Papurau Newydd Cymru
Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru
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I Mr. Henderson and Troelstra.…
I Mr. Henderson and Troelstra. IMPERATIVE NEED FOR RENEWED APPEAL TO GERMANS. FOR DEFINITE STATEMENT ON AIMS AND METHODS. Anent our summary of Troelstra's interview to "1' Humanite" last week, in which refer- ence was made by the Dutch leader to the statements of M. Camille Huysman and Mr. Arthur Henderson, the latter has granted an interview on the subject in the course of which the British leader says that he might have been misled into a too generous estimate of the situation, but everything depended upon a cor- rect appreciation of what was implied in the acceptance of the neutral proposals as a basis of discussion. It would now appear, he adds, that the offer to acvept. the neutral document as a ba."is of discussion had no significance for the German Majority Party, and was not, as he believed, significant of a new spirit, in which that party would be prepared to approach the problems of peace. If, as M.. Troelstra was re- ported to have said, there was no new attitude, it was very unfortunate, for it would mean, failing that new attitude on the part of the German Majority, that the Allied Socialists must on their side adhere strictly to the conclu- sions of the Inter-Allied Conference, which de- clared that all organisations to be represented at the International must make a clear pro-I nouncement by public declaration of their peace terms, and the rights of all peoples to self-deter- mination. Mr. Henderson insisted on the imperative need of again inviting the Germanic parties to reply to the Inter-Allied Memorandum clearly setting forth their position, and declaring whether or not t'bey were prepared to join in an attempt to discover amicable solutions for those territorial questions, upon the right treatment of which the future security of the world from the menace of war so vitally depends.
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THE TROELSTRA INTERVIEW. PAGE 2.
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, ——————————— 1 Political…
——————————— Political Notes By F. W. Jowett, M.P. FOOD PROFITEERING. I Mr. dynes. the Food Controi [er, seen. to think there is now no profiteering in food worth i, We all fr,e l v t,(? k noiN- mentioning. but there is. We all freely acknow- INlge, of course, the profiteering in food has been considerably curtailed and that credit is largely due. on this account, to Mr. Clynes and his late chief. Lord Rhondda, although, it mustJ also be remembered that the policy which has affected the improvement was pressed upon the Food Controller by the. War Emergency Workers' National Committee long before it wa-s adopted. But with prices for fruit, vegetables and other equally necessary articles of food ,t their pre- sent level it cannot be said that profiteering has been scotched, much less killed. THE GREEDY FARMER. I In explanation of the rise in prlcPs for milk and cheese Mr. Clynes points out that increased pric-es for these commodities had to be sanc- tioned by the Food Controller to prevent far- mers neglecting them for more profitable pro- ducts. It does not seem to have occurred to Mr. Clynes that farmers have had too much of their own. in tlils matter. In this connection Mr. Clynes would do ivell to note that owners of industrial plant have been ordered to apoly their machinery to the production of munitions, al- though they would have preferred to produce other things for which they could get their own prices. There is no excuse for haying dealt dif- ferently with the farmer. He could have been ordered to produce the foodstuffs most, required and it would not then have been necessary to tempt the farmer to produce the controlled com- modities by conceding to him otherwise inde- fensible prices for these commodities. BACK TO THE LAND. I But why should there he so many things for which unlimited urices may be charged? This is a. question that requires attention, not only in regard to agriculture but, also, in regard to all other industries. The authorities are knowingly permitting iinliiiiitt-d exploitation of all save a comparatively small number of commodities, with the result that industrial concerns and land are increasing in selling value by leap* and bontio>. So far .)a land tHUicerneti. -v* tfecfc of this unlimited exploitation of uncontrolled products, together with the effect of the Corn Production Act (with its vicious policy of anteeing prices without regard to the actual as- certained cost of production) is clearly