The Cambria Daily Leader

SUNDAY TRADING AND THE LAW. In a long open letter to the Swan- sea Watch Committee which has ap- peared in our columns, the, general secretary of the Shopkeepers and Small Traders' Protection Association has stated the case for the Sunday Traders, carefully safeguarding himself, however, against discussi-on of the principle of Sunday opening per se, or the need of legislation in regard to the matter. Air. Leavis declares that "we should not for a moment attempt to justify all sorts of Trading on Sunday. We wish to see Sunday preserved as the day upon which uxtst people have their weekly holiday." When, however, he pleads that it is unfair to enforce one section of the Act of Charles II., and ignore its provisions against non- attendance at church, etc.. it may be replied that law is not a fetish set up to rule man, but as the Corpus Pro- fessor of Jurisprudence says in his little volume on "Common Sense in Law," the object of law is primarily to supply rules of oonduct, rules as to what ought to be done and what ought to be ab- stained from. Some of the prohibitions in the Act of Charles II. have been eiased from practice by changed con- ditions and an altered outlook, by new ldeae of liberty and toleration. Others may still apply if they fit the need of the present age, if they are deemed desirable to meet circumstances that are considered to tell against the well-being of the State. It seems to us that the real point is, not whether all the provisions of the Oarolean Act should be enforced if one is invoked, but whether the part-use of an old en- actment serves a practical purpose to- day. We axe mostly alII agreed upon the unwisdom of Sunday trading, and the necessity for reducing it to its minimum. There are few in Swansea who will defend the wholesale rhop opening that in some thoroughfares has quite changed the Sunday atmo- sphere. Where opinions differ is upon the utility or the futility of the remedy offered in the Act of Charles II. Even among those who would set some of its .sections in operation-and the growth of Sunday opening has won them tho sympathy of large numbers-tlero is recognition of the reed existing for now legislation on the Sunday trading ques- tion. There wil'l 1*b no satisfactory solution of the problem until we secure fresh provisions under which the per- sistent. trader who opens unnecessarily can be dealt with according to his de- serts. Meantime, it is interesting to note that Canada possesses a Lord's Day Act which does not err in the mildness of its provisions, although no prosecu- tion can be instituted under it until the consent of the Attorney-General has been obtained. A Canadian correspond- ent of the Grocer tells us that the Act is not the result of religious zeal, but is "d on the sound principle that every worker, whether with limbs or brains, needs one day's rast in seven. It is said to work smoothly in winter because the Canadian women are accustomed to buying their house- hold commodities in fairly large quanti- ties during this season; and whatever criticism there is—and there is very little-Mlems to be confined to chemists who sell tobacco, cigars and cigarettes. Some of the sections in the Act are worth quoting. The main prohibitory clause (states that It shall not be lawful for any person on the Lord's Day, except as pro- vided herein, or in any Provincial Aut or law now or hereafter in force, to sell or offer for sale or purchase any goods, chattels., or other personal property, or any real estate, or to carry oil or transact any business of his ordinary calling, or in connec- tion with such calling, or for gain to do, or employ any other person to do, on that day, any work, business or labour. It is not lawful, except in cases of emergency, to employ anyone in the work of any industrial process, or in connection with transportation, to do the usual work of his ordinary calling, unless tha employe is allowed during the next six days of the week twenty- four consecutive hours without labour. Going through the provisions of the Act we arc forced to the oonclusion that, from the point of view of citizen- ?sbip, Canada is years ahead of this country. The prohibitions of the Act arc such as would meet with tremendous opposition here. For instance, the publication, sale and distribution of newspapers on Sunday is. absolutely barred, and the numerous exceptions included in the English Bill now being promoted are not thought of. And; says the Grocer's" correspondent: "The newspapers rarely refer to the Act, which goes to show that it is in favour with the public and the great majority of shop-keepers."

