The Llanelly Mercury and South Wales Advertiser

THE HEARTS OF OAK. ♦— W-HEN we wrote our article on the Hearts of Oak Society, we had not the remotest intention of giving the officials of the Society any offence, neither did we court such a scathing reply as Mr. C. W. Burnes, the Secretary of the Society, deemed pru- dent to forward us for insertion, and which, out of courtesy to him, we allowed to appear in our last issue. Seeing that we did not promptly reply to his remarks, as we could have done, we suppose he fondly imagines that he has been able to effectually silence us for ever and a day. However, we do not happen to be built exactly in that way, neither are we accustomed to make misleading and erroneous statements with regard to any matter, which his letter appears to imply. We have far too much respect for our readers to attempt to mislead them, and too much self respect to make any erron- eous statements. Our article contained no inaccuracies, and we are in a position to prove this from the published report of the Society.

WE stated that the Society was beginning to feel the pinch of the Workmen's Com- pensation Act." If it does not, as Mr. Burnes desires us to understand, we are glad to hear it, and if it does, we cannot see that it is in any way a disgrace to the Society. It merely places it, in this respect, on a par with all the other Friendly Societies in the Kingdom. We have before us the 66th Annual Report of the Society, from which we cull the following interest- ing facts: Mr. Ralph P. Hardy, the Actuary of the Society, states that the expected sickness cost of the members was Y,334,019, but that the actaal cost whicli the Society had that year experienced was L368,1 80. This showed on the year's working a net loss of £ 34,161. Com- menting upon these figures, the Actuary states "in popular language that about one in nine cases of full sickness benefits are excessive, about one in fifty-three cases of half pay are profitable," and 11 one in twelve cases @f reduced pay are excessive." To this the Actuary adds a footnote as follows :—" The working of the reduced pay should be borne in mind whenever any proposals are made for an increase upon the rate allowance." These figures indicate that the Society made a net profit on the half pay of 98,162, and a net loss on the full pay and reduced pay of £ 42,323. These facts speak for themselves, and need no comment.

*1 I ABOUT the yeir 1905, the Executive Council of the Society became alive to the fact that the cost of their sickness benefits I was rapidly increasing, and that it must be I checked in some way or other. So it was decided to appoint official Sick Inspectors, whose duty it would be to pay surprise visits to all the sick members throughout the country, in order to check, if possible, malingering, and to detect dishonest members. This, in our opinion, was a most prudent step to take, and a most necessary precaution to adopt, in a cen- tralised Society like the Hearts of Oak. Affiliated Societies are compelled to take similar precautions, and they also have their Sick Visitors, and yet, in spite of all the precautions taken, the sickness benefits still pursue an upward course, and the Hearts of Oak Society is no ex- ception to the rule, notwithstanding the vigil- ance of the Sick Inspectors, and the reports presented by them to the Executive Council clearly prove this. In 1901, the full sickness benefits alone amounted to 1-05 weeks per member—that is, every member throughout the Society drew, on an average, over a week's sickness benefits. In 1902, it was 1-09 weeks; in 1903, it increased to 1'12 weeks; in 1904, another increase to 1'20 weeks; in 1905, another increase to 1-26 weeks; and in 1906, it reached 1'29 weeks-or, in other words, it had increased nearly 2 days per member per annum. Now, what does this really mean ? If it means anything, it means that if the full sickness benefits of the Society are eighteen shillings per week, or three shillings per day, and the number of members at the time were 294,740, an annual increase in the full pay alone of £ 88,422. In face of this fact, were we not justified in stating that the Society was beginning to feel the pinch of the Compensation Act ? If not, will the Sec- retary be good enough to account for the steady but tremendous increase in the full sickness benefits paid, in spite of the vigilance of the Sick Inspectors ?

ME. RUHNES also denies that the Actuary of the Order has ever called the atten- tion of the Executive Council to the necessity of safeguarding the funds of the Society. If this is true, will he please explain the following statement made by the Actuary, namely I strongly urge upon the members the necessity of taking effective measures for the reduction of the exces- sive sickness claims" ? He might also, at the same time, explain why the Execu- tive Council passed the following resolu- tion That the best thanks of this Delegation be tendered to Mr. Hardy for his attendance, his answers, and the courtesy shown to this Delegate Board this afternoon. Mr. Hardy was asked to attend the Board for the purpose of con- ferring with the members with regard to the report referred to.

