The Merthyr Express

Merthyr Education Authority. COST OF NEW BUILDINGS. # COMPARISON WITH THE COUNTY A meeting of the Sites and Buildings Com- mittee of the Merthyr Education Authority was held on Tuesday, Coun. W. Lewis (Tre- harris) presiding. The Deputy iSurveyor was instructed to pre- pare an estimate for the erection of a. new in- fants' school to provide for 200 children in the Mount Pleasant and Pontygwaith districts at Merthyr Vale. I A sub-commifctee reported having visited the Morthyr Vale and Treharris Schools with re- gard to the provision of new desks and the re- moval of galleries, the Deputy Surveyor giv- ing an estimate of the probablo cost of the desks, viz.. Merthyr Vale, £ 180 4s., and Tre- harris £ 346 5s. lid. He also stated that the I amount of loan overspent at Merthyr Vale School during the recent alterations was £ 230, and at Treharris School £ 489 18s. ld. The esti- mated cost of removing galleries in the Tre- harris boys' and infants' schools wo<s £ 152.— It was agreed that for the present half the amount of the estimated cost of providing desks be spent, and that tenders be invited for removing the galleries. A sub-committea reported having visited Nel- son, Ystrad Mynach, Bargoed elementary schools and Bargoed Higher Elementary School, belonging to the Glamorgan County Council, and also the Aberbargoed and Flcur- do-lis schools, belonging to the Monmouthshire County Council, and reported what they saw in each case. The Committee said they wore much impressed with the bright, cheerful and clean appearance, as well as the suitable equip- ment of these schools, and were of opinion that some of the arrangements adopted by the Glamorgan County Council might with advan- tage be copied by the Merthyr authority, viz., the system of heating, the arrangements of cloak-rooms, and also with regard to ventila- tion. There were no maps, etc., on wails, and they, therefore, did not collect the dust.—The Chairman, who alone constituted tho deputa- tion, and who was accompanied by the officials, said the cost of the visit was only 2s. per head (hear, hear). He found that the rate of the Glamorgan County Council for elementary and higher education was Is. 6d., whereas in Mer- thyr the rate was 2s., 4nd Merthyr did not compare favourably with the county in the matter of modern schools, architectural ar- rangements, and everything else. It cost Mer- thyr 25 per cent, more than the County Coun- cil, and their schools were not as good.—Aid. D. W. Jones: Give us a hint as to why the difference is so great.—The Chairman declined. —Aid. A. Wilson: It is no advantage to tell us' of the cost, unless you say what the pro- bable cause is. Is it the scale of salaries?- The Chairman: The County Council build schools cheaper than we do.—Aid. D W Jones said the Chairman had visited several up-to- date schools, and compared them with the whole of the schools in the borough; Mer- thyr had some of the finest schools in England and Wales. In the couuty a large proportion of the schools were old, dilapidated buildings. The Chairman must also consider the assess- able value of the county, and also that of the Borough of Merthyr. If the Chairman told them the cost of education per child in the county of Glamorgan as compared with that in the borough of Merthyr they would have some- thing to go upon. Coun. Isaac Edwards pointed out that during the last fivo years the Merthyr Authority had spent a considerable sum on new schools. The following tenders were received for teach- ers' room at Abercanaid School:—J T. James, J6153 10s.; H. Protheroe, B172 10s.; N. Moss, 2164; J. W. Radnedsre, £ 210; Geo. Mere- dith 1;6128 10s.; E. L. Sullivan, £ 171; Hather- ley and Co., Rhymney, J3200. The tender of the first named was accepted. The Surveyor's estimate was J6135. A letter was read from the Departmental Committee of the Board of Education with re- gard to the cost of school buildings, and ask- ing whether the cost could not be reduced by the use of materials other than those used. —The Chairman said that H.M. Inspectors compelled the authority to spend so much money on buildings. Aid. D. W. Jones: Would you give that in evidence?—The Chair- man Yes.

The public are again warned that, the sys- tem of paying premiums (or any sum above the ordinary steamship or railway fare) in this country to gain instruction in farming in Canada is liable to grave abuse, and is con- sidered by the Canadian Government to be unnecessary. YouQg men who are going to Canada in order to obtain a knowledge of farming are strongly advised to pay no fee of the kind to any private agency, but to appl for information to the Canadian Assist- ant Superintendent of Emigration, 11, and 12, Charinq Cross, London, S.W., or to the chief clerk at this office.

