The Merthyr Express

CENTRAL HOTEL, MERTHYR, Under New Proprietorship. JAMES FRANCOMBE, Many years with R. E. JONES, LTD., Caterers, Cardiff; HEAD WAITER, five years Queen's Hotel, Reading, and Metropole and White Hart, Margate. CATERING IN ALL ITS BRANCHES COMMERCIAL, COFFEE & DINING ROOMS. FIRST-CLASS CHEF. Balls, Banquets and Parties Catered for. I CARDIFF RACES 11 Easter Monday and Tuesday, March 28th & 29th. 1 I*1 FIRST RACE, 1.45. LAST RACE. 4.30. |J FIRST DAY CARDIFF HURDLE RACE A L200 ,1 11 SECOND DAY WELSH GRAND NATIONAL OF £400 i> Charges—COURSE, ONE SHILLING; Public Stand*, 39.; Tatterealla, 5a. j » (Ladies, 3s.); Paddock (extra), 2s. 6d. (> THEATRE ROYAL, MERTHYR. «// w-drrii! -c\dhr>lA "'¡/: '1"i "lf: MONDAY, March 28th AND DURING THE WEEK. MATINEE, EASTER MONDAY. Doors open 7.159 Consilience 7.45. FREDK. MELVILLE'S Grand New Production— "HER ROAD TO RUIN" Circle 2/- Stalls 1/6. Pit Is. Gallery 6d. THE MERTHYR SELECT SKATINC RINK ANGEL BUILDINGS (Entrance Gillar Street), Still has the Finest Quality and Best Laid MAPLE FLOOR within 100 miles. ELECTRIC LIGHT. ORCHESTRAL BAND. REFRESHMENT and CLOAK ROOMS. RICHARDSON'S and WINSLOW'S BALL-BEARING SKATES. FOUR SESSIONS DAILY-Morning, 10 till 1. Afternoon, 2.30 till 5. Night, 7 till 10. Special Session for Ladies and Children, 6 till 7.30 p.m. LESSONS GIVEN BY EXPERT SKATERS Free of Charge. MOUNTAIN ASH COTTAGE HOSPITAL. 16th ANNUAL EISTEDDFOD Will be held on EASTER MONDAY, MARCH 2Sth, 1910. CHIEF CHORAL (150 to 180 voices) Thanks be to God," JS100 SECOND CHORAL (60 to 80 voices) "0 Father, whose Almighty power L25 CHIEF MALE V OJ CF, (60 to 80 voices) The Rising Storm" B30 SECOND MALE VOICE (30 to 40 voices) Hymn before action" £ W GIRLS' CHOIR (40 to 50 voices) "The Shepherd" £ rb BOYS' CHOIR (30 to 40 voices) The Fairies" £ 8 ACTION SONG, Own Choice £5 ASS BANDS (Class A.) "Schubert" £ 41 BRASS BANDS (Class B.) "Rohm Hood £ 20 ELEGY to the late Dr. E. W. JONES, Penrhiwceiber L15 S Soprano. 2 Mezzo-Soprano, 3 Contralto, 1 Girl's, 1 Boy's, 3 Tenor, 2 Baritone and 2 Bass Solos, 62 2'1. and gi lA. each. 2 Open Recitations, £1 la. each; Children's Recitation, 10/6. Essay, 22 Zs. Eog]yn> -51-. Mining Examinations, L4 5s. 7 Pianoforte Solos, JE2 2s. and £ 1 Is. each. Violin Solo, 21 Is. 2 Harp Solos, J31 Is. each. Ambulance Competitions, JS5 5s. Adjudicators—Dr. H. WALFOBD DAVIES, London; Dr. W. W. GOODWOKTH, London; Mr. H. C. MORKIS, St. David's, Pem. Qt full particulars see Programmes, now ready, 2jd. post free, D. T. EVANS, Secretary. T. HPGHES, Assist. Secretary. THE EVENT OF IE ILSWIEN. —— AREDPAUPNNV Cha,r Eisteddfod, "DLiiUftV Llllv I Band Contest and Fete, EASTER MONDAY, March 28th, 1910. NSAKLY £ 400 IN PRIZES. Vea Choral Competitions—Several Vocal and Instrumental Solos—Poem, Essay, Recitation, and Art Teats. CHAMPION BAND CONTEST and CORNET SOLO COMPETITION for Two Silver Challenge Shields, One Silver Cup, and Cash Prizes. EXCEPTIONALLY ATTRACTIVE FETE, including the Famous La Dor Troupe of Seven Marvelleus Acrobats, and Mddle. Tudor with Troupe of Peiforming Ponies. FECIAL ENGAGEMENT OF THE FAMOUS FULL MILITARY BAND OF THE ROYAL ENGINEEBS. GRAND DISPLAY OF FIREWORKS. 0 TRIES close 14th March. Programmes 3d. Sec., Mr. R. H. JACKSON, 11, Priory-rd., Abergavenny. MARKET HALL, PONTYPOOL. SECOND GRAND CHAIR EISTEDDFOD tASTER-TUESDAY, MAJi. 29, 1910. OVER £100 IN PRIZES. A GRAND MUSICAL TREAT. ALSO 4 GRAND CONCERT. Come in your Thousands. All Particulars may be obtained from THE SECRETARY, sJ^NlCHOLAS STREET, PONTYPOOL. BARGOED ANNUAL E t CTF PM CRANOCHAtR ttotbUUrUM Wlùù BE ON FASTER TUESDAY, MARCH 29th, 1910. ljA.„ CHIEF EVENTS:— .