The Cambria Daily Leader

UP-TO-DATE SERIES I of SPECIAL ARTSCLES on ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL Will shortly commence in the SPORTING NEWS." v

I THE CANINE CURFEW- The Cop, "K ow then, young fe ller-me-lad It's time you were indoors! The Pup: "Oh, all right! But what about those chaps on the ¡ tiles ?"

MILK PRICES. MIIRICES. I t ir 'ff r I Local Tariff Fixed. I The Food Controller has fixd tlw I I maximum retail price of milk in Swansea I as follows — October 3s. 8d. per gal. delivered. November 4s. Od. 11 December 4s. Od. I January 4s. Od. February 4s. Od. "I i-e li 4s. Od." "I April 3s. 8d. I I When muk is sold on the producer's premises the retail prices are reduced by 4d. per gallon. It will be remembered that the Swan- sea Food Control Committee last week declined to confirm the proposed prices, which decision more or less constituted a protest. The consumer suffers the most from the new prices, and the re- tailer's assertion is that the price al- lowed to the producer is unfairly high. The only means whereby the consumer can secure milk cheaply is for the Food Controller to go back on his original II decision and curtail the producer's maxi- mum. The constitution of the local commit- I tee to be established under iliy Profiteer- 1 inp" Act will be c1iscussl at the specia' > meeting this afternoon, when it is hoped that the present Food Committee \\tU be extended to conform to the requirements of the Act. The opinion is expressed by local food officials that separate Food Control and Profiteering Committees I will only resu lt in needless clashing and I confusion and dnphcatek. I

GAVE THEIR BLOOD.! j Aberavon Mmers Save I Woman's Life. I I The life of Mrs. ,Taints, Llewellyn-street, Aberavon. the wife of a miner, has been saved at Aberavon Hospital through blood transfusion. She was admitted to the Hospital in a dying condition, and the only hope of saving her life was by the transfusion of blood. Six miners from the town at once volun- teered to undergo the opeiatiou. Two of the healthiest of these were selected, and the operation was successfully performed> 11 pints of blood being so transfused. The woman is now rapidiv recovering.

I ¡ I' "1 Y.M.C.A. CONCEPT. secretary of the Swansea Y.M.C.1- announces that a musical evening will bo II held in the Llewelyn Hall on Saturday evening at 7.15. Mr. Astlcv Samuel v.iu preside, and the programme has been dr- ranged by Dr. D. Vaugiian Thomas, M.A. Light refreshments will be provided, and it is hoped that there will be a laig" I' attendance.

BOOKMAKERS MEETING. I I A Joint Industrial Council of the brick- making industry was held on Wednesday at the offices of Messrs. Clarke and Doveys, Cardiff, and one very important decision some to at the meeting was that a minimum rate of wages of Is. ltd. I ei- t hour for all labourers in the bri-'k n.ik ing industry shall become operative on and from Monday last, September 1221ld, 1919, and all others departments are being re- viewed on Monday, 22nd October rext. This is, the first time an attempt has been made for uniformity in the brick- making industry, and in so far as it will I become one of the most important indus- tries in the reconstruction, it is most gratifying that masters and men are able to come together. It is essential that all brick manufacturers and employes should become members of this council, and any tfher particulars can be obtained from I Mr. W. E. llopkin, th", secretary, 38, Aie^audra-road. Swansea.

