatives were at present. Mr TIBBOTT seconded. MABON pointed out that in order to carry out the suggestions thrown out it would be necessary to rearrange the seats. This should be clearly understood. Mr YBBHAKNE, Abertillery, moved that there should be a redistribution of seats, the scheme to be drawn out in time for the election next July, and the hauliers would then stand the same chance as any other class of having their repre- sentative elected. Mr JOHN THOMAS, Ebbw Vale, said that if the hauliers' representative was elected by any mode other than by ballot it would be class representation, and all of them would agree that such a precedent would be a very bad one. He suggested that they should pass a resolution sympathising with the request of the hauliers, but pointing out that there was no other way of getting a hauliers' representative on the Scale except by bringing out a candidate at the next election. Mr ALF. ONIONS agreed. If they were going to retain the present system of electing repre- sentatives it seemed to him that the only way that hauliers could be represented directly by one of their class was by bringing out a candidate in one of the districts and securing his election. He was nearly ashamed of the way industrial matters were being now conducted in South Wales and Monmouthshire. They knew not who would pop up on the morrow to claim to be a responsible leader, if he had only a dozen or a score of men to follow him. The hauliers had now exactly the same chance as the colliers of being repre- sented, for they participated in the ballot. An argument used in the present discussion was that they should give the hauliers a representative in order to keep them quiet. Well, if they were going to be frightened into giving people seats on the Sliding Scale Committee they should be frightened every week, for they might, depend upon it some- body or otbr would continually threaten to give thelu trouble unless they were lven an office- (loud cheers)—and the result would be that instead of having real genuine representatives upon the Sliding Scale Committee, they would have men who would be THERE MERELY FOB THE SAKE Of THE OFFIOB. (Laughter.) He was not speaking of any in- dividual, but on tbe important question of principle. Unless they were careful in these matters they would find themselves in endless difficulties. Let them pass a resolution disap- proving of class representation, and then refer the whole question of division of seats to the Sliding Scale Committee, who would report to a future Conference. A Haulier: We will relieve you of your difficulties by withdrawing our request. MABON: You cannot do that. The matter is now before tb," Conference. A Haulier I have been authorised by the Executive Committee to withdraw the request. Mr MOGG, of Mountain Ash, moved that the Confereuee should not recognise the principle of class representatation on the Sliding Scale Committee. The CHAIRMAN then pub the motion to the vote as follows :— That this Conference expresses sympathy with the hauliers, and also that something should be done with a view of meeting their request; and that the questtop of finding out how tbey can be represented, and where, be relegated to the workmen's section of the Sliding* Scale Committee. Unon a division, 64 voted for this resolution, which was thereupon declared carried, Mabon pointing out that the question could not be finally settled until another Conference was convened to consider whab report might be presented on the subject by the Sliding Scale representatives. A haulier from the audience said sympathy would not be of much good to them, wheu Mr EVANS (Blaina), who is also a haulier, said that if the hauliers followed the sams tactics aa they did in 1893 they would find that the colliers would put up their backs against tbem. In the course of a subsequent discussion, MABON admitted that there was a necessity for redistribution of seats on the Scale Committee. He promised, on behalf of his colleagues, that the resolution just passed would have their serious consideration. An Abercarn Delegate gave notice of motion for the next Conference with reference to the extra turn granted to night wagemen, and after this the proceedings terminated with thanks to the chairman and vice-chairman.
MR BEN DAVIES ANT"THE HAULIERS'…
MR BEN DAVIES ANT"THE HAULIERS' AGENT. Mr Ben Davies called upon our Pontypridd representative on Saturday and bitterly com- plained of what he termed the gratuitous attack made upon him by Mr Moigan Thomas, the hauliers' agent, in the interview published on Friday. There is nothing in the report you published of our Cilfynydd meetings." continued Mr Davies, to justify such an attack upon me, for during the whole course of my speech at Cilfynydd I never once mentioned Mr Morgan Thomas's name. True, I hold very strong views as to the dangers of sectional organisation, and I should think it is full time for Mr Morgan Thomas to have clearer views upon what I may term a not very successful moda of carrying on disputes in the paat. Mr Thomas has seen fit and proper to challenge me to compare books as to the strength of our respective Uuions. Well, such a challenge is uncalled for, for I never said a word as to the numerical strength or the financial position of the Hauliers' Union. However, if Mr Thomas is sincere in his challenge, I am willing to accept it, and we will take the average membership for the past six months. I can't say bow many members he may have in the Rhondda. I never said whether he had 100 or whether he bad 10,000. It is the Albion hauliers themselves that have decided that they don't want Morgan Thomas to represent them as a class on the Scale; so why he should attack and denounce me I don't understand. Probably he feels against me ever since the Albion and the Great Western men left him. They tell me he has no members in the Great Western now. Mr Thomas insinuated in the interview with you that the attack upon him was tbe mischievous aot of a certain person who is jealous of seeing another prosper.' Well, I am nob that person. I am not jealous of his position. Why should I be ? I have been elected by the people to the position I hold, and I certainly would not change that position with the one now held by Mr Morgan Thomas. He further challenges me to prove thatsomething was said at the hauliers' conference last Monday a3 to hauliers not re- turning to work under a standard of 4s a day. I never said so. I am correctly reported in the South Wales Daily News. All I said was that I had been told so, and I certainly can prove that the statement was made to me. It is ridiculous on the part of Mr Morgan Thomas to threaten to give a sign which will bring the hauliers out again as in 1893. I maintain it Is not in his power to do so. The history of the past has taught the Albion men that it is fill time to leave off sectional organisation, and by the way things have been carried on in Aberaman and Plymouth- Merthyr, the workers have sustained great financial losses through sectional organisation. T should like Mr Morgan Thomas to let the public know what have his men actually gained by sectional organisation. How many strikes or disputes has he settled successfully, and how many have been failures ? When the interests of the whole body of men are at stake, I maintain it is time for other agents to interfere and see that j the men they represent are not further injured by sectional organisation. I should like it to be clearly understood that I am not animated by any spirit of hostility towards Mr Thomas or bis organisation bat I am opposed, and always will be, to sectional organisation, for even Mr Thomas himself has admitted that sectional organisations are not to the best interests of the men, and he has pledged himself ah the Round Table Confer- ence at Cardiff togo in forgeneral amalgamation." Mr David Morgan and the Scale. A meeting of delegates from the various collieries and lodges in the Aberdare, Merthyr. and Dowlais district was held on Saturday even- ing at the Bute Arms, Aberdare. The meeting was convened by Mr David Morgan, the miners' agent for the district, for the purpose of explaining the division of opinion which existed between him and the other representatives of the men on the Joint Committee. Mr D. Davies. Nant- melyn, the chairman of the distriot, occupied the chair. Mr DAVID MORGAN, in a lengthy speech, explained the reasons why he had declined to join his colleagues on the point reported issued at the recent conference in London, and also why he could nob recommend. the men to pledge them- selves not to give notices to terminate the Scale for 12 months. ;lie- Mr PHILLIP GEORGE, the other representative from Aberdare, who had signed the report in question, then spoke, and a general conversation ensued. It was ultimately decided that the delegates should report to the collieries, and that the meeting be adjourned for a fortnight in order to ascertain the views of the collieries on the subject. Enginemen and Ctlliers at Blaina. At a meeting of tbe Miners' General Com- mittee of the Blaina collieries held on Thursday night last, the members of the Firemen and Engmemen's Association having expressed a wish to be represented on the committee, it was agreed that they should be allowed to return three representatives. All sections of tbe workmen all the Lancaster collieries are now represented upon the committee. The introduction of what is known as the "Nottingham "svstem ab certain pits at Blaina some time ago caused some dissatisfaction among the workmen. The matter has now been con- sidered at meetings held at the pits, and left to the General Committee, who have just appointed several of their number to wait upon the Messrs John Lancaster and Company during the present week.
