Llais Llafur

——————— THE CANADIAN WORKER'S QUESTION I The Canadian gets to the root of the I question when he asks his chum who has been unemployed. "Have you found a master yet?" When English workers ask the same question they will have found the meaning of what wage-slavery means.

At a Pwllheli auction a picture of Evan Roberts was offered for sale on be- half of a vendor who said he couldn't keep on his wall the picture of a man who refused to see his, mother on her death-bed. It realised Is.

Successful Women's Meet- ing at Ystalyfera. HOUSING AND PIT-HEAD I BATHS I MR. E. L. CHAPPELL ON TWO II GREAT REFORMS. ) The officials and members of the Ys- talyfera branch of the Women's Labour League are to be cordially congratulat- ed on the success of the public meeting organised by them which took place on Monday evening at the I.L.P. In- stitute. The members of the local branch of the I.L.P. had also been in- vited to co-opera.te in the meeting and there was a fairly good number present. The speaker for the evening was Mr. Edgar L. Chappell, secretary of the South Wales Garden Cities and Town Planning Association, who gave a very forceful lecture on the Housing and Pit-Head Baths questions. Mrs. Moore (president of the Ystalyfera W.L.L.), occupied the chair, and introduced Mr. Cha.ppell in a few well chosen senten- ces, pointing out that the subject of his lecture concerned working women equally with working men. Mr. Chappell first congratulated the promoters of the meeting on their ef- forts, and then spoke of the great and crying need of better housing in the Principality. He pointed out that people could not be immediately turned out of the wretched houses so many of them now occupied, because there were no others obtainable. Therefore new houses must be built and it was his estimate that* from 20.000 to 25,000 dwellings were needed to supply the requirements of the people. But they not merely needed more houses, they wa.nted to im- prove the type of the houses and to erect buildings which would not develop into slums in the course of a few years' time. WHY BUILDING IS EXPENSIVE. Continuing, Mr. Chappell spoke of the increased cost of building houses, and said that as a result of the forma- tion of huge syndicates by the firms which supplied building materials, the smaller builders could not erect houses to let at a, rent suitable for the poc- kets of the workers. Private enter- prise was entirely failing to meet the needs of the people and therefore public authorities must step in. The two main methods of dealing with the problem advocated by his society were the erec- tion of houses by local councils which would borrow money from the Govern- ment at cheap rates of interest, and theformation of co-operative housing schemes. Whilst the latter was an ex- cellent proposal, deserving of a wider understanding, he thought they must come to the <-onclusion that the hulk of the houses needed in the immediate future would have to be built by the district councils. They wanted the num- ber of houses per acre limited more strictly, the provision of good gardens and back yards, recreation grounds for adults as well as children, and they also wanted the installation of baths in the houses where possible. PIT-HEAD BATHS. I Pointing out the increase in rent oc- casioned by the inclusion of baths, Mr. Chappel entered a. strong plea for the erection of pit-head baths. He empha- sised the fact that as soon as the men desired the baths they could have them, all collieries where over 100 men were employed being compelled to erect the baths upon a ballot of the workers re- I vealing a two-thirds majority in favour of them. Between SO and 90 per cent. I of the miners of Germany, France and Belgium regularly made use of these baths, and after giving a thorough ex- planation of how the system works, Mr. Chappell said that in his opinion there was not one reasonable objection against them. In concluding, the speaker also ad- vocated the erection by the local authorities, of hostels for bachelor or A" an- widower workers in the pits to do away with the lodger system, and strongly urged the municipalisation of the com- mon lodging houses. Miss Elsie M. King (secretary of the Ystalyfera W.L.L.), opened a, discus- sion on Mr. Chappel's remarks, and in an excellent speech commented favour- ably upon his proposals. Miss King also proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the lecturer for his services. Mr. T. C. King seconded, and others who spoke were the president, Mr. J. W. Givens and Mr. Rhys Hughes, the vote being carried with acclamation.

