The Rhondda Leader

?- -?-?- -?-?- Treherbert. I It is also understood that the Law will be repi esent-ed in Bute Street hy -Mr. W. v. Spickernell. formerly of the firm of and Sons, Pontypridd. He now occupies promises in a prominent position, and attends here a. few days a week. Air. Spickernell is well known in the Rhcnddas* and surrounding districts. He oifted with great forensic skill, and one oi his chid charactpristics is fairness on aJl vide*. He has personality which commands admiration. Probably Mr. Spickernell > launching a self-venture, but it seems ea.sy in this case to antici- pate a rapid growth of an extensive prac- tice. The r.ni branch of the National Pro- vincial Bank or England, on Bute Square, g ive, the vicinity an additional appear- ance ct importance. Some • -r-i.t exists as to whether the Trehorlv > t. Rugby Football Club will really be completed without difficulty. It appears that <,ur neigiibours (Treorcliv) will rh. t a <nain degree of resistance in the ni.?' r < ?' granting transfers to some of d;' Treorcliv players who have, oi t 1* Lfst i?lavei-s \A-lio i;t- 1-111.0"N,ll to tli(,iiis(,]N,es, herbert team. For instance. Dai Vaughnn. the clev- and versatile player, who made a g;r r himself particularly last seas n. has been nominated among others to Trehcrbert contingent in the sen snv which is about to open, but 11< :?' -1'" -til in the hands of '1 re- -.T?. ir. the hfti d s uf T)-- orchy. TV: a particular ca,e. Nov. Vau?'h:'m '??'T hope to be captain ot the ?H'e?rch?' '?n :i? ?e:)so' :)H'1 s)])'<']\ :? be iioiivr.Ji;'] that nositii n at once in 'trphtr?e -—?')?'t1ve of the fee!!n" in Treh?ii < :h" moment —is a sporting on'e'?d ? pnoint<"I. a promotion I w-hic?Y.??i'?'t?s?ook upon with s:er'.t admi'??on. ro???b?t???rw?n? be granted, but the fairness or unfairness <i.f ?h pTec<?nre is a" interesting ques- Illt(,l tion for yea<:< rs to discuss. Numerous ontsM? appl.caTions have been recened locally this year.

-?- -?-  Bryncethin Eisteddfod. Increased Prize Offered for Mixed Choir Competition. We are informed by Mr. C'has. Williams, the secretary of the Bryncethin Eistedd- fod, which takes place on the 13th of September, uiat a gift has been received which enables the committee to increase the prize offered in the mixed choral com- petition from t7, as originally advertised, to £10, The subject selected for the com- petition is Gabriel's Ar lan Ioreldonen delofn ("On Jordan's Banks").

