The Cardiff Times

BUDGET DEBATE, Luxurious Pensions. STRAIGHT TALK BY WELSH M.P. MR BRACE'S HOME-THRUST. Mr LI. George in Harness PLAIN WARNING TO THE RICH. The House on Monday went into Committee of Ways and Means. On the Budget resolution continuing the income tax at a shilling, Mr AGSTEX CHAMBERLAIN (C., Worcestershire), turning to the general finan- cial position of the country, said the claptrap which had served Ministerialists so well on Eolitical platforms during the General Election had been absolutely disproved. It had been clearly shown to the Government during the past two years that while you might pare a little here and there, you could not make any permanent or great reduction in the scale of expenditure in which the country was in- volved. That was not all. The day of reduction bad gone by, and it was clear that we must look to increased expenditure in the future. Old age pensions must as years went by tend constantly to increase our expenditure. For a scheme of that kmd once put in force there could be no turning back— (Ministerial cheers)—and nobody would desire to turn back. (Opposition cheers.) It was mainly out of the death duties and the income tax that the provision for old-age pensions would come. He (Mr Chamberlain) had no desire that the wealthy should escape their proper share of the national burden, but he was not prepared to teach any class in the country that they could demand any boon they liked under the name of social reform without having to contribute anything to- wards the cost. It was not honest. It was a corrupt influence in our system which might lead us very far along the path of danger. As to the old-age pension scheme itself, he was prepared to admit he had been over-hasty in saying that it would for ever make impossible the introduction of a contributing scheme, though he was still of opinion that it would make the introduction of such a scheme more difficult. The iixed 10s limit in the Govern- ment plan must also be changed for a gradu- ated scale, and the provision which penalised old couples living together must be abolished. It was most cruel. (Cheers.) Mr J. ELLIS (L., Nottingham) said the only safe course for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to take was to insist upon retrenchment, and be hoped the Cabinet would apply itself earn- estly to the consideration of the subject of the reduction of armaments. A Labour Outburst. Mr SNOWDEN (Lab., Blackburn) drew attention to the facts that while in the past ■sight years the foreign trade of this country had increased by nearly 250 millions sterling, indicating an enormous increase in wealth, there had been in six out of the eight years a reduction in the aggregate wages received by the wage earners. The number of unem- ployed hàd increased, the number 01 paupers during the last ten years had increased 16 per cent., and the cost of living had risen by 24 per cent. "Whilst somebody had been getting enormously richer, the condition of the wage- earning classes was actually and to a greater extent relatively poorer than it Was six or seven years ago. That, was the problem which should be considered in framing a Budget. (Labour cheers.) Their criticism of the present Budget was that it did very little to relieve the unfair burden of taxation upon that part of the population who were least able to bear it. It was the rich man's turn for relief every time. The million and a quarter which was to be de- voted this year to old age pensions was to be obtained by the tax upon the people's food, and that policy was diametrically opposed to his idea of social reform. The rich would not be a penny the poorer for the Government's scheme of old age pensions. On the contrary they would be better off, because it would re- lieve their poor rate and enable them to with- draw their subscriptions from charitable asso- ciations. He believed in large national expen- diture if wisely incurred, but it should be paid for out of the bloated incomes of the rich. He believed there were in this country not less than 16,000 persons with incomes over jE5,000 a year, and the aggregate income of these per- sons could not be less than 200 millions a year. A tax of 10 per cent. upon that income would bring in 20 millions—enough to provide old age pensions, and there would still be left to the 16,000 persons a gross income of JE180,000,000 a year. Such a tax would be exceedingly popu- lar with everybody except the 16,000 persons. (Cheers and laughter.) Mr ELLIS DAVIES (L-, Carnarvonshire) submitted that the lower middle classes as well as the working class were at present so heavily burdened by Imperial and local taxation that relief wc±s urgently needed either by tapping different sources of revenue Or bv increased grants from the Exchequer towards the relief ul local burdens. Mr Brace and Pensioners." Mr W. BRACE (Lab., South Glamorgan) said it was unblushing effrontery for supporters of a great war to come down to the House and repeatedly demand a reduction of the income tax before the debt incurred through that war had been paid off. It would be well for politi- cians to try and realise that they should not support a war without being prepared to carry out the responsibilities and obligations which it involved. The right hon. gentleman who was Chancellor of the Exchequer in the last Administration had stated that it would be corrupting the workers to give them old age pensions unless they made an effort to do something them- selves. He did not understand this kind of philosophy. It was not the kind of philosophy that members of the Opposition practised themselves when they were in office. He did not wish to be offensive, but there were members of that House who were receiving pensions from the State, given to them by the late Administration, upon the principle not that they were contributing parties, but neces- sary for keeping up a certain standard of living. It was not just and fair to preach one philosophy for members of a particular clas^, and to preach another philosophy for the working classes. He congratulated the late Chancellor of the Exchequer upon his reduc- tion of the sugar duty. He was speaking on behalf of the labouring classes largely when he said that it would be a great boon to those who were employed in trades using sugar as a raw material as well as to consumers. With regard to the old age pension scheme, he thought the agetimitwas too high, but he should support the scheme on the principle of getting all he could to day and taking to-morrow all that was left over. He thought sixty-five should, be the starting age, but he was glad to witness the time when a Chancellor of the Exchequer had laid down the principle for an old age pension' scheme which, if not universal iu its application, was at any rate non-contributory in character. He regretted that the scheme was not intended to apply to those in receipt of relief. It meant a saving of money not to give old age pensions to those who were in the workhouse, but in justice he could- not differentiate between the right of the inmate of the workhouse to receive a pension and the right of a person who was not in receipt of relief to receive one. If the Government were not at present prepared to make the scheme apply to the inmates of workhouses he asked them 1::0 make it apply to those who were re- ceiving outdoor relief. Again he asked why should there The a differentiation between married men and: women and single men and women ? He strongly appealed to the Government to amend the scheme in this respect before the Finance Bill passed, and to provide for a pension of 5s each to married as well as to single pen- sioners. In some cases it was more expensive for husband and wife to live together than to live apart. To leave the scheme as it was would be to penalise the very men and women who were the backbone of the Empire they heard so much about, and would not tend to encourage the building up of that family life of high character that Britons liked to see. He also thought the income limit for married couples should bejust double the amount fixed for a single man or woman. He advocated a system of old age pensions universal in its application, and he regretted that there should be any income limit at all. Unless the scheme was made universal there would always have about it that taint of pauperism which would be so offensive to sensitive natures. He opposed the idea of a contributory scheme because it would leave outside a great mass of women who would be unable to contribute anything. Cry Far the Coal Tax. Mr HARWOOD (L.. Bolton) believed that next year the Chancellor of the Exchequer was going to be if not hard up, at least near the line. The right hon. gentleman would have to search about for fresh objects of taxation, and he asked him to consider the reimposition of the export duty/on coal. ("Oh," and laughter.) As a land nationalises he con- sidered that coal was at least partly national property. (Lalour cheers.) Mr bOnAR LAW (C., Dulwich) confessed he was quite at a loss to understand the jubila- tion of the Ministerialists ov^r a reduction of debt which was not due to a reduction of expenditure but to the retention of taxational a high level. (Opposition cheers.) Mr Lloyd George Enlivens the Debate. Mr LLOYD GEORGE (Chancellor of the Exchequer) pointed out that in Germany, where they had the perfect fiscal system recommended (by Mr Bonar Law, they were borrowing for rhe current