COALOWNERS' THREAT. RAISED COST OF PRODUCTION TO BE PASSED ON. Presiding at the annual meeting in London of the Consolidated Cambrian Collieries. Mr. D. A. Thomas, referring to the general trade outlook and allud- ing to the threatened fresh legislation, said the public should realise that if the cost of production was thereby in- creased coalowners would pass it on. The commercial industry of this coun- try being based upon coal, anything in legislation which tended to raise the cost of the commodity put the whole industry and the commercial supremacy of Great Britain at a disadvantage. Though disasters like that at Sen- ghenydd naturally awakened public sympathy, these miners, he said, were among the most highly-paid men. They had short hours, and their employment was one of the most healthy. Had the owners submitted to the men's first pro- posals under the Minimum Wage Act, it would have meant a rise in the cost of production of Is. 3d. per ton, where- as the safeguards put in had increased it not more than one penny per ton. The regulations under the last Mines Act had cost the consumers many mil- lions per annum without resulting in the saving of a single life of those work- ing underground. "1"8" .n.n.n.o.o.ao.ae

( .i.i. i.i..i.i.i.i.3.i.i.ii..i.i.i.i.i.i.i.i.i.3i.i.+õ::9čõ.+õ.+õ.9õ.õ.9õ.9õe9õ..õ.9õ.9õe9õi9õ.9õ.õ..õ_õ..õeõ.9õi9õ¡..õ¡.õi.õi.õi"õ¡"'õi"Põi"Põ6  If mourning Orders | wEmT m W f* mU uA m 13 O PYm 1 ■ 1 l 1 I | Ca^m cJnHua)ir r ^rcl)e^on ||  0   wourni'ng OrdersE OFIAPEI L  am Jilar Wisgoedd *o*0 -*0 ? €x?M?<! | iUisgoedd n II isi S Dours I lU* ■ Wb Vil AT I L-fc«i 1—i I pn mDen 8 awr || .0.0 ours wo pn mben 8 awr0. 0- 11 BEGS TO ANNOUNCE THAT HE HAS §   II Opened his Ladies' and Gent's Tailoring Branch II a* .+ 00.Op mr-Me d h Ji-6 L IqL a d lloes 9 a4Ll 40L d Gen t 9 sT I orlqLR40L B mruma n c h*o.0.0-000 ..00 00 0: s0.. II ? II  ss ss ss ss E. S. C. cordially invites Ladies and Gentlemen interested in Smart Tailoring to inspect the Window at the above Address. £ £  0*  || The Largest Selection of Models that has ever been shown is being exhibited. U  E. S. C. cordially invites Ladies arid Gentlemen interested in Smart Tailoring to inspect the Window at the above Addreiss. usua ? ? ? ?M Mo??? Designed, Cut, and Tailored on the Premises. II  Designed, Cut, and Tailored on the Premises. 0**0*  + E. S. C. wisbes to point out that the, Opening of this Branch is due to the expanision of his Trade, and that the High Street Business will be carried on as usual.0. 000. .'0.0 The Largest Selection of Models that has ever been shown is being exhibited, ?. SS? b Dy munEk E. S. C. ddweud yr acorir y Gan-ben hon oherwydd cynydd ei fusness, ae 'y dygir yn mlaen y fasnach yn High Street fel arfer. .0 o.#0  0. « C0StZS 1 ADDRESS CASTLE STREET, SWANSEA { SU"{rom SSsf™6 £ |22  Costumes to Measure '0NIIF"' ADDRESS CASTLIE 9 STREET, SWANSEA0*0Suits to measure  35s.   mo. o. O. O. O. o. 08 .00. -0 0.- .0-0 i-O 0- 0 0*0  0.voe.0..02.0o..i..0.. '0..0..0.0..0.0.80..0.0..0..0.0..080.8080..0.6.80..0..0..0..0..0.OOO.8O.0.80.i.80.0..o..o.¡.=..=.=..=.. .0..0..0..0..0..0..0..0.0.A..080..0.0..0.80..0..0..0..0.1to..0..0..0.0..0 .0 .0 .0 .0 .0 .0. 00 (,. O. O. O. O. O. 080. O. O. 08 O. o. 08 o. 08 O. 0.0. 0- 0908 0.08 O. O. O. O. 08 O. 0808 O. 0 08 O. oe O. O. O.  0.0 0.. 0 + "u 0. oooo

