Weekly Mail

MABON REBUKED. RESOLUTION BY THE SWANSEA LABOUR PARTY. The Swansea Labour Association have passed the following resolution in respect of certain suggestions by Mabon as to Sir S. T. Evans, K.C., M.P., and the representation of Swansea:—"That this association resents the article contributed by Mabon, M.P., to the press on the 24th inst., condemns its general tone, and repudiates its sentiments I as being entirely contrary to the funda- mental principles of Independent Labour representation.—Signed, on behalf of Swansea Labour Association, J. Powleeland (chair- man), T. L. Jenkins (secretary)."

DISTRIBUTION OF OLD. AGE PENSIONS. + CARDIFF COUNCIL MAKING ARRANGEMENTS. The first meeting of the Cardiff Old-age pen- sions Committee, which comprises the w^°,j of the members of the city council, was be on Tuesday. The Lord Mayor (Alderman Illtyd Thom35' who presided, stated that if any person were to bo co-opted it was necessary some members of the council should resiSn' as the total number of the committee not exceed 40. Then, it would be necesar1 to appoint snb-commlttees of not less five, nor more than nine. He would sug^ that there should be five jSiib-connnitte^6, each one comprising two wa-id^, and tillit the number of members on each should be eigbt.. Mr. Forsdike said he would like to b'ea^ the letters read which had been recei^efl from Friendly Societies. The Lord Mayor said they specially referred to the Act of Parliament. Dr. James Robinson thought there Eùonld be a representative of the guardians on Friendly Societies from each ward on the committee. In the Park Ward he was about the only member of the council who knell the majority of the poor people. The Lord Mayor agreed with Dr. RobinsOn. A long discussion took place in regard to the number of outsiders who should be CO- opted, and it was agreed, on the suggestion of Dr. Robinson, that it should not be than ten nor more than twenty. It was further decided that five mittees be appointed, for the following joint wards: -(1) Canton and Eiverside; (2j "}raDge- t town and South; (3) Central and Adamsdown; (4) Splott and Roath; and (5) Cathays and 1 Park. 1 During the long discussion that followed upon the constitution of the rub-wmmittee6- j Alderma.n Lewis Morgan asked if it was too I i late to make representations that such dutieil < aa the Act involved should not have beÐIÍ t thrust upon municipal bodies. It was a hug^ mistake to pile up duties upon the loca* 1 authorities in this way. 1 Mr. A. C. Kirk: Call upon the GovenuntØC ] to Tesign immediately. < On the motion of Mr. J. Chappell, seconded ( by Mr. Kirk, it was agreed that the six conn- oillors and two presiding aldermen of each of the combined districts arrange amo-aga themselves as to which of them shall resi;fl from the sub-couiinitteo for their respectie districts, and recommend names of Per, eons for co-option on the sub-committed and main committee; and also that at iea-st half of the members n each district members of the council. ¡ The town-clerk was directed to call the dis' trict committees together on Friday at. fiTfl o'clock, the pensions main committee to ,meet r at 5.30. Letters were read from the Cardiff and D1? trict Friendly Societies' Council, the Carcli* Trades and Labour Council, and several other | friendly and labour organisations on tb-3 question of co-option and the nomination co-opted members; whilst the Cardi" Women's Liberal Association expressed the opinion that women should be co-opted on tlle committees. It was understood that tb* representations contained in the letters would be taken cognisance of. The Town-clerk reported that, according to the census of 1901, there were 2,624 persons over the age of 70 years in Cardiff, and the council 1 might assume that there were now about 3.00íI persons of that age in the city area. I OLD-AGE PENSIONS AND POS'I OFFICE SHOPS. A singular circumstance in connection with the administration of the Old-age PeD* sions Act has been reported from a BrecoB* shire town. A female applicant for pension was given the usual form to fill 11 4 The postmaster, noticing that the old lady address was a village six or seven milee away, asked her why she came all that d^ tance to make the application. The app|' cant stated that her reason was she w0^L rather not draw the pension in her oV^ village, because there was a shop to the post-office, and she was afraid t the postmaster would expect her to lay ol1t her pension in his shop. CAERPHILLY ARRANGEMENTS. Mr. R. T. Rees presided at the meeting 0 the Caerphilly Council on Tuesday eveniJ^ when a letter was read from the clerk of t old-age pensions committee of the council outlinang the proposed arrazlg7caento for the district. It was very important t"^ the local sub-committee should be organic# so as to get to work as soon as might be. T" | letter contained the details for the rem tion of the clerks of the sub-committees,