expenditure of the year. (Ministerial cheers.) With regard to old age pensions, the present Government were redeeming the promises made by the late Tory Government and which they never fulfilled. Mr AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN challenged the statement that the late Government promised old age pensions. Mr LLOYD GEORGE said the right hon. gentleman was surely the last who should have madp the challenge, because if there was any part of the country more responsible than another for that promise it was the neigh bour- ood of Birmingham. (Ministerial cheers.) Mr AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN: it was because I supposed the right hon. gentleman referred to my right hon. friend the member for West Birmingham that I denied the state- ment—(Ministerial cries of Oh and Opposi- tion cheers)—as my right hon. friend denied it himself in the House and justified his denial. (Opposition cheers.) Mr LLOYD GEORGE said he would rather not discuss the promises of the member for West Birmingham in his absence. He would refer to the present leader of the Opposition, who in East Manchester went to the electors with a card Vote for Balfour and Old Age Pensions." (Ministerial cheers.) The view of the Opposition seemed to be that the Budget was brought in to stop the rot in the constituencies. (Opposition cheers.) It had done a good deal to stop the rot talked in the constituencies at any rate. (Ministerial cheers and laughter.) On the point that the Government had not made sufficient provision for the reduction of debt, the right Lon. gentleman stated that in three years the present Government had made pro- vision for the reduction of the national lia- bilities by 41 millions, and contrasted this with what the last Government had done in this direction. During ten years of Conser- vative administration they only reduced the national debfby 22 millions. He asked hon. members to bear that in mind when they came to consider next year's Budget. He de- clined to discuss the details of that Budget now. The liabilities of the coming year were met in the present Budget. The liabilities of next vear would have to be met Lext year. The resources of civilisation were not exhausted, and the resources of Free Trade were not exhausted. (Ministerial cheers.) The pledges of the Government to reduce expendi- ture extended up to armaments, and they had fulfilled those pledges. The Army and Navy expenditure had been decreased by five or six millions. While reserving his reply to criticisms of the Government's old age pension scheme until the Bill was under consideration, he said apart from a contributory scheme it would be very difficult to apply a thrift test. He asked hon. members to remember that this was a beginning and an experiment. The expendi- ture would be at least six millions a year, and in his judgment it would be more. Perhaps not in the first year, but in the second year he was certain it would be more than six millions. No doubt the limitations imposed would entail some hard cases, but if the House pressed too hard for the removal of the limitations the scheme would go far beyond the revenue which' the Government could possibly provide, at any rate in the immediate future. Welsh Coal and a Tax. He was unable to give any encouragement to the idea of reimposing the coal duty. The observations of hon. members in regard to this matter were largely based on considerations regarding Cardiff coal. Welsh coal like every- thing else Welsh was of very exceptional quality. (Laughter.) It could therefore rightly command a market, but this did not apply to coal in other parts of the United Kingdom. The result of putting an export tax upon coal in some parts of the kingdom was practically to exclude coal of second quality from the market where there was any competition, and it actually excluded Cardiff coal. Armaments Competition. He considered. the appeal of Mr John Ellis for greater economy on armaments as very weighty, and he hoped it would carry weight in the proper quarters. (Hear, hear.) A good deal had been done iti this direction, but he agreed that the mad competition between nations for expenditure on armaments was a very serious matter. Growth of Our Wealth. Looking to the future possibilities of taxation under a Free Trade system, the right hon. gentleman said in conclusion that the wealth of the country was enormous. It was not merely great, it was growing at a gigantic pace. He did not think it was too much to expect the more favoured part of the com- munity, who had got riches so great that they could spend a great part of their time in finding out how to spend it, to make a substantial contribution to improve the lot of the poorer members of the same community to which they belonged, because it was to their interest that they should not belong to a country where there was so much poverty and distress side by side with gigantic wealth. (Ministerialcheers.) Mr Ivcr Guest and Sinking Fund. Mr IVOR GUEST (L., Cardiff) said judging by the speeches delivered from the Opposition that night most of the criticism had been against the Budget because it committed the Chancellor of the Exchequer to large commit- ments which he would be quite unable to meet. Various remarks were passed with regard to the Sinking Fund. He only rose with the object of quoting some figures to the House on the question of the Sinking Fund to show that the present charge of 28 millions on a total net liability of 696 millions was very reasonable, and far in excess of anything which had been thought necessary in the past. The year which he pinned his greatest faith to for the purpose of comparison was 1903, when the debt had risen to £770,000,000 and Mr Ritchie only thought it necessary to increase the Sinking Fund charges to JE27,000,000 which Mr Ritchie then pointedout would be sufficient to payoff the whole national debt in 50 years. Comparing that with this year it was perfectly obvious that JE28,000,000 on £696,000.000 would be enough to pay off the total debt in a smaller period. It was said that the Chancellor of the Exche- quer was committed to a large charge for old age pensions, and that no provision was made by the Prime Minister to meet it, but in his opinion the Chancellor of the Exchequer would be more than justified by all precedent in reducing the debt charge this year from 28 millions to 24 millions. That would mean the right hon. gentleman could take four millions of money from the Sinking Fund without in the slightest degree diminishing the natonal credit. On a division the resolution fixing the income tax at the rate of one shilling in the £ was carried by 2.30 to 31. No Sugar Rebate. In the House of Commons on Tuesday, On the report stage of the Budget resolu- tions, Mr McARTHUR (C., Liverpool) called attention to the hardship inflicted on traders through the refusal of the Government to make any rebate on sugar in warehouses on the 7th of May) The PRIME MINISTER said he would be very sorry if any language or expressions of his had given rise to reasonable expectations that the sugar duty would not be reduced or that if it were done there would be a rebate. He could not, however, charge himself with having given any such indication. There had been no rebate of the kind mentioned in the last 40 years except with regard to corn. Mr McARTHUR There was the duty on glucose. The PRIME MINISTER said that was part of the corn rebate. He had given no ground for believing that there would be a rebate and could not see his way to anything of the kind. Mr LLOYD GEORGE said it was complained that if there was any difference it was in favour of the British reflner, but he considered that if there was any difference it was very slight. He thought the extent of the whole matter had been very greatly exaggerated. There was no calamity to the trade. One of the best known importers of foreign sugar had told him that he would probably lose about. jEl,200, but in the last few years, his firm had lost £18,000 through the duty, so that the reduc- tion would bring about a considerable gain. No rebate could be granted, and an extension of time was not desired by the trade. The Government was justified in asking the House of Commons to stand by the decision they had come to in regard to the Budget, seeing that any temporary loss would be more than made up for by the gain to the whole trade. The resolution was agreed to. On the resolution fixing the Excise duty on Irish grown manufactured tobacco at 3s lOd per pound. Mr GWYNN (Nat.) moved. an amendment providing that the duty should be 2s lOd. The effect of the amendment, he explained, would be to continue the arrangement which had previously existed, under which the Exchequer had allowed tobacco grown in Ireland a rebate of Is per lb. Mr LLOYD GEORGE said the difficulty was that the proposal was frankly admitted to be of a Protectionist character. It was Govern- ment assistance of an industry. While that Government assistance was given merely in regard to the experimental stage, there was no intention of stopping it, but the Government could not go beyond that. If the Government agreed to the proposal he did not see how they could refuse a similar proposal in regard to hops in Kent. The amendment was wi thdrawn and the vote agreed to, as was the report of the income tax resolution. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER introduced the Finance Bill, which was read a first time.

