Pioneer

Merthyr Notes. 1 Colliery Workman's Death, 1 Accidental death was the verdict returned at Merthyr on Monday at an inquest upon David Jones, aged 47 years, of Cyfarthfa. Lane, who died at, the Merthyr General Hospital on Friday. Evidence was given that deceased sustained a fracture of the skull whilst working as a haulier at the Gethin Pit, Abercanaid. Co-operative Stores Haulier Injured. I A lad of eighteen, named Williams, employed as a haulier by the Merthyr oo-operative Society, was seriously injured rut Cefn Goed on Saturday night. It appears that the horse he was driving toot fright near the Cefn Coed Church and bolted. The cart was overturned, the shafts broken and the driver thrown into the gutter at the road-side. The runaway was stopped by a pedestrian about a quarter of a mile further on. I War Savings Movement. I That money was being spent in refreshment bars and shops on Sundays which might well be put into war savings was a point raised at a war loan meeting at Merthyr on Friday night by the Rev. Arthur Jones, pastor of the High-street Baptist Chapel. Six days was enough for spend- ing, and what was spent beyond that was waste —and waste was wicked. Alderman N. F. Hankey (mayor), who pre- sided, mentioned that arrangements had been made for Mr. W. R. Harris, the borough control- ler, to advise intending investors who called at his offices at the town-hall, Mr. "Edgar Jones, M.P., in apologising for non- attendance, wrote:—We have got to the point where money is going to be a governing factor in the war." There are no less than 57 war savings associa- tion3 in the town. Twelve of them are connected with Messrs. Gue?t, Keen, and Nettlefolds to en- courage workmen to invest. Thirty-two elemen- tary schools have each an association, and during the last three months £1.000 has been contri- buted to war savings by school-children. The list is headed by Twynyrodyn School with It is felt that more might be done by the various chapels. Workman's 9500. 1 A working man at M?rthyr on Saturday in- vested £ 500 in War Loan Stock. His decision is stated to have been a result of attendmg ? War Loan meeting held in the town the previous night by 1?10 ?terthvr ?'a.r Saving -A?ociation, Alder- man N. F. Hankey. J.P. (t.h? muyor) prc?ding. Imprisonment for Coal Theft. -r-r 1 i- J Afn„ vvnen Mannan oteeiv was senteuueu My* thyr Police Court on Friday to one month's im- prisonment with hard labour for coal-estealing she bursT. into tears a.nd was taken below crying, Uh, dmr! oh, dear!" The Chief-constable (Mr. J. A. Wilson) said that Mrs. Steele had been convicted ten times during the past two years for stealing coal, and that her family had suffered badly in having to provide the money for fines imposed upon her. Police-sergeant Clinch said that he caught Mrs. Steele and two other women, Annie Griffiths and Ellen Dinan, coming away from Messrs. Crawshay's tip at Cl()Illo rl-ro-sv Avitb a, bag of coal each, weighing in all about 2 cwt. Griffiths was fined 20s. and Dinan 15s. Cigarette in the Pit. I A Penydarren collier, Alfred David Thomas, lined 9s. at Merthyr on Friday for having a, cigar- ette in his possession at the Bedlinog Colhery, said that a friend pressed him to have a fag a fow days previously on his way from work and that he had placed it in his pocket and forgotten about it. Boy Burglars. I Mr. J. A. Wilson (chief-constable), at Merthyr Police-court on .Friday asked that sentence upon a number of boys found guilty of perpetrating several burglaries in the town might be further ?d?ourned, as great difficulty was bein? ex- .ad -d in finding reformatories to send them to. The cases were occordingly adjourned until next Friday. .Building Trades Demand Increase. I A meeting of the building trades employers and employees took place at the Castle Hotel on Saturday last. The meeting was called to discuss the wages question. Practically all workmen connected with the building trades have agree- ments with their employers, these agreements terminate on April 30th, 1917. The employees are asking for a flat rate, one shilling and a half- penny per hour; the present rate being: Carpen- ters, masons, plasterers, and bricklayers, 9}d. per hour; plumbers, 9d. per hour; painters, 8jd. per hour, labourers, 6-id. per hour. Mr. David Jones, builder, Dowiais, in opening the meeting, .aid he quite understood the justness of the oper- atives' demands, he felt sure that the other em- ployers present agreed with him, however, owing to the demand for a flat rate throughout South Wales, nothing could be agreed upon until the .South Wales master builders met in a body and decided to convene a. meeting immediately. Whist Drive. I The usual company enjoyed themselves in fours around small tables at Bent-ley's Hall last Satur- day night, especially Mr. D. Davies and Mrs. Ad- kin, who