MR. GASKELL AND HIS .COLLEAGUES. 4 MESSRS, STANFIELD AND CHAPPELL CHALLENGED. To the Editor of the Weekly Mail." Sir,—I am delighted that at last I have managed to get two of my opponents into the areua. Both Councillors Chappell and Stanfield are endeavouring to burke the real issues. First, let me deal with Councillor Chappell. On Wednesday night last, during the pain- ful task of staXing certain unpleasant facts concerning him to the Trades Unionists who return him to the council and to the people of Cardiff, I was compelled to refer to a personal gift. I apologised to my audience for this reference, but my speech and the reports of it in the press clearly show that it was done with a set purpose. Mr. Chappell refers only to the gift. and carefully ignores my statements. Mr. Chappell is the paid representative of the Coaltrimmers' Union, and is sent to the council to look after the interests of the men he represents. I stated in my speech that a well-known shipowner and a well-known coal exporter had contributed sums of money for Mr. Chap- pell's personal expenses, and that Mr. Chap- pell had received this money. Do not shipowners and coal exporters, either or both, employ coaltrimmers directly or indirectly? 9 How can the men's representative have a free hand and honestly do his duty by the men when he is under a personal monetary obligation to the masters? From a purely political point of view, how can Councillor Chappell have a free hand when he accepts gifts of money from his political opponents? No public maa has the right to accept gifts of money without inquiring as to the source from which that money comes. The money now returned by Mr. Chappell to me on my making the facts public has been handed to the infirmary. I challenge Mr. John Chappell to meet me on the Park-hall platform, in the face of all the world and the Trades Unionists of Car- diff, and to answer the questions I put in this letter. Now, sir, let me deal with Mr. Stanfield. 1 repeat my statement that Mr. Stanfield was not authorised by the Parliamentary com- mittee on the council to attend London to give evidence against the Barry Bill. The paragraph he quotes from the Parlia- mentary committee's minutes is simply the report of the formation of a sub-committee to deal with all Parliamentary Bills for the then forthcoming Parliamentary session, and does not authorise the members to go to London without further resolution. If Councillor Stanfield contends that it does authorise all the members to go up to London when they like, why was it necessary for this sub-committee (Councillor Stanfield himself being present) to pass on the 1st July, 1907, the following further resolution ?— That the follo*ing members be desired to give evidence against the Bill: The Lord Mayor, Alderman Carey, Councillor F. j. Beavan. Mr. Stanfield says he was summoned by ¡ the town-clerk. He wishes to convey the impression that this was by subpoena, or by process which compelled him to attend. I say ne received only the customary post- card or circular, and no subpoena. If Mr. Stanfield, as he suggests, was in London during the period in question on business connected with Bills other than the Barry Bill, why are not his expenses charged against these other matters? On the 31st July, 1907, his account for expenses came before the finance committee, and was passed, and the item reads: Councillor J. Stanfield. Travelling expenses re Barry Railway Bill, £22 ls. 6d. I gave the audience the details in my gpeecth. I will show these to anyone who cares to see them, and I have personally inspected Councillor Stanfield's receipt for the money. I want to know why he was there for thirteen days at the town's expense, includ- ing during the thirteen days three first-class return journeys from Cardiff to London. His only possible excuse may be that he was there in consultation. Then, first, I would ask him to produce the Parliamentary committee's resolution authorising him to go up to London for euch consultation? Secondly, I would ask him whether the con- sultation lasted for thirteen days; and, thirdly, I would ask him whether nis presenc,a was necessary in London, as well as that of the members of the committee autho- rised to go up by resolution? f Finally, I would point out that the town- clerk, who was actually conducting the opposi- tion to the Bill in Committee, was in London for seven days for that purpose; the three authorised witnesses were also there for seven days How can Mr. Stanfield account for rAe difference between thirteen days, the number of days for which he drew expenses from the ratepayers, and the seven days during which the town-clerk and the other members of the committee authorised to go up were engaged? There appear by a purely arithmetical deduction to be six days unaccounted for. I challenge Mr. Stanfield to meet me on the Park-hall platform, in the face of all the world and the ratepayers of Cardiff, and answer the questions in this letter. I am still waiting for Alderman John Jen- kins to explain how it is that, although he is paid by his supporters to represent the constituency of Chatham at Westminster, De can justify the fact that he, in connection with the same matter, drew the money of the ratepayers of Cardiff to defray a first- class return ticket, London to Cardiff, or vice versa, and three days' expenses at a guinea a day. As he was not one of those members of the sub-committee authorised to give evidence against the Bill, perhaps he would tell yoar readers whether his was also a case of con- sultations, and what expenses he actually incurred to need defrayment by the people of Cardiff at the rate of a guinea a. day. Now, sir, theGe matters are of tho greatest possible consequence to the people of Cardiff. Do the people think the action of these councillors right? I say it is not. The people can choose between these men and myself. They work with closed doors. I do not. I have never scrupled to give the people of Cardiff the whole truth, and I have never given publicity to any statements I could not justify. Moreover, I have never charged the people directly or indirectly—for jaunts or for busi- nne penny piece. I am ready and willing at any time to face the people of Cardiff on any plat- form and answer any question on any subject. Because of the importance of these matters, I ask you to publish this letter both in your morning and evening papers.—I am, Ac., FRANK GASKELL. 100, St. Mary-etreet, Cardiff, Sept. 25. MR. CHAPPELL'S REPLY. Mr. Chappell, in a further letter declines Mr. Gaskell's challenge to meet him at the Park-hall, and adds; — "I shall still go on in the even tenour of my way, my only regret being that Mr. Gaekell did not come to me sixteen months a,go and tell me that he expected that foul guinea to serve as a bribe. I would then have cleared his mind as to the value of such investment, and saved all his dirty cant and slander. If he had then told me that by his gift (which I was unaware of) he expected me to be under a monetary obligation to him I should not have received it. "Again, if he expected so much for a grninea, what will be his demands if I, by accepting his challenge, cause him the addi- tional expenditure of a. meeting of the world a.nd the Trades Unionists of Cardiff" in the Park-hall. "This, and my public work. I leave for judgment to the citizens of Cardiff, who have not as yet treated me unfairly."

wSELF GLORIFIED LABOUR ¡. MEMBERS." HEATED WRANGLE AT A SWANSEA 'j COMMITTEE. There was a wrangle at a meeting of the works end sanitary committee of the Swansea Corporation on Wednesday, in which two members were attacked on account of supposed personal interests. It arose with regard to plans put in for hide and skin stores in Tontine-street, and it was suggested that a nuisance would be created. The Chairman read a letter from the solicitor to Mr. Campey, the applicant, in which the corporation was tba.nked for having pointed out certain objections. Mr. Owen demanded the name of the solicitor, and the reply was Mr. Sfcobo Andrews. Mr. Owen: The letter came from Messrs. Andrews a.nd Thompson, so that there is a member of this committee who holds a brief for this man when he ought to be looking after the interests of the ratepayers. Mr. Thompson strongly resented the sugges- tion, and said that he refused to underlie the work of advising an old client in this matter, and that Mr. Campey thereupon went to his partner. Such a-ttacka as these always came from the self-glorified La.bourr members. Mr. Gwynne and Mr. Owen made indignant retorts, whereupon Mr. Howel Lewis asked was it not time that tttoh a business was already established in tie neighbourhood, and why didn't they do .way with that. Some people were paid for that job to-day. Mr. Owen: I am not paid," and demanded a withdrawal. Mr. Lewis (heatedly): Then I move thdtlt Mr. Owen ask his mother to leave froan there. i (Ooiramortrimi.) t After further heated remaffes fåa mittee rejected: Jjhie lottos.