COAL CRISIS. LEADERS CRITICISED AT THE CARDIFF CONFERENCE. CHALLENGE TO MR. STANTON. An important conference of miners' delegates convened by the Executive Council of the South Wales Miners' Federation was held at Cardiff on Saturday, to receive the report of the National Conference and to arrange for the ballot of workmen on tho terms of the proposed agreement. Mr. W. Brace, M.P., presided, and Mr. W. Abraham, M.P., was also present. The delogat- numbered 315, representing 156,491 miners, iid the proceedings, which were con- ducted in private, were somewhat animated. ABERDARE DELEGATES AND THE COUNCIL. Mr. W Brace, M.P., and Mr. T. Richards, M.P., gave exhaustive; reports of tho course of events since the last conference, explaining that a deadlock having been arrived at, another meet- ing of the Conciliation Board was held as tho result of the mediation of the Board of Trade. At this last joint meeting, the owners submit- ted materially revis-ed proposals, but, as the workmen's representatives were ctnli unable to accept them, a reference was made to the Miners' Federation of Great Britain at a con- ference held in London. At this conference the Welsh representatives applied for the operation of the 20th Rul., but this application was re- fused, and the Welshmen were advised to accept the terms offered them on the ground that tho points of difference outstanding were not of sufficient importance to justify a national or even a sectional strike. After refreshing the minds of the delegates on these points, Mr. Brace, in the course of a very strong speech, opened up a discussion in regard to the attacks made by Mr. C. B. Stanton upon his colleagues in the speech delivered by that gentleman on tho preceding day. Mr. Braoa made a pointed challenge to Mr Stanton to substantiate the charges which were implied in his criticisms. (the Chairman) as well as his fellow-mem- bers on the Executive Council, who were the subject of these criticisms, courted the fullest investigation. He invited Mr. Stanton to for- mulate his charges, so that the members of the Executive Council concerned might knn", whether it was suggested that they had been bribed, or whether they were so weak-kneed as to be totally incapable of carrying on the work. He expressed his bitter resentment of Mr. Stanton's insinuations, which were the last thing they —c 'd l^ave expected from a col- league. The" iticisms were uncalled for, dis- courteous, and •>Solutely unwarrantable. Mr. Stanton himself was in full possession of the facts, and kn, p-ecisely what had transpired, and was quite aware that the Executive Coun- cil had done its utmost to secure the best pos- sible terms for tho workmen. Mr. Stanton then replied at great length. His chief poin* was that he was not bidding for popularity, as was shown by the fact that he himself was constantly assailed by the pub- lic and the press because of the policy he was pursuing. Continual attacks were being made upon him, so that he was not trying to be on the popular side, but with him it was a matter of conviction. He then went on to complain that he was being voted down at the Executive Council, and nearly alwaya found himself in the minority. It was only by taking the course that he had taken tha he was able to bring before the workmen of the coalfield the griev- ance which the workmen in his own district complained of, and which they sought to have remedied. Mr. T. Richards, M.P., then replied to Mr. Stanton, and in very strong terms controverted tho allegations made by Mr Stanton as to the general conduct of the Executive Council. Mr. Richards then went on at length to refut-o the statements made by Mr. Stanton as to his being in any way unfairly dealt with by his col- leagues. These statements, urged Mr. Rich- ards, were not onlv manifestly unfair, but quite erroneous, and, like Mr. Brace, he (Mr. Rich- | ardsj, too, very strongly resented Mr. Stanton makinr charges which were absolutely baseless. The subsequenv proceedings were marked by an extraordinary outburst of feeling on the part of the respective partisans. It was main- ta-ined on the one hand that, altnough Mr. Stanton had occupied the platform for a great length of time, h", had completely failed to meet the challenge that. had been made to him to define the charges which were so clearly implied in his speeches. On the other hand, Mr. Stanton's supporters from the Aberdare district were prominent with declamatory re marks, in which they supported their leader. The leaders were freely denounced, and it was further suggested that they had deviated from the policy of the conference as laid down by the December meetincr in accepting the media- tion of the Board of Trade. It was maintained that the leaders were wrong in agreeing to meet the owners, whatever the Board of Trade might suggest, and accept anything but the original proposals put forward by the Decem- ber conference. It was reported by other dele- gates that the people who now deprecated the intervention of the Board of Trade