I I RHONDDA GAS. NEW LIGHT ON THE SUBJECT. THE CAMBRIAN COMBINE'S OFFER, COST OF PRESENT UNDERTAKING. I COUNCIL IN A DILEMMA. I ban's Torch. as the 10ft. flare from the Glamorgan Cbke Ovens, Llwynypia, has already been christened, illuminates the whole of the Mid-Rhondda district at night. It is so named in honour of Mr. A. Thall, the coke ovens expert, who manages the concern. The torch is merely the waste gas from the coke ovens—a matter of two million cubic feet a day. Its glare shows up every detail of the Glamorgan Colliery buildings at night, and makes a picture not easily described, as it shows lofty stacks and fine buildings in tile foreground, with a dark bold back- ground in the surrounding noble hills. The elailv make of gas is four millinll fpet. half of which is useel in the coke operations. The remainder will for the present be wasted in this magnificent manner until the Rhondda Council decide whether to purchase it or not. The supply has been offered to them for 7.U1. per 1.000 feet in its purified form. At this rate it would cost the Cmmcil £ 02 10s. a day. At tlwir retail rate to ordinary con- sumers it would produce a gross revenue of over £ 400; but. of course, from this must be deduct eel cost of storage and othpr items, Or. computed on the penny- in-the-slot basis, it would provide 12.3,000 Rhondda. residents with a pennyworth of gas a night, and thus give the Council a 16s. 16d. The consensus of opinion is that the matter should be dealt with immediately, and the ultimate cost of such a supply be compared with that at present incurred by the Rhondda Urban District Council in the manufacture. 1 ne contrast between 7!,(1. and 4s. 3d.— the price at present pa.id by the ordinary consumer—would, on the face of it. seem to leave no doubt as to what action the Council shoulel take. There are, however, factors which must add to the cost of the one. and deductions which must be made from the other. For instance, the 4s. 3el. comprises not only cost of manufacture and distribution, but a large sum in re- payment and interest cf loans in connec- tion with the undertaking which must necessarily remain, even though the Coun- cil eventually deckle to accept the Com- bine offer. During the financial year ended March 31st. 1913. the amount expended in this manner was no less a sum than £ 12,Too 8s. lid., which is equivalent to Is. 6.88d. on the total quantity of gas made. The figures for the year with regard to cost of manufacture. &c., must of necessity be of vital interest to the Rhondda rate- payer and gas consumer at present, and these, we are given to unelcrstand. are aa follow. (The figures in each case are computed in pence per 1.000 ctibl(- feet) Coat of Produotion. I Manufacture— Coal 20.68 Purifaction .72 Wages (manufacturing depart- ment). 4.91 Repairing and maintenance of %N-oi-ii 3.99 Total 30. 3 I I )tit [()n- Salaries Repairing mains and services. 4.14 Repairing meters, stoves. &c 1.65 Total. 5.97 Management— Satarie.s. 2.09 ( ) 4 Registrar 04 Stationery .17 Establishment charges .56 Total. 2.86 Rents .14 Rates and taxes. 3.52 Total. 3.66 Law charges .01 Allowances and had debts .12 Cottage repairs .01 Total.14 LESS. Coke 5.79 Tat 2.48 Sulphate 2.17 Total. 10.44 Meter rents. 3.34 Stove rents .48 Slot fitting rents .81 Miscellaneous receipts .55 Total 5.18 These figures show the gross cost of production, distribution, &e., to be 3s. 6.93d.. but with all allowances made the net cost, is brought down to 2s. 3.31d. per 1.000 feet. Present Changes for Gas. I At present the Council make the follow- ing charges for gas;—Private consumers. 4s. 3d. per 1,000; supplies for stoves and engines., 3s. 9d. and 4s.: Llantrisant public lighting, 3s. 9d. and 3s. 3d. to the Ferndale Gas Company. The receipts averaging a gross profit of Is. 10.46d. From 1 his has to be deducted interest and n payments on loans, the total amount under this head for the year ended March ."•1st. There is. t herefore, at ;ireseut a "net profit of 3.58d. per 1.000 r which amount is devote,] to t he reduction of the i>;eneral district rate. Councii's Liabilities, As to the loans, the Council have in a 11 i)H"!n'ed hahi)hies in connection wth the undertaking totalling £ 257,456 6s. 3d. A con?iderahle part of this remains, and even should the new source of supply offered be accepted, must remain as a standing charge. The question for the ratepayers to consider, and the question which will occupy the attention of the Councd when they ?o imo ihi? manor. i'. I \y}wtht'r by taking the C'onbine?as they can materially reduce the net cost of pro- 'I duction below the present figure of 2s. 3.31d. The Combine supply, it is stated, will satisfy all tests as to lighting power. To the sum of 7.\el. per 1.(10!) is to he added tite cost of putting it into the Council's mains, but this is not Irkely to be great. The cost of distribution will be much the same, but there may be some saving in other respects, such as manage- ment. Experts state that the saving may be anything between 8d. and Is. 2u. An Explanation. Some explanation is necessary in view of the hesitancy shown by the Local Authority in regard to the matter. It appears that the- offer was first brought to the notice of the Council several months ago. and the delay in coming to a decision is (occasioned by the desire on the part of members not to act precipi- tately. It. is pointed out that various factors have to be taken into account. and these are now the subject of investi- gation by Mr. Octavius Thomas, the Council's gas engineer, who is preparing a report for submission to the Gas Com- mittee. Members in the meantime refrain from expressing any definite opinion oil the matter and the officials arc also very reticent. Mr. D. A. Thomas, in a conversation with a P. ess representative, remarkeel that he did not think the Council coulel manufacture gas at anything like that figure, and the company was prepared to guarantee a regular supply. The surpl .> gas for the time being is kept burning in the colliery yard until the means for its utilisation have }wen deeideel upon. Consumers May Benefit. Although the offer made by Mr. D. A. Thomas is a tempting one. it does not follow, if accepted, that tJie Council would be in a position to make any material reductions in. the price to consumers. Among the points which enter into the situation are those which appertain to the existing undertaking. One phase to be considered is as to how far the gas manu- factured by the company could be used as a source subsidiary to the Council's own roduction. In any case, the Authority would still have to discharge, its obliga- tions in regarel to the undertaking, what- ever arrangements were made with the company. If it can bo shown that by taking an outside supply the Council would be in a position substantially to reduce their working expenses, then in all probability the offer would be accepted. In the meantime, the report of the gas engineer, and the Council's decision thereon, is awaited with interest. Attitude of Chamber of Trade. I For a considerable time the question of cost has been engaging the attention of the Mid-Rhondda Chamber of Trade, and when a Press representative saw Mr. John iiee. the secretary of that body. he was informed that the matter would in all probability come up before the Chamber at its next meeting. That the members should be keenly interested in reducing the price is only natural in view of the fact that practically the whole jof the tradesmen of a populous town centre are among its members. As early as the autumn of 1911 the body dealt with the question of cost, and askexl that the price should be reduced. Mr. Nicholas then replied on behalf of the Council that the Atitliority could not legally consider the question of reducing the price charged to consumers until they had complied with certain obligations imposed upon them as unelertakers by the Act of Parliament, which are that they will refund out of the gas profits all sums of money whicli mav "from time to time have been contri- buted towards the deficiency on the gas undertaking out of the district rate. The sum had been considerably reduced year bv vear, and it was then hoped that in a' vear or two it would be wiped out. when the Council would be in a position to take into consideration the question of reducing ttie pjee of gas \t a. recent meeting of the Chamber, the matter was again brought up. and on Julv 12th of this year Mr. Nicholas fur- ther replied to the request for a reduction to the effect that the profits of the gas undertakins: had not yet reached that stage which would, in the opinion of the Council, justify them in dealing with the question of reduction of price.

