Llais Llafur

I Refused to Supply I Sugar, I C.C.G. GROCER FINED. William John Davits, grocer, Gwaun- caegurwen, charged at the Pontar- dawe Police-court Oil Friday (Mr. H. ..V Miers presiding), with failing to supply su.=::a r to a person entitled to receive same under the Food Control Order. Defendant pleaded not guilty. Mr. Morgan Davies, Pontardawe, prosecuted tor the Food Control Com- mittee, and said that defendant, had accepted the sugar ticket of a. Mrs. Lilian Jones, but did not supply to her. She was entitled to qlos. per week. She went to the shop on Feb. 1st and asked for margarine and alas the sugar. Defendant refused to sup- ply. Siie later went to the shop to pay for goods", and he again refused to supply. He had also refused on other occasions to supply her child. Mrs. Lilian Jones bore out Mr. Davies' statement. Witness said she asked civilly for margarine, as her husband had to take dry bread to work. wt. ordered out of the shop in an offensive manner, defendant saying he gave to those who paid. Witness said defendant later refused the sugar. Mrs..Jonco explained that up to the strike in last September she had paid defendant regularly, but then fell into arrears. She was, however, now pay- ing off the old debt in small amounts, besides paying her current accounts. She had now paid off about E4 of the debt incurred. Witness also said she had sent money for the sugar. Cross-examined, witness denied that she had had part of her week's supply. She did have some a few weeks later as defendant feared the inspectors. She was then served by an assistant. Mrs. Jones denied receiving margarine. Wit- ness was served on Feb. 8th, and clc- fendant said this was a. Sunday, but it transpired that it was not so. Mrs. Jones denied tha.t Davies had asked her to bear with him for a week as his wholesalers' premises had been burned down. Morgan Morgan (inspector) was then called. Mr. Miers: Is he supposed to under- stand all about food ? Mr. J. W. Thorpe (clerk): If he does he's a marvel. (Laughter.) Witness said he visited the shop on Feib. 8th, and found 4 cwt. 141bs. of sugar in the shop. Mrs. Jones received sugar in his presence later. Witness denied he had told the woman to pay as she liked. P.S. Jenkins said he visited defend- ant's brother's house on the 7th and found one cwt. of sugar upstairs, which belonged to his brother, the grocer. The man said he had had it for over six months, and it was subse- quently taken to the shop. Defendant on oath, said his source of supply had been destroyed by a fire at Swansea. During the week Mrs Jenes had received half a pound of butter and 1 lb. of sugar. She wanted more, as she had been told she oould get a regular supply with another grocer. She became abusive and he ordered her out of the shop and in- structed his solicitors to proceed with a view to recovering the debt. Mr. Miers: So you took your re- venge, too! Defendant produced a ledger, which he admitted had not been properly filled up. Cross-examined, defendant said he entered, the ledger from Mrs. Jones' shop book. He admitted that the book was only in part use. He had another ledger at home. He had not made all his entries. He admitted he had a bad method of business. He kept a day book, but oould not say whether the shop book and ledger agreed. Mr. Morgan Davies: If I denied that Mrs. Davies owed you any money, you would pretty soon say. Defendant: Well, I have an account sir. Defendant further stated that Mrs. Jones had overdrawn her sugar allow- ance by being served by his wife. He also stated that he bought the book a,bout seven months ago, and this book produced was his only sugar led- ger. It had been used first in January. All his customers were not entered in the ledger produced. He could say what pnigar Mrs Jones had received by referring to his day book. Mr. Morgan Davies: Do you make your sugar returns; have you done so ? —Yes. Mr. Thorpe: There is no necessity for you to answer a question that might incriminate you. Mr. Morgan Davies: I don't want to take any unfair advantage. Mr. Miers said they had to protect the public to enable them to get what food was available. The magistrates had taken a serious view of the case, I' and had decided to inflict a penalty of I £ 10 with. £ 2/2/0 advocate's fee. Defendant: Can I appeal ? Mr. Thorpe (clerk): Yes, if you give I forma l legal notice within seven days. Defendant: What is the alternative? Mr. Thorpe: Don't be silly. Defendant: Well, I want to know. Mr. Thorpe (to the police): Well, if he won't pay, take him down for two months; we don't want any nonsense. Defendant, however, promptly paid up. r

