The Cardiff Times

WHAT THE MEN WANT. Here is the railwaymen's charter-the list of concessions which the companies have been called upon to grant, and which they have flatlv refused to concede :— .àat eight hours constitute the standard day for all men concerned in the movement of vehicles, viz., drivers, firemen, guards, shunters, signalmen also motor-men, con- ductor's, and gatemen on electric railways. That ten hours be the maximum working day for all other classes of railwaymen, except platelayers. That no man be called out for duty with less than nine hours' rest. That a minimum of rate and a quarter be paid for all time worked over standard hours. That Sunday duty be regarded as distinct from the ordinary week's work, and that a minimum of rate and a half be paid for all time worked between midnight on Saturday and midnight on Sunday. That an immediate advance of 2s per week be given to all grades of railwaymen who do not receive the eight-hour day, and that all grades in the London district be paid a minimum of 3s per week above the wages paid in country districts. With two exceptions-the North-Eastern and the Yerkes groups of underground lines in London-the companies have refused to recog- nise the Amalgamated Society of Railway Ser- vants, and have declared that they will deal only with employees or bodies of employees who wish to ventilate grievances.

ISSUES AT STAKE. Nearly S,1,300,000,000 Invested in Railways. Here are some figures which show the enor- mous material interests at stake. They are taken from an official return covering the year 1906,presented to both Houses of Parliament: Length of railway lines open for traffic in the United Kingdom, 23,074 miles. Authorised capital, £ 1,385,799,000. Paid up capital, £ 1,237,375,000. Number of passengers carried, exclusive of season ticket holders, 1,240,333,000. Quantity of goods carried, 488,689.000 tons. Number of miles travelled by trains, 414,217,000. Gross receipts from passenger traffic and mails, £ 49,882,000. Gross receipts from goods traffic, £ 58,393,000. Total gross receipts, £ 117,242,000. Working expenditure, £ 72,837,000. Net receipts, E44,405,000.

SEVERE FALLS IN STOCKS. Railway Shares Decline from 1 Ya, to 3 Points. On the Stock Exchange on Saturday a severe fall was caused by the latest reports as to the attitude of the Amalgamated Society of Rail- way Servants after considering the directors' uncompromising reply to the society's demand for recognition. The decline set in on Friday, when it became definitely known that Mr Bell had been deputed to announce the society's decision yesterday. But on Saturday the market's anxiety was enhanced by the un- official forecasts of his statement, and some idea of the extent of the two days' fall may be gathered from the following typical in- stances :— Stock. Thursday. Sat. FalL Brighton Deferred.. 75! 72! 3 Great Eastern 6§i 65 If Great Northern Def. 37 35$.. 14 Great Western 120| 119 l| Midland Deferred 60 58 £ 11 North-Eastern. 1341 133 It South-Eastern Def. 33 J 311 ii South-Western Def. 431 42! If In estimating the true purport of these de- clines, it should be remembered that the rail- way market has become so narrow during the investor's neglect of recent years that it is very susceptible to adverse influences, especially after a rise such as it enjoyed during the earlier days of the past week. In fact, if Saturday's prices are compared with those ruling a week ago very little net change is shown.

Position in South Wales. INTERVIEWS WITH MR BELL In the course of a conversation with our Manchester representative on Sunday, Mr Bell said South Wales would be equally concerned in and affected by the strike if one took place with other parts of the country. Asked if the men's association was strong in membership in South Wales, he replied in the affirmative, and added that the men there were quite as determined as those in other parts of the country. Engine drivers, platelayers, shunters, as well as porters and other servants were among the members. He hoped the ex- treme result would not take place, but if it did the responsibility would rest with the directors of the different companies, or rather their managers. South Wales, he said, might be relied on to go for the just claims that were being made. Ballot papers would be sent out in the course of the next few days, and collected as soon as possible. In about a fortnight it would be known whether there was to be a strike or not. South Wales "Solid." Prior to his departure for Manchester Mr Bell was interviewed by our London represen i tative. Asked as to the procedure which would be followed. Mr Bell said The ballot will be, of course, to ask the men whether or not i they are in favour of handing in their notices. ¡ To each man a little circular will be sent setting forth the whole history of the move- ment, the efforts made, and the result so far. The thing is going on, and is not going to be left any longer." And how are you prepared for eventualities in South Wales ?" This, of course, is a general thing. It does not affect one part of the country more than another—not at this stage, anyhow. But in the way of organisation South Wales and Mon- mouthshire is solid. I am saying that taking the whole—not selecting any railways—taking the whole, including the G.W.R. and all the others. On the whole of the railways in your district I should say we have got 80 per cent. to 85 per cent. of the men in. Some of the railways are far better organised than that." Which?"—" What one called the small Welsh railways, the Barrv, Tali, and so on, Still the G.W. men in South Wales are in a very fine state of organisation. Yes, we mean to go on. But, of course, it is for the men to sav now." The ] £ .C.. said Mr Bell, will meet on Monday, October 28th, to consider the ballot papers received and to order action. The members of the Executive Committee when they separated on Saturday, anticipated that they would be kept in London the whole of the week commencing October 28th. They have arranged that the joint meeting of the Executive Committee and of the Provisional Committee shall take place on Friday, November 1st, so it is probable the final decision will be come to on that day or the day following. It does not necessarily follow that if the majority is in favour of handing in notices, that the notices will be handed in. A bare majority will hardly warrant the com- mittee in taking the extreme step. The majority must be such a one as will leave not the slightest doubt that the society has the members-as a whole behind any action that may be taken. The committee, however, it may be added, has not the faintest doubt that there will be such a majority.

