The Aberdare Leader

COMPETITIVE CONCERT AT CWMBACH. At the Workmen's Hall on Satur- day a very successful competitive concert, under the auspices of the War Heroes' Fund, was held. The hall was crowded, and there were 102 entries. The adjudicators were: lusic, Mr. W. J. Evans, Aberdare, and Professor T. J. Morgan, F.T.S.C. (Pencerdd Cynon); literature and conductor, Mr. E. Ogwen Williams, Aberdare. The accompanists were Miss Gwladys Jones, L.L.C.M., and Professor Richard Howells, Aberdare. Mr. Charles Kenshole, High Con- stable, presided, supported by Mrs. Kenshole, the Lady High Constable. In the course of his address Mr. Kenstfole remarked how pleased he felt that the village of Cwmbach was doing so much for the local boys who were serving the country. He was also glad to hear that the Heroes' Fund had proved a great success. Mr. D. J. Hughes Jones proposed a vote of thanks to the High Constable and Mrs. Kenshole, and to the adjudicators and accom- panists for giving their services free. The High Constable responded. The secretaries were Messrs. Evan Wil- liams and Arthur Harris. The awards were as follows:- Champion solo: Gwilym Jones, Ystradgynlais. Female solo: divided between Madame Morton Thomas, Abercarn, and Miss S. M. Lewis, Tonypandy. Male solo: Gwilym Jones, Ystrad- gynlais. Juvenile solo: divided between Blodwen Davies, Resolven, and Iris M. Davies, Cwmaman. Recitation: divided between Miss Blodwen Williams, Aberaman, and Gwilym Phillipp Aberaman. Miss Williams also received a special prize from the Lady High Constable. On behalf of the Heroes' Fund Guardian John Hughes presented Private W. Rees, Seaforth High- landers, with a purse of money. Up to the present about 100 of the boys of the village have received gifts from the above fund.

r yVv YOU MUST WEIGH CAREFULLY of every penny the spending /y in these ex- pensive days. Be sure that the money you spend on flour will buy you a flour that gives the highest food value. It will if you get JIPRNC^ ■SELF-RAISINC^ •• -•.»• »2i L S.V:' «iU

MOUNTAIN ASH EDUCATION COMMITTEE. On Tuesday.—Present: Airs. W. G. Williams (in the chair), Mrs. T. W. Millar, Messrs. Win. Davies, W. Lamburn, Jas. Evans, Rev. E. T. Williams, Noah Bowles, J.P., David Rogers, T. W. Jones William Millar, Chas. Maddox, G. H. Hall, wit h Mr. Alfi 'eu Morgan (Director). I Fees Remitted.—The Ziou Class of the St. John AmbuIancc, per Jas. A. Emery, 64 Robert Street, Ynvsy- bwl, applied for the remission of the examination fees, amounting to t2 l. 6d. Fourteen candidates entered and all were snecessful.-lt was resolved to remit the fees. Tea Fight.—The Vicar of Moun- tain Ash wrote that the Sunday Schools of the Church were holding their annual demonstration on Mon- day, July 16. Tea was confined to children of Sunday Schools only.— It was suggested that half a day be allowed.—The Director was asked what time the procession started, and he replied that it was 2 o'clock. —It was moved, however, that a whole day be granted, and this pro- posal was carried. Summer Holidays. It was re- ported that the schools would break up for the summer holidays on Fri- day, July 27th. Municipal Fathers and "Mother- hood."—-Mr. Bert Richards, mana- ger of Mr. Haggar's Cinema, Moun- tain Ash, wrote that 'the great pic- ture, Motherhood," would be shown at his theatre next week, and he invited members of the Council to see the film, which was shown in connection with Babv Week.—Mr. G. H. Hall moved that Mr. Richards be thanked for his kind invitation. He (Mr. Hall) hoped some members of the Committee would attend.—Mr j T. W. Jones seconded, and the motion was agreed to. Three Months Notice. Carmel Cong. Church, Penrhiwceiber, ten- tered 3 months notice to the Com- mittee to terminate the tenancy of Carmel Vestry, which the Commit- tee now use.—Referred to Penrhiw- ceiber members.