FOOD TO BE FIBST DE- I MAX!) ON TO-N i (, 'E The War Cabinet .have now decided that food shall have priori tv over all the other war demand s in the a lloca- tion oit shipping. As only primary ar.d essential foodstuffs are to he g yen cargo space, even cattle feeding stuff* being prohibited, there is 41, prospect •—eNj>e<dally dining the wirter r -d early ;of less meat, le.vs milk, and less butter. The whole of the exportable butter surplus of Australia and New Zealand has been purchased in the hope of ¡ obtaining the m<?cssar\' tonnage to transport it. but mntil the expanding output of hanM-produced ma rga rine I has be?u further <tev?ope<I ?, s im- probably that the ?uppl?s wi'! "prmit of more than half the norma ) con- sumption of butter and margarine eombaied. The period of shortage, however, should. not be prolonged. Compulsory rationing, it must be clearly understood. implies no danger of starvation, or anything a pproach- ing starvation, and so far as anything can lie considered. certain in times of war, .supplies necessary to the national physique are assured, and there is nothing to suggest that the rigour- of the German, rait ion of fat and meat are probable.

I Miners and Comb-nut. J DECISION J O^'Afvk A ii ALLOT. I The Miners' Federation of Great Britain decided on Wednesday to take a ballot of the members throughout the coalfield on the subiect of the comb-out. It was further decided that the ballot papers be worded as follows: I.-Shall the Miners' Federation of Great Britain agree to the with- drawal of 50.000 men from the mines for military service ? 2.—If so, shall the Federation machinery be used for the purpose of finding the required number? )

DURHAM MINERS AND COMB- I OUT. At a special council meeting of the Durharm miners it was agreed to sup- port the Man-Power B 11. It was de- cided that 50,000 Class A m-en should be taken from the mines, and that the vtr:lous nii nei-.s' organisations should assist in the work of selection and allivatioii.

RATIONS AND FUNERALS. I ''Can You allow me an extra permit for tea, butter, sugar, and jam for a funeral, as I know these extra permits have been granted at Walsall to a friend of mine when he buried his mother?" This application was read at a meeting of the Lichfield Control Com- mittee. It was declined as monstrous and absurd, and one member inquired "A picnic or a funeral?" The applica- tion was refused.

Neath communal kitchen, supplying soups and stews, is doing a roaring business, over 300 persons being sup- plied daily. W st Glamorgan Methodist delegates will have to carry their own lunches in future. An order will shortly be issued by the Ministry of Food fixing a flat prioe for boneless bacon. It is expected that the price will be a little over 2s. per lb. It is stilted that the Ministry of Food do not intend at the present moment to ration cheese. Blacklegs were unmercifully treated by the strikers in South Wales about seventy years ago. At Mountain Ash a bag of gunpowder with a lighted fuse attached was thrown into a house, and the blackleg died as the result of the explosion. The criminal was never de- tected, d(,pite I the offer of a Govern- ment reward. An aged Rhondda collier who remem- bers the Crimean War reclares that the food hardships of the present day are mild compared with tliow of 1856. when food prices soared sky-high and placed the necessities of life out of reach of the poor. He has vivid memo- ries of the bread of that period—a moist, pasty substance which only ex- treme hunger rendered palatable.