SAVED TWO BROTHERS. At Goole on Monday Thomas Johnson, a young labourer, was charged with attempting to commit suicide by hanging himself from a tree in Jerry-lane, Old Goole. He was seen and cut down by Walter Shaw, a cycle racer, of Goole, who applied artificial respiration for twenty minutes. The man was unconscious at first, but afterwards recovered. It appeared that prisoner had had a quarrel with his sweet- heart. Mr John Taylor (to Shaw) What made you try artificial respiration ? Shaw I am an athlete, and at times I have had to use the method. I knew the lad, be- cause I saved his younger brother from drown- ing when he was four years old. The magistrates bound Johnson over to be of good behaviour for six months, and com- mended Shaw on his promptitude in saving the young man's life.

REPENTED IN HASTE. Some interesting figures of the ad vitam aut culparn principle applied to marriage in certain parts of th United States are given by a Paris contemporary, from which it appears that in Maine, during 1207, the number of divorces was 787, or one in every 12 marriages. In 592 cases it was the wife who claimed relief. Three of the petitioners had only been married for six months, 44 had enjoyed married life for eight montbs1 and the same number had been married under a year. Marriages wlllch were of duration between 10 and 20 years were 209, and 26 petitions craved separation after 30 years.

MILE END SCANDAL. CONTRACTOR'S CONFESSION. Champagne Like Water. James Calcatt, the Mile End contractor, who is undergoing a term of imprisonment, con- tinued his remarkable story of his relations with the Mile End Board of Guardians, when ten members and ex-members of the Board appeared on Saturday at the Thames Police- court on a charge of conspiracy to defraud the ratepayers. The names of the accused are :— Alderman Rowland Hirst, ex-Mayor of Stepney. Samuel Gilder, secretary. Joseph Gilson, butcher. Alderman G. J. Warren, J.P., grocer. Walter Trott, greengrocer. Jonathan E. Loftus, tailor. Thomas Gould, feather dyer. Archibald Ridpath, licensed victualler. E. J. Stammers, hotel licensee. J. G. Kemp, builder. Caicutt's story was of a remarkable charac- ter, and it had not concluded when the Court adjourned. One point in his evidence related to a parcel which Calcutt said he received from Warren during the Local Government Board inquiry. On opening it he found 25 sovereigns. There was no note in it, nor any information of any kind. The witness went on :—" About a week after I saw Warren, and I said to him—that was when he had partly given evidence before the Local Government Board inspector :—' What made you leave that money in my ofBce ? I don't think the cigar case cost £25. You had better take the money back You know I gave you the present' -lneaning I the cigar case. He said, You had better keep it until the in- quiry is over. Questioned by Mr Bodkin, who appeared for the Treasury, as to presents, Calcutt said :— Sometimes Gould would have two boxes of cigars, a turkey and half-a-dozen bottles of whisky." What, all at once ?—Yes, and sometimes more. Ridpath would have the same. Trott had cigars, -and others who had gifts were Mr Trott and Mr Stammers. Mr Gilders, too, but he had whisky—no cigars—because he was a cigar merchant. (Laughter.) Mr Loftus had turkeys, spirits and cigars. Kemp the same. Gilson had nothing in the way of turkeys, cigars or whisky. Were these presents given each year ?—Yes. At this point Calcutt remarked to the Court generally, I want these guardians to know that T don't want them to go to prison, but I want the ratepayers to know that I did not get all the money." Big Turkeys. Questioned as to the cigars, witness said that some of them were Havanas—they were six- pennies. (Loud laughter.) Some of them "J. S. Murias," at 15s for 50. All these he got from Hirst, and paid by cheque. Did Hirst know you gave these things to the guardians ?—Yes. As to the turkeys, was anything ever said ?— Yes, Stammers used to say, "The next time you send me a turkey let me have a bigger one. The last one was very thin." (Loud laughter.) Did Knight ever have a turkey ?—Yes, sir, a big one. (Roars of laughter.) It weighed nearly 221bs. (Renewed laughter.) I had said to Hirst, What about giving Knight a tur- key ?" Hirst said, He would not take it from you. I will tell you what we will do. I will put my card on it, and he will think it comes from me. You take it down to his house, and I will see him after." I Calcutt went on to say that he made the acquaintance of Hirst through his brother, Robert Hirst, a plumber. That was about the time he was tendering for a job which was the biggest he had ever taken on. Robert Hirst introduced the witness to Rowland Hirst at The Three Crowns as This is Calcutt." Hirst said, Are you going in for the job at the Infirmary ?" Witness said, I don't think so. It is a bit too big for me." Hirst replied, I don't know. I should go for it. There is no harm in trying." Did you go in for it ?—Yes, and was sucees- fnl. Were yon the lowest tenderer ?—No. How do you know ?—Some of the guardians told me. Continuing, witness said he was a good cus- tomer at Hirst's house. Each night of the Board and committee meeting he met Hirst and other members of the Board. When did the meetings end—I mean what tiime ?—Oh, it depended, of course, but always before closing time. (Loud laughter.) Plenty of time to get more drink down than you wanted. At some of these public-house meet- ings some of the guardians would say, We have moved a job for you to-night." Wit- ness would reply, Thanks, I can do with it." Then they would have drinks and cigars. If the gnardians had been paying for a contract there would be champagne. He went on, Champagne would go down like water— dozens and dozens of bottles. (Sensation.) I have spent as much as £4 and £5 a night in the house. Stery of Houses. Witness at this point identified a receipted bill to Hirst for £380, a sum paid in respect of building two houses on the plots at Heme Bay. Were there any other payments ?—Yes, one for JE56 4s 9d, which you will find a cheque for. In all witness deposed to having paid Hirst £691 in respect of these houses. Even then to his view they were not finished. He had to send his own men down for some weeks to finish the houses up properly. At a further cost of an- other JEM or £60. (Sensation.) They cost me that, money he went on, and I could have had them done for a lot less than that. I did not say anything to Hirst about it." Why 1—I was afraid of upsetting him. I did not say a word, but I thought a lot. Witness added that he never got a list of charges from Hirst concerning the building, apd he never even saw an architect or surveyor over the work of building. Referring to a Mr Budd, who was stated to have built the house at Heme Bay, witness said Hirst observed one night in "The Three Crowns," "We had better present Budd with a gold watch." Why ? Is that a custom of the building trade ?—I don't know. I was a builder and I never got one yet. (Laughter.) Did Budd get the watch ?—Yes. Was it engraved ?—Yes. What did it say ?—" Presented by the Mayor of Stepney, to Mr Budd, from J. Calcutt, E. Lloyd, and J. Cordes." Who paid for the watch ?