THREE MEN IN THE PLOT. —— AMAZING FEATURE OF A BANK SWNDILE. A clever rogue who used the significant cognomen of Mr. D. S. Windell," suc- ceeded in getting away with notes and gold amounting to £2.610 from nine branches of the Lomdon and South-Western Bank last week, and has left no trace of his present whereabouts. That the fraud was worked to a successful issue by three men is the opinion both of the Scotland Yard authorities and the bank officials. First, there was the man at the head, who organised the whole scheme, and he must have had two confederates, one of whom has an intimate knowledge of the bank, and the other who went round, and gathered in the spoil. Probably it was an employe of the bank who supplied the first man with the advice slips, the envelopes, embossed with the name of the bank, a copy of the Harlesden branch manager's signature, the perforated postage stamps, and lastly the secret code word, without which nothing could have been done The advice notes having been filled in in the ordinary way, notifying the transfer of the sum of £750 standing to the credit of "Mr. Windell," they were duly posted. No loop- hole for suspicion of any kind was left, and on the following morning the third man rushed round in a taxi-cab and collected as much spoil as possible in the short space of two hours. Why the swindler contented himself with only drawing £290 from each bank when he could just as easily have had £700 seems a mystery. But the reason why he stopped after defrauding nine out of the thirteen banks was explained to a press representa- tive by Mr. Anderson, the chief inspector at the head offices. "At each branch he asked to see the mana- ger," said Mr. Anderson, "and at Forest-hill he learned that the manager was out. On his way to Crofton-pa.rk it must have struck him that. being the holiday season, the manager at Crofton-park or Forest-hill was away, and that one manager was looking after the two branches. As a matter of fact, that was so. and had the man called at the Crofton-park branch he might have had a far different reception to that acoorded him elsewhere. It appears that after looking through his letters that morning the Crofton-park manager went over to Forest-hill, a.nd there found a duplicate transfer Telating to Mr. 'D. S. Windell.' Learning that he had already visited that branch, the manager hastened back to Crofton-park. But the swindler failed to put in an appearance. "During the whole of the 35 years that I have been in the service of the bank," said Mr. Anderson, I have never heard of a neater fraud than this." By a procession of elimination the bank officials hope to be able to trace the con- federate if he is in the employ of the bank. But with 13,030 employes, all of whom, with one exception, are innocent men, the task is by no means an easy one. Another official at the bank stated that in all the history of bank frauds, the fraud just committed was the smartest. It was so simple! Yet so daring," he said, "and might easily happen again to-day, because something like 1,800 advice letters are sent out to various branches daily, and so for as I oan see there is absolutely no possible way of preventing such a swindle as this being sprung upon any bank." As the whole of tHe bank-notes were either of the value of £5 or £10, they are not likely to form any real clue, as they oan easily be negotiated at tobacconists, hotels, Ac. As a matter of fact, not ono of the stolen notes has yet reached the Bank of England, thus showing that one of the confederates must have gone abroad without delay after the coup had been brought off, and the probabi- lity is that the notes will slowly filter through to London in the course of the next few days. NUMBERS OF THE BANKNOTES STOLEN. The London and South Western Bank (Limited) on Tuesday issued the following cir- cular to banks, Ac.: — We have to inform you that the following notes have been obtained by fraud from the London and South Western Bank Five Pound Notes.—No. 01765 to 94, date 24-10-07; 01920 to 50, 24-10-07; 05051. 24-10-07. 22683. 18-10-07; 130500 to 28. 23-10-07: 33023, 24-10-07 33240. 24-10-07; 33245, 24.10-07; 52594 to 9, 25;10-Ø7: 64501 to 7, 24.10-07; 75251 to 90, 24-10-07; 73948 28-9-07; 75909 to 48, 26-10-07; 86118 to 50, 22-10-07- 88428 to 47. 21-10-07; 88951 to 90. 24-10-07; 89074] 21-10-07. "Ten Pound Notes.—43937 to 40, 17-6-07; 53572 to 5, 16-9-07; 68006 to 10, 17-8-07; 71988 to 97, 16-8-07. Should any of them come before your notice please communicate at once with the head office. 170. Fenchurch-etreet. London, E.C." The investigations into the fraud have up to the present yielded no definite clue. It is in the direction of tracing the channel by which the stationery and the bank code were obtained that the efforts of the detectives are being principally concentrated.

EDINBURGH BANK FRAUD CANARD. Inquiry at all the head offices of the banks in Edinburgh throws discredit on the report of a, fraud by a cheque for having been altered to £4,000. It is denied that any such fraud has been perpetrated in the city, and the story is regarded in banking circles as a hoax. No complaint has been lodged with the police tha.t a.ny such act has been committed.

