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Merthyr Notes.
Merthyr Notes. I.L.P. The I.L.P. Male Voice Party will mefet at Bentley's on Monday at 7.30. There is still room for vocalists. On Tuesday a special, sum- molted meeting of the I.L.P. Merthyr Branch, will be held in the Rooms, when important busi- ness will be brought forward for discussion. Wounding Charge Fails. Wm. Jno. Lewis, a locomotive fireman of Dowlais, was charged at Merthyr on .Friday with unlawfully wounding Daniel Kennedy, a lad of fifteen, joy-riding down High-street on a four- wheeled plank, by kicking him on the right arm upon which there was a contused wound necessi- tating three stitches being inserted. Mr. E. Roberts, Dowlais, for defendant, put foiward complete denial of the allegations, and suggested the injuries were the result of the lad falling off the plank. Mr. R. A. Griffitffih (stipendiary) in- clined to think the affair an accident, discharged defendant. Single Member Constituencies. The final recommendations of the Boundary Commission provide that Merthyr Tydfil shall be divided into two parliamentary divisions—Aber- dare, consisting of the urban areas of Aberdare a,nd Mountain Ash; and Merthyr, consisting of the County Borough of Merthyr—with a mem-, ber for each. Guardians' Exposure of Milk Prices. Milk was raised from sixpence to sevenpence a quart at Merthyr on Sunday, twopence being charged for the half-pint. Yet, Mr. John Prowle at Saturday's meeting of the Merthyr Guardians when he opposed a recommendation from the Farms Committee that the price of milk sold by them should be advanced to 2s. a gallon, "We are getting a ripping profit now by selling at Is. 6d. a gallon. We are setting an example by raising the price for unscrupulous profiteers to follow." The only milk they sold was the sur- plus after supplying thee Homes at Llwvdcoed and this to the Aberdare Red Cross Hospital. He moved that the priae per gallon should be fixed at Is. 8d., and the Rector of Dowlais (the Rev. at Is. 8d., WTilliams) secon d e d Mr. Meth Davies, Ll,-w. Williams) seconded. Mr. Meth Davies, however, moved the adoption of the committee's recommendation. Mr. S. Bolwell, seconding, said it was tfaeir duty to relieva the rates, and if other people charged increased prices why not they ? Eventually on a division the recommen- dation of the committee was adopted. At the same meeting a tender for milk-supply to one of the Guardians' institutions at 2s. 4d. a gaJIon was accepted. Baritone's Death. Sapper Gwilym Jones, Royal Monmouth En-I gineers, a well-known baritone of Brecon-road, Merthyr, was killed in France by a shell on October 1st. He was in civil life employed at Gethin Pit, Abercanaid. The" Berry" Institute. Tke Merthyr Trades Council's proposals for raising £ 3,000 for the endowment of scholarships at the J. M. Berry" Technical Institute was approved of by the Merthyr miners at a mass meeting on Sunday, and it was agreed, as ap- pealed to, to contribute a levy of one penny per iran per week for twelve months towards the realisation of the amount required. The scheme was explained by Mr. Enoch Morrel1 (chairman of the Merthyr Education Committee). Merthyr No Cowards' Castle. Merthyr miners at a mass meeting at the Rink, on Sunday, decided to instruct their dele- gates to the Cardiff Conference on Monday to disassociate themselves from the new scheme for combing-out from the mines the 1914 men, and to vote for the continuation of the agitation for the raising of the basis of income tax assessment from £ 120 to R160 a year. Mr. B. J. Williams, deputy agent, after ex- pressing pleasure at the wages increase granted by the Coal Controller said more would be heard in future of dealing with the State instead of private employers. With reference to the comb- out question, he remarked that Merthyr miners had never agreed that the mine should be a cock-pit or a coward's castle in which men might shelter from military service, but they had all along been against war. (Hear, hear.) If the war was just it was everyone's duty to fight; if it were not then it was not their duty to further any scheme for sending men to the army. That was the attitude in Merthyr. (Applause.) Wanted: Food Control. k I Complaints regarding the prices of foodstuffi3 were ventilated at Monday's meeting of the Mer- thyr Watch Committee, when Mr. D. W. Jones (Ghairman) drew attention to the fact that there was a shortage in the town of 'butter, tea and other commodities, and that tea. was being charged at 4s. per lb. Ald. D. John: And 4s. 6d., too. Mr. T. A. Rees (Town Clerk) said he knew some grocers told their