£ 140 MINIMUM. I Baptist Laymen & I Pastors. UNION MEETINGS. The lay-delegates of the Welsh Baptist Union met at Aberavon OIl Wednesday Union riet at tl afternoon, to discuss the question of a minimum wage for pastors. A scheme was suggested for the formation of a central fund tor securing an annual stipend of £ 11-0 ,for pastors of churches whose members contributed an average of at least 4d per week. The possibility of which fund, clashing with the sustcntation fund, gave rise to a iong discussion, but the president, Mr. John Hinds, emphasised the immediate need ,of increasing the stipend, as food ,in.(I clothing was so dear. Mr. J. Evans (.Carharvon) scid that the members in North Wales did not earn their £ 5 to £ 10 a week, as in South Wales, ami there w ere ministers wiio were to-day trying to rear families on ,10 to CS a merith. •Ultimately it was decided to complete the sustentation fund immediately, that assistance would be available for the r weak churches by the beginning or the l yea I ROLL OF HONOUR. I Massed Cfteirs at Peace Thanks- I giving. I A meeting of recognition and thanks- g-i,'ing' to mark I'hp. <lec],HDtion of pr'[}cC' was. held on I i i ps (-12 y at the Hiding School, some two thousand people attendod. Lord Pontypridd, who presided, was sup-ported by Mr. John Hinds, M.P. (the President, of the Union) and several others. His lordship, re furring to the greJt sacrifices that had been made, said that God would not allow it to be in vain, and that it would open up a new era. He believed there was a good time coming, and he hoped great things from tho league of Xafiou; Mr. T. Arthur Ue'wis, M.P. for,Pont,y- pridd, speaking its a returned soldier, seuo the best thanks th?ycuuht give to toe boys W ;-s to carry on the ?c<? ":or of creating a tu-v.?'i'? ?'?' w hicli they fought. The Rev. E. Edmunds, secretary of the Uniwn, replied that too Hull of Honour was not ready, Unl" 7i\ churcbr¡; ¡HIt! supplied particulars <if men enlisted, which totalled tviila. Of these 1,100 had fallen. Over 50:1 churches had not sent ¡ returns, and he estimated that they would have to record a total of about ,J,UU(I falled heroes. Closing a powerful address on Peace, the Rev. Charles l>avi"s (.Cardiff) de- nounced profiteer nig as b'-¡,,¿;- the seme in principle as Kaiser ism. A massed choir of the Raptisf Churches taiig Ih Parry's anthem, Wylwn," Teyrnasoodd y Ddaca: and the • tijalt Chorus, Miss Kale Davies sat?g O Rest in the Loid." SUMMER SCHOOL. I Union of Young Baptists Scherhs- T!M Union ->f ??)tng Baptist. w hieb .isn?w.tT)jrt<??l par of the elsh ?api.?.t (n,011 ha? decided t" <?h"?--? ,a Summer School to open next year. A prise k br-ing offered for the bext pro- gramme, the Revs R. S. Rogers, B.A., Swansea; W. Saunders, Pontyeymmei and Countvlloi Vf. P. Thomas, Treorchy. vice-president, as adjudicators. STREET EVANGELIST. Man With Concertina Asked to Move On. Just as delegates were assembling for ] the Baptist Unio;. meetings, a Port Tal- hot street corner evangelist váh a con- ce",tina had taken hr.s stand .in the road- way, and was holding forth in S'tndent tones. A crowd "collected, and as an obstruction was being caused, a police ofno?r had to refjuest the man to leave.

[ Mrs. Clara E. Slater, oi London and Southporf, visits Swansea cu Friday next, iee Advt. on i'aze Fi-re. (

