Rhondda Leader Maesteg Garw and Ogmore Telegraph

Mabon Opens his Campaign. R&u&yig Address at Treorchy. Broad Views of Labour Repre- sentation. Mr. W. Abraham (Mabon), M.P., Labour aad Progressive, candidate for the Rhondda, opened his election campaign at Noddfa Chapel, Treorchy, on Friday evening last. There was a large and en- thusiastic audience. Dr. W. Morris, pastor of the church, who presided, said it was time that the masses should once and for all do away with the Tory House of Lords as at present constituted. It was true there were Second Chambers in other countries, but these latter were not only representative in character, but also possessed qualities and qualifications which enabled them to act the part of legis- latorda (applause). Mabon, on rising, had a very cordial reception, and a member of the audience greeted him with A Hapny New Year, Mabon"—a greeting which was heartily applauded, the hon. gentleman respond- ing, "The same to you," amid cheers and laughter. Mabon at the outset referred to his position in view of the fact that he had joined the Labour Party. People outside the Rhondda, he observed, some- how or other, did not quite understand why they had so complacently arranged their difficulties; why it was that appa- rently the little differences of opinion between the extreme political parties on the Liberal and Labour sides had been settled. He wished to throw light on the matter-and to explain why it had been easier for them to come tc an arrange- ment in the Rhondda than in other dis- tricts. Within three months after his first election in the Rhondda the people conscientiously thought they were doing the right and the best thing for the workers of the Rhondda, in amalgamating under the title of the Rhondda Labour and Liberal Association. He had found that many who voted against him at his first election had since become his most consistent friends (applause). He remem- bered well the night that they were re- united. There was a grand unanimity on that occasion. He had now been asked to join the Labour organisation of Great Britain, and he had promised to do so. He would say without egotism that, having been a prin- cipal Labour leader among the miners' leaders of South Wales for nearly 40 years, he was prepared to place before them the views of the people which he hoped to represent from a Labour stand- point, and he would be prepared to add to that everything that appertained to Welsh nationalism and every progressive measure, wherever it might come from (loud applause). Dealing with the general political situation, the hon. member said the first great question to be considered was whether the Peers or the people were to rule this country (hear, hear). At each Session since the last General Election important Bills upon which the House of Commons had spent much time had been mutilated, yea, destroyed, by the House of Lords. Not content with this, they now claimed to decide what taxes should be paid and upon whom they should be levied. Personally, he was of opinion 1 that the time had arrived when an end should be put to the power of the House of Lords to over-ride the will of the House of Commons. The country had allowed landowners to pocket millions every year in the shape of unearned increment, and yet they objected to pay a small tax upon what justly belonged to the State. They wished at all costs to reserve their power to plunder the people. Every Labour representative and every Liberal and Radical citizen in the realm must be of opinion that the feudal age should in fact and practice come to an end. Our present system of land ownership, said Mabon, had devastated tlie country- side, it had imposed heavv burdens upon industries, and cramped the development of towns and villages—simply crippled capital and impoverished labour (hear,

