Llais Llafur

OVER. 91,000 IXYOLED. ABERAVON COMMITTAL ON EM- BEZZLEMENT CHARGE. Henry Davies, assistant overseer Cwmavon. the well-known Soci?het, was again before the magistrates at Aberavon on Monday, when he was charged with embezzling £ 1,023 13s. 8d. of the ratepayers' money. Con- siderable interest was taken In the proceedings and the court was full. It will be recalled that at the pre vious hearing he was committed for trial on two charges of fa lsification of accounts and (me of destroying bank I pass-books. Mr. Edward PoweTI prose- cuted, and Mr. Gibson Davies defend- ed. Mr. Powell said that the investiga- tion had heen completed, and the total amount of the defendant's defalcations was £ 1,023 12s. 8d. There were two classes of cases, cases where the ac- cused received cheques in payment of rates and paid them into his own pro- vate banking account, and cases where received money in cash and paid them over in the same manner. Thomas Lew, chairman of the parish council, aid Thomas Evans, of the clerk to {he guardiaiis' office, Neath, gave evidence that the accused was appointed assistant oversecr in 1902. Several witnesses gave evidence that they had made settlement by cheque and cisli in payment of rates to the accused during 1916 and 1917, and they held receipts signed by him. I Mr. W. n. Thomas, assistant over- seer, Aberavon, who was appointed to investigate the accused's books, said none of those amounts had been paid into the overseers' account. Owen Daniel, manager of the Lon- don and Provincial Bank, Port Tal- bot, said the accused had a private banking account at his bank, and tho gumfi mentioned by the witiiesse-s were paid into that account. Mr. Edward Powell applied for the committal of the accusal to tin? ft seizes and the magistrates decided to do this. II No application was made for bail.

STATE AID FOR. HOUSING WORK FOR VAST ARMY OF DIS- CHARGED MEN. The Government will make n, suffi- ciently large grant for the erection of houses to enable authorities to place in hand immediately the work of pre- paring designs for the laying out of sites and purchase of land for housing schemes. It is not, however, intended to commenoe the erection of the housea until after the war. About 300,000 dwellings will be erected for England and Wales, and 50,000 for Scotland. It is estimated that the work of building shall be commenced during the demo- bilisation of the forces, and employ- ment will thus be provided for several hundred thousand men. Among the proposals for London are tha.t local authorities, in preparing housing schemes, should give preferen- tial treatment to large families, that groups of houses specially designed should lie set apart for the tenancy of families members of which are suffer- ing from tuberculosis, that houses un- fit for human habitation shall be closed and, where necessary, demolished, that glum areas shall be cleared, and provi- vision made for the rehousing of the people dispossessed, and that housing j schemes shall be carried into effect wherever there is a shortage. Mr. Henry R. Aldridge, secretary of the National Housing and Town Plan- ning Council, stated that if the finan- cial assistance given by the Govern- ment was on adequate lines the num- ber of houses to be built in the year following the war would be quite 300.000, exclusive of the 50,000 to be i built in Scotland. A fine response had been made by the landowners to the appeal that they should sell their land ■at prices which would enable the best kind of town planning to be adopted.

A.S.E. AND MAN POWER .1 Tlie following figures were declared by. Mr. Young, general secretary of the A.S.E.. on Tuesday morning as hav- in"- been recorded by the members of the Society on the question of accept- iiig'or r-(,je(.tiylg the Government's pro- posals on the question of Man-Power: For acceptin g 271.4;0 Against 121,017 Majority against 93,547

SUMMER TIME. I It is believed that the summer-time I regulation, setting the clock forward I for one hour, wiU begm this year pro- bably towards tho middle of M?rch, and cot?tinu? till next September. Last year the period was from April 7 to September 17.

j REGISTER! REGISTER! I he country needs the help of every shopkeeper. The majority of shop- 1- 1 I' .}' tan per8 value what the lighting men have done for them and are anxious to render their quota of "personal service" in the great cause in which w? ?rc ?jxiin?; our national energies. Thi.-j is made easy for them. Hither- to the privilege of selling War Savings Certificates luis be-on limited to the Post Offices, Ranks and War Savings Associations. Now the shopkeepers have have an opportunity of becoming i "ofnoial agents" for the side of the same securities to their customers and the public. Already over 5,000 thousand shop- keepers and license-holders have made application to tho National War Sav- ings Committee to become "official agent's." Other triciesmer) who have not ahxvidy done so should apply for particulars to the secretary of their Local War Savings Committee, or send a postcard direct to the National War Savings Committee, Salisbury Square, London, E. C.4.