we.ro the very people who previously advocated interfer- ence on the part of the authorities. The Welsh representatives, it was pointed out, had all along the line fought against the owners' pro- posals, and the only reason why they now ac- cepted them was that it was their bounden duty to submit to the Miners' Federation of Great Britain. OFFENSIVE REMARKS. As the discussion proceeded, the excitement bccame still more intense, and it seemed that occasionally in the wranglo the conference was oblivious of the object for which it was prim- arily called. Both from the platform and in the body of the hall language was indulged in which resulted in the offenders being called upon to withdraw. It was in the heat of this discussion that a delegate from Bwllfa, Aberdare, submitted a motion censuring the leaders and calling upon them to resign, and the discord continued un- abated. The affected leaders, who ,of course, form the majority of the Executive Council, intimated through the officials that they were by no means averse to being called up for judg- ment, and were quite ready to resign in favour of other members whom the conference might regard as being more competent to discharge the duties devolving upon them. Some of those who had already taken part in theso animated proceedings endeavoured to dis- suade the conference from voting upon the re- solution. Mr. Brace, howevsr, intimated that, now that the resolution had been duly moved and seconded, he was determined that tho con- ference should be tested, and wou!d not consent to the withdrawal of the motion under the cir- cumstances. Both himself and his colleagues were anxious that they should know precisely the views of the conference. Whan Mr. Brace put the motion to the meet- ing, it was found, unnecessary to count the votes, as, notwithstanding the amount of dis- cord created, only a very small fraction of the delegates voted in its favour. During the morning session, a very large number of questions were put to the officials regarding the purport and effect of the various proposals, and Mr. Onions was occupi-ed for a long time in giving explanations of the points raised. It was intimated that the recommendation of the Executive Committee that the terms of the proposed new agreement should be submitted to the workmen to be ballotted upon. This was carried unanimously, the small aggressive section again voting to the contrary. They also voted against the advice given by the Executive Council that the men should continue working nutil the 9th inst., in order that tho ballot should be taken. OFFICIAL REPORT. The following official report was supplied to tho press at tho conc'usion of the proceedings j by Mr. T. Richards, M.P., the generaj secre- tary:— "This was a general conference, at which there were present Mr. W. Brace, M.P. (in the chair), supported by Mr. W. Abraham, M.P. (general secretary), Mr. A. Onions, J.P. (treasurer), and a full attendance of the Coun- cil members. "Mr. Brace and Mr. Richards gave a repot on the interview with the President of the Board of Trade and the further negotiations that had taken place with the coaJowners and the proceedings at the Miners' Federation of Great Britain conference, after which a gen- eral discussion took place and a large number af questions asked upon the proposed terms of the new agreement, which wero replied to by Mr. A. Onions on behalf of the Executive Council. The following resolution was carried: That the resolution of the conference of December 13th bo adhered to, and the pro- posals for a settlement submitted to a ballot of the workmen, as arranged by the Execu- tive Council.

f If you are drinking any other cocoas will you do this ? Place half a teaspoonful quantity of boiling water ^^2 of the cocoa you are using to each and then TASTE in one cup, and half a BLINDFOLD, or without Sfl §} Allfnzffii/ yl teaspoonful of Rowntree's knowing which is which. 4# in another, add an equal You will appreciate the E-P Rowntree Flavour It appeals to a refined taste, its fovowr, Mawho fancy The deliciouaness of RQwn.. they do not like cocoa at all « tree's Elect Cocoa, the delicacy change their ffliftcla whar* it's I. of itri ilroma, are twQ pqiuto in Row»tre§% ———n~ 1 -■ ir • 11 .ii— 11 I »■' i" 1 11 naij 11 ) 1

