Papurau Newydd Cymru
Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru
29 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
MINERS' DECISION. I
MINERS' DECISION. I NO STRIKE TILL COMMISSION HAS I REPORTED. It was officially announced at the close of j the Miners' Conference at the Central Hall, Westminster, on Thursday that it had been decided to take part in the Coal Mines Com- mission, and that in consequence the strike notices would be postponed for a week-until March 22. It was also agreed that half of the Com- j mission will represent the miners. Sir Robert Home, the Minister of Tabour, presided at the Industrial Peace Congress, which wad held at the Central Hall, West- minster, on Thursday. It was attended by zom-e 800 delegates. In his opening speech Sir Robert Horne said "the great reform to which they looked forward for the prevention of industrial dis- putes in the future was the Whitley Com- mittee report. There was no question that the whole movement of modern life was in favour of workmen being allowed some share in the control of industry in the future. "I believe that from this conference," Sir Robert said, will spring a new vision and fresh hope, if only we will confront our problems as fellow citizens of a great country which has been redeemed by common sacri- fices of wa.r, an-d which can be re-created by joint endeavour in time of peace." Sir Allen Smith moved a resolution that the conference should record its determina- tion to promote harmonious working in in- dustry, and should appoint an industrial committee of twenty representatives of em- ployer: and twenty representatives of trade Un.ioii.i, ivith representatives of Government departments, to consider and report on the causes of the present unrest, and to take such steps as were necessary to promote the best interests of employers, workpeople, and the State; and, further, that an interim re- port should be prepared by the proposed committee as soon as possible." Mr. J. H. Thomas said the miners, rail- waymen, an-d transport workers stood un- alterably for the ownership by the State of the mines, railways, and means of inland and coastal transport. Mr. Arthur Henderson mov-ed a resolution proposing the appointment of a joint com- mittee of equal numbers of employers and employees' representatives, 'with a Govern- ment chairman, to consider questions of hours and wages and general conditions of employment, unemployment and its preven- tion and suggested that the conference should meet again not later than April 5 to receive this committee's report. The com- mittee he proposed should consist of thirty members, with four sub-committces which should start work at once. HOLD TOGETHER I In the course of his reply to the debate, Mr. Lloyd George said that by the summer he hoped that the cost of living in a work- ing man's household would have gone down by about 4s. a week. By the end of March j about half of that would have been achieved. The first condition of prosperity in this land was the restoration of confidence. The confidence of the employer, of the contrac- tor, of the business man, had got to be restored, and the confidence of the workers had also got to be restored. There was an atmosphere of suspicion which must be re- moved. They would never re-establish industry in this country and get everybody to do his best until they had all got an interest in the concern. Then they would feel that they -were all working for a. common interest, and in working for that industry they were working for the country and the well-being of everybody in the land. He appealed to the employers to take the workmen more into their confidence as to the conditions of industry, as to the difficulties of industry, and let them know the difficul- ties. To the workmen he said that be did not believe they would ever get 'the maximum of I well-being for4 all classes in this country until they increased the productivity of the I country. Improved welfare in every trade, and Lf all trades put together, depended upon improved efficiency. "I appealed some months ago in an hour of emergency to the people of this country to hold firm," said the Prime Minister. To-day I am making an appeal to all sections, 'Hold together'! That is my appeal." Mr. Henderson's resolution was declared carried by a very large majority, and the two sections of the conference proceeded to choose their representatives.
TOY DOG FROZEN TO DEATH.I
TOY DOG FROZEN TO DEATH. I For causinc, unnecessarv suffering to a toy Pomeranian dog, Augustus Tyzock, of Tot- tenham, was at Kingston-on-Thames fined 110 and R2 6s. costs. The evidence showed that a woman, in reply to an advertisement, sent 25s. to Tyzock for the dog. He sent it by train in a wooden box, 1ft. by Sin. by Sin., and on arrival at Walton Station early on Jan. 21 it was found dead and stiff. A veterinary surgeon said the dog was on the bare boards and had no room to turn, and there was only one small hole for air. In such severe weather the box was like a refrigerator. The dog was frozen to death. Tyaock's defence was that he was a lover of animals," and gave the dog food and water before sending it. The journey of fourteen miles took twelve hours.
