Pioneer

Kenfig Hill Notes Manhood's Bankruptcy. erily, \vp are going down the hill steadily i h toward what can be rightly termed the bank- ruptcy of our manhood. The military authori- ties not satisfied in combing-qut boys from 18 years and 8 months up to 24 years from the mines, are now calling up men from 2.) years to 31 before the fir>t comb-out is completed. We shall all gPt so muddled up in the near fu- ture that we shall fail to recognise what groups ,are really in the process of being called upon, in .some parts of South Wales it will be a fort- night before the first groups will be called upon to present themselves for medical classicafica- t-ion, and by that time in some areas, assuming that they travel with the same speed in those areas as in the Garw and Maesteg Districts, they will reach the age limit in the latter be- fore the former reach the twenties. And so the stream of manhood, drawn from useful occu- pation, Hows on. and .slowly but surely pours into an ocean of uselessness find waste. Lodge "Tribunals." Does anybody envy the position of a Lodge -,I-itli his discre- I tionary powers of recommending exemption to a man who may be the main support of the family, or havt. a reasonable proportion of the family in the army, lucre never was a more subtle way of putting class against class than this method of .supervision, 'hough agreed that it has some good point*, but you a re warned in giving exemption that someone will be taken in the place of the one exempted. Mobility Bureaux. The M.F.G.B. have agreed to set up a Cen- tral .Mining Mobility Bureaux, whose main function apjiears to be to lind employment in mines in other districts for miners who are working short time: (b) to maintain the output of coal in those district* where every ton that can be produced is of importance; and (e) generally to bring about the more productive utdisation of labour in the coal-mining industry. There are '-ci'ta in allowances for travelling ex- penses, and a lso subsistence pay or lodging money, and this continues for eseven days, after his employment it] 11 in which he is a volunteer, tenm.ua.tes. One is glad to see such a clause as this one That no volunteer or I volunteers can be.sent to any colliery except with the free consent of the Miners' Associa- tion in that district, and .subject always to the established rate of wages and conditions of em- ployment prevailing in the district. If things continue as th°y are at present for any fur- ther length of time, I am inclined to think that the volunteers will have to he of the fair sex." Rut even they are good material for ex- ploitation from the capitalist point of view. C.G.F.

I Rhondda Marx Centenary Celebrations I SPLENDID MARXIAN GATHERINGS AT I TONYPANDY. The Rhondda Socialists observed the centenary of Karl Atarx. tljc lounder of international Socialism by holding two meetings at Tonypandy on Sunday at the Batlis. The afternoon meet- ing took the form of a student's discussion of Marx as a scientist, philosopher and economist. Messrs. Ablett, Tromans, and Councillor Syd Jones, Blackwood, opening the discussion. Mr. Cove, of the Class Teachers, presided. In the evening a public meeting was held attended by a large number of students and the general pub- lic-, which incidentally included the gentlemen in blue. Mr. T. C. Morris, Rhondda Lahour Party, presided and opened with appropriate remarks upon the need of paying our homage to the. life and teaching of Marx, the effects of which we are now feeling, through the studies carried on by the Central Labour College and its students. Messrs. Ted Williams (Mardy) and Mainwaring filled the breach of the speakers, which were billed but were unable to turn up. The ad- dresses given by both were indeed great, and showed to the audience the value of such men to their movement. Both held the audience spellbound whilst they were giving us the key of Marx's teaching, which had a telling effect. Mr. Ablett (miners' agent, Merthyr) kicked off in his usual style, but had to leave early to catch his train. A resolution of protest was passed against the action of the Home Secretary proclaiming the Labour Demonstration in Lon- don in commemoration of Karl Marx. Two most successful meetings and the Rhondda, at least. can say that they paid their tribute to this great mind of the modern working-class move- ment. The meetings concluded by singing the Rtid Flag," which went in fine style.

