Llais Llafur

Appeal to Enemy Peoples 1 Mr. Henderson and Mr Bowernman, on behalf of the Labour Party and the Parliamentary Committee of the Trade Union Congress, have addressed a manifesto to the Russian people. The document, which is as much a message to tho people of Germany and Austria iidopte the Russian principles of "0 annexations, no indemnities, and the self-determination of peoples, on he- half of the. British Empire, and calls upon the populations of the Central Powers to declare themselves similarly 80 as to bring the war to an end. ()tll<'rwÍ£('ay the authors, "we shall continue, but the responsibility will be yours." Tho manifesto is in response to Russia's appeal in the present crisis to the peoples of Germany and Austria ,utid also to the peoples of her Allies. The message declares that in this crisis the British people inust speak. Accept- ing the principles of No Annexations or Punitive Indemnities and the right of peoples to determine their own des- tinies, the manifesto proceeds to do- tails. It states:— "Wo believe that the first step to- wards a general solution must be an honest attempt by each party to set its .own house in order. The second step must be an open discussion in common of the suggestions for their own problems put forward by each. "The British people accepts the prin- ciple of No Annexations for the Bri- tish Empire. THE MIDDLE EAST. I "The first rt &ion to which this prin- ciple applies in our case is the Middle East. We accept with relief the repu- diation by Free Russia of the Tsar's policy in the Middle; and for our part we repudiate whole-heartedly and witTioiit 'reserve the policy of co-opera- tion with tho Tsar adopted in 1907, though we must put on record that tho aggressive policy of the German Government in Europe was largely re- sponsible for driving British diplomacy in the East into a line of action at I variajiee with its tradition. SECRET TREATIES. I "We repudiate still more empha- tically the secret treaties, published by the Bolsheviks, in which the policy of 1907 was unhappily carrie d during the war to its logical conclusion. "We respect the sovereign indepen- dence of the Turkish people in their national home in Constantinople, Thrace, and. Anatolia—but we believe that {lie domination of their Govern- ment over other peoples is a hindrance to their own national development as well as a calamity to the peoples con- cerned. ASIATIC TURKEY. I "Our Government has justifiably pledged it?f ? 'ome of those peoples —the Araks of Hajaz and Irak, the Jewish Colonists in Palestine, ?he Ar- iii(-TLi.ti)p,-tliat Ottoman rule shall never lie imposed on them again and the free peoples of the world are. 110 loss responsible morally for the libera- tion of those other population hither- to under Ottoman rule to whom no d.-finite pledge lias been ajiven. "These peoples will need help from outride for their reconstruction, Wo believe that this responsibility should be undertaken by the Peace Confer- ence, and by the permanent inter- national organisation that wo hope will bo constituted by it. "The second region with which the British Empire is peculiarly concerned is tropical Africa. Ncf one contends that the black races can govern them- selves, or will bo able to do so within a measurable period of time. They can only make it known that the particu- lar European Government under which they have been living is bad in some or all respects, and indicate the speci- fic evils from which they desire to be liberated. "We see no roa;.on why the natives should not be g iven self-determination, in this admittedly limited sense, in the German oolonies which have been oc- cupied by the British military forces during the war. We we no evidence that German administration in tropi- cal Africa has been so much worse tha.n that of other European Govern- ments that the Peace Conference would be justified in singling ;C-out for special treatment., but we believe that the. Peace Conference will be better advised to place all tropical Africa under a uniform international control BRITISH COLONIAL POLICY. I "The British people accepts tne pri'ieiplo of self-deterriiinrttic.ii for the British Empire. We wish first to re- mind th-3 Russian people that, taught hy the loss of her American colonies in the eighteenth ceiiiurv, Great nri- tain was the first mod-n 11 S^ate bo- fore revolutionary Russia lo grant complete self-determination to ity group of its inhabitants. "The Dominions of Cana da, Aus- tralia., South Africa, and New Zea- land hav-- their own Parliaments, seti.le their (d n tariffs Mth other States, and decide i.hrir own internal policy. FUTURE OF INDIA. accept the principle of seif- determination also foi India, though we believe that the record of British government here gives little occasion for reproach, and that the application of the principle is peculiarly difficult We intend to meet this by a. very much, more rapid development of self- government. Our purpose is to raise these dependencies to the status of dominions. We cannot give them this status at once because it is impossible to end in a day the position which has been created by a long period of British administration. "We offer these principles for dis- cussion to the peoples of Russia and Central Europe, and hope that our other Allies will make declarations on their part in the same sense. THE CHOICE. "We adjure tho peoples of Central Europe to declare themselves, or to make their Governments speak for them, in answer to Russia and our- selves. We call upon them to renounce annexations in Europe with the same good faith that we intend in renounc- ing them in Asia." The message concludes: "Peoples of Central Europe, this catastrophe of the human race, this fatal schism in the civilised world, can only be ended bv tlwxl defeat of militarism on both sidos, and by the victory on both sides of moral and intellectual fair dealing. Do not fail us now. Do not let your Governments drive the British people, as they are driving the Russian people, into the terrible choice be- tween continuing the war and aban- doning the only principles that save the world. *"If tILq choice is forced upon iis we shall choose as Russia chose—we shall continue—but the responsibility will be vours." The message is signed bv Mr. Boix-"T-- min for the Parliamentary Committee of th, Trade Union Congress, and Mr. Henderson for the Labour Party. ————— -————

