The Cardiff Times

JUDGE AND THE CAT. The Winter Assizes for the County of Glam- organ opened at Cardiff onTuesday. Mr Justice Phillimore and Mr Justice Brav arrived in Car- diff on Monday evening, and were escorted from their lodgings to the Law Courts this morning, accompanied by the High Sheriff pIr F. W. Gibbins. Neatti), and his chaplain, the Rev. H. C. Lindsay, Vicar of Tonna, their Lordships were received on entering the Law Courts by the Lord Jlayor (Alderman Lewis Morgan), the Town Clerk (Mr J. L. Whcatley), And members of the City Council. The fore- oaan of the grand jury was Mr Herbert Lloyd, Pontardawe. Mr Justice Bray, in his charge, said "here was a very considerable number of cases to be considered. He was sorry to say that .his was not exceptional in the county of Gla- morgan. Of course there were excuses for it. Glamorganshire was a very thickly populated unty, it had at least two important seaports, Yond one knew that crime was more rife at sea- ports than in any other part of the kingdom. But it wis not quite so bad as it looked. He thought a considerable number of cases that came before judges at Assizes were Quarter Sessional cases. They came before the Judge J at Assizes properly enough because the Assize would be held before the Quarter Sessions. He thought the grand jury should consider whether they should not hold an adjourned say in the of March, when great many of these cases could be dealt with and the Judges' time at Assizes saved. Dealing with the calendar, his Lordship said that taking the cases as a whole there was an absence of what might be called serious crime. There were, unfortunately, two cases of murder. In regard to the Merthyr Vale case his Lordship said he did not think the grand jury would 5nd any difficulty, and in regard to the Caer- philly murder case, he suggested that a true Bill should be brought in and the matter left tor the petty jury to deal with. He was happy t-o say that there were few Cases of robbery with violence. When he was ftere a year ago he did not take the Criminal c Court, which was taken by Justice A. T. Law- rence. There was a very large number of such Bases, and Justice Lawrence thought it right nnder the circumstances to say that the cat should be administered in several cases. He could not formulate an opinion that it was in consequence of that or otherwise but it was certainly most satisfactory that the cases at that Assize were comparatively few, and cer- tainly not of the same serious character.

TRIALS OF PRISONERS. Pleaded Guilty. William Miles (38). labourer, pleaded guilty to attempting to commit suicide at Cadoxton, Neath, on January 5th. Sentenced to three months. Alfred Burgess (17) pleaded guilty to con- verting to his own use £ 1 belonging to John North, of Swansea, in February last. Prisoner, travellin g showman, was sent to prison for 12 months and recommended for Borstal. Cornelius Sullivan pleaded guilty to breaking i plate-glass window at Merthyr. value £12. He had been in prison since January 11th, and was sentenced to one week. Breaking and Entering. Two Merthyr men, John Horrigan (24), collier, and Thomas Richards (25), labourer, were charged with breaking and entering a pawnbroker's shop at Merthyr with intent to steal on January 15th. The evidence showed that the two men were seen near the shop, and noises were afterwards heard tnside. The police were fetched, and both men were arrested, and being under the influence of drink were charged with drunkenness, they oeing afterwards identified as having Been near the back premises of the shop. Sentence of 12 months' imprisonment was passed, and Hor- rigan left the dock in tears. Sentence of six weeks' hard labour was passed ?n Michael McGlyn (29), a Merthyr painter, for oreaking glass ware and a window belonging to Albert Jarvis on February 27th. Mr Raymond Allen prosecuted. The court then adjourned "Ultil half-past 10 o'clock this (Wednesday) aorning. Stealing Bread. George White (32), a groom, of Merthyr, was sentenced to two months for stealing six loaves of bread from Wm. Harris on February 19th. Mr St. John Francis Williams was for the prosecution, WEDNESDAY'S TRIALS. The Criminal, business at Glamorgan Assizes st CardifE was resumed onWednesday morning before Mr Justice Bray. Merthyr Attempted Murder Charge. Mr St. John Francis Williams said that James Andrew Scott (29), a chimney sweep, charged with attempting to murder Alice Gough and Bridget Scott at Merthyr, was in Swansea Gaol, toe ill to be removed. The allegation was that Scott threw the two women into a canal. The grand jury had not returned bill yet, and later he (Mr Williams; would ask His lordship to bind the witnesses over for the '.en Assizes. 