Pioneer

Rhymney Valley Notes I Labour Seat Vacant. Bedwellty Urban District Council met on Tuesday. The seat of Mr. J. S. Beaver was de- clared vacant owing to his non-attendance. The Vacancy thus created is a Labour .seat. New Wards. The boundary of the C-efn Forest Ward (or, Peiigam Garden Village) was decided upon, comprising; of j14 acres with a population of 3,200. by the Bedwellty Council on Tuesday. and Phillipstown, 215 acres, with a population of :2,400. It was also decided to seal the coun- terpart-lease with the Powell-Duffryn Co. with regard to the park adjoining Pengam Garden Village. Labour and Food Control. During discussion on the appointment of Labour members to Food Control Committees Air. Lewis Lewis stated at Tuesday's meeting of the Bedwellty Council that of 25,000 such re- presentatives in the country only 3,000 were properly Labour men, and he challenged the council to state that one of the members of the local committee was elected by a Labour organi- sation. He understood, that the Commissioner had stated that the additional three members should be elected by the trades councils. He moved the resolution of the Council appointing three additional Labour members on the Bed- wellty Food Control Committee should be res- cinded, this having been passe d in defiance of the names submitted b.v the New Tredegar Trades Council and the Blackwood Womèn's Labour League. An amendment was put forward to defer the matter. until the next meeting so as to ascertain the view of the one mem ber of the three chosen who had taken office. The amendment was carried.

C.O.'s PETITION FOR CONDEMNED SOLDIER. Mr. Dorian Herbert, a conscientious objector ti t has forwarded to the Home Sec re- i tnry a petition containing signatures of nearly .SCO eoiiitf'H ntious objectors praying for the re- i pr'eve of the young sfldier, David Greenwood, who lie- io. prison awaiting execution.

Hill's Plymouth Collieries. NEW GENERAL MANAGER APPOINTED. j Conferences between the representatives of the Merthyr District of the South Wales Minersr Federation and the Hillp-Plynionth Colliery C-o. (Ltd.), with regard to the notices tendered to about 400 of the workmen at the Pentrebaeh and Abereanaid pits, have been held during the week, and although 110 definite arrangements have wt been made, it i.s probable that a re- organisation scheme will he agreed to whereb\ the necessity for dismissing the men will be ob- viated. A further conference is to he held to- night (Friday). Meanwhile, it is announced. Mr. D. I Thomas. M. F. manager of t!?e Copper Pit, en a,?I)oiiited genei-.tl manae?t- j of the H!'IhPlymont!i eoHier?s. wMIsr M).\I. Standridge, Aberdare, succeeds him. •'

4 < SCCE-SHOP ASSISTANTS'  NEGOTIATIONS. ( A? a result of continued negotiation* for im- provements in wages, h?w?n the N?ton? Amalgamated Union of Shop Assistants, Ware- -j housemen and C?'ks and Messrs. Harrips. L]:mc!ty. the Union ha" bft? infornied^hat fur- t HK'r advent ? have b?'n .n?-?n to the emplny?s and a p'omis? of fnrth?)' revision of W:1g in the near future has been made. Printed and Published by tIle National Labour j,' Press. Ltd., at the Labour Pioneer Press Williams' Square, Merthyr Tydfil. Kr, 11)18. "Ie