SIR WILLIAM IN TEARS. 4 MERTHYRGREETS HER FIRST FREEMAN. The ceremony of conferring the freedom of the new county borough of Merthyr upon Sir William Thomas Lewis, Bart., K.C.V.O., took pitace on Thursday, the function passing off with great eclat. The main streets of the town were gaily decorated in honour of the occasion, and before the commencement of the proceedings the Cyfarthfa Band played selections of music in St. David's Schoolyard. There was a very large assemblage in the county-court room, in which the ceremony was conducted, among those present being several of the leading residents in the borough and many influential people from other parts. After the oaths had been administered by the town-clerk and Sir William had signed the roll, • The Mayor (Mr. D. W. Jones) presented The script, contained in a. handsome oasket, and in congratulating the new freeman said he was undoubtedly one of the most distin- guished and eminent Welshmen of the d<ay. Having regard to his services in the great industrial and commercial life of this oountry, he was one of the most prominent and outstanding features of this generation. (Applause.) Merthyr had always been (Applause.) Merthyr had always been regarded as the metropolis of the iron, steel, and coa.l indust-ries of the country, and it was peculiarly fitting that they should honour the man who had done more than any other to develop and foster these great industries. Sir William had served on many Royal Commissions, and in presenting the report of the Royal Commission on Mines to Parliament the Home Secretary had laid specia.l stress upon the great and distin- guished service which. Sir William had ren- dered, and of his varied and practical know- ledge of the working of coal. When Mr. Lloyd George wae presented with the freedom of Cardiff the present Chancellor of the Exchequer acknowledged the advice and assistance he had received from Sir William in the settlement of the great railway crisis. Although Sir William had not been born great, nor had greatness thrust upon him, he had achieved greatness. He had carved out his position with his own hands, and he enjoyed the honour and distinction conferred upon him without pride and without arro- gance. He retained the simplicity of life with which he started his upward career. He had always shown a desire to help deserv- ing young Welshmen, and, although he was a man of few words, he was a man of great and lofty ideas. (Loud applause.) SIR WILLIAM'S REPLY. Sir William, who was received with Tinging cheers, said, though Cardiff and Merthyr were at war for 250 years at least in the I SIR WILLIAM THOMAS LEWIS. early history of England, their interests were no longer in conflict, and he hoped, being a freeman of both places, that he might be the connecting link to their mutual benefit. As an illustration of the relative importance of the three chief towns in Glamorgan at the beginning of last century, they would be surprised to learn that of the total popula- tion of the county, which was then 70.879, Merthyr's was 11,000, Swansea's 6,099, while Cardiff's was 1,870. Merthyr was not only the means of starting Cardiff as a port of ship- ment by the construction of the Glamorgan-, shire Canal in 1739 for „con.veylAg iron from Merthyr to Cardiff, but, by the initiation and opening up of the Welsh steam coal trade in 1828, Merthyr ironworks and collieries created the necessity for docks at Cardiff, as well as the construction of railways, which had since ena.bled the mineral field to develop to suoh an enormous extent that the coal shipments in the port of Car- diff alone had grown from 83,729 tons in 1828 to 23,000,000 in 1907, which development pro- vided a livelihood at the present time for a population of about 150,000. (Applause.)- He was sanguine enough to believe that, not- withstanding the great differences of opinion that had existed iri the borough as to the advantages or disadvantages of incorpora- tion, all parties would now co-operate, so that by the proper exercise of the powers enjoyed by the corporation the domestic arrangements, as well as the conditions under which the whole of the inhabitants .throughout tlio district resided and carried I on their respective operations, would be I greatly improved, and that Merthyr would enjoy an honourable position in the muni- cipal life of the United Kingdom. (Cheers.) He also hoped that the knowledge that the corporation had power to confer such a dis- tinction as had just been granted to him would be an incentive and an encourage- ment to many Merthyr boys in the future to strive to render themselves worthy of having their names added to the role of the honorary freemen of the ancient town of Mertthyr. In connection with some of the movements in which he had taken particular interest he wished to state that not oae had given him greater pleasure than any effort he had made to improve the condition of working men-(oheers)--amd bringing about the best possible relations between employers and employed, in con- junction with Mabon, Louis Tyler, and many others. He should not be doipg justice to some no longer there if he did not acknowledge that whatever success he might have attained in matters relating to workmen was greatly due to the advice, encouragement, and constant assistance that he had received during the greater portion of hia life from two of them, viz., his mother and his wife. SIR WILLIAM IN TEARS. Sir William completely broke down on this reference, and there was am affecting eoene. At the close of the presentation proceedings Sir William entertained the mayor and corporation and numerous other guests to lunch at Cyfarthfa Castle.

GRANGE SENSATION. A WOMAN POISONED. Mary Martin, wife of John Martin, 18, Court-road, Grange, Cardiff, was found at midday on Thursday suffering from the effects of poison, and was removed by the police to the workhouse infirmary. It is believed that she swallowed some embrooaticn. She is much better. Mrs. Emily Kinnert, a married daughter, informed one of our representatives that she thought her mother had been affected by home troubles. Martin, who is a cabbie, came into the public eye a few months ago by acting as the official cabman to the suffragettes dur- ing their Cardiff campaign. He went out on Thursday as usual. Mrs. Martin made an unsuccessful search for him during the morning, and returning home at about 11.30. it is said that sihe took a large draught of embrocation. After having done so she went to the window and called out to a, neigh- bour- Tell Emily I ha.ve taken poison. Mrs. Kinnert, who was out at the back, rushed indoors and administered a.n emetic, after which. Mrs. Martin was taken to the workhouse infirmary.

AID FOR POOR CRIPPLES. MOVEMENT TO FORM A SOCIETY FOR CARDIFF. Emulating the example of Newport, Mr. G. H. Hodges is making a commendable effort to form a poor cripples' aid society for Cardiff. The Lord Mayor has consented to take the chair at a meeting in the mayor's parlour at 4.30 next Monday for the purpose of forming euch a society, and Mr. Hodges is anxious that those who a.re disposed to help should be acquainted with the move- ment. The chief-constable has given direc- tions at all the police-stations to have the names and addresses taken of all cripples who need assistance, and it is honed to get them all together for a tea when Sir William TreUoar, the London cripples' friend," is in Cardiff, so ttoaA be may address them. Readers who desire to help finamcdadly may i donations to Mr. R. Jyynfoyn

DISTRESS PREVALENT AT MAESTEG. MINERS LEVY THEMSELVES FOR RELIEF PURPOSES. A mass meeting of Maes teg miners was held on Monday, Mr. T. Griffiths presiding. The object cf the meeting was to consider the report of Mr. Hartshorn upon the condi- tion of the district. The present slump in trade in the coalfield, said Mr. Hartshorn, had now affected their own district. A aood many workmen had been, practically idle for some time, and one colliery for the whole month. In respect to the Cwmcedfvd Col- liery, a 10 -per cent. reduction had been sug- gested for the next two months. He would agree to the reduction if the company with- drew the day-to-day contract and guarantee work for the future. The management at Garth Colliery demanded a. 5 per cent, reduc- tion till the end of the year, and, if refused, said they would have to close the colliery. The directors of North's Navigation had refused to withdraw the notices at No. 9 Col- liery, and stated they were considering whether they should close one of the big collieries as well until the revival of trade. Whatever became of North's, something must be done for the men already out. To assist the distress Mr. Hartshorn advised the men to levy themselves to the extent of 6d. per week, which was unanimously agreed to. The notices which would expire on Wednes- day because of the non-Unionist question were left to Mr. Hartshorn to deal with. FINANCIAL AID SOUGHT FROM THE LODGES. The executive council of the Miners' Fede- ration met at Cardiff on Monday, Mr. W. Abraham in the chair. Mr. A. Onions (treasurer) was unable to attend on account of illness, and Mr. Brace was also absent in consequence of his services being required at the Merthyr miners' demonstration. Attention was called to the distress pre- vailing in the Western or Swansea district consequent upon the stoppage of so many collieries, and it was resolved that the general secretary be asked to issue a circu- lar to the lodges asking them to financially support the Western district of the Federa- tion in their endeavours to relieve the work- men. Llanibradaoh Strike.—Mabon gave a report of the negotiations that has taken place over the matters in dispute at this colliery, and he stated that up to the pre- sent they had failed to arrive at any agree- ment.-The report was accepted, and it was resolved that the 'workmen be paid their strike money every fortnight. The agenda of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain annual conference to be held in Chester next week was considered, and the following-delegates appointed to attend- Messrs. James Manning, C. B. Stanton, and James Winstone. NON-UNIONISTS FALL INTO LINE AT CWMTILLERY. After five days' idleness work was resumed at the Owmtillery Collieries on Tuesday night, all the non-Unioniets having been induced to join the Federation.