CWMTWRGH CWMLLYNFELL The wedding took pla->> l:t wc"k at the Pontardawe Registry Office, oi Mr. Emrys Davies, Brynbrain Farm, son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Davies, and Miss Elizabeth Williams, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Williams, C-oed- ffaldau. Mr. Johnny Williams was the best man. and Miss Annie Williams, sister of the bride, was the bridesmaid. We regret to report that Mrs. Evan Williams, Coedgwilym. is under treat- ment at the Swansea Hospital, and this week underwent her second operation for an absces3. It is to be hoped that she will soon regain her normal state of health. Mr. Mos's Williams, CW1"111.nfd!. preached at Bryngv. iiyin <in,Sunday bst. and will officiate at Caiiaria, Y.siradgynlais next Sunday. (' A movement is on foot at Cwmtwrch to gd a public hall for the plaN'. a? it is felt that some building at which i tho young people of the district could enjoy some recreation, should be ac- quired. A meeting will t herefore, be held at Beulah Vestry on Saturday evening, when it is to be hoped there will be a good attendance. Surgeon-Probationer Horace Th-mas (son of Mr. T. R. Thomas, schoolmas- ter), who is on one of H.M. destroyers, is home on 14 days' furlough. He looks well, and has seen two years' service. His brother, Sec.-Lieut. Cecil Thomas, of the Flying Corps, ha.s returned to Reading after having been on leave. The children at Cwmtwrch schools will celebratc, St. David's Day by giv- ing a drama at the school. A miscel- laneous programme will also be provid- ed. On Thursday a competitive concert will be held at the Temperance Hall, Gwys, in celebration of the "Wvl." The funeral took place on Thursday amidst general manifestations of re- gret, of Mrs. Sarah Phillips (63), widow of the late Mr. D. R. Phillips, Lower Cwmtwrch, whose death was reported in our last issue. The interment took place at Ystradgynlais Churchyard and the ministers ofticiating were the Revs. T. Davies, Cilirew, VV. P. Jones, Bethania, and W. T. Hughes, Beulah. The chief mourners were Mr. and Mrs. Evan Williams, Mr. and Mrs. D. L. Griffiths, Mr. and Mrs. Dd. Collins (sons-in-law and daughters), Mr. David Phillips (son), and Miss Jessie PhiHips (daughter). The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr A. W Griffiths. The burial of the late Mr. Rhys Willia: s, Glynmeurig Farm, Lower Cwmt\. reh, took place on Monday at the parish churchyard, Ystradgynlais. Deceased, who was 76 years of age, had always taken interest in parochial affairs, and had been a mem ber of the Ystradgynlais Council atid Pontardawe Board of Guardians for many years. The chief mourners were Mrs. Margt. Williams (widow), Mr. and Mrs. G. E. Hopkin (daughter and son-in-law) Miss Mair Williams (daughter), Messrs. Phillip, Glyn and Martin Williams (sons), Miss B. Carter, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Thompson, Mr. and MES. James Williams, AVern House, Mr. J.' G. Rees, Mr. W. T. Rees (Sketty), Mrs. G. Rees, Pisca (Mon.), Mr. John Mor- gan (surveyor, Pontardawe), Mr and Mrs. Daviea (Ynisdwle), Mr. and Mrs. Morgans, (Yniswen, Crynant), Mr and Mrs. Samuel Morgan, Mr. and Mrs. T. Owen, Mr. and Mrs. John Phillips, Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Phillips, Mr. and Mrs. Dd. Phillips, Mr. and Mrs. Rees Phillips, Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Phil- lips, Mrs. G. Thomas, Garnant, Mrs. G. Thomas, Nantymoel. the. Revs. W. P. Jenes, Bothania; Jas. Jones (rector) Ystradgynlais; J. Secundus Jones (vicar), Ystalyfera, W. T. Hughes, Beulah, and D. W. Stephens, Ystaly- fera, were the officiating ministers. Among the floral tributes were tliore from the Glynmeurig family, from Grif- fith and Grotta, AN-ern House, the staff and scholars of the Gurnos Council School. As the cortege left the church the "Dead March" was played by Mrs G. Williams (organist). Deceased be- longed to one of the oldest and most respected families in Breconsliire, his ancestors having lived at Glynmeurig for the last four centuries. The funeral arrangements were in the liaaids of Mr E. O. Morgan. At Bethel Chapel on Thursday even- ing last, a reception meeting was held in honour of Sapper Richie Phillips, R.E., the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Abraham D. Phillips, Gurnos, Lower Cwmtwrch. This young soldier has been granted 14 days' leave from France, and returned to his base on Monday. The following contributed to a splen- I did programme, presided over by -the Rev. W. T. Hughes (Beulah): Recita- tions, Master Henry Job Rees, Miss Eurwon Davies; solos, Mr. W. J. 1P Math?wf. Robert D.r?ts. John Owe.; ? peni]ti<'n Mi?s Mn,?i- Morgan. Gwil.