Llais Llafur

MINERS' FEDERATION AND SENGHENYDD BLAST. Contemplated Action. I ENDEA VOUR TO INSTITUTE PROSECUTION It transpired on Monday that the South Wales Miners' Federation con- templates procetidings against the management of the Universal Col- liery, Senghenydd, in respect of alleV.1 breaches of the Coal Mines Act. The issue was discussed at a meeting of the executive council held at Cardiff on Mon- day, when a, resolution was passed indi- cating the poselibilitly of steps being taken in tho direction indicated. Th? proceedings were presided over by Mr W. Brace, M.P., and those present .included Mr James Winstone (vice- president), Mr T. Richards, MP. (general secretary), and Mr A. Onions (treasurer). The. Council considered the, delay that appeared to have fu-ken place in the 1ssung of the I-eporl of the commission ¡ of inquiry into the Senghenydd disaster. After discussion, the following resolu- tion was passed :— That tiio council expresses its dis- appointment that the Home OfTico Com- mission has not yet issued its report. In view of the existing law limiting the penod of instituting prosecutions to six months after the explosion, and that this period will expire on April 14, the coun- cil urges upon the Home Secretary to at once institute a prosecution for breaches of the Act alleged to have occurred at this colliery, and that a delputation wait upon the Home: Secretary fcT this pur- pose. The three members of Parliament., Messrs. W. Brace, M.P., T. Richards, M.P., and J. Williams, M.P., were do- I puted to act on the deputation. LOCAL DISPUTES. The council them proceede4 to discuss matters of a general character. A re- port was received upon the various mat- Ceis in dispute between the owners and the workmen at the Brynoethin Colliery, and Mr Vernon Hartshorn 'and Mr F. Hodges were- empowered to carry on farther :iegotiations with a view to settle- ment. It was reported that about 300 work-  had been given notice to t?-mnnAt? <?onrra.ct? at the Tirbach OdTHery, swid it it was resolved that Messrs. J. D. Morgan and Wtn. Jenkins open ne.gotiafions with the owners with the view of trying to effect a settlement. An application to le Granted permis- sion to tender notices in consequence of a dispute was made by the workmen em ployed at the Brynlliw, Morlais, and Grovesend Collieries, but the considera- tion of the matter was deferred to the next meeting. In the compensation raae of William Davies v. Messrs. D. Davie and Sons an application made to enter an appeal against the decision of the court was re- kerned to the committee of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain. Mr T. Richards, M.P., and Mr D. Watte Morgan were re-elected for a fur- ther term of three years to act on the Board of Trade Advisory Board, the function, of which is to advise the Board of Trade on matters of a. technical chorac- ter. The Council afterwards considered the agenda of 'the annual conference of the South Wal es Miners' Federation, which will be held next Monday. »-»♦« >

COAL PRICES UP. MASTERS QUICK TO PROFIT BY DISPUTE. The manner in which capitalists ten- tacles reach out in order to profit even from the troubles of a fellow octopus was illustrated on Newcastle coal mar- ket, when, in consequence of the de- cision of 170,000 Yorkshire miners to eease work almost immediately, the prices for prompt shipment were sharp- ly advanced from Is. to 3s. 6d. for Northumbrian steam coals and fully Is. 6d. for Durham gas coals and bunkers. Buyers, however, resohitelv held off pending developments. Household coals have not yet been advanced in price, 5-it the prices are sure to rise inordi- nately should the Yorkshire dispute be at all prolonged. 0.00

