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THE ARVOl LIBERAL ASSOCIATION.

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THE ARVOl LIBERAL ASSOCIATION. THE AXNUAI. MEETING AT CONWAY. The annual meeting uf the Arvon Liberal Assoeiaiaoei was held at Conway on Wednes- day, when a largo number of delegates wore present. Dr Lloyd Williams, Llaiiberis, the president. of the year, occupied the chair for the first part of the proceedings. Among others present were Messrs W. Evans, Llalu- dudno T. W. Griffith, do; W. O. Williams, diy. E. O. Parry, do. Rolxut Roberts, do. J. F. Roberts, Llanbens; It. E. Jooes, do. Dr Morgan, Conway; 'Mesttrs Hugh Owen, do. Eliits: Jones, Llandudno Robert Evans, Colwyn; E. Danes Janes, Penmachno; E. Pentir Williams, G. H. Jones, Btxtwsycood; R. D. Roberts, Llaitfairf-ecliau W. J. Grif- fith, Bethel; O. LI. Jones, Bettwsycoed; R. H. WiLiains, Trefriw Revs J. E. Owen, Llanberis; J. Griffith, Lla-nfairfechan, &s. THE^ TR.K ASUREll'S KTATiMENT. Mr Elian Jones, the treasurer, submitted the financial stfiibeaneait, from which it ap- peared that the Association was iai a favour- able financial position. But it was decided nut tc press the Bethesda district nor Pentir and Rhiwlas for their quota this year, because of the exceptional circumstances thie districts I were in. Mr J. H. Roberts, B ettwsycood, was elected president for the ensuing year; Mr W. Evans, Llandudno, senior vice-president, and Mr Robert. Evans, junior vice-president. VOTES OF THANKS. On the motion of Mr W. Jones, M.P., seconded by the President-elect, a hearty vote of thanks was passed; toO Dr Lloyd Wil- liams for his services in the chair during the past vear.-Dy Williams, in ra^ponding, thanked the delegates for illie courtesy they liad shown him during his tenure of office, 1 and trusted they would extend the same good feeling and co-operation to ,liis successor. THE EXECUTIVE AND THE SECRE- TARY. The executive committee was appointed, and the work of electing a. general secretary at a salary not exceeding £ 70, was entrusted ■to tha.t commit/tee. ORGANISATION. .Mr William Jones, who was loudly cheered, said he had just completed a series of meet- ings through out the length and breadth of Arvon. Never had lie received greater kind- ness and welcome. Never had he seen more enthusiasm for Liberalism atid the. caiise of progress, combined with a strong and earnest wish on the part of each locality to work outs its political salvation by sturdy work and ftaorifioe (applause). Tliere was the keenest desire to unitl) and! focus ail the Liberal forces for local as well as for Parliamentary 'purposes. The movement was tending to create an organisation heoluhy in tone and widespread in its action (applause). It in- cludes non-electors as well to electors, and so joined the energy of the young with the experience and hardheadedness of the mere ■advanced workers (applause). THE PENRHYN DISPUTE. The burning question before the consti- tuency was the Penrhyn Quairry dispute. Lord Penrhyn had thought fit to -set at de- fiance not only the large body of his quarry- men with their representative committee, nob only public opinion, but the measures which ] the Legislature had taken to bring 6uch dis- putes under reasonable control. In order to help the men in tlms struggle subscriptions had been started all over the country for their relief. The subscription list was kept free from anything in the n-ailu-re of a partisan cihaiTCfcibec). Heilp had ctotmo fircfm every quarter (oheers). From those who diffeted from them in politics, and from working men whoso svmpathy was intense with thieir fellow-wtokingmcn who bad been thrown ouu of employment in so arbitrary and hi.gh handed a. manner (cheers). This help was flowing- fast. from England as well as Wales, especially from Londbn, by means cd: that sturdy champion of the labour cause, that "Daily Chronicle" (cheers). Oxford was all so well to the' front, and Sir William Markley had started the Fubscripticn with a donation of f.5 (cheers). His friend, the editor of the "Oxford Chroniclo," appealed to all who loved light and justice to come forward to the assistance of the Pennhyn quarrymen. No doubc most of them had followed' the dis- pute from the outlet. Tlicy all knew of the controversy that raged over the conditions and terms of the metn's employment; the suspension of their committee, and the