Papurau Newydd Cymru
Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru
8 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
I Abertillery Notes. I
I Abertillery Notes. I [ Abertiliery I.L.P., At the weekly branch meeting held a week Thursday, the Chairman (Comrade H. Phinni- I rnore) presiding, a very interesting report of the Biyj iiitwi- Conference was given, by Mrs Hos- kins Comrade AV. Edwards reported on the last Federation meeting held at Newport. Other matters in connection with the forthcoming visit (July 20) of the Hall. Bertrand Russell N; were arranged. The Abertilleiy members are keen on the Federation Rally, to be held at Gilwei-n on the 15th. Speaker to be Mr Jowett, M.P.. or Mr Richardson, M.P., and progress was reported in the planning of that event. An enjoyable outing is expected. The Secretary was I -also instructed to .send the greetings of the ? branch to Tom Gale, who has been removed by reason of the necessities of the military situa- tion. I Mrs. Walker at Abertillery, I f? Mrs. Walker, of the Workers' Suffrage Fede- ration, was the chief speake,ra,t a rather hur- xiedly arranged open-air meeting held in Abel- r tinery on Saturday evening. Miss M. Pallister 'took the chair, and a number of friends as- K ssted by seUing literature and taking a collec- ?. tion A large crowd soon gathered, and the ? -address of ?Lrs. Walker, dealing with the war ? and its complications and the pJ;.sent position of the women's movement, was listened to with much interest. A series of meetings is being .held in the surrounding districts. 1 Conscience Discovered. At the 7th inst, the | I Local Tribunal held an all-day sitting, under the B chairmanship of Mr John Phillips, others pres- » ent being Messrs. A. H. Dolman. W. T. Wil- liams, W. If. Lloyd, W. Walters W. B. Har- rison (military representative), and T. Nichol- son (Board of Agriculture), with Mr W. Gait (Clerk) and Mr D. R. Davies (deputy clerk).- I I; Amongst a great number of cases heard, four were of Conscientious Objectors, all members of ? the N.C.F. and I.L.P. [ The first appeal heard was that of Tom Pow- ?11 Chairman of the N.C.F. Branch, a colliery a .stoker, who had refused to allow his employers I to have him exempted as a "starred" man, preferring to maintain his personal claim. He said he would stand to his convictions come what might.—The application was refused. Frank Collier, employed at a local Co-op. Stores in the grocery and provision department, maintained strongly his Conscientious Claim. During his hearing some facts concerning his domestic position were elicited.—Result eventu- ally was appeal refused on the Conscientious •grounds, but two months' exemption allowed on domestic, grounds. Another case was that of Walter Gulliford, a bread deliverer and grocer's assistant.-—This ap- plication was also refused. The other case was that of J. Andrews a milk deliverer. Applicant said he had held his present views for 15 years.—Result finally, in hIs case, was that absolute exemption was gran- ted, providing he took up work of national importance. It seems that his present occupation will fulfil those requirements, so that he will be undisturbed. Our comrade is to be congratulated; he well •deserves exemption on the grounds claimed. He is undoubtedly a genuine Objector, and there- fore entitled to what lie has received. On Wednesday, June 5, Henry Thomas Gale, 21. of Abertilleiy, Conscientious Objector to Military Service, was arrested by the police for having failed to report himself at the Recruit- ing Office, in. accordance with the notice serv- ed upon him. Gale's occupation was that of colliery stoker, working at the surface of the Tillery Colliery. Last week he was on the 2— 10 shift, and he was arrested about 2-30, "shortly after commencing his day's work. Under the escort of the police he was allowed to go home for a wash and change of clothes, after- wards being taken to Abertillerv Police Station. Wednesday night he spent in a. cell, and on 'Thursday morning, at 9 o'clock he was re- moved to Ebbw Vale. Abctat 4.30 he was brought before the magistrates at the Police 'Court there. During the hearing of his case the 'Chairman of the Bench asked could the colliery CODipaTiy employing him do without him. In ? reply to that question Tom Gale's father spoke from the body of the court. He said "No! He had been sent, for that morning to work extra to make up for the removal of his son." The result of the hearing was a fine of 40/- and costs inflicted, and the prisoner to await a mili- ■ tary escort. About 4.30 p.m. he left Ebhw Vale. for Cardiff Barracks, in the charge of two sergeants, both unarmed. In the same train, for the same destination travelled Gjde's father, who is. by the way. the respec- -bed secretary of the Abortillery N.C.F. Branch. V Arrived at Cardiff,, the Recruiting Office pro- vided the next scene in the story. The prisoner