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-=- -= I The Dark Side of Convict Life; r [Being the Account cf the Career of HabsT WILLIAMS, a. Merthyr Man.] i CHAPTER XI. During the whole time I was at Portland, I never kept myself four months clear of a re- port, although I had a clean sheet on my arrival there. I can well remember a certain officer at Portland, who was truly a good man and quite different from all the rest, He had been over twenty-five years in the service, and was well up to all the games practised by lags, and it would take a good man to take him down. I can remember saying something to him in the year 1900 in the separate cells, when he was engaged at the time giving me a special search- ing according to orders. He said something in answer to one thing I told him. and I said, "Now you speak the truth." "Speak the truth," ctays he, "I never spoke the truth in all my life, and I am not going to start now." Of course, I know that was merely a joke of his, for I have reason to believe that he was one of the most truthful officers in the whole pri- son. He did me a kindness, although smalt in its way, and I thought a great deal of it. I happened to be undergoing a course of bread and water punishment, and it was at Christ- mas. W hen he handed me my eight ounce pun- ishment loaf he remarked, "Look here, Wil- liams, my boy," says he, "you have a long sen- tence and I am heartily sorry to see you on a day like this on bread and water, but, hang it," says be ''I will break the rules for once in my hfe. Whrereupon he immediately went to ih« cook house, which was situated 50 yards away, and brought me another loaf although it was strictly contrary to rules, and I do belipve ha' would have gladly given me a plum pudding if lie dared. Many a time I had good advice from that man, for a man he was in the best sens4 of the word. but where there is to be found one good officer you will find many the reverse I remember one who used to take charge ol parties when the regular officer would be doing night duty. and he would lose no time in re- porting half the gang before the proper officer came back. Ihis, of course, is dene chiefly to show the other officer up, for even officers sometimes cut each other's throats; that is to say they do their best to get each other the sack, in order o make a name, so to speak. The man I am speaking of was always on the look-out for trouble. Properly speaking, ha carried trouble in his pocket I remember on one occasion a poor old warder, and one of the good sort, to give him his due, one day forjroi accidentally to put the double lock on one ol JT; u rS" and assistant warder hap. pened to be on patrol shortly after, and while around, tr-YinS the doors, discovered a hf nsLrna °" Tluj*ing <*> m*k« quickly, he lost no time in giving ku iult tWn/K° 1ZT PrifCJPaJ- with the ra- -suit that the poor old warder was fined threa htlf'crow,ns- wl" £ .13 caJled amongst officials 8¥et" f*™ offioer was once iq J" ?f convicts known as the special party, and they were employed in an tjiere are situated twelve eeS arate bores, and in the oentre of each is a block of granite stone, fast to which is an iron hami mer and ring, attached to a chain. Each con- viot is employed breaking flint into dust, and fLj M a .^eerous form of employment tU av« *u £ plied ?'lth »lrc goggles to protect A convict was one day hammering away at a pjece of this flint when suddenlv it JX "P £ nick him in the eye, cutting ?Uugb,th? SOgglA,. seriously injuring his wf+K go under aE operation, but without saocess. When the Medical Officer made inquiries as to how the accident happened it reported that the man did it mirDoselv with the intention of getting into the infirmary.' ™™iWwQOtrhln? Sf tbekind. No man JQ proper state of mind would injure his eve-sieht dl^t A fr f of T few days on koepital P* U f«Veare later 1 ih? same man at back fn"uQ; Isle'°/'W^ht: he had come back for a fresh terra of penal servitude, and I could not help feeling sympathy towards him, for, sad to say, he was stone blind, the injur- ed eye having affected the other one, and n^ WhW3 ,H a3- h,m for ever- As to the borate man himself can corro- (To be continued.)

IN AGONY WITH ITCHING RASH "Some three years ago I suffered from a slight rash which grew gradually to such a pitch that it developed into weeping eczema. So bad was 1, the disease spreading over my face and whole body, that I would only go out wearing a veil so extremely thick that my features were unrecognisable and I myself could hardly see. In addition to this, every night, on account of the terrible itching anci sores, my hands had to be bound up and then tightly tied behind my back and as even then so intolerable was the agony that I would scratch where possible with my feet and rub my face against the bed clothes my r/arenta had eventually to firmly tie my feet together and bind a silk handkerchief all over my face. I mention these facts with rcjuctancc but they show the condition to which I was reduced. This went on for nearly two years in spite of specialists and treatment at two hospitals, but all gave me up as incurable. I was then advised to try Cuticura and, being desperate, did so. I slept better the first night, and persevering, the itching gradually grew less, and the so disappeared. Now I am free from blemish, rid of tho irksome bandages and can dispense with a veil. My cure is so wonderful and complete that I feel I should like others to know of this and though you will quite appreciate from the above facts my not disclosing my name, I hope that you will see fit to publi&h this letter for the benefit of others. I am now only twenty, so you will understand what my cure means to me. L-y G na, Grand Parade, Eastbourne, Aug. 27, 1909."

