Llais Llafur

l'etepho:>e Docb 35. ) W. WILLIAMS & CO. Jewellers, Sc. 29, CASTLE STREET, SWANSEA. i Spectatities: Engagement Rings. 22 Carat Gold Wedding Rings. 18 Carat Gold Keepers. English Lever Watches. Go-ad Foreign Watches. English and Foreign c locks. English and Continental Novelties in Gold, Sriver and Electro Plate, sxtitaMe for Christening. Birthday and Wooding Presents. Spectacles and Eye-glasses for all Sights. It will pay you to come to us to buy for three reasons-Largest Variety, Best Quality, and Lowest Price. FOREIGN MONEY EXCHANGE. i rp: W Lacy S The Up-to-date LONDON TAILOR Who serves you personally and I Cuts All Garments Himself i j | Specialists in I MOURNING ORDERS. I 222, High Street SWANSEA j u:< c.==- =- =- := :=- :1\

WHERE THE MONEY GOES. A housewife now needs 29s. to buy food that cost a sovereign before the war, according to statistics just issued by the Labour department of the Board of Trade. In peace time this would be regarded as a very serious matter, but there is a disposition to regard the great increase in the cost of living as an inevitable part of the burden of war. Certainly we have little reason to complain when we remember what cruelly high prices the British workers paid for bread during the Napoleonic wam when wages were much lower than now. Nor would there seem ground for complaint when we compare the cost of living in this country with that in Germany, or Austria, or even France. But these considerations are not altogether relevant. We are a lucky people, and the advantages of our in- sular position, and of our great navy, ought properly to belong to the whole nation. Are we paying more for the staple articles of food than conditions due to the war justify? There can be little doubt that the answer is in the affirmative. Bread and meat, to take only two commodities, are much dearer than they have strict need to be. On both these commodities the shipowners ,a,re taking a huge toll. Startling facts as to the extortion of the shipowners have this week been made public by Mr T. E. Watson, president of the Cardiff Chamber of Commerce. Freights from the River Plate, he pointed out, have now reached a point equivalent to a rise of 2-d. in the four lb. loaf. Now that a further increase in the price of t-he quartern loaf to 9d. is being sug- gested his revelation has added force. Mr Watson instanced a ship, costing P,42,000, making a profit of £ 86,000, am amount which, after deducting war taxes, leaves a profit of R45,000 to owners who normally have to be con- tent with £ 5,000. These huge profits come out of -the pockets of the con- sumers, and the majority of the con- suming public consists of the workers. Thus of the increased price of bread, part is unavoidable, part goes from the pockets of the workers, via the ship- owners, to pay the cost of the war, part swells the fortunes of the shipowners. In this case it is the workers who are really paying the "war profits" tax. It would be ironic, were it not tragic, to think that practically all the miners have got from the ooalowners through the much-criticised strike now goes into the pockets of the shipowners and other capitalist harpies. Foreign meat, which regulates the price of home meat, is in the same case with bre&d. Commnndverr!d -,zhip;, for which the shipowners are quite liberally com- pensated, are 'used to bring the meat to this country, and its distribution, after the needs of the army have been met, is decided partly by the magnates of the meat ring. We may be very sure that these gentlemen do not allow their interests to suffer, and we are all 4COMpolled willy-nilly to enrich them or -do without the Sunday joint. Possibly miners who are puzzled why, in face of the war bonus and the increased stand- ards, their wives find difficulty in daking both ends meet will ponder these facts.