indicated by the present selling price of land. According to a statement recently made by the Chairman of the Agricultural Committee of the West Ri- ding County Council, agricultural land can now be sold for 100 per cent, more than it would fetch before the war. Landlords, profiteers and usurers, all are doing their bit while the. war lasts. Afterwards, soon or late as it may be. but nevertheless sure, there will be a year of jubilee such as Moses never dreamed of. for the lords of this and other countries have over- reached themselves and thev will have to dis- gorge all—and more than all—they have coined out of the blood of their fellowmen. CALLOUS COLLIERY PROPRIETORS. I It seems likely that during the coming winter coal w ll be a, greater source of trouble than food. Tt is estimated that supplies available for consumption for the npxt year will be 36,000.00?) tons short of the quantity required to meet the TlorllHIl British demand. The Miners' Federation is fnlh' dive 10 the main reason for this esti- mated shortage. 75,0(10 skilled men have been ■taken from thp mint's into the aruiv and .the outpnt of coal has already seriously diminished, in consequence. It is also stared that the situa- tion is being aggravated by a numlier of colliery owners who. it is alleged, are taking advantage of the present opportunity to work difficult and relatively unproductive seams. Tli1- ran be done whilst profits on difficult workings' aiv crnaranteed hy the ST-ite without affecting the return on their capital. If this allegation is true the colliery owners in question are behaving no worse than a larcre number of munition firms have done and are still doing. It has lieooine the regular nractice of munition firms TO carry out extensive improvements to their plant and works at the expense of the State-irnpf-ove- ments that will bo of enormous value TO them after the war. There is, however, this differ- ence. t-hat in the case of colliery proprietors who employ miners during the present crisis in de- veloping difficult, workings they are deliberately increasing the shortage of coal for their own selfish ends as well as charging the State with part of their own working expenses. WILL RATIONS FALL SHORT? The chief cause of the shortage of coal, how- ever. is the withdrawal of skilled workmen, miners. and transport workers, and the Govern- ment is now trving to mitigate the effect of de- priving the mines of skilled men by rationing the coal supply for industrial and domestic pur- poses and by withdrawing 25.000 men from ser- vice in the ariiiv at home. But as the men to be taken from Home Service will be B2 and B3 mpn this will not sufifce and the public must anticipate the possibility of the rations of l'olll (for which they are now filling up their forms of application^ falling short of the quantity which the Coal Controller has fixed as the limit of their supplv. It is estimated that a skilled coal- getter produces on an average .TOO tons of coa l ei-ery year, whereas the men who are being sent, back to the mines from Home Service are onh' expected to produce on an average three-fifths of this quantity. CVnly 10.000 have been re- turned so far. and, assuming that they start- work at once, thev cannot produce more during the coming year than 1.800.000 tons towards the s hortage of 36.000.00ft tons. HOME SHORTAGE AND FOREIGN I ADVENTURE. There is another question which relates to the I shortage of coal, and to the (Shortage of food L as well, which should IK* considered in its proper connection. and that- is the question of military) policy. I do not understand how it is that this connection, between shortage of supplies on the home frollt and military policy abroad, has failed to draw suitable comment from trades' union leaders irrespective of their views about the origin and continuation of the war. "Within a few days after the public had been officially warned of the serious shortage of coal the an- nouncement appeared in the press that a new military adventure had been undertaken in Rus- sia. and that British troops had been .landed at Archangel. Already there were British troops at Murman and a few at Vladivostock. NOTHING SHORT OF MADNESS. Now. if I believed it be necessary to seek only i an end to this war by means of military opera-! tions. I should still think it nothing short of madness to take 75,000 fit men out of the coal mines TO send them to Russia or to replace other men to enable them to be sent to Russia. I know the official excuse for the invasion of Rus- sia i:- that British and Allied troops are being sent there to help the people of