"A vote of censure upon the Executive Coun- cil and a request that they resign was put to the conference. Very few hands wero put up in its favour, and the vote was overwhelmingly negatived. "A vote upon advising the workmen to work until April 9th in order that a ballot should be taken was carried almost unanimously "The resolution of Decomber 13th, referred to above, is: 'That it be an instruction to the Executive Council that, before any new agree- ment is signed, it must b9 reported to a gen- eral conference, and afterwards submitted to a ballot vote of the workmen for approval or otherwise.' "A vote of thanks to tho Chairman conclud- ed the proceedings. "There were present 315 delegates, represent- ing 156,491 workmen." MERTHYR AND RULE XX. A mass meeting of the miners of the Merthyr district was held on Sunday afternoon at the Theatre Royal, Mr. T J. Evans, chairman of the district,, presiding. The delegates who had attended the conference at Cardiff presented a report upon the proceedings. One of them ex- plained that the leaders of tho English and Scottish miners had not consulted their men with regard to putting into operation the twen- tieth rule. A resolution was thereupon passed condemn- ing those leaders for not having done so, it being felt by the meeting that had the voice of the English and Scottish miners been taken on the question the result would have been very different. A discussion took place with regard to the alleged victimisation of certain men who have taken an active part in che vork of the Fed- oration, and it was decidau that failing to so- cure the redress of the grievance, the men should decline to sign the new agreement in case the result of the ballot about to be taken should be favourable to its acceptance. MR. STANTON ON THE NEW AGREEMENT. OTHER LEADERS CiilTICISED. The Market Hall, Aberdare, was crowded last Fiiday with nearly 7,000 colliers, who had assembled to hear an explanation by Mr. C. B. Stanton (miners^ agent) of tho new agreement. Mr. Phillip Davies (the district chairman) pre- sided. Mr. C. B. Stanton said that, unfortunately, reports of the discussions at the Conciliation Board were not published, but when the min- utes were produced they would see what part he had played in the negotiations. He under- stood that the men in that district had on the previous evening decided not to work until they had heard his explanation of what had taken place. He was not sure whether to take that as a compliment or not. There was no need for them to break their necks about a question of that kind. It would have been better if they had well weighed the matter and thought it over before going very far (laughter and cheers). It was a day-to-day contract in any case, and he could have called them out in any case. Still, there was not much harm in what they had dono (cheers). So far as he was concerned, he was very much disappointed with the new agreement (cheers). It was by no means satis- factory. They started out to get certain re- forms long overdue, and something they were entitled; but, as per usual, through force of circumstanoes, they had not got them. Better wages for lower paid workmen, payment for small coal, and other serious questions had not been remedied. The employer had offered 5 per cent, advance on the minimum, but, as his friend Mr. Barker had said, there was not much in that. When they considered the selling price of. coal, they ought to get more. That 5 per oeni- was merely a bait to catch a mackerel. But it might be a direct incentive to maintain the prices at a rate which had never been in existence before. There were other things which the employers now suggested in order to maintain the output—an overlapping shift, for instance. He strongly objected to that (ap- plause). Messrs. Brace, Richards, and others had spoken well, but he did not think they had sufficient backbone and sufficient fighting abili- ties. Mr. Stanton then dealt with the abnor- mal plaoes question, and said they were now offered a clause which simply put them-"as we were." His friends at Cardiff said thev had put up a strong fight, and the majority fceliev- ed that the workmen should agree to the pro- posed terms. The conference of the Miners' Federation opposed the 20th Rule being put into^jpeiration, and he maintained that sectional strike? wero no good. He contended, however, that if the views of thhundreds of thousands of-workmen throughout the country were taken they would declare in favour of tho South Wales men and stand by them. He was heartily sick of tha old-fashioned øectionn.1 strike methods. He was not in sympathy .it- anzi did not want a sectional struggle. Mr. Stanton proceeded to ask, "Am I to sign Away your rights for five yea.?s?" ("No.") "Then I am not going to do so" (applause). Ho added that. if the terms were not acceptable to them, they could vote against them in the ballot. There was a fighting element through- out South Wales. The miners' leaders of South Wales all believed that the colliers had a right to be paid for small coal, and something in respect of abnormal places. They would meet at Cardiff on the morrow, and an early mast- ing with the employers eeemed likely. In the course of the discussion, one person referred to a motion passed at a local colliery meeting the previous evening calling upon the leaders to resign. A Voice: We do not blame Mr. Stanton. It is the other leaders we find fault with. Mr. Stanton, replying to the remarks of one speaker, said that there was no reason why they should remain idle until the ballot came off. On a division, it was decided by a large majority to restart work on Monday. ATTITUDE OF MOUNTAIN ASH MEN QUITE ENOUGH OF SECTIONAL STRIFE. The workmen at the Deep Duffryn Colliery, owned by Messrs. Nixon, Mountain Ash, took advantage of the stop-day on Friday in order to consider the position. Mr. David Phillips pre- sided.