Llais Llafur

Sunday Concerts at the Pavilion. Mr. Wiiliam Coutts Appears Before Council, The Pontardawe District Council met on Thursday, MT. John M. Davies, J.P., presiding. The first item of importance on the agenda, waa ta hear Mr. Coutts and his manager, and consider the granting of the licence to the Pavilion, Pontardawe. The Chairman explained that this ap- peared on the agenda, in accordance with the resolution at the last meeting. It was then explained that Air. Coutts had violated the terms of the licence grant- ed to him last year. Mr. H. J. Powell I understand that Air. Jeremiah was to appear here. The Clerk (Mr. Wyndham Lewis) then read a letter which he had received from Mr. Jeremiah in regard to a public meet- ing held at the Pavilion on Saturday last, protesting against the action of the Council in suspending the licence. Mr. Lewis said he had replied to Mr. Jere- miah stating that very probably the Council would be prepared to hear him r if he was in attendance at 12 o'clock on Thurscdav. Mr. Gibbon asked in what capacity I Mr. Jeremiah was going to appear ? Mr. Morgan Daviles asked if Mr. .Jeremiah was interested in the concern ? Personally he had no objection to Mr. Jeremiah appearing before the Council. The Clerk explained that Mr. Jeremiah had been appointed to attend. It was decided that Mr. Jeremiah and Mr. Coutts should appear separately be- fore the Council. Mr. Coutts was the first to arrive. He thanked the Council for his first oppor- tunity to appear before them, although he had opened the Pavilion since 1910. In regard to the somewhat grave accu- .satiotn which had been made against him dealing with the conditions of the Pavilion licence, he had to plead guilty to a teiehnical offence. He explained that only two concerts had been held instead -of three) mentioned in the letter to him. He had been in Swansea for ten years, and during th-it time he had been the means of raú;jng £2,000 for the purposes ,of harity. During the past two years he hnd been confronted with financial difficulty, and on this account he had 'been obliged to concentrate his whole energy on his Swansea houses, and the Pavilion had to be entrusted to his manager, Mr. Douglas Milton, who was a very keen Jew. Mr. Milton had -strong ideas about finance and economy, and he felt that he could turn the Pavilion into a paying concern, instead of running the place at a loss. So far he had not been able to do &0, but he was making a bold bid. Mr. Coutts pointed cut that the two on certs were held for the benefit of the Red Cross Fund, and the Nurse Cavell Fund, and he under- stood that substantial cheques had been Bent away. The concerts had not been held for the purpose of flouting the Coun- cil or with the intention of being dis- loyal or disrespectful to them. He was sorry for what had taken. place and he assured them thab nothing of the kind would occur again. Mr. Gibbon asked if permission had been asked for to hold a concert and re- fused. The Clerk replied in the affirmative, but not for funds referred to. In reply to Mr. Rd. Thomas it was stated that the concerts were held on two successive Sundays. The Chairman thanked Mr. Coutts for attending, and expressed the hope that they would be able to arrive at an amic- able un derstanding. After Mr. Coutts had retired the Rev. Evan Davies asked if any one knew the amounts of the cheques referred to. He knew of several cases and he had great Suspicion as to whether cheques had been sent in the cases he referred to. It was often the case that the expenses were more than the takings. Mr. H. J. Powell said he was not op- posed to granting the licence, but he would like to point out that in Ystaly- fera two concerts were shortly to be held for patriotic pl11seS and the manage- ment had agreed to place their halls at the disposal of the committee on Wed- nesday and Thursday nights. Why could they not do the same in Pontardawe? The Rev. Evan Davies considered that they should have balance sheets of all these sacred concerts. Mr. Tom Jeremiah was next admitted and he explained that he had been sent there as the result of a public meeting held on Saturday night at the Pavilion. There were about 300 people at the meet- ing, which had been held not at the in- stigation of Mr. Coutts, but at the re- quest of the public, who felt that they -were being unfairly dealt) with. The pub- lie considered that by suspending the licence of the Pavilion the Council were cm-tailing their liberties. He contended that the demand for sacred concerts had been proved by the number attending the concerts. In reply to the Rev. Evan Davies Mr. Jeremiah said he did not know the amounts of the cheques sent away. Mr. David Lewis asked if Mr. Jere- miah believed in every sort of amusement on Sundays. Mr. Jeremiah