Russia to achieve an alleged desire on their part to get back into the European war. This is a story fit on?y to h? told by madmen to imaginary horse marines. Hm ry?n if the excuse were ?'riously meant, the adventure would be no less mad. Miners may now see for w ha t purpose they have j made their last contribution to the army. and. when the worker, even the patriotic worker, con- templates the possibility of Jus wife and chil- dren shivering before a fireless grate he will be able to reflect on the fact that the home fire* cannot be kept burning, becausOj not being satis- fie(I Ai-Itli an already long list of barren military 'adventures, the Government wanted to add an- other one to the list—this time in Russia where British troops can tight Bolsheviks only and not Germans. ASKING FOR INVITATIONS. In their latest proclamation in Russia the Allied Governments claim that thev were invited to make a descent ori. Hussia at Archangel by the Government of the Northern Region, com- posed of members of the Constituent Assembly. This is exactly the kind of excuse put forward bv Germany some months ago for the invasion of die Baltic border states of Russia. There are points of difference, it. is true, between the two cases, but in substance they are alike. The Allies claim, for instance, that the members of the Constituent Assembly, from whom they re- ceived their invitation were elected by universal suffrage. No mention j, made of the fact, however, that the Northern Region is only a part of Russia, the inhabitants of which do not claim to belong to a separate State, whereas Courland, Finland and Ukraine where Germany has operated against, the Bolsheviks, are recog- nised a independent States. The invitations have been fished for inooth cases, the Allies and Germany alike got the lwst, kind of invitation thev could. took it. and made the most of it. THE GERMAN COLONIES. I Lord Robert Cecil's statement that the future of the German Colonies would be decided at the Peace Conference means no more than the de- claration to the same effect made by the Prime Minister more than six months ago. The Prime Minister s declaration was followed by refer- ences to the same subjee- by the Foreign Min- ister which were in Hat contradiction to it, Lord Koln-rt (Veil himself in the course of the same speech contradicted his own statement by sav- ing that the _question would have to be settled by Great Britain in concert with her Allies. VNhat that means may lie gathered from the comment of trie London Corresjiondent of one ol the leading provincial newspajKvrs. who point- ed out that although there appeared to be some inconsistency between t-he repeated assurances by South African Ministers, that German South West Africa, would be annexed, and. the sug- gested reference of that and ojher German Colonies to the Peace Conference, there was no contradiction in fact. The Government, and the Allies. said the "writer in question, "no doubt already understand one another in re- spect of the essential s of a satisfactory peace settlement, and this is genera lly regarded as one of the indisf>en.sat>le readjustments arising out of the war." In other words, the majority of the Parties who expect to be present at the Conference 41 re understood to be pledge-bound before it meets. Neither a peace conference nor a league of nations, gathered together in this spirir. can bring security of future peace to this suffering world. A MATTER OF NO ACCOUNT. I The reply of The German Colonial Secretary to Mr. Balfour's argument that German Col- onies in Africa could not !.<' returned because Germany oould not, ht' trusted with power over the native population was forcible if not com- plete. Dr. Rolf claimed that Germany is the only power in the present war that has proposed to keep the native races out of t-lit war. On the other hand the Allies have brought black armies to fight in Europe. He might, have re. minded Mr. Balfour that. the Britisli Govern- ilien was quite willing, up to the commencement of t l :lt' wl.r. t,4() ontrij,,?t, ( of the war. to entrust, Germany with a very large addition of territory peopled entirely by natives. A specially prepared Blue Book is shortly to be issued dealing wlt.h the treatment of natives under German rule. This might have been done before the war wlien the Government wa.s ready to extend German rule in Africa. The fa.et, is that the welfare, of the natives bar, never been the determining factor when native terri- tory has' been divided. If it had been Portu- guese West Africa would certainly hare changed b andg.
ITo You, Hauliers and Traffic-Men.
