Papurau Newydd Cymru
Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru
14 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
BATHS AT THE PIT-HEAD.
BATHS AT THE PIT- HEAD. A Simple Explanation of a New System. BY EDGAR L. CHAPPELL Secretary, South NVales Garden Cities, and Town Planning Association. Tbe South Wales Garden Cities and Town Planning Association amongst its other manifold activities is carrying on in various parts of the coalfield a vigor- ous campaign in favour of the provision of bathing facilities at all collieries. Only a very small proportion of miners under- stand the system, and for this reason no action has been taken by the men to exercise the powers conferred upon them by Section 77 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911. In this article an attempt is made to classify the notions of readers by answering some of the questions which An uninformed miner would naturally Ask of an advocate of the reformed sys- tem. WHY IS IT NECESSARY THAT MINERS SHOULD BATH AT I THE PIT-HEAD 1 Because the present system is un- healthy for the collier and his family, and because it imposes unnecessary labour on his womenfolk. Colliers now often work in clothes which are sodden with rain during the walk to work. This is obviously unhealthy. After their day's work, also, they leave the heated atmosphere of the mines to face. the much lower temperature of the outer air. A sudden reduction of bodily heat tends also to reduced vitality and increased liability to disease. Bathing and changing at the pit-hea.d) will greatly lessen this danger. The "tubbing" sys- tem in small, overcrowded homes is in- sanitary and often indecent. The atmosphere reeks with grime and bad odours, and the process of drying dirty clothes in the common living room must have ill effects on the health of residents. Most important of all the system involves a considerable amount of unnecessary labour upon the women, especially in homes where men work on different shifts. Colliers very rightly insisted on working no more than eight hours per day; their wives, however, are sometimes required to work eighteen. hours per day. WHAT PROVISION CAN BE MADE I AT COLLIERIES FOR BATHING AND CHANGING? Pil-head bath installations have been provided on the Continent and in America for some years, and in this country also they must be provided if a majority of the men employed at a colliery so desire. The character of the accommoda- tion and equipment is very clearly de- fined in an excellent set of regulations issued last year by the Home Oliice. A suitable bunding must be provided near to the mouth of the mine. This build- ing must. be left heated at a temperature between bOIld 75 degiees Fahrenheit, and an ample supply of water at 100 de- grees Fahrenheit must Le provided for Bathing purposes. In each building will be installed a number of cubicles or .bathing cabinets about five feet long, three feet six inches wide, and six feet high. The entrance to each cabinet must be screened off by a door or a waterproof curtain. The cabinet is divided by means of a partition into two sections. In the outer section which is fitted with clothes hooks and a seat, the bather dresses and undresses. The inner portion is used for the actual bathing process. In the floor is a sink connecting with the drain. Above is a spray, consisting of a rose, four or six inches in diameter fastened to a length of hot water pipes, a branch of the distributing main. The pipe is fitted with a valve worked by pulley, a chain or by some other mechanical arrangement. The naked man stands over the sink, turns on the hot water, lathers himself with soap, and when he has thoroughly cleansed and dried himself, partially dresses in the "dry" portion of the cabinet. He com- pletes his dressing in the main room. WHAT ARRANGEMENTS ARE MADE I FOR STORING AND DRYING CLOTHES, TOWELS, ETC.? In the body of the building are ar- ranged a number of seats on which the men sit to carry out the greater part •of the dressing and undressing opera- tionos. 1 he backs of these seats consist of an iron framework to which are at- tached suitable arrangements for fastening and locking chains or wires which pass over pairs of pulleys fixed near the roof of the building. A compound hook is fastened to the end of the chain farthest from the framework and on this hook the lelotber,, are suspended. Each suspender is numbered and is resetved for the sole use of one particular man, who is pro- vided with a separate padlock and key. When he comes to work at the beginning of a shift he takes down his working clothes, changes, and hangs up his even- ing clothes. When his day's work is over he enters the changing' house, takes his warm and dry evenin.g suit in/to a cubicle, baths, dresses, and having hung up and hoisted his working clothes on his suspendeT, goes home clean and com- fortable. During his absence from work his clothes