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ABERDARE DISTRICT COUNCIL,

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ABERDARE DISTRICT COUNCIL, Monday. Present: Messrs. llltyd Hop- kins, T. W. Williams, William Rees, J.P., E. Stonelake, E. O. Williams, Idwal Thomas, T. \V. G1 ritiitlis, J. Lloyd, J. Martin, G. D. Powell, John Evans, E. Jones vB.), E. Jones (C.), W. Lawrence, D. Davies, J. Griffiths, and I,. N. Wil- liams, J.P. G.P.O. MESSENGERS AND CHEAP FARES. A minute in the report of the tram- ways committee dealt with an applica- tion received from the Postmaster that girl messengers whilst on duty in the employ of the Post-office should be granted the same facilities as school chil- dren in regard to cheap fares on the tram cars. The committee recommended the confirmation of an arrangement made by the clerk and engineer granting these facilities. Mr. T. Walter Williams, in moving the adoption of the minutes with the excep- tion of this particular item, which should he deleted, said that an, important mat- ter of principle was involved, and a ques- tion of precedent. If this concession was granted then it would be very difficult to exclude other large classes of the public from the same position, and within the next three months they would be cer- tain to have other applications. The cars were alfeady overcrowded, so much so that it was not safe. They really re- quired more rolling stock, but could not have it during the war. Mr. W. Rees seconded the motion. Mr. E. O. Williams said that if it were only a question of a temporary arrange- ment because boy messenger/ could not be got he would not mind agreeing to it for the term of the war. Mr. T. Walter Williams said that the Government now extracted 5s, the full tax, o. their tram profits. It was carried to delete the minute. ALLOTMENTS AND COMPULSORY POWERS. The report of'the allotments committee dealt with applicationns to several local landowners for land for the purpose of allotments. Mr. G. Powell, chairman of the com- mittee. reported with regard to the Ynys Meadow, that he had met Mr. A. P. Jones at Cardiff, and that gentleman had intimated his readiness in conforming with the express wishes of Lord Bute to meet them in every way possible in the matter, and it looked quite likely that five acres of land adjoining the recrea- tion ground would be available. Mr T. Walter Williams suggested that it might be desirable to put compulsory powers into operation in these cases in case negotiations carried them forward late into the season. Mr. Powell said h. did not agree with using threats of compulsion except in the case of unwilling landlords. They knew who these were and it did not apply in the present instance.. Mr. Stonelake said that if they could get land for this year without compul- sory powers, so much the better. SLr)lP IN POTATOES ORDER. Mr. David Davies inquired what quan- tities of seed potatoes had been ordered by the council. The Clerk said that an invoice had been received for 22 tons. Last year the council ordered 30 toil*. Mr. George Powell explained that the difference meant that allotment holders had banded themselves into associations and were ordering on their own very largely this year. Mr. David Davies said that some diffi- culty had been experienced in regard to supplies in some parts of the district. Mr. Powell said that they should be informed of any such instances. It was further explained that last year there were under the council 600 allot- ment holders and this year there would be a substantial increase on that number. Mr. Powell said that on the council's land at: Cwmaman 42 plots had been pegged out already while there were 48 at Treeynon. Mr. William Rees What are the prospects at Tonll wyd Mr. Powell: It looks as if compul- sory powers will have to be put into operation there. The Chairman: There is another piece of land below Brynmair. The report was agreed to. CONFERENCE OF AUTHORITIES A report was presented with re- gard to a conference of representa- tives of local authorities held in Car- diff on 31 ultimo with reference to applications made by municipal em- ployees for an increased war bonus. The report stated that a proposal was considered for the formation of a Conciliation Board, and that it was resolved to proceed with the form- ation of a provisional committee. Councillor George Powell, as one who attended, submitted the report, • and remarked that very few of the members who were present from other authorities were armed with plenary powers to form a Concili- ation Board. There was a very strong and general feeling that united action should be taken with reference to wages, and that some basis for a uniform rate should be fixed. The discussion was of a very scattered