THE TAT SWANSEA ABERTAWE BEATS CAERDYDD. The Swansea and District Tank week closed on Monday with the re- markable total for a single da- of no less than £ 294,545. This brings 'Swaaise&'s grand tAJtal to £ 1,1 £ 4,299. which is £ 164,249 above the record made hy Cardiff. Naturally Swansea is proud of the fact that not only has it beaten Cardiff, but that it has made a record for Wales. A SACK FULL OF COPPERS. Such was the enthusiasm of the small investor that at least £ 20.000 was subscribed through the Post Office on Monday. One man arrived with a sack containing no less than £ 50 in coppers, j^not-her came with his poc- kets full of gold, and when the last corner of the last pocket had been emptied he was alyle to lay on the counter no less than 137 sovereigns. In another case 8" A-<),ma,n arrived with a heavy basket which, on being emptied, was found to contain no less than -124) in silver. Altogether about £ 500 was taken in gold. -.———

MANUFACTURER S ROAH]) .£:100 FINE AND A MONTH'S IM- PRISONMENT. A case of food hoarding was heard by the Sheffield magistrates, when Joseph Albert Hill, a well-known steel manufacturer, and William Edward Cooper, hiiR secretary, were charged with acquiring large quantities of goods, including 520 lbs. of tea. lewt. of rice, 30 stones of flour.v 34 tins of milk. 31 bottles of soup, 10 tins of pineapple 12 tins of plums, 32 tins of pears, 22 tins of peaches, 40 this of apricots, 341b. of marmalade .and 4 .11). of ton go, besides many other things. The defor.ee was that Hill obtained the goods in the ordinary way for the purpose of providing dinners and teas for his staff, and that they wmlldl be used in the ordinary way. Tlie Bench eliminated the tea from their decision, accepting an explanation that it was acquired before the date named in the charge. They fired de- fendants 9100 o-ioh a'so sentenced Hill to one month's imprisonment in the second division. Notice of appeal was given.