Merthyr Notes Pastor and the Law.. Jacob Lraelstam. minister to the Merthyr Jewish Congregation and a Russian subject, was sijiiiiiioncql befol-e the Merthyr Stipendiary on Friday for failing to notify the. registration o iff (""I oiffcer (Mr. J. A. Wilson) of his return to the town frojii a journey to London. For the de- fence it was stote(I by )11-. F. S. Simons (of Messrs. Simons, Smyth and Daniel, solicitors, Merthyr) that defendant arrived too bite at night to (-all at the registration oiffce. Next day a pressure and ministerial duties prevented him fn>m doing so, but the day following he re- ported his return of his own free will. Stipen- diary (Mr. H. A. Griffith): I cannot overlook this offence because defendant occupies a certain position. 1 am afraid the idea is much too pre- valent in this and other districts that because some people are better off than others they ought to have a diffqpviir law. I am not pre- pared to assent to that view on any account. I presume-this man is well educated and has evi- dently considerable experience of travelling about the country. "He knew of these regula- tions perfectly well, and I suppose lie had an idea that he could afford to meat the law with indifference. A fine of 1^0 (or seven days) was imposed. Presentation. m t On the completion of 40 years' service as the postmistress at Penydnrren, Mis. J. Cook, Mer- thyr, was presented n';th bag containing 30 guineas by the members of St. John's Church, of which slit. was organist and a Sunday school teacher. Pony's Wretched Condition. '"After { had tUfceu the harness off it .the pony could scarcely sbnd," said Police-Sergt. Huntet- describing the wretched condition of a horse, with permit-ting and causing which to be cruelly ill-treated. Mrs. Mary Ann Davies, the owner, Picton-street, and James Smith, Cae- draw, who looked after it, were re*|>eetivel „• summoned at Merthyr Police-court OIL Tuesday, and 21 days). A summons against a thirteen-year-old lad, who drove the fnunal. for illtreating it. was dismissed. V.C. 's Homecoming. Sergeant John Collins, of the Hoyal\rcL,11 F^usilier-, who won in Palestine the Y.C. and D.C.M. and Inter seciued mention in dispatches is home at Plantation-street, Penydarren, on thirty leave. He is to be accorded a civic reception. A Soldier's Alleged Threat. Charged at Merthyr on Tuesday with conceal- ing an Army deserter, James Looney. a woman, Alice Watkins. stated to have been living with him for some time, of Section-houses, was fined 40/- (01 21 dat-s). Police-sergeant Hunter, when he arrested Looney in a hedroom at the woman's w q told I)N- liei- house, was told by Itisa slii,iiie. He has » done his bit. He has been out three tunes." Defendant to the magistrates stated that the man. who was a deserter from Fiance for four months, hiding himself in xhe bedroom as he heard [he police-officer's knock on the door. said. "If von mention my name T will put the bayonet tltlongh 3-011.11 Reservoir Danger. Merthyr Town Council were informed on Tues- day by their engineers with regard to the new Taf Fechan Reservoir works that it was doubt- ful whether the timber in the treljch would be able to resist the pressure of the ground much longer. They also suggested approaching the Local Government Hoard with a view to obtain- ing sanction for a loan of about- £ 4,<HH) to fill the trench with concrete before it collapsed, a possibility which was .seriously threatened. The suggestion was adopted. Stipendiary and Veracity' of Police. The difference between the evidence of the police-officers, defendant and the witness as to the tiWt, in this case is so mu row that I don't think it would be safe to convict," said the Merthyr Stipendiary (Mr. R. A. Griffith) 011 Tuesday in dismissing a summons for supplying intoxicants four 111 mutes after closing-time against James Glyn Davies, licensee of the Grey- hound Inn. At the same time," he added, "I mishit to be distinctly understood that! eskst no reflection whatever upon the 'good faith of SPl"gt. H lIntr and the other oiffcer tl)oli(- Constuble John Davie-). In my opinion they did all they possibly could. On .tht. other hand I must say the licensee did rot act reasonably. He was invited to go to the Post Office to te-t the time, and lit. ought to have done so. If his tlock, in which he ha> such confidence, was cor- rect there would have been an end of the inci- ter there and then. and he need not have come here to-day to talk nonsense." Defendant Was ordered to pay costs. Summonses against men found in the house were withdrawn accordingly.' Temperance Patriarth." Tiie Sons of Temperanee of Great Britain and Ireland have elected Mr. Isaac Fdwards, Mer- thyr, their Most "Woriln Patriarch for the coming j'ear. Schoolboys for the Land. Merthyr Secondary Sc-hooK Committee on Wednesday dee'ded to give every facility to bring into being a proposal of the Local Gm"- ernment Hoard, that- boys in' s-eeondary schools should assist on the land in the harvest, ami arrangements for d'a-ling with any volunteers for this work were left to the Chairman OIl". F. Phillips), the Director of Education (Mr. R-l i.vs Eli-as) and the headmasters of the two secondary schools -in the town. Judge's First Brief. Judge Rowland Uowbinds. when welcomed to Merthyr County-court on Thursday as successor to .Judge Hryn i? oIkm is. who has been appointed to ft tliit his associa- tions with Merthyr were interesting, for it was fr<)?! Merthyr that lie received his first brief for High-court, ami from that iow-n a continuous flow of iiiK'ff, had rca<-hed h im ever since. Ac- cord ily. he added, it ecu Id be understood that he entertained verv I'neadlv b-eh'ngs towards Merthyr. m Spaces for Pauper Burials. -%Lelitiitt- To,.i-ii oii had undt r consideration a .proposal which Nl-il.S sT, (I to lie <?usins: stl'on resentment in tbf town—a '?'- that .graves in?h??;tf)?".r);))? Iui)! :?!??]j))?' 00111 inencla-tioh from the Cemeteries Committee for twenty year- or u|,v.ai d-, if ?.')., purchased h\ the relatives of the pet -wis buired in tii- ui witlun a stipulated period. should he utilised for paupu- buri ))?. \i). David -Jones, >i^rthyr Vide, .r.entioi'ed that there were many ]K'ople 1 « in the army who might not see the' annuonee- liient of the committee's intention, and would accordingly, although perhaps desirous of doipg so, not be able to take steps to purchase grave spaces of sentimental interest to their families. What course had been taken to acquaint the public of the position- he asked. Had the rela- tives concerned been communicated with? Mr T. A. Rees (Town Clerk):. Only by an adver- tisement in the press. Mr. Jones moved that the matter should be referred back to the Ceme- teries Committee for further consideration. Mr L M. Jones seconded. Aid. Charles Griffiths: Why has this advertisement been inserted ? There should ha. e been confirmation by the Council. Clerk We are 'short of graves for paupers. Eventually the motion to refer the matter for further consideration was adopted.

