Llais Llafur

PREMIER'S WIFE AT CAR- MARTHEN PLEA FOR. UNITY IN WELSH I TEMPERANCE EFFOR TS Mrs. Lloyd George had a great re- ception at Carmarthen where she pre- sided at a crowded public gathering of the South Wales Women's Temperance Union at Lammas-street Chapel. In the course of her address, she said it was necessary to consider what was the best temperance policy for AVales. They did not want the temperance re- formers in Wales to be divided into two camps, and what she suggested was that there should be a conference to discuss the matter and try to adopt a plan as to the best course to take. Both sides should respect each other's views, for bad blood might put back temperenace reform in Wales for many I years. It was essential to have com- plete unity. Professor J. A. Stephens, on behalf of the Carmarthen Ftee. Church Coun- cil, extended an official welcome to the Union on its visit to Carmarthen. Addressee were also delivered by Mrs. Tydfil Thomas (Cardiff); Miss Ellen Williams (London); apd Miss Rosina Da vies (Ferryssde), the secretary of the association. These spea kers de- clared that the Union stood for pro- hibition. ..———— <.—————

MR JAMES WIGNALL A LABOUR I CANDIDATE. The Dockers' Union has selected and nominated its chief national or- ganitscr, Mr James Wignall, J.P. (Swansea) to be a candidate in the, Labour interests at the next general election. The constituency has not yet been decided upon. Mr Wignall, it v/ill be remembered, was one of the pioneers of Labour representation on municipal' and local governing bodies, contesting many of the Swansea wards in the. days when working men can-I didates were not as popular as they ?rc to-day. His wrk on the School Board did much to break down this opposition.

I AIRMEN DESTROY U BOATS j WARNING THE WARSHIPS BY I WIRELESS. I An interesting glimpse is afforded in the further ecords given below of the activities of our airmen engaged in the campaign against the U-boat. Re- markable also is the self-sacrificing gallantry of our mine-sweeping service, as the following story shows: A lieutenant of the R.N.V.R. was in command of a mot-or launch attend- ing on a flotilla of mine-sweeping trawlers when a drifting mine was sighted in a heavy sea, with half a gale blowing. Attempts to sink the mine by gunfire proved impossible, and darkness was approaching, after which th? mine would have bxeen lost sight of, and would have drifted away a menace to navigation. The lieutenant lowered a boat, and pulled over to the mine, which was only visible every now end again on the smooth slope of a wave or when the crest broke in foam over the rounded top and sinister horns. Having pulled as close as he dared, the <ioor jumped overboard and swam to the mine with a line, which he passed through the ring-bolt in the top. The motor launch was thus en- abled to tow the mine into smooth water, where eventually it was sunk by rifle-fit-e. "YOU'VE BAGGED HER." I One of the costal airships recently sighted a steamer in distress. Finding that she had been torpedoed by an enemy submarine ,but was capable of being towed into harbour, the airship summoned assistance by wireless, and until it arrived hovered protectingly around the crippled merchantman. No sings of her late assailant were visible and the steamer was taken on tow by tugs and headed for harbour. The aerial escort accompanied the tow, and about an hour later sighted the conn- ing to-er abcout, five miles to the south-eastward of the convay apparently manoeuvring for another shot. The airship instantly signalled hy wireless the position o fthe submarine to all men-of-war in the vicinity, and swooped down to attack. The sub- marine coming, and dived—too Lite. Two bombs were dropped: a violent explosion ensued, followed by oil and air-bubbles. Shortly after a destroyer arrived and investigated with sweeps. The airship, returning to her base for a further supply cf bombs and petrol. was overtaken bv the following aerial signal: "You've undoubtedly bagged him." TRAPPING OF A BOAT. This same airship, while flying in company with a weet-bound convoy of merchantmen, sighted the track of a torpede, and a moment later observed a great column of water shoot up along side one of the steamers. A submarine, relying on the state of the sea for con- cealment, had with great daring dived beneath the armed escort and torped- oed her victim under their noses. The weather was bad and rapidly getting worse; the airship shot down and along the residual track of the torpedo at a speed of 90 miles an hour, and at the end of the track sighted the outline of a submerged submarine, which, her deadly work done, was leisurely proceeding west- ward. The airship turned and released her bombs while she hovered above the cigar-shaped shawod, and the explos- ion was followed })y a vast evlusion of air and air-bubbles. LIFEBELTS FltfjNG TO GERMANS I A British oilei* was torpedoed by a submarine at di»wii in very thick weather. A patrol ship was in com- pany at once circled round at high speed in an endeavour to sight the enemy, who had rot been seen by either ship. After proceeding for two miles on what' the commanding officer of the patrol ship judged the most likely course for the submarine, the man-of-war returned to the oiler and found her still making way slowly, and in no danger of sinking. When about a quarter of a mile from their charge an object was sighted through the thick mist on the star- board beam. The patrol ship went at full speed, and t!.t- next moment real- ised that it was a lirge submarine on the surface. Slif -"ras rammed abaft the conning-to\vf £ < rolled completely over with a ve,- violent explosion, and vanished. The sea was boiling with foam. Two men were seen struggling in the water, and lifebelt flung tc)- tll(.Ill. Only one of these had strength to cling to the lifebuoy, and is now a prisoner. The other sank before a boat oould rea,i him. The patrol ship then took the oiler to harbour. —1-