r FAIR PRICES. .——— 0- Fish, Fruit & Vege- table Control. New Anti-Profiteering Scheme. I Mr. McCurdy, M.F., Parliamentary Secretary to the Food Ministry, en Wed- nesday afternoon gave some particulars of the new scheme adopted by the Minis- try to prevent profiteering in fell, fruit: and vegeta bles. "With regard to fish," lr. McCurdy.; said, "I find that fishermen and mer-I chants at the ports are entirely agreed. 1 on the point that the public pay far too much ior their fish. They use quite 1 strong language about that. We have come to the conclusion that control must be local, and not national. Controlled 1 prices must be very rapidly adjustable to meet sudden fluctuation in the cost. By the new Statutory- Order, Food. Control Committees are being authorised to adopt local schemes for regulating retail prices in their own districts for such. articles as tiio Food Controller may prescribe. t LIMITING PROFITS. A new feature which is contemplated is to control the trades not by fixing prices, but by limiting profits. The first area where the Order will be applied | comprises the counties of Hereford, Salop, Staffs, Warwick, and Worcester. In this area next week, fair prices off fruit, vegetables and fish vi-ill ba posted, based upon such a percentage of protit as the Food Controller may determine tol- be fair and reasonable. The maximum] rate of profit permitted under the first > scheme will be 33 1-3 per cent, of the j actual cost to the retainer ex market; j where the goods are purchased. This margin of profit has to cover all loss from wastage. In the case of fish sold in cuts, the re- tailer v.'ockl be entitled to a deduction on the invoiced weight to provide for loss of weight in preparing the fish for sale.. With regard to fish which costs the re-1 tailor not more than8d. per lb., the re- tailer may add as profit in lieu of the prescribed percentage a sum not exceed- ing 2d. per lb. iv ery retail salesman dealing in tha specified articles should henceforth havo-j to keep proper records of costs and other ? particulars necessary to show whet-hep j or not he was complying with the pro- virions of the scheme, and all such re- • cor Is would be open to the inspection ct$ the Food Controller or his agent. PIONEER BIRMINGHAM. A conference of representatives of all tin; principal Food Control Commit.. tees in the Midland Division." said Mr.■] McCurdy, called together last month, v- as unanimously in favour of a scheme of this kind being tried. Trade associations J and representative retailers in Birming- ham and district, in Wolverhamptrm, Coventry, Worcester, Walsall, Dudley, and other towns in the area" ere then1 consulted, and we found a gen IlÜW Ù-: sire on their part to assist us in placing retail prices on a satisfactory level. I? inaiiy at a conference in Birmingham,. the detailed scheme was fully ^explained to representatives of the trades con- cerned, and has since been Linaiiiniously, approved by them. After all, the great majority of re— tailors arc just as honest as. the rest of. us I believe that they are just as anxious to stamp out the profiteer. Lnder this scheme it becomes the sonal interest of every honest trader tat hell us to eliminate the profitcl. If the scheme is not completely suc- cessful, the 'Food Controller can make any amendment that experience, shows to be desirable, or can witudraw his appro-" val, and let the Profiteering Act take its coarse. I <](! not- think that will be I hope the example of Bir- Mnighum viil be promptly followed else-  where/'  THE FRENCH WAY. Banishment for Offenders. PARIS, Wednesday. Krmio«» will soon lIP an unpleasan t country for f«;od profiteers and speculators generally. T)r by the Go-, err.ni'-nt to put a -fop to the abus-ea. under which the unfortunate consumer' was bied white for I lie benefit of a ho:n-<J of unscrupulous peC1¡]ators. Tile lav." (.•V It'lfi, which punished pro* (itoering as a serious offence, is to come before the Senate cu Fridny for amend- mey-t, vn the ground that it; is not sl-zfjj,* .cientiy severe. The maximum fine fop- realising unlair proifts on the sale of food" iJlld .nerea-ed fronl \:KOfl to o\U);n.. BANISHMENT. En addition. ulVenders will be liable to '•"i-orisoniio'iiI up to <v.u years, as well a1 of ');ii;t .?nd civil rights, nn? bani-Jnueat from the city or town ifs, -,Tllt'- the offence was committed. The proposed amendment will decline.' to recognise any plea <Sf extenuating cir- cumstances," and will refuse to convicted speculators the benefit", -of the First (offenders' Law. In the esse of big retrnl establishniMite brought to under the new law, the Government Will have the risht to close" premises. or to seize and sell the entire stock of gobds for the benefit of the public. Offenders will have to bear the cost of their own prosecution and expenses en- tailed in posting notices of their conne. tion outside their own promises,

A SOCCER MATCH. On Wednesday evening the Vetch. I Field, bifore some few hundred specta- t Amateurs lost to Brynmill after a splendid game. The winscrs, who are one of the hc-t of local clubs, fielded a strong side, wbi -h. was sound in every department. Their best, men 'were Gwyn Dave is fin goal), Richards, Squire?, 'Daniel*, and H. Jones ? Goals came from A. Bene, If. Jones and ee p. for ihe amateurs H. Messer played » t good game, and scored their only goal

