Pioneer

Merthyr Notes NOTICE. A Memorial Service to the late Mr. William Harris will be held at Hope Chapel, Merthyr, on Sunday next, September 28th, at 3 o'clock. The Rev. J. M. Jones will officiate. Will You Help? A committee meeting was held on Thursday last, when it was decided to hold a Jumble Sale at Tabernacle Hall, Troedyrhiw, on October 10th in aid of Dr. Barnardo's Homes. All gifts will be gratefully accepted by the secretary, Mrs Evan L. Jones, 4 Brynhyfryd. Dowlais Distress. The class-war in Dowlais is spreading its circle of misery wider week by week as the strike is protracted, and grave concern over the people's condition is exercising the minds of all the or- ganisations there. On Tuesday the Rev. Father Wihon, the rector of the Roman Catholic con- gregation there, was granted an interview with the strike committee, at which he offered his services as mediator between the men and the masters. The rector, who possesses the respect of all, seemed to be labouring under the im- pression that the masters were perfectly ready to meet the employees, but the Minister of La- bour was holding things up, whilst in other particulars he conveyed the impression that his information was th" view of the companv officials. In return the men undertook to tell him of the efforts of the Ministry of Labour to bring about a conference, and opened his eye-s to the fact that at the recent conference in London, masters and men had sat in different rooms, with men running like errand-boys from one to the other-wasting time in a mock meet- ing. Now that Father Wilson knows both sides of the conflict, we trust that his good Bervices will be thrown whole-heartedly in the effort to effect a, settlement. Mean while a Central Dis- tress Committee is being organised by the workers, and broadcast appeals are to be made for funds to meet the abject poverty that the long industrial dispute has called into, being. The miners are to be appealed to in mass meeting. Dowlais Ex-Servicemen and Pension Vacancy. I I A special mass meeting or members of the Dowlais Branch of the National Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers was held in the Oddfellows' Hall, Dowlais, on Sunday last, Mr. T. Meyrick presiding, to select a candidate for position as secretary to Dowlais Ward War Pen- sions Committee in place of E. Roberts, Esq. (solicitor) resigned. The secretary (Mr. H. Cal- derwood), who declined nomination for the posi- tion by Dowlais War Pensions Committee, stated his reasons for not wishing his name to go for- ward. and impressed on the meeting the neces- sity of selecting a totally disabled ex-serviceman to the position, subject to the allowance of his disability, and the immediate importance of se- curing this opportunity of installing a totally disabled man in a public position and of still furthering our aii-ris by securing, ,as soon a.s pos- sible, representation on all local public bodies. Several names were submitted to the selection vote-Mr. G. Jinks receiving the majority—and upon a second vote being taken lie was elected unanimously. Intimation was then given by the secretary that he had secured for the branch the plan, etc.. re local housing scheme, which would be on view at Branch Headquarters for refer- ence by members. The secretary also desires to express the thanks of his committee to those gentlemen who forwarded him a letter re open- air markets, and to inform them that the Com- mittee have had the matter in hand for some time. « Colliery Company Oriticised. I I The Rhymney Iron Company, who prosecuted two colliery workmen at Merthyr on Friday for the theft of wood, came in for severe criticism by the stipendiary (Mr. R. A. Griffith). Defen- dants were Harvey Hall, Aberbargoed, and "r al- ter Finch, Bargoed. Mr. W. W. Meredith, Mer- thyr (solicitor for the defence), stated that Hall paid 2d. and Finch 6d. per week to the company for wood. Mr. Ivor Kenshole, Aberdare (on be- half of the company), pointed out that the wood taken by Hall consisted of two short planks, valued at 2s.. and not timber usually regarded as firewood. The Stipendiary, dismissing the summons against the first defendant, remarked that the company wore bound to carry out a contract with the workman, and they must ob- serve the same standard of honesty they de- sired in their employees. The man says he took the wood in the usual way, and T have no reason to disbelieve him. He helped himself to timber from the usual heap. T don't think there is a case of felony at all. I am surprised at the com- pany trying to make felons of their workmen on a trumpery case like this." In the second easc, the summons was dismissed also. His remarks in the first case (said h. Griffith) applied with even greater emphasis to this. He thought it was an atrocious thing for the company to prose- cute this man, who had paid for some timber and was entitled to wood. Had there been an irregularity on his part caution would have been suiffcient. NOVEMBER ELECTIONS. I Mr. T. I. Mardy Jones attended and dealt I with the question of the municipal elections in I November. The meeting was enthusiastic in 1, • ■— J- „