was there* asked for his certificrate received from the Tribunal (non-combatant), the authori- ties being seemingly unaware what class of de- serter was in their custody. Without any oth- er formalities, Comrade Gale was then taken to the Barracks; then his pockets, etc., were emp- tied, and then he passed from the observation of his father to undergo a similar trial of strength to what so many of our cherished 00 m- mades have undergone during the last few months. Around the above case are several unusual and rather remarkable circumstances, which deserve publicity and enquiry. A few points of •! interest can briefly be stated. At the Local Tribunal Gale was granted non-combatant ser- vice. This, of course, not being satisfactory, the usual appeal was made to the Appeal Tribunal. J A reply made there in response to a question is worthy of note. The applicant was asked was he a Socialist. "Well, no," he replied, I am getting beyond that, I am what you may term a budding Anarchist." This aroused laughter, but that response is very suggestive. in these times of oppression and persecution. The forcing ground of Conscription will be pro- ductive of many rebellious spirits, whose ex- istence will be made evident, without doubt, in the future. To get back to the main facts of the ease,\ Gale's position and attitude towards military service must be mentioned. At the Police Court r trial at Ebbw Vale he said he believed he was 4 the first member of the Miners' Federation to be arrested. It must be remembered he is a .r,.)Iliei-y stoker, and a Federationist. At his col- tjtery unattested men were asked to sign for 'he Company to appeal for them, but Tom would not do so. He said, You can do what you like but I am having nothing to do with it o-nwith military service. I shall maintain my own appeal on Conscience grounds." Whether or not the company did actually appeal for him is not known. Apparently they did not. Any- how, there seems proof that in other plaoes all colliery workers have been exempted without regard to their personal views or claim. Gale was as indispensable as any other man at the colliery. To show how difficult it was to allow him to be taken, it must be told that four times he has been called up—May 18, May N 31, June 5 and June 19. Each time he has I;' gone on working, and by some arrangement or other his employers had had his notice post- poned. Subsequently he was arrested at work, and the subsequent development have proved that lie was a man that could ill be spared.
Ystradgynlais Notes.
Ystradgynlais Notes. Mr Frank Hodges at' Abercrave. A large contingent of I.L.Peers from Ystrad- gynlais visited Abercrave last Friday to hear an address on "Current Politics," bv Mr Tom Richards, M.P. The advertised speaker, how- ever failed to appeal-, but he was deputised by Mr Frank Hodges, who gave an admirable add- ress on Trade Unionism." He traced the growth of the movement through its various stages up to the present, and forecasted its functions in the future. It was evident that Mr Hodges has no faith whatever in the political machine; but rather bases his hopes on Indust- rial tTnonI Slll. Questions were put regarding In- come Tax, Absenteeism, Conference Votes, etc., by Messrs. Jack Phillips; Phil Jones; David Jones; Furry s Thomas; Arthur Thomas; Tom Lewis, J. S. Morgan and others. Before and after the meeting Jack Phillips and Llew Mor- gan were busy selling and distributing the Pioneer" and the Labour Leader." Mr Hodges and Mr J. D. Morgan, the local miners' agent, were both presented with copies, and, in the latter ease, a change of view is hoped for as a result. The redoubtable Abercrave Von Kluck gladly accepted copies of the papers, and here aiso a change for the better is ex- pected, as secret agents, who followed him for several hundred yards, did not discover that the papers had been ripped up and destroyed or dropped by the wayside. Af'er the Meeting. As UMual, the I.L.P. members who were pl'e-I sent at the above meeting, subsequently found themselves aggressively engrossed in declamat- ory debates with local Jingoes. Near the Lion a terrific encounter took place with results favourable to us. The sanguinary nature of the conflict had possibly some connection with its proximity to the hostelry, as several of the enemy exhibited splendid footwork whilst gy- rating round the group. Victory lay with us as we heard the Jingoist Will E- say to his friends, Well, when one comes to think of it, we can find millions of money per day for this friends, find millions of money per day for this war. but we could find nothing for our Old-age Pension Scheme before the war." Some say Harry Lewis and Frank Evans added the fin- ishing touches. On the way home Socialist songs were sung, but these were interspersed" at intervals with nursery rliymnes and folk songs, concluding near the Castle Bridge with a very special one, in