said he believed in all oncerts which were organised for a good cause. Mr. H. J. Powell asked whether the people at the public meeting thought Mr Coutts had a right to flout the Council. Mr. Jeremiah said he could not reply to the Council. Mr. H. J. Powell said they should have considered those things before pass- ing resolutions. As a Council they were there to carry out their duties according to the acts of Parliaments, and they were expected to do so. He (Mr. Powell) was sure the Council had no desire to penalise the public in any way. Mr. Jeremiah replied that during the war the steelsmelters of South Wales had relaxed their regulations considerably, and many old customs had been done away with. Under the circumstances they expected the Council to sacrifice something for the sake of the boys at the front. Mr. Morgan Davies asked if t as not possible for the proprietors to I':vr theto concerts on week days ? Mr. Jeremiah in reply aid tiiat Sun- day and Tuesday were the fyed for the concerts. Mr. Richard Thomas ask?d 'f any re preventative of the public had l.et"1 n.v;t d to assist with the accounts? Mr. Jeremiah in reply said that the" had asked the pubfic to appoint two mtn for the purpose. After further discussion it was unani- mously agreed to renew the licence on the strength of the promise made by Mr Coutts. The decision of the Council was made known ,to Mr. Coutts. who now re-en- tered the Council chamber. The condi- tions regarding the holding of Sunday concerts was explained by the clerk, who suggested that applications should come from some local charitable organisations in future. I COUNCIL FINANCE. I The Finane Committee reported that bills and accounts for the last quarter amounted to L3,498 Os. 6d. were exam- ined and same were now recommended for payment. When considering the bills of the Tawe Valley Gas Cib., and the Brynamman Electric Supply Co., a report was presented which shdwed that 126 lamps had been, out at different places in the area of the Tawe Valley Gas Co. during the quarter, and 33 lamps in the area of the Brynamman Supply Co. This would mean a deduction from the Tawe Valley Gas Co.'s account of J35 3s., and 16s. 6d. from the account of the Bryn- amman Company, but 'in View of the I stormy weather experienced lately the committee recommended that the deduc- tions be as follows Tawe Valley Gas Co., JB1 lls. 6d. Brynamman Electrio Supply, 8s. 3d. ) WATERMAN'S APPLICATION. I The Committee also considered the ap- plication of the Pontardawe waterman (Mr. F. Williams) for an increase in wages, and they recommended that his salary be increased by 2s. weekly, mak- I ing it 38s. per week without including war bonus, such increase to date from I January 31st, 1916. il I CAEGURWEN WATER SUPPLY. I The Water Supplies Committee report- ed that they had examined the tenders from well-boring oontractors for the work of baring for water near the Bryn Tank, Brynamman, and they recommend that the offer of the British Well-Boring and Engineering Company of Liverpool be accepted at £ 370, covering the cost to a depth of 300ft., and for an additional depth of 100 feet the extra charge would be £ 87 10s. The work, including bor- ing a 14in. borehole, supplying steel ca?- ing tubes where necessary, and test the pumping for seven days to ascertain the quantity of water available. In the esti- mate for special expenses for Llanguicke Parish for the current yea rthe sum of £ 160 was provided for improving the Bryn Water Scheme, and the Committee now recommended that in addition to that sum an amount of P,300 be provided in next year's estimate, thus making J3460 available for the scheme. The Clerk also reported to the Com- mittee that throughout the District, houses served with water from a tap in adjoining premises had now been en- tered in the rental, the owners having agreed to pav the rent of 6s. a year in respect of such houses. There was two exceptions, however, and although the owners had been approached they had declined to pay the rent demanded in respect of each house. They were: 1. Mr W. J. Griffiths. Hillside ter., Alltwen, twelve house-&-five taps only provided. 2. Mrs. M. Morgan, 8 Doctor's rd., Gwauncaegurwen, one tap for two houses. The Committee re.commendoo that Ifotioebe given to the persons referred to terminate the present arrangement with the Council, and that the sup- plies be cut off. I TREBANOS BASEMENT Mr Edward Harries (Swansea), ap- peared before the Council on behalf of the owner of a basement at 7 Bryn terrace, Trebanos. The Council had discussed the question of closing the basement, and Mr Harris now gave reasons against the proposal of the iCouncil. A long discussion took place between the Clerk and Mr Harries. The Council, however, decided to issue a closing order.