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Mr. Herbert White, of Maidstone, an ex- member of the Kent cricket team, has died suddenly at the age of seventy-two. He made a fortune out of hop-growing. Sir Andrew Keith Fraser, who entered the Indian Civil Service forty-eight years ago, and became Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal, died ia Edinburgh at the age of seveniy. Mr. Robert Bailey, a Crimean veteran, who lost an arm at Sebastopol, died at Gabalfa, Glamorganshire, aged eighty-four. A verdict of wilful murder against some person or persons unknown was returned at Newcastle at the inquest on John Bianchi, who a month ago was shot from behind a hedge while walking with his girl cousin at night, by a tall man, who then ran away and vanished.
REDUCED OUT=OF=WORK PAY I
REDUCED OUT=OF=WORK PAY I DETAILS OF THE SCHEME. I Dealing with the question of the unem- ployment donation at the Central Hall, Westminster, Sir Robert Horne said that the first thirteen weeks was about to expire, and the Government had had to consider whether the donation should be renewed. They had decided to follow the trade union practice of reducing the amount of the dona- tion, and to continue the payments for a further period of thirteen weeks. In the case of men, instead of 29s. a week, they would get 20is.; while women would get 15s. instead of 25s. There would, of course, be additional allowances for children. Details of the extension of the period during which the out-of-work donation will be paid have been issued by the Ministry of Labour. Subject to the fulfilment of certain special conditions applicants who have drawn the full thirteen weeks may be granted a fur- ther policy entitling them to draw an addi- tional amount of donation (not exceeding thirteen weeks) on a revised scale. The ad- ditional policy may in certain cases be granted provisionally for a shorter period than tlurteen weeks. An additional policy will only be issued upon the recommendation of the Local Ad- visory Committee (or, in the case of persons under eighteen, the Juvenile Employment Committee), who will require to be satisfied that the applicant complies with each of three special conditions, viz., that the ap- plicant is:— 1. Normally in employment. 2. Genuinely seeking work, and 3. Unable to obtain it. In cases where an additional out-of-work donation policy is granted the Tates of donation will be as follows. Men, zus. a week. Women, 15s. a week. Boys (between 15 and 18), 10s. a week. Girls (between 15 and 18). 7s. 6d. a week. I There will be no change in the rates of supplementary donation for dependent children under 15 years of age, which will remain at 6s. a week for the first child, and i 3s. a week for each additional child. I
FOOD GETTING CHEAPER.I
FOOD GETTING CHEAPER. It is quite possible, states the Food Ministry, that by the summer the working- class housewife's weekly food bill may be reduced by an even large amount than the 4s. reduction foreshadowed by the Prime Minister. Lord Sumner's Committee on the work- ing-classes' cost of living put the total ex- penditure on food for an average family of between fire and six persons at 24s. lid. in 1914, and 47s. 3d. in 1918. Taking the same basis of calculation the reduction already effected, OT anticipated by J the end of March, should work out as fol. I lnwq Meat 8id. ] Butter and Margarine. 3d. Cheese d. Tea 2id. Condensed Milk Id. Fisn and other foods 6 £ d. Total. Is. lOd. Among the "other foods" included above are tinned salmon, dried fruits, peas and. beans, and shredded suet. In addition to these reduction, the Food Minister points out a number of further re- ductions of prices affecting meat, margarine, milk, eggs, cheese, fish, and cereal products are contemplated as likely to occur in April or May. The.e should between them bring about by the summer a further reduction at least a great as that already announced, and probably rather greater. But a number of important foods cannot yet be cheapened, except by direct subsidy. These include bread (already subsidised), sugar (now being sold below the world price), and potatoes. It is also still un- certain whether any early reduction will occur in the price of bacon and lard, which will be freed' from control almost imme- diately. These four articles between them account for more than a third of the total expenditure calculated by Lord Sumner's Committee.