which Jack Phillips refused to take part. It was now resolved to hold a Tri- bunal at Penrhos to hear our Comrade's con- scientious objection to joining in with the sing- ing. The Tribunal was most realistic so true to life, in fact. that Arthur called it "idiotic." Then," said Harry, "it must in that case, be a good imitation of the original." Anyhow Jack got no exemption, and when such an af- fair occurs again, he will have to toe the Mne! The Park Mili Picnic. Arrangements for this were completed at the I.L.P. Federation meeting at Swansea on Saturday. The delegates were Messrs. Wm. Hughes (vice-president), Frank Evans and Llew. Morgan, and they reported favourably at the branch meeting last Sunday night. The picnic is very popular, and a larger number than an- ticipated have handed in their names here. Parish Meeting. I The Committee appointed to gather evidence regarding the last audit of the District Coun- cil has called for a, Parish Meeting to be held next Monday to re-discuss the question. It is hoped all I.L.Peers will attend.
IBargoed Notes.
Bargoed Notes. Kifled Calves. finest. Make (17), assistant butcher, Bargoed, was charged before the local magistrates last Friday with slaughtering two calves contrary to the Maintenance of Live Stock Order, 1915, and Edward L. Watkins (29), butcher, was .sum- moned for aiding and abetting. Watkins, on oath, said that the calves were purchased for rearing, and Blake pleaded ignorance of the Regulations. The Chairman (Mr J. H. Mathias) remarked that this was the first case of the kind that had been before them, and defendants would be dealt with leniently. Watkins would be fined 40/- and Blake 10/ The Successful Candidate I Miss A. B. Aubrey was the successful eandid- a.e out of 16 applicants, for the post of bar attendant at the Bargoed Workmen's Ins tit- ube. We congratulate Miss Aubrey, and trust ?  \)e  Perform her duties as well as e ] 1S during the six years she has been at the i Bargoed. fti he iP>alace, Bargoed. Th* Operative Bricklayers' Society (Rargoed Branch) went through the annual re- port at their last meeting. The chief items of interest were :—Cash in hand. December 1915, £ 45,002 17s 8d, an increase of funds, despite the number in His Majesty's Army of £ 1,682 12s 9d; superannuation benefit reserve £ 1,588 10s lid; balance due frokit Health Insurance Ac- count., 113,146 6s 4d. Chief items of expenditure—Sickness P,23,503 16s 5d; deaths, £3,999 17s lid; strikes' £ 667 2s 9d; compensation to injured members, L,1,005 6s 1d; unemployment, L-8,541 10s 2d; insaipance (aircraft), £ 6; Trades Councils and Parliament- ary Committee Trades Union Congress, zEI15 9s. The amalgamation scheme with the Man- chester Order of Bricklayers is still open, and the current year should see the consummation of our hopes. Instead of full time district secretaries, it was decided to run seven na- tional organisers. It is now agreed upon, and the same have been chosen. Owing to enlistments the District Committee has been altered several times. It now stands: Chairman, Mr H. Moore (Newport); secretary, Mr W. T. Lloyd (Bargoed); Mr W. W. Fish- pool (Merthyr); Mr A. E. Boon (Abertillery); Mr W. R. Lee (Barry); Mr W. Hines (Cardiff); and Mr A. Davies (Ebbw Vale) Brother G. P. Langdon (Tredegar) having died since elec- tion. Rates of wages are gradually rising:—Cardiff 10-d per hour; Newport 10dli; Rhvmney Valley lOd; Sirhowy Valley lOd; Ebbw Vale lOd; Blaenavon lOd, with additional war bonus in certain cases; Pontypool being the most back- ward, and unless the stubbornness of the em- ployers, which is so foolishly shown, is not drop- ped, we are afraid it might lead to trouble, as there are several controlled areas in the dis- trict. The worst case which we have to report is that when the labourers had a dispute over wages on Bargoed Colliery; the non-unionist bricklayers carried their own material and the report is that these five non-unionists are working at Id an hour below the rate. They were so ashamed to own this that they had denied it for a long time; now they own up. Many thanks for the officers for the past year. Mr M. C. Price was re-elected"' as trea- surer. Mr W. T. Lloyd as secretary, and' Mr James Moore president. It was decided to fol- low up the Softth Wales Building Trades Fede- ration, and work for one code of working rules and one rate for the whole of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire. Obituary. We regret to announce the death of Mr Al- bert Tovey, bookmaker, of Heolddu Road, Bar- goed, which took place at his residence, at 8 o'clock on Tuesday morning last. The deceased was well known in Bargoed, Deri and district in musical circles, in which he was keenly inte- rested. He had been ill a very long time, and had been in Cardiff Infirmary on two occaions. Our deepest sympathy goes out to Mrs. Tovey and family in their sad bereave- ment. Wake Up, Shop Assistants! ilie Bargoed Branch of the Shop Assistants' Union held a, special meeting on Wednesday evening last at the Bargoed I.L.P. Rooms. Mr F. C. Howells and Miss Denison White, Cardiff, addressed the members. Owing to the delightful weather—or shall I say the utter indifference of the shop workers regarding their duty to their fellow-workers ?