Pioneer

The Need of an Equivalent A DISCUSSION OF THE WAGE CLAIM. During the iast few weeks the Welsh Coal- field has been in the throes of trouble con- cerning what ought to have been our applica- tion for increase in wages in accordance with the Conciliation Board Agreement of July, 1915 The Executive Council of the South Wales Miners' Federation applied on our behalf for an increase of 15 per cent. on May 1, 1916. After making the application they called a delegate conference for May 5 to consider the application. How democratic F But they also knew that whatever decision the Conference came to. they would not alter the amount of application, as the application has to be made in accordance with the July (1915) Agreement, j which says that 10 day's notice prior to the 10th of May must 'oe given to the Secretary of the other party, which means that notice of alteration of wage rate had to be made on May 1, and Conference convened for May 5 could not alter that application. I agree with "Xavyv Pat," who is a regular contributor to the "Pioneer," that our application should be something considerably more than 15 per cent. on the present selling price of coal. Now a few words as to the treatment meted out to "Navvy Pat" by the miners' leaders. Here is a man who is limited in the amount of official figures he receives only getting figures that he can cull from the capitalist press, which proves chat the figures can always be argued as safe from our point of view, as capitalist papers never consciously give figures which will mean despoilment for their own class later; but unconsciously they do sometimes give figures, as "Navvy Pat" proves conclusively, that are det- .1 a \TV J a ,P' eves cOnCiUSJ ve y, la 81,- rimental to their own cause. "Navvy Pat" N avv-f Pat" been writing some 20 odd years to educate the rank and file to see to it-that they get every penny that is due to them under an agreement; t herefore "Navvy Pat" is assisting the Welsh miners, and never have I seen any- thing proving "Navvy Pat" to be wrong by any miners' leader. If Lord Rhondda wrote an article inasny capitalist organ detrimental to the view held by our leaders, Mr. Thomas Richards and Mr. A. Onions, and other lea- ders would be felling over themselves to ex- plain the matter away; yet whilst "Navvy Pat" is opposing their point of view as re- gards the amount of increase due to the wor- kers. the miners' leaders content themselves by ignoring him. His reasoning is sound; his arithmetical calculations are perfect; his basic figures are. your figures produced at recent au- dits: if this is correct, where can he be wrong? At the previous Conference you were success- ful in getting the delegates to agree to a resolu- tion which was moved by Mr. Frank Hodges, the pith of which was That the next award should restore, to the workmen the old basis of Sir David Dale's Award on the equivalent sell- ing price as arrived at by him in 1903. What was Sir David Dale's Award in 1903? He stated that only one-fifth of the cost of production should be borne by wages. He also stated that 11/10 should be the selling price equival- ent to dO per oent. Let's analyse it: 7/10 is the standard from which percentages com- mence Now 11/10 is exactly 4/- increase in selling price, and is equivalent to 30 per cent. To rind the rate of rise or fall in per- centages per 1/- rise or fall in selling price, we have to divide the difference in shillings bet- ween the two standards in selling price into the difference of equivalent percentages bet- ween the same two standards. By so doing we find that there is 30 per cent. which hais to be divided by 4, which will give 7-J per cent., which is the amount of percentage due on every 1/- rise in the selling price of coal. We have got that definite let us find out what is the present selling jilnce. so that we can see what we are entiited to ask for at the present audit. According to conference and Executive members, coal has risen 2/9 above the selling price at the previous audit, which was then at 20/ 7 'The present selling price is plus 2 /9-23/ 4-which means that 7/10, the standard selling price, sub- tracted from 23/44- is the amount that we are entitled bo ask for increase of wages upon at the rate of n per cent, on the i J rise. There- fore 23/4;1 minus 7 1 IQ equal 16 6.; call it 15/6. Now 15/6 x 7t is the aanount we ought to be receiving, less war bonus at 71 per cent. per 1/- rise. 15.5 x 7.5 equals 116J per cent, plus war bonus which we are to-day receiving, SSA, inclusive of war bonus. Our present application of 15 per cent on the new standard, or 22f per cent on the old, would give us llH per cent, so we are asking for exactly 5 per cent on the old and 3t on the new. less than what we are entitled to. exclusive of war bonus. But I suppose the congenial and patriotic Welsh lea- ders are prepared to forego the war bonus, which is 174 per cent