Llais Llafur

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THE SENGHENYDD DISASTER REPORT CMef Inspector's Grave Indictment. DISQUIETING LAXITY OF MANAGEMENT. AIR SMILLIE AND NEEDLESS LOSS OF LIFE. Grave indictments of the management .of the Senghenydd Colliery are mad,e in the report issued by Professor Rodmayne, Chief Inspector of Mines, at the Home Office, who conducted the inquiry into the disaster at the mine last year by which, it will long be remembered, 440 men loet their lives. Mr Redmayne says it is probable that the explosion was preceded by heavy falls liberating a large volume of gas, and the only apparent means of ignitios: would be sparks from the electric signalling apparatus. He enumerates a number of breaches of the Coal Minos Act, and says that, though some of them may appear trivial, yt in ihe aggxegate they point to a "dis- quieting laxity in tha management of the mine. It is astonishing, he declares, that the management should have faced the risk that sparks might have ignited gas, in view of the Bedwar Colliery explosion and the warning that followed it. MIXERS' PRESIDENT'S MEMORAN- I DUM. Mr Robert Smillie, president of the Miners' Federation, one of the assessors, states in his memorandum :— "With the main body of the report I ,u-n in general agreement, but on one or two points dealt with, I foel necessary to offer some observations. "The communication doors in the two cross-cuts leading from the Lancaster main intake to the return at York Pit were formed of wood, and as the result -of the explosion all those doors were blown out and ultimately caught fire. The blowing out of those doors caused the short circuiting of the air current, and it took some considerable time to a.ib d it took sc)me C ,) n put out the fire caused by those doors, and to re-erect a stopping in the east side cross-cut. I am of opinion that com- munication doors situated as those were should he strongly built in order that they may be in a position to resist con- siderable pressure, and also that they sho-Id be formed of uninflammable material. "The time lost by Mr Shaw, the manager, and those who accompanied him in the first descent into the pit after the explosion in overcoming the fire at those doors was at the most critical period of the explosion, and, had they not been forced to deal with the fire at the doors, they might at once have turned their at- tention to the most serious fire at the end of the arch way in the Lancaster level. "On the question of the reversal of the air current, I differ most strongly from my two colleagues. The fact that it was found impossible to reverse the air cur- rent would be bad enough standing by itself, but it becomes much worse were it found that the inability to reverse the a.ir current has led to greater loss of life than otherwise would have been the case. I think it is correct to say that, at the close of the inquiry provision had not even then been made to reverse the air current. REVERSAL OF THE CURRENT I UNPROVIDED FOR. "It is true that the reversing of the air current of a mine when a great •calamity takes place, such as a serious fixe or an explosion, is a very serious re- sponsibility on the management, but surely.this was a case in which immediate reversing ought to have taken place, because; the manager must have known that all the fumes coming from a. very serious fire were being carried into the workings of the. mine. "From the nature of the fire it was dearly S", that it would be quite im- possible to get inside of it into the workings beyond, as the fumes would be of a poisonous nature, but the result of the reversing of the air current would have been to bring all the fumes from the fire up the Lancaster shaft, which would then be the upcast, and would at once have sent pure air from the York pit, -which would be the downcast, and would have etr.ablrfl 1 <rsellers, even without ap- pliances, t; I-ve gone right into the worki ii ,L, ,s lit, York pit side. I think it would be admitted by everyone who took part in the Inquiry that the re- versing of the air current would have meant the saving of the lives of all of -the men in the West York district. Most of those men had found their way to within a short distance of the York pit when they were overcome by the fumes. To me, it is an amazing thing that for hours and hours those in charge allowed -the smoke to continue going down from the fire in Lancaster Level when they must have known that is was finding iz way into all of the districts. "I understand that discussion took -place more than once on the afternoon of "the day of the explosion regarding the -advisability or otherwise of reversing the air current. I fool that this step was not -taken not because it would not have been wise to have taken it, but because it was found impossible, as provision for re- -versinc the air current had not been •mad e. a

