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Aberdare Trades Council.

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Aberdare Trades Council. On Thursday. Present: Mr. Isaac Griffiths (in the chair), Mr. J. H. Bruton (treasurer), Messrs. E. Stonelake and R. W. Grav (secretaries); Councillors O. Powell, D. J. Thomas, W. Harper, D. Davies, Guardians J. Prowle, Meth Davies, Morgan Williams, and a number Ðf delegates. MILITARISM ? The Chairman said that at the last Trades Council meeting, Messrs. Wrn. Bees and Owen Powell were charged with 'having voted in favour of granting facili- ties to Corporal Moselv, of Cwmaman 6ch ools, to attend camp. The two mem- bers named attended the executive meet- ing, and expressed regret if they had vio- lated any of the Trades Council rules. The Executive decided that there was nothing binding in the resolution passed, and decided to let the matter drop. SICK OF CONFERENCES. Dealing with a letter from the Workers Educational Association, requesting the Trades Council to send a representative to the Association's conference, the Secre- tary remarked that he was getting sick and tired of this plethora of workers' as- sociations. They were doing nothing tangible for the workers, but were fizzl- ing away their energies in holding con- ferences. It was agreed that no representative be sent. HOLIDAYS FOR COUNCIL EMPLOYEES. The following motion came from Aber- aman Lodge .■ That it be an instruction to our Labour Members to move at the District Council that all Council em- ployees be allowed one week's holiday each year, with pay." The Aberaman delegate, Mr. Tom Mor- gan, submitted the resolution. He said that the officials were granted 14 days every year and received their pay, where- as the workers performing manual labour got only one day. Why should the offi- cials have preference over the manual ees employees ? A delegate seconded, and Councillor D. Jackson Thomas supported the motion. He considered that the manual workers ought to get a fortnight. They had to do their work in the most inclement weather. The Tin-workers' delegate spoke very strongly against officials getting prefer- ential treament over manual workers. A Cwmaman delegate said he had been instructed by his lodge to oppose the re- solution. Their opinion was that it would be better to discontinue the holi- days of the officers rather than adopt the principle embodied in the resolution. Councillor Owen Powell said that the Cwmaman lodge considered that it would 00 better to raise the men's wages rather than give them more holidays. They be- lieved in the principle of not paying any- body except for services rendered. The Chairman spoke in favour of the resolution. Mr. J. Prowle said that they ought to raise the employees rather than lower the others. He hoped that the Aberaman Committee would ere long give their oheckweighers a holiday. The resolution was carried with only two dissentients. LABOUR EDUCATIONISTS' REPORTS. Councillor David Davies gave a resume of the work done by the Education Com- mittee. School accommodation was limited in Cwmaman. They had fixed a site in the top end of the valley. In Godreaman a school was in course of construction. It cost < £ 13,000. In Cwmdare also accom- modation was limited, and a school would be erected there also. Teachers were complaining that the classes were too large, and the Board of Education had laid down regulations specifying the maximum number to be taught by all grades of teachers. Mr. Davies men- tioned that in Cwmdare a plot had been obtained with the object of imparting instruction in gardening. He referred to the duty of parents who had children who were eligible for the Higher Stand- ard School to send them there. He under- stood that some headmasters were doing their utmost to prevent the children from going to the Higher Standard School from the other elementary schools. Councillor O. Powell then gave his re- Sort. Mr. Powell remarked that there ad been a marked increase i$the num- ber of teachers who taught Welsh in schools. This he considered a very satis- factory sign. He admired the teachers who adopted a gentle attitude towards the children. Some male teachers, he was sorry to note, bullied the children. Mr. Powell referred to the religious in- struction syllabus in vogue at the Aber- dare schools. He considered it an ideal one. He was in favour of administering the Education Act, and had no sympathy with the passive resistance principle. He and others had struggled to obtain, in respect of children attending the Higher Standard School from the outlying dis- tricts. a grant towards their travelling expenses. The committee had succeeded in obtaining a grant of 15s. a year per child, but they as membera might be surcharged for this yet. In reply to a delegate, Mr David Davies said that it had been decided to enclose a piece of land for gardening purposes near the Park Schools. INNKEEPER AND SCHOOL TEACHER Mr. Prowle asked if it was true that a married lady, an innkeeper, was employed at one of the Cwmbach Schools? Mr. D. Davies answered in the affirma- tive. This lady, however, was employed by the managers at the non-provided school. NON-PROVIDED SCHOOLS. WHAT SHOULD BE LABOUR'S POLICY. Mr. J. Prowle thought that the Labour Group should define their policy with regard to the non-provided schools. Mr. D. Davies said that hitherto the labour members had evaded this knotty question. The general trend of opinion in Aberdare was in favour of the princi- ple of "no control no cash." Voice: That is doubtful. Mr. Bruton said that it was high time that the Labour Members should get off the fence regarding this question. Mr. F. Brough protested against treat- ing the teachers, rnafiy of them working men's daughters, in the manner they did. If thev were going to kick the parson or church, do it, but spare the poor teacher. Mr..T. Roberts referred to Mr. David Davies' policy of "no'control- no- cash" as very inconsistent with labour princi- ples. Mr. Prowle: The public- opinion in the upper part of the valley is unanimous in favour of equal pay for all teachers. Mr. O. Powell said that personally he did not believe in the Education Act, but let them set about it to amend it in a constitutional manner, and not penalise the teachers. Eventually it was decided to postpone the discussion of this question. ALLEGED SNOBBISHNESS. Mr. Prowle considered it folly to give § rants to teachers to attend the Summer chools at Barry. They were taught nature study at Barry, but when teach- ing it afterwards they read the lessons from a text book. The nature study classes at the Aberdare County School were-very badly attended. It was mere sr-cbtiishness to go to Barry. WHAT OF ABERNANT? Mr. Morgan Williams asked whether Abernant children would receive the grant for children attending the Higher Standard School. Mr. 0. Powell stated that Abernant and Cwmdare were excluded from the present scheme. Messrs Davies and Powell were thanked for their reports.

-.-I NO HOLD ON LIFE.I

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