THE RAILWAY CRISIS. I Hopes To Avert Strike BASIS FOR NEGOTIATIONS. ——-—— a r- The Executive- Committee of the X. U re-assembled at Unity House this morning to consider the invitation of the Minister of Trans- port to meet him to-day on the question of the standardisation of 'wages. It is generally believed that the conference will take place dur- ing the forenoon. Mr. 0. C. Cramp, president of the Union st.ates that the strike notice if put into operation, would commence at midnight to-morrow right and act at noon as stated previously. Following on the statement of that Ministry of Transport (as reported in the « Leader" last night) on the railway s-t-rike orisie, a statement was issued to the-Press Last nigsht by Sir Wm. Mar- wood, of the Ministry of Transport, who said that the railwaymen had misinter- preted the point relating to the eontmu- ance of the war vagps- A communication has been sent to the f Bailway Executive which, if is hoped, may form the basis of furtber Aego+ia- tioas. ■ THE WAR WAGE POINT. Sir William Marwood stated that this communication would prove the basis for reopening negotiations if the Union Ex- ecutive were willing to take up the point, Sir Eric G-eddes had offered to see the railwayroen's representatives this morning to discuss the situation, and was anxious to make clear the point about the war wage under the March agreement. Sir William said that negotiations were to be continued for .the purpose of fixing new standard rates, but first of all it was provided that existing wag-es (the old standard rates, plus inS. war wagei should be stabilised until the end of this year. The Government agreed that up till the end of December no man should re- ceive a lower weekly wage, plus war wage, nhxin he was at present receiving. The agreement further provided that At the end of the year the whole situa- tiou would be reviewed. That was the poiiit which seemed to have been overlooked, and on which there was apparently a misconception. The assumption seemed to have been that at the end of the year the war wage would tbe "automatically abolished, and thait men vhcoe new standard rate was leas than the old rate, plus .war wage, would lose the difference. The agreement," Sir William added, does not say that at ail. It says, The War w&ge will have to be looked at in the light of the circumstances of the time generally, and it will be open for the men to ask for a revision of the new stan- dard rates.' Thus it will be seen theiv are two courses open to the Unions. The men can either endeavour to get a rise in the stan dard rate or aek that the War wag i shall be revised and adjusted in vif-w of the situation generally. That vs what seemed to have been overlooked in fixing new standard rated I There is talk about a loss, but it does no) follow there would be a loss or reduction if the circumstances remain much the same. The sagigestion of a reduction takes no account of any portion of the war wage which may have to be coiv tinned after December 31st. The que* tibn of continuation or revision of the war wage will-1 be considered gsneraily throughout the country before the end of the year, and not merely in the case of the railwaymen only." CABINET MEETINGS. I Th-e Prime Minister motored up from the country yesterday morning, arriving at 10. Down ing-street, shortly after mid- day. Mr. Lloyd George, who seemed par ticularly cheerful, was accompanied by Mr- H. A. L. Fisher. Mr. Winston Churchill called on the, Prime Minister shortly before 1 o'clock, j Sir Eric Geddes, Minister of Tranp()i"t., had another interview with the Prune Minister in the afternoon. Other visitors to 10. Downing-street, during the afternoon included Admiral Sir Rosslyn Wemyss, Sir David Shaclde- ton. Permanent Secretary to the Mini* try of Labour, and Sir Maurice Hankey. The Prime Minister was continuously engaged with various members of the Ministry prior to the holding of the Council The Prime Minister is in close touch with Sir Eric Geddes, and the Miniat-u- "t Transport saw Mr. Bonar Law as well as Mr. Lloyd George yesterday afternoon, when the position was discussed and ap- proval given to the official statement vnb- esquently issued by the Ministry ot Transport. A full meeting of the Cabinet was held at 4 p.m. Among the Ministers attending were Mr. Chamberlain, Lord Curzon, Sir Auckland Geddes, Sir Eric Geddes, l)r Addison, and Lord Milner. The Cabinet sat for nearly three hours. The meeting had not been specially sum- moned, but after other business had been disposed of the railway question was dis- cussed for over an hour. During the latter part of the proceed- ings Sir Wm. Mar wood, formerly of the Beard of Trade, and now attached to the Ministry of Transport, was called in. MR. J. H. THO MAS R E PLY. Strike Failing New Offer. Mr. J. H. Thomas, M.P., made the following statement to Press, representa- j tives in reply to the statement issued by the Ministry of Transport:— It will bo observed that it does not in any way controvert the statement I was compelled to make yesterday. I do. however, deplore the fact that. judging by the Prees, the very object I had in issuing tho statement appears to have been defeated W, hen I f.