The tMiners' Comb-Out FEDERATIONS INSTRUCTIONS TO LODGES I EXEMPTION GROUNDS TABULATED. W ith relerence to the comb-out of miners for the army, Mr. Tom Richards, M.P., general secretary of the South Wales Miners' Federa- tion, ,??nt oitt the foilov.in? circular on Tues- day to the various lodges giving instructions as to d/(. mode of procedure and indicating the illo([(? of 'Ind indl(-atin, t- l ie All workmen between the ages of 18 years and 8 months and 32 years on the 1st May, 1918, are to be called up for medical examina- tion. On)y those of Grade 1 are to be posted for tlio.t? ol(jrra(l e I are to be po?sted for The com h-out is to apply to all the employees at the collieries, including, officials, with the ex- ception of the clerical staff, who are not called upon. The employers can make applications for ex- emptions upon the ground of indispensability for workmen engaged in the following occupa- tions on ly: Winding enginemen, electricians, stokers, fitters and mechanics, operators of coal cutters, blacksmiths and strikers, main haulage enginemen, and main pumps enginemen. All applications for exemptions, irrespective of n embership of some other Union, must be con- sidered by the Federation committees. Committees are empowered to consider ap- pnds from the men called up for medical exami- nation or service, and are authorised to recom- mend the cancellation of a calling-tip paper on any of the following grounds —(a) .That the workman was under 18 years and 8 months on May 1st, 1918, or was over 32 years of age on that date; (b) that the calling-lip of the work- man would entail exceptional domestic hardship; (c) that the family has already contributed a reasonable proportion of its members for mili- tary service. The committee having decided for any of the foregoing reasons to recommend that a workman should be granted exemption shall immediately forward his name and full particu- lars with his ealling-up papers and setting forth dIP grounds for their recommendation to the miners' agent for the district, who will take the necessary steps for presenting the same to the recruiting authorities. I THE MARRIED MEN. I (. ;oiiset|uent upon the possibility of married men having to he ealIpd lip in this comb-out. the committees are entitled to review the cases recommended by them for exemption under the recent comb-out of unmarried men. when the test of Clause 5 (b) should be applied. Notice jvith lull particulars of the withdrawals of any exemptions under this clause should be sent to the miners' agent, who will forward them to the recruiting authorities. The Council have not yet heen supplied with the total number of workmen required. Imme- diately this infcfrmationis available and the quota fixed for each colliery, it will be sent to ag(,nt, The quota for the 6,000 to be called up this month will be in a few days. The suggestion that certain areas and collieries were to lie exempted has been cancelled. It is important that the colliery committees should exercise the power of supervising the claims for exemption, which will otherwise lie left in the hands of some other bodies who can- not have the sa-me local knowledge to arrive at a fair and equitable decision. We are informed that the applications for exemptions upon the grounds of indispensability of etfl-tifijeated colliery itian,ag4ej-s, iin4el- man- apyrs. agents, and underground surveyors are to be dealt- with by his Majesty's inspectors of mines. It is officially stated that the men affected win be called up for medical examination imme- diately.

Rhymney Valley Notes I A Gelligaer Education Claim. I Gelligaer Council on Tuesday adopted a reso- lution that the urban district, now having an estimated population of 41,998, should become autonomous for the purpose of administering the ?'d neat-ion Acts, and that tht- President of the Hoard of Education he asked to insert a clause in the Bill now before Parliament to con- vert all urban authorities having a population of 20,000 or over into autonomous areas. In the discussion it was asserted that the Glamor- gan County Education Committee was possessed of an "autocratic touch," and that its officials were un-get-at-able." Mr. Edward Richards, J.P., defended the County Education Commit- tee. Education, being a matter of national con, eern, should be kept above the narrow limits of urban ideas and urban prejudices.