description, and quite a number seemed to be simply anx- ious for information as to what the position was. It transpired that. as compared with their own position (which was that they had granted 15s. on the pre-war rate), some of the neighbouring authorities, like Merthyr, had onlv given 12s., and that the application in their case was for 4s., bringing them up to 16s., whereas the application here was for a sum of 5s., bringing the men up to £ 1. It was true that three Councils were paying £ 1. It was ultimately agreed by the conference that a pro- ▼ isioaal "committee should lie formed to draft a scheme to be submitted to a,future meeting, The discussion was generally disappointing, and p 1 really the business was only done to- wards the close. Mr. Stonelake, who also attended the conference, confirmed the im- pression of disappointment. He said that he thought Aberdare had really shone at the conference-, and that Newport had struck out on their own. They dealt with the men according to their craft unions. A Member: That means that they do not recognise the Municipal Em- ployees' Association at all?—Yes. Mr. E. Ogwen Williams reminded the Council that they had voted from time to time against the principle of a Wages Board. He thought a Con- cilation Board was in the right direc- tion. Councillors Powell and Stonelake were re-appointed as two representa- tive to attend the next meeting. The Clerk That means that this application stands over? Mr. Stonelake: I don't know. Mr. Powell pointed out that, like Cardiff, for instance, they could submit the matter to arbitration. He favoured the granting of Is. on the present rate pending arbitra- tion and he moved to that effect. Mr. Idwal Thomas moved an amendment that the matter stand over until after the next meeting of the conference. Mr. Powell said that he would readily withdraw if that were the feeling. Mr. Stonelake stated that they would have the benefit of additional information. Mr. Wm. Rees seconded Mr. Id wal Thomas, whose motion was car- ried by 9 votes to 8. ECONOMISING TIME. Mr. Stonelake brought forward a motion that the Council, in the inter- est of economy of time, consider the advisability of merging all commit- tees for the period of the war into one and that they meet on one after- noon per month. In doing this he said he was representing the view of other members. At present they were engaged in one committee or another every night during the month. Mr. Wm. Rees: During the year, you mean! Mr. Stonelake added that the local Tribunal was now merely child's play compared, for instance, with the Food Control Committee. They were more hard-worked than mem- bers of Parliament, for one member there, out of 670, could get away into a snuggery without being missed. Mr. Geo. Powell: And they are paid £ 400 a year, and we do our public work for nothing. Mr. T. Walter Williams seconded the motion. f The Clerk asked that the Allot- ments Committee, who would be called upon very often until April, should be excluded. Mr. David Davies said that the committees now took about 3 hours, and that would mean they would be sitting up uftil 12 o'clock. Mr. Lawrence said that the resolu- tion was going to inflict hardship on some of the Labour Members, hav- ing regard to the difficulty of coming out of the mine.. They were not al- lowed now, by the New Mines Bill, to leave the workings while machin- ery were in motion, and they would be completely debarred from attend- ing to a good deal of the work of the Council. Mr. En-Ill Jones said that that ap-. plied to checkweighers, who could not leave until substitutes came from the mine. Mr. Wm. Rees moved that the matter be adjourned in order that those affected in that way could try to find a way out of the difficulty. Mr. Idwal Thomas seconded, and it was agreed that the motion should stand over until the Labour Mem- bers could go into the matter. CONFERENCE ON HOUSING. The Council considered an invita- tion to send representatives to a housing conference to be held at Newport.—It was decided to appoint the Chairman and Mr. Stonelake to attend on behalf of the Council. CENSORSHIP OF FILMS. A letter was received from Mr. T. Botting (Director of Education), stating that a sub-committee had met to consider the question of the censorship of, films in consulation with Superintendent Rees, and it was decided that Supt. Rees and Mr Botting should be appointed as cen- sors of films for the district.—The re- port was accepted.

Trams and the Snow.

Hitch at the Cemetery.

Food Control Committee.

ABERCYNON POLICE COURT.

TRECYNON AND LLWYDCOEIJ NOTES.|

Allotments.

Vale of Neath News.

CWMGWRACH.I

LOCAL RATIONING SCHEMES.

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"MESSIAH" AT TRECYNON.