The Aberdare Leader

THE PENSION OFFICER.—A BAD FLAW IN A GOOD ACT. AT a special meeting of the Aberdare District Council held on Monday in re- ference to the administration of the Old Age Pensions Act, Councillor W. Thomas remarked that the clause in the Act which provided that the local excise officer should also be pension officer was a defect in the Act. We quite agree with Mr Thomas. It is noticeable that as a rule excise officers are men who are entire strangers to the districts wherein they pursue their occupation. This is doubtless a wise arrangement, for excise officers, like all men in positions of trust, and whose occupa- tions afford them opportunities to exer- cise partiality and practise dishonesty, should be encouraged to direct the prayer Lead us not into temptation to those who employ them, and also the roads along which they are led into temptation should be as few and far between as possible. But with a pen- sion officer it is different. To him there will be but few opportunities to be partial or dishonest, and in the selection of eligible recipients for old age pensions there is not likely to be a large scope for bribery or corruption. Moreover, as Mr W. Thomas suggests, the chief qualification in such an officer is that he is well acquainted with the candidates for the Government's doles, and can therefore give material assistance in the work of ascertaining whether in the matter of age and other respects the applicant is qualified. And all the better if the officer can converse with the people in their own tongue. For in Aberdare, as well as in many other parts of Wales, a great number of the residents of 70 years of age and upwards are monoglot Welshmen and Welsh- women, In short, the chief qualifica- tions in a pension officer would be know- ledge of the would-be-pensioners per- sonally and of their language, and there is no reason to believe that such know- ledge would in any way induce him to exercise undue partiality. Now, however, it is too late to kick against a clause in a measure which has become an Act of Parliament. We can only hope that in instances where the officer will be a comparative stranger he will agree to concede a liberal degree of latitude to the Pension Committee, which will necessarily be constituted of gentlemen who will be fairly well acquainted with the people of that particular neighbour- hood.

LETHARGY OF MINISTERS. Sir,—For some time past I have noticed the lethargy displayed by minis- ters of the Gospel towards the various meetings held from time to time on the Aberdare Square. Various attacks are made on the faith they hold dear, yet they have not got the courage of their convictions to come out and defend themselves. I think it high time they should abandon this hermit life and show themselves a living force. To me it is a pitiable sight to behold illiterate persons engaged in argument with a cultured lecturer when their ipaid repre- sentatives stand aloof. Hoping thef;e lines will create an awakening force amongst them.—I remain. HAWK'S EYE.

CWMAMAN'WORKMEN'S TRAIN. Sir,—As one who travels daily by this train, I should. like to suggest to those who are responsible for running it, the need of reducing the fare. I am told that Mr. Heppell promised at the com- mencement, if the system would prove a success, that the fare would be reduced from 2s. to ls. 6d. per fortnight. There is no doubt about its success. Four hundred passengers would cover the cost, whereas there are nearly 600 miners car- ried to and fro daily. Colliery deduc- tions are becoming very heavy. What with doctors' poundage, library pound- age, checkweighers, train fares, and other little items, the net amount of wages is considerably reduced. At pres- ent we pay half of the full fare paid by casual passengers in the ordinary cars between Black Lion Crossing and Cwm- aman. The ordinary return fare is only 4d.; some time ago it was 3d. We col- liers have to pay 2d. a day, whether we are at work or not, and even when we lose the train and have to walk the dis- tance. I am of opinion that Is. 6d. would be ample, and would be quite suffi- cient to meet the expenses. May I appeal to those in authority to consider the matter.—I am, etc., Aberdare. DOCKET.

UNFAIR TACTICS. Sir,—I was standing in the crowd round the Unitarian Van at Aberaman the other night, listening to the addresses delivered by the appointed missioners. Ever and anon some leaflets were offered me, and I accepted them. It was natural for me to assume that this literature was distributed by the people in charge of the Van, and that it was meant to further explain the views of Unitarians. By the light of the lamps I read on, and sought to understand the Unitarian tenets. Text after text, which had been strung together, did I read, and I was complimenting myself upon having ac- quired a fair grasp of what they were driving at. I had heard a great deal of Unitarianism, but it was not before then that I had any conception of their views. Judge my surprise when, on reaching home, I found that the tract had noth- ing to do with the Unitarian Van at nil, but had been printed by some Christadelphian firm, and probably dis- tributed by Christadelphians at the meeting. Now I maintain that this is not playing the game. The meeting had been con- vened by the Unitarians and at their ex- pense, and it was a mean and contempti- ble business for Christadelphians to take advantage of the crowd by pushing their wares without even stating that the wares were their own. What if an auctioneer had hired a stand to sell goods, and then for cer- tain hawkers to move about and through the crowd, pushing their own articles on people who were under the impression that they belonged to the auctioneer. It would be branded as unfair and under- handed procedure. The tactics of the Christadelphians cannot be character- ised as anything better.I am, etc., Aberaman. ONE OF THE CROWD.