THE TINPLATE TRADE.
THE TINPLATE TRADE. Position ef the Wercester Works. On Monday a deputation of the Steel Smelters at the Foresbwand Worcester Works waited on Mr W. Williams, M.P., with a view of ascertaining if any terms could be arranged for a restart. Mr Williams expressed his deep regret at the depressed state of the trade, and promised in the interest of all to 'give the matter his best con- sideration. The deputation (which was aooom- panied by Mr Hodge) then offered to work at 10 per cent. reduction. A long discussion followed, after which Mr Williams said whatever the reduction in order to be effective it must be applicable to all the departments, whereas the present offer only affected the smelters. Finally, it was decided to leave the matter for considera- tion by both sides.
SOUTH WALES TRADE.
SOUTH WALES TRADE. In an article on the South Wales trade the Liverpool Journal of Commerce says ;—The rivalry which seemed to exist formerly between the coal ports of the North and the South may be said to have passed away. Cardiff has no need to trouble itself about Newcastle it does nob seem, indeed, to fret itself any longer about the desirability of becoming a second Liverpool, judging from the tale told by the import lists. Perhaps Barry has caused Cardiff to look more particularly to itself. Be this as it may, we are bound to recognise that Cardiff and Barry and Penarth between them have exhibited some very remarkable developments, and that in spite of all difficulties the outward shipping of those places has become a great factor in the commercial and mercantile life of the nation. As to tbe imports, it is a well-known fact that Cardiff does not show favourably by contrasb with several ports which have a smaller tonnage of exports. After all, it must be remembered that the speciality of Cardiff is its coal. It will take the people of that port, evidently, a long time to develop an import traffic which will make anything like a. show by the side of the vast exports of the place. It may be years when this result will be achieved-perhapa, never.
THE HIRE SYSTEM.
THE HIRE SYSTEM. At Cardiff County Court—before his Honour Judge Owen—on Monday Singer's Manufactur- ing Co. sued George Davies, a local pawnbroker, for the value or return of a sewing machine which be had taken in pledge from a person to whom it ha.d been lent at a weekly rental of Is 6d. Mr Arthur Lewis (instructed by Mr Gilbert D. Wansbrough, Cheapside, London, solicitor to the company) appeared for plaintiffs, and Mr T. H. Belcher, Cardiff, represented defendant. The point raised was a novel one, the Singer Company con- tending that uuder their agreement in this par- ticular case the pawnbroker acquired no property in the article, for the agreement differed essentially from that which would be ruled by the decision in the well-known Helby v. Matthews case (1894, Queen's Bench). This was the first local action of this kind. His Honour gave judgment for the plaintiffs, and on tbe application of Mr Lewis, allowed his costs and also those of two witnesses.
WILLING'S PRESS GUIDE.
WILLING'S PRESS GUIDE. Messrs Willing and 00. send us a copy of their twenty-second annual issue of the British and Irish Press GUide-an admirable book of refer- ence to all journals published in the United Kingdom, the publishers having spared no trouble or expense in maintaining its established reputation for obtaining every requisite informa- tion. The get up typographically is of an order which other guides of this class would do well to imitate, inasmuch as those who consult this index tu the vast aggregation of British publications have not the slightest trouble in at once discovering the informatnon they arc in search of. The guide shows changes of titles, gives a record of the amalgamation of newspaper properties, furnishes also information concerning Colonial, American, and Continental newspapers, and aids traders, advertisers, and others. It includes tbe reporting and general news agencies and possesses several other features of value.