Architect's Stinging Retort. At a meeting of the Education Finance Sub-committee on June 12th the following was passed:—That a letter be sent to -NU-. C. H. Elford, pointing out to him that Mr. W'. G. Thomas is the head of the depart- ment in which he is placed, and that he is to work under Mr. Thomas' supervision) and to submit to Mr. Thomas all his reports on repairs, etc., to school buildings, and further that Mr. Elford notifies Mr. Thomas of any private work he may be doing during office hours." The following letter from Air. Elford was now read :— I beg to acknowledge receipt of yours on behalf of the Education Committee, the contents thereof ne- cessitating a reply. I as a very subordinate officer in the Surveyor's department, respectfully raise the question of your right to address me diiectly on behalf of your Committee upon a matter not connected with the Department in which I serve. One would naturally say that the proper course, in the circumstances, and having regard to the fact that I have 110 official connection with your Department, would have been to request the Council Clerk to con- vey your reprimand to me through the head of my department. I in- fer from the tone of your communi- cation that some ex-parte state- ments have been made reflecting on the manner in which I perform my duties, and that I have in some par- ticular refused to obey Mr. Thomas' instructions. This is really not so, for, as he knows, I have (and intend to) carried them out implicitly. With reference to reports on repairs. etc., to school buildings, I admit having made two such reports with- out having first submitted them to Mr. Thomas, but as you know, the method was not initiated by me. W itII further reference to the sug- gestion that I should inform Mr. Thomas of any private work I may he doing in office hours, your committee must surely be aware of the fact that my duties are so considerably increased since my appointment that I have not the time to do any private work during office, hours, had there been any. I assure the committee that I shall not further trespass on their kindness, and shall in future discon- tinue any private work in the office, in or out of office hours. May ) therefore, in view of these state- ments, respectully request your com- mittee to recommend to the Council that my salary be reviewed with a view to making a substantial in- crease thereto." Mr. Lamburn remarked that evi- dently the architect was becoming a dictator instead of a servant of the Council. He was taking up a very high-handed position. Mr. Lam- burn thought they had heard quite sufficient of that matter, and he hoped Mr. Elford would get wiser. If the committee were to be treat- ed by Mr. Elford in that spirit, it would not mend matters for him. Now that the committee had put things right Mr. Elford should be wise enough to let the matter drop. With regard to the salary, he (Mr. Lamburn) would like more inform- ation as to what extra work Mr. Elford was performing. Rev. E. T. Williams moved that the first portion of the letter stand over, and that the application re salary be referred to the Council. Mr. T. W. Jones seconded. Mr. G. H. Hall The whole thing should be considered in committee. I move that the committee who have charge of the teachers' application consider it. Mr. W. Milliar said he did not know much about the subject, nut he should like to have all the facts, tie agreed with Conn. Hall that the whole matter should be thoroughly thrashed out in committee. He wanted to give Mr. Elford oveiy fn, play. Mr. Eiiord was a qualified ar- chitect, and it was a very avvsward position for Mr. Elford to be in to be dominated over by a person not so qualified as himself. "Ave al have our feelings," added Mr. pillar, and when we have all the fa-ts we may find there has been fault )11 the other side." Mr. Lamburn: The whole .f the matter was considered in comnittee. I am in total disagreement to Mr. Millar. Whatever the quantitations of any person he must obey thl head of the department. Mr. Jas. Evans suggested flat Mr Elford should attend the comnittee. Mr. Millar: I agree. Mr. Lamburn: I have not bein lln- fair to Mr. Elford at all. Mr. Millar: I don't say you have been unfair. Air. Lamburn But I do i-estit the terms and tone of that letter It is not a proper thing to writ like that to this committee. Mr. Hall's proposal, and Mi Jas. Evans' suggestion were earrie.