THE last point made use of by Mr. Burnes is, that the Society is in an extraordinarily good position, both financially and numeri- cally." We are glad to know this, and we would be pleased to know also that every Friendly Society in the Kingdom is in the same position. According to the official report, we find that the actual funds of the Society are X3,386,346, and the number of members 294,740, which gives on an average a little over zell per member. This amount, as compared with the affiliated societies of the country, must be taken at X5 10s,, or, to be fair, zC6, because the sick and funeral benefits as- sured by the Hearts of Oak Society are almost double that of the other Societies. The natural inference to be drawn from this is, that if the Hearts of Oak is in an extraordinarily good position, both numerically and financially," with X6 per member, what must the position of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows be with over £ 16 per member, the Ancient Order of Foresters with over X12 per member, and the old Welsh Society, the Philanthropic Order of True Ivorites, with over £9 per member ? And yet the Directors of these Societies are not satisfied either with their numerical or financial position. It is a blessing, undoubtedly, to have a contented mind like Mr. Burnes. He also takes exception to our statement that those persons who left these Societies for the purpose of joining the Hearts of Oak took a leap from the frying pan and landed in the fire." We will allow those of our readers who are interested in Friendly Societies to draw their own conclusions as to whether this statement is not, figura- tively speaking, absolutely correct.

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. RABBITS, fresh daily, 9d. to lOd. each.— Jonah Thomas. An organ recital will be given at Presbyterian Church next Sunday evening at 8.5 o'clock. Mrs. Riechaelieu will again appear in the Market to-day (Thursday) with her usual fine show of flowers. DANIEL EVANS, Lakefield Place, Shipping Agent for all principal lines to all parts of the world. 801? A splendid selection of the patent paraffin lamps, fitted with incandescent burners, is displayed at the premises of the Gas Improved Light Syndicate Co., at the Arcade. Grand Selection of Ladies' and Maids' and Children's Winter Coats and Dress Skirts, &c (Newest Designs), at W. J. Phillips, Marine Street, Llanelly. 9289 On Thursday night, the Free Church Coun- cil will hold a debate at the Presbyterian Church Schoolroom, on the lectures delivered by Mr. Archibald on Sunday School work. SAUSAGES. Best in Town. Fresh daily.— Jonah Thomas. to The numerous mends ot Miss jjioawen Morgan, Gathen Terrace, will be glad to hear that at the recent examination held under the auspices of Trinity College, at Swansea, she was successful in passing the advanced senior division. Mr. Gomer Davies will this year display a very choice selection of Christmas meat, in- cluding prime heifer, mountain wether lambs, and some very fine dairy-fed porkers; also some prime Shropshire lambs, all bred and fed by celebrated breeders. His stall, No. 18 at the Market, will be well worth a visit. 9461 The Annual Grand Show of the old original Llanelly Poultry and Pigeon Society will be held at the Market Hall on December 27th, 1910 (General Holiday). 9430 The "London Gazette" contains the follow- ing"Factory Department, Home Office, Dec. 8tl-t.-The Chief Inspector of Factories gives notice that in consequence of the resignation of Dr. D. A. Hughes, an appointment as cer- tifying surgeon under the Factory and Work- shop Act at Ammanford, in the county of Carmarthen, is vacant." At a meeting of the Library Committee on Friday it was reported that the number of books issued for the month was 3114, a decrease of 457 on the corresponding month of last year. It was decided to hold the usual sale of periodicals on Saturday, December 31st, Mr. Gibson to conduct the sale. Mr. Herbert Newark presented a book on the History of the Rebecca Riots." WELSH FIELD CO. R.E.-Orders for week ending Dec. 21, 1910:—Orderly officer, Lieut. H. E. Trubshaw; orderly N.C. officers, Sergt. W. H. Griffiths and Corpl. T. Phillips. Mon- day (19th).—Signalling class, 7 to 8 p.m.; com- pulsory for N.C.O's, mounted and dismounted. Class for instruction in explosives and demo- litions, 8 to 9 p.m.; compulsory for mounted N.C.O's. Notice.—A vacancy exists for two sappers and one driver; applications to be made to the Orderly Room on Friday and Monday evening next.—(Signed) R. A. Nevill, major, O.C. Welsh Field Co. R.E. The annual public tea and entertainment in connection with the Templars Jubilee Juve- nile Lodge was held on Saturday last at the Nevill Memorial Room. The event was of in- creased interest, as it was being held on the 38th anniversary of the introduction of the Good Templar Order into Llanelly. There were about two hundred members and friends present. The arrangements for the tea were in the capable hands of Mrs. Evan Rees, who was assisted at the tables by several of the members of the adult lodge. Mr. Frederick Thomas, the oldest Good Templar in Llanelly, presided over the entertainment, when the following programme was gone through:- Solo, Miss Olive Brazell; recitation, Miss Cissie Hewitt; solo, Mr. Tom Harry; violin solo, Miss Shanahan; solo, Miss Olive Palmer; re- citation, Mr. Tom Harry; solo, Mr. Thomas Howells; solo, Mr. David Harry; duett, Miss Maggie Harries and Mr. W. H. Ueckham; solo, Mr. W. J. Jenkins; instrumental trio, Mr. William Griffiths, Mr. Arthur Thomas, I and Mr. Sidney Davies; solo, Mr. Jack Yates. Miss Eunice Davies, the Lodge organist, very ably accompanied throughout the evening. 9456