FEELING IN LOCAL CENTRES. As soon as the decision of the Executive was made kjown by Mr Bell our representatives in the principal centres of South Wales and Mon- mouthshire interviewed several railwaymen who should be in a position to gauge the opinions entertained by their fellow-workmen. But of course it is impossible to say that they forecast with anything like accuracy the direc- tion in which the men are likely to cast their votes. It is interesting to note that in respect of one of the demands put forward in the all grades programme—" That a week's wages be guaranteed to all men whose conditions of service compel them to devote their whole time to the companies "—this has been already conceded on the TYiff, Barry, and Rhymney systems. Cardiff, Inquiry made at Cardiff showed that the decision of the men in this district is likely to be practicallj unanimous in support of the Executive. It is felt that the society has arrived at a great crisis, and that its future existence will depend upon its strength at this juncture. The general body of men in Cardiff feel that unless the society now makes a bold stand for recognition of the men's representa- tives, and sees the matter through to a finish, its continued existence as a Trade Union will be jeopardised. At Cardiff, as in every district, there has been a large addition to the ranks of the society. Newport. At Newport railwaymen who are in a posi- tion to make an estimate of the society's strength declare that over 80 per cent. of the men will be in favour of giving notices to ter- minate contracts I go up and down the Western Valleys every day," said a guard to our representative last night, and know that during the past two months the railwaymen have lost all their past indifference and are really in earnest about matters this time. The same is the case, I may say, in the Eastern Valley. A leading official of the Newport branch of the Amalgamated Society of Rail- way Servants, which has over 500 members, was not prepared to speculate as to what would be the outcome ol the ballot of the Newport railwaymen, but judging from the manner in which they had been joining the society during the past few weeks, he could say they had never been more in earnest in securing better conditions that they were at present. They enrolled 25 new members last lodge night, and at previous lodge meetings they had been enrolling new members faster than ever before. On the other hand, a signalman who was spoken to by our Newport correspondent, said that he had been in the society when a young man, hut as soon as he found out that striking was one of their platforms he refused to pay another penny, and was not now a member of it. He did not think half of the men at Newport were in the society. Nob many of the signalmen were members, and therefore he didn't think those men would strike- Swansea. There has in recent years been a great influx at Swansea of railwaymen into the A.S.R.S., and now there are considerably more than two to one of railwaymen of the district engaged on the four railways running into the town mem- bers of the society. These are reported to be very determined to obtain the terms demanded by the Executive, and in the event of a ballot those competent to gauge the opinion say there will be an overwhelming majority in favour of strike if necessary to secure the terms. A be rd a re. Our correspondent, wiring on Sunday night, says :—I have had the opportunity during the night of discussing the situation with several of the members of the A.S.R.S. as well as with some of the officials of the railway companies in the district. On the T.V.R. from Aberdare to Abercvnon about 85 per cent. of the men eligible to join are members of the society, but I am doubtful as to the readiness of the majority of the men to vote in favour of a strike. Their experience of their last strike on the TaBE has been a severe one, and it is very doubtful indeed whether the three-fourths majority necessary will vote for that course. On the Great Western Railway line the men between Hir- wain and Quakers' Yard are well organised, although a large number of enginemen and stokers are members of the Associated Society of Enginemen, and it is in this respect that some difficulty will later on arise. The signalmen in this district have had their positions recently much improved, practically all the boxes now being on an eight hours day, and thus their grievances a.re much minimised. I am told that in case of a strike the Great Western Railway are in a position to fill a large number of their most important boxes with railway pensioners who are quite competent to undertake the work, and who have only recently been superannuated. How far they will be able to rely upon this is, however, a difficult question to decide. The impression I have arrived at after care- ful discussion with representatives of the different grades in the service of the G.W.R. and T.V.R as well as some of the officials of both companies, is that whilst a considerable majority of the members of the A.S.R.S. will vote in favour of a strike the majority will not reach 75 per cent. However, the feeling against the companies for the refusal to recog- nise the society is very strong, and may lead to the necessary majority being obtained. Some of the men declare that they feel so strongly on this point that though they will not. vote in favour of a strike yet if they were called out as the result of the ballot they would come out. Members of the A.S.E. with whom I discussed the matter assured me that if the members of the A.S.R.S. would come out they too would do so, although they pointed out that they would be in a very precarious position as they would not be entitled to strike pay from their society, their executive not having sanctioned the strike,and of course they could not obtain any financial aid from the A.S.R.S. Under the rules, before a strike can be ordered at least 75 per cent. of the men must vote in favour of that course. One of the diffi- culties the A.S.R.S. has to contend with is the fact that the engine drivers and stokers on the principal railways are members of two separate societies—the A.S.R.S. and the A.S. E. -26,000 belonging to the former and 17,000 to the latter. There are other societies in which sections of the railway employees are organised such as the Railway Clerks' Society and the Society of Railway Carmen, whilst most of the fitters belong to the Amalgamated Society of Engineers. None of those are pledged to sup- port the A.S.R.S. If they order a strike now will the railway employees who are members of these societies take part in the ballot ? Barry. An official of the Barry branch of the AA R-S. expressed no surprise at the decision of the executive. The men. he said, would now have an opportunity to declare their opinions. As to Barry, he remarked that on the previous Sunday 1,000 persons attended a meeting of the local branch of the A.S. R.S., and a resolu- tion was unanimously passed declaring for the right of representation before the manage- ment. On this they were all united. As to whether they would favour a strike, that was another matter, and it was not certain there would be a strike, eyen though the majority favoured that course; for other means would be employed before that occurred. On the Barry system the men would stand)irm to their original decision, viz., to give the executive power which they might wield or not at discre- I tion. Ninety per cent. of the Barry men were organised^ and new members were still being enrolled. Pontypridd and Rhondda. The general feeling among the Pontypridd and Rhondda railwaymen, as ascertained by our representative, is one of determination to abide by the guidance of the society. The permanent grades in the district are well organised, it being computed that 94 per cent. are in the Union, and it is the opinion of representative men that the majority of rail- way employees will vote for bringing matters to an issue on the question of representation. iti-i pointed out that on the coalfield the principle of recognition of the men's Union has been productive of the most harmonious relations between employers and employed. Apart from the justice of the demand, railway- men felt that there would be far less likeli- hood of friction between the local manage- ment and themselves if the demand were con- ceded. and grievances adjusted between em- ployers and representatives of the men. Mer'hyr. A representative of the Merthyr railway- men, upon being interviewed, said he thought the general feeling would be in favour of sub- mitting notices. There was, he said, a belief t =r. ¡ that if recognition of the right of representa- tion was not secured now, the present genera- tion of railwaymen would never realise it. To tender notices would of course be an extreme course, and some of the older men, with many years of service and much to lose, would be averse to it, but so far as he understood the views of the majority of the men, they were in favour of the extreme step being taken. A servant of the T.V.R. Company expressed the opinion that the Taff men would not be disposed to go all the way, for the last strike had left memories much too fresh to wish for a repetition of strike experiences.

