Pioneer

MOPE CHAPEL, MERTHYR. I ffBFNDAY KIDCT* NOTBMBER 19th, 1917. Rev. J. Morgan Jones, M.A. Subject-" Watchman, what 8f the Night? A OORDIAL WELCOME EXTENDED TO ALL

Merthyr Notes. AHotments. Persons requiring allotments in the Merthyr, Dowlais and Penydarren districts for cultivation eoxt season are requested to send their names, without delay, to the Secretary of the Merthyr atld District Allotment-Holders' Association, Mr. Charles Ballard, 13 The Parade, Merthyr. Swansea Trains. I Merthyr and Dowlais Chambers of rade are I petitioning the Great Western Railway fof j later train daily to and from Swansea, Memorial Unveiling. Col. J. J. Jones unveiled at Cefn Free Library Institute on Friday a roll of honour con- taining names of forty members with the colours. I Majlr Southey's Public Bequests. Major H. H. Southey, Welsh Regiment, news- papier proprietor, of the Chase, Merthyr, who died in Egypt on March 3rd from wounds, made the following public bequests: £10 to the R.8.P.C.A.; £ 10 to the Merthyr Hospital; 210 to the Merthyr Salvation Army; £10 to the Merthyr Unihtriall Chapel; tIO to the Loyal Cambria Lodge of Freemasons his collection of ouriosities and various pictures to the Merthyr Corporation; a collection of arms and armour and also a flag from Omdurman and tlO for a oase to the Merthyr Detachment of Territoria.Lit; his old Sheffield-plate candelabra to the officers' mass of the 5th Battalion Welsh Regiment. Alleged Bigamy. A middle-aged woman, Kate Meyrick, of Quakers' Yard, appeared before the Merthyr magistrates on Friday charged with bigamy Voluntarily surrendering herself to the Trehar- ris police, she stated that in June, 1916, she TrpTit through a form of marriage with a coloured awaman from Barry, under the impression that her husband, Ernest Dd. Meyrick, whom she married at Cardiff in 1905, was dead. She now lived with Meyrick. The woman was remanded for a week on bail. Sugar Card Prosecution. Andrew James Thompson, a labourer, of draw en Terrace, Brecon-road, was charged' at Merthyr on Friday with making a false state- ment in his application in connection with o for the purpose of obtaining, sugar. Mr. J. A. Wilson (chief-constable and executive officer to the Merthyr Food Committee) prosecuting, said defendant made two applications for sugar allot- ments for four persons in his family, and two cards were made out to him, the offence being discovered on the issues being checked. After enquiries had been instituted, one of the cards was returned to the Ulood Control office, and when questioned, defendant sta/ted that as he hft-d changed his grocer meanwhile he was under the impression that it was necessary for him to make a fresh application. It transpired that the fourth person mentioned in the form was "Baby Thompson," a child expected by the time the distribution scheme would come into operation. On the ground that the man did not act with an intention to defraud, Mr. R. A. Griffith (Sti- pendiary) dismissed the case on payment of 5/- oosts. Picture Canvasser's Troubles. Lewis James Morgan, a picture canvasser, Chepstow-road, Newport, was committed by the Merthyr magistrates on Friday for trial at the Assizes on a charge of fraudulently converting to his own use 2-5/-obtained from a Brithdir woman, Mary Jane Mellous, for a niemo-rial Piê-I ture of her son killed in aotion. After the issuing of the summonses against him, defendant sent the picture, but delivery was not accepted by the woman. Watch Committee Chairman. Merthyr Watch Oommittee on Monday re- jected Mr. D. W. Jones their chairman. X50 More for Band. The municipal band grant was increased from £100 to E150 a year by the Merthyr Parks Oom- I mittee on Monday. Condolences. Our sympathies go out to our Comrade Idris Daries, and his good wife, in the loss they have sustained this week in the death of their infant dbild after a short illness. Heolgerrig Girl's Death. "Death from natural causes! was the ver- diot at an inquest held at Merthyr on Wednes- day upon Sarah Richards, agod 16, Winchfawr, Heolgerrig. A post-mortem examination revealed that she had ruptured a blood-vessel.. Corporation Finance. Merthyr Finance Committee on Tuesday were informed that there, was a balance of E10746 14s. 9d. in favour on the whole of itIe Corpora- iion's accounts. Chocolate Snatcher. Charged at Merthyr on Tuesday with stealing jib. of chocolate, valued Is., from a shop in Abermorlaiis-terrace, a fifteen-year-old lad was said to have asked for the sweetmeat an d directly it was put on the counter snatched it up and ran off. He was bound over and put on probation for 12 months. Remarkable Motor