0 > Accountant's Forgery. John Clarke (36), accountant, pleaded guilty to forging and altering cheques for £ 35, JE16 9s 3d, JE2 10s, and iE3 5s, drawn by the Hibernian Band Musical Institute, Mountain Ash. Mr Ivor Bowen, for the Crown, said accused was the secretary of the Hibernian Institute, and he had control of all the books since 1905. In January last he confessed to the committee of management to defalcations amounting to ;£204. Mr Hugh Jones, for the defence, re- ferred to the prisoner's previous good charac- ter, and said he was tempted to these frauds by losses at a refreshment house he acquired at Caerphilly. He always hoped to replace the Xoney.-Prisouer was sentenced to 18 months' oard labour. Travelling Housebreaker. James Kitchen or Russell (38), tailor, with many aliases and many previous convictions, was described by Detective-Inspector Davey w a travelling thief and an expert house- breaker. Kitchen, who pleaded guilty to steal- Ing iE25 worth of jewellery from the house of Wm. Albert Stansbury, Albany-road, Cardiff, gave the police a hot chase. He got on to the roof of a Penarth-road warehouse, and although the place was surrounded by the police within a few minutes the man got away. In his lodgings was found an electric lamp. Kitchen was sentenced to four years' penal servitude. Posed as Excise Officers. Frank Little (35) and Howard William Pope (30), canvassers, were sentenced, the former to I 15 and the latter to nine months' imprison- ment for obtaining money by false pretences at Cardiff. Prisoners represented themselves as agents on behalf of the publishers of a directory, and Mr St. John Francis Williams said they also posed as excise officers, etc. Quickly Brought to Court. Within two hours of a Bench warrant being issued for the arrest of W illiam Thomas Chris- topher (22), haulier, who did not appear to answer a charge of robbery with violence, he was placed in the dock with John Horrigan (24), collier, both being indicted far robbing John Ryan of 12s with violence at Merthyr. Christopher was arrested at Merthyr half an hour after his name had been called in court this morning. Ryan's story was that he was sleeping in the Dowlais coko ovens when the prisoners attacked him, and after robbing him ran away. The prisoners were found not guilty and discharged. To be Called To-Day. Mr Ivor Bowen asked that the case of Lewis John Jones (41), insurance agent, should be called this (Thursday) morning. The charge against him was of endeavouring toobtain money from the Colonial Life Assurance Society, Ltd., by false pretences. Mr Bowen said they had reason to believe that Jones had absconded. His Lordship promised to do this. but if Jones answered it did not necessarily follow that the ease would be gone into. Bogus Tombstone Orders. Frank Fuller (38), traveller, was sentenced to three years* penal servitude for obtaining moneys bv false pretences from Thomas Moss- ford, Bridgend. Prisoner was in Mr Mossford's employ for three weeks, and in that time se- cured commission on about 200 orders for tombstones. The fraud was of a sensationally audacious character. Prisoner canvassed extensively in Mid-Glamorgan, and, as stated, secured about 200 orders for tombstones, most of which were bogus. He secured the com- mission on these orders," and no fraud was suspected until some of the stones were being erected in the cemeteries. Communications were then made to Mr Moss ford ,who discovered an extensive system of fraud, and prisoner was arrested. The Judge, replying to the prisoner, said it was not a. case for leniency, but for penal servitude. Sentence of the Cat." Thomas Purne11 (29), sailor; Thomas Bates (39) and Wliiiam Burke (40), fishermen, were charged with robbing Edward White of 5s, a case of razors, etc., with violence at a lodgmg- bome in the Strand, Swansea. Mr Llenfer Thomas (instructed by Mr Lawrence Richards) prosecuted. Prisoners were found guilty, and ¡ Purnell was sentenced to six months and 15 strokes with the "cat," Bates to six months, and Burke to three months. Miscellaneous Charges. Patrick McCarthy did not appear to prefer a charge of robbery with violence against Mary O'Connor at Cardiff. McCarthy's recognisances were estreated, and O'Connor was discharged. Hannah Prosser (17), domestic servant, charged with burglary, did not appear, and on the application of Mr T. Walter