on the old r so I will have to let it pass from now on in this column as if we never had a war bonus. So I will ag- ree with Mr. J. Winstone. the President, when he said that if the workmen had received the tast.5 per cent applied for. there would not have been much between the workmen and the coalowners at the last audit, basing the rate of increase at; per cent per 1/- risg in selling price. But I agree with the report given at the last Conference, when Mr Jatmes Winstone and Mr. Frank Hodges stated that we are en- titled to 5.83 per cent increase on every 1/- rise on thst new standard and 81 per cent on t the old per 1/- rise. The Executive Members stated that they were not considering the past position, but only the present one created by an increase in the selling pffce of coal of 2/9 per ton. which means that we are entitled to ask for: Rate of increase per 1/- rise plus increase of selling price in shillings. equals 5.83 x 2.75 equals 16.03. So we are entitled to ask for 16.03 per cent; but the patriotic leaders have asked for 15 per cent, giving away on this account alone 1.03 per cent on the new standard, which is 1.545 per cent on' the old. Now. let us find out what we have lost. and what we are entitled to at the present rate of the selling price of coal. Coal is selling at 23/4s per ton. We must first find out what is the increased selling price above the stand- ard of 7/10, which is 23/4 J-less 7/10 equals 15/6. The amount of percentages due equals 15.5 x 5.83 equals 90.365 per cent on the new standa.rd; and if we are successful in obtaining the present application of 15 per cent, or 22. per cent on the old, we will then be enjoying llli per cent, whilst we are entitled to 90.365 per cent on the new or 135.55 per cent on the old. So we are losing 135-J per cent less 111per cent—24| per cent old standard— through, mainly, the patriotism of our leaders. The money value of 24i per cent is 4/10.2. But let us consider cost of production. One- fifth has to be borne by wages, and the last sum we heard of as increased cost of pro- duction was 2/10; take one-fifth of 2/10 near- ly id.-so taking that into consideration we are still entitled to 4/10.2 less 7d, equals 4/3.2. Perhaps, the Welsh miners are prepared to give 4/10.2 or 4/3.2 as a demonstration of their patriotism; but what I do know is that my fodge is not prepared to give one penny piece away that they are entitled to, because when giving a mandate to one delegate to the last Conference they passed the following reso- lution unanI-.Poilslv That this meeting protests against the action of the Executive in deciding to apply for 15 per cent increase when we feel that we are entitled to something considerably more, and are prepared to down tools in or- der to force from the coalowners every penny that we are entitled to. And this was a pit-head meeting. Now a few words about the floating equiva- lent. One of the leaders from the platform at last Conference said that the Independent Chairman always had an equivalent floating about in his head, when making an award. What I would like to know is what was, in their opinion, the floating equivalent used in the last December and February Awards? In the December Award coal had reduced in selling price from 22/- to 21/9 per ton-a reduction of 3d. per ton. which justified the Independent Chairman (Lord St. Aldwyn) in giving us a reduction of 5 per cent, which put the rate of increase in percentages per 1/- rise in selling price at 20 per cent. In .February last coal had reduced from 21/9 to 20/75: per ton, a reduc- tion of 1111- per ton, yet the Independent Chair- man (Mr. Muir Mackenzie) could not see his way clear to give us an advance or a reduction, but left it as it was. The miners' leaders were annoyed because we did not get our 5 per cent rMcre-ase on a reduced selling price of lilt. Surely there is a mistake somwhere! Will some miners' leader answer this question about the floating equivalent ? Again, what has oecome of the argument used by Mr Vernon Hartshorn and others dur- ing the Conference of July last, when he ask ed the delegates not to force the fixing of an equivalent, but to leave it to the leaders to debate the point at the Conciliation Board before the Independent Chairman, and thus convince him that our case is the right and only case. If the results, are any criterion to their debating abilities, they can leave debating alone, as they have utterly Sailed to convince the Independent Chairman at every audit since And, in conclusion, I would like to add that there is a possibility that Mr Muir Mackenzie will not act as Independent Chair- man and personally I hope he will not act, as then we shall be compelled to fix an equiv- alent. No one can blame Mr. Mackenzie if he refuses, as it is distinctly unfair to ask a man to adjudicate impartially when there is no basis upon which he can base his adjudication. T. S. P.