customers they had the Government" two and four-penny tea in stock but could not recommend it. Mr. J. A. Wilson (chief constable): I have had no complaint of that. The chairman also pointed out that more was being charged by some tradesmen (so he was told) for bread than should be. The Chief Constable replied that he did not think so. If any such cases were reported to him x he would be only too glad to prosecute. The price of bread in Merthyr was lower than in any other town in Great Britain, the majority being sold at Std. a quartern loaf. Chairman: Before the prices were controlled Merthyr bread was one half-penny above Ponty- pridd and the Rhondda. Chief Constablfe I have a surprise packet for some people next week. There are summonses pending now. The milk-vendors' advance of their prices being mentioned the Chief Constable said: That matter will come before the Food Committee. The Food Committee have power to lay down the price of milk. The Chairman: It is very extraordinary that a district like Merthyr, surrounded by a pastors Ij neighbourhood, should be the first to raise the price of milk to 7d. per quart. Discussion then closed. Colliery Fatality. Morgan Thomas (45), haulier, of 6 Mansfield- terrace, Dowlais, was killed by a fall of roof at the No. 1 Bedinogl Pit on Monday. It appears he was leading a horse attached to a tram of coal when the tram jumped the rails, dislodging some timber supports and bringing down upon him about a ton of debris. A Question of Relief. An old lady from Georgetown was sent by the Merthyr Guardians to Portheawl Rest or Southern-down, and during her fortnight's stay there her out-door relief was stopped. Mr. John Prowle described this suspension of relief at Saturday's meeting of the board as diabolical, and Mrs. V. A.Wills pointed out that the woman would have had to pay for her lodgings in Mer- 4hyr even though she were away. Eventually it was agreed to grant out-door relief for the two weeks in question with an additional allowance of 253. to cover the cost of the old lady's train- fare to the convalescent home. The Electric Theatre. The return of the Triangle dramas and the comedies to the Electric this week have 'oeen a source of delight to the big audiences that the popular houses .always attract. Douglas .Fair- banks in the "Habit of Happiness," the Mon- day to Wednesday big feature, was his own vivacious and clever self. As a picture it was a treat, as an example of cinema staging and act- ing it was superb. And the greatest feature of the week is the stupendous production of The Flying Torpedo," that heads this half's pro- gramme. It is a romance of invention as -full of startling plot and counter-plot as an egg is packed with nutriment, and there is a splendid supporting series. For next week programmes of unusual merit are booked. Interesting Acquisitions at Cyfarthfa Castle. An oil painting of Merthyr High-street as it existed probably in 184S or 1850 has been ac- quired by the Museum and Art Gallery Com- mittee. It shows in distinctive colour the archi- tectural condition of the centre of the town at that period. The outlook is somewhat similar to that of -a well-known old engraving of Merthyr but there are differences in point of detail. The name of the painter it unknown. To the museum has been added an old harp—the gift of a towns- man. The name, W. F. Frost," is inscribed upon it, and it may be concluded that the in- strument belonged to Mr. W. F. Frost, Mus. Doc., who lived at one time at Cardiff, and was one of the most skilful harpists of modern Wales. A Hearty Send-Off. A smoker and presentation, under the auspices of the Heolgerrig A.F.C., was held at the Six Bells Inn, lat Tuesday evening, in honour of one of the club members, Lance-Corporal Freddy Pedlar, who has been home on leave after two years' hard service at the front. Mr. W. J. Richards presided. The presentation of a wrist watch and silver cigarette case, given by the members of the club, and a £1 note, kindly given by Mr. J. Griffiths, the landlord, was made by Mr. Dd. J. Williams, who in a fine speech wished Lance-Oorporal Pedlar "boil" voyage and a speedy return. Friend Pedlar gave a few words and thanked all his friends for the handsome gifts, which he would always remember. A fine programme was gone through and everybody seemed to have enjoyed themselves. The even- ing concluded by singing How can I bear to leave Thee and God Save the King." Merthyr Grocers' Protest. At the meeting on Tuesday night of the Mer- thyr Grocers' Association a strong protest was made againat reported observations at the Watch Committee with regard to