W. WALES BRASS BTNDS I The annual meeting cf this associa- tion was held at Swansea on Saturday. Officials elected: President, Mr. Elias Thomas, Clydach; vice-president, D. L. Lake, Penygroes; financial sec- rotary, Mr. T. H. Thomas, Brynain- man; general secretary Mr. J. J. Wil- liams, Trebanos ,to whom a presenta- tion was made in recognition of 17 years' faithful service. Classification of Bands: Class A- Blaengwynfi, Gvvauncaegurwen, Burry Port, Baldwins, Gorseinon, Pontardu- lais. Cwmamman, Ystalyfera Town, and Tycroes. Class B—Briton Ferry, Caerau, Cly- dach, Llarusaint, Penygroes and AVaun- arlwydd. Cl-e s C — Ammanford, Kidwelly Town, and Pdh'tSixfawe. Jt wae decided to hold the annual contests at Pontar- dulais in July.

I BISHOP OF ST DAVIDS NARROW- ESCAPE. The Bishop of St. David's had a narrow pscape in an accident while pro- ceeding to a connrmation service a.t Llanisaml^^ His lordship, with the LIansamJ< tunl(>t, was proceeding vic,ar of ?Ir l i x=un l et, x%,as procee d ing in a taxi cab, and when near Foxhole Br^dige a collision occurred with a horse which Mr. H. Jones, of Gellv Farm, was riding, and the eah dashed into the bridge. The taxi was damaged but the bishop, the vicar, and the driver escaped with a shaking, and the bishop was able to proceed to the- church and confirm the 60 candidates I preaonted. Mr. Jones was also much shaken.

WITHOUT A SOUL. I RECTOR'S CRITICISM OF BOARD I OF GUARDIANS. The Rev. James H. Jenkins, rector of Cilrhedyn, preaching at the parish church, said that the Newcastle-Emlyn Board of Guardians was doubtless a fine, massive body, but, like the War Of lice, it lacked one thing: It badly wanted a soul. If the board had even tho faint beginnings of a soul it would know that a bit of honest help for .a worn-out labourer was no more a re- proach than the grants from the Civil List to needy authors of the lavish pensions so often bestowed on ex- Cabinet Ministers. It might even go further and try to imagine what. a poor widow could do with 3s. a week to keep a child in these days of scanty supplies and sky-blown prices. Nature had richly endowed that district with grace a-nd beauty, but what better would the bairns, the bonniest flowers of Tivyside, fare if their tender humanity was thus despoiled, cramped and disfigured by if cold parsimony? The young dwellers in a congested area would be more fortunate, for there, at least, the friendly aid of the Feed- ing of Necessitous Children Act would be invo ked.

=- BRIT.AIX S WEALTH. In the course of an address to Vic- t»ri;ui employers here on the subject of the necessity of organising industry to meet Germany's after-the-war trade plans, Mr Hughes, the Australian Prime Minister, said that the British Empire's wealth was uncountable a-rid its resowroes were illimitable. Organ- ised, it oould. control the world; un- organised, it must fall a victim to a more efficient nation. The deep and lasting obligation rested on all the Dominions to play wrell their part in the great plan of national organisation without which we should be undone.