Aberdare District Miners' Federation. NON-OBSERVANCE OF NEW AGREEMENTI The monthly meetng of the above was held I on Moiaday evening, under the presidency of Mr Johnnv Griffiths, Gadlys. Non-Unionist Question at Collieries. I Complaints were made against the manage- ments of certam collieries of not having sub- mitted a list of names and addresses of the workmen employed; and against the manage- ments of other collieries of refusing to see that certain workmen whose namoo had been sub- mitted had joined the Federation. This, it was pointed out, was in direct contravention of the arrangement come to by the South Wales Ooalowners and the South Wales Min- ers' Federation.—The matter was referred to the Agent to interview the respective man- agements, and failing a settlement to take tiie necessary steps in accordance with the temils of the agreement.—A meetipg of lodge secre- taries will be held at the Miners' Office on Wednesday evening, 31st inst., to hear further reports on the matter. The Agent, in his report, dealt with the application made by the workmen's represen- tatives for an advance of 15 per cent, on the present wage rate. He agreed with his 00- representatives that the workmen were en- titled to more, but that the amount asked for was something which they felt the Independ- ent Chairman, after hearing their case, would have no difficulty in granting. Special Conference of the M.F.G.B The Agent, in reporting on the Special. Con- ference held last week, stated that a resolution was passed against the suspension of the Eight Hours Act and against the reduction of the age limit- for boys engaged underground. As to the 60 hours question, the surface-boys ques- tion the holidays, and the avoidable absentee- ism these matters were referred to the com- mittee for consideration at a joint meeting ,t t ?,, lo rit i-ti ti with the coalowners. Employment of Women. In Scotland and Lancashire large numbers of women are at present employed on the sur- face of the mines; but in South Wales the practice has been done away with, the work being regarded as totally unfitted for female labour. This matter was referred back to each distrist to consider separately.

EVERY PRINTING ORDER given to the U Piøneer Pressmeans more Ammunition for Pairty Propaganda. Get into tEp, Line of our MUNITION WORKERS,

Gorseinon Notes. Why I am a Socialist," Last Tuesday's I.L.P. lecture was given by Comrade Fred Barrowcliffe, with President D. Morris in the chair. Barrowcliffe's subject was I Why I am a Socialist," with which he dealt very ably, showing how, by experience, observation and study, his ideas had developed, arnxl he had reached and accepted the conclu- sions of Socialism. Comrade Barrowcliffe, with his scientific and philosophic bent, and his gift for smart and pointed epigrams, is aJways interesting and provocative of thought and discussion. And so a good discussion fol- lowed on this occasion. Tom Massey led off with questions and criticisms respecting Bar- rowcliffe's view of education by continuation classes of the workers, and of the Drink Con- trol Board, with its restrictive methods. Sec- retary Ted Morris followed, seizing first of all very smoothly on what he termed a contradic- tion in Barrowcliffe's 11 liberty of the subject," saying" a subject cannot enjoy liberty," etc., and then following with a different interpreta- tion from Barrowcliffe's of Mrs. Browning's, The Cry of the Children," which Barrowcliffe had quoted in his address. Following Com- rade Morris, Comrade W. H. Davies challenged Barrowcliffe's view of the influence of environ- ment, and there followed between them an in- teresting disputation as to the merits of the Idealist and Materialist interpretation of pro- gress. Comrade David Davies (Penllergaer) took the chair for the discussion owing to Com- rade David Morris having to leave early. Com- rade Davies acted capably, without ostenta- tion as usual. The evening was well spent, and I a, fair number met to enjoy the benefits of such a m00ting. "Pioneer" Readers. Accept my best thanks for the response made last week. I sold out, and could have done with a few more copies. Now I want you to retain yr ysbryd" for Sunday night at the Palace, when we shall have the good com- pany of Miss Sylvia Pankhurst to address the meeting on "War and Peace," and for this oc- casion I am ordering extra copies. Now, Comrades, don't let me go home glum, but happy in saying to the Missus Sold out" Induction Meeting. The Institute was packed to the uttermost last Saturday, it being an induction meeting to D. R. Grenfell and D. J. Williams, agent and sub-agent for the Western Miners' Dist- rict; Mr John Williams. M.P., presided. The Chairman pointed out that illness had kept him away from many functions, such as din- ners etc., but the friendship between D. R. Grenfeli and himself is so great that what- ever happened, all functions were put aside for Grenfeli. It was not often that miners held induction meetings he thought they should be held upon every occasion, similar to parsons and preachers. They had as miners' ag0nt on I' this occasion a man who was a collier, and he was pleased to see a collier receiving