the alleged high prices of tea. It was mentioned that there was a short- age of all classes of tea, and that for good medium descriptions grocers themselves were prepared to buy at 4s. 4d. per lb., and that one had, indeed, given 4s. 6d. per lb. Thev repu- diated any interpretation of profiteering. Merthyr inventon. Mr. Francis Reynolds, who has already in- vented a safety pit cage and other life-saving appliances, has now completed an invention for locking and unlocking the doors of a passenger train whilst in motion, and has received provi- sional protection for it. He has ingeniously constructed models to illustrate the working of his clever device. Allocation of Fisher Grants. Thslre was a record attendance of about 300 members of the Merthyr branch of the N.U.T. on Saturday night at Abermorlais, under the presidency of Mr. D. Price. The greater part of the discussions, which lasted three hours, centred upon the details of the proposals of the Merthyr Sub-Education Committee for the allo- cation of the various increased salaries in con- nection with the local Fisher grants, which amount to P,7,800 for the year ending March 31 next. The proposals, which have to come be- fore the Merthyr Education Authority for rati- fication on Monday, were accepted. It may be added that the uncertificated teachers who have reached the maximum scale of £ 65, and are separately concerned, do not apparently take the same course. Cabbage Pilfering. A young Pentrebach woman. Gwendoline Thompson, was fined 10s. at Merthyr on Tuesday for stealing two cabbages, valued 6d., from an allotment. M.C. Wounded. Intimation was received on Wednesday by Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Green, Pentrebach House, Pentrebaeh, that their son, Captain W. T. Wil- liams-Green, M.C., Manchester Regiment, was wounded in France on Friday last, a sniper's bullet piercing his right side b and comng out through the small of the back, but the wound fortunately is not considered dangerous.
The Workers' and Soldiers'…
The Workers' and Soldiers' Council. The voting for the election of the district re- presentatives on the Workers' and Soldiers' Council has resulted in the following being elected for the districts indicated: — District III. (N.H. Coast).—Mr. G. H. Warne. District IV. (Yorkshire).—Mr. D. 'B. Foster. District V. (Lanes., Cheshire and N. Wales).— Mrs. C. A. Findlay. District VI. (N. and E. Midlands).—Aid. Geo. Banton, J.P. District VII. (S. and W. Midlands).—Private C. James Simmons. District VIII. (East Anglia).—Councillor H. E. Witard, J.P. District IX. (London and Home Counties).— Miss Sylvia Pankhurst. District X. (Southern Counties).—Councillor F. Perriman. District XI. (Wales and N. W. Monmouth).— Mr. Jas. Winstone, J.P. District XII. (Western Counties).—Councillor G. W. Brown. The election of the two Scottish representa- tives is now proceeding. A full meeting of the Council-will be held within the next week at which the policy of the Workers' and Soldiers' Council will be formulated and a vigorous cam- paign inaugurated. ALBEKT INKPIN, (On behalf of the Provisional Committee).
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Death of Mr. John Williams'
Death of Mr. John Williams' MINERS' AGENT, MERTHYR. Just as we are going to press we have learned, with inexpressible regret, of the death during this (Thursday) morning of Mr. John Williams, the much beloved and courageous Agent to the Merthyr Miners, at his home, Fair view Terrace. Mr. Williams has for some months been suffer- ing from the results of overwork, and the worry of the war, against which he fought relentlessly and well during his activities preceding the ill- ness, that laid him up almost immediately on his return from the Leeds Russian Revolution Con- ference. Since then his illness has confined him to his house, but he has throughout taken a keen interest in the fight for Freedom :and a reasonable peace. Mr. Williams was in his 52nd year, and leaves a widow and eight children— two of whom are with the colours. There is no doubt that Mr. Williams, like his great hero, Jas. Keir Hardie, is another of the indirect vic- tims of the war. We shall deal fully with Mr. Williams' life and activities in our next number. In the meantime we extend our heartfelt con- dolences to Mis. Williams and family, to the Merthyr Miners, who have lost a leader in a thousand; and take off our hat in salute to the memory of a man whose friendship we valued, whose co-operation was a source of inspiration and a call to renewed effort in the fight for Democracy that lay so clase to his big, manly heart.
Rhymney Valley Notes.