The Liquor Traffic. ------
The Liquor Traffic. LOCAL OPTION. THE GOVERNMENT BILL. Speech by Sir William Harcourt, In the House of Commons on Monday, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved for leave to bring in a Bill to establish local control over the traffic in intoxicating liquor, and was received with cheers. The subject, be said, was familiar to the House, and had been so for a great many years, and he had had the opportunity, when introducing a similar Bill, of stating the principles on which the Government proposed to proceed. This Bill was, with certain alterations, substantially the same measure. He need not argue in that House in favour of the necessity for legislation dealing with the evils of the liquor traffic. No one would dispute the infinite* mis- chief of excessive drinking, nor would anyone dsny that the mischief existed in our midst. There might be great differences of opinion as to the remedy to be applied, but there was no social question comparable in importance to the evil of excessive drinking. It was one of the greatest causes of poverty and crime in the country. The drink traffic was to a great extent the creation of bhe taw, and if it was to be reformed it must be by legislation. (Hear, hear.) Success or failure in dealing with this gigantic mischief must depend upon the choice of the prinoiple upon which they were to proceed. The present system depended upon the licensing discretion of the magistrates, and while he was not disposed to pass any censure upon the magistrates for the manner in which they bad exercised that discretion, he thought the system of appeal to the Quarter Sessions must be gener- ally condemned, because those who had no local knowledge in many cases reversed the decision of those, who, with the greatest local knowledge, had withdrawn licences. The Government were convinced that no really efficient adequate reform could be found merely by improvements of the licensing system. The magistrates had not shown themselves string enough to deal with the power- ful interests and deep-rooted prejudices with which the system was impregnantly surrounded, and if an effective blow was to be struck at the great national evil, it must be done by an appeal to the voice and to the conscience of the people. (Hear, hear.) If the people were to be reformed, they must be the authors of their own reforma- tion. (Hear. hear.) That was the principle upon which this Bill and the Bill of 1883 was founded, and it was THE PRINCIPLE OF LOCAL OPTION. (Cheers.) There was an idea that the Option might be entrusted to representative bodies, such as county or town councils, and admitted that that was formerly his opinion, but since the dis- cussions that had taken place on the subject of local government, he thought the general feeling was that it would be injurious to the action of those Councils to have thoir work mixed up with the decision of the liquor question. (Hear, hear.) This was not a party question. The advocacy of reform in the liquor traffic had not beeD con, fined to the Liberal side, and the late Lord Randolph Churchill had taken immense pains with a Bill which was part licensing reform and part Local Option. Tho great majority had rallied to the principle of Local Option, though there were distinguished advocates of a different system. He was nob going to discuss the Scandinavian system, but it must be remembered that the great reforms in Sweden and Norway were effected in the rural districts by the central Local Option prinoiple, and that within the last six months in Norway the Gothenburg plan had been subordinated to Local Option. (Hear, hear.) The Bill he introduced in 1893 was properly described as a Veto Bill, and this was also a Local Veto Bill, the provision of a popular vote for local prohibition remained the same but this Bill was something more than a Local Veto Bill, and might be described as a Local Option Bill, because it offered other options besides Local Veto. (Cheers.) He had recognised the force of the desire that there should be power for the reduction of the number of licensed houses. (Hear, hear.) He had never been adverse to give a vote for the restriction and LIMITATION OF THE NUMBER OF LICENCES. as well as for prohibition. The poll would be taken by the local authority upon a requisi- tion from not less than one tenth of the parochial electors, and the areas would be—in the boroughs, the wards; in rural districts, the parishes or wards of parishes and in London, the sanitary districts or wards withiu the meaning of the Public Health Act of 1891. Small areas for this purpose were better than large, but there was a provision by which very small parishes or wards would be grouped. A prohibitory resolution might be carried by a majority of two thirds of the electors votmg, and the resolution would come into force at the date of the general annual licensing meeting which occurred next after the expiration of three years from the commencement of the Acb or one year from the date of the poll — which- ever was the later date. While the pro- hibitory resolution was in force no ordinary licence within the meaning of the Licensing Act of 1872 would be granted within the area and when such a poll had been taken no further poll would be taken for three years, the object being that the community should not be con- stantly disturbed by the raising of these ques. tions. (Hear, hear.) That would apply where the resolution was carried or rejected. After three years another poll might be taken, and the majority for repeal was proposed to be in a simple majority instead of the two-thirds majority proposed by tho Bill of 1893. (Hear, hear). The Bill provided that the requisition might be presented tor a reduction of the num- ber of licenses, and it was proposed that the limitation of the reduction should be carried by a simple majority. While a limitation resolution was in force, ordinary licenses would not be granted within the area to a number in excess of three- fourths of the number existing at the date of the poll, and at the expiration of another three years there might be a reduction by the same process to the extent of another one-fourth. (Hear, hear). There would necessarily be difficulty in determining what should be the fourth to b reduced, and the proposal of the Bill was that when there had been a limitation vote the magistrates should deal with all the licences in the districts as if they were new, and that to the extent thab they thought fit, but not exceed- ing the three-fourths. They should grant licences just as they would in a new district. (Hear, hear.) Mr BALFOUR Would he magistrates be obliged to grant three-fourths, or might they grant any number less 1 Tbe CHANOELLOR of the EXCHEQUER The words of the Bill are: Not exceeding three. fourths." Mr AMBROSE Is that resolution to be by a special majority or by simple majority The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER A simple majority. The requisition and the machine for taking the would be the same in the case of a limiting as < f a prohibiting resolution, and the poll might be taken upon a limiting or pro- hibiting resolution, or upon both. (Hear, hear.) It was proposed that any elector might vote for or against both. (Hear, hear.) The vote on the prohibitory resolution would be counted first, and if that were carried the vote on the limiting resolution would not be counted. Where a pro- hibitory resolution was in force a resolution, after three years, might be proposed for repealing it. Ib would tsbell be impossible to propose a limiting resolution, because there would be nothing to limit, and the discretion, therefore, must remain absolute with the magistrate for three years, but where a Jimiting resolution was in force there might be at the end of the three years thre« alternatives proposed prohibition, a further limitation, or a repeal. There were other provi. sions which prohibited the retail sale, while the prohibitory resolution was in force by dealers who did not require a justices licence, and such dealers would be called upon to take out a justices' licence for retail dealing, which would be subject to the same conditions as ordinary licences. Then there were exemptions from the prohibition of the limiting in the case of restricted licences. It was then proposed that, notwithstanding a prohibitory resolution was in force, the justices might grant licences to hotels, refreshment-rooms, railway refresh- ment-rooms. as defined in the Bill. Upon those licences the magistrates might impose such con. ditions as they thought fit. He then came to the much-disputed question of Sunday Closiug. The Government did not think that it would be possible to enforce general universal Sunday Closing in England by legislation. Everyone must admit that it would not be possible to enforce such a measure in London, and there were many other parts of the country in which it would be