Cost of Food Tax to the Rhondda. ;C87,000 a Year. It is essential that every elector in the Rhondda should realise clearly the cost of the proposed food tax both to himself and to the whole population. Soothing promises are held out that the tax will not raise the price. But even if this doctrine were not contrary to common- sense, its falsity is proved by the fact that food costs more in every country where the imports bear a duty. We have very good and trustworthy data with which to calculate our own burdens, and the following simple tabular statement shows that the Rhondda would be taxed to the tune of E87,227 a year, or at the rate of t3 3s IHd. for each family of five. The question, therefore, that every elector should ask himself is, Can I afford to pay this large exstra sum of money for the food of my family, or ought I help, by my vote, to saddle my towns- men with the heavv burden? COST OF THE FOOD TAX TO THE RHONDDA. Bread: Tax, 2s. per quarter, say id. the 41b. loaf £ 25,488 Sugar: Tax, 4s. 2d. per cwt., or id. the lb 21,542 Meat, at 8d. the lb.: Tax, 5 per cent. 19,040 Butter, at Is. 2d. the lb.: Tax, 5 per cent. 7,340 Fish, Poultry. Rabbits, Fruit, &c. Tax, 5 per cent. (allowing only 2s. worth weekly to each family) 7,072 Eggs, at Is. the dozen: Tax, 5 per cent. 3,400 Cheese, at 8d. the lb. Tax, 5 per cent.. 2,407 Condensed Milk Tax, 5 per cent., say td. per tin on the Milk and the Sugar 680 Total yearly cost to Rhondda £ 86,969 Average cost to each family of five £ 3 3 llt As so many misleading statements on this subject are in circulation, it is as well to give the data on which the cal- culation is based. They are as follow:- Population of Rhondda in the middle of 1909, 135,894. ("Weekly Return" of the Registrar-General). Food Tax: 5 per cent. on foreign and Colonial imports. Colonial imports being only one-fifth of the whole, these duties are equal to 4t per cent. all round. Allowing a trifle for the profit of traders and importers, we take it at 5 per cent. even. (London Standard," November 12th). Consumption per head, as given to the Royal Statistical Society by some of its members: Beef, veal, mutton, and lamb, 94lbs. cheese, 10|lbs. butter lStlbs.; bread, 3601bs. ■; eggs, 10 doz. sugar, 751bs. (Board of Trade Returns). The apparently large quantity of sugar is accounted for by the fact that we con- sume it in beer, jams, mineral waters, &c. Bacon is left out of account as no definite proposal has been made to tax it. Of condensed milk we allow only one tin per month to each family; and an equally low estimate is taken of the large mis- cellaneous class, including fish, rabbits, poultry, fruit, pickles, spices, &c., viz., 2s. worth per week for each family. Thus. if there is any error, it is on the side of understatement..

Letters to the Editor. Letters on any subject of public interest are cordially invited. The insertion of a letter does not necessarily mean that the Editor agrees with the views ex- pressed therein. Correspondents should write on one side of the paper only, and no letter will be published unless the writer serids his name and address, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

Budget or Tariff Reform ? A Defence of the Lords. To the Editor of the "Rhondda Leader." Sir,—A letter appeared in last week's "Rhondda Leader" under the title of "The Budget or Tariff Reform?" The writer should have headed it House of Lords;" as fully two-thirds of the letter was given to abusing the Chamber his own party has done so much to build up. le., he aware that during the last,, 60 years i Liberal Governments have created 255 peerages? Mr. Gladstone always laid it down that, It is the function of the House of Lords to represent the per- manent as opposed to the passing feelings of the English people." Why, do the Radical-Socialist object? First, because the House of Lords has exposed the hollowness of their cause and actions; and secondly, they object to the here- ditary principle by which some members of the House of Lords hold their seats. It is a principle of our national life, and is the first on which our national life revolves. The Monarchy was made here- ditary some two hundred years ago. Why? To prevent those disturbances about the succession to the Crown which did so much harm to our country in the Middle Ages. All new peerages are granted for distinguished services rendered to the State, and who will say that those are not selected in the highest sense of the word? There are in the present House of ords 170 ex-members of the Commons, 181 have served in the Regular Army, 38 ex-Colonial Governors and Ministers, 104 served in the Boer War and 89 who have served the State in various offices. The Lords have never stood in the way of any real reform