took away the prizes, the latter for the second time, thus creating a record. Public Works. Mr. A. J. Marshall (surveyor) informed the Merthyr Public Works Committee on Tuesday that the demolishing of the old St. David's ■Schools, High-street (on the site of which will lie erected new corporation offices and a public library), had been commenced. Carpenters' Complaint. I The carpenters of the Merthyr Corporation I complained to the public works committee on Tuesday of "unfair treatment in having to pay 2d. per week (in addition to 4d. State In- surance) unemployment money, whereas no other employees did so. It was decided to reply that they were one of the trades coming within the Unemployment Act, and that the committee I could, therefore, take no action. War Rents—Landlords Still Stupid. The Trades Council ha? information that cer-I tain landlords are at their tricks again in the Town Ward. The latest dodge is charging more on the incoming tenant. One .shilling per w<?k is quite common. The Trades Council intend prosecuting some of the landlords under the Defence of the Realm ANif peaceful persuasion is of no avail. In the- meantime all tenants are asked to keep to the pre-war rents. Deduct any increase you have needlessly paid from the next month's rent. Husband and Bench. -tt Merthyr Court on Tuesday, when William Henry Jackson, a Dowlais workman, was crderc-d to pay HOs. for maintenance of his wife and children. Defendant: I can't pay it. Stipendiary Qjjr. R. A. Griffith): Yon will jhave to pay it. Defendant; But I can't. Stipendiary: We will that you pay it. Corporation Loan. Merthyr Public Works Committee on Tuesday decided to apply to the Local Government Board for a loan of £ 2,000 for the re-construction of a sewer at Troedyrhiw at the end of the war. Building Trade Federation Meeting. A meeting of the Merthyr and District Build- ing Trade Federation was held on Friday last at Bentley's liooms, the attendance of delegates was far above the average, this was no doubt ac- counted for owing to the afl important question of wages. The whole of the building employees throughout South Wales are demanding one flat- rate for all trades, that is, Is. Old. per hour, as from May 1st, 1917. This, surely, is not an un- just demand! It is marvellous how the building trade employees exist on their present scanty wage. The meeting was unanimous for accepting nothing less than the full demand. One delegate said tha,t what the employees were asking for was absolutely inadequate. However, this could not bo altered now owing to the notices being given in. The question of building construction after the war was brought forward, there was no end of work in Merthyr and district that had been left owing to the war. The chairman said some scheme should be at once formulated whereby building construction could commence immediate- ly peace was proclaimed. One delegate suggested that a meeting of employees, employers, and the Buildings Committee of the Corporation with the borough architect be convened to draw up a scheme. Fventuallv it was decided to send a de- putation to the Labour Group of the Council as a first step in the .right direction. The depu- tation chosen being Frank Bateson (secretary) John Williams (O.B.S.), Edward Shadbolt (pain- ters) and Mr. Nicholas (carpenters). It was re- ported that the Co-operative Society had decided to construct premises in Glebelaiid-street, arising out of this it was move d that the secretary write to the Co-operative Society asking them to insert the trade union clause when asking for tenders. The secretary reported that lie had attended the Cardiff Building Trade Conference. Among other matters discussed there wa.s the question of ap- pointing a new secretary of the South Wales Building operatives Federation^ two names were submitted, on a vote being taken there was a tie. The chairman here gave his casting vote to Frank Bateson, secretary of Merthyr .Federation. The next business was the attitude the Local Federation should take up when they met the employers, decided to agree to employers' sug- gestion that each trade meet the employers se- parately. The treasurer, li. Mason, gave a brief report of the financial position, the report was adopted. The next meeting was left to the secretary to arrange as convenient as possible. Food Cultivation. Merthyr Corporation is issuing an appeal to all people with gardens to cultivate them to the ut- most extent. National Service. At the request of the Local Government Board, Merthyr Town Council on Wednesday decided to form a committee to assist in connection with the recruiting campaign for national service. Mr. L. M. Francis, 3-Ir. D. Parry, and other Labour members declined to serve. Tuberculosis. Twenty cases of tuberculosis were notified in Merthyr last iiionth-a reduction of seven.