Merthyr Notes Firemen's Classes. I The Firemen's Classes have been recommenced under the able tuition of Mi1. Hill a.t the Peny- darren Centre, and the A her Fa 11 Cookery School. Students desiring to enrol should see the an- nouncements issued by the local Education Authority. A Band Rumour. ,'I We are requested to deny the rumours "which | have gained currency over the week-end to the effect that the Merthyr Municipal Band refused to turn out for the funeral of ex-Pte. B. Thomas, last Sunday, unless paid. Mr. Millward. the band secretary desires it to be known that there is absolutely no basis of truth in the rumour, that neither he nor any member or official of the band had received any request to give their ser- vices, and that the first they knew of the inter- ment was when they saw the cortege or heard the rumours. As a matter of fac-t the band has always <riven its services free on these sad occa- sions. except in such cas.?s as the funera has fallen on a week day, when the expenses of the men compelled to lose time from their work to be in attendance have been sought. We know that considerable feeling has been engendered by the circulation of the rumour, and we trust that those who have been so assiduous in spreading a mistaken and unfortunate story that reflects upon the band will be equally energetic- in un- doing the mischief that has been worked. The band and its officials are doing a splendid work for the town at no- small personal inconvenience and pecuniary loss, and is worthy of all the sup- port that Merthyr people can give it. without having added to its difficulties the kicks that misinformed people have given it. TO THE EDITOR. I I Sir.—I would be obliged if you will allow me a small space ir your jwvper to correct the re- port which is circulating the town, that the Municipal Band had refused to turn out on Sunday last at the military funeral. to state that neither the secretary or bandmaster were approached on the matter, therefoTe they could not be expected to be present.—\ours truly. Moccax Evans. £ 1,920 Wanted. The completion of fourteen partly-built houses purchased by the Merthyr Corporation at Gelli- faelog is estimated to cost Housing Committee, on Tuesday decided to submit the plans to the Local Government Board for ap- proval with a. request that the necessary loan should he sanctioned. The Zeebrugge Mist. Mr. Zachariah atkins, a t enyoarren painter and decorator, claims that if the arti- ficial mist which made the recent British naval venture at Zeebrugge possible is not wholly an invention submitted by him some two months ago to the Inventions Board it was at ]l'N->t based upon his idea. His device, he sa's, is extra- ordinarily simple and easily attachable to all kinds of vessels. Observing how a gathering mist gradually obscured a mountain or hill, he thought that by producing this phenonema ar- tificially shipping could be rendered to all in- tents and purposes invisible. This was the birth of his idea. Sir Eric Geddes. First Lord of the Admiralty, has now before him details of Mr. Watkins' invention and is inquiring into his dai III for rec-ogn i rion. Gellifaelog Housing Scheme. I It was reported to the Merthyr Housing Com- 'mittee on Tuesday that the scheme for the erection of 160 houses at Gellifaelog had been amended to 140 to meet the requirements of the Local Government Board inspector. Mr. L. M. Francis drew, attention to the fact that the Local Government Board were insisting that only 12 houses per acre should be built, and in the erection of 140 houses on ten acres at Gelli- faelog the corporation might be jeopardising their chances of the Government grant. Eventually it was decided to submit the amended plans to the board for approval provisional upon their not entailing a disqualification as to the proposed -grant. Stipendiary's Warning. Following their keeping their fish and elup establishments in Brecon-road open after 9.30 p.m., Margaret Clarke and Margaret Altmeyer were summoned at Merthyr Police-Court on Tuesday for offences under the Lighting, Heat- ing and Power Order, 1918. The Stipendiary (Mr. R. A. Griffith) dismissed the cases on the payment of cosis. but added a warning that any future offences under the new regulations would be met by heavy fines. Solicitor and Scavengers. I Mr. NV. k. Ma dure Phillips, .solicitor, com- plained to the Merthyr Corporation on Tuesday that their scavenging contractors would not re- move refuse from his back-floor, and added that if this was not done the only course left to him, it appeared, was to take proceedings against the Corporation. Mr. T. A. Rees (Town Clerk) By a recent decision of the High Court refuse npist be collected even though it is placed at a back-door. Mr. L. M. Francis said that if Mr. Phillips' wishes were met. he (Mr. Francis) would certainly want the scavengers to collect from his back-door. It was subsequently de- cided to write to Mr. Phillips requesting him to put his refuse receptacles outside the house. Penydarren Tradesman's Will. Mr. Alfred Isaac Frdman. of t>. pf>nVOTVD-1 terra?. Penydarren, ??rthyj'. pa"'nhrokr and? outfitter at New-road Dowlais, who died on July 10th, aged 61 years, intestate, left property of the' valtio of -C2f)13:10, the net personalty being £28.0;{. Letters of administration have been granted to Mrs. Sarah Ann Freedman, the widow. Merthyr's Lead Followed. Swansea Education Committee are following Merthyr's example by entertaining a recom- mendation to open a school for mentally-defec- tive children. The matter, a fter discussion, was referred for a full report. Singing Festivals. Merthyr and Dowlais Calvinistic Methodists held their linniii) cymanfa ganu at Pontmorlais I Chapel, Merthyr, on Monday. Our Condolences. I We regret to announce the death in action of Pte. Robert B. Southey, Machine Gun Corps, son of Mr. W. H. Southey (of Messrs. H. W. Southey and Sons, Limited, proprietors of the "Merthyr Express") and Mrs. Southey, "Hart- lands." Merthyr. A lad of nineteen, he was educated at Stonehouse, enlisted some twelve months ago, and was <1 rafted to France on Eas ter Sunday, by a strange coincidence the first anniversary of the death from wounds of his uncle. Major H. H. Southey, Welsh Regiment. We extend our sincerest sympathy'to Mr. and Mrs. Southey.

LITERARY. UNITARIAN PAMPHLETS on "The Bible," Heaven," and ",Hell," given post free. —Miss BARMBT, Mount Pleasant, Sidmouth.