are dried and warmedl by the hot air circulating near the roof. No arangements for repairing and washing -clothing are yet specified in British legis- lation. It will, therefore, be necessary for each miner to take his dirty clothes home at least once a week to be attended tto. WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS REGULATING THE ADOPTION OF TILE PIT-HEAD BATH SYSTEM ? Pit-head baths wist he established at ,collie.ries provided two-thirds of the men .employed require their provision, and that the estimated cost of maintenance .does not exceed threepenoe per man per week. Half of this amount must be pro- vided by the owners and half by the men. It will be seen,, therefore, that the matter of expense is a negligible one. Each man has three half-pence per week deducted from his wages for at least five years, but this expenditure is more than balanced by the reduction in home ex- penditure on soap, towels, firing, etc., to say nothing of the saving of labour on the part of his wife, and the increased health and, comfort of his family. Certain collieries are exempt from the operation of Section 77, viz., those em- ploying less than. 100 men, and those whose leases terminate within ten years < Con trim ued at kotlem of next column-) <
Advertising
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SWANSEA DOCKERS' ENTERPRISE
SWANSEA DOCKERS' ENTERPRISE Union's Magnificent New Buildings Opened I Mr. Ben Tillett on Saturday opened in High street, Swansea, on a site secured by Alderman T. Merrells, J.P. magnificent new buildings of the Dock, Wharf, Riverside, and General Work- ers' Union, comprising shops, a large hall, smaller halls, and suites of of- fices. The main hall has been let to the Anima Company, the Union re- serving the right of using it whenever required. This part of the palatial buildings has been named "The Ely- sium," and it is entered through a vestibule of rich architecture. The hall, where the Anima Company open- ed their cinema and variety entertain- ments on Saturday, is designed with imposing balcony, and has accommo- dation for 1,400 persons. At the opening ceremony Mr. Til- lett was supported by the Mayor (Aid. Corker, J.P.), Ald. T. Merrells, J.P. (the local secretary of the Dockers' Union), Alderman Dan Jones (chair- man of the Watch Committee), Captain Thomas (the Chief Constable), Mr. E. J. Ward (the managing director of the Elysium), Mr. U. Darner Vaughan, A.M.I.M.E.E. (the general manager of the Elysium), and Mr. Alfred Robert- son (the assistant manager). Mr. Ben Tillett, who opened the new buildings with a silver key presented by Mr. E. J. Ward, congratulated the architect on the scheme. Mr. Tillett said that everything else being equal, special consideration had' been given to local contractors, and a considera- able amount of work* had been execut- ed by local firms, but when the dif- ference between the lowest building contractor in Swansea and an outside firm was -.C2,915, over 30 per cent. more, it could be rightly understood why the Union went outside, but jn all contracts the trades union clause was rigorously observed. THE MAYOR. I I The Mayor congratulated them on being able to secure such a magnificent building, and spoke of the luxurious- ness of the Elysium. At one time he said he did not agree with trades unionism, but he had come to under- stand the position, and proof of the sinoerity of his statement was the fact that he employed none but trade unionists. There were crowded audiences at the Elysium during the day, when besides the excellence of the pictures Mr. Harry Reynolds received big ovations for his talented baritone renderings. Miss May Phillips, too, was happy in her pianoforte selections. As the man- agement are to present weekly high- class vocal and instrumental entertain- ment to intersperse the pictures, the Elysium is bound to become a very popular place of entertainment.
IROLLED DOWN THE IMOUNTAIN
ROLLED DOWN THE MOUNTAIN EXTRAORDINARY ACCIDENT TO A HORSE AT ABERAVON. On Saturday, an accident of an un- usual nature occurred to a heavy bay horse which was let out to grass on the Aberavon Mountain. The animal appears to have lost its footing, and commenced rolling down the s t.eep mountain side. For about 150 yards, the horse rolled along, gaining impetus at every yard, and carrying everything before it. The first obstacle was a. hedge, which the Tolling animal cut clean through, then carried away a hen coop and a veranda, eventually going clea.n over a wall and into the little back court of 9, Sea. View-terace, Aberavon-a, drop of some 25 fet. So great was the velocity of the animal's flight that it became fixed in the little court, and could neither raise itself nor be lifted out. The police did everything in their power to release the horse from its pre- dicament, but at last the animal had to be shot where it lay, and the carcase cut up before it could be removed.