I Penygraig. I son of William and Jane Jones of 1. Street. Penvgraig. di^d on Monday artei- noon as the result of scalds ree^ n et on Fridav night last. The chilePs father a m i ner, filled a bath with boding watei. so that he could take his bath As the water was too hot he went out to fetch cold water to place in it. In the mean- time the child, who was Mttnig on grandmother's :1n!1 fdl, ipto the bath, and died, as the result of scalds and shock.

The Use of Worms The Creator gave the humble worm a very important duty to perform, and land without this useful reptile would be almost valueless. Darwin estimated that worms, by swallowing earth for the sake of the vegetable matter it contains and forming castings, bring to the surface as much as ten tons of earth per annum on an acre Worms are great promoters of vegetation by boring, perforating, and loosening the soil. and rendering it pervious to rains and the fibres of plants, by drawing straws and stalks of leaves and twigs illto it. and. mo.st of all. by throwing up such infinite numbers of lumps of earth called worni- -•asts. which form a hue manure ior grains pud grass. The earth without worms would soon become cold, hard- bound. yoid of fermentation, and cons- 'phoitly Merile; this has occurred in many eases where the worms have been either accidentally or intent ionnlly destroyed, and tiio lertilitv of the s il thus lost Ins only been restored when the worms had again collected and resumed their fertil- ising work. An 1 yet if soni" persons turn up a worm in digging a garden, they at once chop it up with their spade! What senseless cruelty

WilHamstown. F"?, ?m.-? C.tr?r.'T?? H'11' 01 I ,.f :■ C\.rnv.?'. R(:'1(l. "\Yilli:1'm,tn',YI1 1. ?. I .? Vr???-f.?? t, ,11 .1ill%- :11?,t I)v ()a 17f, '111.

IF vou want vour furnituie to look nice i these bright'days, stop using that strom.; ?pUinn p?tp, and buy l>agle> s Y Goieu Fnrnitnre Pa,.te, Tins^and polish made in Wales, so support home indnstne?.