Holiday Musings. BY AN ABERDARE CARDI." (Continued.) What sort of an M.P. did he make ?" "Rather unsuccessful I should ima- gine. I have never heard him deliver a set speech, and I am not at all anxious to hear him." "He turned against his party lately, did he not? And was it not said that this judgeship was offered him in order to get rid of him?" "Yes, I think he opposed the Passive Resistance Policy of Mr. Lloyd George, but I pity the party oi person who would be afraid of our nev judge." What is likely to come of the protest now made against him y the Miners' Federation?" It is very difficult to say. No doubt the judge is perfectly conscientious in giving his awards, but lie suffers from a lack of knowledge of the peculiar circum- stances from which most compensation cases arise. If he spent his holidays in some of the local collieries he might then better appreciate the arguments adduced on behalf of th.3 applicants for compensation. As for removing him from his present post, the miners and their agents will find that a most diffi- cult undertaking." We were passing through Llanbadarn Fawr, with its ancient church. To the south we could see the monument on the hill-top, and we observed that at the foot of the hill whole rows of houses were being built. Aberystwyth is still grow- ing. It was a few days after our arrival, when, one morning, we were sauntering up and down the fine Promenade. I suddenly caught sight of a tall, elderly gentleman, whom I had frequently seen while on previous visits to this charming seaside place. I nudged my friend and said, "There goes Mr. Gibson, of the 'Cambrian News. "What!" exclaimed my friend, evi- dently surprised, "is that one of the dis- turbers of the peace at the Town Council meetings ?" "No, that is the Justice of the Peace. Mr. J. Gibson, jnr., is the Town Coun- cillor." "What is all the row about at those metings ?" Anything and everything. The Aberystwyth Town Council are guaran- teed to quarrel over any given subject, no matter what it is." We turned to Terrace Road, and as we approached the Town Clock we heard a voice calling upon us. We turned and looked, and lo and behold, it was no other than Mr. D. M. Richards, of Aber- dare. He was standing on the doorstep of the Gogerddan Arms, with a cigar in his mouth, and a field glass case suspend- ed over his shoulder. At his invitation we went inside and partook of a drink. Scarcely had we toasted his good health and he ours, before he made a sudden bolt to the extreme end of the corridor. We soon noticed that he was engaged in an interesting conversation with some important personage. We assumed that he was important because of his well- groomed appearance, and he was wear- ing a frock coat and a top hat. We waited for some time, but Mr. Richards was still engrossed in conversa- tion with the same gentleman. We left the hotel and Mr. Richards, but he re- mained present in my friend's thoughts, for we had only walked a few yards when he remarked: "Wonderful man, D.M., isn't he?" "I agree. He's a marvel. A perfect glutton for hard work, and possesses a keen scent for good 'copy' and good cigars. If all the 'copy' he has written and all the ashes from the cigars he has smoked were placed in one heap, what a gigantic monument it would be to his ever active brain and his unwavering de- votion to the goddess Nicotine." "Busy man?" H Very. Journalism is only one of his many avocations. You know, of course, that D.M. is D.A.'¡,. most faithful hench- man. Mr. D. A. Thomas has a safe seat in the Merthyr Boroughs so long as Mr. Richards keeps gtard. He keeps King Coal's throne warm, and never neglects an opportunity of 'furthering his in- terest,' to use a hackneyed phrase." "What is Mr. Thomas up to lately? He seems to be buying up the whole of the South Wales Coalfield." a True. It is not so very long ago since he disclaimed holding a Director's seat on the Cambrian Collieries Board. That was done to gratify the Labour section at Merthyr and Aberdare who were getting uneasy at the time. But now he appears on the scene open and unashamed as a Trust King at the head of one of the largest coal combines in the United Kingdom." "In what light is the Labour section of his constituents likely to regard this move, now that he is a bigger capitalist than even Sir W. T. Lewis?" "I believe his seat is safe so long as he keeps his capital out of his own con- stituency. Let him buy a few collieries in the Aberdare or Merthyr district, and then let there be a few disputes, his place in Parliament would be as good as lost." Promotions and honours from Parlia- ment come very slow his way?" U Yes. Knighthoods, Baronetcies, Peerages, and offices are strewn all around him, but D.A. is still a plain Mr. and a plain M.P. Doubtless that is owing to his independence and his re- fusal to co-operate with the Welsh Party. He crowned his Ismaelitish policy the other day by voting against the Education Bill." "What was that I heard some time ago regarding the offer of a peerage on certain conditions?" "I don't attach any credence to the silly rumour. It was stated that if he would advance £ 100,000 to keep "The Tribune going, the present Government would be prepared to recognise his ser- vice to the Liberal cause by transferring him to the Upper Chamber." "Very pretty story. Lord Scuborwen or Viscount Llanwern would sound all right after a time. Who would then be his successor in the Commons, represent- ing Merthyr and Aberdare?" "It is tolerably certain that Labour would claim another seat, and the choice would lie between Mr. C. B. Stanton, Mr. G. H. Bibbings, and Aid. Enoch Morrell. Probably one of the two miners.' agents would be selected. Four miners' agents in South Wales are al- ready M.P.'s, and an e:ffort must be made to get the others in." "Mr. Stanton has been very quiet of late." (These "Musings" were written in July, prior to the Aberaman Strike.— Ed.) "Yes, he occupies what spare time he has in cultivating two arts—music and painting. I have not heard what profi- ciency he has gained in the former, but he can turn out some very fine paint- ings. Specimens of his work may be seen at the Aberdare I.L.P. Rooms. There was a time when some of his ene- mies prophecied that he, would end his career by being hung at Newgate, but it is not at all impossible that before many years will have elapsed, he will be 'hung' in the Royal Academy."