n? of the London P?ers vouches for  ? iL?ns- story.—One business man I ?" t'" r?nvi?  that    good, so he gave #P t?lk- mg anr d anTd tlXook t TO SiSl.-E 'an advertigemnt in the *locaJ paper FwaTv* ? 90mreign to I a.nvone -"kbnr<iongt?uin lb £ r me a cat,, j -and addèd the na.me and address of the ¡ other man Next morning the other -maji',s street f,,Ij -f people ineisti.ng upon &f-!hng hrm caM. was con- verted.

CAERPHILLY WORK- MEN'S LEAD MINE EXAMINERS TO BE AP- I POINTED. RESULT OF THE BALLOT. I The miners of the Caerphilly District of the South Wales Miners' Federation have decided by a big majority to ap- point permaiient examiners for the pur- p Of examining the following collier- ies :—Senghenydd, Abertridwr, Llan- bradach, Penallta, Bedwa.5, Pentwyn, and Machen. During the past wec-k a ballot was taken on the matter, and at a meeting of the District Executive Committee, held at the Clive Hotel, Caerphilly, on Satur- day evening, the result was reported as follows :— -t Colliery. I1 or. Agst. iuaj. Llanbradach 775 556 219 Senghenydd 568 277 291 Windsor Colls. (Aber) 914 501 413 ponaiita 987 111 876 Bedwas 501 185 316 Caerphilly Lodge 227 193 34 Total 3972 :1823 :2149 Mr Thomas Humphreys, Ystradmyn- ach, presided, and the officials present included Messrs. Hubert Jenkins (agent), Henry Richards, Bedwas (secretary), and William Thomas, Senghenydd (treasurer). It was reported that the ballot at the Machen and Pentwyn Collieries had not been completed. It was evident, how- ever, th&t the result of the vote at these latter collieries would not appreciably affect the position. It was decided to hold a special meeting of the Executive Committee on Saturday evening next to deal further with the matter on the ap pointnvent of the examiners. P Mr Hubert Jenkins, the agent, said h* thought the result of the ballot very satisfactory, and that the appointment of permanent examiners was a Sotep in the right direction. He was convinced it would operate towards a more efficient, systematic, complete and satisfactory examination of the mines, and more fre- quent examinations would contribute to- wards keeping the colliery official staff "up to scrat-ch".and the pits in better condition. As this idea. developed and examiners were appointed in other parts of the country on the Mme lines he thought that eventually the men would be justified in asking the Government to take over the appointment and maintem- ace of the examiners, for he (Mr Jen- kins) believed thim- would eventually work out in the interest of employed and em- ployer.

I TINPLATE WAGES I Conference at Swansea I CLAIMS ADVANCED BY WORKMEN. On Saturday at the New Dockers' Hall, Swansea, delegates of members of the tinplate section of the Dockers' Union held their annual meeting. The principal business was the considera- tion of claims for submission to the Tinplate Conciliation Board, these having to be in the hands of the secre- tary of the Welsh Plate and Sheet Makers' Association on or before the 1st of May. THE CLAIMS. Tne claims were found to be about 30 in number, and affecting men em- ployed in the finishing department. Complaints had of late been made of the undue mixing of plates, and the assorters asked for payment for separ- ating them. Then they asked that the work of a mill, as shown in the annual agreement, be defined, that payment of Id. per box be made for splitting plates, 2s. 6d. for changing top rolls, and that girl reckoners be paid a stan- dard rate. For tinmen it was asked that extra payment be made where rubbing ma- chines are attached to pots. That assistance for gauging be paid at Dreadnought pots, and that for clean- ing on Sunday a payment of 2s. 6d. J be made to tinmen and Is. 6d. to risers. There was also the request emana- ting from the Morriston branch that, instead of 3s., 3s. 5d. be paid per dozen boxes for lining, and a further request from the same branch that tin- men shall not scrape menders, as is now done, that waiting time of Is. per hour be paid tiiino;>}, and risers 6d. per hour. From Cwmbwrla branch was the re- quest that tinmen be paid a minimum of 36 boxes for eight hours shift. The same branch asked that tenders on an automatic catches where the feeders are supplied be paid 3s. 4d. and 7s. 8d. when the a.ttender has to feed the roll or wet the rolls. Also that at ten d- ers be directly represented on the Conciliation Board. ANNEALERS. Annealers asked that a limit fixed to weight of pots and stands to be used in annealing. The Pontnewydd Branch asked that all plates over 901b. substance be paid at tho rate of 13s. per 100 boxes in the annealing room. The Clvdach branch asked for consi- deration to Sunday labour by anneal- ers, and an annealers' conference sub- mitted a proposal that two-thirds of 12s. he naid for once annealed plates, whether black or white. A proposal was also made to get an inspector of tinworks from among the workmen. The result of the discussion was an alteration and modification of many of the claims, but the claims agreed upon form a programme that employers in the present state of things will no doubt oppose.