THE SESSION. The views expressed in an adjoin- ing column yesterday regarding the manufacture of political sensations upon the most flimsy pretext, receive most striking corroboration from the very well-informed London correspondent of the" Manchester Guardian." "The session is going forward," said the writer of the article. "I, have the most definite authority for stating that there is not a word of truth in any of the-so rumours," says the Guardian" correspondent, "and that there is no intention on. the part of the Govern- ment to go to the country before all the work now before Parliament is com- plete—that is to say, until the, summer of next year. The Government is going on right to the end of the eession, and all reports of a general election, however widely spread and however ap-I' parently well attested, are moonshine, and to b? treated as such." Certainly it is unthinkable that Disestablishment and Home Rule are to be imperilled, and unless the un-forseen occurs, the Government will fulfil all its pledges to WaJ es and Ireland. We have had some bitter experiences in Wales, and the green island hag suffered no less. This time the legislative ship is going right into harbour. o.

Probably the people who will most heartily welcome the project to provide motpr-'bus "feeders" to the Swansea tramways will be those who live in the growing district between Cockett and Fforesttach, which now has to rely, for communication with the town, upon Shank's pony, or the infrequent local service of the railway company from Cockett. Here we hope a 'bus service will be but a temporary expedient, for a tramway is already a commercial possibility as far as Cockett; indeed, it should be now runni ng had the rela- tions between the public authorities concerned been more conciliatory. The service will ailso be a boon to the people in that part of the Swansea Valley be- tween Pontardawe and Morriston, where complaint is general regarding the inadequate means of communica- tion at present available. Swansea is miserably behind much smaller Glam- organ townships in its district traction facilities, and undoubtedly the town suffers thereby. mm—I■"

"Where are your municipal swimming baths, and wash-houses?" a new-comer who has come to sojourn at Swansea asked the other day. Ho was con- siderably surprised when told that we had none. They have come to, be re- garded, in many English towns, as a highly desirable part of corporate en- terprise and in a standard work upon municipal trading, the author of which is not over enthusiastic on municipalisa- tion theories, there is an important ad- mission that "The desirability of sup- porting swimming-baths more or less largely out of the rates is admitted almost universally." The question for Swansea to consider, now that Alder- man Merrells is again moving to pro- vide public baths, is whether they can be made self-supporting by means of the charge for admission-for we take it that they would not be confined to the school-children—or whether it would not pay the town better, in an- other sense, to make the baths easily aceessiblc to the thousands who have no conveniences in their homes, and con- sider the subsidy this would entail as a reasonable responsibility for the rate- payers. It is well for us to bear in mind that where there are public baths such subsidies are not uncommon.

A MEMORIAL OF BOOKS, I -0 LANDOHE PASTOR'S VOLUMES FOR I SILOit LIBRARY Tuesday evening was the occasion of a large gathering at New Siloh Chapel, Lan- dore, to formally receive from Mrs Thomas, the widow of the late Rev. Robert Thomas, the gift of a large collection of excellent volumes. The meeting was pre- ceded by a tea. Among thoee present were the Revs. Sam Williams (New Siloh), R. D. Edwards (Forward Movement, Cardiff), W. James (Ebenezer), H. Parry (Llansamlet), James DavieS, B.A. (Mynyddbach), Ben Davies (Plasmarl), and Hughes (Zoar), and Meagre. D. R. Phillips (Wels-h libririan), W. Williams, J.P. (Wern), and Councillor Evan Jones. The meeting was presided over by the Rev. Sam Williams, who said he was very sorry to learn that Mrs. Thomas could rot be there through ill-health. The library was given a splendid start, and he hoped that the fullest use would be made of it. Mne. Edwards conveyed to the meeting, in her mother's behalf, her heart's deepest wishes. She hoped the books that tor fathe- i had so long lived -imona and drunk so deeply from, would not only prove in. structive but, what was much more impor tant, inspire those who read them, Mrs. Edwards then formerly presented the memorial library to tho church congre- gated at