AIRMANS SIX DECORATIONS. I
AIRMANS SIX DECORATIONS. I A record was established on Saturday at the investiture at Buckingham Palace when Major William Barker, of the Royal Air Force, received six decorations— Victoria Cross, Distinguished Service Order and bar, Military Cross and two bars. It was stated that in October he attacked an enemy two-seater over the Foret de Mormal and broke it up in the air. A Fokker biplane attacked him, and he was wounded. in the right thigh, but managed to shoot down his opponent in flames. He then found himself in the middle of a large formation of enemy machines, and was again severely wounded in the left thigh, but succeded in driving down two of his opponents. He lost consciousness for a time, and on recovery found that he was beset by another large formation. Singling out one machine he deliberately charged it and drove it down in flames. His left elbow was shattered, and he again fainted, but though now severely wounded in both legs, he, on partial recovery, dived upon the nearest attacker, and shot it down in flames. He had to fight his way through a further formation, and crashed on reaching the British lines.
IN SCARLET AND GOLD. 1
IN SCARLET AND GOLD. 1 "Excessive vanity was the excuse put forward on behalf of Charles A. Yates, who made his second appearance at Bow-street on Saturday, on a charge of unlawfully wearing a military tfniform. The uniform was a gorgeous production of scarlet and gold, and was described as that of a Mexican General. It was stated that Yates had lived in Mexico for many years and had graduated as a doctor. He was physician to General Villa, and ob- tained another appointment under him. There was no intention to deceive, said Yates's counsel, admitting, however, that his client had been eccenttic and had prob- ably dressed himself in the uniform from excessive vanity. Sir John Dickinson agreed, adding: "The uniform would attract everybody, male and female, alike." A fine of five guineas, and .£10 10s. costs, was imposed.
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It is proposed to amalgamate the towns of West Brornwich, Wedncsbury, Darlaston. Tipton. Oldbury, and Warley into one muni- cipal area. Chester Town Council have received » letter from President Wilson regretting that he was unable to visit Chester to accept the city's freedom. Prices of wheat will come down -with disastrous effects to farmers unless the Government protect them, said a speaker at a National Farmers' Union meeting. t Bernard Van Dieren, a Dutch musician, charged at Marylebone with having pro- cured cocaine was fined X10 and X8 costs; I on his behalf it was stated that he bought it to relieve great pain.
BODIES FOUND AFtER 38 YEARS.…
BODIES FOUND AFtER 38 YEARS. I The bodies of two victims of an explo- sion which occurred at the Clatter ley Whit- field Collieries, near Tunstall, Staffs, on February 7, 1881, were recovered on Satur- day. Twenty-four lives were lost in the explo- sion, and all the bodies but six were found. To put out the fire the mine was flooded, and has never been reopened. It was dur- ing development of the workings of another mine that the bodies—those of George Dale (thirty-three) and Joseph Dale (twenty-two) —have now been found.
STATE AFFORESTATION SCHEME.I…
STATE AFFORESTATION SCHEME. I I The Government's proposals to plaint 2,000,000 more acres of woodland in the British Isles and to stock fully the existing 3,000,000 acres were unanimously supported by an influential meeting • of landowners and agents at Norwich on Saturday
IGIRLS' SUICIDE COMPACT.I
GIRLS' SUICIDE COMPACT. I A death compact between two factory girls was told in letters read at a Southampton inquest on Ada Mary Brown, eighteen, and Daisy Winifred Holloway, sixteen, who were found drowned, with their wrists tied to- gether by a scarf, in a pond. In a letter received by her parents the morning after her death Miss Holloway said: "I am, oh, so tired of life, and so have put an end to my miserable existence. I must close now, my time is very short.— Your broken-hearted daughter, Daisy." P.S.—I am not alone in doing this thing. I don't think I should have the courage alone, but Ada is going with me, mother. I am too tired to wish to live. Life is such a mockery." A verdict of suicide during temporary in- sanity was returned. I
r HISTORIC MANSION BURNT.…
r HISTORIC MANSION BURNT. I A mansion near Redruth, which was for 700 years the residence of the Basset family, has been burned to the ground. The mansion and estate were purchased as I a war memorial at a nominal cost of £ 10,000. and were presented to the Corn- wall County Council last June' for use as a sanatorium. When the fire was discovered a doctor who lives on the premises immediately set about removing the patients, who in a short time were housed in a commodious motor garage. The Redruth and Camborne Fire Brigades were soon on the spot, but the fire had obtained too great a hold, and the magnifi- cent edifice was gutted.