—Mr. David Lewis (checkweigher) briefly spoke, and explained the new agreement. Councillor W. Lamburn followed, and said some people were inclined to blame. tho agents for what had been done. This was not right. They had to consider the position in which the men's leaders found themselves. They were face to face with a very gravo and serious diffi- culty, and the leaders had done the best they could under the circumstances. He strongly urged the men to carry out the agreement en- tered into by their leaders, and to work on till the 9th, taking the ballot in tho meantime. He strongly deprecated the view of a section that there should be a strike. In 1898 they had quite enough, he thought, of sectional strikes. The miners of Wales suffered bitterly, while the English and Scotch miners were working. Sectional strife, they all knew, was of no use in the present day, especially in view of the way in which the employers formed combines and amalgamations. It was proposed that work should continue on day-to-day contracts until April 9th. An amendment was put that work be not resumed, as a protest against the new agreement and against the action of the men's leaders. This was defeated by an overwhelming inaj ority, and it was decided to resume work on Saturday. MOUNTAIN ASH MEN FOR PEACE. A mass meeting of all the miners engaged at Messrs. Nixon's Collieries and the Miskin Col- liery, Mountain Ash, was held on the Pavilion Ground on Monday afternoon. About 2,000 colliers from the Deep Duffryp, Navigation, Cwmcynon, Glyngwyn, and Miskin Collieries attended. Mr. A. Whitcombe, Navigation Col- liery, was chairman, and an explanation of the position of affairs was given, by. the Agent (Mr. Enoch Morrell), who, in concluding his speech, remarked that the acceptance or refusal of the new agreement lay entirely with the men them- selves, but as the terms were the best they could get at present, he advised them to vote in favour. The general feeling among the ool- liei-s present was for accepting the terms offered in tÎ: c' now agreement. MEETING AT MERTHYR VALE. MEN ADVISED TO ACCEPT NEW AGREEMENT. A mass meeting of Messrs. Nixon's colliers at Merthyr Vale was held on Sunday afternoon, Mr Richard Davies presiding. There were at least 2,000 men present. Addresses were de- livered by Mr. Seth Rees and Mr. David Sulli- vnn. the delegates to the Cardiff Conference. Aid. Enoch Morrell followed, and dealt with the various clauses in the proposed new agree- ment. He paid a very high tribute to the man- ner in which Mr. William Brace, M.P., had acted as workmen's chairman and his conduct of the negotiations at the Conciliation Board Committee and also at the meeting of the con- ference of the M.F.G.B. He said he felt cer- tain they had obtained everything that could be obtained from the employers. It was now for the men to pronounce judgment on the new agreement in the ballot boxes, and he ventured to urge them in the strongest terms to accept the agreement. It might not be everything that some of them desired, but it was certainly the best possible agreement that they would ob- tain under the existing conditions. A number of questions were asked and an- swered, and the meeting terminated. MEETING OF TREHARRIS MINERS. A mass meeting of the Treharris workmen was held on Saturday evening to hear an ad- dress by Mr Enoch Morrell. the agent of the Taff and Cynon district. Aid. Morrell said he was not prepared to say that the proposed new agreement was everything that he would like, but having regard to the steps taken by the President of the Board of Trade and the atti- tude taken by the Miners' Federation of Great he felt that it s the best possible ajjresniofli that could La loured under tl, c:rc-t. r-.stanecs, and he i ¡ ci!:d,r u¡-d them un- der the circumstances to record their votes at the forthcoming feftllcf in favour of the Mttle- the forthcoming feftllcf in favour of tha Mttle- BMfc 'P'

I.< 11II" ■ ■ iwwiwyLCf RHYMNEY VALLEY FOR PEACE. A largely-attended meeting of the workmen of Bargoed and district was held last Friday evening at Bargoed. Mr. H. Major, Gilfach, presided. The Agent (Mr. Walter Lswis) explained seriatim the terms of the new agreement, and afterwards emphasised that, whatever might have been said, tOO truth was that every one of the Welsh leaders who attended the London conference, voted in favour of a national strike at the earliest possible date. Having regard, however, to the result of the conference, he pointed out that in a sectional fight there was only the possibility of-defeat. AIr. Albert Thomas (sub-agent and secretary) said if they called for a strike with its disastrous effects in poverty, misery, and degradation, I they would bring upon themselves a grave responsibility. He knew there was a bitter feeling prevailing because things which they had long