—I did £810s. When Budd was presented by Hirst with the watch, he said" That watch will get you a job anywhere." (Roars of laughter.) At this point the hearing was adjourned. Proceedings were resumed on Tuesday, when James Calcutt was further examined by Mr Bodkin. At the conclusion of the last sitting he had related a story of Hirst inducing him to buy -plots of ground at Heme Bay and building houses on them, and yesterday he continued the narrative and denied that at any time he-asked Hirst to build a house for him at Herne Bay, as witness's wife was in a dangerous state of health. \it,ness remembered a conversation with Hazeltine, in the presence of Hirst, at Hirst's publiohouse, The Three Crowns. Hazeltine said These new guardians are very hot, but they want too much. How do you get on with <bem ?" Witness said, They are hot." Hirst, who heard the conversation, said, I don't know what they can do for you. They cannot carry much weight." He thought Hirst also said, I should get away from them if I was you." Did Hirst describe them ?—I think the words he used were that they were blood-suckers. Having now related the story of his trans- actions with Gould, Warren, and Hirst, wit- ness proceeded to tell the Court of his dealings with Stammers, whom he said he had known for more than ten years, and ever since he took his public-house and before he became a guardian. Witness used to meet Gould, Trott, and Loftus at Stammers's public-house. Were there any such meetings at Stam- mers's public-house as those described at Hirst's ?—Not on board nights. Have you lent Stammers money ?—Yes, I lent him £20 to pay his bills with. Stammers gave him a post-dated cheque which was paid when it became due. STAMMERS AND THE RING." Witness also described a conversation with Stammers, who said to him, I want to come into the ring along with some of the heads, and if I don't come into the ring some of you will know something about it." Witness said, All right, I suppose you will be in the ring directly." Stammers asked witness to give him money, but did not mention any amount, find he gave Stammers from that time various sums of money, £5' at one time, JE10 at another and at another time, when he wanted to pay the brewer, witness gave him £20; and he had also done work for him. Just before the en- quiry Stammers asked him to send in a bill for that work, so that he could show a receipt for it. That was done. At this stage a handsome china mirror can- delabra was produced in court, and witness stated that he gave it to Stammers as a. present for his kindness to him. Stammers used to tell witness when he voted for him, and explained that on the occasions he had not voted for him it was because there was enough to carry your work through without my vote." Calcutt also related that he used to meet Stammert at Hirst's public-house, The Three Crowns. Calcutt used to spend a lot of money then, and on one occasion Stammers said, From what I can see of it Roland Hirst is having all the money. You don't spend as much money in my house as you do in his." Calcutt also said that on one occasion when he had lent Stammers JE20 Stammers said to him the day after. I just, thought after you went away yesterday afternoon when I took the money out of the bag and put it into another bag, when you are giving gold to anybody else don't you give them it to t hem in the bag that you get from the bank because that bag from the bank ia marked. They will find the same bag coming back to the bank." Witness said he would be more careful in the future. FREEMASON'S BALL. Witness was a Freemason, and had given Stammers a Masonic ball as a present. When he presented it he said to Stammers, There you are, Mr Stammers, that is for voting for me." When you destroyed your books what did Stammers say to you ?—Stammers said, It is a jolly good job for us you have." Calcutt then went on to tell of his relations with defendant Loftus, whom he said he had known for many years before he became a guardian. He used to buy his clothes from him and paid for them by cheque. Have you ever given Loftus anything in the shape of money ?—Yes he used to havejElO and JE16 at a time, generally about quarter- days. He had also bought an overcoat for Nott. How did you come to buy him an overcoat ? —I knew he could do with one, because he had only just got on the board. (Laughter.) Nott was better dressed after he got on the board than before. (Laughter.) Roughly speaking, from seventy to eighty pounds would be owing by Gilder to Calcutt. Before the enquiry came on Gilder asked for a bill for that work, which witness made out. Gilder asked him to receipt the bill, but wit- ness said he would see, and did not do so. This was for work extending over two years, during which he had rendered no account. He had also given Gilder £10 in money, but no more. Witness spoke of a conversation he had with Gilder when he was out on bail, in which Gilder said he heard that he was going to scream," but witness told him that was not so, as he had detained Mr Muir for his defence. (Laughter.) Mr Bodkin I suppose you mean retained ? (Renewed laughter.) It is sometimes the same thing. Witness further stated that Gilder told him to hold tight. Proceeding to give evidence as to his relations with Ridpath, witness stated that he did work for Ridpath, but he was usually paid for it. Ridpath, however, got some money back when the accounts were paid CALCUTT AS MAGNET. Witness also said that he went to Yarmouth to stay. Did you see much of the guardians there ?—Yes. They would have followed me to America. (Laughter.) With regard to the defendant Trott, Calcutt said he had known him for 14 or 15 years, and had given him sums of money of £5 or £10 since he joined the board. Trott said before he went on to the board that he would ask witness for money when he got on. Witness said he had known Gilder ever since he had been on the guardians. In 1904 Gilder was secretary to a loan society.. Witness had done jobbing work for Gilder connected with building. Gilder had never paid him for that unless he had paid since witness had been in prison. Witness explained the circumstances under which he sold a plot of land at Leigh worth jbl80 to Ridpath for £30. The hearing was adjourned to Saturday.

WEEK-END TICKET LAW. A point of importance to thousands of rail- way travellers was decided at the Southwark County Court Monday when the London and South-Western Railway Company sued Mr Vernon Magniac, a stockbroker, of Bruton- street, W. Counsel said Mr Magniac took a cheap week- end ticket to Longparish, near Andover, on a Saturday. Instead of returning on the Sun- day, Monday, or Tuesday, as the regulations permitted, he travelled back to town on the same day, when the ticket was not available. The company could have claimed the full fare, which was 12s, but they only sought to recover 3s 3d, the difference between the regular and excursion fares. Counsel mentioned that week-end tickets were very popular, and Judge Willis re- marked, Yes, too popular. People get away from home, and it is a great pity." The Judge gave judgment against Mr Mag- niac for 3s 3d, and ordered him to pay costs, which will amount to nearly £15.