for the good of the country, but they have initiated and carried through (in spite of the Commons) some of our most useful measures. Here are a few:-The first Factory Act we owe to Lord Shaftesbury; Lord Derby was re- sponsible for getting us Parliamentary trains (which compelled railway companies to run trains at third class fare); the Housing of the Working Classes was forced through by Lord Salisbury; and the Duke of Devonshire pushed through the Labour Conciliation Act, by which over 400 strikes have been averted. The Duke of Wellington and Lord Wharncliffe originated and carried through (in spite of the most strenuous Radical opposition) the Truck Acts. Mr. Evans also complains that Since 1870 they have thrown out and mutilated over 30 Liberal Bills." May I ask him how many hundreds of Liberal Bills the House of Lords has passed in that time? How could Mr. Asquith and Mr. Lloyd George claim at the end of last year that the present Government had added more legislation to the Statute. Book than any previous Government if the Lords alyays stood in the way of progressive Liberalism ? If the Liberal Party are sincere in their loud-voiced vituperation of the House of Lords, why don't they place a scheme before the country for ending or mending it? Mr. Asquith says he is in favour of the Second Chamber, but would put a veto on it." Mr. Lloyd George says. Away with it altogether," so that I think Mr. Evans should per- suade the party he worships so much to agree to a scheme for accomplishing their object before" Limehousing" about the arrogant, self-elected guardians of the land," &c., &c. As regards the reference to Mr. Chamberlain, I am sure, if he has followed his career (as he claims to have done), that he can find nothing in the whole life of Mr. Joseph Chamberlain derogatory to his character as a man and a gentleman. This is what a leading journalist says of him: That it is only great men who grow in character. First the Mayor, then the local member repre- senting his Borough in Parliament; next in the Government, fighting for his party. afterwards the Minister at the head of his Department, and now the statesman championing the Empire, each stage in his career well defined, and never an up- ward step taken till success had been won by arduous toil on the lower." That is the story of Joseph Chamberlain. As regards the tax on corn, may I inform Mr. Evans that Mr. Chamberlain has never proposed a 10 per cent. tax on corn ? In all his speeches he has kept to the proposal of a 2s. per quarter tax on foreign corn and Is. on Colonial corn. How in the world Mr. Evans can say that 10 per cent. means 25 per cent., I cannot follow. The grotesque distortion of facts to which some sorcalled politicians I descend, is really pitiful. Why, even the great Free Trade statistic manipulator, Mr. Chiozza Money, has never dared to attempt the feat. If it is true that a tariff always increases prices, how is it that tinplates are cheaper in America to-day than before the present prohibitive tariff was put on? If a 10 per cent. tax means 25 per cent. to the consumer, how is it that tea and tobacco only increases the amount of the tax? As Mr. Batchelor said in writing to the Pall Mall Gazette" on October 6th, in reference to the pro- posals in the Budget, "To-day we want the means to carry on the Government, and the whole country is. convulsed with anxiety how to obtain it. The funda- mental laws of civilised Society, even of Nature, are to be violated, and, even so, the desperate and novel expedient pro- posed will fall far short of providing for our necessities. The money is mainly wanted to sustain the immense and grow- ing mass of paupers, generated under our unique fiscal system. We might seem to be a poor, struggling, and semi-bankrupt nation judging by the policy advocated by one or two of the parties of the State. But our National Debt is still 100 mil- lions less than it was when we had finally crushed Napoleon. How is this? It is for the orthodox, political, professorial economists. Socialists, Democrats, and their worshippers, political lawyers and office seekers, Free Traders, and all the more or less reckless adventurer, bred of modern intellectual progress,' to ex- plain." Thanking you in anticipation.— Yours faithfully, T. J. HUGHES. 245 Cemetery Road, Trealaw, Dec. 31st, 1909.