Spirit Proseouticn. Hiring a motor-car to go to church led to a summons being heard by the Merthyr magis- trates on Tuesday against Mrs. Hettie Lipsett, the Cotttasce, Gwaelodygarth, for a breach of v the Motor Spirit Order, No. 2, 191f. Similarly summoned were William John Breese, Red Cow Inn, the owner of the car, 3]ild Evan Beynon, Bethesda-street, the driver—for causing or per- mitting to be used petrol or petrol substitute contrary to the order. Mr. J. A. Wilson (chief- nonstable) prosecuted and Mr. F. S. Simons was solicitor for the defence. The evidence was that ra. Lipseit ordered the car by 'phone, and was driven to and from Holy Communion at Oyfarthta Ohurch. Mr. R. A. Griffi.th (Stipendiary): Goi.ng to Ohurcli does not eome within the exceptions. Chief Constable: I should say a clergyman would be all right but not a mem^ ber of his con- gregation. He would be on business. Mr. Simons suggested attending church would be included in the exceptional "household affairs." Mr. Griffith: Going to church is not a house- hold ffair. It is a spiritual affair. After protracted legal argument touching the teohnicalities of the order, His Worship inti- ,-at would bo reserved UBttal to-day (Friday).. X17 ib Finog. For supplying intoirfcsiats during prohibited hours, Thomav, Hvans, licensee of ",he Gbawshay's AMnii, Merthyr, was fined £ 10 by the local magistrates cm Tuesday. His wife, Mrs. Brans, was fined £ 5 for aiding and abetting, and Gwen- doline Ketcher and Catherine Philips, of Nanty- gwenith-street, were fined JE1 each for being on 13:116 premises and aiding and abetting. J. R. Macdonald's Visit. The I.L.P. is making an effort to secure Mr. J. Rt. Macdonald, M.P., for a Sunday afternoon meeting at the Rink on the occasion of his forth Gaming visit to South Wales, I. L. P. Conference. Too Conference of the members of the various I.L.P. branches in the new Merthyr Parlia- mentary Division, held at Bentley's on Saturday night last to discuss the Parliamentary repre- sentation, adjourned to consult the branches on iaaues raised. The next meeting will be hald on Saturday week (November 24th) in tho same hall. Peac-e Without Qualifications. The Merthyr Poa-ce Couneil-an organis-ation out for the jsromotion of an honourable peaoe at the earliest poissible moment, consisting of all shades of political and religious opinion, welded together in this cosnmon cause—has decided to embark on an active propaganda ia favour of Peace without qualifications-the qualification implied being the Imperialist and Nationalist aspirations towards territorial aggrandisement, and the econom ic war after the war. Rev. J. M. Jones on "Truth." I "Truth" was the subject of the first of a series of addresses delivered by the Rev. J. Mor- gan Jones, M.A., at Hope Church, Merthyi-, on Sunday. He said Truth was founded upon that absolute sincerity of heart only possible to those doing their utmost to live up to their convic- tions. Next Sunday's address is ".Freedom." The Mayor. I Alderman N. F. Hankey, J.P., was re-elected Ravorr by the Merthyr Corporation on Friday, and Alderman Dd. John, re-appointed deputy. The Mayor expressed a hope that hia present term of office would be marked by the declara- tion o fpeace. Whilst congratulating those who had won distinctions and decoration on active service, he offered his sincerest sympathy to the l'elatives of Merthyr men who had made the great sacrifice. Passing to the various activi- ties of the brough during the past year, lie mentioned that 1,072 allotments had been taken up and £1,973 had been collected by the ladies of the area, for war funds. [The Mayor expresses regret thai by an oversight he omitted from his speech reference to Mr. H. Seymour Berry's £ 10,000 technical school gift to the borough.— Editor, j £ 20,000 Loan, I Mr. W. R. I-T-ari-is (Borough Controller) re- ported to the Merthyr Finance Committee on Tuesday that he had arranged for a. loan to the Corporation from the National Union of Rail- waymen of C20,000, which would be placed in varying amounts to the accounts of the Swansea and Merthyr Joint Asylum Committee, St. David's Site, Merthyr Relief Sewer, Pontmorlais and Dynevor Streets widening schemes. Military Funeral. Mr. Willis Whellan, of Cross Sand Street, Dowlais, an ex-s»oldier, and a member of the Merthyr and Dowlais Branch of the "Discharged Soldiers' and Sailors' Association, was buried with milita.ry honours on Tuesday. Amongst the wreaths was one from the Association.. Military Medallist. Mr. J. Casey, High-street, Penydarre-n, an ex-I aergeant in the R.F.A., discharged for wounds, has been awarded the military medal.