CONFERENCE SOUGHT FOR. No Immediate Crisis." Mr G. J. Wardle, M.P., tho editor of the Railway Review." who returned to London from Harrogate on Monday night after attend- ing a railwaymen's demonstration there, gave hi" views on the coming struggle. "Thero is no immediate crisis," said Mr Wardle, who is one of the chief officials of the Amalgamated Society. The necessary machinery that has to be put into operation before nnything serious can occur will un- doubtedly take time, and we hope thai in the meantime better counsels will prevail with the companies. It is well known that although several chairn1.en and managers have declared themselves as hostile to the demands of the men, there is a not inconsiderable minority of those in power who do not agree with the stub- born attitude which has been exhibited up to the present moment. The majority of the men arc anxious for a peaceful settlement, although there is a strong feeling on the part of many that nothing but a strike will settle the matter. I am quit, sure, however, that every means will be tried to effect a settlement before having recourse to extreme action. Both the leaders and the men realise that a strike is a very serious thing for everybody concerned, and are therefore disposed to exhaust every means at their command before falling back upon this barbarous method. The ballot papers," added Mr Wardle, are to be despatched to the various distri- buting centres in a few days, but in the mean- time an endeavour will be made to secure a conference with the raihvay managers with the object of defining the real points at issue."

MEETING AT FISHGUARD. On Sunday the Goodwich branch of the A.S.R.S. held meetings at Fisbguard respect- ing the all grade movement, and were numer- ously attended. The chief speaker was Mr T. J. Robinson, Newport, member of the Execu- tive A.S.R.S., who dealt in a vigorous manner with the question at issue. The society had pledged the Executive to war, and it was for the members to stand loyally by and lend support to the movement. They wanted a writtenarid signed agreement of the companies to recognise the A.S.R.S. At the close of the afternoon meeting a res01ution was passed pro- testing against the action of the railway com- panies in refusing to recognise the officials of the men's society, and pledging loyalty to the Executive in whatever attitude they may deem it necessary to adopt to bring the move- ment to a successful issue.