worked for had not been realised, and because they would have to work for another five years under a system which was not a bit better than the old. Despite these regrettable features, however, he advised the men to accept the terms in the circumstanoes, but at the same time protest against them. A resolution was carried accepting the terms, while at the same time protesting against them. Mr .Albert Thomas (sub-agent) addressed a meeting of the workmen of the No. 2 McLaren Colliery, Wellington (Rhymney), on Friday afternoon. Having explained ths salient fea- tures of tho new agreement, Mr. Thomas ad- vised the men to be very careful regarding the ballot, because he had no hesitation in say- ing that if the ballot went against them they would "eventually be beaten and be at the mercy of the employers." A resolution was unanimously adopted that the men work until the ballot, and that the delegates to the Cardiff Conferenco be instruc- ted to vote for the agreement. A mass meeting of the workmen of the Llan- bradach Collieries was held on Friday evening, when Mr. Hubert Jenkins (agent) explained the terms of the agreement. While he was greatly disappointed that the desired terms had not been obtained, he considered it his duty as their representative to recommend them to accept the terms offered, in view of the fact that they had failed to get support for the application of the 20th Rule. Resolutions were passed that the terms be accepted.—A vote of confidence in the Agent was carried. WHO SHIRKED THE VOTE? Mr. Walter Lewis (agent for the Rhymney Valley miners) addressed two large meetings at Fleur-ds-lis and Maesycwmmer on Tuesday night. Mr. Lewis told tho men not to be m;e- led by trumpet blowing and tall talk. On one lon occasion, at the National Conference, a war trumpet was sounded in the morning, but when the time for voting came, the war trumpet blowers were not present. He asked the men who were the most enthusiastic, those who re- mained in the Council Chamber, or those who spent part of their time outside? He advised the men to vote for the acceptance of the terms, and though no resolutions were passed on the issue, there were general expressions of approval and gratitude for the advice. CAERPHILLY MINERS' DECISION. At a mass meeting of the miners of Caer- philly, Energlyn, Gwernydomen, and the sur- rounding district held at Caerphilly on Tuesday night, Mr. F. Tilley presiding, the following resolution was carried by a good majority:— "That we regret the resolution of the national conference which withholds national support to the South Wales miners, thereby throwing the Welsh miners upon their own resources, and being of opinion that a sectional stoppage would end disastrously to the workers gener- ally affected, we accept through the force of existing circumstances, the terms offered by the employers." MINERS' MEETING AT EBBW VALE. SPEECHES BY MR. VYCE AND MR. EVAN DAVIES. AGENT AVISE MEN TO ACCEPT TERMS. A special meeting of the Ebbw Vale and District miners was held at the Workmen's Hall on Saturday evening, and attracted a crowded attendance. The meeting was called for the purpose of explaining the position of affairs in connection with the new agreement. Mr. Evan Davies (president) was in the chair. Mr. George Davies gave ax. exhaustive report of the National Conference, that took place jn London, and explained the terms of the agreement.-A discussion ensued, the feeling of some of the men being ttat the question of abnormal places should have been dealt with, while there was some confusion over raising the equivalent selling price of coal. The chairman explained that in the old agreement the sell- ing price was lis. 10d., which equaled 30 per cent., while under tho new agreement the mini- mum selling price would be 12s. 5d., and the percentage would be 35 per cent. The position was practically the same, with the exception that the minimum had been raised when the selling price of coal would be between 14s. and 14s. 9d. per ton it would be a flight advantage to the employer, but it would also be an advan- tage to the men, as the employer would natu- rally try and keep the prioe above 14s. so that the wages of the men would not go below 50 per cent. Mr. W. Vyce, miners' agent, who had been at the Cardiff Conference, said that there were some portions of the new agreement that would be difficult for the men to understand, but he would endeavour to explain them fully. He laid emphasis upon the fact that they had been able to raise the minimum, one of the men's objects of the federation. He was in favour of the overlapping shift, as it would do away with one of the chief complaints in that district—that of some of the men working in other men's places. By the ovoilanping shift that difficulty would be removed. As they were aware, the abnormal place question had been left out. and tha potion ig that respect r24 aj at j —mami MI—T rT—nTm—i—iTCT——n present. He believed that the abnormal place question should be a general one, and not dealt with in any one particular district. Speaking of the Sunday night shift, which had been in- serted in the new agreement, Mr. Vyce said that some time ago a resolution was passed by the executive council that where tho employers wanted -an afternoon or Sunday night shift, they must pay six turns for five turns' work, and also that the hour of