"A SAVIOUR ON EARTH AGAIN." Many of the readers of the highly artistic and deeply interesting periodical, Bibby's Annual," will have noticed the writings of Miss Clara M. Codd. A. public lecturer of great experience and ability, Miss Codd has traversed the country far and wide, and those who had the privilege of listening to her during her last visit to Merthyr some years ago, will not easily have forgotten the deep impression she then made upon her hearers. Under the auspices of the Order of the Star in the East she will deliver a public lecture at Bentley's Hall, Merthyr, on Thursday next at 7 p.m., on the timely subject, "A Saviour on earth again and the birth of a New Age." Mr. Alfred Larkman will preside, and all interested are warmly invited to attend.

Dowlais Notes. Pastor's New 11 Call.11 The Rev. T. E. Davies, of Libanus Calvinistic Methodist Church, Dowiais, had a farewell meet- ing last night on his acceptance of a "call" to the pastorate of Hedwas Church, and was pre- sented with a wallet of Treasury notes. Workman's Death. Accidental death was the verdict at an in- quest held at Merthyr to-day upon John Sayers, aged 64 years, who died at the Merthyr General Hospital on Monday, after being injured in the rail-bank department of the Dowiais Ironworks. Combing Out." The Recruiting Medical Board examined about 200 unskilled workmen employed bv Messrs. Guest, Keen and Nettlefold (Limited) at the Dowiais Iron and Steel Works on Monday and Tuesday. Fully 50 per cent. were passed as Class "A'' men, and the number of rejections was small.

Bedlinog Notes. Coat Thief. For stealing nmepennyworth of coal from. Messrs. Guest, Keen, and Nettlefold's tip at Bed- linog a woman. Kate Wrench, was fined 12s. at Merthyr. Two little girls who helped hex; were fined 6s. each. S.W.M.F. A general meeting of the Bedlinog miners was held at Gosen Hall on Friday, when the proposed "eombing cut" of certain classes of colliery workers-was discussed. Messrs. W. Woosnaiii and Evan Evans (agents) addressed the meeting, explaining the previous arrangement arrived at !>etween the M.F.G.B. Executive and the Home Office. I.L.P. At a branch meeting held last week a most in- structive and informing address was delivered by Comrade Bolwell, our local Poor Law Guardian. The speaker t(.)ol,- as his subject T^nion Assess- ments," and made a brief survey bf the devel- opments 111 assessments for the maintenance of the poor, etc., from the Twelfth Century down to our day. He pointed out the anomalies of the present method cf assessing minerals;, etc., show- ing the clever and cunning adopted by the capi- talist to shirk his duties. The moral, certainly, was for'the workers to be on the alert, by taking more interest in these questions, and send men of their own ranks to the local bodies where our laws are administrative. A good discussion fol- lowed. The agenda of the annual conference of the East Glamorgan Labour Party was also dis- cussed.