—there was a poor attendance. Mr F. C. Howells canvassed the shops and got a few new members, and lots promised to come to the meeting. I suppose they though it a mere "scrap of paper," and did not do so! It was not a, very good compliment to Miss White, who had sacrificed her half-holiday to come up to address them Anyhow, she said in her address, "We are used to disappoint- ments," and stated it was of vital importance that women should join the Union, and pre- pare for the time when Peace comes. Women should have equal pay for equal work. It was not patriotic to go into shop life and do men's work for a mere dole. She could not under- stand that in Bargoed. in the midst of Trades Unionism, there were so many non-Unionists. We are going to organise an open-air meeting in the near future.
Our Appeal for Navvy Pat.
Our Appeal for Navvy Pat. s. d. I" Pioneer" 2 6 Brynmawr and Nantyglo N.o.F. 2 6 Comrade J. Lewis, Mountain Asb 1 0 Tonyrefail Pioneer Committee. 1 0 Bargoed Pioneer Committee. 3 0 10 0
The Electric Theatre.
The Electric Theatre. The return of As a Man Sows" to the El- ectric Theatre this week has been an occasion for much rejoicing on the part of the lovers of the truly dramatic and touching in filmogra- phy; and its accompaniment bv the Cyfarthfa Juvenile Choir of 40 perfectly trained young voices has added immeasurably to the charm of a glorious picture of the Queen of the Slums. I do not suppose that there are many picture lovers in the Merthyr Borough who have not seen the story on one of its visits to the Elec- tric, and as there are no two opinions about its unique merit, I can leave it with the remark that a second' seeing strengthened the fine opinion we had formed of it on its last screening here. "The Diamond from the Sky" is still running its exciting course; and Burns and Stoll are as comical as ever in their burlesque antics. Coral," the wonderful Bison production that is figuring as the big attraction these last three days of the week, is as distinctive in its way as "The Butterfly on the Wheel" is in its. It is the story of a bit of human flotsam, an unique piece of work that will live long in the memory of all who have seen it. "Greed" is. stiH the wonder of those of us who have passed so much under its spell that we would willingly visit the Electric though it waå the only item on the programme. "Greed", in the trade is regarded as in a class by itself, and from the sociological standpoint I can certainly say that nothing I have ever seen approaches within miles of it for bringing home the mean- ing of the Trusts,. Etery week I see its amazing progression I re-utter my first comparison that here is a. film that is doing for cinematography what "The Jungle" has done in literature. Lar- niga is a unique character, and his fight with the Trusts is quite as exciting, regarded from viewpoint alone, as is Wolf Larson in Jack Lon- don's "Sea Wolf." Next week's first programme is to be headed with a story of American political life—" The Boss," a story, based on fact, of a bar tender's rise to political boss. It is four reels of exciting and instructive photography, featuring some of the best work that Holbrook Blinn and Alice Brady have done. Burns and Stoll continue their laughter-raising pranks, in another thou- sand ohuokler episode, Pakes and Jabbs," and "A Runaway Match" is the title of the new instalment of "The Diamond from the Sky." I have been asked whether the "Diamond from the Sky" could be taken up now by anyone who had missed the first chapters, and I un- hesitatingly reply that it can. Of course, those who have been following it from the first have enjoyed a closer touch with the chief charac- ters in this thrilling story, but that will not prevent a new comer picking up the threads within the first week, and being in at the death. From Thursday there is a big star picture topping in "Married for Money," a very human tragedy featuring those popular artistes of "Royal LoVe"—Frank Harrison and Daisy Cord ell. The story is that of an ambitious but heartless girl who marries for money, and the wreck and ruin that she brings in the lives around her. It is a story that has often been parralled in human life, and one that Hvill be played many times again ere the present order passes; and the wonder of it is that the theme has not been appropriated before this for cinema production. Greed" has a wonderful episode in the fight with the "Railway Trust," and the "Rolling Terror" is the next chapter in the great Pathe serial, "The Girl of Lost Island." PLAYGOER.