IWelsh Village Drama
I Welsh Village Drama Difficulties to be Faced MR. BERIAH EVANS' VIEW I How Welsh ministers of the "unool guid" school persecuted those members of their flocks guilty of the heinous crime of being interested in the drama. and theatres is the subject of comment by Mr. Beriah Gwynfe Evans in the April issue of "W ales." "It has been my unfortunate fate," lie says, "to be, for conscience's sake, involved in more than one heated con- troversy with the recognised leaders of Welsh Nonconformity in my own and other denominations at various times. "But I frankly admit that the one which raged hottest of all, and in which I was sorely beset and least supported, was that fight of thirty years ago for the right of Christian young Welsh men and women to enjoy and take part in the production of a pure Welsh plav. NEW IDEAS FOR OLD. "That right was secured and estab- lished, and in more than one instance dramatic societies were formed with full ministerial and diaconal sanction, if not with whole-hearted official ap- proval, in the very chapels where ex- communications had taken place for performing the selfsame plays. "To-day there is probably not a church or a chapel in Wales where an official ban would be placed upon mem- ] bers who proposed to form a dramatic society. "I confidently anticipate that during the next and the following winter such societies, if properly encouraged, will number several hundreds." I SCHOOLS AS THEATRES. Turning to a consideration of the dif- ficulties of producing drama in the smaller villages, "Beriah" declares that the only available building is the village schoolroom. "It has no stage. This will be put up a couple of hours or so before the performance is due, and will consist of a few rough three-inch planks loosely placed on strong trestles. "There are no footlights, no dress- ing-rooms, no curtains, no flies, no wings, no anything which professional actors associate in their minds with 'a stage.' Mr. Evans shows how performances are in many places impossible because of the cost of hiring costumes and other accessories, and suggests that Lord Howard de Walden and his company should come to the aid of the rural dramatic societies. HOW TO HELP. I This can be done in the following ways: 1. By furnishing free of cost, to any society applying therefor, a complete set of plajis, drawings, and specifica- tions, showing "how to fit up a model stage in the village schoolroom." Two or three standard sizes at least should be available, so as to meet varying re- quirements. 2. By providing sets of scenery, in- cluding both curtains and wings, and fitting the standard sizes of stage re- ferred to above. 3. By providing, in similar manner, complete sets of costumes, historical and modern, which could be similarly lent on hire a.t the barest possible cost. 4. Coloured illustrated posters, de- picting scenes from plays approved by the company of Welsh players, might similarly be stocked in bulk by the com- pany, and sold at bare oost price to the societies performing those plays. "WERE I A MILLIONAIRE." "The village schoolroom, structurally, hardly fulfils one's ideal of a theatre," continues the writer, "or even of a parish hall. "For want of a better, it is the best available to-day. But, were I a mil- lionaire, burdened with a conscience, I would go in for the Carnegie policy of helping those who help themselves. "I would place in trust, say, half a million of money, which could, under certain conditions, be available as grants towards building village insti- tutes all through rural Wales. "I would have these of a distinctive design, and so arranged as to become the centre of the social life of the vil- lage, and among its distinctive features I would have a central hall, capable of having its accommodation extended or reduced at need, for the purposes of all public gatherings and among its essen- tial appurtenances I would have every- thing necessary for the fitting up of\a theatre. —————— I »««
SAFETY OF MINERS I
SAFETY OF MINERS I NEW REGULATIONS FOR THE I WORK OF RESCUE. The "London Gazette" announces that the Home Secretary proposes to make general regulations under the Coal Mines Act amending the provisions as to rescue appliances and rescue brigades contained in Part 4 of the general regulations of July 10 last. Undter the drait regulations, the use of self-contained breathing apparatus will be made compulsory. An alternative system for the establishment of rescue brigades will be admitted, by which, in place of the local brigades at the collienes now required, permanent brigades will be maintained at the central stations, and one or more men, according to the size of the colliery, will be trained at each mine to act with the central brigade when summoned' to the mine. —————
BURNT-OUT VILLIAGE I
BURNT-OUT VILLIAGE I LOCAL AUTHORITY WILLING TO I ERECT NEW COTTAGES. The Housing Committee of the Saffron Walden Rural District Council on Wed- nesday discussed the disastrous fire at the village of Little Chesterford. It was decided to inquire of the owners if they propose to rebuild the cottages burnt down, and, if they do not, to negotiate with them for the purchase of the sites with a view to the Council Erecting cottages there under the Housing Act.