The High and Low Variety. I At Pontardawe Police Court before Mr. G. H. Strick and others, Messrs. J. Burton and Son, who carry on busi- ness as retail provision merchants as the India a nd China Tea Co., and who have about 200 branches in various parts of the country, were charged with retaining on their premises at Ystalyfera, 33 cheese, weighing 6731bs in all, that were alleged to be unfit for human consumption. Air. C. B. Jenkins prosecuted for the Pontardawo Rural District Council (th« local health authority), and Mr. Yilliers Meager appeared tor the de- fence. It was stated that this was the first prosecution of its kind in the country, and the defendant company had never yet been proceeded against in any way. Air. A. E. Edmunds (food officer), gave evidence to the effect that he visited the Ystalyfera premises of the company on September 17, and there was only a young lady present, the manager (a Mr. Davies) being away. He complained of the cheese, and was referred to the manager at the Pont- ardawe branch. A few days later the cheese was condemned by the medical officer of health (Dr. Lewis) and seized. The inspector for the company refused to surrender the cheese, but had issued instructions that the officer was not to be interfered with in the execution of his duty. Cross-examined by Mr. Meager, wit- ness said he could smell the cheese, and it was absolutely putrid. It,-was protected by calico, and was in piles. A sample was cut out of one, and out of the same cheese a piece was cut for I the owners, after which the cheeses were seized and buried in quick lime, as they were too bad to be made use of. The smell was most offensive, and a slimy matter oozed out between the cheeses. A sample of the cheese was produced 'in (n lIn, and defendants alleged it was guud; t had only been cold-stored. Y\ itness. however, said the cheese he had seized was in a worse condition. Dr. Lewis, M.O.H., who had con- demned the cheese, said the offensive smell could not even be compared with the smell emanating from the outfall of a sewer. (Laughter.) It was abso- lutely disgusting, and some slimy stuff was oozing out between each round of the cheese and even running to the floor. There were maggots present too and he could not say whether the maggots or slime were there in greater quantity. Some of the slime was on the floor of the warehouse. The mana- ger had said that he had failed to sell any for four or six weeks, and the last quantity he had sold had been returned. Cross-examined, witness said he liked a "high cheese," but this was the smell of putrifaction and not such as a good cheese would have. The storage in a cold room would stay putrifaction. Mr. A. E. Edmunds in giving evi- dence had also said that he had called at the Pontardawe branch but when he went later to seize sheese of a simi- lar kind at that shop, it had been cent to Hereford. For the prosecution Mr. Meager said there was no question of profiteering. The cheese had been bought for 1/5 a lb. and sold for 1/7. Mr. Strick: We quite appreciate that. Mr. Meager submitted-' that the cheese was fit for human consumption, and the officers had no right to con- demn all the cheese after only examin- ing one. The cheese had. come from America and was quite good.\ Mr. Geo. Davies (Ystalyfera branch), Mr. J. R.Jones (Pontardawe branch), and Mr. W. E. Thacker (inspector), all; contended that the cheese was good, and the latter siid he had some of the cheese on his own table and it had been eaten even after it had been con- demned at Ystalyfera. At the invita- tion of Mr. Meager witness eat a piece in court with apparent relish. Mr. Burton, one of, the partners in the firm, also eat some of the cliee se, and said his firm had shared it out, because thov had had n large consign- ment. In the industrial districts how- ever, people did not like strong cheese it was ahvavs more in demand in agri- cultural districts. Mr. P. Stacey Smith, a .director of another large firm, corroborated the, evidence for the defence, and eat some of the cheese that had been kept by defendants as a simpfe. The inspec- tor's sample was prod uced but not eaten, as it had boon in the open for a time. 1 c, r a long hearing rr. Sti-ick i(I I that the Bench had decided that whilst there was reasona ble ground for the opinion formed by the health officials, they were satisfied, after hearing the defence, that the cheese was not unfit for human consumption, and the ease was dismissed. Mr. Meager applied for costs bnt they were- not allowed.