TINPLATE TRADE METHODS. Mr Ivor Gwynne's Visit to the United States. EFFORT TO REDUCE STRAIN UPON THE MEN. Writing in a contemporary, "Algan" states :— During the.depression, of last year some employers expressed the opinion that the remedy for all the ills that the tinplato trade was heir to was to be found in an inci easvd make, and' a subsequent lessor cost. of production, and they lost no opportunity in expressing their desire to introduce double, shifts in mills in order to attain this end. At this lic- ture thesocictie. with which mill men connected lost no time before author- ising their officials to make inquiries as to the method of working and results at- tained in countries where double shifts are actually opea&ting, viz., in Russia and in Arneri(-,i. Nlr T. Griffiths visited Russia, and Mr Sidney Jones and Mr Ivor Gwynee journeyed to the States. Mr Griffiths and Mr Jones published their impressions in book form, and in th/j cur- rent of the monthly report, of his society Mr Gwymtw deals lucidly with the American methods of work and rate of pay. NOTHING NEW IN AMERICAN I SYSTEM Mr Gwynne writes "There is nothing very new in the system of working in the slboeit and t-inplate mills of America. They have ore and two pair mills. In the latest works they have one engine for eight or ten mills, and it was surprising that when the ten mills were working tliil.v did not -cn tK) affect the speed of the engine in the slightest degree. In the majority of mills, they had a small perforated pipe running over the necks of the rolls with a continual flow of water. In a large number of mills they had steam blowing on the body of the roll continually. It appears that the trut claim this as their patent, and have been objecting to some of the firms using jt, but the same system was intro- duced by Mr Richard R6.; nt the Tiry- clail Works years ago. There is no ques- tion, that this is an advantage as far as preventing the breajjing of t.he rolls, in- asmuch as the «tea,m would have a ten- dency to keep the rolls at the same tem- perature. If the temperature of the roll was colder than the steam if would have the effect of heating it, and if on the other hand, the roll become over-heated, the steam would have a. cooling effect up- on the roll." The Americans have cold air Down into the mills, but it comes up from the floor of the mill, and tends to blow all fumps and smoke to the roof. THE QUESTION OF LABOUR I Mr Gwynne is very c&ndid when he compares the mills and the work turned out in both countries. He says :There was not much to learn in the working of a tinplatft or sheet mill in the States--in fact, there was no difference between the American mills and our own mills, with the exception that the American mills were constructed something similar to our sheet mills, a fart of which enabled the TOIIOT to roll the iron with a long tongs, which is evidently a.n advantage." He adds "What haa been accomplished or whatever is being accomplished in the American mills can be accomplished by our n ien in this oountrv under similar conditions and with similar conditions of working." Mr Gwynne "has not the slightest habitation" in saying this, and he adds "Whatever may be said of the output of Am?nc?, the mm do not work out nard M our man to turn out the out- put we do in this country, and this is easily explained. Our men work parts every heat; the Awriewis work two parta in eve-rv heat, inesmucli as they do not work doubles. (This, of course, owing to t-heee being two sets of men). I METHODS OF WORKING I Mr Gwyame goea on to compare mot ho do of working identical orders in both countries. Wo work 28-30 as 56 by 20, and they work out at 31 pieces to the box; American millmm, work them as 60 by 26, and this order works out at 2 1-3 pieces to the box. In other words, to have twelve boxes we would have to work 42 pieces: in America to secure the same amount, they would work 28 pieces. "But the ollief point to account for the greater output in America is the fact that they have a double set of 111611 in each mill. If anything, they take things as easy, if not easier than our men do here; there does not appear to be any attem.pt at driving as we unde-rtsand it, and the extrr., output is entirely due (in addition to the facts already mentioned) to tho fa-st that they are continually roll- ing, and that there is no stoppages be- tween the ports or for charging. After every part tfaene is a fresh gang of men before the rolls, and this avoids any ptoppagies taking place to attend to the fires." In cmieluding his remarks re "make" Mr Gwynne points out that there is one thing that must impress every Welshman who visits American works, wheth er it be iron, steel, or tin- plate w-ke-that every effort is made to redufj" as far as possible any strain upon the men in handling heavy bars or performing laborious work. RATES OF PAY. I When Welsh employers contrast the makas in Welsh mills with those of our American cousins they unintentionally, i presume, forget to mention or reier to the va8t difference in the rates paid on this and on the other side of the pond. In his exceedingly interesting article Mr Ivor Gwynne makes up for this omission. He pIsccs the WelFh and American rates side by side. and whilst the former work out on plates of 8-gauge up to 35-gauge a fraction under 19s. per ton, the Ameri- can manufacturer pays. £ 1 16s. lid. But the very thick and very light gauges are (Continued at bottom at nolt column-)