YSTRADGYNLAIS DIVORCE. I I i In the Divorce Court on Thursday j I last a decree nisi was granted by Mr. Justice Lush to John Evans, of the Welsh Regiment, formerly a miner, lieeause of misconduct between his wife Jane, and the co-respondent, Thomas ard, part proprietor of a cinema at Milford Haven. Petitioner said that ho married re- spondent in December, 1893, and they lived together at Ystradgynhiis. In 1913 lie was unable to work througn illness, and respondent went off. as she said, to keep house for her sister. AYard had been their lodger. Later petitioner learned that his wife and Ward were together at Milford Haven,

i SOCIALIST UNITY MIXERS PROTEST AGAINST MAGISTERIAL DECISIONS The executive council of the SOllCl Wales Miners' Federation at Cardifl (Mr James AYinstone presiding) were informed from the Coal Controller that men who, in oonsequenee of illness or injury during work, were unable to complete a shift were entitled to the war wage for that day. The Council .pasfgjl. Solution- "It having bn lJfI)n!:i,; I) row notice of the executive ("jillicil that. magisteiinl decision-, nave Sk-jmi s.riv ed at to eject workr en and tL ir fai.ilK -i from he uses in areas when.1 the Lousing accommodation is inadequate, ive strongly resent this attitude, and arc of opinion that where workmen pay! their rent and arc unable to get. houses in their local areas no ejectments I should take place Another resolution passed" urge the Government to give, early effect to the ¡ recommendations for the alolition of boards of guardians and clumped methods of dealing with the ooor. sick, and needy. The Miners' Federation of Great Britain explained tl?:it in the event of the Council decid in re- sponse to the Govern men invitation to send representatives t, visit tho battlefield in France, the from j South AYales would be 100. It was decided that each lodge should decide independently whether the invitation should be accepted.

COUNTY COURT FOR AMMAN VALLEY AND G.C.G. A re-arrangement of the County Court districts in Carmarthenshire is contemplated following upon the death of Mr. Lewis Bishop, who for many years was the registrar and high bailiff at Llandilo. It is staited on good authority that a new district is to be formed comprising the Amiman Valley (which formerly formed part of the Llandilo district), portions of Llanedy (which now form part of i he Llanelly dlstrkt), and Gwauncaegu: ?e:t, The appointment of a separa, j »-c/iVi*ar i "f<)r the Ammanford d?tr.?., we are -I lit liorit-i tirtly informed, not pro- posed, the intention beir that the | registrar' for tlie- Carmarthen district be asked to take over the Ammanford distrj:. When the Boundaries Com- mittee re-arranged the divisions of the county of Carmarthen for electoral pur- poses the Amman Valley district was joined with the Llanellv district so as to form one electoral area, and sur- prise has been expressed at Llanelly that the re-arrangement- of the County Court districts has not followed the same lines, apparently, it would be more convenient for the Amman Valley a.nd the Llanelly districts to be worked together. The final decision in the matter has not yet been taken.

-_u- MEDAL FOR SAVING COWS. | The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has made the Ull- usual award of four medals in connec- tion with the rescue of six oows from I burning cowsheds at Chertsey. By the bravery of Osmund Terry, the cowman tlie animals were got out of the build- ing when fragments MUing from the burning roof had set fire to their backs. Terry is awarded a medal, together j with three wtlier men who assisted Terry by keeping back the flames and enabling him to loosen the animals.