Rhymney Valley Notes. Aroused. The action of the colliery managements in dis- continuing the customafy blowing of the hooters on "stop-truck days "—so that they might have, a check on absentees under the new advance— caused a great deal of feeling amongst the col- liers here, and steps were instituted for the co- hesion of the whole valley in joint action to alter this, with the result that the managements have returned to the old practice pending discussion of the whole position by the Conciliation Board. A Good Idea. A movement is on foot in the Rhymney Valley to induce the local Food Control authorities to appoint a joint shops inspectr for the purpose of detecting breach of the orders. A Labour Leader? The following statement made by a certain councillor at the New Tredegar mass meeting deserves serious attention: The substance of the Labour Movement is being killed by Trades Councils and I.L.Pers. Is it right that I should go to Bargoed and be told what I am to do? They are hoodwinking you out of £ 160 political levy this year, and they want another 2d. We have got enough intelligence in New Tredegar to-day to know what is right or wrong. We are not tied to Ramsay Macdonald or Philip Snow- den." This sweeping statement so eloquently ignorant of the duties and obligations of trades union organisations and amalgamations, was oc- casioned by what? By the request of the Trades Council to the workers to levy themselves 2d. per member to form an Industrial Fund from which to fight cases of non-observance of the Rents Acts, housing, etc., a request which has been acooeded by every other lodge in the valley. It is peculiarly interesting to note in this con- nection that in one instance alone the action of the Trades Council has resulted in the return of t5 excess rent charged, and that in New Trede- gar. The i-neeti-ner decided asrainst contributing to the fund. E.S.
"The Plebs Magazine."
"The Plebs Magazine. The October Plebs opens with an article by W. McLaine (A.S.E.) on certain recent-Gov- ernmental proposals, aptly entitled Whitley- ing Away Our Strength." The Report of the Whitley Committee," says the writer, is the expression of the desire on the part of the owners of the means of production to side-track the workers' movement, and to fritter away its energy in the effort to reconcile the divergent interests of Capital and Labour." The same topic is dealt with by J.H." (B.W.I.U.) under the title, "The Way the Wind Blows." Eden and Cedar Paul writes on "Sooialism and the Herd Instinct," Walton Newbold on "Capital- ism de Luxe (the new Federation of British Industries), and Mark Starr on How to Form a Social Science Class -an article containing many hints which should be of value not only to those forming new classes, but to leaders and students "of an older growth." J. D. McDougall contributes an account of the Lan- arkshire Miners' Reform Movement; and the draft programme of the S.W.M.F. Unofficial Re- form Committee is also reproduced. There are full reports of educational activities in South Wales, the Clyde, and elsewliere, and some in- teresting-and lively—correspondence. We note with interest an announcement that the Plebs League are arranging for the publication in book form of Mark Starr's Outlines of Industrial History," which originally appeared in our columns. (The Plebs is obtainable, 2-,Id. post paid, from Secretary, 127 Hamlet Gardens, Ravenscourt Parle, London, W. 6.)
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I-Gorseinon Notes.]
Gorseinon Notes. Stanley Rees' Third Court-Martial Statement. I merely (in the main) desire to reiterate the statement made at my last court-martial. I did disobey the order given, because I do not and never did, or ever shall, consider such an order applicable to me. I contend as a conscientious objector, that provisions have been made in the Military Service Acts for people holding my views, to be granted absolute exemption, and even if such exemption were not enacted in the Act my conscientious objection would prevent me becoming a soldier, or even becoming a more in- direct part of the war machine. I appealed in what may be termed a constitu- tional manner, to the Tribunals set up under the Acts. The Appeal Tribunal granted I had a con- scientious objection and gave me exemption from combatant service only. This I could not accept, & it was not the exemption I claimed, i.e., abso- lute exemption, and did not satisfy my conscien- tious scruples. "According to Mr. Walter Long's statement in the House of Commons, 'The exemption to be granted to a conscientious objector, was that which would satisfy his conscientious s«ruples.' I have twice undergone the test by ordeal to prove the strength and sincerity of my convic- tions. Whilst undergoing sentence in Wormwood Scrubbs Prison, I was summoned before the Cen- tral Tribunal Committee, and they again by offering me work under the Home Office Scheme, granted that my objection was sincere. That scheme also does not satisfy my conscientious scruples, so there is nothing left, but, in justice, to extend to me my rights, under the Acts, of absolute exemption. I am not here because I have violated a law, but because the Tribunals have uttterly failed to administer the. law. I am here because this country, which is supposed to be fighting for rights and liberties, will not ex- tend to some of its subjects the most elementary rights of citizenship; even