TRADE DISPUTES I ACT UPHELD Union Wins After Two Trials. I IMPORTANT RULING BY COURT OF APPEAL After prolon.ged litigation involving two trials, in both of which the jury were held to be misdirected, Trade Unionism gained a great legal victory on Friday, when the Court of Appeal upheld the Tde Disputes Act and gave judgment, with coats, for the appellants, the Amal- gamated Musicians' Union. The appeal was against a, verdict and judgment for JB350 damages and costs, entered by Mr Justice Darling, for the plaintiff, Mr Alfred Holmes Dallimore, a bandmaster, who had sued the de- fendant on the ground that thev had wrongfully induced members of his or. chestra to break their contracts with him to play at Sunday concert at the Alham- bra. The defendants denied the allega- tions, az,.d pleaded the Trade Disputes Act. MISDIRECTION. I The action had been tried previously by Air Justice Ridley, but the Court of Appeal ordered n, new trial on the ground that the meaning of the Trade Disputes Act liad not teen sufficiently f»ut before the jmy, and Mr Justice Da.r- ling tried the second action. The defendants now appealed. on the ground that Mr Justice Darling's sum- ming-up in the second trial was & mis- direction in law. Sir F. Low, K.C., a nd Mr Harry Dobb appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Langdon, K. C., Mr McCardie and Mr Schloesser for the defendants. The facts of the case were that Mr Dallimore had a disagreement with the Union a,'5. to what rates should be paid to his band for Sunday concerts. In con- sequence, the Alhambra was picketed, and Mr Dallimore paid the required rate under protest, afterwards bringing the action a,gainst the Union secretaries. JUSTICE DARLING CRITICISED. I The defence was that the "inducing" was done "in contemplation or further- ance of a trade dispute," and was, there- fore, lawful by Section 3 of the Trade Disputes Act, 1906, to which Mr Dalli- more replied that the trade dispute, was a more pretence .got up to justify the spite of the Union officials. j Lord Sumner, after hearing arguments referred to the remarks of Mr Justice Darling who, in previously trying the case, had said that the Trade Disputes Act was an Act no one could admire, and that anyone who availed himself of it was a dishonest person. These observa- tions I.JÛrd Sumner described as "in- opportune, detrimental, and irrevalent," a view in which the other judges, Lord Justice Kennedy and Mr ustioe Bray, in the Court of Appeal, agreed. IMPORTANT DECISION I The argument for Mr Dallimore, amounetd to saying tha.t a trade dispute was not "real" if the motives of those who started it were not perfectly true, but the whole oourt agreed that the motives of the officials conducting the dispute are not material, and, if there is actually a dispute, as they held was the 01.00 here, all acta done In contemplation or furtherance of it are protected. Even if the worst of motive be assured it makes no difference when once it is estab- lished that the trade dispute is real. Any other view would read words into the statute as to the act being "honestly" er "Fcdely" done in contemplation or fur- therance of a trade dispute which, are not there. The importance of this decision cannot be over-estimated. A contrary holding thit the motives of officials could be analysed, would have practically killed the statute. The Musicians' Union must be thanked for the courageous fight they have put up for Trade Union rights.