^E VOICES: "Lead, Kindiy Light," O. James S25 0 0 tie I) CHOIRS: How Great is Thy Good- Edwin Ione.3 15 0 0 ."ENlLE CHOIRS: "Onward," D. Jones, AVWV' ••• 6 0 0 (ODE) (and a Valuable Chair) 2 2 0 tWt vd, Ambulance, £ 5; Quartette, £ 2 2s. *oet ^0s" • Solos and Pianoforte Solos, £ 1 Is. each w> Recitations, Musical Compsitions, &c., &c. Particulars see Programmes', Id, each (by post 1 Jd.), obtained from the Secretaries, W. WILLIAMS, 5, fc^'EET, Bargoed E. W. JONES, 40, Greenfield-street, blA.RBTEG AND DISTRICT COOTAGE HOSPITAL EISTEDDFOD. ,GRAND CHAiR EISTEDDFOD Maesteg, Tuesday, August 2nd, 1910. AGGREGATE PRIZES— £ 200. ^U<?!cators—Music: Dr. S. Coleridge Taylflr, London j/e'iininary; W. Thomas, Esq., Treorchy; Brass Bands: Otn Morgan, Esq., London; I.iteratur* "Gwili"; ^Wibulance Dr. D. J. Thomas, Nantymoel. (Ha !iKF CHORAL—" Hark the deep tremendous Voioe" Com n*,lst P'ize, £ 70; 2nd £ 20. SECOND Choral—"The 18 mrShepherd" (S. Davies, G. &L., Maestejt), Prise .MAJ,k VOICE—"Spartan Heroes" (Dan Protheroe), OF fKri2e, £ 20; 2nd £ 5. JIRVSMYS CHOIR—" Over the field, &AvJ°Ver (Adam Geibel), lst jirize. £ 6 2nd £ 2. Brass W s.("2ndClass)— "Memories of the Past" (W. Rimtners) Wprloe £ 10 2nd £ 5 3rd £ 2. Action Sons for children, 2 £ 2 2nd £ 1. Solos li gns. each. "Pryddest, j s«. & handsome Chair. Ambulance Competition, £ 4. het;5?ether with substantial prizes for other musical com- ll°ns, Essay, Kecitat.ions, Enslyn, &c. Full particu- B> 8ee programmes. 2d., frem the Secretary, J. P. James, 15. Brynmawr-place, Maesteg, Glam. W. T. JONES, High Street, Merthyr, Auctioneer & Accountant, HOUSE, INSURANCE AND GENERAL BUSINESS AGENT. RADESMEN'S Debts Bought or Collected. Rcuts Collected. Arrangements with Credi- Preparation of Bankruptcy Statements of Af- 'ader; Books Posted and Audited. Su-ent for C'iiief Life, Acciicut. Fire, and Plate lasutiuua Ojopaniea. MERTHYR TOWN MISSION HALL (Shiloh), CHURCH STREET. NEXT SUNDAY, GOSPEL ADDRESSES by Rev. H. O. HUGHES, Missioner. Selections by Mission Orchestral Baud. PARK BAPTIST CHURCH, THE WALK, MERTHYR. PREACHER NEXT SUNDAY: Rev. J. Lloyd Williams, Pastor. Services at 11 and 6 o'clock. HOPE CHURCH, Merthyr Tydfil h WAS JESUS A SOCIALIST ? Fourth Address of the Series BY THE REV. J. MORGAN JONES, M.A., ON SUNDAY EVENING NEXT, MARCH 27 1910. SERVICE TO COMMENCE AT 6 P.M. ALL ATiE CORDIALLY WELCOMED. ZOAR CHAPEL, MERTHYR. A GRAND ORCAN RECITAL Will be given at the above Chapel on THURSDAY, MARCH 31st, 1910, BY Mr. Caradog Roberts, Mus. Bac., F.R.C.O. SOLOISTS: Miss ANNIE REES, Dowlaia Mr. LEWIS JONES, Heolgsrrig. To commence at 7.30. Admission One Shilling. Proceeds towards Bethlehem Church, Taf Fechan. .l pRVA^CHER&G^lH GOLSEHRETURMS 1 tfiir ■ RECiaTi::ln!t-p Facsimile oj One-Ounce Packet. Archer's A. Golden Returns The Perfection of Ptpi Tobacco. Corn,, Sim, «FT> FKAQFAKT. •SERVANTS can easily be obtained by the use of a small Want Ad. in these columns. State your requirements, and you will be sure to set suited at once, WELSH ROMANCE- "TRAGEDY IN GELLI WOOD." Being a translation 01 the notfd book Llfruddiaeth yn Nghoed y Gelli," by Craigfrya Hughes. By all BookseUers, or by post, 7id. from D. DA VIEtS, Bookseller, Femdale. J. L. CUNNINGHAM AUCTIONEER, ACCOUNTANT, VALUER & FINANCIAL AGENT,} 19, CLEBELAND STREET, MERTHYR TYDFIL. Speciality-MORTGAGE LOANS F. A. PHILLIPS, AUCTIONEER, ACCOUNTANT, VALUER & HOUSE AGENT. Public Auditor under the Friendly Societies, Act, 1896, and the Industrial I and Provident Societies Act, 1893. Agent for the chief Life, Fire, and Accident Insurance Companies. OFFICE 34, Victoria Street, MERTHYR TYDFIL,

Sunday, MARCH 27. "Socialism and Religion"-l:Iope Church, Mer- thyr. Easter Monday, MARCH 28, Theatre Royal- "The Road to Ruin." PaJacs, Ebbw Way Women Love." Band Contests, Carmarthen Park. Olympia Skating Rink, Merthyr—Daily. Central Skating Rink, Wellington-street—Daily. Skating Rink, Angel Buildings, Merthyr. Llangadock Races. Eisteddfod at Abergavenny. Eisteddfod, Mountain Ash Cottage Hospital. Easter Tuesday, MARCH 29. Eisteddfod at Bargoed. Athletic Festival at Abergavenny. Eisteddfod at Market Hall, PontypooL Wednesday, MARCH 30. Bal1-Ska.ting Rink, Tredegar. Eisteddfod at Bethania, Dowlais. Thursday, MARCH 31, Organ Recital, Zoar Chapel, Merthyr. Monday, MAY 9. Bargoed May Day Show Whit-Tuesday, MAY 17. Eisteddfod, Cwmaman, Aberdare. Tuesday, AUGUST 2, Eisteddfod at Maesteg.