New Siloh. Mr. W. Williams, J.P., Wern, accepted the gift on Siloh'a behalf. Mr. John Lewie (acoompanied by Mr. Ivor Owen, who also gave a solo) varied tle proceedings with a song, "Galomen Wen." Miss Bess Lewia, the librarian, gave in- teresting details as to the contents of the library. The 223 volumes were made up as follows 1<33 vols- of the late Rev. R. Thomae. Ten vols, each by Mr. W. Williams, Wern. and Mrs. J. Davies (widow of the late Mr. John Davies, deacon). Seven vols, from Teml Twr Dirwest." Two vols. from eich of Messrs. Mew Llew- elyn, Dl. Powell, and Coun. Evan Jones. One vol. each from Messrs. L Richards, J. W altera, John Lewis, and Rev. Sam Wil- liams, together with one c-a-ch in memory of the lato Mr. Moses Lewis and Mr. W. Hughes. Revs W. James and J It Parry, old friends of the late reverend gentleman, also spoke in feeling terms of the loss they had buf- fered with the death of Mr. Thomas. The proceedings closed with the singing of one of his favourite hymcA

"Truant" School. The Passing of a Swansea i Bogey. THIRTY-TWO years is a big slice ou? of a person's life, '*? but wlien it is spent in recasting and developing the characters of drift- ing boys, and making useful men of them, it can scarcely be termed wasted. I can never think of the Swansea in- dustrial School, built away in the "wilds" of Bon yir.aen without recalling the devoted efforts of the Superinten- dent and the Matron (Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Edwards), who have announced their intention of resigning, and who have been valued friends of mine for many years. Possessed of a, spare agile figure, full of energy-a bearded face, with clear blue eyes—and the features of a deep thinker, Mr. Edwards has proved the ideal man for the work ho has been ? called upon to do.and a stri. ct dis- ? Quiet, determined, and a #;tri(?t ciplinarian, he possesses an almost iin- canny understanding of the workings of a boy's mind, and he seems instinct- ively to know the best way of chang- ing the warped mental fabric which, more often than not, was the chief rea-, son for the boys' entry into the Bony- maen Institution, and thus varying the current of their careers, and turning out men fit to take a place in town or country or upon the ocean wave. The Truant School. I can remember the days (and I am not old) when the mere mention of "Truant School" filled me with terri- fying visions of a prisoji house and a plank bed. Stern treatment of juvenile offenders against the edicts of our edu- cational authority was at ono time strongly advocated, and the rigorous rules of school life, together .with the unsympathetic methods frequently adopted there led to a not unnatural I raluetance on the part of boys to fore- go the irresponsible freedom—and ig- norance—of the streets for the re- straint of the class-room. Hence the bogey of the "truant school" had often to be invoked in order to hasten tarry- ing footsteps,. All this is now happily changed, of course, and the truant school era has passed. But it was not Mr. Edwards' fault that it ever existed. He was always modern in his methods, and early be- lieved in and advocated games as an in- centive to study—hence the sturdy team of young athletes which for years past has made the name of the In- dustrial School respected in the junior football world. Cricket and swimming, and all other manty pastimes were also fostered, and in addition he always in- sisted on the value of properly devised entertainments. Features of Home Life, As a result he introduced into the school many of the features and in- fluences of homo life, and to this day many old boys return otv Christmas Day to the austere looking bftiiiding in Bonymaen, and isay they must "come home." I have attended many of these Christmas entertainments—as a visitor —and it was refreshing to note the sheer joy which always entered into the festivities. The boys were not prisoners —they were willing guests, and they were encouraged to give free ex- pression to their talents. Many a budding comedian, vocalist and dancer was thus discovered. And at such times the love of the boys for their master was made evident. They feared him, no doubt, but it was a wholesome fear, tempered by affection and regard, Old boys now moving in useful spheres of life, have frequently told me that to Mr. Edwards they owe their first con- ception of self respect and an under- taking of the nobility of labour. Love of Music. The majority of boys early show a partiality for music. Mr. Edwards realised this, and he wat; not satisfied until a drum and fife band had been formed at the