"THE MINERS' WAR" I DEMONSTRATION AT MERTHYR. Speaking at a "Liberty Demonstra- tion" held at Merthyr on Tuesday evening, which was addressed by Dr. Poutsma and Mr. D. McKerrell, who spoke to a gathering of 5,000, Mr. J. Keir Hardie said there were some pre- sent who had opposd his 1900 candida- ture. They did that because they were patriots. He stood as a pro-Boer, and. it was said a friend of every country but his own. He asked them now, did thev realise what a terrible crime the I South African war was against our country, and against our honour, and as events had turned out, against its liberty? He asked thm to think that in other matters where they did not see eye to eye with him now, that it was likely he was again right, as he was on that occasion. Dr. Poutsma expressed gratitude to General Smuts for deporting "the nine" and said that they would lay the case of South African labour conditions be- fore the workers of Great Britain and of Eurooe. He declared that had they I not rebelled against the scandalous la- bour conditions in South Africa they I would not be worthy of their manhood. By the arrest of over 2,000 prominent men in the Labour movement the Gov- ernment renderd impossible the contin- uance of the strike. The men had therefore failed, and the Government succeeded in effecting 40 per cent. re- duct ion in the wages of railway and harbour workers. However, they were not giving up the struggle. Mr. Harry Evans proposed and Mr. John Hopkins seconded, a protest reso- lution, which was carried with acclam- ation. -—————

LAND STILL BOOMING I 17s. A FOOT ANNUALLY FOR A I CITY SITE. Land is still booming, even on the eve of another "dreadful" Budget. A plot in Gracechurch-street, City, having an area of 8,300ft., was offered on Monday at the Mart by Messrs. Jones, Lang and Co., on behalf of the City Corporation, and was let on a i, building lease for R7,050 a year. This is equal to about 17s. a foot. Another site, in Finsbury-circus, 23,700ft. in area, was let for £7,400 a year, which is over 6s. a foot. There was a crowded attendance of leading City architects, estate agents and others, and bidding was brisk.

U.S.A.'s FIRST WOMAN SENATOR HER EXPERIENCE AS A LEGISLATOR. Mrs. Helen Ring Robinson, America's first woman senator, tells of her exper-I iences as a legislator in an interesting article in the Denver "Independent." Mrs. Robinson during her first session in the Colorado Senate "mothered" a special educational Bill, and has since shown her ability and patriotism in a hundred different ways. It is noteworthy that she regards the passing of pure food laws, the mak- ing of mothers joint guardians with fathers of the children they have borne, the upbuilding of juvenile courts, and the fight against child labour as the most important tasks a woman senator can undertake. We women (she says) through the force of social and economic condi- tions have devoted our energies for unnumbered generations chiefly to keeping round after the details of living. We have been members of state legislatures, in small numbers, for less than 20 years. That is too short a time for changing the whole trend of our nature. So, naturally, we women legislators have still "kept round after" the little things.