I. I I STRIKE AT THE EBBW VALE WORKS A strike at the Ebbw Vale works was responsible for a number of workers being charged before the Monmouthshire Munitions Tribunal at Newport on Tues- day. A boy engaged in loading coke, who was a few minutes late, was sent home by the foreman. As his barrow had been filled the men stopped work because the ljyyiagement refused to have him brought back, and the furnaces were idle for nearly an hour and a half. J Thirteen men were fined Ll each and the boy discharged. I

HOW TO MEET YEAR'S WAR BILL. j Sir George Paish, speaking at the j Cardiff Chamber of Commerce on Tues- day, said that the current year's ex- penditure wouJd be about 1,800 millions, and irfight even reach 2,000 millions. The problem of finding the money was not so difficult as it seemed. Taking the war expenditure at five millions a day—one million would come from existing taxation another by the sale of foreign and Colonial securities and bfcr foreign credits, two millions from additional savings. They might refuse the nation's domestic expenditure by three or four hundred millions, thus providing a powerful check to rising prioes.

To the Inhabitants of Ystradgvnlais, Abererave and Cwmtwrch. D. THOMAS, M.P.S., PHARMACIST, DISPENSING AND CONSULTING CHEMIST, CHURCH ST., YSTRADGYNLAIS Desires to announce that he has open- ed business at the above address, where special attention is given to dis- pensing under the National Insurance Act. —4J22F12 1 f I f, 1 t.1" JOHNSTON FOR NEW VEGETABLE and FLOWER SEEDS AND EVERYTHING FOR THE GARDEN. Catalogues Gratis and Post Free. 27 OXFORD ST. SWANSEA 1 TELEPHONE: 567 CENTRAL. < PIANOFORTE AND ORGAN TUNING. REPAIRS of EVERY DESCRIPTION First Class Work, Moderate Charges PIANOS TUNED FROM 3s.6d. JAMES TAIRR, Compton Terrace, Ystalyfera

I Change at Ystalyfera. Very successful performances of "Change" were given at the Coliseum on Monday and Thursday evenings, by the Gwernydd Morgan Dramatic Co., and on both occasions there were large and appreciative audiences. The various characters were taken as follows:— John Price, Mr D. Gwernydd Mor- gan (Welsh National Drama) Gwen (his wife), Miss Maggie Davies; John Henry, Mr John Gower Thomas; Lewis Mr Tom Gunstone Jones (Welsh National Drama); Gwilym, Mr Rd. Jones; Sam Thatcher, Mr Harry Wil- liams Lizzie Ann, Mrs. Ann Gun- ston,a Davies; Isaac Pugh, Mr Gwilym Phillips; Twm Powell, Mr Trefor Wil- liams Jinnie Pugh, Miss Gwladys Jones Dai Matthews Mr Tom Evans. The performances throughout were marked by a force and naturalness that reflects the greatest credit on the Company. Two of their number have, of course, had considerable profession- al experience, but they will not be- grudge to the amateurs of the Com- pany the hearty praise iinstintingly given by the enthusiastic audiences. On Saturday the Company will give a performance at the Hall, Cwmllyn- fell, and the inhabitants of that. place may oonfidently look forward to a rare treat. -<

r MILITARY BILL PASSES IMPORTANT DECLARATION OF LABOUR'S POLICY. In an interview published in the I "Christian Commonwealth" this week, Mr J. H. Thomas, M.P., makes an im- portant declaration regarding his atti- tude towards the Military Service Bill, should it become law. "I do not think," he says, ''anyone can say what will happen after the Bill has passed, if it does pass. "I am inclined to think that before that happens we shall have a general election. This would change the aspect of things a good deal, but I know what ought not to happen, and what I should be bound to do my best to pre- vent: there should be no question of strikes. "I shall have no hand in promoting industrial revolution while the war goes on. It set my face against strikes. If any man has done what in him lies to keep the industrial truce in spirit and in letter, I think I can claim to have done so. I cannot be a party to any efforts to re-awaken in- dustrial strife. It Mr Asquitho promises are kept in regard to safeguarding the measure against abuse by unscrupulous em- ployers, and, provided it is not ex- tended by tyhe Ministers who have brought this thing to pass, and the position of consoentous objectors is not interfered R-itb-siibj,t to these qualifications, if we fail to sustain our case I should be obliged to use my in- fluence to keep industry going. "If these guarantees and precau- tions and warnings are disregarded a situation would then arise which would call for a different policy."