YSTRAMYNLAIS I POLICE COURT. ) TUESDAY. I Before Messrs. E. Benthall (presiding), .J. Howell Waters and Dr. Richards. BILLIARD LICENCE GRANTED. I At the adjourned Brewster Sessions, Mr Jones-Williams, solicitor, applied on -be- half of Mr J. Walter Jones, confectioner, etc., Ty Gwalia, Ystradgynlais, for a billiard licence for the new building re- cently erected near his shop. The police offered no objection, and the Bench gra.nd the application upon the under- taking of Mr Jones to dosa his premises &t the same time as &e Public Houses. fSUNDAY TRADERS IN COURT I ■'G. T. Williams, ^confectioner, Glani- rrhyd road, was summoned for having kept bis business promises open on Sunday*. He pleaded guilty. P.C. Williams said that he was on duty in Glanrhyd road. at 3.30 p.m. on Sunday, February 15th, when he saw a young man enter defend- ant's shop and come out later with Ii, nacket of sweets in h'ia hand. When „„ftst;inned the men said &K'had been serve& Y Mrs. WiUiams. Witns went back -Ll ^minted out the offence to Mrs. Wil- r who replied that? they had not {?'? the habit of keeping the shop ,™L on Sundays whila others m the district always did so. ot ?tr!ct  Evans g?,(} he ImA information -t.h.%t ?e shop had been kopt open on ?? Tiust. as any other day. TThhp<* 'Vhairman ?.d they had not had .before the Bench for a long ,fk e y would not ?ict, but de- fendant   the CO?J6. For future fendant « m1iIct penalties. offences, _y ^Guld inflict penalties, S'malso pToceedoo with againsl t wElS'^h MIchael, Coagh Build- ing?s, and Clara R?s, Gwys, neither of whom appeared, 10 each ^se de'fed- ™ °r to pay the co?. Giving <.v.ide.nce in t?he latter case, ? constable said the man who wa9 8erving in the shop sa.!d he wa? ?rr? y. but. Sunday was the best, day they had! MALICIOUS DAMAGE AT THE TOOOH ?R?s. Thomas Da" ,•« a. labourer, of no fixed ?ode. was char?ge with having done property at? the ?hc?us damage r ??? ??? y at. the S? TWnfaTBavM J* «» pleaded guilty. Mr Jones deposed that prisoner went to the kitchen of his house on Feb. 12th, and asked to be served. Witness refused to do so, telling him that he had had quite sufficient, and to clear off the premises. The man refused to go, so wit- ness put him out, and went back after- wards to the private room. A little later he heard a. noise in the bar, and upon going there saw that Davies had smashed two bottles of brandy by means of a water jug, and had also spoiled a box of cigarettes. T.h? total damage was 17s.lOd. He approached defendant, who used very filthy language and refused to leave the house, whereupon witness locked him in s lower room, and sent for the police. Witnetss asked for the protection of the Bench and the police against such men as defendant who went to the public houses wJere they were not known, created scenes, and got the house into a bad reputation. The Bench imposed a fine of 40s. and court cos,tig, and also made an order for the payment of damages or one month in default. William Archer, Howton House, ad- mitted having been drunk and disorderly in Commercial Street, Ystradgynlais, on February 17th, but gave as an explana- tion, that lie had boon ill and had taken gin which upset him. Fined 2s.6d. and costs. ADJOURNMENTS AND A SETTLE- I MENT. Julius Bundell summoned W. J. George Ystradgynlais, for xasault and. wilful damage. Mr Joiies-Willia.ms appeared for the prosecution, but defendant asked for a fortnight's adjournment in order to secure legal aid. This was agreed to on bis promise to pay the costs incurred to date. A charge of larceny was preferred by Mrs. Griffiths, Lower Cwmtwrch, against George Williams. Defendant did not appear, and on behalf of Mrs. Griffiths, Mr Jones-Williams applied for a warrant for his arrest, describing the case as a dispicable one. -A warrant was granted. A settlement was arrived at in three ca.se?> which promised to be of consider- able interest. Thomas Price and Mary E. Prce, his wife, 8 Davies' Street. Aber- crave, summoned Mrsi. Sarah Hadley, their next door neighbour to find sureties of the peace for her gond behaviour, and Mrs. Hadley summoned Thomas Price for Msault. Mr Jc-nec-Williams appea;red for ?e Price's, and Mr Hy. Thompwn, Swansea, r ^presented Mrs, HøÆey. Aa Swansea., ?f c?sd i'rom, th? Bench, and by the efforts of the two solicitors, an agreement was arrived at, which obviated the .ca1 be,i,ng proceeded with, Mr Price and Mrs. Hadley each agreeing to be bound over. It was stated that each side were only seeking protection MAINTENANCE ARREARS. I Mrs. Kate Jones, of Price's Row, Col- brew, sued her husband, David Jones, of Treharris, for arrears due to her under a maintenance order. Mr Jones-Williams appeared for the defence. Mrs. Jones said that in March 1913, an ordter was made by the Magistrates of that Court for the payment of 10s. per week, but it was subsequently varied to 7&.6d. per week. Her husband was now ill arrears to the extent of L7 2s. 6d. Answering Mr Jones-Williams, Mrs. Jones admitted that she and her husband lived together from June to October last, but donJed that on the latter date she turned him from the house. Mr Jones-Williams admitted the arrears but pointed out that by the couple having cohabited SInce the granting of the order, this would become obsolete upon the ap- plication of the defendant, who had neglected to take this course, which, he gave notice, would be done forthwith. Upon defendant's undertaking to pay the arrears at the rate of 7s.6d. per week, together with the 7s.6d. weekly due to his wife until the cancelling of the order the Bench suspended a committal order for a month to allow Jones to carry out his arrangement. FATHER AND SON IN TROUBLE. Thomas Morgan (senr.), of College row, Ystradgynlais, appeared to answer a charge of having been drunk and dis- orderly on the previous Saturday night, end also with assaulting P.C.'s Williams a.nd Walters. He admitted drunkenness, but said he knew nothing about the as- saults. P.C. Williams stated that at about 9.30 p.m. on the day named he was on duty with P.C. Walters, when he saw defend- ant, lying drunk on the ground in Wind road. He placed the man on his feet and told him to go home, and he went away quietly. About half an hour later they again met the man who was then want- ing to fight with a navvy. Witness told him that unless he' went away quietly he would be locked up, and he then started to kick the speaker on the thigh, biting P.C. Walters, who was assisting witness, on the handl. They had considerable difficulty in getting him to the police station. P.C. Walters corroborated. One previous conviction was announced against defendant, and he was now fined 5k and costs for drunkenness, and 10s. and. costs for each of the two assaults. Thomas Morgan (junr.), son of the de- feridant appeared for having obstructed a constable in the execution of his duty. Defendant met the constables coniveying his father to the police station, and put up his fists in the face of one, say, "You shall not take my fa.ther." They had some difficulty in getting him to go away. Two previous convictions were regis- tered against defendant, who was now fined 103. and costs. At the Cwmavon Tinworks Catherine Thomas slipped, causing her arms to come in contact with the machinery, severing it just below the elbow. She was conveyed to the Swansea Hospital. Prince Alexander of Teck speaking at the annual meeting of the Windsor and District Branch of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Child- ren, said it was not the child who yelled the loudest that was most in need of help, but those who were so cowed that they dared not.