Pontypridd Notes. I I.L.P. Meetings. -u. I On Sunday, Mary 20th, Mark Stan- was billet! to give a lecture on Lesson% from Russia," but did not put in an appearance. In fairness to Mark Starr it was explained that he had written stating that it was impossible to attend. Griff. Maddocks, the district mine-examiner, kindly came to the rescue and took for his sub- ject "The message from Russia." Griff, was* very much concerned with the effect the change of government in Kussia would have upon the working-class in general through the gross mis- representations which are ajipearing in the daily press about the Bolsheviks, and it behoved the students of the classes to correct at all times their fellow workers whenever they heard them expressing themselves against the Bol- sheviks, for the Russian Revolution, Griff stared, was the highest expression of Marxism the world has ever seen. It was a very good address, and the members enj oyed it thoroughly. It was the means of drawing a very good dis- cussion. Alf. Major was in the chair. During Whit-week Owen Hughes, one of the local mem- bers, had been addressing meetings at Blaina, Abertitiery. and Brynmawr; from the reports I hear h" gave a very good account of himself and the Labour Movement. Owen can always be relied upon to i n interesting address, and what surprise-, me is that lie is not galled upon more frequently. Tile I.L.P. brancli came out on the right side over the picnic, the com- mittee being able to hand over to the treasurer U lIs. 3d. Hats off to Major. Study Circle. The .students of the C.L.C. class have formed themselves imto a Study Circle, meeting every Sunday morning at 10.30 a.m. They have un- der consideration Mary Ma rev's pamphlet Shop Talks on Feonomics," some of the mem- bers have lK'en through this pamphlet ullder Ted Williams' (Ma rdy) care, and are fairly well versed, and so the new members have a chance to be put 011 the jiglu track. Mr. Gardner j (X.U.R.) is the chairyian. It is a pity that more railway workers do not attend this sort of study, not that the miners are very much in evidence; they, too, are very backward in their attendance. N.C.F. The X.C.F. held a delegate meeting at the 1.L.P. Hall on Saturday evening last. Jess Humphries presided. Miss Hughes wasfcpresent and gave some very useful information and ad- vice. The proposition that was mentioned about telief should be made gt national one. A. J. Cook (Havod). What are you doing in your lodge or branch iN,-ifc, i ii.(l family during his imprisonment. I understand that the Great Western Lodge has given a donation.