I BACON TO BE FREED. I
I BACON TO BE FREED. I I Government control of prices and distribu. tion of imported bacon, hams, and lard will be suspended on March 31 next, the Ministry of Food states. This means that I the public will then be able to buy where I they like. I This decision will not affect home-produced bacon, concerning which an announcement will be made shortly. The Food Controller will reimpose control if selling prices to the consumer rise above the present level or ade- quate supplies are not forthcoming. A new margarine order fixes the maximum retail price at Is. a lb.
FISH PRICES UNCONTROLLED.…
FISH PRICES UNCONTROLLED. I The Food Controller has suspended the operation of the Fish Prices Order, so far as it relates to fish other than brill, halibut, herrings, mackerel, salmon, soles, and slips, trout and turbot. The efTect of this suspension will be that all other fish may be sold uncontrolled as to' price. Following on the increased landings of fish during the last few weeks, wholesale prices have fallen below the maximuril prices of the Order, and it is expected that rapidly- improving fishing conditions will make, further reduction possible. It is intended to publish twice weekly a list showing what would be reasonable prices at which fish may be sold retail to the pub- lic. If the retail prices actually charged do not show a reasonable comparison with wholesale prices, the Food Controller will consider the immediate restoration of the Order, with a schedule of prices consider- ably lower than the present.
WILL -ON WALLPAPER.-I
WILL ON WALLPAPER. I "Anything appen to me I leave all to my sister Jane Hatch," was the will, written on a small piece of wallpaper, of Albert Hunt, house decorator, of Cambridge-street, Hack- ney-road, London. Hunt had been missing for a week, and when his son went to his house he found his father's body lying below the foot of the bedstead. A verdict of "Death from natural causes" wam returned at the inquest at Shoreditch. 1
! COST OF THE NAVY. I
COST OF THE NAVY. I The Naval Estimates for the ensuing year will be presented to the House of Commons in a few weeks. Despite the cessation of hostilities, it has been decided that we can- not allow our naval personnel to consist of fewer than 150,000 officers and men. Th maintenance of this force at the higher rates of pay, together with the maintenance of the ships, will necessitate an expenditure nearly totalling that spent on the Navy during the last year of the war. It is not anticipated that there will be- any great increase in the building pro- j ¡ gramme. 6.
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The Minister of Labour, after consultation with the Treasury, has made arrangements for the establishment of a separate legal department, which will take over the func- tion. hitherto exercised by the Board of Trade solicitor on behalf of the Ministry of Labour. Preparations are being made for the dis- I tribution of the prize bounty granted to H.M.S. Achillas and Dundee for the destruc- tion of a German auxiliary cruiser on < March 16, 1917..
OUR MISSING PRISONERS. I
OUR MISSING PRISONERS. I It is understood that a list of the names of 2,900 British soldiers known or suspected to have been prisoners of war in Germany, and who have not returned to Britain or been located in Germany, has been sent to the German representatives at Spa and the German authorities at Berlin. The Germans will be requested to account for every man on that list. At the same, time our own people in Germany will give I such help as they can to find the men or some record of what has happened to them. Six thousand was the original number of missing prisoners in German hands. Num- I bers appeared from one place and another, deaths occurred, and about 100 men were I found by the British search-parties. These eeareh-parties went to work to cover and to comb certain areas rather than to search for individuals. The 100 who were found were chiefly sick men. Many were too ill to move. Some men were found who wanted to fitav in Germany, but they were only a negligible percentage. The 6,000 was brought down to 2,!)00 cases. This list con- tains the names received by or brought to the notice of the War Office, officially or ulrtofficially, as having been prisoners or thought to be prisoners.
INATIONAL SHIPYARDS.I
NATIONAL SHIPYARDS. I Up to January 31, X4,000,000 had been ex- pended on the national shipyards, Colonel Leslie Wilson, for the Shipping Ministry, informed Sir Charles Henry. This sum in- cludes the cost of .housing and of -acquiring the property of the Standard Shipbuilding Company, but excludes the cost of shipbuild- ing and of stores and plant contracted for. but not yet charged to works. Twelve berths have been completed at the national shipyards, and six keels have been laid down, but no vessels have yet been launched from these berths. Mr. Thomas Shaw suggested that these shipyards should be carried on as a national institution, to set an example to industry at large. Colonel Wilson said the shipyards were built as a war measure. If the Government were now to retain them and operate them they would be in competition with ship- builders or shipowners, and the fear of this competition would create want of confidence in industries vital to the country. Therefore it had been decided not to retain the yards provided they could be disposed of on fair terms.