RAILWAY UNION RE- COGNITION. Companies to Meet Men's Officials. RESULT OF 40 TEARS EFF;" ItT Dealing at a rail daymen's meeting at Birmingham on Saturday, with N.U.H. programme, Mr J. H. Thomas, M.P., the assistant gemeral secretary, said there would be no settlement accepted that did not include frea and unfettered absolute and complete recognition of their Union. (Loud cheering). Until 1911 they were suffering from the suraed spirit of section- alism. Then fusion took place. He added :— "For 40 years we have talked about recognition, and now I am able to tell 3-ou that, on Saturday, your executive re- ceived a letter fro "a the railway com- panies, not addressed through the Board of Trade, not addressed through any third party, not addressed to us as in- dividuals, but addressed to the National Union of Railwaymen—(Idud cheers)— intimating that the railway companies ha,ve appointed a committee to meet a committee from the Union Executive to discuss the whole situation. (Renewed cheering). "Do you quite-ifecognise and appreciate the consequence ot that? The feelings of the railway Companies are no different to-day than they were a few years ago. The directorates are largely composed of tile same, people. Tlie general managers are practically the same persons, but the difference is that the Railwaymen's Un- ion is in a position to-day to say that we speak for the majority of the railwaymen of this country. "At last, the companies have recog- nised the power and the responsibility of our Union (Cheers). I will go farther, and I will that the invitation will be ac- cepted. COMMITTEE APPOINTED. I The railwaymen's committee, he con- tinued, has been appointed, having de- clared that it would meet the companies in no hostile spirit and with no desire to be unreasonable on account of the strength of the Union, for Buch a spirit was .npt leadership, but anarchy and madness. Mr Thomas expiV&ii.d the hope that the negotiations would result in a scheme lees cumbersome and more expeditious than the present. Speaking of non-Unionism, he said that the non-unionist was ant individual reap- ing where he had never sown. In future negotiations, seeing that the Union would be directly negotiating, they must stipu- lae that, whatever improvement in con- ditions they secured, they must be ap- plicable to their men for whom they spoke, namely, the Trade Unionists. ( Cheers.) That was the way to put the non-Union man on his mettle. As the non-Uniicoiist conscientiously objected to Trade Unionism, he could not oonscie- tiously accept what had been gained by Tmds Unions. (Cheers).

SCHOOLMASTER LOCKED OUT. PENALTY FOR HIS SHARE IN I TEACHERS' STRIKE. The managers of Burghill School have taken the law into their own hands and have defied the Herefordshire Edu- cation Committee by refusing to open the school and have it conducted by a reinstated striker. Before the recent teachers' strike Mr. Bates, the old master, was one of the most popular men in the parish, and the managers refused to accept his re- signation. The Education Committee acted over their heads and installed a new master :1md mistress, who have now left the district, and under the terms of settlement the committee is bound to reinstate Mr. Bates. They did so on Saturday. On Monday, however, the vicar of the parish, who js chairman of the managers, told the children who came to the school that they were to go home, as the premises would not be opened. Mr. Bates was in the school- house ready to enter the school, but the doors were locked against him. The only objection raised to his reinstate- ment is the fact that he was aa active worker for the National Union of Teachers during the strike and that he refused to give up possession of the schoolhouse. His educational attain- ments are high, and he is popular with the children, but considerable feeling against him has been worked up in the parish.

PROGRESS IN HOLLAND I ———— t According toO the annual report of the Dutch Socialist Party just issued the membership of the party increased during 1913 from 15,567 to 26,830, or by more than 64 per cent. The number of branches increased from 284 to 382. Women num- ber 3,011, or 13 per ce-nt. of the whole, and 3,366 new members were gained as the result of a Red Week. The number of Socialist representatives in Parliament increased from seven to 15, on different p,- ial bodies from 24 to 42, and on M..tip. lodiœ from 171 to 247. It is to be noted in connec- tion with this that Socialists took part in elections only for 177 out of the total of 1,153 municipalities. In these munici- palities 62 second ballots took place which were successful for Socialists. Altogether 125 members of th? party were success- ful in the contest for municipal seats. The lib-v of the Party shows a. turn- over of £ 78& « 'f