Mid-Rhondda Notes I, THE TREDEGAR STRIKE. The Tredegar strike is having a keen atten- tion of the Mid-Uhondda workers and the rank J and file are in perfect sympathy with the fight that the Tredegar workmen are making. And there is 110 question that if a ballot was taken the result would he in favour of whole-heartedly supporting the strikers, either by declaring 1 sympathetic strike or a financial support. The Mid-Rhondda men have had much the same ex- perience jye had to fight the employers and the executive on a question of principle. It is rather a curious thing that the executive al- ways so stupifies itself hy its tenacious adher- ence to the so-called constitutional method as to bliud itself to tile principles that are involved in the different disputes. There must be some- thing radically wrong with the executive out- look when time after time a body of men, many of whom have a wide experience in the LaUbur 1 movement, while in a dispute with the eni- piayers have to fight tooth and nail with the very men who are paid for watching their interests. If such things do not prove that! there is something wrong with both the machin- ery of the organisation and the men who handle it, nothing will prove it. There is never a dis- pute. in which a principle is involved, that the executive does not side with the employers and ask the men to compromise, and lias to he fought and defeated before it takes the men's case in -earnest. We are told to trust our leaders! Rhondda Socialist Society. The Rhondda Socialist Society had a very in- teresting business meeting last Sunday. The question of re-organising the branch was thor- oughly discussed, and with a little effort we hope to see the branch making .good progress, aI, though quite a number of the boys have f>een called up. •

Abercynon Notes I.L.P. We were fortunate in securing Guardian Noah Tromans, of Mountain Ash, as our speaker for last Sunday. His subject was Reconstruction of the Poor Law after the War. Our com-' rade showed us the work of the Board of Guar- dians and examined critically the new proposals for the abolition of the Board of Guardians. He made it clear that the new proposals would make a bad system very mufh worse, as the members of th^ proposed .Maintenance Com- mittees would be nominated by the Town Conn- ed and not he subject to the test of an dee-tíon as arc the present members of the Board of Guardians. The strange thing is that the LL.P. and rife Fabian Society are support'ng the new proposal*. The meeting was tit(, n suc-iss, although it is the first that t. re- organised branch has run. NVxt Sunday, Mrs. Boyce (W.S.F.. London) will sjienk at 7.30 p.m. ill all readers please i cniember. Women es- pecially invited.

I Briton Ferry Notes Jerusalem and Peace. Under, the auspices of Jerusalem Baptist ] Churchv a public peace meeting was held on Thursday, May 23rd. the speaker being the Rev. Pulesfcon Jones, M.A. (Pwllheli,) the noted blind preacher. The rev. gentleman gave a very fine address, describing the present war as tone of interests and not of ideals. I.L.P. Meeting. The I.L.P. held an open-air meeting at the Crown Park on Sunday, May 26t.h. F. W. Jowett. -Vt.P., was announced as speaker, but for some reason was unable to be present. He was deputised by local comrades, .Geo. Gethin and D. J. Mort. A great crowd gat hered, and the addresses were much appreciated. Sad Fatality. A sad fatality befell Mr. Arnold (ht'ad dock gate-man) on Monday list. In crossing the line he was run over. He was immediately taken to Swansea Hospital where lie succumbed to his injuries.