Gower M.P.'s Son Married I A pretty and interesting marriage took place on Wednesday at Holy Trinity Church, Swansea. The bridegrom was Mr. Urias Williams (head chemist and manager of the steel furnace depart- ment at Messrs. Baldwins, Ltd., Lan- dare, eldest son of Mr. John Williams M.P. for Gower, and Mrs. Williams, Skettv), and Miss Maud Hemmen (youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs Hemmen, London and Mansel-street, Swansea). The bride was given away by her brother, Mr. George Hemmen. The cermonv was performed by the Rev. W. G. iIardie the vicar. Mr. Stanley Hemmen, brother of the bride, acted as best man. A reception was held subsequently at the bride's home, and later in the day the newly married ■couple left for London and Reading. They were the recipients of a number of beautiful presents.

———— J t ————— A funny story is going the rounds of a Sunday School teacher who, like many others, affected to know a great deal more than he really did. They were reading in the class a Bible chapter, and the teacher jumped the verse about healing divers diseases. He was brought back to it by the question: I "What kind of disease is that P "Don't you know?" "Why it's just water on the head" was the answer.

I LABOUR TO FIGHT I MR. A. CHAMBERLAIN I MR. KNEESHAWS CAMPAIGN. Councillor Kneeshaw, who opened his Parliamentary campaign on Mon- day in opposition to Mr. Austen Cham- berlain in the West Birmingham Divi- sion at a crowded and enthusiastic meeting held in the Dudley-road coun- cil school, referred to the Ulster situa- tion. He was, he said, a convinced and earnest Home Ruler, but in view of i-coeJit events Home Rule had ceased to be the solo concern in connection with the Irish question-it had become a question of choosing between consti- tutional government and anarchy. He would go strongly for constitutional government and would support all mea- sures to suppress the methods of the Carsonites. Mr. Kneeshaw said that the main purpose of his campaign was to con- duct a campaign against poverty. The social well-being of the people was of infinitely higher importance than any trade returns or expansion of empire, whatever its magnitude.. He dealt in detail with the miseries inflicted on the working classes through sweating, housing deficiencies, and industrial ac- cident, and showed the urgent need for intelligent factory legislation. A resolution was adopted with enthu- siasm pledging the meeting to do its utmost to secure the triumph of Coun- cillor Kneeshaw at the next election. f. J

COAL OWNERS TOO GREEDY 3d. DECREASE, NOT Is. FOR 95,000 MINERS. Eagerly awaited for the last few days by nearly 100,000 Scottish miners, the wages award of Lord Balfour of Bur- leigh was made known on Monday to the secretary of the Scottish Miners' Federation. The arbiter's finding is in the follow- ing terms:— The application before me was one on behalf of the masters for a reduc- tion of 25 per cent. on the 1888 basis, and the arguments in support of their contention were, speaking generally, divided under two main heads, viz.-(I) realised prices, and (2) increased cost of production. In so far as the former of these is concerned, I am of opinion that figures placed before me justify a reduction of 6 £ per cent. on the 1888 basis, and that this reduction should take effect as from Tuesday, April 28, in those collieries where that is the beginning of a pay or the begin- ning of a second week of a pay, and from Wednesday, April 29, in other collieries. The Scottish Miners' Federation will not bo meeting for some days and then, in the ordinary course, the award will be considered. It may be said, how- ever, that upon the whole, taking the January and February realised selling values of coal into account, that the decision of the arbiter gives satisfaction to the miners. The award, which is for only one fourth of the masters' claim, ntak the new wage 7s. 3d. per day instead of 7s. 6d. It will be recalled that an in- crease from 7s. 3d. to 7s. 6d. was se- cured on December 22 last, when Lord Balfour of Burleigh. was also arbiter. Most of the miners were expecting a reduction in wages of at least 6d. a day, it being usual to effect a com- promise by halving a claim either way. ——————. e w .——————