Scraps. BY "SCRIBE." This age is notorious for its devotion to fads rather than to facts, but if the following story, recorded in the "Western Mail is true, then we have come to a pretty pass indeedWill it be be- lieved that at some schools the Unfortun- ate teachers have to keep a series of small envelopes-like the envelopes con- I taining 'your change, with thanks,' that are used in many shops? If little Billy presents himself one morning with a flea on his person, or (worse still) a repre- sentative of the Norfolk Howard variety, the insect is carefully removed, placed in the envelope, and the name of the owner —in this case Billy Jones-recorded thereon. The various envelopes are re- tained and handed over to the medical inspector. Some teachers kick at this new work. They wouldn't mind if they were permitted to lasso the creatures and tie them to a gatepost, but they object to fingering them." Surely this is a case of straining at a gnat, or rather a flea, and swallowing a camel, hump and all. Once more local milk vendors are being hauled before the local bench because the milk they sell does not contain sufficient butter fat. Surely frequent fines of ^B3 and costs will" deprive their trade of its fat also, and take the cream out of the profit. It is no defence to tell Sir Marchant Williams that the milk, whether fat or thin, is in the same condition as when it came from nature's still into the milkmaid's pail. Sir Marchant will not hold Providence responsible, however much the evidence may go towards exon- erating the milk vendor. He will tell the latter at once, "Well, if you cannot adjust the rays of the sun and the dew- drops and raindrops in such a way as to cause your milk to contain the regula- tion amount of butter fat you must give up keeping cows. Such is magisterial sympathy! The mercy of the Aberdare Bench is cruel. The other day the Rev. J. Tertius Phillips, the well known Temperance orator, addressad a large crowd of visi- tors at Builth Wells, on the virtues of Temperance. Did Mr. Phillips impress on his saline-imbibing hearers the advisa- bility of moderation in all things, even in swigging salt waters ? At a meeting of Pembroke Town Council it was decided to pass a resolu- tion limiting the speed of motors over certain roads in the borough to ten miles an hour. One member of the Council thought that cycles should also be in- cluded, as they also were dangerous. Of course they are. Welsh Gossip ("South Wales Daily News") contends that Merthyr has lost its iron trade. Also that the collieries there are not in such a thriving state as in Aberdare. Still Merthyr is a more go-ahead town than Aberdare. What ac- counts for that? The "Gossip" criticises with extreme severity the christening of a budding North Wales watering place as "Rhos- on-Sea." It suggests "Rhostrillo" as a better name. But what a terrible mouthful that for a Saxon jaw! When the Eight Hour Bill and the Saving Daylight Bill become law, miners will certainly enjoy more daylight by a long way than at present. What a versatile and ubiquitous per- sonality Cynonfardd is! He is to-day in the land of his fathers, to-morrow in the land of the stars and stripes. Last week he presided over a bazaar opening at Llandrindod, and soon we shall hear of him presiding at the National Eisteddfod. The other day he was in Mountain Ash, and, by-the-way, he is going to conduct Glyndwr's Party on their American tour. His Sundays he utilises to cut the bread of life to Welsh worshippers in either hemisphere. Wonderful man Cynon- fardd.