Notice to Subscribers. Three editions cof the "Merthyr Express" art printed every week one for the Aberdare Va) ley from Hirwain to Abercynon; one for the Bot. ough of Merthyr Tydfil and East Glamorgan; and one for IVest Monmouth, inclusive of the Rhymney Valley. Subscribers in one district desircus of obtaining the edition in another district can be supplied with it through their regular agents by sending a post card to the publisher, Glebeland. street, Merthyr, intimating their wishes and nam. ing the agent.

THE THREATENED STOPPAGE IN THE COAL TRADE. EMPLOYERS and workmen and the whoYe public of South Wales learnt with profound regret of the failure of the negotiations for a new agreement between the Coalowners and their workmen, on Saturday last; but though the fact has cast a shadow of deep gloom over the entire district, yet there is still room for the maintenance of hope that the prospect is not quite so bad as it looks. There was, from the two official reports published, a decided narrow- ing of distances between the parties, and, closer approach to a possible basis of settlement, and they separated on terms of mutual respect, with an avowed readiness to meet again if the desire is expressed. We trust the desire will! exist and, find expression. There is still time to re-consider the situation—the ground that has been gone over, the points that have been whittled down, the irreducible minimum" that has already been modified, and the possibility of further modifications in order to bring the contentious points on both sides within the range of acceptance. The veteran Mabon, who has been unable to attend the negotiations personally, through illness, is yet hopeful that all is not lost, and that further efforts to bring the ship into port will be crowned with success. When one of so much experience is thus optimistic it gives much encouragemont for hope to the general public unfamiliar with the inner conditions of the contest. The Board j of Trade is expected to offer its mediation1 before the actual crisis is turned,and we think that if the same wisdom and discretion whici; the Board brought to beitr so successfully in the" railway and- cotton disputes has anoppor- tunity for being exercised in thiii. dispute iJ will have similarly happy results. Though the outlook is distinctly black, still it is not without a silver lining, and the most potent reason of all for this hopefulness remains in the fact that both sides are anxious to avert a breach. Further mutual concessions ought not oo be impracticable. Whatever the sacrifices to either side, they must be light in comparison with those which will follow from a dead stoppage and a protracted period of ruinous idleness

THE PARLIAMENTARY PROSPECT. THE Parliamentary prospect is stormy. The indications point to a General Election, either at the end of April or the beginning of May. It may be deferred to a later date by a few weeks, but all depends upon the course of night the Prime Minister addressed a great public meeting in connection .with, the Home Counties Liberal Federation, at Oxford. There he was most emphatic in his declaration that the absolute veto of the House of Lords must go, and the Government were as earnest and as united upon that policy as the most en- thusiastic of their Liberal supporters and the Labour and Irish parties. They had their plans laid, but they could not show their hands by disclosing their plans to their opponents without creating unnecessary difficulties for themselves. He appealed to the supporters of the Government of all parties to have some confidence in their honest intentions, and their resoluteness of purpose, and not to blame them for being reticent upon points and details which in the interest of all of them it was well to reserve. They were determined upon the veto and upon the Budget, and they would have I nothing to do with any democratic whitewashing reform of the House of Lords, or any other reform until these vital questions had been settled. No reform of any kind of the House of Lords would be acceptable and satisfactory I to the Government and the Liberal party I which did not secure beyond all controversy lthe supremacy of the House of Commons in I the legislative machinery of the country. 1 Whatever errors of judgment the Government I may have committed as to forms of procedure for the attainment of their objects at the opening of Parliament, we think them should I be no Aonse of doubt amongst Liberals that they I are in deadly earnest upon the two vital questions and they ought to receive the confidence and encouragement of the rank àndfile in a situation of extreme difficulty and of far greater com- ¡ plexitythan)s apparent on the surfaced- MEANWHILE, we are warned by the significant movements and statements of the whips that another General Election is close upon us, and we must be prepared for it. No party wants it. Even amongst the Tories there are many men, amongst their present members, whose worldly means are not so great that they can face another battle with equanimity. But events are controlling the situation in a way that they cannot help, and an appeal to the electors may come at any moment after the Budget is once more before the House of Commons. What will happen no one is bold enough to prophesy. Mr John Redmond is master of the situation, and he can save the Budget or wreck it. Speaking at Liverpool, on Saturday, he took notice of the conciliatory tone of Mr. Asquith's speech on the previous day, and expressed his sincere willingness to reciprocate that feeling. Mr. Redmond's diffi- culty is that his purpose in Parliament is to push forward Home Rule at all costs, and he thinks that the holding back of the Budget till the Lords have decided on the veto resolutions will give strength to the Government. Mr. Asquith, on the other hand, says that it is not this particular Budget or any other Budget which constitutes the real weapon of power in the hands of the House of Commons, but the control of supplies. Thus, if the Budget were passed it would still leiv» the House with full power to say that not a penny of the taxes so voted should be spent by the Government until redress of grievances had been secured. Consequently, if the Budget went through the Commons to the Lords the latter House must pass it or reject it again, leaving the Commons still masters of the situation by the control of supplies. Seeing the extreme importance at. tached to the enactment of this measure by Liberals and Labour alike, because of its enormous possibilities of social reform for Great Britain, we earnestly trust that Mr. Redmond will not take the ff\tJ step of voting against it, and thereby create a deep chasm between his own party and Labour and Liberals in Great Britain. Such a course must put back the clock of Home Rule for another ten years or longer, but the Liberal party, nevertheless, would not cease to struggle for the victory of the Commons, which is indispensable to their own existence aa a party capable of forming a Government.