Williams a Bench warrant was ordered to be issued for her arrest, and her recognisances estreated. John McKenzie (17), seaman, was ordered 12 months' imprisonment on the Borstal system, and Wm. Flay (22), seaman, six months' hard labour for damaging the window of the Star Tea Company. Limited, Cardiff. George Williams (61). painter, received 12 months' hard labour for breaking and entering the shop of Charles Abrahartnson, Cardiff, and stealing gold rings, etc. Wm. Christy (27), labourer, was committed lor twelve months for breaking and entering the house of Elizabeth Hagerty, at Cardiff, and stealing household goods. Thomas Davies (25), haulier, and Thomas Myers (26), were sentenced, the former to four- teen days and the latter to two months' im- prisonment, for stealing 72 flagons of beer, the property of Messrs W. J. Rogers and Co., at Caerau. Inspector Ben Evans, Bridgend, put in pre- vious eonvictions against Wm. John Crombie (34), fitter, who pleaded guiltv to fraudu,len!y converting to his own use two horses, of which he was bailie, the property of Evan John, Mar- gam, and Frank Stone, Llantrisant. Prisoner was sentenced to three ycars1 penal servitude. George Elliott (22), labourer, received 12 months' for stealing Jb5 14s from Michael Regan at Cardiff. Thomas Ward Spray (34), fireman, was sentenced to four months' for stealing two parcels of clothes, the property of the Great Western Railway Company, Cardiff. James Donovan (52), fitter, who stole a pair of boots at Cardiff, pleaded hard for leniency, and talked of the time when he earned JE1 a day constructing the railway to Buluwayo, but now he was absolutely on the rocks. Four months' hard labour.

Civil Business. ALLEGED FALSE IMPRISONMENT. (Before Mr Justice Phillimore and a jury.) There were two cases in the list against the Great Western Railway Company, who were e sued for damages for alleged false imprison- ment by two Swansea men named Evans and Prodger. Mr Francis Williams, K.C., who, with Mr Trevor Lewis, was for the G.W. R. Company, asked that the cases should be taken together, but Mr Abel Thomas, K.C., M.P., for Evans. objected, and it was agreed they should be taken separately. Mr St. John Williams appeared with Mr Abel Thomas for Evans, and alone for Prodger. Mr Abel Thomas then opened the case for his client, William Evans, painter, who he said had lived all his life in Swansea. The Great Western Company, Mr Thomas alleged, had subjected Evans to a gross outrage, without any provocation or justification. The station- master at Glanaman gave him in charge on the 8th of July, lie was locked up in the police station all night, taken through the streets between two constables next morning to Ammanford Police Court, remanded,' conveyed back to the police cells, detained there another day and a night, and again marched between two constables to the Police Court. Evidence was then called which was no evidence; indeed, he (Mr Thomas) did not know that Evans's name was even mentioned in the depositions, and be asked the jury to award substantial damages for the outrage that had been perpetrated. From a further state- ment by Mr Thomas it appeared Evans and Prodger, for their master, Mr John Williams, Swansea, were executing a painting contract at Glanaman Station. They stored their ladders, brushes, &e., in the lamproom, the key of which they retained possession of. Throughout th day, however, the key was left in the lamp- room door. One afternoon Prodger wanted a rope to use in connection with the erection of a scaffold, and was given the key of the goods shed, where he could get the rope. Afterwards it was found a case of whisky in the goods shed had been tampered with. and a pint bottle of the whisky was discovered hidden in the lamp- room. In the evening, after leaving work, Prodger and Evans were given into custody by the stationmaster on a charge of stealing the whisky. The magistrates discharged the men. In cross-examination by Mr Francis Williams K.C., Prodger said he did not lock the goods shed door after obtaining the piece of rope. Asked why he did not lock it he replied that he thought he would take the key back to the man he had it from. He did not do that, however, forgetting about the key until about to leve work when he took it into the station- master's office. Mr Francis Williams, for respondents, sub mitted there was no case against the company, there being no malice, no evidence of want of reasonable cause, no false imprisonment, or, in, the alternative, if there was false imprison- ment, that