I Food Growing at j Ystalyfera. I t Powers of Local Council to Take ( Laud. At Jerusalem Vestry on Saturday evening, a meeting was held under the auspices of the Ystalyfera- Cottage Gardeners and Allotment Holders' Association. Councillor H. J. i'owcii, J.P., presided, ami he was supported by Mr. Lionel B. Wolf, of the Board ot Agriculture and Mr. A. H. Stallard (secretary). The Chairman said that orders had come to the local authorities asking them to take steps to acquire more land for cultivation where they thought it necessary. The Pontardawe Council, and the clerk (Mr. Wyndham Lewis) had decided to support the Order to the hilt. Small garden-holders knew what it cost to obtain food stuffs and he hoped they would also support. Ystradgynlais had not acquired the rights held by the Pontardawe Coun- cil, but he thought by reports in the "Labour Voice" that they were mov- ing in that direction. Pontaj-d.i .0 Council would, hi ever, consider a a duty to assist, the Ystradgyni.tis authority to the best of their ability. Mr. Stallard (th-j secret try) referred to an appeal for waste land that nad been reoeived, but which had been re- fused by the landowner as n was pro- mised that the tenant would till it. This the tenant had faihnl to do last year, and meanwhil e he was keeping a good man out. In one case the land- iord also wanted fencing put up. Mr. Powell suggested reporting such matters to the Council, and also adver- tising for applicants for the land. It would aiso assist the Ystradgynlais Council if they as a. society sent to the Council asking tluir support to acquire land for members of the Ystal- yfera Society in the Ystrjidgynlais district. Mr. Wm. Guerrier then moved the following resolution which was carried "That Ave express surprise at the fact that the Ystradgynlais Council has not yet moved with a view to acquiring land, by compulsion if necessary, ac- cording to the Land Control Order, and that we ask the Ystradgynlais Council to take this matter up at once. Mr. T. L. Bowen (Ystradgynlais), pointed out that there was an allot- ment society at Ystradgynlais which was doing all it could to get land. Mr. H. J. Powell observed that it was all the more necessary for the Ystradgynlais Council to move. Mr. Guerrier also asked for an ex- planation as to why cfcrtain councillors had opposed the society when they want d land last year. Councillor T. Wade Evans said he for one had not opposed the applica- tion of the society for ground, but they thought it was possible to obtain more suitable ground: He had given the scheme for obtaining land every support. Councillor T. Alexander Evans said he had also given the scheme his sup- port, and would do so in future. Mr. Stallard said tbo .V," they now had had been wholly taken up. J On the motion of Mr. Sexton, it wns resolved that the society com- municate with the clerk to the council as to obtaining Inore land. Councillor J. D. Rees: "We did not vote for the acquiring of the Yarteg allotments, nor against it. There was a difference of opinion, however, as to- which plot should have been got. We thought the cricket field was as suit- a ble. and we suggested that a commit- tee should visit tho 3pot and have pk*r.my powers. On tho motion of Mr. Dd. Lewis, School-read, it was decided to adver- tise in the "La bour Voice" asking all persons requiring land for cultivation under tho Order to make application to the societv not later than January 31st. Mr. Wolf, who then addressed the meeting, s poke of the importance of tilling more land wirh a view to main- taining the food supply of the coun- try. Every m-vri who was physically capable, should undertake to till ail tho land he could, and to cultivate it. Glamorganshire had 2.700 acres in allotments and small holdings, and no farmer could gef as much out of the land as the spade tiller. It was also their duty to urge others to assist by tilling all the land they oould manage, as every allotment was a national as- set. It was no secret tha.t they would soon be short of food, particularly cereals, and potatoes should be grown to make up that shortage. Referring to the Council, Mr. Wolf said he could not say he hul had the wholehearted support of the whole I' (Continued nl bottom of It,xt