CENTRAL MINING FUND. Provision for Everyday Accidents. COMMITTEE TO APPEAL TO DISAS- TER FUND TRUSTEES It will be remembered that two or three months ago, considerable promin- ence was given to the advocacy of a national fund for the relief of distress from fatal colliery accidents of all kinds, the primary object being the suc- cour of the dependents of those who fall in whit are regarded as the minor acci- dents, and for whom, by reason of the frequency of the occurences and the fact that the loss of life is measured in units, and so does not appeal to the public imagination, no appeal is made. By far the greatest number of fatalities arise out of these accidents, as witness last year, when, d6Spite- the death-roll at Senghenydd, the proportion of deaths in big disasters was as 1 in 3, or 461 by explosion out of a total of 1,732; while in 1912 the proportion was as 1 in lOl, and in 1912 as 1 in 31. In November the .ex-Lord Mayor of London (Sir David Burnett, Bart) gave a. manifesto in favour of a national fund, and t he present Lord Mayor (Sir Van- sitt«i,rt Bowater) followed this up by calling a conference of all the funds, societies, and other organisations inter- ested in the matter. That conference, held at the Manchester House on January 19, appointed a committee to further con- eider the proposal and report to another conference. COMMITTEE MEETS The first meeting of the committee was held at the Mansion Hoitse, London, on Friday, the Load Mayor presiding, and there being present Sir T. Ratcliff Ellis and Mr Reginald Guthrie, representing the Coalowners' Associations of Great Britain; Mr R. Smillie. Mr W. E. Har- vey, M.P., Mr W. Brace, M.P., ajid Mr Thomas Ashton, representing the Miners' Federation of Great Britain Mr James Darlington, Mr George Booth, and Mr J. B. Stubbs, representing the Cem, tral A relation of the Miners' Permanent Relief Funds; Alderman Morgan Thomas, ex-Lord Mayor of Cardiff, and Alderman F. Geen, ex-mayor of Stoke-on- Trent, representing trustees of special funds; an the Official Trustee (Mr C. J. Stewart). At the outset Mr W. J. Needle was requested to act as hon. see- retary to the committee. A lengthy discussion ensued on the whole question, and then the Lord Mayor invited the committee to decide upon the principle and advisability of such a fund. Further discussion followed on these points, and finally Mr W. E. Har- vey, M.P., proposed and Mr J. B. Stubbs seconded the following resolution "That this committee is of the opinion that a central fund for the purpose of assisting the dependents of persons who lose their lives by accidents in mines should established, and considers that the surpluses, if amy, remaining in the funds raised for previous colliery disasters should be t-ramferred to this central fund, and directs that an appeal be made to the trustees of such funds on the lines sug- gested in this resolution." This resolution was carried nem. con. Another meeting of the committee will be held when the replies of the trustees have been received. The Lord Mayor of London then in- vited the committee to join him and the Mansion House party at luncheon. .—————

Welcome to Wives of De- portees. » GREETED BY 2,000 WOMEN TRADE UNIONISTS. A demonstration of sympathy with the wives of Labour leaders deported from South Afrioa-M?m Poutsma., Mrs. Badn and Mrs. Wateon-was given by the Women Trade Unionists of England at the Caxton Hall, London, Monday evening. The demonstration was probably unique in that Use 2,000 women in the hall represented! nearly half a million workers in this country. Miss Tuckwell (Women's Trade Union L) presided, and was supported by Miss Llewelyn Davies (Women Co- operative Guild), Miss Mary MacArthur (National Federation of Women Workers) Dr. Marion Phillips (Women's Labour League), and Mrs. Moody (Railway Women's Guild). Among those present were Mrs. Despard and Mr Keir Hardie. Miss Tuckwetl said that the Umgeni had become more famous than Kikiyu, anfl tliat the deputations had strengthen- ed the position of labour in South Africa. Miss Llewelyn Davies considered that the Imperial Parliament should have stood by the-principle of English liberty. What if a South African Labour Government deported mne mine-owners, she asked ? MTS. Bain, Mrs. Watson and Miss Pouts- ma, B.A., replied, and Dr. Poutsma ex- pressed his heartfelt gratitude for the support and sympathy of organised lab- our. Mr Bain reminded the audience of the refusal of the deportees to disem- bark at Gravesend, and wariaed them that after the kind and enthusiastic re- ception of English labour, they might re- fuse to embark to South Africa next. Mr Watson, who is a bright and racy speaker said that his deportation was the eily cha,nce he had ever received of returning to the Old Country.