SENGHENYDD SEQUEL I
SENGHENYDD SEQUEL I Management to Be Prosecuted Summonses Issued As the result of the inquiry invj the disaster at the Universal Collieries, Senghenydd, last October, proceedings will now be taken against the manage- ment for alleged breaches of the new Coal Mines Act. The preliminary hear- ing of the case on the summonses issued will be heard at Caerphilly Police-court on Tuesday, May 5. In view of the fact that, for the purpose of police-court proceedings, in- formation has to be laid within six montlis of the oommttal of any alleged offences, the executive council of the South Wales Miners' Federation recent- ly deputed certain of their number- Mr. W. Brace, M.P., Mr. T. Richards, M.P., and Mr. J. Williams, M.P.—to secure an interview with the Home Secretary in order to urge the right hon. gentleman to take the necessary steps within the legal period. When seen by the representatives of the Miners' Federation Mr. McKenna undertook to take the initiative in any course which would appeal to him as being desirable after he had had the benefit of a perusal of the report of the Commission of Inquiry It will be remembered that, apart from the coroner's inquiry, which last- ed eight days, the Home Office inquiry, including the last two days in London, occupied fifteen days. This was con- ducted by Mr. R. A. S. Redmayne (his Majesty's chief inspector of mines) as Commissioner, with Mr. Evan Williams (chairman of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coalowners' Association) and Mr. Robert Smilie (president of the Miners' Federation of Great Bri- tain) as assessors. The Commissioner and his assessors have been in consultation several times and the report has now been completed, and it is understood that the draft was submitted to the Home Secretary last Thursday. This report, it is stated, contains references to a number of breaches of the Coal Mines Act of 1911 which were alleged to have been revealed at the investigations made by the Commission- er, and that upon the details given in this report the Home Secretary has fulfilled the promise given to the Federation representatives that he would take action if the facts, as dis- closed in the report, justified his doing so. The result is that summonses were applied for and granted by the Caer- philly magistrates. These are made re- turnable, as indicated, on Tuesday, May 5. It is, however, understood that on that day the proceedings will be of a purely formal character, and a special day—or days, if necessary—will be set apart for the hearing. Act itself, as of the multitudinous ——————
I 11 TUMBLE- DOWN HOVELS"…
11 TUMBLE- DOWN HOVELS" I I I Conditions in West Wales Village Revelations of deplorable rural hous- ing conditions were made at a meeting of the Carmarthenshire Public Health and General Purposes Committee at Carmarthen when Dr. D. Arthur Hughes, county medical officer, said he had to report a most primitive and dis- graceful condition of things in the vil- lage of Alltywalis, in Newcastle Emlyn district. The people were for the most part very poor. It would be ironical to speak of these buildings as "homes" or "houses" they were deserving only of the term "tumble-down hovels." Summarising the defects—almost every house presenting a combination of all-he said that the walls were of rough rubble work—mortar (earth and lime); cracked, and out of the perpen- dicular, and necessarily damp. Other defects were:- I Floors—earthen, with an occasional small flagstone, or, perhaps, partially paved with- irregular sized stones (pebbles), and always damp. Roofs—leaky and old thatch, in some instances covered with corrugated iron no eaves troughs. No thorough ventilation (that is, no back door nor window), and the air was, therefore, stagnant. "These are the only holes where the poor people can lay their heads in," said Dr. Hughes. I NO HOUSES FOR EVICTED. I Mr. W. J. Thomas (Llanarthney) said the authority had condemned some houses in the union, but, of course, they were very cautious in evicting the tenants, because they had no other houses to go to. On the motion of the Rev. A. Fuller Mills, it was decided to call upon the owners to put the houses in proper condition before taking any further aotion. »«♦■»*
ICLYDACH SINGINti FESTIVAL…
CLYDACH SINGINti FESTIVAL I The annual singing festival promo- ted by the Congregational churches of Clvdach and district, was held at Car- mel and j^ebron chapels on Good Fri- day. The meetings were attended by a large concourse of people. Dr. Caradoc Roberts of North Wales conducted the singing, and also gave selections upon the organ. The singing at the juvenile and ad- I uLt meetings was of a high standard, the massed voices blending well and showing good balance. There was ab- undant volume and splendid control. A solo was sung during the afternoon by Mr. David Price, Brynamlwg. Messrs. Gwilym Grove (Hebron) and David Davies (Carmel) gave every satisfaction as organists. The festi- val proved a success in every respect.