IN THE PROVINCES. At a mass meeting of railway servants at Horsham last evening it was announced that a ballot would be taken on the question of the withdrawal of labour. The message from Mr Bell expressed the hope that the vast majority of the men would support the executive. The railwaymen of Crewe I eceived at a mass meeting yesterday the decision of the execu- tive which Mr Bell, M.P., announced at Man- chester The announcement was made by Mr Emblem, a member of the Executive Com- mittee, who in the course of a vigorous address said the Amalgamated Society could stop the whole of the railways in the country. A resolution promising loyal support to the executive was passed. At Derby a largply attended meet- ing was addressed by Mr Walter Hud- son, M.P., who. supporting a reso- lution declaring the time had arrived when the demand of the railway workers for more favour- able conditions of labour sbould be conceded, ridiculed the idea that these demands were inconsistent with the position of railway com- panies or that they would have the effect of driving trade out of the country. Every rail- way worker, whether a member of the Union or not, would have to realise his position in the near future.

"OUTSIDE CONTROL" QUESTION. In the current issue of the Railway Gazette," Sir George Livesey, chairman of the South Metropolitan Gas Company, referring to the dispute between the Amalgamated Society of Railway Ser- vants and the railway company, says :—• No man can serve two masters, and in such public services as railways and gas, where the stoppage of the service would be a public disaster, there must be no-divided alle- giance. We had five months' experience of it in 1889, when everything we did or proposed was referred to the Gasworkers' Union, and the orders of their officials taken and acted upon. All control of our retort houses was lost, the union being master there. To secure the allegiance ui our other men, we introduced our profit-sharing, now co-partnership, system. The union called out all our stokers and retort house men, and the company and its employees again became free men. Never again will we allow any union to intervene our co-partnership so unites us that there is neither crack nor crevice for the thin edge of the wedge of hisunion to enter. My letter in the Railway Gazette of a year ago brought me several inquiries from railway chairmen and general managers, which resulted in my obtaining a good deal of information which convinced me that co-partnership in railway work is not only quite practicable, but I also believe, advisable."

ABERYSTWYTH COUNCILLOR SUMMONED BY HIS WIFE. Police Court Proceedings. At the Aberystwyth Petty Sessions on Wed- nesday morning, before the Mayor (Mr Robert Doughton), Mr William Thomas, nd Mr David James, Frederick Morgan, Brynymor-terrace, a member of the Aberystwyth Town Council, was summoned by his wife, Mrs Margaret Mor- gan, 17, South Marine-terrace, with deserting her. Mr W. P. Owen appeared for the com- plainant, and Mr Woosnam, Newtown, for the defendant. The complainant said that she was married to the defendant in June, 1905, and that there was one child of the marriage. She had to complain of his conduct towards her a month after being married. He was always in drink and used very nasty language, and he knocked her about. On account of his cruelty she left him twice during the first year of their marriage. On the Wednesday before she left she had a few words with the defendant's father. The defendant came in and lie took the father's part. His father told the witness to go and find a place somewhere else, and the defendant said Yes, 111 be jolly glad to get rid of you. I have repented ever getting married to you. She went away, and returned to Aberystwyth, where she met the defendant in Terrace-road. She walked with him to the back of 57, Terrace-road, and on the way she pleaded with him to take her back, but he slammed the door and told her to go back to her friends. He had passed her on the streets several times without taking any notice of her. Mr Woosnam asked her if she would go back to him, and she replied that she would. Mr Woosnam then addressed the Bench, and he said that the defendant was prepared to take her back, and the magistrates decided to ad- journ the case for a week, and they expressed the hope that they would come to an under- standing by then.

YOUTH'S CAREER OF CRIME. Clergyman's Nephew's Folly. Before Mr Robert Wallace, K.C., at the Newington September General Sessions, which opened on Wednesday, Alexis Minos, 19, pleaded guilty to having stolen a bag, con- taining clothing, value jE4 10s, the property of Anthony Martin and Mary Rose Hopkins a cigarette case, a whistle, and a pair of bino- cular glasses, belonging to Pryce Hamilton, of Ryde, Isle of Wight; and a watch and chain, £50. the property of Ellis Abraham Franklin, at Eastbourne. Mr Curtis Bennett, prosecuting for theL. and S. W. Railway, went into the details of the case, from which it ap- peared tha.t Mr Martin's bag was stolen from Waterloo Station, the prisoner ordering the porter to remove it. In his room at the Euston Station Hotel, propertywas found connecting him with several burglaries and other rob- beries in different parts of the country. Detective-Sergeant Course said the prisoner had had the advantage of an excellent educa- tion. His parents died when he was very young, and he had been brought up under the guardianship of the Rev. Peter Oliver Minos, a clergyman at Edmonton. He was educated at Bromyard, Worcester, and was trained as an engineer at the East London Technical College, remaining there until the latter part of last year. His uncle then got him a situation at Chelmsford with a firm of engineers, but in June last he left without reason. After this be toured the country, putting up at hotels, leav- ing without meeting his bills, and committing the various offences. The learned judge said the offences were of a very serious character, but as the young man had his- future before him he did not wish to destroy his chances. For this reason he would undergo only nine months' imprisonment in the second division.