T rimsaran Notes I Marx Celebrations. An open-air Labour Day demonstration was held at the above place on Sunday, .May otli, when Mr. T. R. Davies spoke on "Karl Marx's Centenary." "The proletarians have nothing to Jose but tilt-it- TlieN- I)ave i world to win. Workers of all countries unite!

Swansea Valley Notes I Labour and Mr. J. Williams, M.P. Thirty-six Labour delegates, representing 10,000 workers in the Gower Division of Glam- organshire, at Swansea, on Saturday unanimous- ly decided to endorse the candidature of Mr. J. AViHianis, ALP., the present member.

Rhondda Notes I S.W.M.F. I The following i* the result of the ballot at I Rhondda collieries for the election of four Exe- cutive memljeis — Naval, Lady Berth' it Pen v- Lewis, Trevor graig. Ynyshir Treh'f'd Tom Smith, Penygraig 17^9 4.58 022 Noah Rees.C'lydach Vale 1698 :3.,)i 3o2 Rees M. 1(>p,Trehprhe,.t ]:!I:{ 227 256 Dan James, Yny.shir 1204 .14o 651 Jack Huglres, Llwynypia 29u 195 375 W. H. Mainwaring. Clydach a h. 271 185 383 Rhys Evans. Treorchy.. 216 107 236 Matthew Banner Ton Pent re I 209 70 224

Red Flag Over Berlin ) The Vossische Zcitung says the keys of the Russian Embassy in Berlin haq. been handed over by the Spanish Ambassador to the new Rus- sian Ambassador, M. Joffe. The various Imperial em blems are being replaced by Republican ones. On Mr. Joffe's orders, the red flag was hoisted over the Embassy in celebration of May Day.

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The Finsbury Park Demonstration. REPTILE PRESS AND FUNK BUREAU- CRATS PROSCRIPTION. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—London, the capital of the country, which is claiming the championship of democracy against the forces of reaction and militarism, has this week been subjected to an action of arbitrary despotism unexcelled in any city in the world. For years public meetings have been addressed by Socialists and Labour men in Finsbury Park. Despite the most carefully engineered attempts at rioting by means of organised gangs of bullies. these meetings have been for the last two years uniformly successful. On Labour Sunday last year 35,000 people assembled and there was no disturbance. This year a similar meeting was announced for the same day. Eight local Trades Councils, over one hundred Trades Union branches and thousands .of individuals were to march to the Park in organised proces- sions and attend the meeting. There were to be fifty speakers, most of them well known Trade Unionists or politicians, and every one of them nominated by a representative Labour body. Public feeling was enthusiastic. The incompe- tence and tyranny of the Government had en- sured that. Everything pointed to a demonstra- tion of such strength as to deal a serious blow to an already tottering administration. Lord Beaverbrook, who holds office under that administration, apparently feared the same thing. This gentleman owns the Daily Ex- press." On Thursday and Friday of last week that journal started one of its now familiar campaigns. The Sunday demonstration was unpatriotic, it did not represent Labour, it was the work of a few cranks, an immense counter- deuionstraition was being organised, there would be a riot, the authorities must stop it—that was the line of attack. Whereupon the authorities obediently stopped it. Of course, if Labour and the general public, knowing these facts, choose to accept the situa- tion. there is no more to be said at present. The acceptance of so much of militarism has in that case brought alxMit that pa-tient docility which is characteristic of slavish peoples. But at least the facts ought to be known, and I venture to think that the knowledge will at last make men and women realise that the continuance of the present tyranny is intolerable. It is no longer a question of whether the Government is capable of winning the war or of negotiating a peace; it is no longer a question of whether any shreds of our liberty can be preserved; it is a question to-day of whether that group of hu- manity which is known as the British nation shall continue to live. If there is no statesman of sufficient ability, power and courage to dis- place Mr. Lloyd George and assume the reins of office, if there is not enough spirit in the mil- lions of the people to bid the dozen or so of men who are now wrecking the country begone, then indeed we may say Ichaood, for the glory is de- parted.—I am, yours, etc., B. N. L.vngdon-Davies, The National Council for Civil Liberties. ;13, Henrietta Street, London, W.C. 2. May 6th. 11012.