TRACKED -BY DOGS I
TRACKED BY DOGS I Brecon Woman's Life Saved Took Constable Twice to Right Spot Some time ago the chief-constable of Breoonshire (Captain Cole Hamilton, D.S.O.) purchased two bloodhounds for the service of the county, and this de- parture in police methods has been justified in a dramatic manner within the last few days. The dogs have been the means of saving the life of a woman who is eighty-four years of age. About eight o'clock on Monday night the old lady was missed from her cot- tage at Vennyfaoh, and the inhabitants scoured the district. Their efforts proved of no avail. They communicated with the police at Brecon, a.nd Police- sergeant Williams proceeded to Venny- faoh, and after searching for some time his efforts also proved futile. DOGS RIGHT, CONSTABLE WRONG I About ten o clock on Tuesdav he called at Brecon for the bloodhounds, and Police-constable Pearce, who is in charge of the hounds, proceeded to Vennyfaoh. He allowed the hounds to go into the bedroom and "scent" the clothing which the old lady had worn that day. He spoke kindly to the dogs, and instantly they became conscious of their work, and proceeded out of the room, literally dragging Pearce along. They went along the road for some d.s- tance and they branched off to some pasture lands, and reached the well- known Vennyfaoh Rocks, which over- look the Usk. Here they stopped. There is a ten foot drop to the water at this spot, and thinking that the dogs were on the wrong track Pearce took them back to the cottage. No sooner were they in the bedroom again than they dragged hard to get away. They proceeded to the rock again. UNCONSCIOUS. PoIlee-sergeant Williams went down near the water and found the old lady sitting on a rock with her feet in the water in an unconscious state. Dr. Francis, Brecon, who was present, de- clared that if she had been another hour in that position she would have died. She was pulseless and in a criti- cal condition. The hounds :are about ten months old, and were trained by Police-con- stable Pearce. J 0. J
THE COST OF LlVING
THE COST OF LlVING DEMONSTRATION OF CHANGE IN VALUE OF A SOVEREIGN. An interesting exhibition, designed to illustrate the rise in thet cost of living, is to be held under the auspices cf the Cen- tral London branch of the Women's Lab- our League, of which Dr. Marion Phillips is the secretary, at St. Bcto-lph's Parish Room on the 29th inst. It is proposed to demonstrate the value of one sovereign in 1899, the eve cf the South African War, and its value now in the commodities of every day life. The cost of a washing day will also be de- monstrated, with the effect of the varia- tions in wages and cost of materials for such staple industries as the building and furnishing trades. The exhibition will be preceded by a conference, presided over Ly Dr. Ethel Bentham, and to be addressed by Miss Mabel Atkinson, to which work ng women are specially invited. A meeting at night is to be presided over by tifl Rev. W. Hudson Shaw, and Mr J. A. Hobson will be the principal speaker.