POPE AND HIS WATCH. An incident is being related in Rome just now which ccurred during a recent audience which the Pope gave to certain members of the black nobility. A church clock struck, and his Holiness pulled out an old watch from his girdle in order to compare the time. It was nickel-cased, the white enamel was worn away in patches, and it was attached to a plain leather guard. A nobleman, noticing this, at once produced his own richly-cased and jewelled gold watch and begged the Pope to accept it in exchange it for the much-worn timepiece, which, he said, he should regard as a priceless possession. The Pope gently declined. "It was a present from my dear mother," he said. J was quite a small boy when she gave it to me with this very same leather guard I am wearing now. I promised to keep it until it was worn out beyond repair. It must be a good watch, for it has never disappointed me yet."

FRACTURE BY BITE. At Ammanford Police Court on Monday (be- fore Mr Galston and Dr. Lewis) a collier, Benjamin Richards, of Capel Hendre, was charged with assaulting Lewis Pryse, of Maes- ycoed, Capel Hendre, Complainant stated that on Saturday, nigbtthe prisoner came to his house. and kicked the A&or he struck witness in-the face and bc'fiavfed like a mad lion. 'A" struggle ensued, and prisoner bit his hand, fracturing a bone of one of his fingers. As- sistance was forthcoming, snd prisoner had to be tied. He broke loose, and threw a large stone at witness, and had it struck him he believed it would have killed him. Sarah Hughes, Capel Hendre, said she saw prisoner attack complainant, and she cried out 1; Mur- der." This brought help. Previous convictions were proved against prisoner, who was sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labour.

TRAMCAR DISASTER. Three Passengers Killed. New York, Monday.-TwO electric tramcars, crowded with passengers, collided yesterday at Philadelphia while going at full speed. The accident is believed to be due to a mistake on the part of a pointsman, who allowed an up car to run on to the down line. Both cars were wrecked; and the passengers were hurled into the roads in all directions. Three persons were killed on the spot, five others cannot recover from their injuries, while 70 others were hurt, many seriously.—Central News.

CURE BY CUIICURfl AT CITY MISSION Young Woman Found in Awful Con- dition with Scabies—Body a Mass of Sores from Scratching—Tried Many Remedies for Seven Weeks Result Was Discouraging, But ITCHING TORTURES YIELDED TO CUTICURA I "While I was doing missionary work In the lower portion of several cities I found it necessary to know a little of the. efficacy of a few medicines and after a while I found that a little knowl- edge of Cuticura was about all I needed. One of the very bad cases I had to deal with was that of a young woman who had come to us not only broken in spirit but in a most awful condition pnysically. Our doctor examined her and told us that she had scabies (the itch), incipient paresis, rheumatism, etc., brought on from exposure and tho effects of her ragged-edged life. Her poor body was a mass of sores from scratching and she was not able to retain solid food. "We tried many thingB, a good tonic was prescribed and baths with a rubbing of lard and sulphur. We worked hard for seven weeks and you worked hard for sevep weeks and you can imagine how discouraged we were when. after all that time, we could sea so little improvement. One day I hap- pened to see a Cuticura advertisement telling how a little baby had been cured of a bad case of skin eruption, and although I had but 97 cents (four shillings) with me. I bought a cake of Cuticura Soap aha a bottle of Cuticura Resolvent. When I reached home I was like a child with a new toy, and we bathed our patient well and gave her a full dose of the Resolvent. She slept that night better than she bad since she had been with us and the next day I located the price of a box of Cuticura Ointment. I am not exaggerating when I say that in exactly five weeks this young woman was able to look for a position, being strong enough to work and full of ambition. In another month she left the home, strong and well. Laura Jane Bates, 85 Fifth Ave., New York. N. Y.. U. S. A.. Mar. 11, '07." ( Send to nearest depot for free Cuti- cura Book on Treatment of Skin Diseases. Complete External and Internal Treatment for Every Humour of Infants. Children, and Adults consists Cuticura Soap to Cteanse the SkIn, Cuti- cura Ointment to Heal the Skin, and Cuticura Re- solvent or Cuticura Resolvent Pllla (Chocolate Coated) to Purify the Blood. A Staple Set often Cures. Sold throughout the world. Depots: London. 27. Charterhouse Sq.; Parte. 5. Rue de la Fair, Australia. R. Towns A Co.. Sydney: Potter Dnur 4 Chem. Corp.. Soto Prop*.

The Tragedy at Barry. INQUEST STORY. Injured Woman'sAccount WITNESSES WHO TRACKED THE COUPLE. Mr Archibald Daniel, deputy-coroner, re- sumed the inquest proceedings at Barry Island on Tuesday respecting the death of Robert Mor- gan (23), an angle iron smith, employed by the Barry Railway Company, acid who met his death on Friday, May 15th, by falling over the cliff overlooking the old harbour in the direction of Cold Knap. The woman, Ann Evans, who had a miraculous escape, and whose fall was broken by clinging to an out- growth, was able to atknd, but her head was extensively bandaged, and her left bye badly discoloured. Mr T. Preece Prichard again watched the proceedings on behalf of the relatives of Mor- gan and Mr J. A. Hughes, solicitor, appeared for the men Probert and Bryant, who were called as witnesses. Great, interest was taken locally in the inquiry, a considerable number of people assembling outside the premises where the inquest was held. Deputy-Chief Constable Giddings and Inspector D.' Morris watched the proceedings on behalf of the police. John Thomas Probert, a cripple, the first witness called, deposed that he lived at Queen- street, Barry, and was a tailor. Last Friday week he remembered being in the Barry Hotel shortly before 7 o'clock in the evening with Bryant. Witness knew deceased by sight, and saw him come into the bar alone. Deceased asked him to have a drink, and Bryant and himself had one, for which deceased paid. Ann Evans was there before Morgan, and he believed that she was also treated to a drink. He saw deceased in conversation with Ann Evans, and in a few minutes both Mrs Evans and deceased went out together. Shortly afterwards Bryant and witness left. They saw deceased and Mra Evans go over the road in the direction of the Ship Hotel. Witness went into the hotel, and saw them there, with some drink in front of them. Nei- thcrof them said anything to witness, and only remained there a few seconds, leaving to- gether. They Went Towards Cold Knap along. The Parade, arm-in-arm, and staggering slightly as they went along. Witness and Bryant went in the same direction, but walked in the lane at the back of The Parade. When they got to the end of The Parade they saw Mrs Evans, who was then walking up and down on the opposite side of the road. Wit- ness did not then see deceased at aU. Mrs Evans then got over the railings on to the cliff. The Deputy Coroner About how long did you see her walk up and down ?—About half an hour. Half an hour?—Yes, I could not say exactly. Was it so much as half an hour ?—Well, I have my doubts whether it was so long. Continuing, witness said Bryant and himself got over the railings into the field, and there saw Mrs Evans standing near the gate as they got over. Witness could not then see deceased, and thought he was hiding. The Deputy Coroner For what purpose ? For getting away from the woman ?—No for the! purpose of keeping out of my sight. Continuing, witness said the woman spoke to Bryant. Witness lay on the grass some dis- tance away. Bryant said, I have got no money." He did not hear what the woman said. The Coroner Did Bryant try to catch hold of the woman at all ?—No, not that I saw, sir. How did she fall over the cliff ?—She fell backwards. What made her fall backwards ?—My idea was that she was trying to get away or stag- gered, I could not say which. Do you mean trying to get away from Bryant ?—No, sir, trying to walk away. During the whole of thia time did you se? anything of the deceased ?—No, sir. Didn't you ask about him ?—No, sir. Why They Watched. Continuing, witness said the woman saved herself by clutching hold of a tree, and witness tried to reach her with his crutch, while Bryant went to the Cold Knap Farm to get a rope. Mr Pritchard Why did you follow them ?— To see what they were up to. What do you mean ?—To see if they were up to an immoral purpose. Do you consider it was your business to fol- low them ?—No, sir. Why did you do it then ?—We only went to see. Is that how you, as a tailor, employ your time ? —No, sir. Questioned by a juryman, Witness declared that he never saw the deceased man Morgan after he left the Ship Hotel. In reply to Mr Hughes, witness said the woman did not fall through anything which Bryant or himself had done. The path was short and slippery at the edge of the cliff. Witness did all he could to rescue the woman from her perilous position. The Deputy Coroner here observed that it might shorten the proceedings if he pointed out that they were not so much concerned with the accident to the woman as with the circumstances leading up to the falling of the man over the cliff.