strongly resisted. Under these circumstances the Government thought that Sunday Closing should be left, as by the Bill of 1893, to be determined by the vote of the majority in a district. It was. however, proposed that A SUNDAY CLOSING RESOLUTION should coma into operation at once, and should not be deferred for three years. With regard to the question of compensation he had on a former occasion given reasons why compensation should not be given for the non-renewal of terminable licences. Nothing could be more certain than that. It would be impossible to deal with this temper. ance question on the footing of a money compen- sation. Hon. gentlemen opposite had tried this, but had found that the country would nob accept it. (Hear, hear.) The Government was accused of robbery, plunder, and confiscation because they refused compensation on the non-renewal of licences; but on this matter they were only taking the same courso which had been followed in the same oase in America, Norway, and Sweden. What, indeed, had we already done in our own country 1 We had passed Sunday Closing Bills which restricted the right of trading of the licensed victualler from seven to six days without giving any compensation. Moreover, the beer houses which existed before 1869 had by Acts passed in 1880 and 1882 been deprived without compensation of rights to the renewal of licences which they previously enjoyed, and lastly, under the principle laid down in Sharpo v. Wakefield, the justices every year refused to renew a number of licences on the ground that the houses were superfluous, and they did this without compensation. The only compensation therefore which che GCIVernmenf; could offer was thac which he had called time compensation. The passing of that Bill would give notice to the pub- licans that a resolution for closing public-houses might be passed, and would thus enable them to make their arrangements accordingly. (Hear, hear.) The Bill would not be applied to Ireland, because the Government thoughb that Ireland should deal with this question itself, daughter.) If Ireland preferred that the Imperial Parliament should deal with this question, the Government mast hear that from Ireland. (Hear, hear.) He was quite aware that this Bill dealt with a diffioult subject, that powerful interests were opposed to it), and that it afforded many weapons for party warfare, but the coarse of a warfare like this did not depend upon party organisation nor would it in the last resort be determined by party efforts. The convictions to which it appealed were those of tens and hundreds of thousands of all sorts and conditions of men and women who took little or no interest in political or party struggles, but believed from the very bottom of their hearts that the first and foremost duty of that House was to grapple with a great social evil which was eating into the vitals of the country. It was his firm hope and feeling that this Parlia- ment woold not close without a sincere and strenuous effort to lay the foundation of this great reform. The Government, at any rate, who were responsible to the nation for the conduct of its affairs, would not shrink from the responsibilty which attached to them, and it was in discharge of that responsibility that he asked for leave to introduce this measure. (Cheers.) Sir E. CLARKE said that he did not believe that the curious and complicated scheme which the right hon. gentleman had unfolded to them would receive any large support either in that House or the country. The right hon. gentleman had talked of the various interests which would oppose the Bill, but he (Sir E. Clarke) believed that the good sense of the people was the most formidable opponent which the measure would have to encounter. There was no evil in existence which oalled for such legislation as this, for the evil of intemperance had for years been steadily diminishing. Arbitrarily to take away without compensation a licence where the trade which the State had recognised had been properly conducted would be an injustice and an indefensible inter- ference with property. (Hear, hear.) Sir WILFRID LAWSON said that the last speaker bad asked why the Government could not let this alone. The answer was that public opinion would not allow them to do so. (Hear, hear.) The truth was that legislature in this direction had been delayed too long. He regretted the exemp- tions contained in the Bill, and he was very sorry that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had not thought it right to include Ireland in the measure The great point, however, was that the Bill gave the ratepayers a free and unfettered option to forbid the grant of any licences in a district. It would, therefore, receive the unanimous and strenuous support of the United Kingdom Alli- ance. Mr AMBROSE opposed the Bill as unnecessary, unjust, and oppressive. Mr BROADHURST regarded that part of the Bill which would enable the magistrates to re- duce the number of public houses as the one most practical in character. Mr VEBSHEDregarded the Bill as an insult to the working classes. It would confiscate the property of publicans on one side of a street and double the value of the public houses on the other side. Mr MONEY-WIGRAM felt convinced that Parlia- ment would not deprive publicans of their pro- perty without adequate compension. Mr JOHN WILSON (Govan) attributed the alarming increase of iunacy to over-indulgence in strong drinks, and expressed his hope that the Government would meet with the approbation of the country. Mr R. COOKE denied that drunkenness was a national vice or that it was the cause of all the poverty, crime, and'misery of the country. The legislation was directed against tbe working classes, upon whom the Government professed to rely for support. Mr W. S. OAINE claimed for the Bill that it would place the liquor trade in the hands of the working olasses, and enable them to decide for themselves whether they would have public- houses thrusb upon them. It was a simple extension of local self-government. The Marquis of CARMARTHEN could not believe that it was seriously intended to press the Bill forward, and considered it a great injustice to attack a trade by a mere electioneer- ing sham. Prohibition, wherever it had been tried, had proved a failure. Mr T. W. RUSSELL rejoiced that the Govern- ment had brought forward the measure, but protested against the exclusion of Ireland from its provisions. (Hear, hear.) He wanted to know why the Nationalist Benches were so empty on that occasion. For 30 years a majority of the Irish members had voted in favour of tbe principle of the measure, and it could not be said that Ireland did not require it. The fact was that this was parb of a bargain. (Opposi- tion oheers.) The Chancellor of the Exchequer knew that he could not carry the Bill by the votes of Enclish members alone. Local Option was to be forced upon England by Irish votes. (Cheers.) He should vote for the second reading, but when the Bill came into committee he should move to include Ireland in it. (Cheers.) Mr GOSCHKN had enjoyed the Chancellor of the Exchequer's lucid exposition of the Bill, but confessed that he felt a shiver of disappointment when he found that itwas not intended to postpone the Welsh Church Bill and the Irish Land Bill in order to deal with an evil which was eating like canker into the social status of the country. (Laughter and cheers.) Let it be noted thab this was not a party question, yet Ireland, by its votes, might impose upon Eng- land a state of things which an English majority did not desire. (Hear, hear.) Unless there was the greatest possible evidence of a desire on the part of the working classes for legislation of this character those who would not be affected by it had no right to subject the working man to social coercion. The Chancellor of the Exchequer had declared that for genera- tions the policy of the Liberal party had been to emancipate the people from restrictions, and he would urge upon him that they ought not to interfere to the extraordinary extent proposed by this Bill with the habits of the people. (Hear, hear.) Themeasurecontained provisions whioh were absolutely unworkable and almost ridiculous. It was not fair that those who had access to every kind of refreshment they could wish should be able by their votes to coerce a large portion of the population. There was no evidence that the working classes desired such legislation, and he would not believe that that House would ever pass a measure of the kind till they knew that the great majority of the working classes were in its favour. (Hear, hear.) The habits of the people must be considered in the matter, and, in his opinion, prohibition would run counter to those habits and woald lead to illicit drinking. (Hear, hear.) Leave was then given, and the Bill was brought in and read a first time, amidst cheers, the second reading being fixed for Monday, the 22nd mat.