— THE DILUTION OF LABOUR Students of economic problems and industrial process have long regarded the dilution of skilled labour as inevit- able. As large scale production de- velops, the worker becomes less and le-ss a skilled craftsman and more and more the tender of a machine. There is nothing new in the project of the project of the Ministry of Munitions for diluting labo-ur--a project which is credited to Dr. Addison-and the Commissioners who have gone to the Clyde and the Tyne are merely hastening what .everybody in the know, particularly engineers, knew would ul- timately happen. If the change was to benefit the State only, and not in- directly to enrich the employers, the workers would accept it without de- mur, provided the necessary safeguards against sweating were guaranteed. As it is we think there will be little diffi- culty on the Clyde, and less on the Tyne. There is a great deal of bad feeling on the Clyde, for which the in- eptitude of the Ministry of Munitions is mainly responsible. Mr Lloyd George could have dispersed it long ago if he had made the Clyde workshops (like the railways) the property of the nation for the time being, and given the workmen a voice in the control of their work. The modern workman is a very differ- ent person from the peasant of the last generation in Llanystumdwy, and when Mr Lloyd George indulges in rhetoric about having been brought up in a workingclass home, he should remem- ber that. It is not Mr Lloyd George's early days, but what he thinks and does now that matter, and he has en- tirely failed to understand the point of view of the engineers and other skilled workers. He uses his wonder- fully quick mind to decide policy on most matters by what he can extract from experts over his Downing-stroot: breakfast-table; but the working-class j visitors to Downing-street are very few. With right handling organised labour will not offer the slightest re- sistance to the "dilution" of labour. But right handling is the supreme pre- requisite.

CRYNANT- DEATH OF WELL KNOWN TRADES- MAN. We regret to record the sad death of a well-known and respected tradesman, in the person of Mr. David Mark, of Gould Cottages, Orynant, which took place on Thursday morning of last week. Mr. Marks was about attending to his business on Monday, but was taken ill Tuesday and died of heart failure. Mr. Marks was a native of Cwmtwrch but came to the Dulais Valley about 40 years ago, and started the business of shoe- making, and had developed a flourishing i business in the boot trade. He was 65 years of age, and had been for many years a deacon of Godre'. £ has Chapel. The funeral took place on Tuesday at Godre'r- rhos Chapel, when a large concourse of people gathered to pay their last tribute to the departed. Four fellow deacons act- ed as bearers, and the following ministers officiated Revs. U. Phillips, B.A. (pas- tor), Edmund Davies, Seven Si&ters; Dd. Jones, Salem, and John Morgan, Bethan- ia. The chief mourners ware Mrs. Marks (widow). Rev. D. Mark. vicar, Cymmer \ie-s.cs John Mark. Michael Mark. W. T). Mark. Tcm Mark, Eynon Mark (sons) and three daughters. We regret to learn of the illness of M rs E. Richards, of "The Surgery Crynant, and trust she will speedily be restored to health.

CRAY I DEATH OF MR. ROBERT McTURK. The death has taken place at Tredustan Hall, Sennybridge, at the age of 83, of Mr. Robert MeTu-rk. J.P. For many years he resided at Cnewr, Cray, and here he carried on an extensive system of farming, and was a well-knowp breed- er of sheep and ponies. Mr. McTurk had resided in Brecon shire for over 50 years a.nd occupied a leading position in the county, where he was a large landowner. The waterworks supplying Swansea with water was erected on his property. He was magistrate frrnl BreconshlTe. Mr. Mc- Turk is survr ed by Mrs. McTurk, and four sons a.nd two daughters.

RAGS GOING UP. I The rag-and-bone man who once tempt- ed the young with toy balloons and bar- ley sugar in exchange for Tags, is re- gretfully reporting "nothing doing." Rags are fetching higher prices than eveny before, In the poorest district of South Londonone penny per lb. is readi- ly paid, the dealers being only too anxious to secure as many rags as pos- sible at this considerable enhanced figure. Woollen clippings are now practically un- obtainable. Tailqf-V sweepings are as scarce as gold, and contractors are reap- ing harvests.