I Conservatives Decide to Again Contest the Rhondda Seat. ) Mr. Gwilym Rowlands, D.C., Penygraig, Selected. the Executive Committee of the Rhon- dda Conservative Association met at the W y n el ham Club, Porth. on Saturday, and unanimously decided to recommend the selection of Air. Gwilym Rowlands. Penv- graig. to contest the seat at the next electi< n in the Conservative interest. At the last election the Kiirln Hon. W. Abraham (Alabon). M.P.. the sitting mem- ber. defeated Mr. Harolel Lloyd, the Tory candidate, by a majority of 5.372. Mr. Gwilym Rowlands is a working man. being a surtace contractor at the Naval Collieries. Penvgraig. He is 34 years of age, and a native of Penygraig. He conies of an old Miel-xuionelda family, his une-To. the late Mr. Metres Rowlands. being one of the original proprietors of the Naval Collieries, while his father. Mr. Rowland Rowlands, was at one time manager of the nits. Mr. Rowlands is a fluent speaker in English and Welsh, and has done much platform work throughout the division. Although a Nonconformist and a member ot Piscrab AVeish Cah-inistic Methoelist Church. Peiivgrai'jr. he is op- posed to Welsh Disestablishment, and is a Tariff Reformer. He is a member of the Rhondda District Council, being re- turned for the Penvgraig Ward at the last election.

f Unprovoked Assault- Penygnaig Colliers sent to Prison. Wliat was described as "a most unpro- voked assault" came before the Llan- trisant .Bench on Friday Ta<t. Frederick Thomas and William Miles young colliers of Penvgraig. were charged with assault- ing Henry Arthur Shaw, at Pemtyclun. Prosecutor stateel that he was on his way home on the night of July 28th. when Thomas came behind him and gave him •" a smack in the eye." Witness fell, and after getting up. Miles came and kicked him on the shin and kntxked him down again. Prosecutor stateei that he had never seen the defendants before. P.C. Fuller d escribed the assault as a severe one. for when lie saw Shaw on the following morning he was in a bad state, having a cut. over the right eye. the left eye w as also swollen, and the lips cut on the inside. Thomas admitted striking the man. but Miles denied the assault. Both were sentenced to a month's im- prisonment with hard labour without the option of a fine. Mr. Goelfrey Clark (chair- man) remarking that it was about the worst case he had ever heard.

Surfacemen's Wage. South Wales Owners Refuse Demand for 15 Per Cent. Increase. In accordance with the decision of the last meeting of the Executive Council of the South Wales Ntinf-,rl .Federation the owners' representatives had before them at the ordinary monthly meeting of the Conciliation Board on Mondav a communi- cation from Mr. T. Richards. M.P, (general secretary of the Federation), seeking an aelvanee of 15 per e-ent. in the wages of the surface workmen. It will be remem bered that at the annual conference held at Swansea the Miners' Federation of Great Britain com- mitted itself to the policy of ensuring a minimum base wage of os. per day for all adult workmen either a bove or below the surface. At their recent c-onference. how- ever, this was modified, it being found that conditions varied so greatly that a uniform figure was. for the moment. almost impracticable. Hence the decision of the national organisation to nroceed to secure a 15 per cent. advance for sur- face workers, and. by their application on Monday, the South Wales Federation were carrying out the instructions of head- quarters. Both sides held sectional meetings during the morning. UNCONDITIONALLY REFUSED. When the parties came together, in the afternoon some time was taken up in deal- ing %iiii disputes, after which Mr. Brace addressed the owners in support of the application for a 15 per cent. increase in the wage-rate of the surfacemen. Among the arguments put forward in support were low rates of pay. long hours, and increased cost of living. In reply, the masters held that the proposal would be a breach of the last agreement, and that. therefore, the application would be un- conditionally refused. The miners' representatives on the Board also handed to the owners a higher schedule of wage rate's, which they pro- posed should be applied at all new col- lieries and at seams newly onened out. OFFICIAL REPORT. At the conclusion Mr. rmlay Cribson. in the absence of Mr. Ga-scoyne Dalziel. supplied the following official report — A meeting of the Conciliation Board for Monmouthshire and South W ales was held at Cardiff to-day. Mr. Evan Williams presided' over the owners' side and Mr. W. Brace. M.P.. over the wor kmen's representat ivs. Mr. W. Brace. on behalf of the workmen's representatives, asked he owners to consider the question of in creasing the wages now paid to sur- tace workmen to the extent cf 15 per cent., as the Miners' Federation of Great Britain had decided that such a demand should be made 111 all the dis- tricts in the Fnited Kingdom. Mr. Brace put forward arguments in sup- port or the application. Mr. Evan Williams, on behalf of the owners, replied that the owners unahie to consider such a proposal, a* it was a distinct bieac-h of the Con- ciliation Board agreement, which had keen entered into between the owners and the workmen's representatives for a period of five years ending in 1915. A number of disputes were considered bv the Board, and arrangements were made for referring them to representa- tives for investigation, with. power to settle. a