Death of Dr. S. J. Roderick. A LOSS TO THE WORKERS OF LLANELLY. It is with the deepest regret that we record the death of Dr. Sydney James Roderick, which took place at his residence, Vauxhall House, early on Monday morning. The de- ceased gentleman had been in failing health for some months, but it was only last month that he was compelled to relinquish his duties. He was a member of a well-known Llanelly family, being a son of the late Mr. William Roderick (a son-in-law of the late Mr. James Buckley, of Penyfai, the well-known brewer) and a brother of the late Col. W. Buckley Roderick. He was held in the highest esteem by people of all classes and shades of opinion owing to his unfailing courtesy and sym- pathetic nature. His loss will be felt nowhere more than in the homes of the workers of Llanelly. He was educated at Bath, Marl- borough and Edinburgh, and he took the M.B. and C.M. degrees in 1887. Dr. Roderick carried on an extensive practice at Llanelly in succession to his uncle, the late Dr. Buckley, and held the appointments of medical officer of health, medical inspector of schools, medical inspector of factories, medical officer to the police, as well as to numerous works in the town and district. Dr. Roderick was the pioneer of the X-rays arid radium treatment in the town. He married in 1895 Gertrude Louise, daughter of Mr. James Barclay, late of Buehromb, Dufftown, N.B., who, with two children, survive him. The arrangements for the funeral to-day (Thursday), which will be for men only, are as follows:—The procession will be formed, in readiness to move off at 2 o'clock, along Coldstream Street, the head of the procession 1 being at the Pembrey Road end of the street. The order of the procession will be as follows: —Police, town councillors, works' representa- tives, general public, Hospital Committee, Freemasons, bearers (Police), body, pall- bearers (medical men), mourners. The route of the procession will be along Coldstream Street, West End, Hall Street, Bridge Street, Thomas Street, and the Felinfoel Road to Felinfoel Church, where the burial will take place.

Fire at a Storehouse. I PICTURE FRAMES BURNT. I A serious outbreak of fire occurred at the premises of Mr. Policovsky at Inkerman Street in the early hours of Monday morning. Ex- tensive damage was done in the store-room and the adjoining room, a large quantity of picture frames being burnt. The roof also col- lapsed, and the damage is estimated at £ 500. The brigade were on the scene soon after the alarm was given, and had it not been for their prompt and commendable action the extent of the damage would have been greatly increased.

I The Welsh National Memorial. I THE FIGHT AGAINST CONSUMPTION. This terrible white man's scourge, unfor- | tunately so deadly in Wales, is at last to be confronted with an organised attack. The beautiful ,counties of Cardigan, Carmarthen, and Carnarvon are among the blackest spots in the whole of England and Wales. Out of the total number of males who died from consumption in Carnarvonshire in 1909, 60 per cent. were under 40 years of age, and, out of the total number of females who died from the same disease, 75 per cent. were under 40. The chart below shows that out of 100 men who die of consumption, the greatest num- ber die between the ages of 25 and 55, the working period of life, when men should be in their prime, of greatest help to those depen- dent on them, and to their fellow-men and women. I CONSUJN-IPTION-A Disease of the PRIME of LIFE. MALES. 23 out of every 100 dying from con- sumption die between 25-35 22 out of every 100 dying from con- sumption die between 35-45 19 out of every 100 dying from con- sumption die between 45-55 64 out of every 100 dying from con- sumption die between 25-55 Out of every three deaths from all causes between the ages 20-45 years, one is caused by consumption. The heavy black line in the above chart shows how the number of deaths from con- sumption is relatively small up to about 20 years of age, but from then on the death-rate rises at a fearful pace until the greatest height is reached at about 25 years of age, and it is then maintained for some years until about 45, when, as the line shows, by taking a down- ward course, the death-rate diminishes steadily, until we find it in those people of 65 and over about the same as in young children under 10 years old.