S. WALES FEDERATION AND ENGINEMEN THE AMALGAMATION PROPOSAL. Mr. T. S. Davies, Clydach, presided over the 98th quarterly meeting of the South Wales and Monmouthshire As- sociation of Colliery Enginemen, Stokers and Craftsmen at the Y.M.C.A. Cardiff, on Saturday, There were also present Mr. W. Hopkins (general se- cretary) and Messrs. W. Woosnam and W. Davies (agents), together with 61 delegates. the secretary presented a financial statement, which was adopted as satisfactory. A report of the meet- ing held by the sub joint committee representing the Miners' Federation and the Association upon the question of the merging of the two bodies was submitted by the secretary and a-gents, and the report was adopted, together with a resolution urging upon the executive and officers the necessity of proceeding with a ballot upon the ques- tion of amalgamation, so that the asso- ciation could be in a position to ge re- presented in the next Conciliation Board agreement. An appeal was made by the A b er- avon delegates for a donation towards alleviating the distress prevailing amongst members of the association who had been rendered idle owing to the stoppage of the Duffrvn Rhondda Colliery. It was resolved to make a grant of JE30 forthwith from the Cen- j tral Fund, which amount is to be re- funded by levy. It was also resolved that all members be asked to contri- bute one leby of 3d., the surplus over the R30, to be utilised in assisting ne- cessitous cases not provided for by the rules. Mr. T. Warburton was elected pre- sident and Mr. G. Jenkins auditor for the ensuing year.

THE COST OF THE YORK- SHIRE MINERS' STRIKE I AN ESTIMATED LOSS OF £ 5,000,000 The Yorkshire miners having now re- sumed work, it is possible to estimate with fair accuracy (says the "Yorkshire Post") the cost of the minimum wage strike to the miners, to the coalowners, and to the trade of Yorkshire. The com- plete county strike has extended over a period of three weeks, less the period of one or two days which would have been observed as holidays, while the stoppage in the South Yorkshire district, at the pits particularly affected by the dispute, continued for ten weeks. It is probably within the mark to scly that tho complete cost of the dispute, in the loss of coal production, of profits to owners, of wages to workmen, and in strike pay to the Yorkshire Miners' As- sociation, lias been £ 5,000,000. The larger part of the loss to the coalowners means that the production has been de- layed, the ooiil remains to be won, and the profit to be made. The coalowners stand to recoup themselves of their loss by the higher prices obtained for coal (other than that sold, on contract) during the stoppage, and the clearance of stocks at a time when trade was waning and selling prioes were falling. The loss to the men is in the main irrecoverable. They have had in South Yorkshire ten weeks enforced idleness/ and at the othEr pits in the County three weeks "holiday" for which they have leoeived strike pay at 99. per week in lieu of their ordinary earnings. The Ices in wages for the countv strike may be estimated -it £ 800,000, and in the more protracted struggle in South Yorkshire at £ 200,000. The Yorkshire Miners' Association has paid out in strike pay a. sum approaching P,150,000, practically exhausting the re- serves created since the minimum wage stoppage of two years ago. .1 J

M.F.G.B. PRESIDENT I MR. ROBERT SMILIE AS PROBABLE PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE. Mr. Robert Smilie, president of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain, has consented to allow his name to go before a selection conference in the Chester-le-Street Division of Durham when a candidate has to be chosen in succession to Mr. J. W. Taylor, M.P., who is retiring at the end of the pre- sent Parliament for health reasons. Mr. Smillie was called to the leader- ship of the miners of the United King- I dom at a time of special anxiety, and his election to that position was a. fit- ting tribute to a man who had given the best years of his life to building up the greatest of British 'nde Unions. He would be a powerful a.c-I quisition to the Labour Party 'n the House of Commons. Chester-Ie-Street is a mining consti- tuency, and is one of the safest seats for Independent Labour in this country. Fighting both Liberal and Tory in 1906. Mr. Taylor, the sitting Labour member, captured the seat previously held by Sir James (now Lord) Joicey, by a majority of 3,100 votes over the Tory, leaving the Liberal candidate a bad third with 4,660 votes. At the last election Mr. Taylor had a walk over. »»♦>«