-t_- DEATH UNDER OPERATION. At Westminster on Wednesday an inquest was held ou Reginald Gregory Lund, aged 46, organising secretary of the League of Mercy, who died in Charing Cross Hospital. Medical evidence was to the effect that deceased died under a somewhat minor operation, but had previously successfully withstood two very serious operations. In the first he had a can- cerous growth removed from the tongue, and in the second the operation lasted two and a half hours. The operation under which he died was absolutely necessary, and death was due to heart failure accelerated by the effects of anaesthetics and previous operations. A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned. The Coroner said it was evident deceased was treated with extra- ordinary skill, and the legal representative of the family expressed their gratitude therefor.

UNITED METHODISTS. State Civic Function. LORD MAYORS AT CONFERENCE Speech by Sir William Crossman. Wesley's Chapel. City-road, London, was packed on Wednesday morning, when Lord Mayors and Mayoresses paid a State civic func- tion to the United Methodist Conference. Sir William Purdie Treloar, Bart., the Lord Mayor of London, attended by his mace bearers and others, carrying the City insignia of office, arrived punctually at half-past 10 o'clock. Following Sir William came Sir William Cross- man, J.P.. Lord Mayor of Cardiff; Mr A. J. Smith, J .P., Lord Mayor of Bristol Mr J. Hepworth, J.P.. the Lord Mayor of Leeds the Sheriffs of London, the Mayors of several pro- vincial towns, and other public men. It was stated that all the Mayors were members of the United Methodist Church. Seats in the gallery were occupied by the Lady Mayoress of Leeds. the Lady Mayoress of Cardiff, and the wives of a number of provincial Mayors and sheriffs. The civic party had a, very cordial reception, and the National Anthem was sung. A Mayor's Nest. The Lord Mayor of London said even a. Lord Mayor might 'be almost appalled by such a gathering, surrounded as he was by so many municipal representatives from the country. The platform was full of Lord Mayors and Mayors. Some people indeed might call it a Mayor's nest. (Laughter.) In his/year of office he had taken part in many interesting and memorable functions, but none was more interesting and memorable than the present. That morning he had had the pleasure of entertaining these Lord Mayors at breakfast, that in itself being an unual occurrence and in his State coach four Lord Mayors rode from the Mansion House to that chapel. Fortunately, he was going out of office soon, and therefore any effect which that interesting ride had on the coach would not matter to him. (Laughter.) A little while ago he was in Cornwall, and there he met a very interesting old man who,he believed, was a Methodist. At all events, he knew he was a livery stable-keeper. One day he asked the old man how it was that he looked so young and well at so advanced an age. He replied No smoke no whiskey; plenty of good society plenty of fresh air and last, but not least, never cross a bridge till you come to it." He (the Lord Mayor) did not smoke—(cheers) —and did not drink whiskey. (Renewed cheer- ing.! lie was in pleasant society he had been getting plenty of fresh air at Harrogate, and he was obeying the last piece of advice by not having prepared a speech. (Laughter.) He was there to offer them on the part of the City of London a hearty welcome-the heartiest they could give. He was proud to welcome them on that interesting occasion, which marked the joining together of three societies —an event which could do nothing but. good to the whole community. They had with them three Lord Mayors who each represented one of the societies, and another Lord Mayor who, although he was not a member,had the greatest sympathy with them. He believed there was only one religion—the religion of doing good and being good. He did not say it in any boast- ful spirit, but he entered his year of office with that feeling and intention. He thought that a man who rose to a position such as his should do what he could to use the office for the benefit of his fellow creatures. The President, amid loud cheers, said the Cornishman referred to by the Lord Mayor was his brother-in-law. Sir Wjlliam Crossman's Speech. The Tvord Mayor of Cardiff was called upon to propose a vote of thanks to Sir W. Treloar. The whole assembly rose and cheered again and again, and waved their handkerchiefs. Sir William Crossman said the reception had taken him rather by surprise. When he looked at the agenda he saw that his name was at the bottom of the list of speakers, and he had hoped to gain something from earlier speeches upon which to base his own remarks- Perhaps he had better not say that everyone liked to benefit in that way. This was indeed a very happy day, and he considered it was a great privilege to be present. He himself as a Bible Christian had never claimed to be a better Christian than any other Christian. He would confess he had not been as good a Christian as he should like to be, but he thanked God He had spared him to be there that morning to take part in that great union. He believed that union was strength and that union did good. There was no fear of the union they were there that day to inaugurate and cele- brate. The whole three Methodist bodies had been working for one common good for a great number of years, and he was one who believed thoroughly in that union. He had heard there were some of their mcmbers who were not yet quite prepared to fall in with them, but they would no doubt come into line with them ere long, if they felt, as he felt that morning, that it was the Spirit alone that moved them. When they left that platform they should all be onc people there was but one in heaven, which they all hoped to reach, and where he understood there would be no United Metho- dists. (Laughter.) They would all be one. The Lord Mayor of Bristol, in seconding the vote of thanks, expressed his concurrence with the remarks of the Lord Mayor of Cardiff, his speech being so full of homely sentiments. The Lord Mayor of Leeds supported the vote of thanks, which was carried with acclamation, and the Lord Mayor of London briefly replied. Telegram to the King. Alderman T. Snape, of Liverpool, proposed that a telegram should be sent to the King. His Majesty had just returned from the Con- tinent, and it was agreeable to find the affec- tion, regard, and esteem entertained by the people of foreign countries in respect of his; Majesty's efforts in the cause of human brother- hood and international peace. The Conference unanimously agreed to the proposition, and a message was sent in the fol- lowing terms :— The United Methodist Church, the Act of Parliament respecting the organisation of which so recently received the Royal assent, desires with profound respect to assure his Majesty, at this its first conference, of its fidelity to his august person, its loyalty to the State of the Realm, and its grateful appreciation of his continued and successful efforts in the high Christian cause of inter- national peace. Thanksgiving Furrd. Details in connection with the thanksgiving fund of one hundred thousand guineas were discussed. Sir Charles Skelton said he was exceedingly sorry Mr Robert Bird could not I be with them that day. It would do them all good to see him there--(hear, hear)—and to re- collect how much he had done how he had desired this unity, and how he had seen the success of his work. In the absence of Mr Robert Bird, however, they must remember that he was not the only Robert—(laughter and hear, hear)—in the world, for they had there on the pjafcform another Robert—Mr Robert Turner—who had given them the most munificent donation of 5,000 guineas. (Loud applause.) Another collection was made for the Hundred Guineas Thanksgiving Fund, and among the contributions are 1,000 guineas from Mr Malasom, J.P., Walthamstow.