I To You, Hauliers and Traffic-Men. A CALL TO ACTION. UNITED CO-OPERATION ON DOWLAIS SCHEME THE NEXT STEP. TO THF. SDI i DR. Sir,—Having read the a tide on "Hauliers and their Wages" in he Pioneer" of the 1.0th inst. we believe its publication, to have been most opportune and have waited in vain for the discussion to be taken up by someone or other of your readers. Although the improve- ment of the conditions of hauliers is a matter p/hiob deserves, and indeed obtains, sympathetic consideration from miners generally, for various reasons the co-ordination of effort necessary in order to make it an actuality seems almost as far off as ever. As this is no reason, for drop- ping the question, we venture, as appointed officers of the Trafficmen of ibe Upper Rhondda, to give, in brief, our views on the matter in the hope that we will be assisting to keep the ques- tion a live one. THE NEXT STEP. „ In the early part of this year a mass meeting of the workman mentioned w ts held, and a com- mittee was appointed to forward the movement for improved wages and wor'.ing conditions. A Manifesto (I copy is subjoined) was issued, and much effect ne propaganda was carried out in the Rhondda and its near vicinity. A resolution was sent from a local Lodge of the S.W.M.F. with a view to ius being placed on the Agenda of the Annual Conference. This was turned down by the E.C. on the ground that the aims sought for were covered by another resolution, which would find a place on the Agenda. When the latter came to hand we found that such indeed was the case. Our aims were almost entirely con- tained in the resolution demanding a pound a day with six hours labour! At the present rate of progress a reasonable hope for. the early achievement of the latter would not be much of "a rope to sling our hopes of heaven by." Un- til the result of the Conference was found to be mere inanition on the part of the Federation we had entertained hopes th.it our desires stood a fair chance of being satisfied, and that there- fore the necessity for givin r coherence to the dissatisfaction of hauliers, riders, and so on, had been removed. Now that it has become quite clear that no steps are to be r-aken to give- effect tf?) the i-o l ti-, i 6n of the to the resolution of the ( onierence, we sincerely welcome the evidence given in the Pioneer" that there is a dissatisfaction in the Dowlais district also. We feel that the sooner conceited action is taken by the traffic-men the better. DOWLAIS SCHEME ACCEPTABLE. I As to the scheme which has been adopted by the Dowlaiii Miners' monthly meeting, we. the signatories of this letter, endorse it in its en- tirety, and have no fear but that the traffic-men in this locality would adopt it as the least that should be applied for. Our only doubt is whether other vital matters should not be in- cluded, e.g.. the payment to be made for breaking in district meetings on the lines of the scheme to be found in the pjonr" of August 10th. Realising that it is not improbable that mis- understanding may arise, we invite the consider- ation of all interested, and hope that a frank- ness now may obviate misunderstanding -at a later stage.- Yours fraternally, DAVID RKHH, JACOB jittxrns, -and QLTK JONSB, Secretary, Treasurer, and Chairman, re- spectively of the Upper Rhondda Traffic- men's Joint Committee. I MANIFESTO. Fellow Workers,:—A t a Iliass meeting of the Hauliers and other Traffic-men of the Upper Rhondda, held on March 3rd, 1918, it was unan- imously resolved that endeavours be made to se- cure for the above grades of labour a minimum rate of wages equal to that of Colliers. Needless to state, the families of Hauliers re. quire as much food and clothing as do those of Colliers, Repairers, and so on. The high degree of skill necessary to secure and to retain employ- meat: the exceptional danger due to the vaga- ries of animals, and to safely of sides and roof being, in the hands of. other than themselves, are factors which, we claim deserve greater con- sideration than they have hitherto received. As this is not a question confined to the area mentioned above, we sincerely hope that South A\ ales Miners, at whatever Colliery they may be employed, or on whatever grade of labour, will do the utmost possible to arouse the. sympathv of their co-workers in this :mportant matter. Whilst the desired object is the improvement of the conditions of part only of those employed at coal-mining, the movement cannot be. termed Sectional, because it, is not hoped to proceed without the support and endorsement of the South Wales Miners' Federation. We therefore earnestly appeal, both to indi- vidual members and to Lodges of the S.W.M.F., to do their utmost by constitutional means to obtain the support of the Miners' .Federation for the movement to secure Traffic-men (at least) a. living wage. Finally, we suggest that Lodges interested should forward resolutions to the Districts with 'I whiph they are connected and to the General Secretary of the S.W.M.F.. requesting the con- I sidt'ra.tioT1 of this question by the next South Wal es Conference.—We are, vomis fraternally, Trn: UPPKK RHONDDA TRAFFIC-MEN JOINT COM MTTTKK.
R.C.A. DEMAND TURNED DOWN.…
R.C.A. DEMAND TURNED DOWN. The Railway Executive Committee have re- plied to the Railway Clerks' Association with reference to the demand that was made at the recent conference of the Association, that sta- tion masters, agente and supervisors should be included within the sphere of the Association for the purpose of negotiations with the Oom- mittee. The Committee state they do not see their way to accede to the request.