work on a Sunday night should be the same as under the old ar- rangement. The Ebbw Vale district had re- mained loyal to that decisioq. It had cost them hundreds of pounds to carry it out, and when the employers refused to pay the six turns for five turns the men affected were stopped from working. He was sorry to find that the reso- lution passed by the executive was too strong for some of the miners of South Wales, and they did not abide bv it. Those who had re- mained loyal to that principle were to-day called weaklings and back-boneless. He was of the opinion that if every district had carried out that resolution, better conditions would prevail in the Welsh coalfield. When they met the .employers on Saturday week, and had their proposals placed in their hands, it was a case of accepting the conditions or stopping work. They took the matter to a national conference held in London, when it was decided to recom- mend the South Wa^es men to accept the terms. That meant t,hat thev would not sup- port them if they decided to come out on strike. He (Mr. Vyce) had got into hot water r at the Cardiff Conference that day because he refrained from voting at the National Confer- ence upon bringing into operation the 20th Rule. Upon being asked why, he explained that it was patent to everyone in the confer- ence that the English and Scottish delegates were against bringing into force the 20th Rule, and that it would not be wise for the Welsh de- legates alone to vote in its favour. Personally he thought that after they had gone through the whole of the negotiations, it would have been better if the miners of South Wales had taken the matter into their own hands, and he for one would have recommended that the terms be accepted. The fact that the National Conference had hesitated to put the 20th Rule into operation has robbed that rule of its in- fluencing power, and it would no longer be held up as a dread to the employer. The con- ference had made it plain that if the Welsh miners intended to fight they would have to do so alone, and it. would bo disastrous to the South Wales miner if that' were to happen. It was true that the agreement did not give them was true that the agreement did not give them all they sought, but he believed it gave them as much as they could possibly get under any circumstaifbes. The agreement represented the ¡ employers' final concessions, which had to be accepted as they stood or a stoppage would oc- ¡ cur. The final acceptance was with the men, and they could accept or reject the proposals bv their votes on Wednesday. Let them consider when casting their vote, "Can I when casting my vote against the' agreement obtain better conditions and better terms?" If they thought they could they could vote against the agree- ment. He was afraid that if they did ceaso work they would go back upon worse conditions thau they worked under at present (cheers). Mr. John Williams^ another delegate, gave a report of the Cardiff Conferenoe held that day. He said the day's proceedings opened in a duel between Mr. Braoe and Mr. Stanton, in which there was some strange talking; it w# o* a rowdy character. The leaders were called weaklings and boneless, and all kinds of uncomplimentary names. The agreement was fully discussed, and the abnormal place ques- tion coming in for special attention, and it was eventually decided to appeal to the National r Conference to make the question a general one. Mr. John Barber, another delegate, said that Mr. Williams had overlooked one important pSrt of the business, as it affected that district. There was an impression in the conference that the Ebbw Vale district was against putting the 20th Rule into operation. Their agent was instructed to vote in favour of putting the 20th Rule into operation, but he did not vote for it. He was not the only one either, and he (the speaker) agreed with Mr. StAoton when he called them weaklings and with no back- -k?1?6- Tr Aoept had not represented the Ebbw Vale men, but his own views. The mem- bers of the executive should be more united in their work. I Several speakers urged that the fault rest- ed with the National Conference, and not with the South Wales executive. It was they who refused to put the rule into operation. Mr. Evan Davies said it was quite an easy matter to blame some one else in order to get out of a difficulty themselve. He was firmly convinced that if the wages of the miner in the vtt? o Wales coalfield were effected, the M.F.G.B. would have put the 20th Rule into operation. He was afraid that in some of the districts in South Wales the work was neglect- ed by the agents, and when a new agreement was being drawn up they wanted clauses in- j serted'that, would wipe out the results of that neglect. What they wanted was more solid work in some of the districts, and less trumpet blowing. Some of the agents expected the millenium to dawn by inserting clauses in the new agreement. He would be ashamed to have the public know that in the Ebbw VaJo dis- trict they were men working for 2s. 6d. a dav. Yet such was the case in some districts, and it. did not reflect much credit upon the ayent in charge of these districts. It would be far more honourable for those men to look after their duties than to pick holes in their leaders (cheers). The meeting shortly afterwards concluded, no resolution being submitted.