?TT! V?? *T?l The Electric Theatre. The Eleckic management are constantly springing surprises on me, and I have long since given up speculation on where their ingenious concern for their programmes will finish. When I thought that Chaplin had flickered for the last time at the Mectric he is calmly announced as a weekly feature, and I rollick now to his inimitable work when he was at his very best. And the best of it is that to enjoy him I have been called upon to make no saorifice-the Elec- trie is still the house with the best serials, the funniest comedies, and the very cream of thø new five-reel top-liners. In all of which is now to be added, as from next week-, the Bairns- father cartoons, those inimitable old Bill and Alf creations that have made the Bystander the cheeriest paper of the war-time, ia well known to everybody, and the prospect of cinema cartoons by their cfeator gives the final garnish- ing to the dishes that make the Electric a con- stant picture banquet to its patrons. I notice that I have involuntarily written" the final gar- nishing," but, as I say, the likelihood is that no sooner do I think in terms of luxurious finality in Electric programmes, than some ener- getic genius in the management proves me wrong by adding yet another super-joy to the joyous whole. The programmes for the current week more than justify any praise that I can sound. Who could overpaint the fine Metro screening of Robert W. Service's epic of the North The Spell of the Yukon or who, by mere words, can adequately convey an impression of the rol- licking fun of the Triangle comedy, "A Rough Rogue, or of the L-ko Tale of 20 Stories "P And they are only, the big excluaives, the whole programme is equally appealing, while Pearl of the Army," is exercising its peculiar drawing qualities every week. Then for these last few days there is that superbly fine drama from Ruffell's best stores, "The Devil at His Elbow," a dramla in a thou- sand in its sheer human touch, in the tenseness of its situations, and in its staging. Then there is an unusually attractive list of comedies in- cluding a fine Gaumont, Ring Rivals," Judex," the new serial, deserves special men- tion, too, as the outstanding mystery serial of this year. Judex is done with the latent fire, and keen imaginative ability of its French authors. Personally I have never got so en- thralled as in the problem of whether the love of Judex will triumph over his vengeance or not ? For the first half of next week a nn(i) Metro five-reeler heads in The Snowbird," a picture of exceptional merit; "Mental Love" is the Triangle comedy Pearl of the Army reaches her sixth chapter, and, as I have already said, Bairnsfather's cartoons are to make their first appearance. For the second half Playing with Fire," an- other Metro, tops, Lupino Lane appears in a I fine comedy Splash Me Nicely," Charlie Chap- lin is at his best in "The Floor Walker," and Judex is an exceptional strong number. 1

Railwaymen and Leicester POST-WAR PROGRAMME TO BE CON- SIDERED. .I BIG DEMANDS BY N.U.R. BY T. C. MORRIS, E.C. j [Mr. T. O. Morris, who has just returned from the batttlefieids of Belgium and .France, was one of a deputation appointed by the Executive Committe-9 of the National Union of Railway- men. ] The Executive Committee of the National Union of Railwayman are convening a Confer- ence to be held at Leicester- on Tuesday next, November 20th, and three, fallowing days for the purpose of considering an After- W ar Na- tional Programme." The Committee are to be complimented upon taking time by the forelock in preparing for the, occasion when the war ceases. It is imperative that Labour should be ready with its programmes of demands on be- half of the various unions; the N.U.R. is merely giving a lead to other organisations in seeking to safeguard the interests of its members. National Programme, 1914. I Just prior to the outbreak of war a National Programme had been agreed upon, which in- cluded a demand for an eight-hour day and an immediate advance of 3s. increase in wages per week. These two items were the chief features of the programme. It was recognised at that- time, that the success of any programme must depend upon concentration upon two or three itenw regarded as vital. The failures of past movements had been caused by overloading the programme by the inclusion of details which could be easily rectified by local effort. The 1811 programme was certainly one that marked an epoch in the history of railwaymen because for the first time a demand for an eight-hour day had been made an issue, behind which the whole force of the Union was to be exerted. Mr. Walter Hudson, one of the Parliamentary Re- presentatives of the Union, had already taken charge of a Bill providing