Mrs. Pan khurst, as the result of her appeal against the action of the immi- gration authorities at New York, has been admitted to the United States un- conditionally. Now that so much public interest is centred in the Mediterranean it is inter- esting to recall that a Welsn apt-aiii played a part in an historical event on the Italian coast. He was Captain Wil- liam Lewis, of Portmadoc. One day in 1862, after landing his cargo at Spezia from his ship "Conifdence," he noticed a man on the quay in evident distress. "Can I have confidence in you?" he a-sked of the Welshman. "Who are you ?" re- turned the captain. "I am Garibaldi," was the startling reply. Captain Lewis bade him come aboard, for he was a patriot with a heart fully in synthy with the champion of Italian freedom. No sooner did the ship put to sea than it was pursued by an Italian cruiser. The "Confidence" tacked, and by its confident manoeuvre and the calm attitude of the captain when the ship was searched Garibaldi was not discovered under the I coil of sail that lay in the bottom of the hold. Captain Lewis would accept no | monetarv reward for his services, but Garibaldi gave him the scarf which he = wore, and the article is now a family heirloom.

QUESTION OF GUARANTEE FUND. ONE-DAY MEETING SUGGESTED. Professor Edwards presided over a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Aberystwyth National Eistedd- fod, when the question of holding the eisteddfod during the coming summer came up for further consideration. Mr J. H. Davies (registrar) said the whole question turned on whether they could get a guarantee fund or not. If they could not, the whole thing would drop, and he proposed they appoint a committee to canvass the old guarantors. Mr Ivor Evans suggested that the eisteddfod should be held on one day, in a building or two in the town. Mr J. H. Davies: That would be child's play, and I would not sign a guarantee OR such conditions. Alderman C. M Williams said he did not like the suggestion that the eisteddfod should onlv be held on one day. They ought to show a little more stamina. "FAIR-WEATHER PEOPLE." When in future years they asked for I national gatherings they would be told "Oh. you Aberystwyth people are only fair-weather people." If they made an appeal they would have plenty of support. Mr Ivor Evans proposed that a one day's eisteddfod be held, but it was not seconded Mr James Rees spoke strongly in favour of abandoning the eisteddfod, because he did not think it was a proper thing to hold an eisteddfod when the war was on. They ought to postpone it until after the war. and if they did so. he did not think the I' rest of Wales would punish them for doing so (applause). The Rev. Jo&eph Edwards agreed that the only practical test. was to canvass the town. Mr J. Rees: If you can cajole people-- Professor Edwards: I cannot allow that word to be used. Mr Rees: If you can persuade people to guarantee E500 you will hold it. Professor Edwards: Yes. Mr Evan Evans (solicitor) said there was a strong body of opinion in fav- our of holding it. and he did not see why those who objected should inter- fere. The resolution to appoint a com- mittee to canvass for a guarantee fund of E500 was carried by 17 votes to 6.

Mr. S. Firmev took his seat as the new Labour member for North-West Staffs .in place off the late Mr. A. Stanley. A worker who appeared before the Metropolitan Munitions Tribunal stated that he had no fewer tlia-ri 15 Army re- jection forms. Thie representatives of an iron company said that they were so badly pushed for men that they could not afford to discharge anybody. "Just now," he added, "we have men sent batk from the trench es because we are. so be- hind with tke Government work." General Owen Thomas {&ai's the "Star") is laying up claims to this country's gratitude. He was very largely instrumental in raising Wales's national army for the present war, and now he has given his son-the brave young fellow who has just been killed at the front. General Thomas began his busy career as a boy-farmer in his native Anglesea. Before he took to soldiering he organised local labour movements. In those days Owen Thomas was an anti-militarist and an out-and-out pacifist. But one day he realised the fact that the labouring classes stood in need of physical train- ing, so he sacrificed his prejudices and formed the labourers into companies of volunteers. When, therefore, the Boer War broke out the ex-farmer was the very man to make Wales rise to the occasion. His trained farm lads became the nucleus of a splendid regi- ment which he was allowed to call "the Prince of Wales Light Horse." With that force, 1,300 strong, the then Colonel Thomas fought. brilliantly in South Africa. A man who claimed wages in lieu of I notice from a firm of boot manufacturers at Northampton was said to be the only one in his room who had not attested. I and that. his fellow workers had threatened to strike unless he were dis- charged. The firm were forced into the action they took. but matters had since been arranged. Speaking at a. London Restaurant, Mr. Horatio Bottomley aaid out of a hundred German fubmarines which set out ten months ago to harass our Navy and mer- cantile marine, 88 lay now at the bottom of the sea. The censor seemed to think that if they talked about hese things they were giving information to the enemy.