FIRST MISTRESS-MARINER I WOMAN IN COMMAND OF AT- LANTIC LINER. The hand that rocks the cradle rings the telegraph bell on the bridge of transatlantic liner. In other words, women are becoming fully qualified sea- going captains and are taking the com- mand of passenger veesels. The first of the mistress-mariners is Frau Baudinz, the wife of a. Danish ship's surgeon. i She always diepl .yt d a kern interest in steamers, engines, and navigation. So thoroughly did ?h^ ftudy thpsp subiects that when "he sat for a,, ii she easilv obtained a captain's certificate. After this su^ce. s she ommunied cruising vessels for some time and l.y virtue of her energy, composure, seii- womanship the State eventually ^rant< d her permissioiirto take charge of foreign- going ships. The result is that sOio has I been appointed to the captailvhip of a liner making voyages between Copen- hagen and America.. I i t >

I LOCAL MUSICAL SUCCESSES. Several local musical eucceswes aro reported. At the recent V.C.M. exam- ination, Miss Cissie Thomas. Wood- stock, Pern., daughter of the Rev. H. Solva Thomas, late of Seven oisters, passed the Associate test- with honours in pianoforte playing. In the Asso- ciated Board examination, Miss Thomas also obtained the C.R.A.M., with hon- ours in theory and playing. In the lat- ter exami nation the following successes (are alo announced :—Grammar of Music, grade 3, honours class, Mis- Jennie Williams (Ystalyfera); grade 2 (honours), Miss Katie Roberts (Ystaly- .fera), Miss Olwen Evans (Seven Sis- ters); grade 1, honur, Miss Lizzie Jaile Nicholas (Crynant), Miss Ceinwen Thomas (Seven Sisters), Miss Hettie; Clee, Ystalyfera; Miss Elsie Morgans, Ystalyfera; Miss Hannah Maud Mor- gans (Ystalyfera); Mr Edward E. Davies (Abercrave), and Mr. Tynda 1 Morgans (Smith Arms, Ystalyfera). All the above are pupils of Mr. T. G. Samuel, Professor of Music, Gurnos, Ystalyfera. 1

I W. A. WILLIAMS, Phrenologist, I can be consulted daily at the Victoria I Arcade (near the Market), Swansea.