ENCOUNTER WITH POLICE. A Wedding Deferred. There were unusual features in a case in- vestigated at some length by Mr Baggaliay at Marylebone on Wednesday. Before the court was a carman named Fredk. William Austin. aged 24, of Amberley-road, Paddington, who was charged with violently assaulting P.S. Goodall, obstructing him' in the execution of his duty, and assaulting P.C. Perry. About four o clock in the afternoon the sergeant saw the prisoner standing outside a public house in the Amberley-road, with his brother, and knowing that the latter was adeserter from the Army, he endeavoured to arrest him. The man ran away, however. Instead of giving chase the sergeant went into the Harrow-road and induced the driver of a Carter Paterson van to let him ride in the vehicle and drive him down the Amberley- road. Some distance down the road he again saw the deserter talking to the prisoner, and at once jumped out of the van and arrested him- The prisoner, it was alleged, then got behind the sergeant and dealt him a terrific blow be- hind the right ear, causing him to collapse- He ran away, but was arrested by P.C. Perry, whom he struck violently on the jaw, and when at the police station he threw him- self down. tried to bite. kicked in all direc- tions, and screamed and shouted at the top of his voice. But later he expressed sorrow, and apologised to the sergeant for what had hap- pened. The sergeant was found to be suffering from concussion of the brain, and was placed on the sick list. The prisoner, in his defence, declared that the blow behind the sergeant's ear was given by his brother. He then made some serious allegations against the police. You knocked me about, all the lot of you," he said, you dirty scoundrels, when you found I was nearly dead. You rushed at me and kicked me ahnost to death. I am black and blue all over, and since I have been at Brixton [ have been in the infirmary." He explained that he ran away to avoid trouble, as I am going to get married to-morrow, if I have the luck." Previous convictions of six weeks' hard labour for assaulting the police, and 20s or 14 days for drunkenness were proved against him, and he was sentenced by Mr Baggaliay to six months' hard labour.

RHONDDA TRAMWAYS & T.V.R. BRIDGES At Westminster Palace Hotel, London, to- day Mr Dalrymple. who has been nominated by the Board of Trade, will sit as arbitrator in a dispute between the Taff Vale Railway Co. and the Rhondda Tramways authority with regard to laying the tramways that cross the company's bridges. Mr J. Eldon Bankes, K.C., and Mr 1-1. O. Beasley (instructed by Messrs Ingiedew and Sons) are for the T.V.R., and Mr S. T. Evans, K.C., M.P., and Mr Trevor Lewis (instructed by Messrs Morgan, Bruce and Nicholas) are for the company.