school. The lads looked upon membership of the band as a much prized privilege, and an indication of the broaxlmindedness of Mr. and Mrs. Edwards will be found in the fact that their sons, then of an age with the majority of the inmates, were also "bandsmen." Later of course a brass band was formed, which is still the pride of the district, the honour of being in- strumentalists being greatly prized. School lessons do not cormpzise the whole of the education provided for the boys. A tailor's shop, and a bootmaker's establishment came into existence years ago, and the trades were taught to all who displayed an aptitude, for them. A boy who re- vealed a love of market gardening also found every inducement and scope for enterprise placed in his way. The b garden attached to the school was uti- lised for this purpose, and the embryo gardener soon learnt the first lesson of the power of the land to support its careful cultivator. Plank Beds? And the dormitories I When I first visited the school I was, of course, xsager to see thqe "Plank" beds which I was sometimes assured I was fortunate to have missed. But they never ex- isted. Comfortable little beds I found, spotlessly clean,. and quite the opposite to the wild creation of my imagina- tion. I Mr. Edwards always sought to get the best out of the boys who came under his care, and to make them under- stand that to the man with a trained hand and an intelligent, alert mind, the world had much to otter. The call of the sea was often felt-and then Mr. Edwards would show the need for an active brain and a clear head, and make the lads realise that it was better to be a good sailor than a bad landsman. The Matron. I shall never be able to do justice to the work of Mrs. E dwards. At all times she had a smile and a kindly word. She was, indeed, the only mother" many of the boys ever knew. They never hesitated to pour out their woes and their troubles to her, and when illness overtook them she nursed them with the isame solici- tude and tender care that she gave to her own children. I remember one Christmas Day, when she voluntarily sacrificed all shary in the pleasures of the occasion in order to attend to a sick boy who would otherwise have felt lonely. Both Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have made many other sacrifices in order to help the boys of the school in after life, and the manner in which their counsel is still sought, and the old school revisited is the greatest testi- mony to the success of their life-long task. They will take with them into retirement the good wishes of hun- dreds of f'J;heir" boys, and out in Australia,, where they mettn to make their home with their two sons, George and Harold, both fine their thoughts will often return to Bonymaen, and they will think of the Christmas Days spent in the school which ha-s meant so much to them. X.Y.Z.

News & Views I ——— His Difficulty. Amid the Babel of voices it is hard to distinguish, the words of the wi-se.- Dean luge. Welshmen and the Bible. The present generation of Welsh- men are growing less and less conversant with the B' b-le.-The Hev. Dr. J. Cynddylan Jones. Two of the Boys." In a special article on the billiard maich betweea George Gray and T. Newman, Mr. A. G. Crawley .a6k:s:- 11 lvhat are these two boys of brillianco doing A:. Gray (comments th.3 Star,") will he 23 next month and JNewman 20, perhaps the answer is that the brilliant I>oy are growing up. Black List of Restaurateurs. The East End waiters are con- tinuing their demands. A black-list and a. lair list of restaurateurs is in course of compilation, and a trade union sign is to be displayed in the win- ctows ol- establishments where the waiters are paid a living wage. In ?me ca?es proprietor have di?ppeaj-ed enlrlly in the hope (?f evadmg tho st+ rik,e committee, but without excep- tion the hint of an immediate boycotr, of the premi has served to recall them without delay. ? New Suffrage Organisation. The United Suffragists," a society of those who regard woman suffrage as the foremost political issue of the day, and will work out without considering the interacts of any political party, has just been formed. The society recog- nises various forms of Suffrage activity as of value, and is ready to contribute any kind of service according to capacity and conviction. The head- quarters of the new organisation are at 3, Adam-street, Strcmd. Names in Melodrama. The healing of the theatrical copy- rIght case yesterday was provocative of much amusement. Mr. Walter Mel- ville told counsel of the things that troubled hun most in writing a play. "The only thing