it was by the stationmaster, whose authority did not extend to giving the men in charge. His Lordship decided against Mr Williams on the latter point. A lengthy legal argument ensued upon the subject of false imprisonment, and as to whether any evidence of it had been adduced by the plaintiff. In the end his Lordship, ad- dressing Mr Francis Williams, said, You have proved their case and they have proved yours." Mr Albert Truswell, who was stationmaster at Glanaman when the men were given into custody, was then called on behalf of the com- pany. The case was not completed when the Court rose. WEDNESDAY. I (Before Mr Justice Phillimore and a Common Jury.) zE40 for False Imprisonment. The hearing was continued of the cases in which William Evans and Edward Prodger, painters, Swansea, fought to recover damages for alleged false imprisonment from the Great Western Railway Company., The men were painting at Glanaman Railway Station; a bottle of whisky was taken from a case in the goods shed, and found hidden in the lamp room, the key of which was in possession of the painters. The latter were given into cus- tody by the stationmaster on a charge of steal- ing the whisky, and after being kept under arrest two nights and a day were discharged by the magistrates. Counsel for Evans were Mr Abel Thomas, K.C., M.P., and Mr St. John Williams, and for the company Mr B. Francis Williams, K.C., and Mr Wilfrid Lewis. While Mr Francis Williams was re-examin- ing the police-sergeant concerned in the case his Lordship remarked This case must not occupy the whole of the Assize, Mr Williams Mr Williams It's not my fault that it is occupying so much time my Lord ? His Lordship I won't say whose fault it is. Mr Williams There are only two of us and it isn't mine. (Laughter). His Lordship (jocularly): Perhaps I shall order you both to be taken into custody. One of the witnesses—a Welshman, not an Irishman-questioned about the missing bottle of whisky, said he didn't see it tall after it was gone. (Laughter.) His Lordship, in summing up, said almost the whole case turned upon whether the stationmaster reasonably suspected the men, and he impressed upon the jury that they were not settling whether Evans or Prodger was the thief, but whether it was reasonable for the stationmaster to think either might be guilty of stealing the bottle of whisky. The jury retired to considered their verdict in the case of Evans, that in which Prodger was concerned being down for hearing separately. On their return the jury found a verdict of £ 40 for Evans for false arrest, and found that £40 for Evans for false arrest, and found that the company did not act maliciously in prose- I cuting. The question as to whether the stationmaster had authority to order arrest on behalf of the company was left open for legal argument and settlement by the Judge alone. Having heard the legal arguments, his Lord- ship intimated that he agreed with Mr Abel Thomas that the company bad ratified the action of the stationmaster by the prosecution which followed.' Mr Francis Williams asked (or a stay of execu- tion, which his Lordship eventually granted. The Case of Prodger. Mr Abel Thomas then intimated that he had been instructed to appear for Prodger also, and referring to a statement of his Lordship in refer- ence to Prodgerwhen the jury were absent, said he did not think the case of Prodger ought to be taken before his Lordship. His Lordship Please don't say any more. I said rt while the jury were out. My opinion is that the tribunal which heard the first case is the proper one to hear the second. The case in which Prodger claimed damages from the company was proceeded with, the only evidence called being that of Evans. The jury, after a short retirement, awarded Prodger t25 damages for false imprisonment. Mr B. F. Williams We have paid £25 into court, and I ask for judgment. The Judge Verdict for Prodger for i225 and judgment for you. i Minister Awarded X200. On the application of Mr John Sankey his Lordship agreed to the settlement by consent of the action Campbell v. W. H. Smith and Sons. Plaintiff, the Rev. O. D. Campbell, Haverford- west, is a well-known Congregational minister. He claimed damages for personal injuries alleged to have been sustained through a fall whilst buying books on defendant's premises at Swansea. The terms of settlement were that j defendants should pay £200 and costs. Rhigos Slander Action When Women j Get the Vote. The next case called upon, David v. Williams and wife, was an action tor slan der. Mr