Injustice to Wales SECONDARY SCHOOL GRANTS. I IMPORTANT STATISTICS. Comparison with English Schools. At a meeting of the Secondary Schools Com- mittee of the Cardiff Education Committee held on Wednesday, Alderman Trounce pre- siding, the director (Mr J. J. Jackson) sub. mitted, as requested by Councillor Lewis Mor- gan, a report setting forth a comparison of the regulations for secondary schools for England and Wales with respect to grants, as laid down by Mr McKenna's new scheme. He stated that the method of calculating the number of scholars upon which grant is pay- able in an English school, viz.; upon prac- tically the average number of scholars on Ls register (Art. 38) is more favourable than Art. 33 of the Welsh regulations." A summary of the various grants showed that a pupil attending a secondary school in England could during his whole course earn 1:3,4, whilst a pupil attending a Welsh secondary school would earn only 217 15s. The report con- cluded with a table showing the grants which the Cardiff secondary schools would earn under the new regulations and the amounts which they would obtain were they based on the scale for English schools. The table is as follows:- Difference Grant Grant in favour under English under Welsh ofEngiish regulations, regulations schools. Municipal Secondary School 3,809 2,780 1,029 Intermediate (boys) 680 542 138 Intermediate (girls).. 600 497 103 £5,089 £3,819 £1,210 councillor Lewis Morgan observed that he felt very seriously on the matter. He could not understand the difference of treatment between the English and Welsh schools, especi- ally as they took a very keen interest in edu- cation and made many sacrifices for their children. He was surprised that they did not T?je^Ve ,ra0re encouragement from the Board of Education than they did. On the contrary they got every discouragement by being placed in a position less favourable than the English schools. He took it that the difference applied not only to their own schools at Cardiff, but also to secondary schools all over Wales. Tak- ing the whole of Wales together the difference m the amount of grant was a big item. He proposed that a joint meeting of representa- tives of secondary schools in Wales should be called together to take the matter into con- sideration and decide whether some good might not result from joint action in waiting on Mr McKenna. He (Mr Lewis Morgan) had taken great trouble to understand the explanation given by the Minister for Education, but per. sonally he was not at all satisfied with it. (Hear, hear). The result at any rate was that in Cardiff they were penalised to the extent of £ 1,270. Alderman Ed. Thomas said he quite agreed that the explanation was not satisfactory. He was greatly surprised that the Welsh members of Parliament had been satisfied with such a small amount of information on the subject. It meant in Cardiff alone a farthing rate every year. He seconded the proposition of Mr Lewis Morgan. The Chairman also supported the motion, which was carried unanimously, and Mr Jack- son was asked to communicate with other educational bodies and fix a date for the meet- ing.

NEWS IN WAR TIME. At the final sitting of the Institute of Jour- nalists' conference at Scarborough on Wednes- day the question of the dissemination of news in time of war was considered. On the motion of the new president, Mr Alfred F. Robbins, a resolution, which was unanimously approved and supported by the retiring president, Sir Frederick Wilson, Sir Edward Russell, and Mr Glover, chairman of the Newspaper Society, reaffirmed the declaration at the Dublin con- ference of journalists in regard to the intro- duction bv the Government of a Bill for re- stricting the dissemination of news in war time. The resolution fully recognised the necessity of preventing the publication of news which might prove helpful to the enemy, but asked that no restriction should be placed on comment or criticism based upon facts which were common knowledge, and that any person convicted should have a right of appeal to the High Court. Mr Robbins strongly contended that the Press should not be limited to publish- ing only officially-conveyed information, and that a too strict censorship led as an inevitable consequence to the concealment of jobbery, corruption, and sometimes crime.

STATION THEFT NEAR LLANELLY. At the Llanelly Police Court on Wednesday George Austin Carter, porter, Bynea, was charged on remand with stealing a parcel con- taining a suit of clothes, the property of his employers, the Great Western Railway Com- pany, from Pontardulais Station on Septem- ber 7th. Mr T. R. Ludford, who appeared for the prosecution, said there was a further charge against the defendant of stealing a lady's dressing bag, value £ 7 17s 3d, from Tiry- dail Station. P.C. Tom Davies said that when charged with the second offence, defendant said, I took the bag from Tirydail Station last year. I took the contents out and threw the bag into a field near Tirydail Station." Detective Mountjoy stated that the company had to pay 25 to the owner of the lady's dress- ing case which had been stolen by the defend- ant. The Bench sent the defendant to prison for one month on each charge, the sentences to run concurrently.