WAR WAGE ADVANCE Matters arising out of the recert war wage advance to colliery workers was discussed at a joint meeting (It owners and • representatives of the South W ales and Monmouthshire Col- liery Enginemen, Stokers, and Crafts- men's Association, held at Cardiff. Mr T. H Deakin presided over the owners' side, and Mr W. Hopkins over the workmen's represe nt a t ires. The first point raised had reference to the non-payment of the special Whl" wage advance of ls.6d. per day t4i craftsmen in respect of working 911 Sundays. On this issue an agreement was arrived at, and it was laid down that craftsmen who work a full day on a Sunday were entitled to the extra ls.6d. for that day, but the maxi- mum paid on any week was not to es- cced 10s.6d. With reference to tho payment r-,f the war wage advance to men who had lost a quarter, the owners offered that if the absence of the man is voluntary lie should not be entitled to the war wage, hut that if he makes up the lost time at the end of the shift by arrangement with the management he should be paid the special advance. The men, howover, could not claim the light to work overtime. It was explained by the owners that this was the interpretation given to them by the Controller of Coal Ilinev. The workmen's representatives, how- ever, would not accept this interpreta- tion, and subsequently held a separate meeting at the Y.M.C.A. building?. under the presidency of Mr E. B. Faull. It was then^dewded to instruct JjrancK" secretaries to inform Mr W. s Hopkins, the general secretary, should there be any difficulty in receiving the special war wage. It was understood however, that the men should wait until the next pay day, and that if there should then be any deductions from the ls.6d. per day the matter should be brought to the notice of the Coal Controller.

NEW LABOUR PARTY CHAIRMAN Mr W. Adam son, M.P. for West life, was on Wednesday elected chaii- man of the Parliamentary Labour party in succession to Mr Arthur Henderson. The new chairman, who is 54 vears of age, was educated at a village school and began work in a mine when 11 years of age. He was appointed genera.! secretary of the Fifo and Kin- ross Miners' Association in 1908. ano was elacted a member cf the, Execu- tive two years later. He became vice- president in 1896. Mr Adainson irn- sucoessfully contested West Fife as a Parliamentary candidate in January, 1910, but in the December elect km tft. same year he was elected.

MR C. B. STANTON, M.P. AS ARTIST. A sum of £ 336 was realised by "Ou; Day" in the Aberdare district. The amount is made up as follows :-£1.51\ from the sale of flags and JS180 frorj the Red Cross estabhshmpnt,, which was in charge of Mrs. F. W. Maun- der, Mrs. Llewellyn Smith, and Vrs. T. Botting, the exhibits offered for sale''included some valuable pictures, and several paintj/igs by Mr C. B. Stanton. M. P. The auctioneer was Councillor G. D. Powell. Mr Charles Kenshole, High Constable, was tb, chairman of the committee, while the "lgkev. T. Madoc Jeffreys and Mr T. Botting, director of education, wet., tho organisers. 1 ■ ■ 1 —————

The. story, of a striking incident »i the front is related bv the, Rev. A. IV Anders,:>n, Newport, who has h?e? serving with the. Y.M.C.A m Fran?'l At night a fli tlii,, NT.('.Ain F raii?, to "N o Man's Land. and cv?ntua!) t:!uiM&d :"n''onf n?n)?? di?-mtt?. where, after 'he had bayoneted sis. ahout 2M B oehe;< snrrpn?fTpd and fc'- lowt/J him to iho British lines; Tht soldxt,. f): private, asked .for and w.« given a receipt f< r his prisoners. Nexr night he was missing, and w,, found by some of fur men. who ar- rested him as a deserter. Things wel" getting rather awkward, when i-e-- membered his le-eipt. This he p re- duced, w.th the result that he was ac- quitted and commended. Eventual', v f-e D.C.M,