Frau Nielsen, Denmark's only woman mayor, arrested her own husband, a tavern keeper in the outskirts of Copen- hagen, on the charge of selling liquor to minors.

MANSION GUTTED AT PONTARDAWE. t DANGERS OF ELECTRIC LIGHTING. I HOW THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED I The greater portion of Gellygron I House, Pontardawe, was destroyed by fire on Sunday morning and damage, estimated ait between L2,000 and L3000 was caused. The mansion stands in its own spa- cious grounds at the top of Gellygron, and is the residence of Mr. and Mrs. C. G. Gilbertson and their three children. It is surrounded by tennis and croquet courts and lawns and gar- dens, and is situate away from the road, from which it is reached by a short drive. Its situation commands some of the most magnificent scenery of the Swansea Valley. The mansion is an old residence, and is a substantial building, but additions which have been made during the five years its present owner has been in occupation were more in keeping with modern ideas. It was in the nursery forming part of one of the latter addi- tions that the fire originated, and spread with such rapidity. The older portion of the house was saved by a wall at least two foot six inches in thickness, although much damage was done to th upper parts of this portion by the flying sparks. About 8.45 a.m. the two nurses. Miss Faber and Miss Baker, together with the three children were seated at the breakfast table in the day nursery when the former, having occasion to go to the night nursery, opened the door and was almost suffocated by a volume of smoke which immediately issued from the room. She rushed into the room, however, and opened one of the win- dows, when the part of the room which was smouldering burst into flames. The children were taken downstairs out of danger by the nurses and their parents had then removed to a place of safety. Efforts were then made by Messrs. Charles Daweon (gardener), and Clifford Dawson (chauffeur) to extinguish the flames, but by the time they had suc- ceeded in effecting an entrance the fire had gained ground in the direction of the last portion, and the children's cots were one mass of flames which filled the rooms from floors to ceilings. In the meantime residents in the neighbour- hood came upon the scene and the police were telephoned for an arrived about 9.30. A message was sent to the works asking that a fire extinguishing appliance should be sent up. By 10 o'clock Mr. Wm. Williams and a gang of employees from the works were pumping water from a well into the fire, but the water supply was inade- quate and, for some time the fire main- tained the mastery. rollowing the arrival oi the police, under Inspector David and Sergt. Wood orders were given for the removal of furniture from every portion of the house, and conspicuous in this work were Messrs. Frank Simmons, chauffeur to Mr. F. W. Gilbertson, and Dd. Bevan, farmer. There were many will- ing helpers who assisted, and practi- cally the wfcole of the furniture in the old wing was removed, but not with- out difficulty. Hundreds of people gathered in the vicinity, and the police had as much work as they could manage to keep an eager and anxious crowd away from the building. Many, however, gpained admission -to the old wing, which was practically un- affected at this time, and knocked out the window frames with pick-axes, and then followed the throwing out of bed- ding and furniture. Six or seven other men, fearing -that the wine cellar would become ablaze, gained (admission to this portion by knocking in the panels of the staircase, amd in their efforts to salve a considerable quantity of wine and spirits, the heads of numerous bottles were knocked off. Information to this effect being con- veyed to Inspector David, he proceed- ed to the spot and informed this gang of gallant guzzlers that the danger of that part of the builfling igniting was somewhat remote. Following this they quitted, but not before a considerable quantity of wines had been removed from the cellar. A constable was then told off to guard the cellar. By noon the fire Had been conquered, but wa.ter was played upon the smoul- dering ruins until four o'clock, by which time the building was thorough- ly saturated. Altogether twelve rooms a.nd their contents, including the day and night nurseries. tlie dining-room, and bedroom, Mrs. Gilbertson's boudoir and a spafe bedroom, were practically destroyed. Mm. Gilbertson's jewels and her trousseau ajid dr were all burnt, and the loss in thn direction must amount to several Hundred pounds. Included in the jewels was a diamond tiara. During the past week a number of men have been employed riddltng the debris in an effort to discover the miss- ing jewels, and several of the diamcfrids have been recovered. The ground floor of the latest addi- tion to the house, which consists of a large ballroom was, strange to say. practically undamaged, although the rooms above were destroyed. This ball- room it was intended to furnish wiifr. an ♦rghn, and the same would have been delivered a.nd fixed this week had the fire not oocurred. The floor of the (Continued at bottom of next column-)