Doctor and Cirls' Hair. The committee had before them the School Medical Officer's leport for 1916, and the quarterly'eport for the three months ended larch 31st, 1917. Dr. Davies Jones was presen, and he referred to one item in the rporta He said there were 44 chiklrerwitl^ nits in their head, and he had noticed that the great majony of these were girls. The reason Or it was that girls had long hai and boys always had their hair crdped. He knew of instances some'ears ago where a few girls had thei hair cut short, and they got rid c llle nits in no time. Of course hose girls were teased by other shool- children, but if the practice Were adopted generally, the teasing ould soon ston. It would be a ben to the children in many respecti be- cause nits in the head were a gurce of great discomfort at nights, and restless nights unfitted them for their task by day. Mr. Rogers Do you ask fori re- gulation that all school girls should have their hair closely cut? Dr. Davies Jones: It woul lie rather drastic, I admit. Mr. W. Millar said that 20 Tears ago it was quite a common thig for young girls of school age to have their hair cut short. Hev. E. T. Williams movec that this question he deferred till-tilsolite future time, when olinioll might become more ripe on the sub- ject. He remembered the time when girls used to have theij hair cut short, and he believed those girls had finer hair now than those who never cut their hair. Mrs. Williams said it would he a good thing if girls plaited their hair. -s Dr. Jones said he knew of one school where the mistress was very particular on that being done, and there was a great improvement in that school as regards nits cases. The Director asked the Doctor up to what age would he recommend girls to have their hair cut, and the Doctor suggested 12 years of age.

Parents' Presence a Hindrance. Dr. Davies Jones mentioned that a good many; mothers attended school on occasions when their chil- dren were medically examined. He had had no quarrel with the ladies, so far ("lucky man"), but he had been greatly annoyed on many occa- sions. He had seen a dozen or more mothers in the schoolroom and then- presence was a great hindrance to him in his work. It was the prac- tice to notify the children when they were to be medically examined, and the result was that children were not seen on those occasiorr in their normal condition. He would like to see a discontinuance of parents' attendance at school. Mr. T. W. Jones: Do parents get ftoeation, as well, when their chil- dren are to be examined ?-Yes. It was suggested that one mother b admitted at a time, but eventu- ally the question was deferred.

Teachers and Quack Medicines. Dr. Davies Jones had one more complaint. He wished the com-1 nuttee to instruct teachers to refrain from recommending quack medi- cines, or any medicines, to children who might be ill. One instance had reached him in which a teacher ad- vised a certain parent to Jiuy a quack medicine for her child? That particular parent could ill afford to pay for the medicine, and besides, no medicine was of any value in that case"because the child suffered from j measles. The patients thought they were compelled to buy the medicine inasmuch as a teacher had ordered it. In conclusion Dr. Jones thanked, all the teachers, and also Nurse ? Lewis, for the valuably assistance I they had given him during the year.