HUSBANDS VOW OF SILENCE. I
HUSBANDS VOW OF SILENCE. I "Magistrates have considerable poJlrs nowadays, but they cannot make. a man speak to his wife if he does not 'Iant to;" said Mr. d'Eyncourt at Marylebone Police- court to the wife of a soldier, who com- plained that during the four months her husband had been back from the Army he had never spoken to her. Mr. d'Eyncourt instructed the missionary to see the husband and do his best to put things right.
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In future every vacancy for a permanent technical officer or inspector to the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries will be advertised in the Press. An order of discharge subject to a judg- ment for £ 5 was granted at the London Bankruptcy Court to Lawrence William Palk, the third Baron Haldon. It was stated in a case at Birmingham. when two men were fined for causing bread to be wasted, that between 200 and 300 loaves were taken to a farm to feed pigs.
[ THE ROYAL WEDDING. t
[ THE ROYAL WEDDING. t ENORMOUS CROWDS CHEER PRINCESS I PATRICIA. Not since the Coronation has London seen such crowds as those that cheered Princess Patricia on her way to her marriage in Westminster Abbey on Thursday, and on her return to her father's house as Lady Patricia Ramsay, with her husband, Com- mander the Hon. Alexander Ramsay. The King and Queen and Queen Alexandra were present at the ceremony, a,nd a bril- liant circle of Royal personages attended, in- cluding the Prince of Wales, who had croKsed specially from France. There wa.-i an exceptional gathering of nobility and leaders in every department of our national life, and, the bridegroom's naval associa- tions acounted for the presence of an un- usual number of officers distinguished in the Services. The Duke of Connaught gave his daughter away. Princess Patricia was attended by eight bridesmaids—Princess Mary, Princess Mand, Princess Ingrid of Sweden, Lady Mary, Lady Helena, and Lady Victoria Cam- bridge, and Lady Jean and Lady Ida Ram- say. There were two tiny pages, the Earl of Macduff and the Hon. Simon Ramsay. The ceremony was performed by the Arch- bishop of Canterbury, who, in the course of an address, said they we-re met together to bid God-speed to a new home-life, rich beyond the ordinary in what was lovely and of good report. To be married in such a place and at such an hour was a priceless thing, and yet at such an hour the simplest thoughts were best. From proofs that both had given there was every confidence that the happy pair would make this joint life worthy of the long traditions which on either side were theirs. When, sixteen years ago, in the little chapel at Windsor, his Grace went on, "I iaid my hands upon your head, my child, we prayed that you might daily increase in God's Holy Spirit more and more. We pray it afresh with a new and larger meaning to-day. May you sus- tain unsullied the high standard which is yours to carry. May the Lord have you ever in His keeping till you come, in His good time, to the larger life beyond." On the return of the bride and bride- groom to Clarence House the vast crowds hailed the'm with enthusiasm. They occu- pied the same carriage in which the bride and her father had driven to the Abbey. But on the return journey the carriage was open. and the people could see the bride in her wedding dress. It is officially stated that the fifty guests at the wedding luncheon at St. James's Palace comprise d mem bers of the Royal Family and of the family of the bridegroom. The King proposed "The health of the bride and bridegroom." The congregation at the Abbey was em- mated to number from 2,500 to 3,000. The Lord Chamberlain's Department alone I ararnged for the seating of over 1,500.