:SWANSEA PAUPERS AND THEIR…
SWANSEA PAUPERS AND THEIR TOBACCO. At the fortnightly meeting of the Swansea Board of Guardians, held on Monday, under the presidency of Mr E. Rice Daniel. Mr STEPHEN THOMAS moved:—"That the luxuries of tobacco and snuff be no longer allowed the inmates of the Workhouse, seeing that hundreds of the ratepayers, their wives, and children have been lately wanting bread." He said these luxuries cost £53 a year, a sum suffi- cient to find bread for 123 children in the Cottage Homes for the same period. He also entered into a long disquisition against tobacco, and said as they had the testimony of the master of the house that the greater parb of the inmates were there through drink or crime, tbey should nob have that consideration which might be bestowed on the deserving. The Rev. J. DAVIES (Cadle) seconded. Alderman CHAPMAN opposed the motion, saying while it was the duty of the guardians to economise, this should not be done by taking away such a little luxury of the old as tobacco. As regarded the suggestion that most of the paupers were either drunkards or criminals, he thought that most uncalled-for, shameless, and utterly unworthy of any member of the board. Mr STEPHEN THOMAS Oh, oh Mr CHAPMAN continued that tobacco and snuff were not luxuries, but actual necessaries no the aged and sick inmates. If they were going to take away all luxuries and only give absolute necessities, why did not the supporters of the resolution go the whole hog and only allow bread and water ? Rev. J. DAVIES Nonsense, nonsense. Father PHILIPSON, though averse to smoking, opposed the motion. They were at present face to face with the question of classification of paupers, and until that was done it would be unjusb to deprive a certain number of what was termed luxuries, but what were really to many poor men something akin almost to their daily bread. On a show of hands only the proposer and seconder voted for the motion, which was lost.
ARCHDEACON HOWELL.
ARCHDEACON HOWELL. A very complimentary article on Arehdeacou Howell appears in Monday's London Echo. In the course of his article, the writer says :—While the triumphant success which has attended the second reading of the Welsh Disestablishment Bill has doubtless overwhelmed many ecclesiastics with gloom and despair, it is interesting to note here and there men of light and leading inspired with such true faith in their order, their Church, and Christianity, as to hail the future with glad- ness, and Disestablishment, if not, perhaps, as a blessed release, certainly as an inevitable conse- quence of existing conditions. Amongst this elect minority stands out prominent, alike as preacher and patriot, bard and temperance orator, the venerable figure of David Howell, D.D., Arch- deacon of Wrexham. He is in the main a typical Welshman, who understands his countrymen per- fectly. and is loved and trusted by them. Born at Llungan, educated at Cowbridge, trained for the ministry at Abergavenny, he is Welsh in every fibre of his being. Archdeacon Howell is endowed with a grand personality. His handshake, rich, clear voioe, flashing eye, and genial smile cannot fail to make speedy impress upon all who meet him. Eloquent as a speaker of English, all the passion of bis nature bubbles up and bursts forth in an impetuous torrent when he suddenly diverts into the Welsh tongue. A genuine modesty characterises the man, and he says, with unfeigned sincerity, U I have no claim to be known beyond the limits of my own beloved Principality, where I am allowed to chatter as I please on my favourite topics of temperance and Welsh patriotism." Competent critics who have heard the archdeacon hold quite another opinion, and, whether it be at Westminster or at the Church Congress, he holds his own with any orator of the day.