I The Electric Theatre For next week the Electric announce two programmes of superlative merit. On Monday the pride of position goes to an astounding five-reoler, "The Jaguar's Claws, a wonder- fully well thought out story, featuring some re-, ntarkable acting amid superb settings. The comedy is led by a aew Triangle that touches the very apex of burlesque. "War by a Fowl is the title of the picture, and for a plot it has restaurant keeper who flirts with a waitress, and who has a suspicious wife. Then the villain takes a hand, altering the lobel on chef's pre- sent he gets the master of the preparatory de- partment sacked and secures his job. There is excellent work, but the chef is a man of spirit, and returning with bombs and other lettal in- struments the pictures closes with explosions, almost as quick and heavy as the explosions of laughter that punctuate -the wdiole length of this ludicruous stoa y. Gloria's Roniaemi" ends in this programme after a run that has been remarkably successful throughout the whole 20 weeks. From Thursday The Flashlight- Mystery is the top-liner, and since this type of play is de- servedly well up in the esteem of Merthyr pic- t^irephiles it is sure of a great reception. It is one .of the best "of the mystery star pictures, and "in it Miss Dorothy Phillips exhibits a very high standard of (inema artistry. B 1 ]IV West is funnier than ever in a comedy interlude. The Chief (?ool?." It i peculiar that'at a time when food should bo anything but a -joke, the best of the pidnrp comics an' treating of the restau- rant ir a li?ht vein. "The Red A<'e" reaches Part 6, and now that it is in stride we have had an opportunity of guaging its worth. It is- one! of the best. The programmer for* the current week have been tip-top. From Monda.\ to WedneV.lav "Freckles," with its delightful sentimental touches, -.?o?eU d?ne by Ja(k Pickford and J?o'xse Huff, and its great out of doors interest easily stood out as one of the fihest human dramas the cinema has given us, wdiil^t the TriangV Voinedy, "Her Betters Below, was a mirth bringer of supra-delight. The current programme is headed by a prob- lem play of unusual power, The Victory of ConsMence," featuring L,o. Tellegen and beau- tif'dCico.U'd?ley. Bmy W est is a scream as tlfiil (.I(?o. 1 1(-1 ?? v. Ililiv NN ,(?,t I, 'I S('i*(',Ijli IS ??in'eutof?The Hed Ace." Pl.WtiOKK. I I I

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I Labour and the Next Election. I I Sir,-ln his artiele in your issue of the •_>-5th of May, Mr. L. Woolf does not seem to have gained much insight from the history of the wrongs inflicted 011 the working class by the capitalist- class during the present war. Under the Munitions Act, fhe Military Service Ac-t<s, and the Defence of the Realm Act. gross injus- tice has been done, which no working itiail or woman animated with the spirit of liberty could tolerate for a moment. Yet, misled by the un- sound doctrine of patriotism, bewitched by the glamour of St. Stephens, and entangled in the snare of their political ambition. Labour leaders have not hesitated to betray the working class by supporting the Asquith and Lloyd George ad- ministrations in the conduct of the war abroad and the tyrannous oppression of Labour at home. They have acted as lieutenants of the Capitalist class in recruiting campaigns in the Cabinet, in Government offices, and in tolerat- ing despotic measures passed with a view to keeping labour chained up during the period of the war. It has been prc/red up to the hilt that the political enemy of the working class is the capitalist class, and I do not hesitate to say that if Labour leaders underestimate the forces and cunning of the enemy, a considerable sec- tion of the rank and file is under no such delu- sion. AS BAD. I They realise, if Mr. Woolf does not, that the Liberal Asquith and his servile followers are just as much the enemy as Lloyd George, the Radical renegade, and'his backers are. Any Government, no matter what its label may be, which conies into power while tfie Capit.alist system remains intact, is bound to be the Exe- cutive Committee of the class in control of the means of production, i.e., the capitalist dass. As. economically speaking, there is no iden- tity of interests between Capital and Labour— the one enjoying its power and wealth by means of its ownership of the means of produc- tion and tlte exploitation of the labour-power of the other--it. is impossible for the Labour Party to have a policy and programme on which to unite the working class politically un- less it demands the surrender of the capitalist class, the abolition of the wages system, or- ganises on the industrial field the power where- with to back up that demand. This is not a policy for leaders, but for the rank" and file to determine. It is they the lead, and they cannot do that until they make their indmstrial organisations the expression of solidarity and strength instead of wl>at they are to-day—the expression of disunity and weakness. SUSPECT POLICY. I 1 agree with Mr. Woolf that it is most im- I portant that Labour should force the capitalist class to terminate the war on the basis of the principles of freedom and democracy, and I fur- ther agree that a majority of the workers are so sick of the war that they would hack up such a policy. But it is also important that this majnri," should be convinced of the Labour Party's bona-lides as regards its peace policy. So long as the Party tolerates the war and teaders who support the war and those who follow the lead of these capitalist hirelings, how can its peacw policy be other than suspect r On the other hand, leaders of the peace section instead of insisting on the only sound basis for a poli- of n,, i st, zig n I)t- tical labour movement—the principle of the class struggle—have actually suggested that they would be prepared to support an administration i headed by the Tory Lansdowie if I t-Ilto power, with a view to negotiating peace, and, incidentally, to staving .off the disaster which I hope will overtake the international capitalist class as a result of this execrable war! No wonder thousands of workers have no hi lJi whatever in the Labour Party! In my judg# ment this party is a futile organisation. eith;>r as a nttniiu of bringing the war to a close or of freeing diP "workNs from capitalist domination and oppre-?Ion. If the former is acbievtML it will be through a minority aiming at the latter I and declining to aHy itself witTi reactionaries of anv kind—Conservative, Liberal or Labour. i. K. B. SYfVESTED. | I