ITRANSPORT MINISTRY BILL.I
TRANSPORT MINISTRY BILL. I In the House of Commons on Wednesday the Home Secretary introduced under the Ten Minutes Rule a Bill to establish a Ministry of Ways and Communications. .He said no question was more important to the country than the question of trans- port. No industry could be developed and the housing question could not be settled nor agriculture developed without adequate and cheap transport. Private competition was\ gone. A Committee of the House had decided that they could not revert to pre- war conditions, and that the temporary ar- rangements were unsatisfactory. They pro- posed to take control of railways, light rail- ways, roads, tramways, and canals, and also of the supply of electricity. In reply to Sir Edward Carson Mr. Shortt said the Bill applied to the whole of the United Kingdom. The Bill would also in- clude the Manchester Ship Canal, t
PITIFUL INQUEST STORY. I
PITIFUL INQUEST STORY. I A remarkable story was told at a Hove inquest on Florence Miller, fifty-five, a single woman. She was a mental nurse for private patients, and had, unknown to the authorities, charge of an imbecile for many years. No answer being given to tradesmen at the house, the police entered it, and found Miller sitting dead in a chair in front of the fireplace, having had a fatal seizure while in the act of doing her hair. Crouch- ing by her side was the imbecile, a Jewess, very small and emaciated, who ate raven- ously when food was given to her. Miller had been dead two or three days. A verdict was returned of "Death from heart failure following pneumonia aggravated by self- neglect.
BIRDS IN BATTLE.
BIRDS IN BATTLE. According to the "American Museum Journal," birds at the European battle front paid surprisingly little attention to the noise and confusion around them. In one case quoted, when a shell burst through the roof of a shed in the rafters of which swallows were nesting, the birds quickly took advantage of the new opening when flying back and forth to feed their young. Masked gun sites were favourite nesting places. A British ornithologist records that a brood of four young blackbirds was hatched within four feet of the muzzle of a gun. A pair of hedge swallows had their nest in the hub of a- broken wheel continuously under fire, and regularly fed their young without regard for the dropping shrapnel and bursting shells. It is stated, however, that droves of magpies found the gunfire in France too much for their nerves, and took refuge in England. Birds ordinarily pay little atten- tion to passing aeroplanes, but an exception ig noted in the case of jackdaws at St. Omer which left their homes in the church steepies and attacked the new-fangled denizens of the air.
THE GERMAN SHIPS.I
THE GERMAN SHIPS. I The Earl of Lytton, Civil Lord of Ad- miralty, speaking in the House of Lords on Wednesday night, said he W3 not. in a posi- tion to give n.uch informntirn regarding the fato of the German warships interned at Scapa Flow. That was a matter for the Conference. What we attached importance to was that these ships should not be added to nnv of the navies of the world, but it niighc rot pay to break them up.
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"Like many old people, she preferred death to cleanliness," remarked Mr. Ingle- by Oddie, at an inquest held on Elizabeth Stock, sixty-seven, of Battersea, who for eighteen months refused to allow anyone in her room, and had neither light nor fire. Mr. John Keane, one of the last of the Fenians associated with John O Mahoney, James Stephens, and Captain Mackay in the I events of 1867. has died at Stamford Hill. During the mid-day closing hour for assi#s- tants. thieves have broken into several shops at Woking and Weybridge, and have robbed the tills. Falling 200ft., Second Lieutenant Lee Cos- ing, an American airman attached to East Fortune Aerodrome, Haddingtonshire, was killed while flying on the coast. Owing to an escape of coal gas from a. I renin outside his house, James Brookes was poisoned in his sleep at Scarborough. His ) wife also become unconscious, but recovered.