I The Increased Cost of Living.I
I The Increased Cost of Living. I MR CLYNES' EXPLANATION. Mr. CHynes, the Food Controller, lias caused a letter to be sent to Mr. W. Holden, of the Raw- ten stall Food Committee, in which he explains why certain articles of food are now costing more. He regrets that these increases have he- come inevitable and he appreciates the hardship, inflicted on the poorer classes of wage earners. Cheese, he points out, is supplied from two sources—Home Production and Imports,—and, in the case of the home-produced cheese the price is dependent on the cost of milk. It was found that the cost of production of milk and the alternative attractions of other methods of farming were such that unless the farmers were paid more there would have been grave danger of a milk famine. As a. consequence it was ne- cessary to increase the price of cheese, otherwise the milk would have been diverted to more pro- fitable channels, with the result that a large quantity of cheese, which is possibly the most valuable form of milk preservation, would have been lost. Imported cheese, nv the other hand. must be bought in the open market at competi- tive prices; the cost of production in other countries has increased in the -ame way as in this country, consequently a higher price has to be paid. FRUIT CROP FAILURE. I The increase in the price of ,ami5- the inevit- able outcome of the failure of th • fruit cfop. This, with the additional duty on sogar, means an increased manufacturing test ;hi(-h has to be borne by the ultimate <*onsn uor. Margarine, which is absolut My controlled by the Ministry of from the import of the raw materials to the delivery tf. elie retailer, has had to be put up in price owing to the rise in the cost of the seeds, kernel and fats from which it is manufactured. Tinned fruits and tinned meats are imported articles, and here again com|>etitive prices have to be paid. while the small supply which tonnage permits means that the resultant cost of distri- bution is greater than when a normal quantity is handled. Mr. Clvnes assures the Committee that nothing has been left undone to secure the eli-j minatiou of profiteering, and he expresses the, view that the closer examination of the f.ctors gorerning prices will satisfy the Committee that such increases as have recently taken place are the result of legitimate econoT ru conditions, and that* 110 share oi chem is goin* iiito the packets of traders in this country.
IA Critic of Sinn Fein.
I A Critic of Sinn Fein. JOHN DILLON'S OUTSPOKEN CONDEMNATION. W riting to acknowledge the vote of confidence passed in him by the Drogheda Branch of the United Irish League, Mr. John Dillon says of the Sinn Fein faction — For three years the country has been poi- soned by the most abominable propaganda of misrepresentation and lies that was ever poured out in any country. The disappointment and indignation of the people, naturally and inevit- ably exasperated by the treachery and breaches of faith of successive British Governments, have been exploited and perversely turned against the Irish Parliamentary party. The people have been deceived and misled, with disastrous results, so that now. in face of a united, armed, disciplined, and well-led as- cendancy faction, the Nationalists of Ireland are divided torn by faction or completely occu- pied in fighting each other, disarmed, undisci- plined, and subject to military tyranny the most stringent, and unchecked that has obtained in Ireland since the passage of the Act of Union." Nothing can save Ireland, says Mr. Dillon, but the Drogheda spirit spto"ng throughout the country and expressing itself at the next General JJecrtton.
Co-Operative Progress.