THE SOUTH WALES MUSICAL FESTIVAL The opening concert of the above festival was given at the Albert Hall, Swansea, last Monday night, and a very high standard of excellence was attained by the Swansea and District Male Voice Choir, accompanied by the Queen's Hall Orchestra under the con- duct orsliip of Sir Henry Wood. When a concert of a popular series draws a most enthusiastic audience, such as that which attended the Albert Hall on Monday evening, having for its sole programme a selection of or- chestral and vocal mus e of the highest class, it is an encouraging sign that as a nation we are advancing in musical taste. The Swansea Ma'e Choir has already attained a reputation of the first order as one of the most excellent combina- tions in the Principality, and this was more firmly established than ever on Monday. A tine body of voices well under control, they were able to over- come all difficulties. The concert opened with "The Water Lily," by Goetz, for solo, choir and orchestra; a most descriptive work, which suited the choir well. The solo part was taken by Mr. E. L. Morgan, a local tenor, and although it can hardly be said that he was equal to the demand made upon him—not being ro- bust and powerful enough, and at times scarcely heard—yet he must be verv heartily congratulated on his excellent effort at interpretation. The chorus acquitted themselves admirably, and if one may make a criticism it is that at times the orchestra slightly overpowered the chorus, and a little restraint on their part would undoubtedly have added to the effect. The next item on the programme was Schubert's charming and characteristic work, the "Song of the Spirits," for choir and orchestra, conducted by the chorus master Mr. LJew. R. Bowen. This was the best effort of the evening by the choir, and aroused the enthusi- asm of the audience. The fine opening passages in unison were characteristic in the extreme and were sung with great refinement and exquisite charm. The various mances were treated in masterly style, and the tone colour left, nothing to be desired. This was the real test for the choir and but far a few bars of slightly shady intonation, was a most artistic and effective ren- dering. Brahm's "Alto Rhapsody" for solo, chorus and orchestra, was the outstand- ing item in the first part of the con- cert, its sensuous beauty being brought out to the fullest. The solo part was placed in the capable hands of Miss Doris Manuelle, a young artiste pos- sessing an excellent voice of consider- able power and range. Her technique was beyond reproach, and her tone beautifully refined and pure. The or- chestral accompaniment added great charm to the general effect. The adagio movement introduced the choir, which sang with much emotional feel- ing, the whole combination exdlng with an almost perfect rendering of a most charming and difficult piece. The ap- plause that followed was loud and pro- longed and both artiste and conductor were recalled. The second part of the programme opened with a vivid and stirring inter- pretation of Beethoven's "Symphony No. 7 in A." This was the outstand- ing orchestral item and received ade- quate treatment by the orchestra in the hands of Sir Henry Wood, who was able to preserve wonderful balance and control, and one came away mar- velling at its wealth. Elgar's two songs, "Where Corals Lie," and "Sabbath Morning at Sea," were next sung by Miss Manuelle. In addition to a beautiful voice, which she has well under control, she also has the gift of strong emotional expression, as shown in her intelligible renderings of the above. The audience clamoured for more, and as an encore she sang Beethoven's beautiful "Hymn to Crea- tion." The prelude "L'Apres Nide d'un Fanne," for orchestra, by Debussy, was a marvel of delicacy. It was perfectly delightful, and was performed with great unanimity of expression, ifnesse and grasp of detail. Schubert's "Ballet Air in G. a most beautiful piece, was next rendered in an exceptionally fine manner. German's "Welsh Rhapsody" brf-li,,Iit a memorable event to a close. The var- ious airs were treated in a masterly style. The stirring passages for full orchestra of "The Men of Harlech" made a deep and profound imprwsicn, finishing up in a nerve-racking climax. The festival was continued at Neath on Tuesday evening with a o of Dr. Cowen's new work, "The Veil," and orchestral items. E. H. H. J

Many readers of "Llais Llafur" will he interested to learn that the Rev. Simon Jones, B.A., of Swansea, has been elected President of the South- East Unitarian Society. Mr. Jones iq undoubt-edlv one of the most talcn*cJ young ministers in South Yv'ale?, and ha.s a great future before him. His interest in literature is well known, and he h", frequently lectured in tho Swansea Valley, his 1 aot appearance Ite- ing at the D*dn?.ig Goch Society, Ys- talyfera, when the rev. gentleman gare a most inspiring talk on the life and work of Francis Thompson, the poet, and prose-poet.