OUR LONDON LETTER. ———— M.P.'S PERSONAL EXPLANATION., Mr Edgar Jones lost no time, after j his return from the Near East, in deal- j ing with the innuendo, put forward by one of his Liberal colleagues, that he was shirking military service. The I point of his explanation was that he was physicallv unfit to be a soldier. He had hoped to raise and lead a Merthyr battalion, but this had proved im- possible. Also he had declined to be- come a captain on the recruiting staff, a post which would have given him the credit of khaki without its perils. On the whole his apologia satisfied the House. QUOTH LLOYD GEORGE-. It is common knowledge that Mr LloYd George's "Too late." speech in the House of Commons was not at all to the liking of some of his colleagues. Nor did it please Lord Rosebury. In a speech delivered to Edinburgh men, his lordship referred to "a Minister, with a melancholy chorus like Poe's raven over the door, who seemed to indicate that all the Government had done had been too late." As Lord Rosebury once described himself as a raven croaking on a withered branch Mr. Lloyd George can scarcely object to the new application of the smile. HARD COMPENSATION CASE. A youth employed as a shunter dis- obeyed the rule against riding on the buffers. He fell off and suffered in- juries necessitating amputation of both legs. Was the railway company liable for compensation ? A county court judge, acting as arbitrator, held the view that the accident arose out of and in the course'of his employment. The case was heard in the House of Lords this week. Lords Loreburn and Par- moor took the view that the county court judge's award of 'compensation should stand, but three other Law Lords. held otherwise. Consequently, by a majority, the compensation was disallowed. "I think," remarked Lord Atkinson, "that an ill aorvico is done to the working classes in permitting such rules to be disregarded, in that it slackens discipline and encourages to carelessness and rashness, from which they themselves are the greatest ,sufferers. TELEPHONE LUXURY. When you pay your telephone rentals in London you receive along with your receipt a dainty little brochure. This tells how you may have the electro- phone installed at a cost of C5 a year for two receivers, and £10 a year for four. "Music, song, and speech" are gathered up by an appliance placed in front of 'stage, platform, or pulpit," and conveyed to the subscriber in his own home. A large number of theatres and churches are connected up. Very nice, of course, but it hardly squares with Government notions about war economies. PERILS OF THE NIGHT. Fatal accidents continue to occur in the dimly-lit streets. Policemen on duty wear red lamps in their waist- belts, and the local authorities are doing something to minimise the dangers by whitening posts and kerb- stones, but it is asserted that much more should be done in this respect. While the people do not expect the local authorities to whitewash all the edges of their pavements, they are of opinion that more method could be shown in carrying out this precaution- ary device, such as by clearly outlining those spots where there are deep drops from the sidewalks to the roadways, instead of leaving them unmarked as at present, if they do not happen to be situated at busy crossings. BOOM IN SEWING MACHINES. A fact elicited this week disposes of the silly slander that soldiers' wives and other working-class women are squandering money. There is a great boom in sewi ng machines. Very large numbers of hand and treadle machines are being purchased by women. Among these buyers are many soldiers' wives and others, who are working in their own homes, on behalf of contractors. Sewing machine canvassers, too, report that they are doing better now than for several years past, because the ex- tra wages earned by the artisan classes are permitting the purchase of a long- desired and useful article for the house- hold. Yet there are impertinent per- sons of the "superiah'' classes who per- sist in maligning working-class women. There is Mr Mare's-Nest Ronald Mc Niell, M.P., who some months ago told I the House of Commons a yarn about thousands of war babies. Statistics this week from one of the Lancashire cotton trade unions show that in the year 1915 only one maternity benefit was paid to an unmarried woman. But Mr Mare's-Net Mc Niell has not apolo- gised. "HOT AIR" CANDIDATE. Mr Pemberton Billings, the. "hot air candidate" for Mile End, gave the I Coalition candidate a nasty jolt by coming within 300 odd of winning. On polling day a squad of young airmen turned up in the constituency, and rushed hither and thither in high- power motor-cars. Naturally they at- tracted a good deal of attention. Truth to tell, Mr Pemberton Billing's attacks on the alleged inadequacy of our air defences had a marked effect on a cer- tain section of the