that I homage which is due to him. It was only dur- ing the last few years that the Icollie i, had taught the aristocrat that he was awake. No man was more sympathetic than D. R. Gren- feli he was not painting him in any way. The men had made. their choice, and the men must uphold their agent. D.R. would be prominent in his new capacity as agent. They had no need to call in a solicitor or other profes- sional man. when Grenfell was there. His elec- tion would mean many pounds in their bank- ing account. He wished him every success. and implored the miners not to attempt to put I agents off their track. "Men," appealed the speaker, "don't be carpingly critical to your new agent; assist him; be frank with him." D. R. Grenfeli replied that he appreciated the remarks of the Chairman, but if there was 'I one thing he could not do, it was to address public meetings. If it were on the pit bank he could fare very well. (Laughter.) "I shall ,try to be as efficient as possible." There were certain legal cases that a mniers' ag- ent had to deal with, but there was some- thing more. Agents should assist the rank and file in their desire to better their condi- tions; to improve life and to attain to that beauty and joy in life that the capitalist class enjoys. To secure those benefits we must get; into v one body. (Applause.) -For many years he had tried to show the workers that the wealth of the country was in the hands of a fùw < and that this was absolutely wrong. The legal machinery was in' the hands of the. em- ployers. So the worker believes! But lealfly no. Comrades; all, yes all, was in the hands of the workers if they desired it. But to carry this through in a successful manner they must put aside class jealousies. They could not achieve this unless they banded together. The Federations of three Unions would be sett- led very soon, which would exert great pres- sure in fact, such pressure that it must have the desired effect on the the legislators, etc. As regards myself, I shall not be satisfied with this Federation until there be an Interna- tional Federation. When this is achieved, what is happening on the Continent at the pre- sent will never occur again. The worker will not be led by the man on the top, but shall have all power to decide; therefore, I conclude ny askin- you to awake, that the state of things as you found them be left better for your having been. Mr D. J. Williams. the sub-agent, also replied, Ind pointed out that it was essential for an agent to have a tho- rough knowledge of a colliery, and that of a practical nature. An agent who had only theory could not in any way realise a miners' hard- ships. Grenfell had experienced all this, and had given arduous toil and hard study to the cause of Labour. Knowledge in itself floes not suffice, but you must have a fellow-feeling for all mankind, and enough courage to preach your ideas, -especially in these days. Nothing give him. hore strength than the knowledge that hundreds of our forefathers had fought and died for their principles. Although they had a Triple Alliance they must not rest 011 their oars, but continue to gather the small Un- ions in order to make a united fight against the, hellish system of to-day. "We must put capit- alism on its back and take away the key which is in its posse^ Mr S. O. Davies, of Tumble, also spoke. He said that the rank and file was as important as tlia agents. The attitude in the past had been to keiro-worship some of their leaders and agents a little too much. He should like the spirit of the rank and file to quicken the en- thusiasm of the worker. "What are you and I going to do? No true progress can be made. by looking to the agents. Our responsibilities are as precious to us as they are to the agent. The rank and file must see that their class is unshackled. Every man is conscious to some advantages. Why have we an element- ary education ? We have it because we wanted it. You have an agent in D, R. Grenfeli who lias the real ideal tfhat the rank and file should have. Don't kiU him bv indifference: it is the apathy of the workers that has killed our noble fighters in the Labour movement. Let us consider the wealth spent on the war tm-iav— £ 5.000,000. Yet, previous to the war, there was no money to assist the poor. They kad to go to the workhouse. There was no money for a hundred other objects to assist the workers of this country. Workers! the old order must be done away with. Take the tragic condition in Ireland, and in the whole of Eu- rope. You and I can end all this strife; we can make wars to cease. If we can kill the jealousy, apathy, etc., .at is among the wor- kers. we shall see poverty passing away. Let us have the courage to fight on. Socialism is getting a bit too respectable. A Socialist is not i)j,an.de,ct-itnies-s he does some thinking; and so I implore you to commence thinking, tken life will be sweet and pure." Mr GWllym Bedw gave a bardic piece to the Agent and Sub- Agent. Mr John James, Owmgorse, also- spoke in Welsh A vote of thanks to the Chair- man. by Mr Wm. Williams, Penyrhoel, and also to Comrade Davfft Morris, who had worked assiduously in having such a successful meetings A terminated the proceedings. jJK Comrade Wm. Evans, Llanerch. I was delighted to learn from a daily paper of the progress made by William. He is Chair- man of the Housing and Planning Committee, arm wasso elected mp-on the Old Age Pen- sions Coiniiilit-tee. If we had a number of Comrade Evans' type as District Councillors, they would make things hum more often than they do; but I know that William is all alone many a time, fighting for the workers" widow and other causes. I shall watch very carefully one important thing for the future. Mum is the word at present! Don t forget the meeting Sunday night; see that your mate sitting by your side purchases a "Pioneer." What ho! We have got that great genera ¡, George Lansbury, coming here" on June U. CHUM.. I