[ALL RIGHTS Rkserved] -PENSION…
[ALL RIGHTS Rkserved] PENSION PROBLEMS: HOW TO SOLVE THEM. By AN EXPERT. J How Childless Wives have been Con- sidered-When Alternative Pensions can be Claimed-A Special Note for Demobi- lised Men—About Disablement Pensions. FREE ADVICE TO OUR READERS. I When you get sick of the sight of form and tired of the word regulations, and when in your .exasperation you think of Govern- ments and Ministries as something vast, soul- less, and impersonal, play with your baby 01 go for a brisk walk. Then dwell for a few moments on the following little fact, which will remind you that the responsible peopk are real human beings, who study the need s of human nature. They say that there weit childless wives of sailors and soldiers who wer< unable to earn, and understood that thej laboured under a handicap. To remedy this state of affairs they arranged that the child- less wives of Service men so circumstanced should receive an addition of 6s. 6d. to their weekly separation allowance. All that such a one has got to do is to fill up the declaration form which she will be given at the office Q1 the local committee. I think this little example of official discernment touching this extra 6s. 6d.#is just an indication of how much kindly thinking goes on behind the scenes. I have talked with all sorts and con- ditions of men and women who are engaged in looking after sailors' and soldiers' interests, and have found them all keenly sympathetic. The Minister of Pensions is now "putting in overtime" in order to make his Ministry a better instrument for its beneficent purpose. Even to-day I am afraid the advantages 01 the alternative pensions are insufficiently realised by the men whom this scheme most nearly concerns. The disablement pension anc the alternative pension are entirely different The disablement pension represents the purelJ medical assessment of a man's disability anc takes no account of his earnings before th< war or of his^present earnings. The maximum pension for a private under this head is 27s. 6d., plus the war bonus of 20 per cent. The alter- native pension is based on two factors: (1) a man's pre-war earnings, and (2) the average earnings of which he remains capable. If a man can show that his disablement pension and children's allowances (if any), to- gether with what he can still earn, amount to less than his pre-war earnings he can claim an alternative pension through his Local Com- mittee. If his pre-war earnings were X2 10s. or less a week his alternative pension will equal his pre-war earnings, less the amount hc- is deemed capable of earning. If the pre-war earnings exceeded C2 10s., and did not ex- ceed 15 a week, half the excess over £ 2 10s. is taken into account. Pre-war earnings ex- ceeding £ 5 a week are not considered in fixing the alternative pension therefore the maximum alternative pension that may be awarded to a man whose earnings before the war were £5 or more a week is .£3 15s. If a man has lost both arms or both legs or the sight of both eyes, no account will be taken of any amount that he may be able to earn. It should be noted, however, that the 20 per cent. war bonus does not apply to the holders of alterna- tive pensions. » The officer's widow should remember that she may claim an alternative pension equal to two- thirds of the alternative retired pay which her husband would have received had he lived. The officer's alternative retired pay is based upon his pre-war earnings. The maximum pension is J2300 a year. An officer's widow can only claim this alternative pension if she was married either before the beginning of the war or before her husband began his military services (whichever d-ate was the later). Widows of regular officers are eligible to claim an alternative pension under the same conditions. Any officer's "widow will be ad- vised as to whether it may be to her advantage to change to an alternative pension by writing to the Secretary, Ministry of Pensions (Offi- cers' Branch), Westminster House, Millbank, London, S.W. 1. Do not forget that all men in Great Britain, whether insured or not, who are in- valided from the Forces or certified on de- mobilisation to be impaired in health by reason of their service, are entitled to free medical benefit under the National Health In- surance Acts. That is to say, they are en- titled to the services of a general medical prac- titioner and the supply of medicines, except in the case of uninsured men1 whose total income exceeds X160 a year. There appears to be a good deal of misappre- hension abroad regarding disablement pen- sions. It should bo remembered that they are granted because of disablement, not because of service, in the war. They are provisionally awarded for a period-it may be three months, six months, or a year—at a rate corresponding to the degree of disability ascertained by medical examination. On re-examination at the end of the period (or before the expiration of the period, as, for instance, in cases where the man's condition has been reported by the local medical referee to have become worse) the disability may be re-assessed. Although a disappearance or abatement of the injury or disease and the return or partial return of normal health, involves a corresponding reduc- tion of the pension, a higher rate of pension is awarded if, on the other hand, a man's state of health is found to have become worse owing to injury or disease arising out of his war service. Our Pensions Expert is anxious to assist sailors and soldiers and their wives and de- pendants in dealing with intricacies of the War Pensions System. Address your queries to "Pensions Expert," c/o Editor of this paper. All essential facts should be stated as briefly as possible, such as name, number, rank, regiment of soldier, name and rating of sailor, particulars of families and separation allowance, and (in inquiries concerning civil liabilities) pre-war or pre-enlistnient income, present or war in- come, and full liabilities. Do not send any documents, birth certificates, or discharge papers, etc.
I THINGS --THOUGHTFUL.