GOSSIP. Mr. Walter Runciman, President of the Board of Education, says he hopes that next session a Bill may be introduced which will deal partly with the raising of school age and partly with technical classes. He made a statement to this effect last week-end to a deputation repre- senting the Parliamentary Committee of the Trade Union Congress, who urged that some- thing should be done for the youth of the country from the time they left school until they reached the age of 18 years. One of the members of the deputation said that six out of seven girls and boys were running riot in the streets. Mr. Runciman said it was the desire of all education- ists to see the school age raised. Most children, who left school at the age of thirteen or fourteen, and who did not return, knew practically nothing about arithmetic or writing with ease. He hoped that the report of the Commission on Street Trading would go strongly against street trading for children under seventeen. The President also alluded to the medical examina- tion of children, and pointed out that^great advances had been made during the last eighteen months. The Board of Education, he added, would give, every possible assistance to the furtherance of open-air schools. Dealing with secondary school free places, Mr. Runciman said that, taking the whoje of the secondary schools of this country in 19Q7-8, they were 2 per cent. over the 25 per cent. standard, while in 1909-10 31 per cent. of the total places in the secondary schools were free places. They were, therefore, making rapid progress. The State was making a change in many of the endowed charities which were scattered all over the country. In the course of time they would be able not only to apply the whole of these educational endowments to the original purposes of their founders, but they would be able to combine the small endowments so as to make them effective. Honours fall thick and fast upon Sir Samuel Evans, the late member for Mid-Glamorgan. He has now been made a Privy Councillor. Mr. Rufus Isaacs, K.C., M.P., who succeeded Sir Samuel ae Solicitor-General, has had the honour of a. knighthood conferred upon him. Mr. Blandy Jenkins, who has occupied the chair for fourteen years, was unanimously re-elected at the annual meeting of the Glamor- gan County Council, last Thursday. There were eleven vacancies on the aldermanic bench, all the retiring members being Progressives. The vacancies were filled by the election of Progressives, among those appointed being Mr. Rees Harris (Aberdare), Mr. Rees Llewelyn (Aberdare), Mr. Jones (Mountain Ash); and Mr. W. Williams (Pontlottyn) Mr. DavidHughes, of Aberdare, was also elected an alderman for three years, in place of Mr. J. Davies, of Merthyr. « Mr. Keir Hardie, M.P., predicts that we shall have another election very soon, and he says the next Government will be a coalition of Whigs and Tories. The annual report, on the British Army, for > year ended September 30th last, states that ptevaiting opinion, among those who are | in closest touch wit!; (he men, is that Hie quality li of recruits for the Regular Army is improving, that the men enlisted last year were above the in *>hyfflqiie^$fl.y.catioo 0!Ù\aQ,C. L During the year 33,837 recruits joined the Army. a decrease of 3,338 as compared with the previous twelve months. This was solely due to fewer recruits being required to maintain the Army at its establishment. In a number of regimenl the standard was raised to check recruiting, and in the Foot Guards the standard was the highest since 1896. The total number of recruits medically inspected was 56,327, of whom 16,859 were rejected, the percentage being 29.93, compared with 29.36 in the previous year, and 37.71 in 1904-5. Of the men who offered themselves, 26,252 were unskilled labourers (7,846 rejected), and 13,766 skilled workers-(3,965 rejected).. Agricultural labourers headed the unskilled men with 6,352, and miners, with 1,984, headed the list of skilled men. General town casuals numbered 10,661, and country casuals 1,834. Defective teeth are responsible for the rejection of a growing pro- portion. vi&e&isffttitted Vale ^Northern Union Football Club have reaped at least out of the cup ties. In the first round they defeaffct: Merthyr at Rhydycar. Owing to the hnfa votir- able weather the receipts at that match did not realise expectations. In the second round it was their good fortune to be drawn to meet Huddersfield in Yorkshire, the receipts at this match amounting to about £300. The draw for the third round again favoured the Ebbw Vale Club, they having choice of ground, and their opponents being Salford. The officials of the Monmouthshire Club agreed to play the match at Salford, having received a very substantial offer from the Lancashire Club for consenting to the change. The official state- ment has not been made, but it is whispered that Salford offered considerably over £200 if Ebbw Vale would agree to visit Lancashire. Fortune has certainly smiled on the Ebbw Vale Club this season. At the annual meeting of the Carnarvonshire County Council the,Chancellor of the Excehquer was appointed an alderman of the county, and his brother, Mr. William George, was elected vice-chairman of the Council « The final ballot of the miners in the East Glamorgan Division, for the selection of a Parliamentary candidate was taken last week- end, the names submitted being those of Mr. C. B. Stanton, Aberdare, and Mr. Alfred Onions. Tredegar. The official figures have not yet been published. An excellent start has been made by the Labour Exchanges throughout the country. They have, an far, more than realised the hopes entertained when they were opened. Accord- ing to < a statement made in the House of Commons the other day, by Mr. Buxton* the President of the Board of Trade, the vacancies notified in the first five weeks were 32,500, while nearly 20,000 places were filled. He also stated that there were on the live" registers over a hundred thousand men. The managers of the Exchanges are taking the greatest care to recommend such men only as are likely to be found suitable. But for this, possibly many more places would have been filled. The figures are very satisfactory, and promise well for the future success of the Exchanges. Mr. Richard