ABERCRAVE DEBATE. "A ydyw'r Eisteddfod G-eno^la-^thol yn cyfiawnhau ei hodoladh it" (Doe, I the National Eisteddfod just.fv its existence), was the subject for debate at the young people's sc-cieCv at Bryn Seion on Wednesday evening of last week. Mr David Rosser AYilliajr-s opened with the affirmative, and was sup- ported by Miss Mary Aim Jorie, whilst Mr John Elwyn Watkia-, supported by Mist Bessie Owen, argued on the negative s'dc. There was a very good I audience and o the proceedings. The following i part in the discussion at the e-rd: Messrs. David Daniel Gccner Da ;1, I Thomas E. Lewis. John S. Morgan. T. AYatkins, Idvis Lewis and hur H. Lew-is. SOLDIER'S DEATH IN HOSPITAL ) Jt war" with regret- we learned or tlie i death at Neath War Hospital on Tues- (lav of List week, of Pt-e. AN-. Smith, S. W. B.. who had worked in this ds's- trict for several years, a-nd was well- Deceased, who w.as 33 yenrs of aQe. was theon. of Mr W. Smith. of Al nunta ;11 Ash. He had treated ) t rcmbi?kc Hospital for man\' II n?onths. and wes afterwards removed to Neath. His re ma i us were conveyed t,o hi;; hol-n- on c d n(- d ay ai)d u-ei-c to AYednesday and were buT'ed with miliuu-y honours at Alountain: A<-h Cemetery on Sueday afternoon. A number of friends, jour- neyed to the bvsriaG plnr-e to pay their last resoefits. DEATH OF OLD RESIDENT. The de-i th oeciirrea on I u<-<-(lay n :h t I d Mr John Morgan, late of Caeglas farm, but now residing at Nantcae'r- .,fîjI. Dfeeased had been enfined to his hed for m-a nv months and had home his sufferings patiently. He leaves a widow and three grown np ..children to mourn .i I, Flit- t.;t.-k (o i?ir after- I noon at Tynycoed. F HOME ON LEA YE. I Signaler M. Powell, of Trefleming, has again arrived home from Sierra Le-^oe, AY'»vt AfrXa, looking in excel- lent eondit'o-n. He returns to duty at ch" er d of the week, and we wisli hiuk God pe.(Ü on Iiis return. REHEARSAL. The third arngmg rehearsal viill be held at Bi-vii Seion on Sunday after- noon and even:ncc -neaflt. b, the mem- bers* of the Congregational ('hur<«hcs f the district. Good Fi^ida' when the festival will be li Id, is drawing nigh, and great preparations arc made to mak., it a sti-rr^ss. The i^rlowing is a statement of the proceeds of the concert recently given by the Caehopkin United Choir in aid of the, local Soldiers and Sailors Fund: Receipts £ 73 16 10 Expenses £::2 15 10 Paid to S. an S. Fund JE21 1 0 £ 73 16 18 Audited and found correct, H. Haydn Powell, John Phillips, auditors.

I GODRE'RGRAIG- There was a good attendance at the Pantteg Chapel Vestry on Tuesday evening on the occasion of presenting two local boys home from France, namely, Pte. W. J. Brazell and Lance- corpl. Dowing, both of Pantteg. The programme was arranged yb Mr. T. Llewelyn Davies. to which the fol- lowing contributed: Songs, Misses Gwladys Davies, May Williams, and Mr. Llew. Bevan (who was encored); recitations, Miss May Thomas; dia- logue, "Parti Heol yr Eglwys" pen- illion singing, Master Rhys G. Ed- wards; 'cello playing, Mr. John Mor- gan. Rev. Ben Davies presented the boys with money on behalf of the S. and S. Fund, and spoke some well chosen words. Mr. John Morgan ended the meeting with "Hen Wlad fy Nhadau. Two local soldiers are homo gii fur- lough this week—Ptes. Thos. G. Boyd (Tarreni-terrace) and Will. Phillips (Graig-road^ the latter ht)n-,P, from hospital. Both were heartily welcomed by tlie inhabitants. The prospects on Saturday night tingnr welI f,"r a crowded house, when I the Godre'rgraig Operatic Society arc giving a concert in aid of the S. and S. Fund, namely "Red Riding Hood's Reception'' under tlie leadership of Mr. Ezeckiel Hopkin, Godrer'graig. The performance will be given at the Central Hall. The people of Pantteg a.re looking forward for a successful competitive conoert which is to be held on March 23rd.