BRYANT'S STORY OF WOMAN'S FALL. William Bryant, Bell-street, Barry, the next witness, said he agreed with the witness Pro- bert up to the time he met the woman on the cliff. Witness talked to the woman there, and asked her where Morgan was. She replied, "He has done me a slope." Witness did not look over the cliff to see if he could see Morgan. The woman asked witness if he would take her to the Ship Hotel, and he replied that he had no money. When he was talking to the woman she was about a yard from the edge of the cliff. Witness denied attempting to take hold of the woman. What made her fall over the cliff ?—The woman caught hold of me around the neck, and I didn't say anytliing to her because I knew she was a little intoxicated, and although I never struggled with her she let go her hold. Did she fall then ?—No, sir. I went to walk off, and had my back towards the woman and facing Probert when she fell. Witness added that he first heard a scream, and turning round saw the woman hanging on the branch at the face of the cliff. ] You didn't trouble to look for Morgan ?— No, sir, I didn't. 1 didn't know where he was. Did you think it possible that he had fallen over the cliff ?—No, sir. I thought he had gone towards Cold Knap, because I did not see him about, and if he had gone back to- wards the Ship the woman would have fol- lowed him. Mr Prichfurd Did not the woman's remark about Morgan having sloped show that he had not been with her ?—I couldn't say that, but we lost sight of them for a time. A Juryman: The woihan must' have seen the man went when he left her ?—Yes, sir. She was bound to have seen because she was walking tip and down the path. Mr Hughes You had nothing to do with the woman's fall ?—No, sir. The Coroner Did you recognise the body of Morgan on the beach ?—Yes, sir. When I went there I said, Good God, here is the man the woman was with." Witness tele- phoned for the police and Dr. Irving. Mrs Emma Douglas, residing at Charles- place, The Parade, wife of Mr W, M. Douglas, said she saw a man and woman, arm-in-arm, staggering along shortly after 7 o'clock, the woman being dressed in black. The man ap- peared unwilling to go along, and it appeared to her as if he tried to get away from her. The woman had hold of the man's arm. My God, the Woman is Over." Mr W. M. Douglas, husband of last witness, and the well-known member of the Welsh Rugby Union Committee, said he was walking along the cliff on the evening of April 25th from the direction of Cold Knap, and looking down to the beach saw some distance off a dark-looking object in the water. This would be about 7.40 p.m. When he got opposite he made it out to be the body of a man. It was about 60 paces from the base of the cliff. Looking towards The Parade he saw a man lying in the grass and a woman and man apparently talking near a gate. Witness thought the body was that of a man cast up by the tide, and as he walked off intending to tell pthe police he heard a man shout My God. the woman is over." He ran to the spot, and then to the farm for a rope, and they tried to rescue the woman, but failed. When Bryant got to the beach he saw. him turn the body over and exclaim, My God. it is the boilermaker."

INJURED WOMAN'S EVIDENCE. Mary Ann Evans was next called, and de- posed that she resided at Bridge-street, Cadox- ton, and was the wife of JameS Evans, car- penter. She left her home before dinner and went alone by brake to Barry, arriving at the Barry Hotel just before 7 o'clock. Probert was in the hotel at the "time, and Bryant and Morgan she saw afterwards. She had seen Mor- gan before, but did not know him to speak to. He had given her a glass of beer once. Morgan paid for a glass of/ beer for her, and also for Bryant and others. Morgan said to her, li Will you come as far as the Ship you can have a drink there and sit down." Witness consented to go, and had a drink at the Ship Hotel. The amount of drink she had ha.d that day—four glasses— made her feel a little stupid. Bryant and Pro- hert came into the Phip and she wondered at ihem coming after them so quickly. Morgan suggested that they should leave, when he saw the two men, remarking "We will go out and take a walk and come back again." Morgan had had a tidy drop to drink and could "lot walk exactly steady." She took hold of his arm, and she suggested that they should return, as she was feeling ill. Deceased said, Wait a bit," and then left her and went over the railings near the end of the houses. She saw Morgan go towards the end of the cliff, and she turned and walked up and down for about 20 or 25 minutes. She looked over the edge of the cliff occasionally, and failed to see anything of him. She wondered what had become of Morgan, but thought that he had gone to have ( a sleep. There was no suggestion that they should go to the cliff together. After some time she went over to look where he had gone to and got near the spot. She did not see Morgan after he left her near The Parade. When she saw Bryant and Probert she asked them if they had seen Morgan, and they said" No." They asked her what she was doing there, and she replied, Taking a walk. She asked them what they were doing there, and they replied, Bird-nesting." She stepped back too far as she spoke and slipped over the edge of the cliff. She was unacquainted with the spot and did not think the cliff was so near. P.C. Thomas Evans deposed that the body of the deceased was lying about 20 yards from the bottom of the cliff.

ACCIDENTAL DEATH." The Coroner briefly addressed the jury, and said that the evidence showed that death must have been due to accident. The jury returned a verdict of Accidental death," and added that they considered it very indiscreet on the part of Bryant and Probert to have followed, and, if they had not donerso, it might not have happened.