Industrial Councils & The Governmeit AS SEEN BY THE-MINISTRY OF LABOUR. I STANDING CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE I TO PARLIAMENT. The purpose of the Whitely Report is tl-t. I subject of an interesting leaflet sent out by ttil. Ministry of Labour, entitled Industrial Coun- cils, the Heconimendatdons of the Whiteley Re- port," which it to be had free from the Ministry at Montagu House, Whitehall, S.W.I, or at Lil- Government Information Bureaux. The text deals with the Commission and its recommendations and proceeds to discuss the constitution of th& Councils, their need, proceedure, etc. Perhaps the most important section is that entitled "Industrial Councils and the Govern- ment," from which we learn that: "The pri- mary objcct of Industrial CouiiciLs then is tc, regularise the relations between employers and employed. Hut they will serve another urgent need, and, in so doing, will give to workpeople a status in their respective industries that they have not had hitherto. There is a large bodv of problems which belong both to iiidusti-N- and to politics. They belong to politics, bccause the community is responsible for their solution and the State must act it no other provision is 1| made they belong 10 industry, because thev can be solved only by the knowledge and experi ence of the people actually engaged in industry. Such problems are the regularisation of employ- ment, industrial traming, utilisation of inven- jtions. industrial research, the improvement of I design and quality, legislation affecting work- shop conditions-nil of them questions ir h i,h*" have hitherto been left in the main to em- j plovers, but which in reality constitute an im- portant common interest on the basis of which-' all engaged in an industry can meet. The ter- mination of the war will bring with it a mas.- of new problems of this nature; for example, de- mobilisation, the training of apprentices whose apprenticeship was interrupted b' military ser- vice, t!te settlement in industry of partiany dis- ) a bled men, and, in general, the reconversion of industry to the purposes of peace.. It is ut- gently necessary that the Government should; t be able to obtain without delay the experience I and views of the people actually in indiiti- v- oil all these questions. It proposes, therefore, to treat Industrial Councils as Standing Oonsulta* tive Committees to the Government and the normal channel through which it will seek thc, experience and advice of industries. Further. many of these problems can be handled by each indu-rry for itself, provided that if has an or- ganisation representative J)f all sect-ions and in terests within it. The establish ment of Indus- tria! C?nnciLs ni)! therefore jnnke unnecessary a large amount d 'Government u]terferehce/ wbic-li is ai present unavoidable, nd substitute 7 for it a real measure of self-government in I