Rheumatism — Kidney Trotibiel I FREE TREATMENT. Rheumatism is due to uric acid crystals in the- joints and muscles, the result of excessive urio Qid in the system that the kidneys failed to remove as nature intended, to which every qualified physician agrees, and this acid is also- the cause of backache, lumbago, sciatica, gout urinary trouble, stone, gravel and dropsy. The success of Estora Tablets, for the treat- ment of rheumatism and other forms of kidney trouble, is due to the fact that they restore the kidneys to healthy action and thereby remove tne cause of the trouble, which necessarily re- moves the ill-effects that spring from it, and have cured numberless cases after the failure of other remedies, which accounts for them fast superseding out-of-date medicines that are sold at a price beyond all but the wealthy and so often fall short of the wonderful clainis made that conifdence has been lost in them. To prove Estora Tablets fully warrant then- description—an honest remedy at an honest price—one full oox of 40 tablets will be sent túr readers of the Pioneer as a free sample oc ieceipt of this notice and 3d. in stamps to cover postage, packing, etc. > Sold by chemists, 1/3 per box of 40 ?Mets. ? f" 6 boxes for 6/9 For full box sample addrtSs F.stora 00., l C1uwing Cross noad London. W.C. WarnS" SfSS ??-?- ?-?' WILLIAITS, .S., Chffln1St.

Police Raid Cwm:on !.L.P. J Centre. 11 THOROUGH SEARCH MADE, AND NAMES 1 TAKEN. At 11-30 a.m. on Saturday, Superinfrendent- Ben Evans, Neatli, accompanied by a, number of local police officers, made a raid on th« I.L.P, Centre at Cwmavon and confiscated all the branch propaganda literature, including the E^ verett" and Repeal the Act" leaflets; also the branch correspondence and minute- book. Before they were admitted the warrant was read out to the Secretary and a number of members who were present during the raid By this time a big crowd had collected out- side the centre, where a taxi was also waiting;: to remove the papers, books, etc. While th* crowd was anxiously awaiting results, the po- lice were busy coliecting and packing; their booty; sometimes cracking jokes with the mem- bers and making inquiries as tb the names of the pictures of distinguished Socialists that are- lauged along the walls. "What is upstairs?"' inquired the Inspector. "A lot of old pap- ers, replied a member, and humorously pro- f ceeding, "You will be doing us a great favour by taking it away." It was ordered to be brought down, and was taken away. Then the names and addresses of the brancef officials were taken. "Who is the secretary?" inquired the Sup- erintendent. "lam." replied Dan Morris. "Yes, that is our indefatigable secretary the I.L.P. would be in a queer position with- out him," interjected a member. The Superintendent smiled, evidently ap- preciating this remark, and again asked: "Who is the treasurer ? Mr J. R. Morris replied to this question in the affirmative, whereupon the Superintendent exclaimed, "Brothers I suppose. "Yes," replied the Secretary. a discussion ensued between the Super- i• ntendent ■ and the members as to who is the chairman of the branch. They argued that there is no chairman, and that a member i9 chosen from the meeting to act as temporary chairman. Eventually he took the nrumeand address of the last official chairman, who hap- pens to be the much-misrepresented Mr Henry Davies. The Secretary, whose occupa- tion is that of a postman, denied a charge made against him that he had recently dis- tributed some "Repeal the Act" leaflets during his working hours, and frankly told the Su- perintendent that he knew who his informant was While searching the Secretary's drawers he found a cash box containing some money. On what was the money used for, a member replied, .For the gas fund. This l'e- > ply apparently did not satisfy him. but on be- ing shown a wooden box which was on the. mantelpiece with these words burnt in the wood, "Gæ,¡ Fund," his official curiosity was satis- fied. Before leaving he gave thog,e present to understand the summons would be served ag- ainst the I.L.P. Branch. The event has- ■ much interest in the village. A. M j

OUR PRINTING !S GOOD. OUR TERMS ARE MODERATE. OUR STAFF IS TRADES-UNIONIST, And we give a guaranteed undertaking to DELIVER IN TIME. Printed and Published by the Labour Piooee? Press, Mraited, Williams' Square, GfofeeJan^ i!r.9t. Merthyi- Tydfil, May tfc, 1>10. X