NEWCASTLE ELECTION. --L The result was declared on Friday morn- ing. The Press Association oorrespondent says that it surprised no one in the constituency. Mr. Hartley did not make his appeax-&noe MR. GEORGE RENWICK. I in the counting-room. Mr. Shortt was the first to attend, shortly suffer nine o'clock. He chatted pleasantly with Mr. Renwick. The latter came in at 10-20. It was then knoowix that he could not be beaten. A great orowd surrounded the Town-hall, and there was loud cheering on the declara- tion of the poll. The figures as announced yesterday in OUT first editions were:— Mr. G. Renwick (U.) 13,863 Mr. E. Shortt (L.) 11.720 Alderma.n E. B. Hartley (Soc.) 2,971 Unionist majority over Lib. 2,143 PREVIOUS ELECTIONS. Former elections for the two seats have resulted as follows:— resulted as follows:— 1886. John Morley (R.) 10,681 J. Craig (B.) 10,172 Sir W. G. Arm- strong (V.) 9,657 air M.W. Ridley (U.) 9,680 1892. C. F. Hamond (U.).. 13,823 John Morley (B.) 10,905 J. Crais (B.) 10,686 1892 (on Mr. Morley's aeoeptanoe of offtce). John Morley (B.) 12,983 P. RaJli (U.) 11,244 1895. C. F. Hannond (U.) 12,833 W. D. Cruddas (U.) 12,170 John Morley (E.) 11,862 J. Craigr (B.) 11,154 J. Craigr (B.) 11,154 F. Hammill (I.L.P.) 2,302 1900. W. R. Pltwunw (U.) 15,097 G. Renwick (U.) 14,752 1900. W. R. Pltwunw (U.) 15,097 G. Renwick (U.) 14,752 S. Storey (R.) 10,488 Captain Hon. H. L&mbton (R.) •••• IOj^J 1906. W. Hudson (Lab.).. 18,869 T. Cairns (B.) 18,423 Sir W. R. Plummer (U.) 11,942 G. Boa wick <tJ.) .• 11,223

MR. W. P. NICHOLAS URGES THEM TO JOIN. The members of the Merthyr District of the South Wales Miners' Federation had their annual demonstration on Monday. A mass meeting was held at the Drill-hall, under the presidency of Mr. John Davies, chairman of the district, who was supported on the plat- form by Mr. W. Brace, M.P., Mr. W. P. Nicholas, solicitor to the Federation, Mr. P. D. Rees, Aberaman, Mr. John Williams (the agent), and others. The Chairman remarked that in the matter of Unionism the district stood in a better position now than it had done for the last, four years, and would compare favourably with any other part of the coalfield. Mr. John Evans, vice-chairman of the dis trict, presented the report of the committee I appointed to deal with the establishment of a workman's hall and institute. The report was in favour of the scheme, and Mr. Evans mentioned that three good sites had been offered. It was considered by those present that it would be advisable to have another mass meeting to go into this matter alone, and this was agreed to. Mr. John Williams, in moving the Federa- tion resolution, suggested various amend- ments which he thought ought to be made in the Workmen's Compensation Act, where- by provision should be made for payment of compensation for injuries arising not only from accident, but from such causes as poisonous air, whereby the employers should be obliged to provide light work for injured workmen when the doctors declared that they were fit to undertake it, and whereby the full amount of compensation should be paid immediately upon a workman's death. Mr. Johrf Evans seconded the resolution. Mr. W. P. Nicholas, in supporting it, said that out of the ruins of the great strike of 1898 had grown up one of the greatest organisations in the kingdom—an organisa- tion of which they might be justly proud. and which to-day stood financially sound, and was possessed of funds which, in round num- bers, did not run far short of £ 200,000. What had this organisation done? It had secured for them better conditions of employment, it had secured for them that which they had set out to obtain-a 30 per cent. minimum- and it had brought about during the past ten years a period of peace and prosperity in the coalfield which had not been equalled in its previous annals. (Hear, hear.) This was due to their organisation and to the wisdom and sagacity which their leaders had displayed. They had leaders worthy of their confidence, who had only their true interests at heart. The organisation had secured to them, further, a fair share of Parliamentary representation in the coal- field, and had secured and preserved for them privileges in the courts. On the non- Unionist question one was surprised to find any persons not prepared to become mem- bers of the organisation. No man should be entitled to take the benefits which were obtained by paying members to watch their interests on the conciliation, board unless he was at the same time prepared to share the burden. (Hear, hear.) He believed that ere long the employers would see the reason- ableness of that position, and that if men were not prepared voluntarily to come into this great organisation steps would be taken to compel them to do so, because, apart from the legal position, there was the Divine injunction that men were not allowed to reap where they had not sown. (Hear, hear.) On the question of extra payment for work- ing in abnormal places, Mr. Nicholas expressed a hope that before long provision would be made in every price-list in the coalfield for a minimum wage for men work- ing on soft coal. COMPULSION FOR NON-UNIONISTS. Mr. W. Brace, M.P., who met with an enthusiastic greeting, said the time was when Wales was a byeword in the councils of trade combinations. They stood as the most disorganised coalfield in the world, and they required to go through days of tribu- lation to teach them that, after all, if the miners were to be saved, they must be saved by their own power and determination and strength. By the power of capital they had been compelled to accept conditions cf employment that were neither reasonable nor just, but to-day they had a great Federa- tion, carrying with it a conciliation board, under which at this moment they retained their position on the maximum, although in every other ooaJfield there was a reduction. He rejoiced that Wales had stood up, deter- mined to rea/Cth a higher standard of com- fort than she had hitherto enjoyed. He had always advocated compulsion in trade matters when men would not join volun- tarily. He believed that no man had the rigfot to receive the benefits of the Federa- tion without being prepared to accept the Tespoaunliulities and to pay his share towards its. upkeep., w ales had led way in D1a.ny tilings, but Rigi)ally to. this particalar ditreo- tion, for immediately the coalfields of Soot- land and England saw that Wales had the power, and used it with effect, to teach men their duty and their obligations to each other, they themselves put that power into operation, with the result that the Miners' Federation of Great Britain was now more powerful than ever, and was the most potent Trades Union to be found in any part of the world. He stood for a voluntary conciliation board, not because he believed it to be per- fect, but beoause he thought the same power that had brought it into existence could, without a struggle or a strike, so build npon the fabric as to give the miners of South Wales better conditions of employ- ment than they now enjoyed. No man in the world had a greater objection to a strike than himself, but he felt that it was the one weapon alone of all instruments that gave the workman an equal opportunity with his employer in defence of his interests. (Hear, hear.) The one weakness of the conciliation board was the want of an independent chairman to oome in to determine cases in connection with colliery disputes in the game way as he was called in to settle the general wage question. With all the imperfections of the scheme, it was well to Temember that under the old sliding-scale they in Wales were the last to receive the advances and the first to receive the reductions, whereas, under the concilia- tion board, they were the first to receive the advances and the last to receive the deductions. (Hear, hear.) Speaking of the Eight Hours Bill, the speaker protested against the contention of the coalowners and the Ooal Consumers' Association that the passage of the measure would bring ruin on the country in general and on the mining industry in particular. We have made up our minds to have this Bill," he said, emphatically, amid applause. Com- menting upon the result of the Newcastle election, Mr. Brace said that the L.R.C. decided not to fight, and Alderman Hartley went there, as he had declared, to keep the Liberal out at all costs, with the oonsequence that Mr. Renwick, a tremendous opponent of the Eight Hours Bill, had been returned. He himself was a strong advocate of an Independent Labour Party. Tie was in favour of the election of the most powerful Parliamentary Labour Party possible, and of fighting seats where- ever there was a reasonable hope of winning. and sending to the House of Commons direct mouthpieces of Labour, but rather than go in for splitting the progressive vote, a.nd sending in an opponent, he would submit the Labour programme to the respective candidates, and would support the one who came nearest to it, thereby keeping the Labour Party intact ais the great operating medium on the floor of the House of Com- mons, plus a majority of a number of men who. they would not go the whole length, would at least oome some distance to help them to solve the great social problems. Mr. Brace went on to deal with the question of unemployment, emphasising the sacred duty of the Christian Churches to treat this as a, great question of national import. To improve the conditions of the poor and help- less. he urged, was a work which was largely in"their own hands. If they had a Socialistic Government in power to-morrow it could not go faster than the desires of the nation, and they must, therefore, seek to teach the nation the way in whioh it ought to go. (Applause.) The resolution was passed, and thanks were voted to the speakers and the chair- man.