electorate. The publicans who don't like the "short time" regulations for selling intoxi- cants were also behind Mr Pemberton Billing. and he had the doughty sup- port of two such super-patriots as Mr Ben Tillett, and Mr Horatio Bottom- ley. A strange new organisation bobbed up during the Ma.n in the Street. OVERHEARD. I They were seated in an L.C.C. tram- car, the two women, and they were engaged in excited disputation. "N ah," said one, emphatically, "I tell yer I don't believe it." "It's Gawd's trewth," rejoined the other, "1 tell yer, I oawr it in 'John Bull. OPIUM SMOKING. I An opium case which was hea-rd at I Bow-street police court has caused per- turbation in certain circles in the West-end. It has been suspected for some time that opium smoking is going on, and opium parties are held in certain flats and hotels, and it is quite possible that the police will now probe the matter to the bottom. AN INDISPENSABLE.) I A man applied to one of the tribun- als in South London for exemption, on the ground that if he was called up the business in which he was engaged would collapse. He was making a very strong case, and had much im- pressed the committee, when it oc- curred to a member of it, rather late in the proceedings perhaps, to ask him what his business was. "I'm a cat's meat man," he &aid. Needless to add, the application was refused. "DAGONET'S" CHARTIST GRAND-I FATHER. Mr G. R. Sims is writing his re- miniscences for one of the evening newspapers. One of his interesting re- velations is that his grandfather was a chartist. In '48, the year of re- volution, Dagonet's grandfather went off to the big chartist demonstration on Kennington Common, while his father, who was a special constable, got his staff ready to club the chartists on the head if necessary. The Chartist demonstration was a fiasco. The rain, the empty bluster of Fear- gus O'Connor, and. ncidentally, the cannon of the Duke of Wellington spoiled it. In his early days Dagonet was a -democrat, now he is "some" Tory. Does he ever call to mind Hood's lines about the sadness of being farther off from Heaven than when he was a boy? LUCKY BOOTBLACKS. There are always thousands of Colonial soldiers up on leave in Lon- don, and fine men they are. If there is one thing. that the Colonial soldier dislikes it is cleaning his own boots, and this little foible has resulted in a harvest for the London bootblack. Wherever you approach a shoeblack's pitch it is ten chances to one that there you will find a small queue of Colonials waiting their turn for a shoe shine. As the overseas men receive 6s. more a day, they are not short of money, and they give very generous tips to the bootblacks. BURNING MANURE. A glimpse into War Office waste, of which we shall hear a great deal WL"ll the war is over, was afforded by a question and answer in the House of Commons this week. Mr Forster, replying to Captain C. Bathurst, who asked whether the War Office are building kilns at P,50 each in order to burn the many thousands of tons of stable manure produced at the Remount Depot at Avonmouth, sta- ted that the incinerators were erected by the commandant as he was unable to get rid of the ernomous accumula- tion of manure from last winter in any other way. The difficulty has been the impossibility of obtaining railway trucks for its removal from the depot to places where it could be made avail- able for the farmers' use. What are we to say of the extravagance that burns manure in E50 kilns at a time when the Board of Agriculture is urg- ing on farmers the necessity of in- creasing the supply of home-grown food? THE ONE AND ONLY. Sir George Buchanan, our Ambassa- dor to Russia, told a very significant story in an address delivered to the English club at St. Peersburgh. Some years ago, he said, he met at the Prime Minister's house in Downing Street the recently appointed German Ambassador, Baron Marschall von Bieberstein. The hostess took them into the historic chamber where* the meetings of the Cabinet are held, and after replying to a question regard- ing the number of members she turned to the Ambassador and asked, "And how many are you in Berlin?" "One," was the curt reply. JAPANESE COMPETITION. I Many manufacturers have hailed the war as a heaven-sent opportunity to rid themselves of German competition. Now they are finding themselves up against Japanese competition. All kinds of cheap Japanese articles are finding their way into this country, and in the Middle East the Japanese are simply scooping the pool. Not only are they capturing the markets for small harwares, needles, nails, jewellery steel toys, and the like, but to con- siderable articles sold in bulk involv- ing the installation of chemical and mechanical plant on a substantial scale. One serious handicap on our manufacturers with respect to foreign trade is the extortionate freights of the shipowners.