Abertillery Notes. j The Abertillery Miners and the Comb Out. I Arising out of the combing-out process taking place at the mines under the new Army Order, a special meeting of the Western Valleys district miners took place on February 1st, where the following resolution was submitted and passed by an almost unanimous vote of the delegates: "That this district calls upon the miners' exe- cutive to immediately convene a, special confer- ence to deal with the new Army Order, it further recommends that the miners should refuse to go before the travelling medical board. Where a miner adopts this course and is inconvenienced thereby or is taken up under this new Army Or- der the men to down tools until the grievance is remedied." Discussion upon this was spirited and elicited the suspicion that lurks in the workers mind that this is a crafty and sinister method of in- troducing black and female labour into the mines, and, in due course, the suspension of the Eight Hours' Act. A mass meeting, after some heated speeches from the body of the audience, resolved to stand by this resolution. One speaker criticised the miners in their attitude re- lative to the weak unions who would also have 'resisted the Industrial Conscription plainly ex- tant if they had felt sure of the miners help. It is evident that the ethic of the strong helping th, weak is not followed to the extent it might be by the miners. It was asked why they didn't stand by the C.O. surface worker when he ae- sisted the Military Service Act. It is not very creditable to help an individual resist his pledge which lie evidently gave when he attested. A pledge which committed him to go when the mili- tary required. The 0.0. who resisted when practically no power was behind him, facing even the death penalty is a noble figure compared to these spineless jelly-fish. W. W. Craik at Tillery. I At the Tillery Workmen's Institute Mr. Craik, sub-warden of the Central Labour College, lec- tured to the miners upon the principles of work- ing class education. He outlined the history of the college and showed the necessity, if the workers are ever to come into their own, of pos- sessing knowledge of economics and social science fitting them to become masters of their destiny, which is only possible by intelligent organisation. The value of the college to the rank and file is clear and if students go there in the right spirit nothing can prevent success on all points. The lecturer terminated his address by ex- plaining the present difficulties of the college. From his remarks one felt ashamed of the actions of some of the miners' leaders in relation to the condition of the college. h. is evident that the demagogues of the miners' leaders fight shy of the younger men equipping themselves to carry on the union without the present-day incubus and adamant fakirs. When the Federation, in conjunction with the N.U .H., decided to purchase the college those leaders in charge of the busi- ness should, have made themselves conversant with the curriculum obtaining at the C.L.C., perhaps then we should not be faced with their opposition now. The financial burden plea is mere bunkum and would apply equally correctly to themselves. It is the working class nature of the teaching with the real workers control of their own affairs as the objective that they are afraid of. It may also be that these prejudiced patriots take exception to Marxian economics be- cause of the author's German blood. Miners would do well to have the difficulties of the C.L.C. thrashed out at the next conference.

Abercwmboi Notes. Casey at Abercwmboi. I The few inhabitants that took the opportun- ity of listening to "Casey" and Dolly on last Friday night, had a treat such as does not come our way very often, and for his humour, "Casey" is a knock out." The stage was set out very tastily by the com- rades. One thing was lacking, the heating of the Hall should have been seen to, in such cold weather. Well, after the meeting, a comrade took me down to see the billiard room, game room, and reading room, which are cosy and clean, and they have a collection of books to their credit. I was informed by my friend that the Hall and furnishings cost something over k2,600, and as wise men they had £1,000 in hand before starting to build. After all said and done, there are drawbacks in regard to this Hall, as some of its members told me, about a clause that was inserted in the deeds, by some of the trustees, who are deacons in the chapels of .this place, and without any authority of the general public, to prohibit the use of the Hall for religious meet- ings on Sundays between the hours of 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. But religious meetings can be held between the hours of 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. And no secular meetings can be held on Sunday on any circumstances whatever. My friends related an instance that had hap- pened lately, John Eiddig Davies, leader of the Abercwmboi Boys' Choir, applied for the use of the Hall for choir practice on Sundays, which was refused. He applied for the vestry of Beth- lehem Chapel, which was granted. Well, it is coming to something." What was not allowed at the -Hall--a. public building—on religious grounds, was permitted in a chapel. I could hardly believe my friends that they were saying the truth. But to be fair with the trustees, they had their reasons for the above clause, which I shall state, as they were given to me. (1) A deacon in Beth- lehem Chapel gave his reason as to keep clear of the seven days' license." (2) A deacon III Bethesda Chapel, his reason was "to keep the morality of the place up." I could hardly believe it possible, because it amounted to this. The holding of religious meet- ings in the Hall, morning and evening, is de- moralising, while holding the same in chapels, are moralising. I never heard such cant in my life. Why not word the clause in its proper mean- ing: "That we a-s part of the trustees of the Hall and deacons of the chapels in this place, refuse God permission to receive His worship, on Sunday morning and evening, but can have the same in the afternoon." We read of persecution in the past, it is still alive in the churches, its members are blind to the fact that persecution in all ages has failed. 0, ye blind! (JOMHADE. I