I Gorseinon Notes. I I Economics Class. I An enthusiastic meeting was held in connec- tion with the atxtve on Wednesday evening last, Comrade Tom Jones, of Gravesend presiding. After some discussion on ways and means it was decided to proceed with the work forthwith. The class is to he held every Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. and everything augurs well for a good session. Last Sunday. I The last meeting of our open-air campaign was held last Sunday evening, when Dan Harry spoke, with Jliss Yaughan in the chair. At such aii of the year it was not to be expected that a huge crowd would turn up, but the opportunity was taken to make an appeal to all who ■were interested to join the I.L.P. and help us in the fight for freedom and life. Wo are expecting a substantial increase in member- ship this winter, and as an earnest of greater things wo made seven new members at our last meeting. Branch Meeting. -1 Our indoor work for the winter commenced last Tuesday, when we had the first item on the syllabus for the season. Comrade Gwilym John read a very interesting paper on Nationalisa- tion of Mines" and dealt with the subject from the point of view of a practical miner. The various points raised were illustrated by illumin- ating references to local conditions and a most interesting meeting was brought to a close after a discussion bearing on every phase of the ques- fion. r I A Challenge. I It appears that for some time past the fate of the I.L. P. has been trembling in the balance, and all the while we LL.P.'ers have been bliss- fully ignorant of the fact. The cause of all the trouble is Mr. Norman, of the Reconstruction Leajzue, which, to judge of from the speaker's reniartys, is a camouflaged edition of the Anti- Socialist League. Last Tuesday the speaker, ac- cording to the chairman, dealt with Karl- Markism and a valiant attempt was made to demolish the Theory of Value. The orator stood on a box bearing the legend Brewery, Ltd. but this fact did not lessen the apprecia- tion with which his remarks, profusely inter- spersed with reminiscences of his visit to pubs," were received by that section of the crowd representing the local middle class and the religious people, who are so very reli- gious that they cannot afford to have any regard to the first principles of spiritual and moral growth. During question-time, when Mr. Nor- man was engaged in combat by Comrade Stan Rees, the aforementioned section of the audi- ence, who would not have known the Theory of Value" from the Nebular Hypothesis, were highly delighted with the speaker's evasions. In answering, lie had occasion to remark that he had challenged the Swansea I.L.P. to a public debate, but that the challenge had not been ac- cepted, whereupon Stan Rees immediately chal- lenged him to a public debate, and was told to write up to London! We are awaiting develop- ments.

I Swansea Valley Notes. I A Cheery Coodbye. I A successful tea and social was held at the Band Room, Yst-alyfera, last Saturday evening under tIw anspiees of the local branch of the I.L.P. There was a large muster of comrades from various parts of the valley, and all heartily partook of the good things provided by the women. Tea, etc., was on the tables at .*) p.m., and at 7.30 p.m. a programme, of songs and re- citations was commenced. A party of girlg, under the conductorship of John Asaph Williams (checkweigher, Gleison Colliery), gave a magni- ficent rendering of the Red Flag to open the concert. The audience lustily joined in the chorus. Miss Maggie Jones (Merch y Meudw), Ynismudw, then gave a recitation in her usual splendid manner. She was loudly applauded, and was obliged to give an encore, which she did in fine style. Her sister, Miss Gladys Jones, also gave an excellent recitation. Comrade D. S. Williams then sang a specially composed song foi- i%- h i(- h lie re- in Welsh Yr hen I.L.P. for which he re- ceived hearty applause. After a few more items, the real business of the evening was taken in hand. This was the presenting of a gold medal to Comrade Tom Samuels, who is about to leave for Queensland, Australia. The medal was suit- ably inscribed with an expression of appreciation from the branch to our comrade for his devo- tion to Socialism," etc. Speeches e iessing: warm regard and best wishes were then delivered by several comrades including Mr. Jach Thomas. B.A. (Checkweigher), Miss Alice Williams, Mr. D. S. Williams, etc. Comrade Tom Samuels suitably replied. Mr. and Mrs. Jack Thomas were then presented with a leather wallet, etc., for their splendid work for Socialism in the locality. A most enjoyable evening was then I terminated by the Ringing of the Red Flag. A large quantity of literature was sold during I the evening. D. D. Walters an Class War. I L .At.tpe Rhos Congregational Chapel last Satur-