I Go to Jonah Thomas for FRESH FISH.

BREACH OF CONTRACT. COLD-ROLL BOYS SUMMONED. At the Police Court on Wednesday, Messrs. J. S. Tregoning and Co., Ltd., Morfa Tinplate Works, proceeded against eight cold-roll boys for breach of contract, and claimed 10s. from each. The defendants were Thomas Rogers, 6 Havelock Street; James Campbell Thomas, 3 Campbell Street; Daniel John Griffiths, 7 Bvvlchvgwynt; Evan Leyshon Evans, 29 Rope- walk Road; William John Delaney, 6 Camp- bell Street; David John Thomas, 3 Trostre Road; David Thomas Edwards, 4 Trostre Rd.: and John Anthony Robson..—Mr. Martin R. Richards appeared for the prosecution. The cases were adjourned for a fortnight.

I MILITARY BALL The local Drill. Hall is now nearing com- pletion, and will probably be occupied in the early part of next month It has, therefore, been decided to hold the annual Territorial Ball in the new hall, instead of in the Market Hall as in former years, the date fixed being Tuesday, January 24th. As the new hall is so admirably fitted for a function of this charac- ter, we feel sure the popularity of the ball will be very much increased by reason of its being held there. The spring floor will be adapted to the altered conditions, and the Battalion Band will, of course, render the music. The arrangements are well in hand, and tickets may be purchased at once.

I AMUSEMENT. I HAGGAR-;HEATRE. Following upon the up-to-date performances which have recently been given at Haggar's Theatre, another good turn is being produced this week. The introduction of an artiste by means of the cinematograph is quite a novelty. The performance is executed by "Gitto," the original Welsh double-voiced vocalist. He is seen on the screen going through the work of a smelter and rollerman, and immediately steps, as it were, from the picture to the stage, and discourses voc-alism in a splendid voice ranging from falsetto soprano to basso pro- fundo. Another good performance is that of "Mint and Mart," in their up-to-date speciality introducing paper manipulations. The Hebrew comedy cyclist, Ike Bradley, is the only cyclist working with six different kinds of machines. The usual programme of pictures is also shown.

I WRAPPED UP IN A SHEET. I BABY FOUND UNDER THE BED. Mr. W. W. Brodies conducted an inquest at the Town Hall on Wednesday of last week (a summary of which appeared in our last issue) on the body of an infant girl of Sarah Davies. a maid-servant. Dr. H. H. Roberts said he saw Sarah Davies at 11 a.m. on December 6th, in bed. and in consequence of what she told him he looked under the bed, and there found the body of a female child wrapped up in. a sheet. The child was dead, and had been dead, in his opinion, about six hours. He examined the mother, and found that she had recently given birth to a child. The child had had a sepa- rate existence, but only lived a couple of minutes. There were no marks of external in- jury or violence. The cause of death was in- anition, due to lack of attention at the time of the child's birth. The inquest was adjourned till Wednesday, January 4th.