Advertising
In conneobion with the provision made in the new Education Code of 1895 for the butter prac- tice of physical exercises among the children at. tending the elementary schools, the Education Department has ruled that expenditure on foot- balls, skipping-ropes, and other adjuncts to suit- able games will be considered legitimate applica- tions of the public funds of the school. THE editor of the Medical Annual, after a care ful examination of Cadbnry's Cocoa,apronouaces it to be both a food and a beverage of the. Inchest aualitg, 14
HAVERFORDWEST POLICEMEN CHARGED…
HAVERFORDWEST POLICEMEN CHARGED WITH ASSAULT. ;1 Serious Allegations. At the Shire Hall, Haverfordwest, on Monday ] —before the Mayor (Mr Wm. Williams) and Messrs Joseph Thomas, W. S. Ormond, T. L. James, and Colonel White—John Wm. Hum- phreys, berthing master, employed at the Mil ford Docks, was summoned for being drunk and disor- derly in Cartlett, Haverfordwest, on the 19th of January last. The defendant, Humphreys, charged P.S. Owen Evans, and P.C.'s W. G. Thomas, E. C. Lewis, and ex-P.C. Tudor for assaulting him on the same oooasion. The case which had several times been adjourned iu con. sequence of the illness of witnesses, excited great interest, the court being densely crowded during I the whole of the hearing. Mr W. J. Jones (Haverfordwest) represented Humphreys, while the case for the police was conducted by Mr Gilbertson (Pembroke). It was decided to bear the cases together.—Mr Jones opened the case for Humphreys first, and, in the course of his address, said he appeared with feelings of regret that day to conduct a charge of a very serious nature against four constables of the Pembroke- shire force, and he would only ask the Bench to follow the evidence carefully, feeling quite certain that if at the conclusion of the case they felt that the charge had been proved, they would, however unsavoury such a course might bo, notl shrink from imposing a fine. John Wm. Humphreys was the first witness examined. He said he bad been engaged as berthing master at Milford Docks for the last six years. He came to Haverfordwest on the 19th of January by the evening mail train. After doing some business witness went towards the station for the purpose of returning to Milford, and as it was raining he had his umbrella up. A man coming against him told him to keep his umbrella up, and gave it a blow. He looked round and saw a man who laughed in his face. Witness then said "There is more scoundrel than gentleman about you, sir." The man, who was in private clothes, told him to get on or he would up-end-his —— applecart. Witness stood out, and as the man advanced towards bim apparently to strike him, witness gave him a blow across the face, and told him he had made a mistake that time. The constable then ran off and went into the Tempeiance Hotel. Witness chased him and overtook him in the passage, when the proprietor came out and told witness to please go out. He at once complied, and walked back to where his cap and umbrella had been left. Two constables then came along, and witness walked towards them to tell them what had happened, but instead of listening to him one of the police- men pushed him. Witness remonstrated with him, and the other constable then came on and took him into custody, and led him towards the police station. When they got to the Castle Hotel yard, a man to his right said Frogmarch him," and witness replied, It is not necessary to frugmarch me. I will walk." He was, however, carried face down up the Castle Hill to the lock- up. On the way up one of the constables struck him between the eyes and cut his face open. After bbing put in the cell, P.S. Evans, who was in plain clothes, struck witness on the left jaw, knocking him insensible. When he got to him- self he sat up, and found in the bottom of the cell a pool of blood, which had run from wounds on the face and head. In a few minutes' time the same sergeant who had struck him brought a bucket of water into the cell, and without saying a word set it down on the floor and withdrew. Witness washed himself, and Supt. Francis shortly after came into the cell and charged witness with being drunk. He denied it, and said he was only dazed. Witness thsu applied to be let out on bail, and some time after his request was granted and he was liberated. Witness after he left the station went to the King's Arms Hotel to obtain a trap to drive him to Milford, but the landlord insisted upon him seeing a doctor first. Dr. Savoury subsequently stitched the wounds. As a result of the injuries he was confined to bed for 10 days. Cross-examined by Snpt. Francis, witness said he bad been a Rechabite for three years up till the night of the alleged assault. He denied at first that be drank anything except ginger brandy, but on being pressed admitted that before the assault he drank one glass of whisky in mistake. He did not to his knowledge say to Supt. Francis, Inspector James, and Police-sergeanb Evans that on the same night he got the top of his umbrella into a woman's face. After the constable who assaulted him ran off witness waited outside the house for the purpose of having an explanation from him. Dr. Savoury, examined by Mr Jones, who appeared for Humphreys, deposed to dreSF- ing the man's wounds, which consisted of several clean cuts, caused probably by blows.— Other evidence having been given, Mr Gilbertson (for the police) called Mr J. Wesley Davies, who deposed that ex-P.C. Tudor on the night ef the alleged assault rushed into his house, followed by Humphreys. Witness told Humphreys to go out, and he ab once did so, but remained outside, causing a great row and talking very loudly. In witness's opinion he was brain drunk." Mr Joseph Lewis said Humphreys was either drunk or mad. Ex-P.C. Tudor and P.C. Lewis were next examined, and both gave an emphatic denial to the charges of assault. The injuries to Humphreys's head most have been caused by his bead striking the ground while being frog marched to the Gaol.—The Bench dismissed'tbe charges of assault against the constables, and said that although Humphreys had undoubtedly been guilty of disorderly conduct, there was not sufficient evidence to prove that be was drunk, so that charge also would be dismissed. Humphreys was ordered to pay the costs of the case.
NORTH'S NAVIGATION COLLIERIES,…
NORTH'S NAVIGATION COL- LIERIES, LIMITED. The seventh ordinary general meeting of North's Navigation Collieries, Ltd. (Glamorgan- shire), was held on Tuesday afternoon at Winchester House. Old Broad-street, London, E.C. Col. J. T. North, chairman of the company, presided, and was supported by the following directors:—Mr E. L. Evan Thomas, Mr R. K. Lockett (Liverpool), and Mr J. J. Smith. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report and accounts, said that the shareholders would have seen from the report that the directors had given them 3% per cent. dividend. He was sorry they could noc pay more, bnt he pointed out tbat as he held 23,769 ordinary shares his interests and those of the shareholders were identical. He desired to draw attention to the faot that the main mine whioh ought to be returning them a great profit was not working at present owing to there being a dispute as to whether the company had got a six-feet seam, but he would caJlupon their manager to explain this matter. Mr RICHARD C. AUBREY, the manager at the mines, explained that some years ago the Caerau Pit was sunk down to a seam of coal which was supposed at the time to be the nine feet. Since then other pits had been put down under royalties all round about the place, and it had been proved since that what was supposed to be the nine feet was the six feet. which entitled the owner to a reduc- tion of 3d per ton, and 2d per ton for taking out brass, which amounted to 5d. The evidence in favour of the owners was very dear; indeed, it was so clear that the men refused to go to arbitration. Further proof would also be forth- coming that the owners were right in putting that coal down as six feet, and in this view they were supported by the^Masters' Association, the Mon- mouthshire and South Wales proprietors, and by other people. Altogether they had nob found the past year one of the best on aocoant of the difference of opinion about the seam of coal at the main mine out of which they should have been making a lot of money, bub he did not think it would be long before they came to an amicable arrangement in the matter. There could be no doubt about it that the company had met the men in the most fair manner, and they had never had any question with them. When he went down to Wales he told the men that he had been a working man himself, and that if there was any question that they wanted settled all they had to do was to come to him, and he would do anything for IIhem. The result of that had been that he had received two testi- monials from the workmen in Wales. He had done all he could to introduce this coal into households, but be found that the railway freights were too much for them. They were, however, now making arrangements to convey the coal by lighters, and if that succeeded he thought that instead of paying 8s or 7s 6d a ton bhey would be able to get it ab about 4s 6d. The resolution was carried, as was also another declaring a dividend of 5 per cent. on the preference shares and one of 3112 per cent, on the ordinary shares for the year. The retiiing directors, Mr Robert Harvey (Lontlon) and Mr John Waite (Liverpool) were re-elected, as were also the auditors, Messrs J. D. Chadwick and Son.