Ystalyfera Grocers Heavily Fifted At the Pontardawe Police Court on Friday (Mr. G. H. Strick presiding), Messrs. Joseph Burton and Sons, trad- ing as the India and China Tea Co., were charged with an offence under the Food Control Order by selling margarine at their Ystalyfera branch at Is. 4d. a lb., the controlled price being Is. Mr. Morgan Da vies prose- cuted for the Food Control Committee and Mr. J. A. Lovat Eraser, instruct- ed by Messrs. Geo. Da vies and Co., Cardiff, defended. Mr. A. K Edmunds (food inspector) said that on December 15 he visited the defendant's shop at Ystalyfera and examined the books, one of which lie produced, and found entered thereon "One margarine Is. 4d." If the mar- garine weighed lib. it should have been sold at Is. only. In cross-examination witness said he had asked defendant if he had mar- garine for sale, and he Raid he had 141bs. and produced a packet wrapped up and marked "Margarine." Witness said this was the reason why he sub- mitted that the margarine in the book meant on £ pound. Defendant said in reply to witness *hat he sold at ls.4d. bnt had no invoice to show. Detend- ant said he thoug't he could seil at hAd. Ir: re-ply to Mr. Eraser witness* said it was a custom in the trade for "one" to stand for lib. as in the case of split peas in a book shown as one split pels. In reply to Mr. Morgan Davies witness said that throughout the book, even in 'the case of sugar, the prefix "lb. was never shown. Hiss May Lewis, 11, Prospect-place, said that on IXeeember 14 she bought groceries at the Ystalyfera branch of the India and China Tea Co., and asked for margarine, for which she had paid Is.4d. She subsequently handed part of it to Mr. t-lip, inspector. Tho margarine was not weighed. Mr. Strick: Do vou seriously su-i- gest that you do shopping in that way without knowing what you get ? Witness: I don't remember, sir! Mr. Morgan L. Morgan, food in- spector acting under the Council, said he was with Mr. Edmunds when he called at the shop at Ystalyfera. As a result of examining the book lie ob- tained the entry of the margarine that was served. Mr. Fraser said lie had no case to answer, as Miss Lewis would not say that she had bought a pound of mar- garine and paid Is. 4d. fo& it. She only said r-ae bought margarine. George Alexander Meyrick Davies, manager at the Ystalyfera branch, c r 'L t said Miss Lewis had asked for mar- garine, amongst other things. When Miss Lewis ordered he took the order, and when she asked for margarine, he was not suro whether he had any, 50 he placed "one" before the word "margarine. He however, gave her a packet weighing lib. 5jozs. This was the last packet he had in the shop. He had had repeated instructions to abide by the orders of the loca l food com- mittees. In cross-examination witness .s.ud Mr. Thotcher (the company's in- spector) visited the shop on the 15th and he had sold to Miss Lewis on the 14th. When asked if he had told Mr. Edmunds that he had margarine, and produced a packet which he said lie sold at ls.4d. lb., witness shook his head negatively. Mr. J. W. Thorpe (clerk): Don't shake your head: is it yes or no? Witness (emphatically): No. Mr. Davies said he had given notice -1 )'f¡"- _8¥.C'a'IC:

I.L.P. AND LABOUR CANDIDATES The London Letter writer of the "Seuth AVales Daily say.: The question of the manner in which Labour men who have distinguished themselves by tfieir wa.r service and patriotism are being bstraeis^d- in the selection of Parliamentary candidate* h" Trades and Labour • Councils' is to brought directly and forcefully to the attention of the Executive Committee of the Labour Party and of the Par- liamentary Committee- of the Trade* Union ongress. This ostracism even affects sitting Labour members, who are being deliberately passed over simplv because they have; been promi- nent in war work. Ip. each instance tfiS selecting Iwidy" t-h'e local Trades or Labour Council,is duiAiaiatcd by the Independent Labour ,Party- Thj matter is not unlikely to Weate a se;- ions situation.