Bell, of the Labour Department of the Board of Trade, Sir Wm. Crossman, manager of the Cardiff Labour Exchange, and Mr. W. J. Davies, manager of the Merthyr Exchange, waited upon the Corporation on Monday night to invoke their assistance in making the local exchange a success. Mr. Bell, who is a Merthyr boy, congratulated the Council on the great progress made by his native town, and said he hoped to see the day when Merthyr would have a Lord Mayor. He then appealed to the Corporation to do all in their power to make the Exchange successful. Exchanges, he pointed out, could not make work, but they could bring employers and workmen together, and if they had the co-operation of local authori- ties men might be saved the trouble of wandering from town to town in search of employment. He pointed out what had already been accom- plished, and said he had great hopes that in the future we should see fewer wastrels than there are to-day. The Mayor and other members assured the visitors that the Corporation would do all they could to make the Exchange a useful institution. The announcement that the Local Govern- ment Board has dec ided to issue the provisional order applied for hy the Merthyr Corporation, empowering the Council to acquire St. David's School site. has given general satisfaction in the town. It is proposed to erect a Free Library and additional municipal offices on the site, and an application will have to be made for sanction to borrow the money required. Another enquiry will, therefore, be necessary. For a long time St. David's site has been an eyesore, and it must have created a bad impression on visitors to the town. The new offices will add greatly to the architectural beauty of the town. The official notification appears to have been made to both members for the borough. < The text has been issued of a Bill to provide for the more effectual prevention of destitution and the better organisation of public assistance. It is presented by Sir Robert Price (L, East Norfolk), and supported by Mr. Robert Harcourt, Mr. Barnes, Mr. Mond. and others. The Bill embodies some of the recommendations of the minority report of the Poor-law Commission. It provides for a new department under a Minister for Labour, and for the abolition of the boards of guardians, and the transfer of all provision of public assistance for the non-able. bodied (whether children, sick and infirm, aged, or mentally defective) to the county or county borough council, etc. Abolition of distress committees is also provided for, and the transfer of all matters affecting unemployment and the regulation of the hours and conditions of labour to the department of the Minister for Labour. Throughout tbe Bill the several authorities are empowered and required to take steps to prevent the occurrence of destitution, as well as to make provision for those who are destitute. t < All political parties now regard it as almost certain that another General Election will take place ere long—possibly before the end of May— and preparations are being made accordingly. At the annual meeting of the Labour Represen- tation Committee for the Merthyr Parliamentary Borough, at Aberdare, on Saturday, the question of running two candidates was under consider- ation. Representatives of the Press were not present during the discussion, but it is under- stood that it was decided to take a ballot of the workmen on the subject. From the tone of his speech it would seem that Mr. Keir Hardie, M.P., is in favour of a second Labour or Socialist candidate being brought forward. On the same day the annual meeting of the Merthyr Liberal Federation was hold at Abernant, when officers were elected and other formal business was transacted. At this meeting an attempt was made to raise a discussion on the question of running a second Liberal candidate, but it was ruled out of order. Mr. Edgar Jones, M.P., was present, and he delivered an interesting speech.. He dealt with the political situation and observed that his faith in the Prime Minister was stronger than ever. He also showed that since his entry into Parliament he has been able to serve his constituents in various ways. » » » A resolution was passed earnestly appealing to the Chief Liberal Whip not to consent to the surrender of any seat to any other party, without consulting the local Liberal Associations. Probably this was prompted by a statement published last week-end to the effect that an arrangement had been come to by the party leaders in London not to oppose members who were returned at the recent election by sub- stantial majorities. It has since been denied, however, that any such agreement has been arrived at. The Conservatives of Mid-Glamorgan decided on Saturday not to contest the seat at the bye- election. There will, therefore, be a straight fisrht between Liberals and Labour. Nomina- tions will be made on Saturday, and the polling will take place on the 31st instant. 1 m Mr. F. W. Gibbins, of Neath, the Liberal candidate for Mid Glamorgan, is connected with Aberdare. Mrs., Gibbins was born at Llety Rhys, near Hirwain, and is a sister of Mr. R. J. • Rhys, of Plasnewydd, Llwydcoed, Coroner for North Glamorgan. Mr. Gibbins, who has been High Sheriff of Glamorgan, is a member of the Society of Friends. He takes a keen interest in Welsh life, and in Welsh antiquarianism, and is a member of the Car- marthenshire Antiquarian Society, as well as of the Cambrian Archeological Society. His knowledge of Quakerism in Wales is unique. He recently contributed an important article on Quakers' Yard" to the Friends' Historical Association's Journal. The Daily Chronicle Parliamentary corres- pondent, in Tuesday's issue of that journal, stated that a conference had taken place between Mr. John Redmond and Mr. Dillon, and Mr. Lloyd George and the Master of Eiibank (the- Chief Whip), as the result of which there good reason to believe that the Government, asul i the Irish leaders would now arrive at a C01>t- XllAt..t .laiab "HilJ 4IIventuaia •*VJ ■ common and concerted action during the life- time of the present Parliament. Mr. Lloyd George told Mr. Austen Chamber- lain straight to his face, in the House of Com- mons, that the object of the opposition in pressing for the introduction of the Budget before the other business, was to kill it and bring the Government to grief. Hear, hear," said Mr. Austen, and Mr. Lloyd George asked, after that cheer, where was the honesty of their anxiety about the financial confusion. We will get through our Budget," added the Chancellor, long before you could bring in yours." The Veto propositions were laid on the table of the House of Commons on Modnav. The first expressly disables the House of Lords from rejecting a Money Bill, and that any such limitation by law shall not be taken to diminish or qualify the existing rights and privileges of the House, of Commons. The first resolution defines what is embraced in Money Bills, and 'det?