that hangs me up in a play," he Said, "is the naming of tho characters. I want to try to get euphonious names. If you have a name that jars you cause a laugh in the wrong place. You get names out of tho local directory and the telephone book." (Laughter.) Wearing Them at the Time. Sir Homcnvood Crawford, the? veteran City. solicitor, last evening at the London Institution, related many stories of the old Central Criminal Court, one being that of a youthful prisoner who insisted upon having Mr. Montagu Williams to represent him. On that gentleman obtaining for him an acquittal of stealing a pair of trousers to the value of 15s. 3d. the youth ex- claimed. "But I've got 'em on." (Laughter). Winston Churchill's Watch Chain.. Is Mr. Winston Churchill setting a. new fashion, or is he only playing up to the cartoonists who want a "feature" asks the "Chronicle" to-day. It is ordy a little question of watch chains. We have for some years abandoned watch chains in evening dress. At a recent City banquet Mr. Churchill ap- peared adorned across his waistcobt with a gold chain of cable-like aspect, stretching from pocket to pocket in two graceful semicircles. And an obsiiver wants to know whether this is the new fashion. How to Frog-march. ? In the. Court of Appeal yesterday the question arose as to now many men were needed to frog-march" a, person. Lord Justice Vaughan WilliamB said: If you ask the first man you meet in the street the meaning of frog-march ing, he would tell you it wa.s carrying you, when you were arrested, with your feet and your stomach downwards instead of upwards. You do not want four men to, do it; two only are re- quired." Plaintiff said the dictionary stated four Lord Justice Vaughan Williams, said he wa<s aware of tha.t, but only two men were necessary. Church Weakness. Next Monday, at the Ohnrch House, Sir Edward Clarke, as president of the Layman's Committee, will movo a resolution expressing the "firm con- viction that among the chief causes of the weakness of the Church of Englantl, both at home and in the mission field, are the lack of order and discipline among the clergy, and the introduction, with the saoiction and encouragement ol certain Bishops, of Romish doctrines and practices A-li-ich, having been re- jected at the Reformation, are con- trary to law, to the teachings of tha Prayer Book, and to the solemn vowa made by every priest at ordination and) upon induction to a benefice." ♦ Sex Questions. The lady teachers' committee of the N.U.T. have considered the advisability of instructing children on sex questions, and have decided that it would not bo wise to do so. Amongst a few of the opinions of lady doctors are the follow- ing in Dr. Christine Murrel says: "I cer- tainly oonsider the mother the most suitable person to give the informar tion." The study of botany, says Dr. Ethel Bentham, makes, it easy for the teacher to explain the origin of life in a simple way void of offence. Dr. Ethel Vaughan-Sawyer says her experience is that if instruction in sex hygiene is tactfully given, a child takes the information in a matter-of-fact way. Peer's Barrier to Education Bill. In his opinion, says Sir J. Comptot, Rickett, M.P., in the Daily News, and Leader" to-day, it was very unlikely that a Bill of any real value would re- ceive the assent of the present House of Lords. A new Education Act giving relief to Nonconformists might restore a few votes to the Conservatives, but another failure of the Government to carry a measure would do more injury to the Liberals than to their oppOnmtÐ. It was of importance that the Govern- ment's final intentions should be known before they again ;frj>pe £ jed to the electorate, and that they should pledge themselves to a pafticular measure rather than to general abstract; prin- ciples. Humour on the Wire. The lady who read through the dictionary for amusement would hava found more. humorous material-pro- vided, of course, that she was blest with a gift of humour-f rum "Sell's Direc- tory of Registered Telegraphic Ad- dres'se?," [Business Directories, Ltd.» 166, Fleet Street, E.C 2?. net. the 1914 edition of which is no? 119U the market. The ingenuity 0' the coiners of the portmanteau titi?'em for registration as telegraphic a? dresses is well known, -id TuunteTitioB?* humour is frequently afforded in ??' London list by the addition of the n'Ol? "Indicator" word for the purpose 0 hastening delivery. For instance, f0. find "Enticing Grace," Un May," and "Sw?Itry Knights," wh!? a firm of goldfish-breeders—it startling to realise 'Ebo import.ance ??< ?uch a bu?ine&s—ia adnreaaed m "0zolite? Lamb."