LLYFRAU AR WERTH AM LAI NA HANER EU PRIS. Y Gwyddoniadur Cymreig 10 cyf. Geiria-dur Charleg 1 Esboniad Cyflawn ar yr Hen Desta- ment a'r Newydd 5 Testament yr Ysgol Sabbothol 2 Credoau y Bydl 2 Hanes y Merthyron 2 Chambers' Information for the People 2 Mynegair Ysgrythyrol 1 Gwadth Flavius Josephus 1 Diwygwyr Cymru 1 „ "Y Byd a Ddaw," gan Dr. Watts 1 Gladstone a'i Amserau 1 Ac ugeiniau o lyfrau eraill rhyddiaeth a barddoniaeth. Gellir eu gweld unryw adeg. Mae'r oil o'r llyfrau uchod ddim gwaeth na newydd. Mae amryw gyfrolau o'r "Geninen" ar gaol. Am fanylion pellach ymofyner a JOSEPH WILLIAMS. Llyfr Werthyr, I Cwmtwrch. {

J.T.OWEN SPECIAL THIS WEEK. GREAT SALE NOW ON. I I The Cash Draper, YSTALYFERA.

YSTALYFERA NOTES. I d Mr G. Griffiths, of the Capital and Counties Bank, has received an inter- esting letter from his son, Private Jim Griffiths, who is now in France with his regiment, and when writing was waiting for orders to proceed to the trenches. He describes a concert or- ganised by Princess Victoria, which he had attended the previous evening. The programme was excellent, and the Y.M.C.A. tent, where the concert was held was, of course, crowded. At the close one of the artistes, sang "Hen Wlad fy Nhadau" for the benefit of the Wolsh soldiers. During the even- ing Private Griffiths thought he re- cognised the man sitting next him, and enquired where he came from and 'when he said Ystalyfera, you could have knocked me down with a feather" "He was a man named Williams who used to lodge with Mrs. Chatham, on Gough road and I had often sat beside him in the Congregational Chapel on Sunday evenings. Private Griffiths advises friends to send in their parcels to the soldiers, more condensed meat extracts, in tubes, which they can carry in their pockets, and which they find very valuable on long marches. He also begs for rags, as these are very scarce. He says:—"When packing your parcels fill the odd corners with rags instead of paper, for no amount of gold can buy these, and they are very necessary for cleaning rifles," etc. This is a hint which those who are sending so many parcels will be glad to receive, for everyone wants to send what will be most useful to the boys. An accident of a serious nature oc- curred last Saturday evening, in the Ystalyfera Hotel. Mr Tom Thomas, a single man residing with his parents near the Band Room, had gone into the hotel with a message. After transacting his business he turned to make his way out, but being a stranger in theplace, he opened the wrong door, and walking forward was precipitated into a cellar, and sustained severe in- jury to the head and concussion of the brain. He was conveyed to his home on Sunday morning, where he still lies in a precarious condition. Much sym- pathy is felt with his parents. Mrs. Thomas, the mother, is herself in a delicate state of health, having been confined to her bed for some weeks past. On Monday last the tribunal, ap- pointed to hear appeals from the men of the first four groups called up under Lord Derby's scheme, met at the Council Offices, Pontardawe. All the members of the tribunal were present, and also the military adviser for the district, Colonel Pearson. The sitting lasted, with only a short interval, from 10.30 a.m. till 5 p.m., and about 40 cases of appeal were considered. Of these a few were put back 10 groups, but the others were not entertained. The members of the first four groups on Tuesday presented themselves at their headquarters, and will start their military training forthwith. The ap- peals from the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th groups, which have been called for Feb. 10th, will be heard at a meeting of the tribunal to be held in about ten days time. As goon as the tradesmen of Ystaly- fera succeed in getting the New Shop Act in thorough working order, we understand they are going to turn their attention to closing the shops for th.Q dinner hour. This is done in many of the large towns at the present time, and now that assistants are different to obtain it would be a. great conven- ience if the shops could be closed for the meal time. With a little arrange- ment and combination this could surely be managed, without materially in- terfering with business. The fortnightly meeting of the Zoar Young People's Society took place on Tuesday evening, the pastor, the Rev. Wm. Jones occupying the chair. A very interesting