I Llantrisent and District Notes. A London Trip. The following item appears in the District Council's minutes: "Maternity and Child Wel- fan' Account, Miss Rus&{,n. expenses of attend- ing conference in London, ?5 2s. 8d. J. R. I Thomas, ditto, -M 19s. 6d." Miss RusseU is the Councii's !ady health visitor, Mr. J. R. Thomas is the Council's chairman. We wonder why it should cost so much more to send a chairman to a conference. The Medical Question. I A public meeting is to be held at the Red Dragon on Sunday next, September 28th. at 10.30 a.m., to consider a, report from the Medi- cal investigation Committee appointed by the organised workers of Tonyrefail and district. All workmen, irrespective of occupation or working- place, are invited to attend. 1914-1919—A Contrast. I In 1914 Your King and Country needs you." Nothing was too good for the heroes who re- sponded to the call. We were to have a country fit for heroes to live in, etc. Now, 1919. a com- mittee of workmen has been formed for the pur- pose of promoting a prize drawing for the bene- fit of an ex-service man. Driver Thomas Wil- liams, of Llantrisant. Williams enlisted in Sep- tem ber, 1914. He did not let the grass grow under his feet in responding to the call of the Government for his services. The same cannot be said of the authorities response to William's need for a proper pension. He served in France and Salonica- and wa.s invalided home suffering from fractured knee and malaria, and discharged as physically unlit in December, 1917. Since then he has been unable to follow his employ- ment. Of the two aged parents with whom lie lives the fatliei- has died since his return homo, while he continues to live with his mother, an old-age pensioner. As his pension is too miser- ably insufficient to meet merely essential needs he has been forced to rely upon the sympathy of relatives and friends. The war is over, you know, and iF is 1919 now, not 1914. This com- mittee of his fellow-workers are now anxious to secure him some relief from his pressing econo- mic circumstances. May their efforts be at- tended with success. C.L.O. Class. I A Central Labour College class has been formed at Llantrisant for the study of economics. It is being held at the Church Hall every Mon- day, at 6.30 p.m. Anyone wishing to join up is heartily invited to attend. I.L.P. Winter Meetings. I The Llantrisant I.L.P. has come to the end of its open-air summer campaign and is now engaged in preparing its winter series of meet- ings. On October 4th R. C. Wallhead will ad- dress a public meeting for the branch, and Minnie Pallister and Morgan Jones are to quickly follow. It is proposed to hold public meetings for Miss Pallister at Pontycluit and Tvnant, and public meetings and a social to which Mr. Everybody will be invited at IJlan- trisant. Miss Pallister's visit will last from October 14th to 18th inclusive. Morgan Jones, Bargoed, visits us on October 27th. The Town Band. I The Llantrisant drum and fife band are en- deavouring to obtain public support in an effort to obtain a. set of brass instruments. The work- men of Coed Ely and Tvclan Fach Collieries have decided to contribute one penny per week to- wards the Llantrisant and Tonyrefail hand s for 12 months. Tonyrefail band receives two-thirds and LIantrisant band one-third of the amount which the penny will produce. vIt is estimated that the amount which the Llantrisant band will receive from this source will be about €10 per month. To obtain public support a public meet- ing was called at which Mr. G. T. Da vies pre- sided. Owing to the meagre attendance the meeting on the suggestion of the chairman was adjourned and letters of invitation were sent to various people requesting them to attend the adjourned public meeting on August 2oth. Of the 39 letters sflnt response came only from ten people, ami although a feeling in favour of a further adjournment was manifested at the second meeting, but owing to the case put up by one of the senior bandsmen, the meeting was held. Dr. Xaunton Davies spoke encouragingly in support of the band, and it was decided unani- mously that a Committee of three be appointed to make investigations for the purpose of obtain- ing financial support. The committee elected was composed of Dr. Xaunton Davies and Mr. John Williams, representing the public, and Al I- Charles Giles representing the band. Dr. Naun- ton Davies has now promoted a play in order to help the band financially, and although the price appear to be somewhat high, the band hopes the play wiH be well attended. A Trade Union Demonstration. I The Public Woi-x., and Constructional Opera- tives' Union wfll hold a demonstration near the Holly Bush, Llantwit Fardre, on Saturday, Oct. 4th. A procession headed by the Llantrisant Town and Fife Band will leave LIantwit at 4.30 p.m. The sj;eakers will be Mr. Tottle, Barry Dock, and Mr. T. Murray, Newport. Mr. A. Daly will prMide. Members of the branch are "S.L 't_1.L1.=-