A BARRY "BREEZE." Councillors and Trade Union Secretary. At a special meeting of Barry Public Works and Health Joint Committees on Monday evening, Councillor W. R. Lee presiding, a deputation of Barry municipal employ es, headed by Mr Rees Llewellin, South Wales secretary of the Municipal Em- ployees' Association, appeared with re- spect to an application on the part of the roadmen, lamplighters, and men working at the refuse destructor for an increase of wages. Previous to receiving the deputation Councillor David Morgan said that at a recent public meeting at Barry, at which he was present, Mr Rees Llewellin made. to his mind, charges against the Council which could not be substantiated. Referring to the dinner hour question, Mr Llewellin had said that the Barry Council had broken faith with certain of their employees, and were not to be relied upon. He thought they should get an apology from Mr Llewellin; he (Councillor Morgan) was not prepared to receive Mr Llewellin until they received an apology from him. (Hear, hear.) Councillor W. J. Williams, J.P., said he was delighted to hear Mr Morgan's remarks. He understood that this gentleman at the same meeting made a personal attack upon him. Councillor Watson said he also was present at the meeting, and supported what Councillor Morgan had said. Councillor O'Donnell con- sidered it wrong tactics that the men, be fore they approached the Council, should hold a public meeting to denounce the Council. On the proposition of Councillor Lakin, seconded by Councillor Manaton, it was agreed to ask Mr Llewellin for an explanation or apology. Mr Llewellin and the deputation were called in, and the Chairman, addressing Mr Llewellin, explained that the committee, before dealing with the question of wages, wished "for an explanation or withdrawal of such statements. Mr Llewellin said that before he could reply it should be the duty of the Council to give the language he had used in a more definite form. The Chairman I think you stated that the Council was not t.o be relied upon. Did you say that ?—Mr Llewellin In reference to what 1—The Chairman said it had reference to the dinner hour of some of the workmen. Mr LIewellin Yes, I did make that state- ment, and I believe I am here to-night to justify the position I took up at that meeting. Proceeding, he said he thought that the Coun- cil had broken faith with the workmen re spec ting a dinner hour question, and he was sorry he was not in a position to apologise for that remark. In the course of further discussion Coun- cillor Morgan remarked, Does Mr Llewellin still think that we are not to be trusted ?" Mr Llewellin; I deny absolutely making that statement. I said that the Conncil had broken faith with the men. The Chairman said he had pioneered for his own society for 14 years in Barry, and he had not been paid for it either-— Mr Llewellin Thank you, Mr Chairman. The Chairman was proceeding when Mr Llewellin said I mu«t object, please. Am I here to be insulted ?" The Chairman (heatedly) I am chairman of this meeting. Sit down. How dare you, sir]? You made reckless statements against men in the hall." Mr Llewellin; Gentlemn, I am sorry I must retire. Councillor Mana.ton, with Councillor Morgan Nicholas, suggested that they ask the members who were present at the meeting referred to to state what Mr Llewellin had said. In reply to a statement that he had declared the Council had broken faith with the men, and that tbe Council as a body could not be trusted," Mr Llewellin said that he did make the first portion of that statement, but he did not attend that particular meeting with the object of injuring the feelings of members of the Council. As to making the statement that the Council were not to be trusted, he could not remember having made that remark, and until he remembered that he could not apolo- gise. Mr Llewellin also denied having-, made an attack upon Councillw W. J. WiUianisi The meeting then proceeded amicably, and at the close of the deputation's case Mr Llewellin thanked the Council for the courteous manner in which the deputation had been re- ceived. (Laughter.) He was glad that the meeting had ended better than it began. It was decided to obtain particulars of wages paid to men in similar positions in other places.

PRESS AND MORALS, The Mischievous Limerick. On Monday, before the Select Committee on Lotteries and Indecent Advertisements, Mr Dnnning, Chief Constable of Liverpool, said the police of that city did not take any notice of bazaar lotteries unless they were advertised and tiekets exhibited for sale in shop windows. In that case the personswere warned that they were committing an offence against the law, and that was sufficient to remove it from the immediate notice of the police. He thought the Post Office should have more power to deal with lottery circulars. Major Malcolm, chief constable of Hull, said that whist drives were, he considered, if the prizes were subscribed for by the people play- ing, a contravention of the law. The feeling in Hull ran very high against indecency in any form. Mr Russell Allen, proprietor of the Man- chester Evening News," who, for the purposes of the inquiry, also represented the Manchester Guardian," Yorkshire Post," Liverpool Daily Post," Bradford Observer," Lanca- shire Daily Post," and Eastern Morning News" (Hull), gave evidence as to he evils done by those who ran limericks and similar competitions. He stated that one individual who left Manchester a few years agof an undis- charged bankrupt had made a large fortune out of coupon competitions. He quoted some of the remarks of judges, in which the methods adopted causing widespread misery were most severely condemned. Replying to the chairman (Earl Beauchamp) the witness said that he thought these com- petitions placed in the hands of men whose aim was not of the highest large capital with which they could compete against newspapers which had a high idea of the responsibilities of conducting a newspaper. Such competitions were often fraudulent in their methods. They encouraged the circulation ot journals of a low type by enabling them to boast enormous circulations and so attract advertisements. He knew of newsagents writing and saying that a certain paper was not going so well in the district as it might, and it would be a good thing to send a prize to the town. He sug- gested that £5 should be fixed as a maximum prize to be given, and that the prizes should not be contributed by the competitors. If a paper wished to give a larger prize for an educational or other worthy competition it should apply to the Board of Trade or the Home Office. He objected to the coupon system. His opinion was that there should be a very drastic alteration of the law- At present as fast as one thing was stopped another was started. They were also demoralising in that they placed large baits in front of poor and ignorant people. The Press used to have responsibility, but sooner or later the State would have to recognise that what was the liberty of the Press when in responsible hands was now quickly becoming the license of the Press in the hands of huge syndicates which did not seem to take 'the same view of their responsibilities as was taken a few years ago. The Committee adjourned.

£ 62~ FORA^TOE Maud Jenkins, an envelope-folder, in the employment of Messrs Spicer Bros., was awarded jE62 19s damages against the Midland Railway Co. at the Southwark County Court Monday for the loss of one of her toes. Plain- tiff informed the Court that while she was standing at the corner of Union and South- wark Bridge-roads one of the defendant com- pany's vans ran on to the kerb, and the wheel ran over her foot. She was taken to the hos- pital, and later it was found necessary to have the little toe amputated.