I THINGS THOUGHTFUL. Let not the raft of friendship be wrecked in the rapids of anger. -Tiruvalluvar. There is but one way I know of conversing safely with all men; that is, not by conceal- ing what we say or do, but by saying or domg nothing that deserves to be concealed. —Pope. He that cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself: for- every man has need to be forgiven.—Lord Herbert of Cherbury. Words are like leaves; and where they most abound. Much fruit of sense beneath is rarely found. -Pope. I MOTIVES. Mr. Gladstone was once heard to remark that if all the wits of men were to be united in one brain, that man would he un- able to appraise with perfect iustice any single moral action. "The shades of the rainbow," he wrote, "are not so nice, the sanCs of the seashore are not such a multi- tude, as are the subtle, shifting, blending- forms of thought and of circumstances that fro to determine the character of one act.1 But there is one that eeeth plainly and judgeth righteously." Whatever is worth doing at all. is worth' doing well !-Lord Chesterfield. Politics is but another name for God's; way of teaching the masses ethics under the responsibility of great present interests.— W eude 11 Phillips. Let us beware of fussiness; it comes, natural to people of what is called publio spirit. Let us beware of the tendency to take the mote out of the eye of another while the beam is in our own. Let us be- ware of the officious, intermeddling splrit.- A. K. II. B. Let us try to be sensible; let us try to be- good-natured; let us try to be fair.—Charles Dickens. THE LAW OF PROGRESS. There is in most of us an ancient desire to subdue the chances we meet aud tame what is wild. That which we win by struggle is far more valuable to us than that which is laid in our hands. Both ourselves and our possessions count for more. God placed all the treasures of earth's great storehouses withiu man's possible reach, but He left him to make his discoveries through sore need, to batter down the locked doors for himself, to cut his own difficult way through the wilderness. IN EARLY SPRING. I heard a thousand blended notes, While in a grove I sat reclined. In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts Bring sad thoughts to the mind. To her fair works did nature-link The human Roul that through me ran; And much it grieved my heart to think What man has made of man. Through primrose tufts in that sweet bower, The periwinkle trailed its wreaths; And 'tis my faith that every flower Enjoys the air it breathes. The birds around me hopped and played; Their thoughts I cannot measure:— But the leaat motion which they made, It seemed a thrill of pleasure. The budding twigs spread out their fan To catch the breezy air; And I must think. do all, I can, That there was pleasure there. From Heaven if this belief be sent. If such be nature's holy plan, Have I not reason to lament What man has made of man? —Wordsworth. Deep streams run still-and why? Not because vhcre are no obstructions, but be- cause they altogether overflow those stones or rocks round which the shallow stream has to make its noisy way; 'tis the full life that saves us from the little noisy troubles of life.-Williani Smith. Work is a law of life.-Hu-h Black. Grief should be Like joy. majestic, equable, sedate. Strong to consume small troubles; to com- mend Great thoughts, grave thoughts, thoughta lasting to the 'end. —Aubrey de Vere. DIGNITY" AND CLOTHES. Strip the bishop of his apron, the coun- cillor of his gown, and the beadle of his cocked hat, what are they? Men, mere men. Dignity, and even holiness some- times, are more questions of coat and waist- coat than some people imagine.—Charles Dickens Every man's task is his life-preserver.— Emersou. Be sure, be sure, that ever since the days of the Persians of old, effeminacy, if not twin-sister of cowardice and dishonesty, has always gone hand in hand with them.- Chai-les Kingsley. I THE AUTHOR'S MEANING. Very ready we are to say of a book, "How good this is—that's exactly what I think." But the right, feeling is, "How strange that is! I never thought of that before, and yet I see it is true; or if I do not now, I hopo I shall, some day." But whether thus sub- missively or not, at least be sure that you go to the author to get his meaning-not to find yours. Judge it afterwards if you think yourself qualified to do so; but ascer- tain it first. And be sure, also, if the author is worth anytliing, that you will not get at his meaning all at once; nay, that at his whole meaning you will not for a long time arrive in any wise. Not that he does not eav what he means, and in strong words too: <but he cannot say it all; and what is more strange, will not, but in a hidden way and in parable. in order that he may be sure you want it.—John Ruskin. For others our duty is the widest charity; for ourselves the most careful watchfulness. -Dr. Alex. Maclaren. THE MAINSPRING. The motives of the best actions will not bear too strict an enquiry; it is allowed that the cause of most actions, good or bad, may be resolved into the love of ourselves; but the self-love of some men inclines them to please others; and the self-love of others is wholly employed in pleasing themselves; this makes the great distinction between virtue and vice.-Swift: I hate to see a thing done by halves; if it be right, do it boldly; if it be wrong* leave it uudone.-Gilpin.-