Co-Operative Progress. REMARKABLE OFFICIAL FIGURES. QUARTER OF A MILLION NEW MEMBERS IN 1916. Some interesting particulars relative to In- dustrial Co-operative Societies collected from the Department of Labour statistics, and supple- mented by information supplied by the Co-oper- a/tite Union and the C-hief Registrar of Friendly Societies are given in the current issue of the Board of Trade Labour Gazette." From it we learn that at the end. of 1916 there were at work in the United Kingdom 1.438 industrial co-operative distributive aad productive societies with an aggregate member- ship of ;{, 56.:3, 769, a total share, loan, and re- serve capital of £ 7,937,736; a total trade (dis- tributive and productive) of £27 ,525,136, and a total profit—before deduction of interest, on share capital—of £ 18,958,388. Excepting for a decrease of ten in the num- ber of societies—duo mainly to amalgamations —these figures show a. remarka ble growth as compared with 1915, there being an increase in membership of 257,450, or 7.8 per rent.; in capital of £ 7,611.259, or 10.8 per in trade of £ 39,290,948, or 19.8 per cent.; and in profit of £ 1,990,439, or 11.7 per cent. The total number of persons directly employed by the societies was 154,622. and the total wages paid during the year amounted to £ 10,391,245, compared with 149,852 employees and £ 9,607,434 in wages in 1915. While some of the societies are engaged only in distribution and some only in production, others are engaged in both distributive and pro- ductive operations. In the foilowi'siatistics, however, distribution and production '.ate dealt with separately. V At the end of 1916. 1.364 retail and two whole- sale industrial societies were engaged in distri- bution. The societies had an aggregate mem- bership of 3.524,247. a total share. loan, and re- serve capital of £ 69,930,787: sales amounting to £ 188,583,043, and a profit on distribution—be- fore deducting interest un share capital—of £ 18,143,695, while the total number of person. employed in distribution by the societies was 96.466, and the total wages paid £ 6,09!\729. I PROFITS AND DIVIDENDS. ) Of the total profit iV ,-uW ol £ 16,442,913 was made by the retail soc*iefaeB, and £ 1,700.782 by the two wholesale societies. In the case of the retail societies the greater part of the profit was distributed to the mem- bers as a dividend on purchases, at an average rate of 2s. 2d. in the 1;1 in England and Wales, 2s. lOd. in Scotland, and Is. 3 £ d. in Ireland, the average for the United Kingdom being 2s. 3d" Compared with 1915 these rates of divi- dend show a decrease of lid. fn England and Wales, and 2d. in Scotland, an increase of ld. in Ireland, and a decrease of lid. for the United Kingdom. Non-inembers usually receive dividends at one-half these rates. The English and Scottish Wholesale Societies paid to members a dividend on purchases of 5d. and 8d. in the £ 1 respectively. This was a de- crease on 1915 of one penny in the case of each society.
I '-Labour in Scotland.
I Labour in Scotland. I 34 PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATES ADOPTED. Thirty-four Parliamentary candidates hare been adopted by the Labour Party in Scotland in anticipation of a. General Election in Novem- ber or December. Seven other nominations are also being considered, and there is a. possibility of 50 candidates being put forward when the Government appeal to the country is eventually made. Meanwhile those already chosen are ac- quainting the electors with their views on the war, peace and social and industrial matters; and in addition there is in the process of com- pletion a. purely Scottish Labour programme. Scotland has 71 seats under the new redistribu- tion scheme. Contesting each division with a Labour candidate has been vetoed as impracti- ca.ble for the time being. The majority of the 34 candidates already chosen 'are advocates of peace by negotiation and members of the Independent Labour Party. Glasgow alone has nine Labour candidates, as compared with two in 1910, and all are peace-by- negotiation adherents. Mr. George Barties, be- cause of his views on the war, has been repu- diated by the local Labour Party, who are taking steps to secure another candidate in his place for the Gorbals division. It ia also pos- sible that two Co-operative nominees, with La- bour support, will be put up for Glasgow divi- sions, so that everything poinu to at lesst twelve of the fifteen city divisions having La- bour candidates at the general election.
IMaster-Bakers' Lament. ;
I Master-Bakers' Lament. I AFRAID OF BEING DRIVEN OUT OF BUSINESS BY NATIONALISATION. The master bakers are in panic over the pros- pect of the nationalisation of bakeries, and they squealed extremely loudly at a meeting of the National Association of the Master Bakers held in Birmingham on Tuesday, at which it was lamented that behind the suosidy of bread was a determined effort to push forward national bakeries. It was the duty of the Association to defend the small bakers and niillcrs. and unlem they did so thousands of bakers in a small posi- tion would be driven out of business. It was their duty to shew that national bakeries were not require d by the public, and that they were not economic. It was decided to ask the Prime Minister and the Food Controller to receive a deputation be- fore any steps were taken in the direction of establishing national bakeries.