B. F. I Williams, K.C., and Mr Rhys Williams (in- structed by Messrs Morgan, Bruce, and I Nicholas) were for- the plaintiff, and Mr Abel Thomas, K.C., M.P., and Mr Ivor Bowen (in- structed by Mr John D. Thomas, Aberdare) for defendants. Mr Fi-anci-- Williams, in his opening, des- cribed it as a disagreeable case between neigh- bours. Plaintiff, Mr Howell Thomas David, I was a farmer at Rhigos, and defendant Thomas Williams, and his wife Caroline, tenanted an adjoining farm. There was some dispute be- tween the parties as to their boundary, and in October, 1908, there was some suggestion that plaintiff had assaulted defendant, or someone connected with defendants. This was settled by plaintiff paying X10, and the matter might well have ended there. Apparently the matter rankled, if not in the mind of the male defen- dant at any rate in that of his wife. It often happened that ladies bore these feelings of malice longer perhaps than did men. At least men prided themselves in thinking that was so. But, perhaps, when ladies got the vote they would have to alter their minds. At this point Mr Williams was interrupted by the return of the jury which had retired in the false imprisonment case, and before he was able to resume the Court rose. SHERIFF'S LUNCHEON. During the midday interval the High Sheriff (Mr F. W. Gibbins) invited the grand jury, barristers, officials, and others, numbering over 100, to luncheon at the Park Hotel. Re- plying to the toast of his health, (proposed by the Lord Mayor of Cardiff (Alderman Lewis Morgan), Mr Gibbins spoke of the. kindness he had received from everyone during the period of his office, which was on the point of terminating. He thought with so much crime in the county there ought to be two high sheriffs for Glamor- gan. He had treated the county as two Ridings, summoning to Cardiff on the grand jury those only living to the east of Bridg- end, and to Swansea only those resident to the west of Bridgend. MR F. W. GIBBINS, High-Sheriff of Glamorgan. Mr F. W. Gibbins, Garthmor, Neath, the re- tiring High-Sheriff, belongs to a well-known Quaker family that has for many yerrs been closely connected with the industrial develop- ment of Neath and district. His father, the late Mr F. J. Gibbins, started the old Merlin Chemical Works,and was appointed a justice of the peace when the Commission was first I I Mr F. W. GIBBINS, High Sheriff Glaxn. (Photo by H. A. Chapman, Swansea.) granted to the borough. The High-Sheriff is the managing director of the Eagle Tinplate Works, Melin cry than, one of the most success- ful concerns of its kind in South Wales. He is a staunch temperance advocate, and during his year of office, instead of providing wine at the Assize luncheons, he has remitted its value in the form of donations to the Swansea Hospital and the Cardiff Infirmary. He is a man of democratic views, and has taken an active interest in the affairs of the Neath group of school managers and county school governors, of which he is a member.

"DARKEST PONTYPOOL" At a meeting <ti the clergy and ministers of Pontypool, held on Tuesday, a letter on the Darkest Pontypool question was read from the clerk of the local magistrates, and this communication was unanimously considered to be utterly unsatisfactory." It will be re- called that shortly after the Rev. David Davies, Pontypool, made his indictment before the local British Women's Tem- perance Association, the chairman of the Pontypool Bench publicly denied the charges. Subsequently the clergy and ministeis of the town wrote a letter to the Press affirming ,the truth of Mr Davies's indict- ment, and the magistrates, in a communication signed by the chairman, expressed regret at what they described as the "misapprehension of the clergy and ministers. The clergy and ministers then asked for an interview with the magistrates with regard to the question of the moral condition of Pontypool, and a private meeting was held at the magistrates' room, Pontypool, on Thursday fortnight. The outcome of the meeting was a promise by the magistrates to communicate the result of their deliberations to the ministers. asking for an early answer, according to promise. On Tuesday a letter was read from Mr A. E. Bowen, clerk to the magistrates, and it was this communication which was unani- mously considered to be utterly unsatisfac- tory." The meeting, over which the vicar of Trevethin, the Rev. E. Morgan, presided, de- cided to call a special meeting to consider what steps should be taken in order to make their protest effective.