Bodringalit Anuual Eisteddfod. Record Entries. The annual crown eisteddfod organised by Bodringallt (W.C.) Church was held on Christmas Day. The attendance was excellent, and there was a record number of entries. The various competitions were keenly contested, one of the most interesting features being the open reci- tation, which attracted the best reciters in the Principality. Viewed from every standpoint, last Saturday's eisteddfod was one of the most successful held at Ystrad-Rhondda. and the promoters are to be warmly complimented upon the success of their arduous labours. Mr. E. H. Davies (junr.), Brynheulog, Pentre, presided, and the Rev. T. D. Jones (pastor) conducted. The adjudicators were:—Music, Mr. C. Meudwy Davies, LlaneUy; poetry and recitations, Rev. J. Jeremy Jones, Mountain Ash; draw- ing, Mr. R. R. Williams (schoolmaster), Clydach Vale; Biblical Questions, Arl. David Thomas, RSe., Pentre; mining, Mr. John Samuel, M.E. (county mining lecturei<),( Trborchy. Accompanist, Mr. Willie Harris, Bodringallt. The awards I were as follow — Painting of any flower: 1st, Master Walter F. Keeling (age 11), Ystrad; 2nd, Miss Margaret Edwards, Ystrad. Recitation for children under 10, Du a Gwyn (Elfed): 1st. Sarah H. Davies, Port Talbot; 2nd, Maggie Edwards, Ystrad. Solo for children under 14, Codiad yr 'Hedydd 1st, Ceridwen Thomas, Hopkinstown; 2nd, Rachel Thomas, Tre- orchy. Panel graining: Divided between Mr. John Davies, Redfield Street Ystrad, and Mr. John Melville, Llwynypia. (Mr. Arthur S. Jennings, editor of the Decorator," adjudicated in this com- petition). Pianoforte solo for children under 13, Spring Song 1st, Wm. J. Wilcox, Pontygwaith; 2nd, Archie. Davies, Tyn- tyla Road, Ystrad. Solo for boys under 14. Rhyfelgyrch Cadben Morgan 1st, Morgan J. Pugh, Pentre; 2nd, Arthur Evans, Ystrad. Essay, Hanes 'Iesu Grist o Fethlehem hyd Ei Ymweliad a Nazareth" Miss Annie Evans, Bodringallt. Stanza, C'offinwr Divided between Messrs. Isaac Edmunds, Abercwmboi, and Thomas Drew, Tylorstown. Recitation, Saf i fyny dros dy Wlad" (20 entries): 1st, Miss Gwladys M. Davies, Pentre. Biblical questions under 13: 1st, Dd. Thos. Davies; 2nd, Katie Davies; 3rd Nana. Evans, Bodringallt. I Essay for those under 21: Gweinidog- aeth lesu Grist yn Galilea": 1st Mr. Tom Ball Lewis, Ystrad. Essay, A Geological and Geographical Description of South Wales Coalfield Mr. Ben Jones, Pentre. Scripture questions under 12: 1st, A. Thas Ystrad. Duet for children under 16: Divided between Esther A. Jones and sister, Tre- orchy, and Caswallon Jones and Benj. Jones, Treorchy. Soprano solo (9 comnetitors): Miss Blodwen Barnes, Cardiff. Love letter: Mr. William Williams, County Schols, Llanelly. Bass solo: Mr. David Williams, Peny- graig. Stanza, Tailor Divided between Mr. J. Edmunds, Abercwmboi, and "Eilur Mai," Abercrave. Treatise on The Prophet Amos Mr. J. Rees Jones, Council Schools, Cymmer, Port Talbot. Recitation, King Richard II." (Shakespeare): Divided between Messrs. Livingstone Perkins, Treherbert, and Dd. Thomas. Gelli.. ,r Pianoforte solo (open): Miss Elsie M. Francis. Ystrad. Translations: Mr. John Rees, Trealaw. Epitaph to the late Mrs. Matilda Morgan, 76, GeUigtaled Road, Ystrad: Rev. J. Gwrhyd Lewis, Tonyrefail. Recitation, Ymson ar y Traeth" (Garn Adams): Mr. Tom Harry, Garnant, Ammanford: Tenor solo: Divided between Messrs. Thomas James and T. Davies, Porth. In the chief recitation competition (own selection) there were 35 entries, the prize being a silver crown, and Mr. J. Henry Davies, Ynyshir, was declared winner amidst loud applause. Children's choir (own selection): 1st, Cwmparc (" Merry Elves "), conductress, Miss Owen: 2nd, Ystrad United (" Com- rades of Hope "), conductor, Mr. Lewis Robert Lewis. Five choirs competed.

Y FLWYDDYN NEWYDD. Gwen dy wawrddydd, Flwyddyn Newydd, 'Nawr a daenir drwy y byd Nes gwna loni Dol a llwyni, A murmuron cerdd y rhyd. 0 dy hedyn, Mae blaguryn Yn dynodi amser gwell; I deuluoodd Bro a chymoedd, Ac ar dir ynysoedd pell. Pur a chynes Yw ei negee Dardda o resymol gais- I ni gofio, Gwell yw peidio Meithrin hadau gwawd a thrais. Heddwch wnelo Mwy blodeuo, Nes na theimlir llethol bla- Yn ein rhwystro I gofleidio Gwenau Blwyddyn Newydd Dda. D. YORATH (Eos Hafod).