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How the Galvanizers Were I Robbed at Pontardawe. I TRADE UNION MEETING There was a fairly large attendance at the Public Hall, Pontardawe, on Satur- day evening, when Messrs. J. Wignall and W. T. Hughes of the Dockers' Union, addressed a meeting under the auspices of the local branch of the organisation. Mr Eli Skidmore presided over a fairly large attendance. In opening the meeting, the Ghairma-n stated that although Mr Ben Tillett was unable to be present, he had sent of his best lieutenants in the person of Mr J. Wignall. The Chairma.n then detailed all that had happened since the commencemoo,t of the dispute. They, as Trade Unionists, took exception to the firm laying down the claim that they hal a right to place whom they liked in any position. They are Trade Unioniste claimed that if the firm had that right they would also have the right to dis- charge men under the same conditions how and when they liked. As a branch they had come to the conclusion that it was not honest to those who paid their contributions if such a state of affairs existed. If a man was a Unionist he should feel that he had security of tenure in the position he held. He admitted that the men had taken drastic action, but they had come to the conclusion that if they allowed a man to be treated in that way promotion by senority would never take place. Up to a fortnight previously the Branch had no idea that thev were affiliated with the Conciliation Board, and; he held the opinion that they were not now affiliated. They had been asked to refer their grievances to the Concilia- tion Board, but they knew that there would be great delay in bringing the matters before the Board, and as such matters were u rg.ent, the men had taken drastic action. The men had been negotiating with their officials for over eight months, and they were as far away from a settlement, as on the first day the complaint was made. (Applause). He claimed that the men were justified in the action they had taken. "We were on strike for five weeks," he continuedl, "and there were certain members of another organization, apart from the Dockers' Union, wiio had the manliness to stand upon this plat- form and advocate our c laims as gal- vanizers. I was. one of those who at- tended the Conference at the Hotel Metropole, and everything was supposed to be settled upon the recommenda-tion from that conference. An undertaking was given at that conference by the managing directors that no one should be victimized. We accepted that, and we believedi it. The gafvajiizers decided to resume work on Wednesday, but on the following Thursday a communication was received, by the secretary of another branch to the effect that 'your position is indefinite.' That secretary called his branch members together, and they thought there was a possibility, if not a probability, of his being victimized. We as galvanizers, after due deliberation also came to that conclusion, and we said we would not be a party to it. (Loud applause). We will .remain out until Tom Jeremiah is allowed to return to work. (Laud applause). Mr J. Wignall was cordially receivedt, and in the course of an. eloquent address stated that officials were the easiest men in the world to thump because they had to bear it, and submit to it. (Laughter). No mman hated strikes and lock-outs more than he did. He well remembered the time when one could hardly come into Pontarcfawe as a Trade Union official, and he had recollections of the first time Trade Unionism was recognised by the late Mr W. Gilbertson. Taking the gal- vanizing trade of the country now and its state w hen the Dockers' Union came into the business, some 14 years of age, there had been great improvements. At that time there was not a department that was not cursed by contractors, and no men employed in any trade were robbed so much as galvanizers were at that time. By putting an end to that sys- tem the Union had made enemies of the contractors, but they had succeeded in in- creasi ng the wages of the men by 30 per cent. without it costing the employers a single penny more than they were pay- ing before. He rejoiced that enemies had been mads as a. result of work of that I kind. He believed thai more good could be accomplished by conciliation than by the old method of guerilla warfare. In conclusion he said he did not think therp ] wc-uld be any victimization, but if there were he pledged! the Executive of the Dockers' Union to say that here would a j fight en that issire, 1 Mr W. T. Hughes also spoke, after which votes of thanks, to the speakers ter- m in a ted the proceedings.