Liquor Decision Sequel. I APPEAL AGAINST CONVICTION BY I MERTHYR BENCH. -—. It was stated by Mr. Harold Lloyd, Cardiff, at Merthyr Police-court on Tuesday that notice of appeal had been given against the decision of Mr. R. A. Griffith (stipendiary) and other magistrates in the case of the Troedyrhiw Constitutional Club, the steward of which (Mr. John Davies) was -fined tIO last week for an alleged breach of the Order of the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic). Sureties were entered into to bring the case forward at the next quarter sessions.

LLOYDS BANK -1 i?? LIMITED. HEAD OFFICE: 71, LOMBARD ST., EiC. WAR LOAN APPLICATIONS MAY BE LODGED AT ANY OF THE BRANCHES OF THE BANK. | COUPONS AND DIVIDEND WARRANTS CASHED FOR HOLDERS j WHO HAVE NO BANKING ACCOUNTS.

Merthyr Vale Train Dash. I A young fellow, William Small, of Merthyr Vale was summoned at Merthyr on Tuesday for riding on the footboard of a Taff Vale Railway train. Mr. F. S. Simons, the prosecuting solici- tor, said the defendant, accompanied by a soldier, rushed for the train just as It was leaving the Merthyr Vale station platform on the upward journey to Merthyr. The man in uniform man- aged to get into a compartment, hut defendant only got on the footboard. Small said that his friend was home on ten days' leave from the front, and they particularly wished to visit Mer- thyr that night. A fine of 10s. was imposed.

"PROPAGANDA, NOT PROFIT," is the motto of the Pioneer Press." If you are alive to the tremendous social improve- ments that the Party the "Pioneer" represents stands for, then it is your duty to all that all your Trades Union, Co-operative, and General Printing comes to Williams' Square, Merthyr, the Home of the "Pioneer."