for an eight-hour day for railwaymen, but this had not been subject-ed to debate by Parliament. The outbreak of war somewhat altered the position. The Trado Union leaders were of-opil-ilon that the pressing of the programme would be difficult, and pos- sibly fatal to the success of the movement, in the midst of an European war, hence what is known as an Industrial Truce was entered into between the representatives of the men and the companies. This arrangement implied, that neither side would put forward any claims re- lating to conditions of service. At the same time a tacit understanding was arrived at that I the railwaymen's standard of living was certain- ly not be altered for the worse. After-War Programme. Like a number of other things, the War has revolutionieed our outlook upon the conditions of railwaymen. What was thought to be a practical policy in 1914 is certainly not going to be applicable to the conditions prevailing to-day. The result is that the 1914 programme has been scrapped, and we are looking to Leicester to lay down the programme which shall be the Charter of the railwaymen of this country so far as their connection with the N. U .R. is. concerned. only wish it were possible to avoid making the exception, but I am hoping that oven-ki that are now taking place will eventually bring about unity amongst railwaymen, and that in the very near future the N. U .R. representatives will be able to voice their claims in the name of the whole of the railwaymen. It is well-known that the problems that will arise after the war have already alarmed the Government sufficient- ly to have awakened it to a realisation that the future must be faced, and has led to the setting up of a number of Committees dealing with the post-war position so far as industry is concerned. The oft statement that we were not prepared for war, put forward as a reason for exonerating this country from responsibility for the outbreak of war, is apparently not true of the Industrial war, intensified as it will be, by the conditions created by the war. To avert this the interim report of the Re-construction Committee, known as the Whitley Report, has been issued which suggests some form of control over industry. Railwaymen neverthel ess have been awakened to the fact that the changes going on, on the railways incidental to the war have given them cause to consider the future and to be ready with their demands which shall constitute their Charter of Liberties." Lei- cester must mark the'turning point in the his- tory of railwaymen. The decisions come to there must enable them to throw off the stigma which has too long overcast them, that their conditions are the worst of any body of organised workers. There has been reasons for this. One of them must be attributed to the divisions amongst us. Future of the Railways. Experience and comparison of Continental railways has long convinced us that our rail- way system in this country was a most expen- sive, badly developed, and inconvenient system. This is accounted for by the. fact that the rail- ways were built to serve the ends of competi- tion with its attendant evils, rather than to serve the needs of the community. Prior to war a strong movement had grown in favour of the Nationalisation of Railways, and such a de- mand had repeatedly been approved of by the national bodies of Labour. The war has cer- tainly justified all that the advocates had said for wresting the railways from private control. It was the first industry to be affected by the war. At the the outbreak of war the Govern- ment brought them under control from military necessity, and set up a Railway Executive Com- mittee consisting of railway managers. The ar- rangement entered into was that the companies were assured of the same profits based upon the receipts of 1913. Mr. Bonar Law admitted in Parliament on December 14th, 1916, that the bargain had been a profitable one—this was, mark you, prior to the 50 per oemb. increase in fares. A committee is now in being considering the future of the railways, and I think we can be assured that the railways are not going back to their pre-war state. Whether a form of State control will be set up or a Railway Board consisting of representatives of the Government companies and men, or even a Guild System, I cannot say. In any event, a-s railwaymen we are going to demand control of the railways and its operations in relation to conditions, etc. This will be the pivot around which must eventually turn the question of pri- vate ownership of railways, mines, and other in- dustries. No forms of control will be considered satisfactory which does not give us power as well as responsibility. Control of tho railways will be one of our demands. (To, be Continued).