paper was read by Mr Frederick Rees, on "A visit to the dead city, that is Pompeii. Mr Rees first described the famous city when in all its gradueur, about 79A.D., then, after the eruption which buried the city, and Lastly Pompeii as it is at present. The lecturer was able to deal with his 'subject in a masterly manner, having recently paid a .visit to Pompeii, and his remarks were based upon his own observations a-ncl ex per- ience, rather than gleaned from books and were consequently extremely in- teresting. A vote of thanks to Mr. Rees for his able paper was proposed by Mr Daniel Evans, and seconded by Councillor Daniel Danish. Mr Dan Thomas also spoke to the merits of the paper. At the weekly meeting of the Eng- lish Con gregational Christian En- deavour Society, held on Tuesday even- ing in the chapel schoolroom, a very interesting paper was read by Miss Parry, on "Wisdom." A discussion followed in which most of the members took part, and an ,enjoyable evening was spent. Bombardier Oswald Evans, of Bryn- amlwg, was home on three days' leave over the week-end. He is with the R.F.A. stationed at Woolwich, and in spite of long hours and ai-duous duties is looking well and fit. ————————————— 5 —————————————— —— On Monday evening the members of Pantteg Young People's Society en- joyed a rare treat when Mr B. T. Jones, M.A., delivered an excellent lecture, taking as his subject the "Ode to the Snow" (Dafydd ap Gwilym). The lecturer dealt very briefly with Welsh poetry from earliest times to the middle of the 14th century, the time of Dafydd ap Gwilym, and quoted passages from the works of the most important bards in illustration. He I then entered more fully into the poetry of Dafydd ap Gwilym, and gave numer- ous selections from his works espec- ially from his nature poems, which for charm of beauty and imagery stands un rivalled in the realm of Welsh poetry. ] The Rev. Ben Davies afterwards j read the "Ode to the Snow," and in- terpreted it couplet by couplet, in such descriptive yet smple language, that no one present could fail to appreciate its beauty. A vote of thanks to the two lecturers was proposed by Tarrenydd, and seconded by Mr Llew. Evans, and this terminated one of the most enjoyable evenings of the session. A home league for women only is about to be formed in connection with the local corps of the Salvation Army, and on Tuesday next at 2.30 p.m.. Mrs Brigadier Rogers, of the Swansea Di- vision, will launch the League, which will be unsectarian. A hearty invita- tion is extended to all women, espec- ially soldiers' wives. The objects of the league are to instruct women in matters concerning themselves and their homes. Mr T. Jones, Alltygrug, was the vic- tim of an accident at the Diamond col- liery, on Saturday last, when his back was inj ured by a fall of stone. He was conveyed home and received attention from Dr. Lewis, and is now making satisfactory progress. Pte. Godfrey Williams, of Garden cottage, has this week arrived home from hospital. He went to Aden with the Brecknocks, but sustained a poison- ed foot, from a bite by some insect. He was invalided home, and has been in hospital ever since. Pte. Steve Williams, his brother, the old Ystalyfera forward, is still on foreign service with the same battal- ion. The Gu/rnos Debating Society met on Monday evening, the president for the evening being the Rev. Jno. Thomas (pas- tor). Three papers were read Miss Katie l Harries on "John Williams, Merthyr Arromanga," which was an excellent paper, and very appropriate on account of its being exactly a. hundred yeaTS sinc.e John Williams sailed to the South Seas; Mrs. D. N. Jones read a portion of "Cadw'r Mis," which proved very amusing and Mr. D. R. Williams treated Beirdd Cynureig." Mr. Williams treated the subject in an interesting and in- structive manner. Several speakers com- mented upon the papers, and a vote of thanks was cordially accorded to the readers of the papers. Nothing pleases the boys at the Front so much as new of home. Send them the ftLlais" every week. An interesting letter has been received this week from Private Harry Arnold, son of Mir. T. C. Arnold, ironmonger. Private Arnold is with the R.A.M.C., and has recently left this country for I' France. A very Buccessful "IoNvrdd adrodd" was held at Guiraoe Chapel last Sunday even- ing, the programme being provided almost entirely by the scholars of the Sunday