Peace Diplomacy I MR. J. H. THOMAS, M.P., COMPLAINS OF I SECRECY IN PARLIAMENT. [ Addressing his constituents at Derby on Sun- day, Mr. J. H. Thomas. M.P., the general secre- tary of the N.U.R., said two things stood put magnificently during the past six months—the heroism of our troops and the solid confidence of our people. There was illotl)et. inattel--tlta,t of secret dip- lomacy. They were told twelve months ago hy manto sections of the Press that it would be wicked for Labour leaders to meet Germans. They were toid that the thing was monstrous. Some of such leaders took an opposite view, hut not because they wanted to sell the pass, and not be- cause they were ashamed of their case. They know how the proposal was turned down I"; but what was to be said of the recent revelations which proved that France had been negotiating in the past with Austria, and that negotiations of some kind were conducted on behalf of this country by Genera! Smuts? "Parliament." added Mr. Thomas, "knew nothing about. It. Therefore I say deliberately that it had better lie clearly understood, in fact Labour demands, that with all the sacrifices Labour men are making in this waf, which after all was made by diplomats, peace has most ce?ta?nly to be made by the peo 1| pie as a whole." t

I Labour and the General Election. I SPECIAL FIGHTING FUND. I TO THE EDITOR. Dear Sir.—-As you are doubtless aware, the Local Government Board have announced that the new rister under the Representation of the People Act will be ready for use on October 1st, 1918. which means that we may have a General Election within a very short time from the date named. In view of the international situation, after-war problems and the great ex- tension of the Parliamentary Franchise, it is essential that the Labour Party should, as far as possible, afford an opportunity to the elec- tors, old and new, women and men, soldiers and: civilians, to exercise a choice as between the candidates of the orthodox parties and the nominees of the Labour Party. To enable this to be done with any reasonable prospect of suc- cess immediate steps must be taken nationally and locally under the new constitution of tht.e Party. In order that the National Executive of the Labour Party may be in a position to assist local organisations and candidates it will be necessary to create as speedily as possible a Special Fighting Fund. It must be obvious that our General Election needs cannot be adequately met by the annual payments of the affiliated organisations. It therefore becomes imperative for us to invite the assistance of the rank and file of our movement. If at every trade union branch and every La- bour and Socialist meeting a special collection could be arranged for the General Election -Fighting Fund a handsome contribution could' be placed at the disposal of the Executive. If Labour and Socialist organisations coild, in ad dition, arrange for the appointment of properly authorised collectors for their areas it would probably he found that there are many local sympathisers with our propaganda on war aims. the new social order, anti our great effort ar the next General Election. Further, if General Secretaries could arrange for the insertion of this appeal in the journals of thdr societies or in local pajiers it woulir doubtless be of great assistance to the Special Fighting Fund. May I, therefore, ask all to recognise the great economic, social, and political possibilities of the opportunity provided by the coming General Election. Candidates in larger num- bers than ever before must be nominated. Ejec- tion agents must be appointed. Demonstrations and conferences must he organised. Litleraturet must be distributed on a considerable scale. With money it can be done, and we ask thr- movement to help us.—Yours sincerely. Arthur ±mvm?Rsox. I

The Electric Theatre The super-play that is to be screened at the Electric during the initial half of next week's. sessions is an unique piece of dramatic art, in which vigorous yet artistic treatment is metoo to difficult pieces of characterisation by those- favourite fihn actors Myrtle Steadman and Wal- lace Reid. The picture is entitled Prison without Walls." Billy West is to contribute another two reels of honest fun in his now comedy, "The Millionaire," whilst Gloria' Romance is particularly exciting in its 17th episode. There are a host of other good things, in the programme. For the ultimate three days Fanny Ward it* topping as the beloved actress 'of Drury Lane- in an old time love romance that smells of sweet lavender and old oak furnishings—"The Win- ning of Sally Temple." There is something ir- resistible about the crinoline days as recalled by the cinematograph that almost makes those coaching days seem idealistic. In this there is the usual prize-fighter, the stage, the wick-ef lord and the happy denouement. The Red A<-e" that opened so propitiously this week promises to be the (test of all mystery serials, and a particularly alluring episode is down for- this programme; which also includes a Pimple comedy, "Pimple, P.C." The present week has embraced two splendid programmes, The False Friend that topped' from Monday to Wednesday was one of the most powerful romances ever projected, and there was a ludicrously funny Billy West. The current programme lias brought back dainty Marguerite- Clark in a wonderful tive-reeler, "The Ama- zons." though the introduction of The Red Act" serial in a dramatic opening has been quite as popular as the big feature. Printed and Published by the National Labour Press, Ltd., at the Labour Pioneer Press, Williams' Square, Merthvr Tydfil, SATURDAY, MAY Ilth, 1918.