-c- -c.ç, -û(-{)- €. -C\i.G. ? 0. M. Lewis S Co., !??  I-jTID. ? GREAT ?- ?- I ♦ CMtlifig SALS! ot IDg ??&?? ? § ?? ?OC??//V? I e —=—?===???=  ? =- — = ■■ ■ — •> (p) ? Immense Reductions ?? and Y 0 U E!f-  0 V B t"t C 0 A 'T" ? MUST BE CLEARED EGARDLESS OF COST V ? — q ============= h W onderflil Bargains in BOYS' OVERCOATS, Nor,, Blanket and Rainproof Cloths to fit Boys all ages. & ? BOYS' NAVY NAP NAVAL COATS, 7 11 to clear. A Real Brgain. -i. r ?- ❖ é BOYS' NAVY SERGE CADET COATS, f to clear at 8 11. Wonderful Value  iJ.. to clear at 8/11. W'onderful \'alue ip. ————— —— O A Large Stock of BOYS' ODD KNICKERS, Open ❖ Knee or Band and Button. Hard wearing Tweeds, t? $ Serges, etc., at 1 6b, 1 11L 2/3, 2/6, 2/11. ? erges, etc., at 2', 2" (, ? '&♦ § 50 Pairs of BOYS' CORD KNICKERS, Band and r»  Button Knee. Special Price for Sale, 2/6. ? v ——————— & i Shirts, Pants, Vests, Socks, Gloves, Scarves, Mufflers, Ties, Hats, Caps, etc. All Greatly ❖ Reduced at Tempting Prices. tf) ♦ v The rush to O?r A??ecf Sale has &ee? t e?or?o??, but we ??7/ have ??a//? ? i to 0?e/\ ? — <«$ f Don't Delay; come at the EarUest Possible !? Don't Delay; come at the Earliest Possible; 6 Moment. f Q Moment. ===  I    I Oxford M? bwonsoo i .t ,@+:. (J) .G\6:(.G. @ <@??<C?@? A small partial eclipse of the moon„ beginning at 7.55 ani., wl U take pLIak-eo on Thursday next. As the moon sets, in London almost immediately afte-i ward s, the eclipse will be visible for- only a very short time. KNITTING MACHINES —Round or Flat, only Best Makes kept; good Home Work for either sev. Lady Tutors in most chief centres in South Wales. Lists. free. You can rely on Best Value, over 43 years in the trade. Call or write. SEWING MACHINES.-gave, and boycotfr- the Hire. No agents, no shop expenses, no middlemen, no second-hand sold as new. Good reputation. Only Welsh HoU8& send machines to Chili and Canada. Est. 1-371. Chief Welsh Depot.—W. Griffiths, 30. Queen-street, ,eath. 1302.>- ?????? ? ???:?.:???:.?: ? ?:?????????? ? ?: ?: ? ?: ?: ?: ? ?:???????? ? ?: ?: ?: ?: ?: ?: ??: ?: ??: ?: ?: ?: ?: ?: ? ? ??:?:?:?:?:?   !J.T.'s'ANNUALWINTER SALEI 'c a t? ? R ? At ? ?IB?MN?N? m ?t ? <J & w ?) ?A ? I ?? t ??J t ?? Fa? !t-? W W M a s ? S NBMB a ? ?? ?? B?? &§*? ?  ? ? _——-?—=———?_——— —— ?  Is well worth a visit by every housewife in the district. Here are just a FEW of the Bargains offered: ♦ ? ts well worth a visit by every housewife in the district. Here are just a FE W of the Bargains offered: ? ? 250 Jersey Coats 111H, 250 Ladies Trimmed Hats 1/3? Corsets 1/0? all sizes, Ladies' Overalls 1/- each, 100 Cotton i 1 Blankets 1/6,1/11 and 2/11, Bordered Casement 4 d. per yd., Curtain Nett for lon? Curtains 2?d.. Best Prints this Sale 6M. per yd. Blankets 1/6, 1/11 and 2/11, Bordered Casement 4?id. per yd., Curtain Nett for long Curtains 2,ld., Best Prints this Sale 6'd. per yd.  +   ? ———?———— ?.?.——?_  _?_  M A WW THE CASH vYs=ttaaliyvTfie>rra a. •j I y  + ..)+.+.+.+.+.).+.+.+.+. + .+.+.+.