A PENARTH MOTORIST SUMMONED. MR. W. T. LAWRANCE MAKES A SUCCESSFUL PLEA. At St. Oolumb Petty-sessions on Tuesday Mr. William Birch, 76, Windsor-road, Penarth, was summoned for driving a motor- car in excess of the speed limit at St. Breock. Inspector Miller said defendant drove the car over a quarter of a mile in 33 seconds, equal to a rliite of 27 miles an hour. Subsequently, when he saw the driver he said he was in a hurry to get to Tintagel, as the weather was wet, and perhaps he was going a little fast. Mr. W. T. Lawrance, barrister, asked that service of summons might be proved. The justices' clerk did not think it necessary, suggesting that Mr. Lawrance slight call witnesses. This he did, and from Poiice-sefgeant Kolloway Mr. Lawrance elicited that he served the summons and notice at the same time. Superindendent Gard: But he was given verbal notice before. Mr. Lawrance: The prosecution is closed. You made that man my witness, and you have no right to say that, and it cannot be admitted as evidence Dealing with the case, Mr. Lawrance, having expressed regret at the absence of defendant and his employer, said he was not in a position to dispute the facts, but the material point was that in view of the evidence the bench were not entitled to convict. Mr. Lawrance quoted the Motor Act to prove that the legislature intended there should be a notice served antecedent to the prosecution, which was not done in this case. Stopping, Mr. Lawrance held conference with the justices' clerk, during which Superin- tendent Gard spoke to the clerk. This brought a strong protest from Mr. Lawrance, who said: You must not confer with the Bench. I will have a note taken of that if we go higher. I object entirely, and if necessary I will take it higher." The Chairman said the Bench were of opinion that the arguments of Mr. Lawrance could not be refuted. Therefore, the oaee would have to be dismissed.

PERILS OF THE PIT. ABERCARN HAULIER'S DEATH. Mr. M. Roberts-Jones, coroner for South Monmouthshire, held an inquest at Abercarn on Wednesday morning respecting the death of Henry Thomas, aged 58, underground haulier, 40. Ranks, Abercarn. Mr. W. J. Everett, solicitor, Pontypool, appeared on behalf of the Celynen Colliery Company, and Mr. Lewis Hughes, chairman of the work- men's committee, represented the workmen. Two witnesses stated deceased had told them he met with a slight accident, but the medical evidence showed there were no signs whatever of an alleged injury. The jury returned a verdict that death resulted from acute gastritis. NEATH COLLIER'S DEATH. An inquest was held at Neath on Wednesday on the body of John Gomer Lewis, aged 19. of Penydre, Neath, who was injured by a fall of stone at the Brynteg Colliery in August last, and who died on Monday. Mr. RandeU (Messrs. Randell, Saunders, and Randell) appeared for the Miners' Federation, and Mr. White (his Majesty's Inspector of Mines) was also present. Morris Mort (16), Water-etreet, Neath, said he found Lewis under a big stone. Dr. Thomas, The Wern, said the deceased had sustained a fracture and a. dislocation of the spine, in consequence of which the lower limbs were completely paralysed. The cause of death was blood-poisoning, weak- ness, a.nd exhaustion A verdict ol Accidental death" pa iTptmswi.