I RHYDYFRO. ¡ Quite a gloom w:¡,¡ cast over liliyd* fro district Wien the sad news spread that Able Sea-man v\ J. Newlandf, R.N.D.. had fallen in action in trance. Young Ncwlimd' who resided at Saro1 Place, Rhydyfro. was reported wouik-- ed and missing last March, and th;" report had oau-od great- anxiety to h; relatives, but they have been hopim, that be was a prisoner of war. LtMi wee k, however, his mot her-received the sad information from the AYar Office tint he was killed last May. He wes emjiloyed before enlistment in the ti),- house department" at Messrs. Gilbert- son's, and was very popular amongst. his M orkmateg. He joined shortly Ift,(- routbreak of war, and had been in France about 18 months. He was regular attendant, at Saron Chape and the greatest sympathy is extende d to his mother, brothers and sisters i2 their bereavement.

BIRCH (*K0YE. BI ItCl-l(-w'ROVE. DEATH OF YETERAN WELSH BAPTIST MINISTER. a brief illness there passe.) away on Saturday at his residence et Birchgrove, near Llansiimlet, the Rev. John Edward Griffiths, pastor of Aino i Chayxd, and one of the oldest ministers of the Baptist dcuo»iination. Born ai Frun. Llangollen, in 1841. he coir- ineneed to preach at Penyeae, Ruabor. and <>ntered Llangollen Baptist Co=- lege in 1867, then under the charge Ci the celebrated Dr. Hugh Jones. He was ordained in 1870 to the joint pas- torate of Swyddffynnon and Pontrhyc fendigaid Churclu's, Cardiganshire. H- came to Skewen in 1874. and two later was instrumental in establishing a new Baptist cause at Birchgrovc. After a long period of faithful service at Skewen he decided to confine hiir- :-<df to che.ehurch at Birehgrov.e, an he was pastor there for an iinbroke:1 perioo of 47 years. He was a man c; dc{'}) convictions and sterling charac- ter. His wife, a native of Llanybvther. predeceased him by many years. H, leaves two sons and one daughter.

LOCAL HOCKEY I At the Ystradgynlais gi-ourds on Saturday la-st a> very keen game Wdtl \eitne^d betn^r! the Neath C. -S. Girls and the Ystradgvnlals C. S.  .rls. The match commenced at 2.15 p.m. a.nd within less than a quarter -Of aji hour the Ystradgynlais team ebtairked the upper hand tho scoring t-ww gonls. score was: Ystradigynlais: 2 Goals. Neatli: Nil. The second half a.gain proved a *nc- eess for the homesters. The tome centre, all on her A-on, taking the baJI i'i-!ii rriid-way and scored an excellent goal. Ystradgynlais again suoeeede,d in adding anotber six goals to their list. At the final whistle score was: I y stradgrt,is: 9 Goals. Neath: 1 Goal. Great credit is due to the excellent pi a*- of Annie Owen, the Y stravnl:w-, Captain (3 goals); M. G. Daniel (3 goals); M. J. Morris (z goals); A. J. Jones (1 goal). I On Saturday next at YrtradgvnW,- the Neath C. S. Football t?am w?l I I)Iav ?against the Yatradlais food ball team. Navarchua.

SOUTH WALES COLLIERY EXAMINERS. A meeting of the South Wales and Monmouthshire Association of the Co j liery Examiners was held at the Par); I Hotel, Cardiff, under the presidency of Air. Isaacs, Gwauncaegurwen. A re- port was received from Mr. R. L. AA U- liams, of Ebbw "ale, as to the meet- ing of the Joint Board of Examiners and Owners, but the report was not considered satisfactory by the exami- ners, as at some of the collieries the I war wage had not been paid in full, whilst in two cases no war wage had l)('('n paid at nll. The auditors (Messrs Morris and Packer) presented their re- port, which was of a ?ra/tifyin? nature.

Under the old AAelsh tribal system I the rules as to the division of the- household goods between a husband an d wife who separated were very quaint and amusing. If they had sheep and goats, the husband took the sheep II and the wife the goats. The children were divided up according to rule, the husband taking two out of three. If there were only three, the husband took the eldest and youngest, and th<' wife the middle one. The wife took nil tlie milking vessels ivxo<>pt one- pail, all the dishes except one dish. but the husband took all the corn, a'j J the poultry, and one of the cats.