I THE ARMY PLOT Mr. Macdonaid's Exposure » I COLLUSION WITH THE TORIES. Speaking on Friday evening at New- castle-on- Tyne, Mr J. Ramsay Mac- donald, M.P said that the question of the attitude of army oiffcers towards Par- liament, he said, was one of the most important subjects that democracy had got to settle. "We are anxious to settle it now," he continued, "irrespective of consequences. If army officers imagine that they were going to pick and choose regarding political decisions of the Com- mons, then we say they are not. (Ap- plause). If army officers, drawn from al- most one social class, imagine they are going to use their power as politicians to turn messes into mere dining-rooms of Tory clubs, then I say the power of those army officers must be broken now and for ever, and broken in such a way that it will never be raised again during this generation and a good many to conio." He agreed that General Paget had put improper questions to officers. It was no good hum-bugging the public, for everybody knew that officers had entered into a conspiracy with the Tory Party to defeat the Home Rule Bill. They were told that the House of Lords would throw out the Bill. He hoped they would. WAR OFFICE AND THE TORIES. Lately there had not been a. document marked "conifdential" from the War Office that had not been g iven away to Unionist members. There was not an, order under the ordinary secrecy of the, ing's Regulations that had not been sent by officers to people who were members of Tory organisations for the purpose of Icing used in and out of the House of Commons. Unionist members had boou j primed by the dishonourable action of oiffcers, and they were equally dishonour- able in asking officers to supply them with that secret information. He received constantly letters from officers who intended doing thear duty, who stated that the messes were like ice-houses because of it. He warned people that it was not merely a super- jj ficial question between the Army and the people. A section of the upper classes realised that since the a.bolition of the Lords' veto the way was open for the people. I WORK OF THE LABOUR PARTY. Mr Maodonald said it was sometimes asked what the Labour Party were doing. Supposing they had not introduced one 1 Bill, the labour Part had stirred up both other parties and changed public opinion and widened the mental attitude. In 10 days at the beginning of the pre- sent session the La.bour Party had done more practical work than the elder parties in 10 years. There never was a time when great changes in public opinion, were taking place more rapidly. If the feeding of School Children Bill had been brought in five years ago it would never have got a hearing, yet after only eight years' existence the Lab- our Party had made such a change in the attitude towards the Bill that Liberals and Tories welcomed the Bill or kept quiet with reverent reticence. e The Labour Partv had successfullv raised the question of the employment of troops in trade disputes. In future soldiers would not be used to brow- beat striking Trade Unionists. They would not be armed as hitherto, but given batons or something similar.

FREE LAW FOR THE POOR NO COURT, SOLICITOR OR COUNSEL FEES. When a person is applying or is admitted to take or defend or be a party to any legal proceedings as a poor person, he shall not be liable for any Court fees or fees on taxa- tion of costs; and no person shall take or agree to take or seek to ob- tain any fee, profit or reward, either for inquiry or repo.it or for the con- duct of the proceedings; and any person so doing shiK. oi .¿ contempt of Court. > This is the most important provision in the Rules just issued by the Rules Committee of the Supreme Court to govern the Poor Persons' Legal Depart- mnet, which will come into operation on June 8. And what is a poor person P As a general rule the litigant will not come within the terms of that description un- less he can show that he is not worth £50, excluding his clothes, tools of trade, and the subject of such proceed- ings. But in special circumstances, at the discretion of a judge, the sum may he larger, though it must never exceed Eloo. Anybody who wishes to sue through the department will have to fill up a form to be obtained from the District Registrar, stating his means and the names of the parties to the proceed- ings and the nature of the applicant's case. He will also have to give the names and addresses of two persons to whom reference can be made. The application will be referred for inquiry to a solicitor or counsel, who will report upon its merits, and it then rests with the Court to make an order admitting the applicant to legal pro- ceedings as a poor person. When this is done, solicitors and counsel will be assigned to him, and the case will go forward in the usual way. There must be scores of briefless bar- risters who will rejoice at the opportu- nity of conducting a case and showing what they can do, and no doubt many young solicitors will jump at the chance of real court work. At any rate, no difficulty is anticipated in filling the lists of solicitors and counsel either willing to make the preliminary inves- tigation or of conducting the proceed- ings. And there is alu thethat the solicitor may get his out-of-pocket expenses, either from a special fund or out of the sum recovered by a success- ful litigant. Counsel, however, will never in any case receive fees. It is expected that divorce and other matrimonial causes and actions for da- mages caused by accidents will form the bulk of the work of the Poor Persons' Department. ——————