ALLEN RAINE AS THE BREADWINNER. + LETTER FROM NOVELIST'S BROTHER. To the Editor of the Weekly Mail." Sir,—The press notices of my late sister's works have been so universally kind and appreciative that I have hitherto hesitated drawing attention to slight inaccuracies which may have appeared in them, but I think it due to the memory of her most excellent husband and his friends to set the public right on a little mistaken informa- tion frequently appearing in the English and Welsh newspapers. It is incorrect to suppose that when Mr. Beynon Puddicoiflbc's health gave way his wift- became the breadwinner of the family." as he had retired from business on a very handsome pension, which continued payable up to the day of his death; and the home by the sea, so often described as having been built out of the proceeds of the sale of books, was in reality built by Mr. Puddicombe long before the publication of his wife's first novel. That "Allen Raine" was sorely amicted is, alas! only too true; but that she, from necessity, became the breadwinner is a mistake, the absolute and unalloyed truth being that her books were written more from pure attachment and devotion to her beloved Wales than for the sake of enrich- ing herself.—I am, Ac., J. H. EVANS. Brynmarlog, Newcastle Emlyn, Sept. 28.

HOUSING CONDITIONS AT BLACKWOOD. A very interesting discussion on the hous- ing of the working olasses ensued at Bed- wellty District Council meeting on Monday upon a motion by Mr. H. Pope that the Act be adopted at Blackwood. The mover said that there were numerous cases where there were as many as three families living in one house, and two families existed in nearly every house. Many families did not come to Blackwood because there was no accommodation. Alderman N. Phillips was afraid they would discourage thrift in adopting the Act, would discourage thrift in adopting the Act, as the working man would never build on his own account if a council would provide a house for him. The council decided to get information; from, other bodice. .A'\o.

I HALE AND HEARTY AT NINETY. f SOME MEMORIES OF OLD CARDIFF. Mrs. Mary Lewis, wiaow or the late Mr. David Lewis, who was for 45 years a dock- gateman at Cardiff, celebrated her ninetieth birthday on May 10 last. Possessed of all her faculties, and remarkably bright for her a.ge, Mrs. Lewis lives sunnily in the full enjoyment of life at 117, Treharris-street, Roath, Cardiff, a pattern to many ladies twenty years or more her junior. When a Weekly Mail "• representative called upon her on Tuesday Mrs. Lewis opened the door herself, and blithely led the way into her cosy sitting-room. At first our representative thought there was some mistake. He had been told off to interview a person of advanced age, and it teemed scarcely possible that this nimble lady who so cheerfully handed him a chair was actually in her ninetieth-first year. Yes, I was born on the 10th of May, 1818," Mrs. Lewis asserted, adding that, though Bristol was her birthplace, she had spent much of her childhood in Cardiff before ultimately coming to live in the city of coal. Mrs. Lewis said her second husband (Mr. Lewis) had been dead about twenty years. When fhe came to settle in Cardiff the Welsh. Metropolis was a mere village. The place was so small that the arrival of a stranger was instantly known in every house, and the comings and the goings of the new-comer were the subject of gossip on doorsteps and across back gardens. The large suburb of Roath 50 years ago belonged to the Castle, and comprised open fields, farms, and nursery gardens. No one dreamed in those days of thi many miles of houses that were to spring up. There were1 plenty of poor men's little gardens, or allotments, in those days, explained Mrs. Lewis. The complexion of The Hayes was completely different then. There was a street of small tumble-down houses, with little shops here and there, Where the Free Library i8. stretching rht to the Monu- ment. When Mrs. Lewis was a girl she remembered noticing in Queen-street that all the houses were thatched except one. Mrs. Lewis was first married at the age cf twenty at Bristol. THE OLD TOWN-HALL. There was an old theatre in Crockherbtown (Queen-street), where the Park Hotel now stands. She remembers as one of the great events of the time the building of the old Town-hall, which was thought as much of then as now are the present new City-hall and Law Courts. At that time the market was held in the High-street. Stalls were erected at the side of the pavement, and produce from the country was sold there- from. There were many farms round Car- diff, which was then self-contained, and nearly everything consumed in the place was produced in the neighbourhood. Everybody depended upon the supply from these places all round. There wa*s practically nothing coming from abroad, amd the farmers' wives sold their butter, aheese, poultry, rabbits, eggs* Ac., from these stalls, which sometimes had two or three different tenants during the day, dairy men or maids succeeding butchers or greengrocers, and so on. Fifty years ago one of the police-stations was in the High-street, and -it was fronted by large stocks, in which men who had committed minor offenoes were exposed to the ribald jests of the assembled wits of the town or the passing throng. It was then one of the weekly sights of the time to go and see who had been placed in the stocks. Mrs. Lewis never saw a.ny throwing of ancient eggs or other kitxj of missiles, but, presumably, the oulprits were oometimes, when unpopular, regarded as so many Aunt Sallies to be peppered and shied at. A row or houses stood where the Castle now rears its tower, and the old Globe Hotel, now being demolished, was opposite. Farther on was the old Canton stone bridge, the foundations of whioh are still in evi- dence at the side ef the handsome new structure. On the approach to the bridge was the hotel at which formers put up when coming in from the country to dispose of their pro- duce. Here gathered all the market gardeners, greengrocers, dairymen, Ac., who brought in their wares for the maintenance of the Cardiff people. Mrs. Lewis remembers Queen Victoria coming to the throne, and the inhabitants of Cardiff celebrated the occasion right royally with illuminations, Ac. She also remembers the rejoicings over the birth of the Princess aT*d the Prince of Wales (now Edward VnO- There were large bon- fires and roast oxen, and the poor people were not forgotten. The latter received generous orders upon grocers for tea. and sugar, and everything was dOue., on a moat lavish. c1 gratifying scale. RESPECT FOR THE MARQUESS. The then Marquess of Bute was the great man of the time, and be was looked rap to and inspected by all classes, especially as a large and generous employer. The little houses in Qae«n-street—there were four right in the centre of the road- would be regarded as very queer struct tires in these times. Those hDuses were the property of her grandmother. Mrs. Lewis's grandmother, who lived to be 100, was born in Cardiff, and died in one of these houses. She was a respected license" victualler, and was known as Mary Evans, of the Cross Keys." Banks were not such stable bulwarks of society then, and Mrs. remembers the failure of Bank and the ruin of many people, including her grandmother. Another bank that failed Practically ruined Mrs. Lewis herself. St. John's-square was then known as St. John's-arch, the stone structure being one of the sights of the town, of which the inhabi- tants were proud. Part of St. John's Church reached right into the street There were no boats nd railways in those days, and travelling "as something to be thought about before being undertaken Ships came in for the coal, which was thrown up on to the vessels by hand labour, a very laborious process. On one memorable occa- sion Mrs. Lewis was shipwrecked. She was sailing from Bristol to visit her uncle at Dinas Powis. She was only a little girl at the time, but the experience was one that could not be forgotten. The vessel was landed high and dry on a mud-bank, and there was nothing to do but to wait for the tide to re-float her. But before the tide came .up the vessel tumbled on to its side. Mrs. Lewis, in her bunk at the time, was rudely thrown out, and sustained a nasty cut on her arm. Evidence of the wound inflicted is still on the injured member, and, as the doctor said at the time, she will carry the mark to her grave. The vessel was righted when the tide rose, but it was two or three days before Mrs. Lewis got to her grandmother's house prior to the completion of her adventurous journey. In bidding our representative good-bye, Mrs. Lewis said she was not one of those who thought only the old things were good. She thought the people of the present times ought to consider themselves very fortunate in the possession of many excellent things which in her younger days had to be fore- gone.