^W' it the question ever anses what is to be regarded as a Money Bill. The second resolution declares it to be expedient that the powers of the House of Lords as respects other Bills than Money Bills shall be restricted by law, so that any such Bill which has passed the House of Commons in three successive session?, and having been sent up to the House of Lords at least one month before the end of the seession, has been rejected by that House in each of these sessions shall become law without the consent of the House of Lords on the Royal assent being declared provided that at least two years shall have elapsed between the date of the first introduction of the Bill in the House of Com- mons and the date on which it passes the House of Commons for the last time. A third reso- lution proposes to limit the duration of Parlia- ment to five years. In anticipation of the near approach of another General Election it is stated that the Government intend to introduce a short Bill to have all borough elections on one day, and all county elections on another day. Mr. Steele Maitland, a barrister elected for East Birmingham at the last election, is spoken of as the rising hope of the Unionists. He is tall and dark, with a resolute face, and speaks well, with a taking Parliamentary manner. At the County Court, at the Town Hall, ou Monday and Tuesday, his Honour Judge Bryn Roberts, disposed of 384 judgment summonses and 13 administration requests, besides hearing the ordinary contested cases. On Tuesday the Judge became exasperated at the volubility of a woman, who persisted in interrupting his Honour. Even when the teamed Judge shouted "Keep quiet, woman," the lady persisted in having the last word by replying All right, sir." At last his Honour broke down under the strain. You can talk till you are blue in the face, and I wouldn't believe you," he told her. At the police court, on Tuesday, the Magistrates disposed of over 160 cases, many of which were summonses in respect of rates. The Judge sat so late on Monday that the monthly meeting of the Corporation had to be held in the committee-room, many members and officials having to find sitting accommoda-i tion as best they could, while the reporters were cramped up on a small table behind the Mayor. The Town Clerk was asked to present a report to the Council ypon the matte* As will be seen from a report prepared by the Merthyr Borough Controller, which appears elsewhere, the maintenance of the Merthyr cemeteries entails a cost on the rates. At Cefn, for instance, for every interment that takes place £1 3s. 6d. has to be found out of the rates and 10s. 5d. for every interment at Pant. At Aberfan there is a alight balance in favour of the Corporation, but at Treharris there is a loss of over a pound on every interment, which has to be made good out of the rates. With the exception of Cefn all the cemeteries are in the borough, and are assessed at nominal sums for rating purposes, but the Cefn cemetery is assessed at the full value. This loss on the cemeteries is a serious matter for ratepayers. Mr. Harris has also prepared a return showing the charges made by other local authorities, and these are to be gone into by the Committee with a view to the fees at Merthyr being revised. The Mayor stated at the meeting of the Merthyr Town Council, on Monday night, that the Corporation had now practically agreed to join with Swansea in the erection of an asylum, and the draft agreement would be submitted to counsel. As previously stated, the cost is estimated at about a third of which;, will be borne by Merthyr. Some of the members of the Merthyr Board of Guardians expressed annoyance at the meeting last Saturday at the attitude adopted by Sir Marchant Williams in connection with the granting of maiiftenance orders. The majority maintained a discreet silence, but one or two indulged in tall talk. The Rector of Dowlais suggested that they should apply to the Hiffh Court for a mandamus, and also Bend a protest to the Lord Chancellor. The Stipen- diary, however, was quite right. Mr. James (the Clerk) explained that no order made by the Magistrates could be varied without the consent of the Court. It was because this had been done that Sir Marchant took the stand he did. The Clerk also pointed out that by means of maintenance orders the Board recovered about £2,000 a year, and said that in the interests of the Board friction should be avoided. After this the discussion fizzled out. It is unfortunate that, through some misun- derstanding of the facts probably, there should have been any altercation between the Chief Liberal Whip and the Liberal and Labour Association of Mid-Glamorgan. No doubt the failure of the Association to secure a good candidate from outside created an impression that they were being jockeyed at head-quarters, but the Chief Whip has distinctly declared that he has in no way interfered with the indepen- dence and rights of the Association. It is evidence of the intense state of feeling in the constituency when the Liberal party determines at all hazards to fight rather than submit to the handing of the seat over to a Socialist, who, they allege, is using Labour as a stalking-horse for the party which aims at the destruction of Liberals. We are not surprised that they have determined to fall fighting if they are to go down at all. They have a good local man as their champion, and we shall all be deeply interested in the outcome of the struggle. It will decide whether Mid-Glamorgan Liberalism is able to hold the field or sinks beneath another glorious victory for Socialism." POLONIUS.