School. The meeting was conducted by Mr. D. R. Williams, and the following took part Recitations. Edna M. Davies, Betty Jenkins, Jennet Evans, Islwyn Jen- kins, Rhona. Jenkins, Mair Jenkins, Willie Hughes, Idris Davies, Griff. Williams, Ieuan Williams, Gwynneth Jenkins, Mary Davies, Hannah Jones. Songs, Kathleen Williams, Millie and Gwynneth Jenkins, Annie M. Williams, Kathleen and Ronald Williams. The members of the Chamber of Trade are to be congratulated upon the success of the two concerts organised by them for the purpose of radsing funds for a presentation to each soldier and sailor home on furlough from active service. The concerts were held on Wednesday and hTursday evenings at the Premier Cinema and Playhouse, respectively (kindly lent for the occasion by the les- sees) and were a great success. Council- lor D. W. Davies occupied the chair on Wednesday and Councillor H. J. Powell on Thursday. The attendance was good on both occasions, and the artistes were in fine form. Miss Ma,-y Davies, Bryn- amman; Miss Annie Walters, Cwmllyn- fell; and Mr. Gwilym Jones, Ystradgyn- lais, were the soloists. On Wednesday night Mr. T. Gunstome Jones delighted the audience with several recitations in his most pleasing manner, and on Thurs- day his place was taken by Miss M. J. Francis, always a favourite of Ystalyfera audiences. Mr. Tom Griffiths, Llanelly, made an admirable comic, while Mr. ? John Lewis at the harp and "Gwen and Luther" as penillion singers were much appreciated. Mr. Gwilym Jones, of Ys- trad-gynlais, ably sustained his reputa- tion as a brilliant singer, and both Miss Davies and Miss Walters were warmly re- ceived. In is anticipated that a substan- tial nucleus has been formed for the de- serving objects of the concerts. The accompanist was Professor T. G. Samuels, Gura^. I The pulpit at the Wern Chapel was occupied on Sunday last by the Rev. R. M. Rhys, of Sardis, Ystradgynlais, who preached excellent sermons both morn- ing and evening. Next Sunday the Rev. Seiriol Williams of Pontardawe, is. ex- pected to preach at this chapel. On Saturday and Sunday last Briga- dier and Mrs. Rogers, divisional com- manders of the Salvation Army, paid their visit to Ystalyfera, as previously announced. This being their first visit it was decided to have a. welcome tea for the occasion, and this was held in the Army Hall on Saturday evening, when Brigadier and Mrs. Rogers, together with the commanding officers, and most of the other members of the corps sat down to a good repast. After tea the usual open air meetings were held, after which the Brigadier and Mrs. Rogers addressed the I officers and soldiers of the corps and a good time was spent. On Sunday morning the usual holiness meeting was held in the Army Hall, at which Brigadier and Mrs. Rogers spoke. In the afternoon a I great welcome meeting was held at the | Playhouse, thd chair being occupied by Mr. H. J. Powell, J.P., supported by Mr. Henry Gape. The chairman in his opening remarks said that,, he was very pleased to be at the meeting and to give Brigadier and Mrs. Rogers a hearty wel- come to Ystalyfera. The Salvation Army was doing good; work in the country, and work which they were well adapted for. Brigadier Rogers had come to a district in which he had 34 corps under him, and which extended from, Bridgend to Pem- broke Dock, and included Aberystwyth. Brigadier Mrs. Rogers then spoke, and expressed her pleasure at coming to the Swansea district. She had heard a great deal about Wales and what wonderful singers her people were, who lived among the mountains and in the valleys, but she had never been in Swansea Valley until lately. She spoke of the great work the Home League was doing in connection with the Salvation Army. It had been formed to give help to women in various matters, such as housekeeping, cooking, etc, and also to get hold of those women that had fallen. Brigadier Rogers also spoke, and at the conclusion of his remarks, a vote of thanks to Mr. H. J. Powell and Mr. Gape for their attend- ance w as carried. A well-known Treharris tradesman, in the person of Mr. David Clee, iron- monger, has passed away at his residence. 3, Glen View, this week. The deoeased was 70 years of age, and waa a native of Ystalyfera. He was one of the founders of Tabernacle Welsh Independent Chapel, Treharris, of which he had been a deacon for many years. He leaves a widow and growm-up family.