i* Bargoed Notes. A Keen Study Group. t" The Study Circle met again on the evening o th& 4th inst., for further discussion of LeaS? No. 2. Comrade Matthews, leading off, aske what was really meant by control uf duO- trie?." As it wa? we had a shipowner set to, Rontrol shipping, a sort of super-grocer (not. l?s word, but the substance of it) to control the foou- supply, and a large munition-maker (Chaan^" lain) set to direct La-bour (in every case, inter ested parties). The one thing that was not coll- trolled was capital. They raised the cry for the country but they forgot the comph- ment The country for all." Militarism, recog- nizing, as it did, neither freedom nor conscience was. incompatible with Socialism. The feunily influenced by the spirit the children brought back from school; and this was, in great Part; a spirit of envy and covetousness, taught by te' games, and by which one's gain "ue another's loss. Tl? papers and politicians had done much to foster a, mood of national vain-confidence, in which they thought their army and naw were the greatest, on earth, and invincible, and so on. Comrade Pope asked gravely whether state- control was much good, so long as it left privatlr ownership in force. The workers should elect men of their own class in parliament and elë- where. State-ownership was better, as shown the post-ofifce, as against the private carrier" firms, having one rate instead of many. IVIle" the railways also were State-owned, and 130t merely State-oontrolled; there would be one set of rates for the whole country the trains of tile- different lines would be fitted into each other" and we should be able to get information, where, about the times, etc., for the whole  try. The press also had to be reckoned w!th present it wa?. in the main, a. great Rngine ?' misleading the people. Education would needed to change a good many of these thillgs" He said something also on the vexed questie#' how it was that the Germans, advanced as 1111 mam- ways they were, seemed afraid to revo^ and overthrow their rulers. As it was, beSof0, the war the Gerrflan peace-party wa.s growing: and in another ten years it might have actually had the mastery. On the other hand, the Her' man government, owing to the war, had J1 making real concessions to tht German Sociahsts Comrade Powell spoke on the Great lWu" ,s on" of the sort of "State-Socialism" r0P!(}- sented by Lloyd George, which does not reoogfl^6'' conscience, and leaves the rich in power. Another comrade, whose name I forget, re- marked that mast people, when th<?y spoke of the State," meant the four or five people )1). power: it ought to be the community. Sociali**111 meant the highest development of each, for the good of all. He doubted if we should ever b€" able to do altogether without force; he thought there would always be a rearguard," of the backward and untrustworthy, who would need restraining for their own good as well as ours. d Comrade W. T. Lloyd quoted our Grand C)-]a. Man's saying that Sta,te-Soeialism might eoIl1e. but it, wouldn't last long; and suggested that the existing state of things might bo a, r.ra.nsitioll- stage. Socialism was permeating tho people fro:tly, all sorts of sources; the alone in preaching it. Someone remarked that capitalism, strong it seemed, was digging its own grave. Comrade Moses Prica remarked that Paaii#" ment was at, present very undemocratic; was something to be said for the use to whi^ Wm. Morris, in "News from Nowhere," pro- posed to put it. The press was one great eneiny used chiefly to mislead the people. But greater still was the militarising of the schools, vvitb scouts, cadet corps, etc., and he had seen a èWPf of a pamphlet on "How the War Came" the suppressed I.L.P. one, but published by Hod. dr and Stoughton, and certainly not ^suppressed)1 dLStrlouted among the boys of the PengaJll Sehoo, which just proved the saying that" a li that is half the truth is ever the blackest of hes making the most of everything which, s- pecially when torn from its context could bt* used against the Germans; and suppressing th^. explanation or the percontra. Freedom was nQt. licentiousness. Engineering was best managed- by engineers, and not by lawyers. Other comrades questioned whether restriwtieO of production was a wise policy; whether revolu- tion would not bring mere chaos and destruction ? or was this the darkest hour before the dawn ? The French Revolution showed howresortingta:" violence to overthrow tyranny, resulted in estab- lishing a worse tyranny. Militarism is the op- posite of Socialism. It was best to permeate e% isting institutions, and use them for whatever they were worth. The war was showing us tba* we arc all members of one another; aDLd thai. none can say to another We have no need of you we were paying dear enough J.'oj- doilig, without the Germans, Next, week, as Leaflet, No. 3 has not been received yet, it is propo-,ed" to hold a debate, I think, on the question Of "Peaceable versus Violent Means," or "Evolf tion versus Revolution the proceeds to go to the Bossendale Election litti-id especially as thoØ Government have there invaded yet another of our rights and liberties, that of electing our oWP: M.P.-s..

'.p- TO-MORROW MAY BE TOO LATE. Get a Box TO-DAY! Robert Edes, of Weybridge, writes" After I had ts?" the second two I felt better than I had done for over ?t? years. The pain in my back had entir6figone,?' Mrs. gillg,- Runwell Road, Wickford, statesYour pills cured me  years of pain." Sufferers from Gravel, Lumbago, Pains in Back, Dropsy, Bright's Disease of the Kidheys, etc., Sdat:c? Rheumatism, and Gout, will find a positive cure in HoJdroyd" Grave1 Pills. Is. 3d., an chemists; post free Tl 'st is. 3d., a!! chemists; post free T? 'ttarn?s. '? Gravel Pills. Medical Hall. Cleckheaton Printed and published by the Labour Pione^ Press, street, Merthyr Tydfil, February 10th, 1917.