Presentation at Cwmdare The Rev. Jenkin Jones, A.C., and Mrs. Jones, of Senny Bridge, Breconshire, have been presented by the communi- cants and friends of St. Luke's Church, Cwmdare, with a silver pocket commun- ion service and a silver teapot. For the last four years Mr.' Jones has been a curate of St. Fagan's, Aberdare, and in charge of St. Luke's Church, and has recently accepted the vacant curacy of Llywel with Rhydybriw, near Brecon. Mr. Jones is the author of several an- thems and congregational hymn tunes.

"A Woman Scorned." SHE USES A SHOVEL AS WEAPON. Alice Gough, who has frequently been brought before the Merthyr Stipendiary for being a refractory pauper, appeared -before Sir Marchant again on Tuesday morning at Merthyr to answer a simi- lar charge. Porter Dart said that the woman ap- plied to him on Tuesday for permission to leave the Workhouse. He consulted the matron, and obtained the necessary permission. When Gough's clothes were got together she declined to go, and, seizing a shovel, threatened to smash everything within reach. She was sent to prison for a month.

Cwmbach Man's Death. An inquest v-as held by Mr. R. J. Rhys at Cwmbach on Tuesday, touching the death of Wm. James, Timothy-row, whose death is reported in another column. Dr. Organ said he attended deceased some time ago. He was suffering from a weak heart. Taking into consideration the state of deceased's heart, any active work, such as shovelling ashes out of a truck, might have caused death. A verdict was returned that death was due to heart disease.

Llwydcoed Sparks. BY "FIREMAN." At last the District is going to confer favour on our sleepy little hamlet. From the report of the District Council in the Leader I observe that the Sur- veyor has recommended an additional supply of lamps for the place. Where are they to be located? Probably, as usual, in places where they are not re- quired, such as lovers' nooks, for in- stance. While on the subject of light, I am somewhat surprised that the attention of the Council has not been drawn to the need of a few lamps on the approach to Scales Houses from. the main road. Many a*L° £ gangers that beset the pedestrian v/iio finds himself on this rough road on Zc winte.r's night, without mention- in the; deeds of darkness that are pre- valent in this benighted place. The residents of Shop-row also need Irore light, where pitfalls-moral and otherwise—are abundant. Will one of our representatives take my tip ? Per- haps in the course of political evolution little Llwydcoed will some day have a Council of its own. What have the Socialists done to a certain ambitious Llwydcoedite? He called them in my hearing a a collec- tion of land-grabbers." Well, in Llwyd- coed the real land-grabbers are the gentry of Aberdare, who are annexing territory here with the greed of Big Eng- land exploiters. Checked by this monopoly the young athletes of the place have had to abandon their idea of forming a football team in the neighbourhood, owing to the scarcity of land for playing.