SCRAPS. | BY THE SCRIBE. » I When the Gallipoli bungle was ex- i posed some time ago there was a great outcry in this country, and loud were the demands for the pun- ishment of the culprits, but frothing was done so far as I am aware. Now the searchlight has been thrown on another fiasco, a blunder which is worse than a crime, that which has made the "blessed name Mesopo- tamia" cursed for ever and ever. Who is to be hung this time? Or will all the guilty ones go unhung, as usual? If all the bunglers and blunderers in connection with this war—includ- ing the profiteers and extortioners of all kinds and grades-were strung up what a run there would be on our gallows! We would have to en- rol quite an army of executioners. But nothing will be done. A few more weeks shall roll and everything will be forgotten and everybody forgiven. A few more moons shall wax and wane, and some fresh Royal Commission will have exposed an- other set of bunglers or criminals, and public opinion will again be up in arms crying for the exercise of "reprisals" on the perpetrators. I see that a Government Com- mission is now investigating the very sore trouble of labour unrest in this country, the "divine discontent," which we are told, is the inevitable outcome of industrial oppression and the golden gateway of industrial and social reform. It will be in- teresting to know what the findings of this Inquiry will be. Some pre- dict that they will be such as to produce a great public sensation, and eventually bring on a wave of popular indignation. That it will be revealed that the departmental blunderers of the Dardanelles and Mesopotamia are angels bright and fair compared with the demons responsible for the labou'r trouble. If our political muddlers have slain their thousands, then our economic bunglers have slain their tens of thousands. 1 wonder whether vox i'opuu will be as lenient to the miscreants of labour known as "captains of in- dustry as to the arch-blunderers in Westminster and in the Army and Navy. Some of the former de- serve a special Hymn of Hate. Will Kipling write one as a corollary to his Recessional." We are told in Scripture not to worry about what to eat and what to drink, and how to clothe ourselves. In these days it is certainly un- necessary to bother ourselves about what or how much to eat or to drink. The Government does it all for us. And if we happen to be males of military age we need not exercise our minds as to how to dress either, for the Government will see that we are all attired in khaki or else in Dartmoor broadcloth. Lord Rhondda is a man of tact. He considers it prudent policy to give a snarling dog a bone rather than a stick. He believes in making peace with a dangerous adversary quickly. A red-hot-Socialist of considerable vocal prowess as well as of literary ability found himself stranded, he being, on his own ad- mission, a marked man by employers, and refused work because he had graduated as an agitator. However, in his tribulation, he decided to throw himself on the generosity of the head of the Cambrian Combine- Lord Rhondda. His lordship re- ceived his old antagonist with the utmost cordiality. The feud was forgotten, a. gracious entente took its place, and the erstwhile anti-capital- ist and Socialist firebrand was given an occupation worthy of his talents. Some day a greater Lord than Lord Rhondda and the Controller of the Food Controllers, will say unto him, "I was an hungered and athirst, and ye gave me meat and drink. Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of these," etc. -1 It is stated that during July that prince of theological acrobats, the Rev. R. J. Campbell, will be staying at Criccieth, the Premier's old home, and that afterwards he will go to America. Is the author of the "New Theology," the cant that has been recanted, about to spring on us another sensation? Wait till the endofthewar.R.J. There are some good jobs almost I going a-begging nowadays. A Labour Exchange notice offers X4 per week to a storekeeper with knowledge of tools. A splendid chance for one' well up in ironmongery. In a certain town threatened with j a beer famine, casual callers are not served at most of the pubs. Is the occasional patroniser of a pub as well as that of a paper doomed?

A Food Economy AND INFANT WELFARE 1 110 Exhibition ► r. will be held at the MEMORIAL HALL ABERDARE, on Friday & Saturday, July 6 & 7 1917. THE EXHIBITION WILL BE OPENED AT 3 P.M. On Friday by Mrs KENSHOLE, and an Address will be delivered by Miss HELEN FRASER, of the National Committee, London. Chairman Chas. Kenshole, Esq., High Constable. On Saturday by Miss M.IE. ELLIS, H.M.I. Chairman Councillor Illtyd Hopkins, J.P. Short Lectures and Demonstrations will be given at intervals each daY, Prizes of 5/- and 2/6 are offered for the best 2lb loaves of bread in each of the following classes i.-Flour and Maize-meal; 2.-Flour and Barley-meal; 3.-Flour and Oat-meal 4.-Flour and Rice. Two-thirds of flour and one-third substitute must be used in each case. Loaves for competition must be sent to the Memorial Hall between 6 and 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 5th The Exhibition will be open from 3 to 9 p.m. each day- ADMISSION FREE. I HAVE YOU NOTICED THE LOWER THE TERMS THE HIGHER THE PRICES, WITH MOST FIRMS, WE i HAVE ONLY ONE PRICE THE LOWEST QUALITY THE HIGHEST. > THE pniTij FURNISHING OUH 111 COMPANY I Taff Street, Pontypridd CYCLES j66 15s. Oct. cash, Cheapest in the Town. PARKER BROS., 62 Cardiff Street, ABERDARE- EVAN JONES BUILDER, UNDERTAKER, UPHOLSTERER, CABINET MAKER, COMPLETE FUNERAL FURNISHER. RESIDENCE— Dolcoed, Abercwmboi. PRINTING neatly and promptly executed at the Leader Office, Cardiff Street, Aberdare. E. Lewis Jones & Co., AUCTIONEERS and VALUERS, House, Land & Estate Agents- Accountants & Auditors. LifS & Ceneral insurance Agents. Dealers in Stocks and Shares. Local Agents for the Cunard Steampship Co., Ltd. Fastest to Canada. • Note Address— 22 CARDIFF STREET, ABEROARE. (Above Singer's.) | No connection with No. 21. Tradesmen can no longer circU*a ise, but they can advertise.