Isolation Hospitals. GLAMORGAN'S PRE-EMINENCE. New Building for Ogmore and Garw. Colonel Henry Lewis, Greenmeadow, chair- man of the Sanitary Committee of the Glamor- gan County Council, on Wednesday opened the Isolation Hospital built at Blackmill to serve the Ogmore and Garw urban district. There was a large attendance. Alderman William Llewellyn, on behalf of the committee, having extended a cordial welcome to Colonel Henry Lewis, Mr Dawkin Williams, the architect, presented Colonel Lewis with a gold key, bearing an inscription, as a memento of the occasion. Colonel Lewis then formally declared the hospital open. Al- derman W. Llewellyn said the hospital occu- pied a good position, with good roads from all parts of the district, with the exception of Gilfach Goch. He felt sure that if the Gilfach Goch patients could stand the journey there would be no doubt of their being cured at the hospital. (Laughter.) There was some amount of prejudice on the part of the public against using these hospitals, but that would no doubt disappear as people realised how very much better the accommodation and treatment were at these hospitals than they could evcr hope to have at their, homes. After the company had inspected the hos- pital, Dr. D. J. Thomas proposed a vote of thanks to Colonel Henry Lewis, Dr. W. Wil- liams. county medical officer, and other visi- tors for their presence, and this was seconded by Mr T. W. Job and carried. Colonel Henry Lewis, responding, said that when the Glamorgan County Council came into existence there were only a few isolation hos- pitals in the county, and those of a temporary character, affording accommodation for less than 100 patients. As soon as the Isolation Hospitals Act, 1893. enabling County Councils to compel district authorities to provide such hospitals, was passed, the County Council set to work, and now there were 17 isolation hos- pitals of a permanent character in the county. with accommodation for 500 patients. There were only two districts in the county not so provided—Gelligaer and Rhigos and Gower and Oystermouth. In addition there were 14 hospitals for the treatment of small pox. He had it on the anthority of the Local Govern- ment Board that Glamorgan was the pre- mier county in England and Wales as re- gards isolation hospitals. He thought the Sanitary Committee of the County Council had fully justified its existence. (Applause.) Dr. W. Williams, county medical officer, also responded, and said that only a little firmness on the part of the medical prac- titioners of the district was needed to get the public to use these buildings. Dr. Williams eulogised the work of Alderman William Llewellyn ao chairman of the Local Govern- ment Committee of the County Council, and of Dr. D. J. Thomas as a member of the Sanitary Committee. The most important matter the Glamorgan County Council now had in hand was the provision of an adequate and wholesome supply of water for every dis- trict in the county, and he hoped they would not rest until they brought it about. (Ap- plause. ) Dr. Jenkins, medical officer for the Rhondda district, also spoke. The new Hospital is built in five blocks. The contract price was E7,211, and furnishing £60(). There is provision for 12 beds, which can be increased to 24 when needed. The architect was Mr H. Dawkin Williams, Blackmill, and the contractor Mr D. W. Davies, Cardiff.

Wreck on Welsh Coast. SHIP'S DISTRESS OFF HOLYHEAD. During a dense fog off the coast of Anglesey on Wednesday evening the North Stack signalmen obssrved signals of distress coming from a highly dangerous spot which has attained notoriety as the place where the Dahomey and other fine vessels have been totally wrecked. TheHolyhead rocketapparatus was at once brought out, and a steam lifeboat also went to the distressed vessel's assistance. Fortunately the sea was fairly calm. and it is hoped that the steamer will float off with the rising tide or that the crew will be rescued.

UNINSURED WORKMEN. Welsh Contractor's Regret. Regret that he had not insured his workmen was made at Newtown Bankruptcy Court yesterday, by William Gavill, a Llanidloes contractor, who estimated his liabilities at E352, and assets il2. The debtor had taken contracts for making roads and drams on the Plasdinam estate of Mr David Davies, M.P. In September one of his workmen was partially incapacitated by an injury, and in Juiy, 1906, the workman proceeded against the debtor, jointly with Mr David Davies, under he Workmen's Compensation Acts, and an oniero was made against the debtor alone for 8s weekly compensation. Debtor appealed agair sfc the order, which was, however, confirmed oy the Divisional Court. Examined by the Official Receiver, debtor said he had been only making from 18s to 23s a week, and was not in a better position than the men he employed. The Official Receiver I suppose if you bad < taken the trouble to insure, all this would have been saved ?—I wish I had. The examination was adjourned.

Lord, one of the Cardiff groundsmen and a cricketer of promise, has been engaged by the Penarth Cricket Club for next season.

aMataMHM .1 i Toaa* fycmijL*L Some are fair because they happen to be so, others attain the clear, rosy complexion, soft skin, clear eyes, easy, graceful carriage and healthful bodies because they are careful what those bodies are made of; in other words, they select food which will nourish. They don't eat everything that comes along." Every woman should read the little book in each packet ot mom for The Road to Wellville is the road to healthful beauty. 11 S .¡; 7 A.dJ tAl r WARNING.—Imitations of Grape-Nuts are on the market, paying the retail grocer a special profit to push the sale. If you really want a skilfully and scientifically made brain food, insist upon getting Grape-Nuts. Most grocers will promptly supply genuine articles without attempt to palm off something "just as good." If your grocer tries to substitute some imitation Nuts for genuine Grape-Nuts, perhaps the other grocer down the street might serve you more faithfully. If you find Grape-Nuts food a bit soft from the late damp weather, put it in an oven with the door left open and dry until crisp. Then add a sprinkle of sugar and some milk enriched with cream and there you arw, the finest breakfast food extant. « í