Barddoniaeth. PENILLION Er Cof am Mr. G. R. Price, Defynog. Hen heolydd glan y pentre' Swynwyd droion gan ein llais, Chwareu oeddym gyda'n gilydd Yn y dolydd yn barhaus Chwarddom lawer nes ai'r adsain' Dros y bryn a drwy y pant, Dyddiau dedwydd, dyddiau hapus A dreuliasom pan yn blant. Cofio wnaf y dyddiau hyny, Dyddiau chwareu, dyddiau hedd, 'Roem ein daa yn llawn o fywyd, Yr oedd iechyd yn ein gwedd; Cofiaf hefyd am yr amser Oeddym ni yn tyfu lan, Tynodd Gomer fiwsig peraidd Allan o hen glychau'r llan. Dagrxu hiraeth dyfnaf calon Sydd yn redeg dros fy ngrodd>. Pan yn meddwl erbyn heddyw Fod fy nghyfaill yn y pridd; Na, nid gelyn ydoedd angeu, Cyfaill oedd i Gomer fad, Aeth ag ef o fyd y poenau Fry i'r nefoerid at ei T\vl Ar 01 gwywo yn yr anial, Pan yn un-ar-hugain oed Cafodd nefoedd drysor gwerthfawr,, Cafodd un o'r cedyrn goed; Bywyd Gomer oedd ei darian, Heriai allu'r fagddu gas, enillcdd fuddugolaeth, Do, yn nerthoedd Duw a'i ras, Heddyw mae yn gwisgo coron, 'Nol addewid bur y gair, Mae ei fysedd glan yn chwareu., Tanau swynol telyn aur; Gomer anwyl, mwy nid wylat. Deuaf atat tua thref, Eto cawn gydrodio'r dolydd Gyda'n gilydd yn y nef. D. H. JONES, Merthyr-road, Hirwain.

Presentation at GadlyS., A meeting of the Bristol, West of Eng- land, and South Wales Operative Society (Aberdare No. 1 Branch) was held at the Glandover Inn on Monday, for the pur- pose of presenting Mr. Dan Jones, the secretary, with an address in recognition. of long and faithful services. The fol- lowing was the programme: Opening; speech by Mr. Griffiths, the chairman. Overture by Mr. Thomas, the pianist. Recitation by Mr. Lewis Lewis, Tre- cynon, "Tori amod priodas." Overture by Mr. Thomas. Song by Mr. Dennisc "Dolly Gone." Recitation by Mr. Grif- fiths, the chairman, "Y Tren." Song, by Mr. Bagshaw, Erin O'Bragh." En- core song by Mr. Bagshaw, « Golden Wedding." Song by Mr. Sol Jones,. "White Squall." Song by Mr. Joe Bees,. "Kathleen Mavourneen." Song by Mr.. David Richards, a Stone by Dan. Murphy's Door." Encore song by Mr. Richards, "Couldn't help it." Mando- line songs by Mr. Thomas, Monte Christo" and "Killarney." At this juncture the chairman said that he had much pleasure in presenting Mr. Dan Jones. He had rendered over 10 years service. The secretary responded in a, few suitable words. Song, Mr. Gomer Stephens, I went marching home." Re-. citation by Mr. Tal Williams, U SessiwD: yn Nghymru." Song, Mr. Fred Foot.. Song, Mr. Tal Williams, a A Sailor's. Grave." The following verses were read, by the chairman: Pob un sydd wrth ei fodd Fed Dan yn tael fath rodda Fel dyn i ddynolryw Nid. oes ei well yn fyw. Fel swyddog yn ei waith lawn oedd ar hyd ei daith;„ Gonestrwydd ynddo sydd Fel haul ar ganol dydd. Deng mlynedd sydd yn faith I lwyddo heb un graith, Ei enw aiff yn uwch, 'Nawr, fechgyn, rho'wch Clywoh, clywch." The meeting ended by Mr. Joe Reee- singing "Hen wlad fy nhadau."

We are not fit to live until we are prepared to die. Ethiraj Surendranath Arya has been, convicted by the High Court of uttering seditious speeches. He was sentenced on the first charge against him to five years' transportation. The second charge is, proceeding. Poor man! To be burdened, with such a. name is in itself sufficient punishment, one would think.

RICH AND POOR hen the rich are ill. +hey go to kWyi Continental spas or watering- places, and sometimes get better.. When men and women of moderate means are ill, they suffer, wish for rest,. and go on working. ? » a Go on working with an aching-, head, a fearful sense of weak- ness, no appetite, depressing and haunting fears of breakdown. Sometimes they are so ill that they can hardly stand up to their work. « » ? 555JJ Mother Seigel's Syrup means rest the weary body by lightening its heaviest effort- digestion. Helps the stomach, tones the liver, improves the whole digestive process-iii fact, gives the overworked body a real holiday. Mother Seigel's Syrup is now also prepared IN TABLED FORM as Mother Seigel's Syrup Tablets. Price 2S. 9do