CEFN COED. WANTED A CORRESPONDENT IN CEFN for the Merthyr Express." Apply by letter addressed to Editor, Merthyr Express," Merthyr. Am-GUN COMPETITION.—In the shooting competition, at Aberdare, last Saturday, Mr. J. Thomas, sculptor, Cefn, carried off the cup by scoring the possible points, making seven bulls with seven shots. He also was successful in winning the cup at the Drill Hall, Merthyr, the week before. TABOR CHAPEL.—Excellent lantern slides were shown at this place last Wednesday night, among them being slides of Robinson Crusoc, and also some very nice slides (which were obtained free from the London and North Western Railway Co.) these including lovely views of North Wales and nice views of London. "JOHN PENRY."—At the meeting of the Ebenezer Young People's Debating Society, last Friday night, Mr. R. G. Price delivered an excellent address on John Penry." Mr. Price gave a very detailed account of the Welsh martyr's life, his advice being the same as his old master. A vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. Morgan Morgan, and seconded by Mr. Mathew Owen. LATE REV. J. HATHREN DAVIES.—In addition to the wreaths mentioned in our report of funeral of the late Rev. J. Hathren Davies floral tributes were sent by the head teachers and staff of the Cefn' Schools, Vaynor Philhar- monic Society and Members of Cefn Library. A bunch of flowers was also given by Mrs. Margaret Jones, 103, High-street, Cefn. Mr. and Mrs. Griffiths should have read Mr. and Mrs. Powell (registrar). The bereaved family, having received over 80 letters of sympathy from all parte of the country, and to reply to all of them being absolutely impossible, Mrs. Davies, therefore, desires through the Express" to convey her gratitude and her deepest thanks to all who sent Bowers, wreaths, letters of sym- pathy, and telegrams regretting inability to attend.—Amongst those present at the funeral whom we omitted to mention was Parish Coun- t cillor John Thomas, Cefn.

Glynneath Men on Strike On Monday, 230 men employed at the British !"•oncida Colliery, Glynr.0éttlt, cam out on -•(.like, fhe men contend that the working p'aoje ac the colliery are abnormal, and that h-'v .innet earn a living wage. They ask fo: payment on day-iate principle instead of on 'nonwte, „ 1

Chief Whip and Merthyr Liberals. DEl'EXDS HIS ACTION TIE MID-GLAMORGAN. Important correspondence having reference to the Mid-Glamorgan by-election and the attibIde of the Chief Liberal Whip to the opinion of local Liberal orc arifations has passed between the Master of Elisankand Mr. Isaac Edwards, secretary of the Merthyr Borough Liberal Federation. On the 21st inst. Mr. Edwards Sir,—I instructed by my Federation to respectfully inform yon of the following resolu* tio.i which was passed last Friday evening, That this l'ederation, representing the Liberals of the luerthyr Tydfil Parliamentary Borough, here assembled at our annual meeting, earnestly appeals to the Cbief Liberal Whip not to consent to the surrendei of any seats held by Liberals to any other Pfirt.Tr s 1' (,f>nsvdting the local ia tjfti opinion, such a ennrse inevitably to dh idfc rather than to unite the Progressive forces. I may say that. having regard to the peculiar conditions existing in Wales as between the Liberal Party and the Labovr Party, we think that in any steps taken or any advice tendered bv the official Literal Party in London every care should be taken to have full cognisance of the feeling of the local Liberals before any pronouncement is made from headquarters oi any steps taken v.-hich may interfere with the future action of those people on the spot who have to do the spade work necessary to maintain the party in power. This resolution was passed with great feelinc, and I believe you will recog- nise that this Federation has a right to express our opinion upon this point when it is considered how loyal this constituencj has ever been to the Liberal Party.—I am, yours, etc., "ISAAC EDWARDS (Sec.)'* CHIEF WHIP'S REPLY. The Master of Elibank has written as follo to Mr. Edwards :— Dear Sir,—I have received your letter of. yesterday's date, with the resolution passed b:9\ certain Liberals at Merthyr, who appear to be, uninformed as to recent events-in another f stituenry, to which- events, I presume, youJt letter relates. It is quite useless to appeal ta me not to consent to the surrender of a Liberat seat to any other party. I have not done 804 or desired to do so.. I do not understand that your Federation suggests I have done so with respect to their constituency, but that they desire to obliquely hint at a constituency the1; do not mention. If the resolution was passed because of what has appeared in the Press concerning Mid- Glamorgan I regret your Federation did no^i ascertain the facts, viz., that I took early to confer with and inform the local leaders the of my views and feelings, which they ignored4 and I expressly said the local association w" entirely free to act as it pleased. It may interest your Federation to know that I am receiving continuously, representatio from Liberals in W ales entirely approving of my action at the present juncture, looking at Parliamentary situation. Those who know th. facts, know that I have laid down no general policy, nor shall I. I must be guided from timti to time by the circumstances which face me. X was so guided in my advice to the Liberals in, Mid-Glamrogan and nothing has occurred ta make me doubt the propriety of that advice.-— Yours faithfully, ALEXANDER MURlAY (Mastet of Elibank). -J' Isaac Edwards, Esq.