THE SHOP HOURS BILL. At the Home Office on Tuesday afternoon Mr Herbert Samuel. M.P., Under-Secretary, on behalf of Mr Herbert Gladstone, the Home Secretary, received two deputations upon the question of the Shop Hours Bill. The proceed- ings were private. The first deputation repre- sented the National Association of Master Bakers and Confectioners. They advocated closing on four days a week at 7 o'clock, one day a week at 9 o'clock, and one day a week at 10 o'clock. They also asked for the prohibition of the making and selling of bread on Sundays, I which it was pointed out was becoming a grow- ing evil, especially in large towns, and further stated that the association objected to any legislation restricting the hours of adult labour with regard to shop assistants, but did not object to some reasonable legislation control- ling the employment of young persons in shops. Mr Herbert Samuel gave a sympathetic reply to the representations of the deputation, and promised to lay the points that had been raised before the Home Secretary. The second deputation was on behalf of the I Newsagents' and Booksellers' National Union, and the two speakers-Mr J. C, Mather, the secretary, and Mr G. H. Martin, Clapham- pointed out that the proposed legislation was to ameliorate the conditions of the shop assist- ants. To accomplish that purpose they urged that it was not necessary to institute the com- pulsory closing of shops, which would inflict great hardships upon the small shopkeeper. Mr Herbert Samuel promised to refer the matter to the Home Secretary.

MISUNDERSTOOD DOGS. Lieutenant and' Quartermaster A. Morrison, R-A M.C., who went with the British Field Hospital sent from Malta-to Calabria. after the earthquake, states that he ascertained that all dogs seen running about in the earthquake region were at once shot down. A mistaken idea had got about that the dogs were eating dead bodies. As one well acquainted with the habits of dogs Lieutenant Morrispn says that the dogs were simply trying to assist their en- tombed masters and friends from the ruins by scratching and whining. A great many people alive and injured were buried beneath debris, and the dogs, hearing their cries for help, did their best to get at them. The dogs were killed because their ways, intelligence, and great attachment to mankind were not properly understood.

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Co-Partnership. 0-1 EXPERIMENT AT CARDIFF. GAS CO.'S INTERESTING SCHEME. A scheme of co-partnership, which is full of suggestion to employers and employed through out this district, was explained to the em- ployees of the Cardiff Gas Company by the chairman (Dr. W. Taylor) at a dinner given to the employees by the directors at the offices on Wednesday evening. Dr. Taylor, who was supported bv Colonel O. Fisher, Mr C. E. Dovey. and Mr W. M. Lewis (co-directors), ex- plained that the average earnings of the em- ployees of the South Metropolitan Gas Com- pany, who had such a scheme in operation for some years, was now £62, and the total amount to the credit of the men was something like £ 500,000. The Cardiff Gas Works was in- creasing in output in a most satisfactory manner for while it was 700 million feet in 1898, last year it was 1,100 million. The Scheme Explained. Dr. W. Taylor explained the far-reaching scheme devised by the directors for the benefit of the employees. The co-partnership scheme, he explained, had already been put into opera- tion by the South Metropolitan Gas Company and other similar undertakings. It meant the payment by the company to an employee of a certain sum of money—called a bonus—every year. This bonus would be invested for the employees in the company's stock so that the employee wouU become a shareholder in the concern. The object of the directors in making this offer to the employees was, he said, to encourage every man to try and get better results from his labour. The directors wanted an all-round improvement, an economising of material, better make of gas at the works, "saving of labour and exp wherever possible on the part of the employees, thus enabling cheaper gas to be sent out to the consumers. He pointed out that it was a well- known experience of that and other gas com- panies that the cheaper they could sell gas the greater was the demand for it from all con- sumers, and it was therefore clear that cheaper eas meant a larger output, and consequently more employment at the works. The bonus would be fixed and regulated by the price of gas. If the price of gas went up the bonus would go down if the price of gas went down the bonus would go up. The bonus rates the shareholders would be recommended to adopt would be :—3s per 1,000, no bonus 2s lid, 1 per cent. bonus on every co-partner's wages or; salary 2s lOd, 11 Per cent.; 2s 9d, 2i per cent. 2s 8d, 3t per cent. 2s 7d, 4 per cent., and so on; 1 per cent. being added to the honus for every penny reduction in the price of gas. The present price of gas was 2s 7d, and the bonus on this figure would work out for a man earning 38s 6d per week or E100 per annum, JM. This 14woald be placed to the credit of the employee in his pass book, and if the price of gas were reduced hy the co-opera- tion of the men down to 2s 3d the bonus would be £7. (Applause.) No Payment from the Men. The company, he pointed out, asked no pay- ment from the men m return, nor would they take away any of the privileges or benefits of