I S 1, YV' d'. Interesting Socialist Wedding NEWCASTLE WORKER HITCHES INTO DOUBLE HARNESS. An interesting Socialist wedding was solemnised at the Newcastle Cathedral by Canon Mawson on October 20th last, the contracting part lea being Mr. M. H. H. Wadding-ton, press photographer, and a hard bitten Socialist, who acts as our North-Eastern correspondent, and MiAts Mary Kerr, a well-known and highly es- teemed Newcastle lady. Prior to the arrival of the bride at the Cathe- dral the company present were given a musical treat by the organist, Mr. Harold Oswold, who is the conductor of the Newcastle Operatic Society, of which the bride is a member. After the ceremony a reception wag held at the "William Morris" dub, the social head- quartern of the whole of the Labour forces in the city. Some very kindly remarks were offered in praise of the bride and bridegroom, by such well-known persons as Mr. Gilbert Oliver, of the L.R.C., Conn. James Smith, Coun. J. W. Thwaitee, J.P., Coun. James Wilson (of the N.U.R.), and Mr. William Macdonald (of the! N.U.R. and L.R.C. The presents were numerous and costly, and included some from well-known publio men, amongst them being Sir Johnstone Wallace, Coun. Munro Sutherland (sheriff of the City), and Ooun. David Adams. A wallet of notes was handed 'to the bridegroom during the proceed- ings by Coun. J. Smith on behalf of a large number of City aldermen and councillors, as a mark of their esteem for him. A beautiful painting was also amongst the gifts, which had been executed by Mr. Valentine, the well-known artist in the North, and presented by him. The bride and bridegroom left later in the day for the north-western part of Northumberland, where the honeymoon was spent.

Avan Valley Notes. I (BY DEMOCRITUS). I Some of the workers in the Avan Valley, par- ticularly the miners of Oakwood, deserve a word of praise for their practical sympathy with the dependents of C.O.'s. All persons not absolutely void of intelligence and humanity have come to have eomo to realize that the C.O."s are putting up a brave fight for their principles-—-& fight that requires extraordinary courage to undertake, and a fight that will prove more conducive to a permanent peace than any waged on a battlefield. The soldier (good luck to him) suffers untold physical hardships, out he has the consolation of moving in an atmosphere of hero-worship he is ap- plauded and lionized, whereas the C.O., in ad- dition to physical hardship, is subjected to Jie acute mental torture of public opprobrium. However, let him have courage; his determina- tion to continue the fight against such odds is gaining for him the support of the really clean- minded element of the country, and already the terms "shirker" and (I cow-ard" have become extinct on all lips save those of cads and real cowards. I War Aims meetings are very sparsely attended when it is understood that the I.L.P. intend to keep aloof. Perhaps, now that they have had a little of their own back, I.L.P.ers were well advised to boycott these War Aims (?) meetings altogether, and allow the gory protagonists of a war till Doomsday ladle out their dirty drivel to empty benches. « May the spirit of grace defend ns There still remain, it appears, stupid, gullible persons in this District who believe that the I.L.P. are in receipt of German gold. The mental antics of these persons must be sadly in need of a spring- cleaning. Were there any German gold knock- ing about, the I.L.P. branches, all mammon- worshippers, would be tumbling over one another to join; as things are, few close-fisted persons join because membership in the I.L.P. means monetary as well as labour sacriifce. T- There is an insidious movement afoot to close the New Dockers' Hall against the I.L.P. The originators have been traced to tho Free Churches who are concerned about observing the outward forms of religion, but who, in praotiee, are the greatest oontemners of Christianity of all who ever assumed hypooricy as a virtue. It is to be hopoo that the controllers of this Hall will be proof against any effort to muzzle the party who have made such a spirited fight for froq apegola, and who ia aotkm., it not by pro- ■ ■ ■— have kept the ideals of Christ to ik*" forefront during the war. •S Mr. Wellhead's mission in the district hlti left a pleasant aroma. Those who heard him for tha first time have expressed unqualified ap- proval, and have alxo displayed surprise that 3 Socialist could say such wise things about Co- operation, but it was regrettable that the pec- sons Tnost in need of Mr. Wallhead's trenchant ministration were absent. The divi.