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IAn Open Letter to the Rev.…
I An Open Letter to the Rev. W. Dockeray, I Wesleyan Minister, Dowlais. Reverend Sir,-—In your Open Letter to our Editor, you suggest that he make an effort to represent the working men." He is doing bet- ter: his columns are open to the working men to represent themselves. You state that the great mass 6f working men are contented, desiring only to live peaceful lives in some measure of comfort that they want neither Nationalisation nor Communism, and that this great mass of steady industri- ous men who form the backbone of the' working men in this district are not represented in your paper. ow, with one or two exceptions, all contributor's to the Pioneer belong to this great mass, and they want the very things you say they don't want. Those whose views do not appear in the Pioneer are those who don't put their views on paper. Non-patriotic," 'Anti-patriotic." Repre- senting only a trifling minority.' Has not the smallest possible, minority the right to express its opinions? The minority is really far from trifling ask Mr. Asquith. 1, The puerile and foolish criticism of the Bible does not represent intelligent working men." I am sorrv you have used this obsolete style of dealing with religious antagon- isms because many Christians work hand in hand with non-Christians for economic prog- ress. and you, can have met but very few of these puerile critics, or you would have found more intelligence than you could conveniently deal with. You are making men bitter haters of their kind by telling them that everybody is ex- ploiting them" etc.. etc., ad lib. If the Edi- tor were guilty of this he would but be fos- tering that glorious discontent with existing conditions whiqh is the very life and soul of progress; "omt in every issue he tells you plain- ly that he is not responsible for the views ex- pressed by.-the various writers. He .is. how- ever, a champion of fair-play, of freedom of thought and its expression freedom of mind, tongue and pen. We get both sides of every subject broached, and he does not exclude an attack on himself. I wish he and his paper had half the support they deserved; they would be in easy circumstances. "I see less reference in your columns to the terrible devastation of intemperance and the open neglect of the worship of Al- mighty God." Since the Temperance move- ment began (see statistics supplied by Air B. T. Hall, Secretary of the Club and Institute Union), the consumption of alcohol per head continued to increase till the formation of workmen's clubs reduced its rate of increase; and later, when sportsmen discovered the neces- ity for total abstinence by all athletes, cy- clists, boxers, footballers, racers, etc., the con- sumption per head began to fall. We have the word of one or two medical men that the indigestion caused by universal errors in eating produces more misery than alcohol; a state- ment confirmed by most health cultu/rists, how- ever incredible it may appear. As for the emp- ty churches and chapels, how is it that R. J. Campbell, whose theology should rank him am- ong Atheists, cannot get a building large en- ough for his congregations? One bit I could not help laughing at. It was. "Working men don't get their rights because there is a dread that they will im- mediately ask for more than their rights." Working men who create all wealth but under existing circumstances don't handle the wealth they create, can't get justice lest they should ask for more. And all the lot justly belongs to them. Study this, and when comprehension cones, you will laugh at your own blunder. Youoss sincerely, JAS. B. GRANT*
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