NEATH AREA MINERS I NEW DISTRICT APPLICATION At the New Mack worth Hotel, Neath, on Tuesday, a conference of representative nunera was held to doekl with an application by ten Federation lodges in the Neath area to form a. new district of the South Wales ^linCT#' Federation. Eight of the lodges are at present forming part of the Western Miners' Association, one. belongs to UK Anthracite Association iuitd the other to the Aberdarte district. Representing the South Wales Miners' Federation were Messrs. Thos. Richards, M.P., Vernon Hartshorn and T. Smith; the Anthracite Association was repre- sented by Messrs, J. D. Morgan (agent), and J. D. Morgan (tresoirei); Western Miners by Mr W. E. Morgan (ageait), and Mr Caradog Rees (president). The matter had be-en under the con- sideration of the Federation Executive Council, who had recommended that the 10 lodges, instead of forming a new dis- j trict, should amalgamate with the Cwm- avon district. After considerable discussion the re- presentatives un.animously agreed to urge the acceptance of the recommenda- tion of the Federation Executive CcuncJ by the 10 lodges who had made the ap- plication.

MINISTRY OF LABOUR MR KEIR HARDIE S PROPOSALS TO CHECK UNEMPLOYMENT By the Prevention of Unemployment Bill, which has been re-introduced by Mr Keir Hardae, M.P., a Ministry of Labour would be set up. The text of tho measure, which was published on Tues- day, provides that the Minister of Lab- our shall sit in the House of Commons and receiive t he salary of a Secretary of State. It would be the Minister's duty to Erevent unemployment. as far as posmble by the i,e4?u?risation of the national de? mand for labour. Among the divisions of ,at the diviaions et tho Ministry for Labour would be National Labour Exchange, Unemploy- ment Insurance, Industrial Regulation, Statistical Emigration and Immigration and Industrial Training. The Labour Minister would also have to mAke provision for the training or un- employed persons and their dependents and for the establishment of reforn-Latory detention colonies. Loc.al authorities would also be re- „ quired to prevent unemployment as far as practicable.

LABOUR COUNTY COUNCILLOR'S TELLING CONTRAST Labour's solitary representative on the Kent Education Committee (Mr A. W. Tapp) made a powerful, though ineffectu- al, protest at the last meeting of the committee against a proposal to make an allowance of 3d. per mile to the county agricultural organaser in respect of tho use of his motor-cycle when on the com- mittee's business. It was at first suggested that about 60 miles would be ridden daily, and Mr Tapp remarked that this meant a daily allowance of 15a. on top of a salary of £350 a year. He contrasted with this proposal the refusal of the county oouiv cil to advance the wages of their labour. ers, some of whom were receiving only 20s. a week and were compelled fu travel—on their own bicycles and with- out allawonne—20 miles fiom home to their work. Not only had the council turned a deaf ear to Miear case, but one (member had spoken of the "pernicious I doctrine of a minimum wage." Mr Tapp found no supporter for his protest, nor is likely to till the electors send him aame Labour colleagues* —————— 1"'1

400 MEN "DOWN TOOLS." Nearly 400 men have left work at Tirydail Colliery, Ammanford, on the ?u0G>tio*i at the employment of non- rnionLsts, of whom there were about 35 working. All the men except these gave the usual fourteen days' notice, and this expired on Saturday. Att a. meeting held at the pit-head it was decided not to re- sume work until the non-Unionists were dispensed with or paid up their Federa- tion duea.