-huntef don't eare to hear about reform; they bleed pro. fusely when you ask for a penny towards educa- tional purposes, and dare to suggest buying 2t horse and cart to carry the customers' goodt and you become a blasphemer. One local Ooop., when asked to fall in with the decision of the I wiboi lesaie Society to enter politics, said they were trades unionists, and it was unreasonable to ask them to pay twice for the same thing- Truly, God made. them, so we, must let tliei* pass for men. > The paper's have lately given prominence to » recipe for a Christmas patriotic pudding, whiek would cost about a penny per head. Fortunate- ly, judging superficially, if the ingredients for pudding making will be scarce, there will bo so scarcity of Christmas patriotic geese. So the first Sunday in the New Year is to by Royal proclamation, a day of prayer for Tic- tory. Not a day to pray for peace according to Divine- dispensation, but a day to pray for vic- tory, over the Huns. And if the Huns chose th" same day to pray God for victory, then the AI- mighty will be in a tight corner. But the*? being a nation of maints, He is in honour bouni I ) to listen to ua. Mr. C. R. Buxton apok-e at the Dockers' Hall II on Wednesday last on "A Democratic Peaco. Needless to say he kept up his reputation as a fearless thmksr and a logical reasoner. Thar* was a fine gathering present and all thoroughly .enjoyed the quiet, argumentative address. How many missed the following gem from the DoilT News and Leader" of the 8th: Apro- pos of my reference to the decrease in lunacy, I am given to understand that in the opinion oi experienced alienists the reduction is more ap- | parent than real; persons who at normal timet |! would unquestionably have been certified, being now drafted instead in considerable numbers int. j Government departments." Comment- about that would be superfluous. f Last Monday week we were painfully alarmed at the news that our much esteemed Con-irads Tal Mainwaring was down with double pneu- monia. On the Sunday evening previous he pre- sided at Miss Pallister's meeting and appeared to be in his usual health, but Monday found hill in a critical state. At the moment of writiojT he is reported to be slightly better, but not out of danger. Tal's activity in the Labour anct Pacifist movement's has endeared him to many hearts, all of which beat with the earnest hop* of his speedy recovery. x

Rhymney Valley Notes. Pengam Housing. Welsh Garden umes Syndicate Uo. (Ltd.) 1." tend, it is stated, to erect 500 more houses 111 or near the Pengam Garden Village after th- war. Bedwellty District Council 'have secured 16 acres of land adjoining the village for a public park, and contemplate building also at the coii- clulsion of the war 400 houses between the vil- lage and Blackwood. Municipal Milk for Bedwellty. Following petitions signed by about 2,790 in" habitants in the Pengam Garden Village and Aberbargoed the Bedwellty Food Control Com- mittee decided to arrange for the municipalisa- tion of the milk supply and fixed the current price and milk temporarily at 7d. per quart de- livered and 6d. over the counter and at farms. Mr. Isaac Jones (chairman of the committee) gives his view as: Municipalisation of milk is inevitable as well as other commodities. Local industrial opinion demands municipalisation on a wide scale, the trend of events seeming to prove the I.L,P. logic in the past." Printed and published by the National Labour Press, Ltd., at the Labour Pioneer Press, Williams Squftre, Merthyr Tydfil, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17th, 191-7. i