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES. HAVE PATIENCE AND CONFIDENCE lit MR. ASQUITH — BY EDSAR R. JONES, M.P. The one danger of the democracy, just nowi" is that of impatience. The political situation is so complicated that the yiain man gets con- fused, and then inpatient, and then weakened in his loyalty to the party that is entrusted with the task of achieving the greatest reform attempted since the days of Cromw-eU. It may be well, therefore, this week to outline the situation, and thee, -I hope, through these columns, to explain week by week how the affair. of the people are progressing. The first thing that we have to recognise it that the present Liberal Cabinet has not got a working majority of its own in the present House of Commons. It can only act with the support of the Labour Party and the Irish Party. That position ie, in itself, a very different one from the position of the last Parliament. From 1906 to 1909 the Labour or the Irish Party could criticise or take action against the Liberal Cabinet at any time, without risking a Progressive defeat. Now, however, those two parties have to share with the Liberals the responsibility of keeping the Tories from getting into power and plunging the country into the evils of Tariff Imposition. This practical working difficulty has already revealed itself in the motion about wages in the Army workshops, when the Tories refused to allow, the motion of the Labour Party to be with- drawn, and the Labour Tepresentatixes had to refrain !rom voting for their own motion lest they would enable the Tories to throw th. Government out on a question of detail. The Irish Party is also in a difficult position. Somehow, the Irish farmers have been per- suaded that Mr. IJoyd George's Budget wiH hurt them considerably, and however much, the truth is pointed out they still threaten to revolt against Mr. Redmond if he supports the Budget. Mr. Redmond has, therefore, been endeavouring to find a way for the fight to be carried on against the Lords without the; necessity of voting for or against the Budget.! On the other hand, the Radicals and the Labour men have been pressing for the placing of the Budget forthwith on the Statute Book. These conflicting interests would have dashed the cause of progress to pieces if ttr- "Prima Minister had been as fash as soma ;jeopla outside. Fortunately, the Government decided to proceed with the necessary business of legalis* ing supply, so that the machinery of StatA could go on and during the three weeks thert has been time for an exchange of views, and fo< arriving at a working arrangement between th6 parties that make up the majority against t Lords. I am able now to give a rough idea of tha situation. The House is to have from Thura" day to Monday as a holiday. On Tuesday the Prime Minister will move the resolutions for limiting the veto of the House of Lords. The discussion on the resolutions may take a fortnight or more. Then the resolutions will be submitted in the House of Lords, and while the Lords are discussing the resolutions the Budeet is to be rapidly dealt with in the House of Commons. What does this procedure really What blow can be struck in that way ? Let ul look at the position about the middle of May" when the Lords have not agreed to the resolu- tions. The Prime Minister can go to the King and say that unless he can have assurances that a Veto Bill will be carried into law, then he and his colleagues will be unable fo continue to be responsible for the affairs of State. He will not advice the King to dissolve Parliament* because he cannot accept the responsibility for the consequences of a dissolution. He will probably explain to the Sovereign what those consequences are. He will say that as the House of Commons only granted supply for six weeks. no one can spend any money, nor borrow any money, for carrying on the civil services, and the Government of the country. A dissolution will take five weeks, and that, added to the time required after the elections, would mean that there would be stagnation for months. He would also warn the King that if he sent for Mr. Balfour, or anyone else. it would be impossible for him to put things right for at least four or five menths. Even if Rothschild and other rich Lords offered to lend Mr. Balfour the money the plan would not work, because the probability would be that after another election the Irish would still hold the balance of power, and would refuse to legalise the loan, so that it could not be repaid. Therefore, tbe serious advice that the Prime Minister would have to tender to the King would be that a.s he, a Constitutional monarch, must put the working of the services of State before the privileges of a Chamber, he is bound to give the assurances. It would not be any use for the King to say that he expects the Prime Minister to put things fight. The latter would have to say that he has no majority; that it is an independent majority of an independent newlv-elec ted House of Commons that dictates the situation But, if the assurances are given then everything will he ready, the Budget will be ready, the whole machinery in trim to proceed without. day's lpse or delay. That, roughly, is the plan of campaiga. W. shall see later how it works out.

The one in trouble does not need yotir tears, while your smiles are a fortune of cheer. The kindest thing to do for people in great grief IS not to refe1 to its oause. It is only the worker who knows the blissful possibiliries of an idle hour, as only one who hat suffered knows the fcfue e of happ^ne^.