) 7 -30 j ONCE NIG"TLY I A Sinner in Paradise. j i A Sinner in Paradise. I Sir, 5th, 1819. N M I hope hundreds of our young men !N 5 and women will go and see A Sinner S  In Paradise this week at the theatre. t It will do more good than thousands of t I w sermons on an important moral subject. t 2 A play reverently and splendidly acted. t ? W. C. CRIFFITH, I Rector of St. Benedict's, Norwich. t To the Editor, I Eastern Daily Press." 1- Matinee on ) Thursday 2-30 j II THEATRE ROYAL and EMPIRE, MERTHYR. GENERAL MANAGER — VAL STEVENS. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29th, for Six Nights, and MATINEE THURSDAY at 2.30. Mr. FRANK GERALD and Mr. VAL GURNEY present A Sinner in Paradise ———— By VAL GURNEY. ———— A New and Daringly Original Play in Four Acts, dealing with a Phase of Life never until now made the Subject of a Play. Prior to Immediate Production in London. THIS PLAY IS NOT FOR CHILDREN. MONDAY-" TALES OF HOFFMAN." TUESDAY-" CARMEN." WEDNESDAY-" FAUST." THURSDAY MATINEE- TALES OF HOFFMAN." _It_1t NEXT WEEK- THE ROYAL CARL ROSA OPERA li COMPANY. ■MliaHBMIIHHMHBMOMinll THURSDAY EVENINC- IL TRAVATORE." FRIDAY-" CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA and IL PACLIACCI." 11 SATURDAY-" MARITANA." j T-30 I ONCE NIGHTLY < ? A Sinner in Paradise. I| i ■ Has been described as:- I A New Problem Play-the Problem of I t the Childless Married Home. | I A new and altogether unorthodox play, S t daringly and delicately woven, and I t played by sueh talent as can offend g no one. I* The plot is of the Brieux type, and I t deals with a delicate problem in the t boldest and frankest way. Unques- J tionably a very strong play. I ————— j } Matinee on _1- j Thursday 2 30 | SmiaiiaaMiiaMaiBHaEaMt

I The Theatre Royal I And there are still distinguished fools who declare that Geo. Bernard Shaw is a charlatan. Anyone who visits the Theatre Royal this week falls under the charm of the perfect craftsman- ship with which Pygmalion is constructed or is captivated by the sparkling wit and real genius of its supreme dialogue, who does not throw down any attempt to belittle the master Shavian's greatness will be a soulless, witless knave. Where amongst oven the greatest of the playwrights who have written for all time is there a character with the deliciousness of Alfred Doolittle. the happy unit of the undeserving poor, who falls a protesting victim to the blarsted middle-class morality" Where the finished study of a Henry Higgins, foiled so well against a Colonel Pickering in the whole history of the stage!" And what writer would have dared call for the ability on the part of an actress caste as Eliza to run the whole gamut of characterisation—not with a sudden artistic spasm, but a.s a protracted and progressive study ? And where the playwright who has ever cynically faced an audience with a Neitzschean philosophy of womanhood as an ending-a rude violation of the kiss-and-be-happy finishes so universally called for and applauded ? Goeth. thou to visit a woman!" Taketh thy whip," said Nietzsche, and it is an artistic paraphrase of that that closes Pygmalion." Yet it is a play of delight done as it is done this week by a company that would satisfy even an exacting man like its author, and I would congratulate MR. VAL GURNEY, I The Author, who appears in his original role of David Carne." Miss Muriel Kidner for her wonderful playing of Eliza Mr. Tom Mow bray for his perfect pic- ture of Doolittle, and Messrs. Lionel Leonard and Leonard Clarke for their superla.tive work as Higgins and Pickering—congratulate them and titank them with sincerity and gratitude. For next week Mr. Stevens informs me that lie has secured a play of unusual plot and treat- ment. It is a play in which its author, Mr. Val Gurney—who, by the way, plays principal lead- looks life straight in the face, and looking sees truth through its darkening veils of convention- ality. Because convention counts for more than truth Mr. Gurney's work has been labelled "daring by people who mistake honest frank- ness combined with delicacy for adventurous mentality. It is a story of the mother lust of a woman whose love laughs at middle-class morality"—Shaw's term for conventionality, and its handling is such that the modern realist school will unquestionably take Mr. Gurney to its breast as a new and powerful disciple of its open-faced truthfulness. My experience of Ibsen, Brieux and Sliaw suffices to tell me that it is their work to which we must look for the real art that is art, and I am sure, with Mr. Gurney and Miss Lillian Hallows taking the principal parts in a company of discriminate selection, that next week's presentation of "A Sinner in Paradise will prove a big draw and more than justify its place in the winter programme that Mr. Stevens is presenting to his patrons. PLAYGOER. I