their present employment. (Applause.) The company would Pay all the expenses of managing the fund, paying the salary of the secretary, who would do the work in connection with it. (Applause.) He emphasised the fact that the bonus when once given to a co-partner would be entirely his own it could not be taken away from him by the company or by anyone elae," except for fraud or wilful damage to the company's property. (Applause.) The bonus earned by each co-partner would be banked for him and held by three trustees, one being a director of the company, the other an official, and the third a <o-partner workman, who would be appointed by the men themselves. While the money would be held by trustees the co-partner would rqcewe interest upon it at the rate of 4 per cent., which would be added to his book half yearly. When there would be sufficient standing to a man's credit to buy 110 worth of company's stock, the money could then be in- vested. (Applause.) Dr. Taylor proceeded to explain that the co-partnership scheme would be managed by 12 representatives, six to be Ii appointed by the directors and six by the employees, who would have entire freedom of choice in appointing anybody they thought proper. The directors could not of course, offer co-partnership to everybody at the com- mencement, and they would naturally give preference to those old and trusty workmen of the company who had proved themselves worthy to be admitted into co-artnership, and there was no reason why the other employees should not become co-partners in time. Some of the Conditions. All the directors asked was that the newer hands should prove their loyalty and devotion and so qualify themselves to be placed on the same standard as the other employees. The directors wished it to be understood that they wanted every man in the works to become a co-partner. (Applause.) Admission to co- partnership would be by agreement, in which the employee would undertake to do his best for the company and in return be entitled to the I benefits of the scheme. The agreement might be for three, six, or twelve months, at the option of the directors, and so long as the em- ployee fulfilled the conditions the agreement would be renewed, giving the guarantee of cer- tain employment for a fixed period in advance. He pointed to the punishment that would be meted out to any man whose conduct was not satisfactory by the refusal of the company to renew the agreement and the consequent stop- page of the bonus. If a workman so penalised II mended his ways his agreement would be re- newed after a period of probation. The co- partnership scheme would be started on the 1st of July next, when one year's accrued or saved up bonus would be at once placed to the credit of every co-partner. (Applause.) The directors, he proceeded, wished to encourage thrift amongst the employees, and they hoped the employees would add their savings to their bonus—the company acting as their own bankers—in order that they might buy as much stock as possible. (Applause.) Dr. Taylor added that the co-partnership scheme would apply to any of the regular winter hands— men taken on only for the winter months to cope with the extra work-who might be in- vited to sign the agreement, and their savings or stock in the company would be left over from one season to another. (Applause.) The Rules. In drawing up the rules it would be made possible for a co-partner, in the event of any, emergency happening, such as sickness in the family or his leaving for another employment or for another district, or if he wished to buy a house for himself, to withdraw his money by special sanction, and in the event of death a simple form of writing would enable the com- pany to transfer the shares to the widow or family. (Applause.) No deduction of bonus would be made in respect of sickness or acci- dent incapacitating an employee for six weeks, and if absence extended beyond that time the matter would be specially inquired into. Dr. Taylor quoted some remarks by Sir George Livsey in which that pioneer of the scheme said that co-partnership led employers and employees to work together for the common good, and gave men a sense of responsibility for the success of the business whilst encourag- ing them to habits of thrift and feelings of self- respect, and co-partnership was in a few words good, lsound, profitable business." (Ap- plause.) Prizes for Suggestions. Dr. Taylor announced that prizes would be offered by the company for the best sugges- tions for improvements in working. Boxes would be placed for the reception of these sug- gestions and they would be opened and examined half-yearly. (Applause.) A jury of co-partners would be appointed to examine into the circumstances attending any accident at the works to, if possible, prevent a similar accident in future. (Applause.) In conclusion, he explained that the directors had voluntarily started ihe"9chcsae, ax»d fcbey MMA .130 reomv I to themselves the right to withdraw it if they found the objects desired had not been attained. Without entire co-operation and hearty sup- port on the part of the employees co-operation < must fail, and it was for the men to say whether it was to fail or not. Knowing as he did the character of the men who had served the company and were employed to-day, he felt sure that nothing would be wanting on their part to make the co-opartnership of the future a great and lasting success. (Loud applause.)