COLLIERIES IDLE IN THE WESTERN DISTRICT. The officials of the Western Miners' Associa- tion state that distress has been very acute for the past few weeks, and efforts have been made to relieve the worst cases. The I whole of the district appears to share in the depression in trade, and some collieries have not worked one day during the past month, w whilst many are employed only two days a week. It is estimated that about 2,000 men are only in partial employment. "STOP WAGONS;' AT PONTYPRIDD. There is no cessation of work at the col- lieries at Pontypridd this week. Last week, however, the Great Western and Tymawr Collieries were idle for one day through "stop wagons," and over 2,000 men were affected uy the stoppage.

SON'S GRAVE POSITION. TREDEGAR COLLIER ACCUSED OF WOUNDING HIS MOTHER. William Jones, 29, collier, Tredegar, pleaded guilty at the local oourt on Tues- day to a oharge of wounding his mother, stating he was too drunk at the time to know what he was doing. The Complainant said she also was drunk. Her son was very quiet when sober. The prisoner was remanded in custody for a. week, aA it was stated, oompliecttsan* znfcbtr vet in* "0-- -.>

REMARKABLE RULING O I QTJ jsstiqk/ of MEA p ';> A startling light upon the which the prcv-isions of the Otd-age pOllbl Act will be applied is afforded by the tl lations which have just been issued to officers. The News of the World" We are in possession of an aMfCari ^jie- ruling upon the vexed queotiom- o* ^Vred This ruling is to be found in a. uff-oo-lo book containing private instructions to P*r0 6ion officers as to how they must estimate claims of the applicants to a pension- t-. the matter is of public importance, it ie oolt to understand why general publicity not been given to these rulings. We are, ever, enabled to impart the necessary i^e, mation to our readers, and much C, icb we think, will be felt at the manner in whlc the Act has been interpreted. Stifffy In the first place the claimant must the pension officer that his yearly meanSj calculated under the Act do not e £ 31 10s. In calculating the income 01 claimant the pension officer will take lD aocount- 11 (1) The income which he may reasons^ expect to receive during the corning f in cash, whioh, in the absence of evidence, will be taken to be the inco actually received during the past year.. (2) The inoome accruing to the claim* from any property belonging to him also the income whioh might be obtain. from any such property whioh, £ oapa.ble of investment, is not invested profitably used. of (3) The yearly value of any beneflt I privilege enjoyed by the olaimant. IS If a claimant lives rent free or receives allowance of fuel, or is entitled to pasturage for his cow or horse, or the right,to cut wood, Ac., he must be to give credit for the value of these leges. A claimant is not obliged to sink capital by purchasing an annuity, nor his income be estimated cm the assumd?* that he has done so; the income derived or which might be derived from his oapp- if invested is the baffis of assessment. The yeaj-ly vaJoe of free board. lodo clothing, Ac., 17y whomsoever provided, 1 be taken into account. The standard of living of the person whom the claimant resides will be taken consideration in determining the poind. rural districts the yearly vaiue, in the nary oase, will be taken at about 3s. 6d- KJg week, in towns 5s. per week. In Ireland t corresponding values will be 2s. 6d. and week. It must be understood that whj payment is made for board and lodging, such payment is less than the value, the latter will be considered in calculation of means. 4+irf^ Where the claimant possesses money in hand or invested which does not bear rest, or has property from which no beD t is derived, his yearly income in this will be deemed to be 4 per cent. on the alia. of such money or property. Furniture and personal effects belonging to and used by the claimant exceedin,g nO in value will be disregard When, however, the value exceeds £ 30 4 cent, on the amount of the excess wi11 ^0 added to the other means possessed by clm. For the sake of example, we take the fo]1o 3 ing caae of a retired worker whose in-CO made up &sunder:- ,g S. & 9" a m A V Value of free lodgings 4 Trades Union allowance (3s. per a week) Voluntary allowance from son (2s. q 6d. per week) 6 4 per cent, on £ 40—savings not q invested x The total income here is £ 19 18s., and^_g, pension would be 5s. a week. The however, has a few personal effects-—1 tune, an old clock, and other articles, he would not care to pa,-t with. Th«y_ valuable, but the money value is the part to him. They are assessed at £ 70- excess value over £ 30 is £ 40, and 4 P°r of this £ 1 12s.) must be added. This ^0$ the total income £ 21 10s., and the P° falls to 4s. per week. SCHERULE. ^\0 The following table shows the ^c0' according to which pensions will be lated ajid paid:- lated %nd paid:- If claimant's means He or she is en\dý' do not exceed to a w of Yearly. Weekly. Ponsloo £ 21 0 0 8s bs- £ 23 12 6 M. L26 5 0 10s. £ 28 17 6 11s. fT £ 31 10 0 12s of A full and clear explana*l«n or\t**e Old-age Pension Act has been P 1 in pamphlet form. bOc'i0' ? taries of friendly and all oth*lie« ties, and others requiring coPff## y distribution may obtain them I written application to the H Mailt"- Cardiff. JjkM _0