I Our London Letter By Our Special London Correspondent- A FENNER BROCKWAY. A RAILWAY STRIKE? The announcement this morning that a serious eriis had been readied in the negotiations for a standard rate of wages for all grades on the rail- ways came as a shock to the public. The situa- tion is this: the raihvaymen are demanding that the war bonus of 33s. a week shall be added to the permanent wage, whilst the Government have submitted a final scale which in some cases involves a reduction of 14s. a week on pre- sent earnings. The railwaymen will not con- sider such a proposal for a moment and they can be sure that the entire Labour Movement will be behind them in resisting it. If the Govern- ment succeeded in enforcing lower wages on the railwaymen, the workers in other industries would soon find their wages dropping, too. DOWN WITH THE PROFITEERSI The Hyde Park demonstration on Sunday to protest against high price* and profiteering was a wonderfnl success. I doubt whether there have ever been a brighter array of banners and a more continual sound of music from the ac- companying bands than there were in the huge proffL'.ssions which marched to the park from ten different points. The crowd was enormous and from ten platforms the protest of organised La- bour was raised. The resolution condemned the latitude allowed to profiteers, urged the Gov- ernment to free itself from the influence of the trusts, and to utilise the Co-operative Movement and the trading powers of municipalities, de- nounced the scandalous imposition of 6s. it ton on the price of coal, demanded mines na- tionalisation, and asked the Premier to receive a deputation to hear Labour's definite propo- sals. The demonstration was organised jointly by the Political, Trade rnion, and Co-operative Forces of London Labour and showed how real the unity of the organised workers here is be- coming. THE POSTAL WORKERS UNITE. At a conference at the Central Hall, West- minster, on Thursday, the three principal Postal Unl oiis-the Postmen's Federation, the Postal and Telegraph Clerks' Association, and the Faw- eett Association—were formally united in the Union of Post Office Workers. The new Union begins with a membership of 110,000, and there is every prospect of one or two smaller postal unions joining up as soon as certain legal diffi- culties are overcome. The Union is placing in the forefront of its programme the demand for control of the postal department by the postal workers themselves. I hope it will work out its- policy in this respect in full detail, as have the miners and railwaymen. SUICIDE OR MURDER Aotning but hunger and destitution stare me" in the faep," wrote Richard Dauson, 45, who- committed suicide in Pi m lico. London, by inhal- ing gas from a tube. It was stated at the in- quest on Friday that he had been unemployed for five weeks. A verdict of Suicide while of unsound mind wa.s returned. The verdict should have been one of murder • by the Government. A BOLSHEVIK ATROCITY. Colonel Wedgwood, M.P., told me a story the other day which will amuse my Merthyr readers. In 1918 he travelled to Siberia, through China. When the train had gone ;">0 miles into the interior, it was met by a ti-allt caliving Bolshevik soldiers—the Red Guard-— who immediately held it up. The consternation at this ohallenge was great, and Colonel Wedg- wood confessed to me that he himself pulled out his revolver and kept it by his side. Had they not all read of the ghastly atrocities which the Bolshies committed!" Robbery and violence, if not torture and death, were generally expected- The minutes passed, however, and nothing 'hap- pened. Red Guard sentries had been placed out- side each compartment, but there were no cries* or signs of outrage from that part of the train where the Bolshies seemed most active. The Colonel at length plucked up sufficient courage to ask the Red Guard at the <ioo)-of his com- partment what was proceeding. The Soviet at Yladisvostoek has passed iol decree prohibiting the manufacture or importation of vodka," he said. We are searching the train to see that none is taken in." And the Red Guard having concluded their search, w hich was conducted with great courtesy, solemnly destroyed on the sta- tion platform all the vodka, discovered in the train. "That," said Colonel Wedgwood, "is the only Bolshevik atrocity 1 have witnessed! A RED GUARD'S RETORT. Colonel Wedgwood added a fact which throws an illuminating light upon the attitude of the Russian people. He asked one of the Red Guard how much he was paid. "Nothing," he am a volunteer. I work six days in the week as a railwayman and on the seventh T give mv services for the defence of the Revolu- tion." Colonel Wedgwood said that all the members of the Red Guard seemed animated by an almost religious devotion to their cause.. When lie offered two of them -cigarettes, for in- stance, they replied, No, we are not ?oing to take anything from a damned bourgeois." Tb? take anything from a damne^fo^