ISUICIDE AT LLANELLY.
SUICIDE AT LLANELLY. An exceedingly sad event occurred at Llanelly on Sunday night. A local tradesman, Mr Henry Lewis, engaged in the con- fectionery business in Station-road, committed suicide under most distressing circumstances Lewis bad for some time been in financial difficulties. Within the last few days this conditiou of affairs told sadly upon his mind, and his depression had been pitiful to a degree. It appears that he left home a littlebefore ten o'clock onSunday night, and an hour or two later portious of his clothing were dis- covered near the Old Castle pond by the watch- man of the tinplato works. Information was given to the police, and the body was recovered in the pond a few hours later. An inquest was held on the body on Monday afternoon ab the Station Hotel, before Mr W. B. Roderick, Coroner. The jury returned a verdict of Suicide whilst temporarily insane."
FIFTY~YEARS' SERVICE.
FIFTY~YEARS' SERVICE. Death of a Veteran at Devenpert. Gunner Toul, Royal Artillery, the only soldier in the British Army who had served continuously since the Crimea, died at Devon port on Saturday. He enlisted at Woolwich tn 1854 as an unlimited service man, and bad sen much foreign service. He was present at tbe taking of Sebastopol, and possessed the Chinese and Turkish medals. He would have completed 50 years' continuous service on Wednesday, when his funeral took place. _————
[No title]
Uranus is really a gigantic world, more than 60 times as large as oura. Its vast distance, now about one Million seven hundred million milee from the earth, is what oaoaes it to look 80x small.
ITHE OPEN COUNclief I
ITHE OPEN COUNclief I '} The above is the Lion of St. Mark, Venice. 11 i Attsi the Doge's Chamber in the Palace was a head of tgj Lion, with mouth open, into which persons secreW ^■ threw whatever was to meet the eye of the Doge. TT |0 place it at the head of this column to indicate til* 0" public letters are received by us, and also letters quiring answers on legal and general topics. 11 ———— "M AMATEUR. CYCLIST writes asking which is the best ro> £ line to Merthyr for cyclists, and how long it would ttf* him to get there, being only an amateur rider. this season of the year most country roads are L stony condition, but the most direct road is 0* "or doubtedly through Pontypridd and Merthyr Vale. bettJ to how long it would take him to get there, that or pends entirely upon his own proficiency and «•' termination. It should be done comfortably in t tkt hours on a modern machine by a fairly experience? rider, so that the most nnsophisticated tyro 8hoU»a accomplish the journey in less than fonr hours.. M.I ANCIENT RELICS (A.A.Y—We should advise you to STTB* > mit the pedigree and seal to the Curator 7?! Cardiff Museum. If he considers them genuine y"* f will probably get an offer for them. 1: CHANGE OP LANDLORDS (Deetee).— rt is open to* houseowner to sell or lease his proper.y as ne If^l g? without consulting his tenants. Their only right have the same notice from the new landlord as f1 the old, but apparently you are satisfied with to* 81 notice. j JOINT LIABILITY (Montgomery). — Where SEVWJJ persons agree to be jointly and severally liable, oreditor is entitled to damand payment of the who** *1 from any one of them. The remedy of that one is sue each of the others for his share. Po ADVERTISEMENT (I. R.).—We cannot tell what advef tisement you refer to. If it was forty years 3f°> your only way to find it is to search, or employ j,01 one to search, the files of whatever paper you thiB* it aDpeared in. tr. LANDLORD AND TENANT (Tom Moore).—The notice ygj have received entitles you to quit at the end of month instead of remaining at the inc-eased reD But if you take the other course, and remain on. J0* j will then have to give notice if you wish 10 leave. J. LEWIS (Mardy).—Had you not better bring THE OTT ject officially under the notice of the SanitarJ 1.1 Authority ? VALUER (Hwntw).—Your question is rather wide. W accepting one employment under the Council, vifc> .1 .<■ that of overseer, you do not disqualify yourself being employed by it in other capacities, e.g., valuer. But as the paid servant ot the Conncil )r could not act in any matter requiring impartiality to between the Council and some other party. u NAME AND ARMS (V.H. Y.)—It is a very simple thing T* change your name it maybe done by what metapbl' I sicianscall an act of conscious volition, evidenced Of 11 courseby outward conduct in henceforth using th«ne* ij name. But to assume arms is a more serious thin*> 111 and requires the payment of a tax to the There is an institution in London, known as Herald's College, Queen Victoria-street, which J jurisdiction in such matters as these, and wM" { estates are left under conditions like those fj* i( describe, it is usual for the devisee to apply to to* j college, which has certain forms and procedures of w* r own for solemnly investlllg a person with a new n and arms. We do not know exactly their scale • fees we should doubt if it amounted to quite such I large sum as you state, but if vou feel inclined •• f: indulge in the expensive luxury of being j by the College, you can write and inquire. UNCLAIMED PROPERTY (Uncle JSam).—If your ments are accurate, you appear to have a good chance of proving your claim to j of .this property. We should advise you to # 1 the matter in the hands of a responsible solicit0'' ) who will secure the necessary evidence, such 00 ) certificates of birth, death, etc., and then apply to the Court of Chancery. FULL AGE (Observer).—A woman under 21 cangto, lawfull y marry without her father's consent. The age of legal independence is the same for women for men, namely 21.. MORTGAGE (M.)—(a) The mortgagee's consent is Dot nepessary to the sale of the equity of (b) The assignment by the mortgagor to his cbaser must be by deed. (c) The sale of mortgaged property does not release the origU^J mortgagor from his personal liability for the SIHJJ borrowed, nor does it impose a personal liability the purchaser. If it is desired to do this, it by a separate contract, to which the consent must be obtained, FINE ON INFANT (W. M.)