when such rights are enacted by Act of Parliament. As an Anti-militarist, I abhor the whole idea of Militarism, believing it to be the result of a vicious system, which creates fear in the hearts of the people. It creates national barriers, which barriers to me do not exist. I believe that in reality the peoples of the different countries have no quarrel one with another. They have the same evils to combat in their respective coun- tries. They have the same hopes, desires, and aspirations for something better: a system un- der which they could live as comrades and co- workers, instead of being so many animals, exist- ing merely for the sake of bare distrusts in one another, and ever ready at the behests of the ruling classes to fly at one another's throats, and roll over like made dogs in a scramble. "The danger to a particular country is not the militarism of some outside power, but that within. In other words, British Militarism is the danger to Britain and German Militarism to Germany. Militarism cannot be broken down from without, but from within. The history of Militarism is that of a huge monster, whose ap- petite grows by what it feeds on. War to me is unjust, irrational and unneces- sary. It has never accomplished anything in our so-called civilization. It is highly questionable whether any war in history, under exactly the same conditions, coupled with the facts brought out only after a war had been concluded would ever be fought over again. Even to-day; after over three years of the greatest, most wide- spread, far-reaching and certainly the most dreadful and horrible war the world has ever known, the people of the belligerent nations know not what they are fighting for. Certain people in power, who are presumably interested in the perpetuation of such a, ghastlly crime, can prate vague platitudes on questions of de- fence some other peoples vicious military castes small nationalities and neutralities; whilst at the same time entering into understandings with the interested people of other countries, secretly and behind the back of the real people, which understandings commit the workers to be maimed and slaughtered by the thousands. There is, I believe, in the minds of most people a desire for peace and tranquility. They in the past and the present have been and are being so misled and misguided as to believe such could come about by brute force as exemplified in Militarism and War. The powers of Force afl.il> Murder have been tried far too long, and proven a complete failure. It is time we tried intellectual and moral force. It is time we tried reason. It is time the peoples of all coun- tries began to see that they are mere pawns in the hands of the ruling classes and subjects to the vice, plotting, planning and intriguing of diplomats and false statesmen. I as one of the people who realize these things, cannot condone and shall not even pretend to condone militarist and war. In conclusion I only desire to ask a question or so, to which I do not expect tore-, ceive any answer. If there is anything akin to Justice in BrI- tain, why after a person has been found in his convictions; after further demonstrate by suffering continued persecution, he is not lowed the rights given to him by Acts of par hament? Or are some people still labouring ufl- der the delusion and fallacy, that you can change- the conclusions of the mind by tortyre f 1>& If the latter, although the lesson may severe for those wishing t6 teach it, the leesoIk shall be given." Our comrade, Stanley Rees, is now serving hI third sentence of two years in Carlton Gaol, Edinburgh. Comrad es W. J. Roberts and Herbert have been removed from Redcar to serve their, second sentences of two years each in North" allerton Gaol. So dearly is Liberty bought. The Carnival. The carnival and sports which were held Gorseinon last Saturday turned out O.K. T dresses and costumes were in some cases high1) amusing, whilst others and all (on the whol?' were very tasty and original. There was  a dance in the evening at the Drill Hall. T? entries for the sports were numerous, and lIV general proved very interesting. The Gors-einoll- Temperance Band supplied the music, not for getting the comic bands.
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Llanelly Notes.!
Llanelly Notes. Teachers' Salaries. When the Llanelly Borough Education OoB? mittee considered the revision of the scale ,t sa]aries to their teachers a scheme was adopts for the allocation of the supplementary grnj: which involved £ 5,175, apart from £ 120 require^ to raise the salaries of certain teachers to th?', Board of Education's required minimum, bring- ing the total to L5,295, less £1,372, the cost V6** annum of the present war bonus, thus leaving £ 3,923 to be spent from the supplementary oilant of £ 4,000. It was also further resolved to the new committee to be appointed in Novel11bel: to revise the teachers' scale of salaries, togethel with that of the officials in the administratisa department, the same to come into operation in April next.
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EVERY PRINTING ORDER given to the "Pioneer Press" means wore' Ammunition for Party Propaganda. Get into the Line of our MUNITION WORKER. Printed and published by the National Labour" Press, Ltd., at the Labour Pioneer Press* Williams Square, erthyr Tydfil, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13th, 1917. I