hon- s ourable way in which the men supported that committee. ID was w-ell to remember that they were forced out of work because they gallantly stuck to their representatives (cheers). The question of wages and the contracting and sub-letting of lxarga:ns became zi sulfcsidiary one to this-the main issue of the quarrel, the right of combination and by that right to have access to their employer through their clu-een spokesmen, (oheers). Lord Penrhyn cavilled at the committee. He charged them with a desire to interfere with the management cf the quarry. This, the committee as well as the representatives of the men outside the committee, stubbornly mid flatlv denied. The men appealed to the Conciliation Act, passed by th-j pjesont Government, through the intervention of the I Board elf, Tirade. They had throughout followed the advice given them by the Board of Trade, and Sir Cuurtenay Boy-e had pub- licly stated that it was the impracticable con- licly stated that it was dleimpracticaJYle con- ditions imposed by Lord- Pbnrhyn which prevented the beneficent provisions, of the Act from being pub iiuo operation (hear, hear). "The men." he wrote, "would have to come to you (Lord Penrhyn) not only without any of their trusted leaders, but also without their own shorthand writer or interpreter and which they desired, whilst you would have the advantage of skilled advice." Lord Penrhyn closes his quarries and looks out his men on the ground, as he maintained, "that it would establish a pre- cedent for outside interference in tlie maoll- agement of my private affairs." Lord Pen- rhyn considered the State as an intruder, and openly defied the Government. What other motive could he have than, to strike a blow at Unionism and the right of ootmbina- ticai ? His action as a matter of fact and national concern, and the attention of Parlia- ment must be called to it. Meanwhile,^ the endeavcui-s cf the men in defence of the rights -of labour must be maintained and strength- ened. 'Lord Penrliyn seemed to be blind to the sTmpto-ms of the labour problem. Al- ready, some of the best organised trades in England, such as Cleveland ironworkers and the Northumberland miners had for many yea.rs had the relations between employer and employed regulated by voluntary and joint committees which had successfully dealt with the wages and hours of labour, and maintained a prolonged industrial peace. LoTxt Penrhyn flouted the Conciliation Act which, voluntary in ibsooopa and! character, Hind while trade disputes had been amicably "brought to a settlement by that measure, he, and he alone, openly refused to be swayed by its sweet reasonableness. A compulsory measure was, perhaps, more to his lordship's I liking. THE FUTURE OF LIBERALISM. Lord Penrhyn was not the only man who Lord Penrhyn was not the only man who was against to believe the state had no moral _or social function or obligation at the ii> ..dividual possessed rights, and so-called privite affairs," which in reality only be- longed to him as a to ember of the community ntrosted with the responsibilities of fellow- citizenship. Liberalism had suffered en- ormously in the past, from the action of half- hearted and opinionated adherents,, who re- sented the intrusion of politics into social and labour problems. Such men had been the •bane cf the party. They had constituted themselves obstructionists in the pathway of true progress. They claimed, however, to be the progressive party, and as such claimed the right to carit on those grand measures passed by their leaders for the liberation of the- from the political unqualities by them just and logical issues their principles embraced all the labour and social questions, .,and a--tllou.,ih their iparty might be somewhat under a doud at present, their principles under a cloud at present, their principles were strong and were demonstrating their Vjuickening activity to the -full in the battle ,to overcome social inequalities, to right the wrongs of the sons of toil, and to succour the weak and the oppressed (ap- plause). 1 RESOLUTIONS. Motions protesting Against the appointment of Mr Legard as chief inspector of Wales condemning the action of Lord Penrhyn to- wards his quarrymen, and sympathising with the workmen in their present circumstances was e.d. The iisiictl- votes of thajiks terminate-cl the prooceedings.

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