WELSH MINERS' BALLOT. HELP FOR MEN IDLE THROUGH CLOSING THE PITS. Mr. James Winstone, vice-president, occupied the chair at a meeting of the executive council of the South Wales Miners' Federation, held at Cardiff. It was resolved that the ballot decided upon at the last conference respecting the proposal to increase contributions to the federation be taken on March 19. It was also decided that a general show of cards be held throughout the coalfield, either in the first or the se- cond week in March, as may be found tooat convenient in each district. A proposal by the National Union of Railwaymen for the purchase of the buildi-ngs in which the Central Labour College, London, is held, was con- sidered by the council, and the officials were appointed to confer with the N. U .R. upon the position. The workmen at the Cwm Merthyr and Duffryn Rhondda Collieries having been thrown out of employment in con- sequence of the stoppage of these ool- lieries, it was reported that a great amount of distress existed in the dis- trict, and upon the appeal of Mr. Wm. Jenkins, miners' agent, it was resolved that some relief be granted from the surplus of the money raised by levy to pay the workmen out of employment at Senghenydd.

At the Newcastle Emlyn adjourned licensing Sessions the licence of the Railway Station Refreshment-room, Llandyssul, was referred for compen- sation. The police objected to the licence of the Eden Arms, Cilrhedyn. This licence was renewed. The death took place at Anrfryn. Beulah, Cardiganshire, of Mr. Francis Lynch, who nt one time as proprietor and editor of "Tarian y Gweithiwr," was well-known in Aberdare. Deceased was in his earlier days a splendid singer and was a member of Caradog's famous choir.