MUSTARD AND CRESS. -0- The Llanelly Seconds will play Felinfoel on Saturday. A lively time is anticipated at the next meeting of the Llanelly Rugby League. Mr. ALel Thomas, K.C., has been elected M.P. for the seventh time for East Carmarthen- shire. Llanelly will play Pill Harriers at Stradey on Saturday, and not at Pill as previously advertised. Mr. Haggar will give the Llanelly Football Club a benefit performance (9 to 11) on Tues- day evening next. Congratulations to Mr. John Hinds on his splendid victory in West Carmarthenshire. His majority was 3040. The Socialist candidate did not fare very well in the East Carmarthenshire election. Was it due to bad organisation ? I we near on tiooct authority that Mr. Tom Francis intends taking his male voice party to the Carmarthen National Eisteddfod. It is authoritatively stated that the Electric Light and Traction Company will commence the traction scheme about the middle of January. Miss Meudwy Davies (now Mrs. Jones) was presented by the members of Tabernacle Choir, on Monday evening, with a beautiful music cabinet. The new mills at the Dafen Tinplate Works will be started on Monday. The engine will be set in motion by Master Hugh John, son of Mr. Llewelyn John, manager. The appeal of the G.W.R. Company against the decision of the magistrates in the right-of- way case, which was to be heard last Friday, was deferred till Wednesday. On Monday evening next, at the Picture- drome, a benefit will be given to the Oriental Stars R.F.C. by Mr. Tom Samuel. The ex- penses of the Bordeaux trip are well over £100. Whew! A special meeting of the Executive Commit- tee of the West Wales Sanatorium will be held on December 19th to consider the question of the King's Memorial in relation to the West Wales Sanatorium. A new wooden screw tug, 47 feet by 12 feet by 6 feet, built at Glasgow, and fitted with compound engines, I.H.P. cylinders, 8-in. by 16-in. by 9-in. stroke, draft 5 feet, has been sold to Llanelly owners for £300. An invitation concert will be given by the pupils of Miss Julia Lewis, at the Parish Hall on Friday night. An excellent programme has been prepared, and Misses Blodwen and Claudia Hopkins will take part. Miss Stepney will preside. The crowd on the cheap. side at Stradey are very severe critics. On Saturday one could only hear the talk of what the Llanelly com- mittee should and should not do, etc., whilst the Aberavon game was in progress. Oh! what doctors there are, to be sure! The Felinfoel Cage Bird and Poultry Show, which will be held on Saturday, is likely to prove a great success. A large number of en- tries have been received, and some valuable special prizes are given. Entries will be re- ceived up to to-night at the Royal Oak, Felin- foel. News (has reached Pontardulais by cable- gram from New Zealand of the death by drowning of Mr. Arthur P. Lewis, formerly a well-known local resident. Up to two years ago, when he emigrated to New Zealand, Mr. Lewis was engaged as a chief marine en- gineer. When the Harbour Bill was before the rate- payers it was freely stated by the opponents that the stamp duty alone on the indenture would amount to some hundreds of pounds, which would mean a total loss to the town. The actual amount paid in this respect was £ 26 5s. An excellent array of artistes have been en- gaged for the annual oratorio concert at the Tabernacle on February 7th next, when Han- del's "Messiah" will be performed. The special re-engagement of Miss Lily Fairney, who had such a great reception last February, will certainly prove a draw. Burry Portians, through their representa- tives are very fond of dabbling with legal bills, etc. The latest move is to secure a pro- visional order for electric lighting, and already they have received and passed an account for their Surveyor's expenses in "Town, which extended a week, for zP,16 9s. 7d. Very nice and sweet plums down line. The Rev. Gwilym S. Rees, B.A., Congrega- tional minister, Llandyssul (son-in-law of Dr. Johns, Capel Als), who has been a very active supporter of the Liberal candidate at Llan- dyssul, early on Tuesday morning found the recently painted front door of his residence plastered over with a coating of coal tar. It took an experienced workman half a day to clean away the marks of the tar. Mr. Rees was victimised in the same manner at the time of the last election. Machynis has had a varied career. Many centuries ago it was an island, and a small monastery was built on it, hence, probably, the name Machynis, an abbreviation of l\Ionar-hvnis-monk's island. Later on a house was built on the island, which became a re- sidence for the great family of the place, pro- bably the Vaughans; but it was also a smug gling depot. To-day Machynis, no longer an island, is the site of a great works, and the roar of machinery echoes where of old were heard the litanies of pious monks.

Cross -Hands Fatality. COLLIER KILLED BY A FALL OF ROOF. A collier, named Haydn Jones, residing at Cross Hands, was killed by a fall of roof at the Cross Hands Colliery on Wednesday. It appears that two trams ran wild, and knocked down some posts, with the result that a por- tion of the roof fell, deceased being buried under the debris.

Alleged Adulteration. MILK VENDOR SUMMONED. At the Police Court on Wednesday, Margaret Evans, Tanrallt, Llangunnor, was summoned for selling adulterated milk on Nov. 12th. Mr. Kammerer appeared for the defence. Inspector Jones stated that he took a sample of milk consigned to David Davies, Llanelly, and sent it to the analyst, who certified that the milk contained 13 per cent. added water. Mrs. Margaret Evans, the defendant, said, that on Nov. 12th, she, along with the servant boy, milked the cows, and there was no water added. The Bench reserved their decision for a fort- night.

Drunken WomaSong and Dance At the Police Court on Wednesday, Margaret Jones, Glyncaerau Cottage, Llangennech. was summoned for being drunk and disorderly in Hendy Road on Nov. 21st.—Mr. T. R. Ludford defended. Mrs. Lewis, Red Cow Inn, Hendy, stated that on the date in question, defendant, who was drunk, came to her house, and danced about. She also sang, "I am in love with you." Witness declined to supply her with intoxicants because she was too drunk. She also used bad language. David Davies, collier, Hendy, corroborated l the evidence of Mrs. Lewis. Supt. Rogers reported previous convictions, I and the Bench imposed a fine of 15s.