<W that the position had become so serious—indeed, critical— wrhiah was as modi a surprise to me as anyflaody, I had to choose whether 1 ought to allow the probability of a strike taking ih the pubkc in the <ia.rk or alternatively let th? public Imot. After all. m all stnkffe, but more. tat&oi&Mj za & j&j&viis staik*. 'ibte c. are affected, and as one who believes that there is a public side to every ques- tion, in spite of the criticisms wh-ich I knew would take place of alarming the pu.bl,ic, I still feoioi that I adopted the only course open to me as a leader of bhe men and as a public man. H Now, the situation at thit, moment is briefly that the resolution, published by the Ministry of Transport ia the unani- mous deo'sioxi of Exccutive Commit- tee; but the Ministry omits to mention 'that on the 19bh inst., the day the first proposal was received bv the Union, I at once wrote in the name of the Executive intr.ma.ting that, n their opinion, it' did net provide a ba«s for negotiations. No reply to that m-rmlinication has been I received, except that when the other pro- posals were ÐubmiHe-d the same inhima- tion that they were a do-finite offer was conveyed by the President erf the Board of Trade. T.HE LAST WORD. "That clearly made it impoi-sible for the Executive'Committee to do any other than interpret it as the last word. Al- though it will be observed in the terms of the resolution by the Executive that they gave the Government the opportunity to express some view or give a counter-offer, up to late this (Wednesday) afternoon no answer except an acknowledgment has been received. Therefore the Executive unanimously decided there was no alter- native than to declare a strike commenc- ing at noon on Friday unless an offer is received from the Government." Anyone with any knowledge of the ooun- try's difficulties must recognise the gravity of the situation. However desirous the Executive and he himself might be' for peace, and he had given sufficient evidence of his anxiety on many occasions to avoid strikes, the terms offered to the men would in themselves mean that a strike would take place in spite of the action of either the Executive or himself. Proceeding, Mr. Thomas recalled that last February Mr. Bonar Law, speaking on behalf of the Cabinet, said they had discussed standardisation, and everyone agreed it must be in an upward and not in a-downward direction. Tknt principle 'was given efect to in the loco-motive: <ie partment. Why the departure for ell other grades?" he asked. "If the Gov- ernment mean that it is the last word, then there is nothing for it but a strike, hut if it is not, as I believe it ought not to be the last word, then let them sa.y so and not allow the public to be alarmed or the unic-ertainty and real danger to exist. The country is, in my judgment, faced with a danger the consequences of which cannot be foreseen. The responsibility of avert- ing it rests on all parties, no less on my side than the Government's, but the pre- sent offer is such that, regardless of con- sequences, I am sure a strike is inevit- able." ROAD TRANSPORT READY. The Ministry of Food has completed its arrangements for the victualling or the country by road, and is confident it could nun a motor service with success, and the War Office, if called on, will provide suf- ,? ar C- ffi c e,  ficient trained men to keep the main lines, open. |

A NEW VENTURE, (" Leader Photo.) The new steelworks now being erected at Ponta-rdawe by Messrs. W. Gilbertson and Co., Ltd., is rapidly gaining shape. Our photograph gives an excellent idea of its present state. When completed the I venture will mca-n a great deal to the inhabitants of Pontardawe and district. )

I DAVIES-SUCKLAND. I I Quiet Morriston Wedding. I Very quietly, the woddirig was solem- nised at Llangyfelach Church, Morriston. or: Wednesday, of Miss A nnie Buckland, elder daughter! of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Buckland. Coedinor, Morriston, and Lieut. Tom Davies, M.M., of Llanwrtyd Wells. The Rev. Griffith Thomas, vicar, assis. ted by the Rev. Alban Jones, Morriston, officiated, and the bride, who was attired hi travpHing costume, was g.vp6 away by her Mhpr. The Misses Buckland and Dn ies (sisters of the bride and bride-| groom respectivelywere the bridesmaids The honey moot, is being spent in  ? *r r