PENYBONT COUNCIL HUMOUR I
PENYBONT COUNCIL HUMOUR I The Penybont Council were in fa- cetious mood on Saturday over the reading of a letter which the Kenfig Hill Chamber of Trade had forwarded to the Glamorgan County Council, complaining that a refuse tip within one hundred yards of a school at Ken- fig Hill was in a "putrid state." The County Council suggested that the Penybont Council should use a little lime. Mr. W. A. Howell: Is it the idea of the County Council that the lime should be used on the tip or on the Chamber of Trade? (Laughter.) Mr. Jenkin Jones: A little spring cleaning would do the Chamber good. Mr. Nieholl: What is a Chamber of Trade? A Member: A self-elected body. The Council decided to instruct the scavenger to burn the combustible material on the tip. It was decided to contribute JB23 to the Welsh National Library, subject to the permission of the Local Govern- ment Boa;rd. I WHAT HARM ? Two Irish farmers who had not seen each other for a 1on.g time met at a fair. They had a. lot of things to tell each other. "Shure it's married Oi am," Mud Murphy. "You don't tell me so," said Moran. "Fadx, yes," replied Murphy, "an' Oi've got a foine healthy bhoy which the neighbours say is the very picture of me.' Moran looked for a moment at Murphy, who was not, to say the least, remarkable for his good looks, and then said "Och, well phwat's the harrum so long as the choild's healthy ?" NOT TO BE OUTWITTED. I Mr Arnold Bennett tells an amusing story about the Cockney acc fit that pre- vails in parts of London. "A little boy, who always spoke the broadest Cockney, was sent by his mother to buy some fiah. 'Gimme a haddie,' he said to the fishmonger. 'Finnan?' the dealer asked. At this the boy laughter knowingly, with the air of one determined not to be cheated. 'Fin'un?' he said. 'No, not f likely. Fick-un. GONE THROUGH TROUBLES J lzn Jacobs boarded a tramway car with his son. The youth was tall a,nd ungain- ly. He looked at let twelve years old, but when the conductor called for the fares the fathvr .-low ly COll! t-cd out two pennies. "Look her. &rj t.h cond uctor, "whene's the :1for th > b- "Vy, he, "Five"' growled the conductor. "Go on he's fourteen if he's day." "Oh, JU)," pLaded Izli, "He can't be five. Heo 1, "Well, he looks a good deal older." the conductor insisted. "Certainly," said the elder Jacobs. "Certntytily. Vy shoiiIeL,ii't He's had a lot of trouble A MISTRANSLATION Jock M Tavish had tha misfortune to get arrested and Sentenced. FTc was gi ven a bucket of water, a. brush, and a cake of strong soap, and told to wash his cell. Some time Later the goal., v (t-iiie through and saw M'Ta.vish giving h.im a thorough scouring. "Here," he cried, "what are you doing? Didn't I tell yo.. to wash yourcein" "Aye, an' am I H. washin' massed' ?" aeked tho surprised :l'Ta\rjh. THE LIGHTER SIDE. An .elderly woman who was extremely stout waa endeavouring to enter a tram- car when the conductor, noticing be-- difficulty, said to her, "Try s"idewav?. madam, try sideways! The woman looked up breathlessly, aid replied, "Why, bless ye, I ain't got no sideways HOLD ON! I "The doctor says I must quit smoking. One lung is nearly gone." "Oh, dear, John. Can't you hold cut until we get enough coupons for that dining-room rug?" DRY ROT. I A gentleman bong shown over f"n ol,3 church by the verger, and seeing it wa: somewhat out of r^ps.ir, risked th?1 vergei if they had any dry rot in it. "Only ii the pulpit, si r," was his reply.
BATHS AT THE PIT-HEAD.
(Continued from preceding column) or are likely for some reason or other to be abandoned, within that period. These are d-ofects which must be reme-died by future legislation. WHAT SYSTEM OF MANAGEMENT MUST BE ADOPTED ? A joint Baths Committee consisting of three representatives each of employers and men is elected annually. To this Committee is entrusted all the adminis- trative work. On each pay day the amount deducted from wages together with the quota contributed by the owners is paid over to the Committee. The Committee appoints attendants, provides soap and towels, carries out necessary repairs, makes regulations for the use of the baths, and discharges all other neces- sary duties of supervision. There is, therefore, no foundation for the objec- tion sometimes advanced that the em- ployers will utilize the laths to make an additional profit out of their employees. The Committee is required to draw up a full statement of accounts annually, and to post it up in the changing house for the inspection of the men. The above statement by no means ex- hausts the subjects. Various objections often raised, some of which are based on a misunderstanding of the system, and none of which are of sufficient import- none of which is of sufficient import- balance of advantage is overwhelmingly in favour of the new system, and there can be no doubt that its adoption will add considerably to the health, comfort, and happiness both of the miners and of all their dependents. Note.—Mr Chappell will be glad to give in these columns any further in- tomation required by any readers, and also to reply to any objections which may be advanced. Federation lodges and other responsible organisations desiring the services of lecturers on the subject are invited to communicate with Mr Chappell at the Association Offices, 3 Pembroke Terrace, Queen Steet, Cardiff.