RATIONING FOR SOUTH WALES. Mr I. Khys. of the Divisional I Office (Ministry of Food) at Cardiff, has been directed by the Ministry to approach all tho food committees in the South Wales and Monmouthshire Division, with a view of getting them to adopt a uniform system of ration- ing tea and butter (or margarlIw). It is thought best to confine at pre- *ent to these articles. Uniformity, Mr Rhys points out. l1- essential inv?w Gf p!'o'??'?' exten- ions in the iutur?. Th? nr.t p?s?ntjat is to. tie: the consumer to one shop for either or both of the rationed articles. Retailer ?-:M have to h? registered fo'' tht?? articles a? they have for sugar. Tho i?,; tliev 11 've fOT ?SI-Ig- stia-,ir vai'd v?-ill I)c the The ration, writes Mr Rhys, wiH pro- b?v bo V2 ozs. of tea. and four o?. of butter or margarine per head per week.

Council when the Yarteg land was be- ing tried for, but the Board of Agri- culture had now said that if a man wanted land, he was to ha.ve it, unless it was being already tilled, or was part of a dairy farm that could not be disposed of. It should however, bo borne in mind that the Board did not consider two cows to be a dairy farm. They now had powers they had never possessed before the war, and they would have to grasp the oppor- tunity and cultivate all available land in the national interest. The following resolution was passed "That this meeting fully understands that the great power of this country lies in its ability to grow foodstuffs. We therefore ask the Government, to establish fixity of tenure for all allot- ment holders." The resolution was to be sent to all oilier soc ieties in Wales for their sup- port., to the Prime Minister, and to the Board of Agriculture.. A vote of thanks was passed to Councillor H. J. Powcll and Mr Wolf, both responding. Mr. Powell assured I th^ members of the society that he would give the same support in future as he had done in the past.

to produce the invoice as to w hen he had the margarine, but defendants said they had not had it. Witness said the word "margarine" was marked on all wrappers. He em- phatically denied all that Messrs. Edmunds and Morgan had said about the conversation in the shop. "They are falsehoods against me." he said. Witness further ,stated they had picked up the book and he disputed tlieii authori tv, but when he was satisfied he allowed them to take a copy. Mr. Eraser (to Mr. Edmunds!: Don't yon stand there grinning at the wit- ness. Mr. Davies: You hive no ndit. to- order mv witness about, 1ft that way. Mr. Edmunds has givert hlfc evidence quite fairly. Witness admitted that the prefixes "one" and "two in the other Ü.'ms in the book ipeant^ lib. and 211 JK.. but. the "oiiWftf** the case of tho margarine meant "one packet." Mr. Frnser referred to the previous prosecution in regard to cheese and suggested that the prosecution was malicious, as 33 ehoe«es h^d been de- stroyed that were adjudged to Le uot unfit for human consumption. Mr. Wm. Thatcher, general mana- ger and inspector, gave evidence of having given instructions. Mr Davies ■» books had always shown a slight de- ficit, proving that he usually charged too little. In cross-examination wit- ness stated that "lb." was entered as the transaction was a cash one. He admitted that if he were making up the book he would place lib. Mr. Fra-ser submitted that it had not been proved that one lb. of mar- garine had been sold. The chief wit- ness for the Crown, Miss Lewis, bad refused to say that she hftid had a lb. Daviess story was quite a plausible one, as he said he had weighed it and found it to be lib. 5Aozs. It was quite reasonable to assume that Miss Lewis did not take particular notice of its being weighed. The defence had de- nied the conversation that was alleged to have taken place between Messrs. Edmunds and Morgan and the mana- ger, but that did not really matter a* the whole point of the case was as to whether defendants had sold the mar- garine as a pound. Evidence had been called to prove that the company had always done all in their power to see that instructions were carried out. He asked that they should observe tire grand maxim of English law, which said tha t, where there was an clement of doubt the defendant should be given the benefit of it. The evidence of the Crown had broken down, so he asked for a dismissal. After retirement, however, the bench inflicted a fine of £ 20. and said they did not accept the manager's story. Mr. Morgan Davies asked for special costs for the strenuous way in which the case had been fought, and after some legal argutnents with Mr. Fraset he was granted £.5. Mr. Fraser asked the bench to state a ease, to which they agreed.