]NVbIfi mt:11 mOM THf STOUT ^^BBEEZYAIuhdips The Medical Magazine saps ff GOOD STOUT is a RARITY, and yet it is a palpable truism that STOUT medically considered, is, taken all rounds perhaps the Most Valuable of Alcoholic Nutrients. Spirits stimulate, but do not nourish. Wines stimulate, but their nourishing power is feeble, if any. The same applies to beer. OAKHILL INVALID STOUT is the BEST PREPARATION we know of. It Is particularly well adapted for Nursing Mothers." Sold in Cask and Bottle by our Agents in this district. Send post-card to,day, giving name and address of your usual Merchant, for Free Booklet dealing with facts which eVerpone should know. SEND NOW: Oakhill Brewery Stores (Dept. 20 ) Fanny St., CARDIFF 8 Are eating ^ALLINSON BREAD? It is Necessity for all who would be well, especially those suffering from constipation and its attendant evils. 8*na to sr~ Natural Food Co, Ltd R"m "SMSS?.1 em" For Booklet, entitled—" Chal, with Dr Allinson about Who'.emeil Bread. Sent free with name and address of the nearest agent. „ Tl.o mm tr is o?i each lo»f, and the paper ba> d round the CAUTION. § rw loaf also bears his autograph and Photograph. ————name <* None genuine without. Special Bakers of the Allinson Bread-HOPKIN MORGAN, Taff S reef, East Street. High Street and the Graig, Po t) pridd and at Tonvpar.dy'and Trealaw; D. LLKWELI,YN, Golden Crust Bakery. Tans Well; Co-operative Society, Cardiff Road, Troedyrhiw A. JOHNSON. Bryn Sion Bakery, Bryn Sion Street, Dowlaio T. S. GOSLING, M.O.A.. 32, Church Street, Aberavon D. JONES, Crown Stores, Gorseinon A. J. RICHARDSON, The Hygiene Bakery, ulanharran WATKINS & LANE 87. Gadlys Road, Aberdare W. E. MATTHEW, Model Bakery and Model Cafe, DinM Powis H. W. HAWKES, Trosnant Bakery, Pontypool. FOR Handsome Gold WEDDING RINGS SPECIAL VALUE IH JEWELLERY Private Rooms I you should ^'<<Xy/f0r "IT" go to ^\S A USEFUL PRESENT GIVEN WITH EACH RING. ————— _A. FUHRER, d*838^ /JEWELLER & OPTICIAN —nn. iLbkJV TREORCHY & PENTRE. Concerning YOUR EYES So Few People have eyes that are perfect, both for near and far vision, that everybody should have their sight tested accurately on the first symptoms of eye-strain. It is a Great Mistake to put off visiting an Optician until the eyes, from sheer neglect, can no longer do their work. Common Spectacles chosen at random, can do considerable damage to the eyesight; therefore, always visit a competent optician when you feel the need of spectacles, when you will have your eyes tested by scientific methods. You Lose Nothing as no charge is made for testing the sight; and if glasses are not necessary you will be told so. Chidren's Eyes should always be examined if they are at all dull or backward in learning, as this is frequently due to difficulty in seeing, and many a child,apparently dull-witted, becomes quick and bright after being fitted with proper glasses. Particular Attention is given to frame-fitting, so that the full benefit can be derived from the lenses, which is impossible with ill-fitting frames. NOTE TUB ADDRESS— EMRYS RICHARDS, Chemist and Optician, Dunraven Pharmacy, TONYPANDY (lower end, the First Chemist nearest the Trealaw Bridge). C. F. WALTERS, F.S.M.C., F.I.O., The Sight-Testing Rooms," OXFORD STREET, SWANSEA (SSLffiSSJ NatIonal Schools We are SIGHT-TESTING and SPECTACLE FITTING SPECIALISTS ONLY* and all CLIENTS receive the SKILLED ATTENTION of a FULLY QUALIFIED SIGHT-TESTING OPTICIAN by Examination (London). I No Fee for Consultation. Prices moderate and include Testing. I PRESCRIPTIONS A SPECIALITY. Branch 49, Commercial Street, ABERDARE. A UNIQUE OFFER. H. MARKS, Clothier, Boot Factor, &c., 91, Cemetery Road, TREALAW, Is now offering a Special Line in Suits for Cash only. 21/-Cash Suits to Measure 21/- Cash Large range of patterns to select from. Don t forget our Boots, Shoes Clothing, supplied as usual, I/- weekly 1 5080

hear). The House of Lords must be either mended or ended, the question being, Who is to govern, the Peers or the people? (Shouts of "The people"). Mabon That settles it. (Laughter and applause). Mabon concluded his speech with a strong appeal to stand, fight, and win the day." (Loud applause). Mr. Alfred Onions dealt with the ques- tion of tariffs, dwelling on the fallacious- ness of the proposals made for a change in our fiscal system. Several district meetings to further the candidature of Mabon were held through- out the Rhonddas on Friday evening, and were marked with the utmost enthusiasm. Whilst of the. opinion that, to use a well- worn nhrase, the Tory champion has not a ghost of a chance, the Progressives are going to put forth every effort to bring about such a victory as will really demon- strate what the Rhondda working man thinks of the Budget. It cannot be said that Tariff Reform has made any appre- ciable advance in these quarters since Mr. Harold Lloyd has taken the field. As an attractive alternative to the Budget, its effectiveness has already failed. Mr. Lloyd, nevertheless, is making a plucky fight, and his tact in dealing with the opposition elements in his meetings has won him many admirers, if not votes. He has the knack of ingratiating himself with his audiences which seldom fails to ensure an undisturbed meeting, and when question time comes round, he goes through the ordeal courageously, if not always successfully.