-m ?Cynlais. Rhvs ruweJ). Dewi Glan- i wrch. Mr. Kee-s WiHiams and Mr. J. D. Williams spoke, the iatt.or on behalf of the committee, presenting the sol- dier with the usual c heque. Mr. D. W, Owen presided at the piano. Tant CrocKiwol i'r Sapper Ritchie Phillips, R.E. Alaw: "Eisteddai'r beu Fardd yn ei Gadair" :— Fe! heulwen ar larlir fy mywyd, Wna'm lloni a hyfryd fwynhad, Yw gweled gwor garwn o'i febyd A'i.groesaw o goebfae-s f gad; 0 swii T magnelau a'r marwol bctona Yn iach a dianaf yn ol i'r hen wluil. Yn 01 i glyd aclwyd ei hoff fam a i dad. Cynlluniau milynau o dacliu A mamau, fwynhaent fawrhad. Ddymchwelwyd i lawr yn garneddan Nes troi'n Hadadrhimon y wlad; Anwyliaid eu calon, i drais yn ierthyro'^ Yn gorfod gwynebu ar gochfaes y gad, Nid milwr oedd Ritchie i fod gan < dad. Os rhal4 yw i- Ritchie ddychn*lyd Yn ol i drychineb y gad, Y nefoedd arbedo ei fvwvd I ddychwel 'nol eto i'n gwlad, I ddringo mewn mawrlwydd hyd risia i eiiwogrwvdd- Yn uweh n;) chiod milwr, yn addurs i'w wlad, Ac viia ei enw ga fythol goffhad. -Dewn Glantwrch. CrcK.e.) calon Richie bach, Dioleh am dy fod yn ia-ch! Y mae Kiiyddid yn dy wen, Cudarn wyt fel mynydd hen. Tro bo'r Twroh yn llifo'n ffri, Hynod wyt o fewn y wlad- Abram, onide, yw'th ciul Shwd mac'n mynd gan y brigade, Wrthym nawr yn lialus dwed, Richie anwyl, pa bryd ctfwn Heddwch teg fel hafddvdd llawn ? Diolch am fod Cymru wen Gyda'r goron ar ei phen, Blentvn Rhyddid ydwyt ti, Sa yn wrol drosti hi. —Gwilvm Cynlais. The district is in for a treat shortly when the Gwauncaegurwen Dramatic Society will perform "Aeres Maesy- felin" in aid of the local S. and S. Fund. This drama has been quite s phenomenal success lately, and should not on any account be missed. A choir has been formed at Lower Cwmtwrch with a view of entering tho competition in the chief choral contest at Jerusalem Eisteddfod, Ystalyfera. The need has been felt at Cwmtwrch for many years of an institute, com- prising a hall, library, etc. An informal meeting to discuss the matter was held at Bethel on Sunday, when it was de- cided that a further meeting be held at Beulah Vestry on Saturday even- ing (March 2) at 6 o'clock, and that notices be sent to the churches at Rhiwfawr, Bryn Seion, Ebenezer, Beulah, Bethel and Bethania, inviting their co-operation. It is hoped the dis- trict will be well represented at the meeting. Allotment-holders and gardenera at Cwmtwrch should turn up in good force at Gurnos Council School on Tuesday next at 7 o'clock, when Mr. D. A. Jones, M.Sc.,F.L.S., will give an illustrated lecture dealing with the cultivation of the potato, with special referenoe to spraying. Admission free. -+-.

RHIWFAWR. Nos Lun diweddaf talodd Mr. Willj. Owen, Gwys, ymweliad a Chymdeithae Diwylliadol Rhiwfawr, i draddodi an- erchiad ar y testyn "Un o'r telynau a dorwyd yn gynar-sef Dewi Arfon," gerbron cynulliad lluosog. Llywyddwyti gan y Parch. W. D. Roderick, a siarad- odd eiriau cynes mewn perthynas a'r papur fwynhaodd. Hefyd cafwyd syJ- wadau gan Tawelog, Mri. J. D. Lewis, D. J. Price (vsgolfeistr), Tom H. Wil- liams, ag ereill.

A sheep has given birth to four lambs near Cardiff. "Ten perches and a pig," is tho cry of Neath Allotments Association. Owing to affected sheep coraing from neighbouring counties Glamor- gan is asking for a compulsory dipping order. A ease of explosives was found in tho Rhondda Fach River immediately UlJ-. derneath the bridge leading to the Lady Lewis Colliery. Mr. Bonar Law stated in the Com- mons tha.t he could not hold out any hope that the Govern:rer" have time to introduce legislat:a :.)r Stat-V purchase of tho liquor tr-uiic.