HUGE STONE IN THE 4ft. NARROW ESCAPE AT MERTHYR VALE. Engine Driver's Promptness. While the 3.5 p.m. passenger train ex Cardiff was yesterday nearing the Aherfan Station, where there is a bend in the track, the driver noticed an object lying in the four foot. He promptly applied the brakes, but the engine struck the object, which proved to be a stone about 2cwt and carried it forward for 30 yards, cutting up the road. Fortunately no serious consequences occurred. The under bearings of the engine were slightly damaged and the brakes twisted. It is supposed that the stone had fallen away from the embankment in con- sequence of the heavy rain following severe frost.

COCOA AND SLAVE AFFECTED AREAS. Van Houten, Ltd., write -—As great publicity has been given to the fact that certain cocoa manufacturers have now decided to discontmue their practice of buying cocoa produced by slave labour in the Portuguese territories of St. Thome and Principe, we should esteem it a favour if you would give equal publicity to the fact that the manufacturers of Van Houten's Cocoa" do not and never have bought any cocoa emanating from theseslave affected areas.

fti &') tW S: A c! t P:F.I. iNsimANCES. The Board of Trade BiA Shipping Interests Consulted- On Wednesday evening at the offices'tf f Board of Trade a further conference took P between the President of the Board of and its officials and representatives ot 11 shipping interest in reference to P.?-^4 policies. Mr Winston Churchill presided 1 there was a tull attendance. The President laid before the conferencing Bill which had been prepared for dealing the matter in question. As was stated in ^5 recent exclusive announcement of the dr»f*|5 of the measure, the Bill is of a most dr^Jj character. It contains for Scotland provis.,O different in some respects to those which proposed shall apply to England and these differences being due to legal procedure beyond the border, but iff main the principal provisions apply to all pr" of the United Kingdom. A The Bill proposes to make it A criminal penal offence for anyone to take out a of insurance on any ship without h* legitimate or insurable interest in that shiP-A The Bill as presented to the conferenco generally approved, but with such a 1a.rga ber of shipowning interests it was found sary to make certain alterations, which, v out affecting the principle of the Bill, Jjl necessitate its re-drafting, and the Bi"J^l accordingly be re-drafted before it is pr to Parliament.

ALLEGED BOGUS ORDER < Remarkable Case at Cardiff^, An extraordinary sort of bargain vvøø tDO closed during the hearing of summonses tfjpP Cardiff Police Court on Wednesday. ,j S' summonses were taken out by Arcnib*»\M' Dodson against Harry T. Armstrong for ing money by false pretences. The Stipendiary (Mr E. Milner Jones) said^f they were the most extraordinary he had ever heard of. of Mr Gordon Williams, who appeared fot prosecution, called prosecutor, who said he was a member of the firm of ColliD9 .g#' Partners, carrying on business at street, Docks, as oil merchants. He agreement with defendant that upon all given by the defendant defendant shot*$<> paid two -thirds of the gross profit made firm. On February 11th defendant said be an order for six barrels of engine oil Great Western Collieries, at Hafod, and ^4^' for a commission of £ 5. He was paid £ 4 0 < The oil was refused by the Colliery Co..j said they had never ordered it. On FebtjTfP 18th defendant called again and said he # order for 12 gallons of varnish *of(nr t> Paltridge, Monthermer-road. He asked commission before he gave the order, aO^ yf paid 10s. When the varnish was delivered Paltridge said he had not ordered it. J On March 2nd defendant said he h. tr; order from the Windsor Rope and Bratti jjtf < for some engine waste, and asked for r;JØ" < commission, which he received. This order < was repudiated.. J Witnesses were called who denied given orders attributed to them. Mr Jenkins said his client would plead 1 to the charge in the Great Western case. Mr Jenkins urged that defendant criminal intent, but merely anticipated P receipt of an order which he had recei^L^ the past 17 years, and that he was the of competition. p Defendant was bound over to 1 judgment, and ordered to pay the p- JE7 damages and costs. The other charges were withdrawn.

doo I Jas. Henry, a Blaenavon fitter, t moned at Abergavenny by his wife tion. The case was adjourned on the of three guineas costs. i

!))!! H" ■ I The So-ap of its Ath with a way I Fels-Naptha Works, Works, Works;—-while you Rest, Rest, Rest! I Read what we shall say about'it nexl~week » v