"We have had good results from advcrtis, rg In Labour Voice Swansea Trades- is an. Name on application. Do you want fiood results ? + If so, Advertise in LLAIS LLAFUR."

LABOUR PIONEER DEAD. THIRTY YEARS SPADE WORK. Mr. Harry Orbell. the inspiring soul of a thousand Labour battles for com- mon right, has pasred away at Bourne- mouth. A native of Bow, Harry OrbeU was bv trade a tea-cooper. The call of service for theca-ullle came to him on the formation of the Dockera and Qnayside Worker?' Union in 1889. ^He was oiae of the memorable figur^s in the great London dock strike of that year. At its close it was realised that he was indispensable. He became an organiser of the Union and from Lon- don spread the gospel of solidarity amomng dockers in port after pert. No missioner of the new era for the bottom ranks of Labour was more successful, more inspiring, or more largely human., On the formation of the Port of London Authority the blockers elected him a representative on the board. Harry Orbell never spared himself and he has passed away at the early age of 54. but his work has been well and truly done.

(Onntlaued from preceding column) seldom worked, the general run of orders being gauges of 24 to 33. The average rate paid en the above-mentioned gauges in AnicTitrt is jE2 3s. Id. per ton, as com- pared with JB1 2s. in this country—a difference of £1 Is. Id. per ton. Taking 29. 30, and 31 gauge, tlu, most common orders worked in both countries, the difference, in the rate paid appears still more evident, because the American manufacturer pays for working those three gauges an average of 92 ls. 8d. per ton, whilst the elsh employer pays but 19s. 5d.—a difference of £ 1 2s. 3d. per too. I UNDOUBTED AMERICAN I BENEFITS In addition to this the compa.ny pro vidrs a helper for the roller and pays him 4s.3id. per ton in addition to what he pays the roller. The doubler, heater, &nd b^h'ndor pay the?r t?spective 'helpers out of the amounts provided in the schedule amd when we consider that additional output of the mills in America the earn- ing power of the men is far in excess of that of the Welsh millmen. We find in the Aratferican wage agreement several clauses which would benefit the Welsh tinplater were it possible to get them in- serted in his wage list, but apace will not permit their insertion. For example. crop ends are pai,red in equal lengths and weights, the firm supply a plentiful supply of well or iced water to its employees, fo!reaae is furnished for the behinder in trhe mill, 10 per cent. extra is paid far wid,ening- iron in the mill, and several other minor advantages. If American methods will he introduced into t-he Welsh mills it would no doubt result in a general iilteration of the present wage- list. which, even under present con- ditions, is considered out of date and unjust, because of the vast difference in earnings for the same amount of exer- tion.

(Ccmttaraai trom pteoadUf Mlumc). ballroom was covered withdrawn paper and this, too, was undamaged, except by the water. No inconsiderable low has been caused by damage to the belongings of most of the ten servants who were em- ployed at the honse. The two nurses were exceptionally unfortunate in this reject, as practically the whole of 1Ih.r clothing and other property were destroyed. The children's clothing was also destroyed. It is said that the whole of the damage is covered by in. surance, but no intimation to this effeet has been issued by Mr. Gilbertson, and the statement is made with all reser- vation. The new wing, whick was only com- pleted recently, cost 91,260, and nearly the whole of this will have to be re- built. Damage to the other parts of the building is also fairly considerable, and probably six months will elapso before it will be ready for re-occupa- tion. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbertson and famtiy are now staying at Glanrhyd. The cause of the fire is not known, but it is stated that it was due to the [ fusing of the electric wires. Tke house was lighted by electricity throughout.