SEVEN SISTERS- Great sympathy is felt for Mr. and Mrs. W. Morgan (butcher), who have been notified that their son, Corporal Rees Ben], Morgan, was killed in action in France on the 14th inst. News is to hand also that Signalman David G. Watkins, of 9, Back-row, On- IIwyn, was killed in action about the same date. A patriotic presentation meeting was held at the Palace, Seven Sifters, on Thursday evening, in honour of Private Willie James, of Standart-terrace, who is. home on furlough from the front. An excellent miscellaneous program was pro- vided and a very enjoyable evening was spent. Dulais Colliery, Seven Sisters, is suf- fering from the depression in trade, and is only working two or three days a. week. The appointment of a drapery assistant as advertised last week for the Co-opera- tive Stores, was made on Monday night, when Miss Katie Griffiths, of Pontardu- lais-avenlle, received the position. The young lady is very pooular in the dis- trict, and we wish her success in her new sphere. The many friends of Miss Olwen Evans of Arfryn House, Seven Sisters, will be pleased to learn that she has been ap- pointed tea-cher at the Council School. We wish her in her new sphere of activities the success that her scholastic and music- al attainments demand. Congratulations to Mr. John D. Mor- gan, of Oakfield House. upon whom the degree of Licentiate of Divinity (Ll.D.) was conferred on Friday last at Lampeter College. An old and highly respected resident of Seven Sisters has died during the week in the person of Mrs. Bennet, of Martin's avenue, who passed away on Wednesday at the advanced age of 70 years. De- oeased was a faithful member of Soar Chapel. The funeral will take place on Monday next, leaving Seven Sisters by the 12.40 train for Maesteg. The Rev. E. Davies will officiate. We understand that Nurse Edwards is- home, enjoying a well earned rest. She has been in charge of the Banwen and Onllwyn district as maternity nurse for the pa.st nine months, during which time she has been so busy that this is her first visit home. At Bethania Chapel. Seven Sisters on .l1'T or- d a,y night a ver- Monday night a very successful competi- tive concert was held. Gwyr y Siarwydd have another con- vert in the person of Mr. James Long, late of Seven Sisters, but now residing at Morriston. Mr. Long paid a surprise visit. to his old friends on Saturday, and on Sunday occupied the pulpit at the Eng- lish Wesleyan Church, Crynant. His ser- mons were much appreciated. ————— —————

A verdict that there had been neglect by certain officials of the North-Eastern Railway Company, :but not culpable- negligence, was returned at an inquest held on the victims of the Jarrow rail- way accident at South Shields. For writing in chalk seditious phrases on iron plate in conspicuous^ places in the dockyard, Andrew Lynch, a joiner, was at Portsmouth, fined £20. Lynch denied the charge, stating that, he was an Irishman and a Roman. Catholic, but no Socialist.