—A parent is not respoJIBlble for the criminal offences of his child. The fine has been imposed on the boy cannot be enforced, if it is not paid the boy will be liable to the alterna. tive term of imprisonment. LANDLORD AND TENANT (T. V.).—We do not under- stand what, it is you complain of. Surely, it is Dot" I hardship to be left for six months without your reD being demanded. You knew you would have to P*' it sooner or later. CYMRO. If any person who prepares pupils M correspondence for examination for sanitary certlOj cates wishes to have his name and address in our columns, he must pay the usual rates. }f PROMISSORY NOTE (Rhondda Bills).—If a person *■ sued on a bill or note he may set up the defence tn** there was no consideration, and under this plea could prove that the bill or note was given for •* excessive sum, and that the second one was merely* there was no consideration, and under this plea yc* could prove that the bill or note was given for excessive sum, and that the second one was merely* renewal. But you cannot set up these defence" against an innocent holder for value. YOUR SUBSCRIBER.—The Franklin testimonial will ■» presented at the next meeting of the Newport Watc* Committee, at 11 o'clock on Thursday, the 18th toj* You are auite in error in your statements as to tB*
Advertising
'II JJOMOCEA, HOMOCEA. IJ OUCHES THE SPOT. 1' HOMOCEA IN INFLUENZA. SORB THROATS AND COLDS IN THE BBAD. Read this :— SORB THROATS AND COLDS IN THE HIAO. Read this :— Put half a teaspoonful of Homocea in a and fill with boiling water, iuhale the I five minutes ac a time, it will wonderfuW relieve. JJOMOCEA CURES COLDS. JJOMOCEA CURES CHILBLAINS. READ TESTIMONIALS. CONVINCE YOURSELF. From 13th Hussars, Dundalk, February 1,189* | •' Sir,—Being in a barrack-room, and seeinl the effect produced by using Homocea, £ have come to a united opinion that a test* monial from men whom it has done somucl food is the least we can do for it. For mysetfj have only used it for chapped hands, after using your Homocea once, there was al need for a repetition. Another main in tM room, Pte. Dick, has been suffering from' severe paiu in the chest for over nine months 1 after using your Homocea four times he fia great relief, and after using 6ne box he vraI thoroughly cured. Another man, Pte. Single ton, used it for pains in the back and chert and it cured him in less than a week. Another man, Pte. Stewart, has been suffering froUl severe cold in the head and face, and bad geat trouble in breathing after using youl omocea twice he could breathe quite freelyi and in less than six days he was quite cured In fact I could mention a dozen cases in on< squadron where it has produced marveUoaf cures.—Hoping that this will help to advertise your Homocea, we are, respectfully, sir, Pte. J. H. POLLARD Pte. JOHN DICK "Pte. O. STEWART "Pte.G.SINGLETON.' JJOMOCEA CURES CHILBLAINS. 9, Arundel-street. Strand, London, W.C. I "Dear 8ir,-It may interest you to knov that I was persuaded to use Homocea fot chilblains, to which I am a martyr, and thai after two applications the chilblains dis appeared, though this severe weather is stil with us as I write.—Yours truly, ETHEL COMYMS. Homocea Company." HOMOCEA CURES PILES. 26, Burtop-street, Lower Tooting, S.W.. February 15,189& Gentlemen,-I feel duty bound to acknoW ledge the great benefit I have received frott your Homocea. I have suffered on and off for five or sis years with that terrible complaint, Hern or rhoids. Some time|back I was advised by Ml Gory to try your Homocea and I am thankfni to say, under the good hand of God. aftef three or four applications, I was greatlf relieved, and am now quite cured. I hav« also tried Homocea for my children, who bavq had very bad coughs, and am happy to say ft has given great satisfaction. I should advise anyone suffering troll Piles to give your Homocea a. trial.—I remain, yours truly, 11 A. W. BKNTLET." P.S.—I regret very much that I am uaabJI to send herewith an order, but my means an limited, or I would order a 10s tin, I have øacI. faith in Homocea." j JJOMOCEA CURES RHEUMATISM. Garloch Hotel, Ross-shire, Sept. 21,18M Messrs The Homocea Company.Birkenhead Gentlemen,—This is to certify that I hav« found Homocea a splendid remedy for every- thing that I have used it for, such as Cute Bruises, Rheumatism, and Lumbago. Every. body should have a box of Homocea.—Trastinj it will shortly be generally used, I am, gentle men, JOHN CialusHOLK." JJOMOCEA MAKES HAIR GROW. Coast Guard Scation, Hoylake. To the Homocea Co., Birkenhead. Gentlemen,—Some years ago, while serving in H.M.S. Serapisas stoker, I became quit* bald, and was so for years tried many so called hair restorers, but no use. sou months ago I commenced to use Romocea. and i \in a short time a fresh crop of hair came on. Anyone doubting this may call and see me, and they can have my personal evidence. Yours truly, HENRY CURTIS." H OMOCEA. HOMOCEA Is sold by all Chemists at Is lVjd and 2s Id pet box, or direct from the Wholesale Agency, 21. Hamilton square, Birkenhead, at Is 3d and 3ft London Depot Hooper, Chemist, 43, Kinf William-street, KC.; but all chemists sell It Indian Depot: (Wholesale and Retail) fat Homocea, 2nd Line Beach, Madras, F. lit Bowden, Agent. JJOMOCEA SOAP. An Emollient Soap. Superior to any in &1M n' market as a Cleansing, Sanitary Soap. Deli cately Scented. Invaluable in the nursery. U 3d and 9d a cake, or 3s and 2s a box. E XA-INO (HOMOCEA FORT). As the fabove indicates, EXAlNO is tile strongest form of HOMOCEA that we maket and Touches the Spot" in deep-seated paiufc either Rheumatic or otherwise. We feel fuBI able to guarantee this, and the only guarantee that we can make is, that if the purcfaasei tails to receive relief, and the box of EXAINO is purchased direct from us, we will in every ease where complaint is made return tilt money. It is recommended very especially for Aflee* tions of the Joints, but also in Headache ai well as Stiff Neck it has only to be used to III appreciated. Sold only in one sise, 2s 9d M box, of all chemists: by post, 3s from iht Homocea Oo.'s Offices, 21, HMUtoWMMI Birkenhead. DI8