ESCAPES FROM PRISON. St. Petersburg, Monday.—The following mes- sage has been received here from TLflis :—Yes- terday evening 18 prisoners escaped from prison here with the help of an unknown man who killed the superintendent of the prison. At the same time two sentries at the gate were shotand a bomb was throwninthe guard-oom. Some prisoners who were taking exercise in the inner courtyard escaped in the direction of a neighbouring monastery, where they were awaited by accomplices, who threw two more bombs, with what result is unknown.—Reuter

THE PILOT. A traveller waited at a Certain English provin- cial* town in vain for the much overdue train on the branch line. Again he approached the solitary sleepy-looking porter and inquired for the twentieth time, Isn't that train coming soon ?"' At that moment a dog came trotting up the line, and a glad smile illuminated the official's face. Ah, yes, sir," replied the porter; it'll be getting near now. Here comes the engine-driver's dojf."

Miners' Questions. MR E. EDWARDS, M.P., ON THE EIGHT HOURS BILL Calm Statement of the Case. The President of the Miners' Federation was the principal speaker at the annual demonstra- tion of the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners' Federation at Southport on Saturday. South- port made much of its visitors. The Mayor, wearing his chain of office, and accompanied by the Mayoress, headed the procession, which was marshalled on the sands, and marched through the principal streets, with many bands and banners, to the Recreation Ground, where the demonstration was lielci. Blackpool was originaily chosen as the place of meeting, but the Blackpool Town Council offended the miners bypassing a resolution of hostility to the Mines Eight Hours Bill; and as a "punish- ment the Lancashire miners removed the demonstration from Blackpool to Southport. The hostile resolution was afterwards expunged by the Blackpool Corporation, but the miners refused to be placated, and a sum of £ 25,000— which is estimated as the spending power of the miners on demonstration day-has been transferred from the pockets of Blackpool shopkeepers and amusement caterers into those of their Southport competitors. Mr E. Edwards, M.P., president of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain, said the: eight hours question was now in a critical stage. When the Miners' Federation first took up the question of obtaining an eight hours day by legislation the promoters little thought that in the year 1908 they would have the violent storm which had been provoked throughout the country. Previous to the formation of the Miners' Federation every miners' Union had based its rules on an eight hours day. There was not a Union in the country, even Durham, which had not set out in its rules that eight hours were sufficient for men and boys to work in the pits. It was clear that the Bill was going to be fought on its economic aspect. It was all a question of what wasto be the price of coal in future. The price of coal when the miners received the last advance of wages stood at 8s 7d per ton. Ordinary consumers would probably be paying 18s per ton, but the wages of the miners were based upon an average of 8s 7d for all the coal produced. The general community would have to look some- where else for the high price of coal. It was not the workmen who were receiving it. It was not the coalowners who were receiving it. But there were people who made fortunes out of the distribution of coal, while the men who produced it were almost starving. The miners at no time had sought selfishly and greedily their own special interest at the expense of the general community. They knew how much their own trade depended upon the well-being of other trades. Let him say that he had never been responsible for the statement that an eight hour day would not increase the cost of producing coal. And he was not going to make it in Lancashire. What he had said, and what he re- K peated there, was that by the time they had got this movement fairly understood, and the owners had adapted their pits and machinery to it, the general public would not know whether the miners were working eight hours or ten. The shorter hours did not neces- sarily increase the cost of coal, because they might get better and more work from the man when he was at work. If a pit was drawing now ten hours a day and all the men were fully employed and doing as much as they could no one would say they could get as much out in eight hours as in ten. It would be utter nonsense to say it. But anyone con- versant with the coal trade knew that the men worked everywhere by contract, and 500,000 men in the Miners' Federation were looking forward to eight hours with calm equanimity, because they believed wages would not be lessened and the value of coal would not be interfered with. He was told even now that prices were coming down and they must look for reductions of wages. It was rather strange that they should hear at the same time of how much it would increase the cost of the coaL While he was notprepared to estimate what the increased cost would be yet he could say that in all cases where hours had been reduced it had not had any serious effect upon the cost of production. There might be an attempt made by the coalowners and by people who made large sums of money out of. selling coal to put up prices, but that mustnot be laid at the door of the miners aud of the eight hours day. Mr S. Walsh, M.P. for the Ince Divisioij, said although the course of events had rather delayed the second reading of the Eight Hours Bill he had not the slightest doubt of the in- tention of the Government to carry out their promise, and within a few months the miners would be in the enjoyment of an eight hours' day. The following resolution was unanimously adopted That this meeting again emphasises the necessity of an Eight Hours Day for all under- ground workpeople, and calls upon the Gov- ernment to redeem the promise- contained in the King's Speech by passing the Bill into law before the end of the present Session. "It notes with satisfaction the labours of the Royal CQJnmission on Mining Accidents < I ftndTtrusts rtn amended I may speedily pass, ensuring greater safety to life and limb. While grateful to the Government for the establishment of Old Age Pensions it regrets that the age and income limit are such as to deprive thousands of the most needy and de- serving of the benefits of the scheme, and hopes it may shortly be amended in these par- ticulars and further calls upon the Govern- ment, when dealing with the unemployed problem, to recognise every willing man's right to work, as only on such lines can his right to live be vindicated." L R.C. AFFILIATION. Our mining correspondent has been authori- tatively informed that the counting of the i votes of the 500,000 members of the Miners' Federation on the question of whether the Federation shall become affiliated' with the' Labour party shows a large majority in favour of alliance. The decision will add 13 members to the strength of the Labour party in the House of Commons. Mr T. Glover and Mr S. Walsh, the Lancashire miners' members, already belong to the Labour party. The attitude of Mr John Wilson and Mr J. Johnson, the Durham miners' representatives, is un- certain, as they contend that the new rule of the Durham miners also compels them to act independently of the organised Labour party.

CROSS-COUNTRY MAN-HUNT. P.C. Clain had an exciting story to relate to the Kingston-on-Thames magistrates on Mon- day. Just after midnight he visited the pavilion of the Surbiton Golf Club, from which dashed j two men and raced across the fields. Clain dashed after them, and an exciting chase en- sued. Fields, ditches, and hedges were negoti- ated, until, as the constable explained, he began to gain upon the men, one of whom turned round and threatened tOÀnjure him with a jemmy. Eventually, however, two other constables came to Clain's assistance, and the men, seeing that matters were hope- less, gave themselves up. J Both men were committed for trial. One is a baker named William Henry Stenning, while the other refused to give either his name or address.

GASWORKERS' WAGES. Exception has been taken by the Gas- workers' Union to the new scale of wages adopted by the Pontypridd Council recently, more especially in regard to the stokers engaged at the gas works. Correspondence on the matter was read at a meeting of the Gas Committee on Tuesday, in which the secretary » of the Union, Mr Victor Morgan, complained that a revision had taken place without the men or the Union being consulted. It was pointed out that while the Council fixed the minimum at jEl 12s 6d, and the maximum at £ 117s 6d. the latter figure was the minimum recognised by the Union. Our Executive Council and members," declared Mr Morgan, will insist that no reduced rates shall come into force for tIony section of the workmen until the present contract as regards wages condi- tions is legally terminated." The matter was referred to the Council to deal with.

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