Rhondda Leader Maesteg Garw and Ogmore Telegraph

Porth Labour Council. I No Labour Candidate for pouncil Election. Reduced Tramway Fares for Children. A special meeting of the Porth Labour Council was held at the Miners' Office, on Wednesday evening of lasli week. All the lodges in the district were represen- ted, and Councillor Ben Davies was also in attendance. The meeting was convened principally to receive the reports of the lodges as to the advisability of contesting the Ward in the, forthcoming District Council Elec- tion, and to receive the report of the 5PPutation that waited upon Mr Nisbett, manager of the Rhondda Tramways «„ '^ny> re the reduction of tramway sid-trl r children. Mr. Rhys Jones pre- lodee TI'g delegates of the various in?* f their views on the eom- it w ^OILSi and after some discussion lm unanimously resolved not to con- l'eBt the seat. Councillor Ben Davies, in submitting e rePprt of the deputation that waited Pon Mr. Nisbett, said that that gentle- a*J. received the deputation very on + f ail(i had acceded to their re- • educed fares to children when accompanied by their parents. In the vent however, of adult passengers stand- ??, ,ln a, full car, they could not allow a «ila to occupy a seat. It was very diffi- pointed out the General Manager, 5°. make a better arrangement, as the ?5ing of an age limit was a very implica- one. He also pointed out that the *-jpmpany Was put to a serious loss1 on occasion of "stop days" at the **«lieries, and a great saving could be Effected if the company were notified of such stoppages the night before. Mr. Nisbett also informed the deputa- tion that five covered cars would be placed on the route on Wednesday (17th Illst.), and that every car would be mtnilárly covered as soon as possible, and Were being done, five at a time. The »oard of Trade had thus granted them "'hat it had refused to nearly all other Tramway Companies. v Another interesting item furnished by the deputation, on the authority of Mr Nisbett was that the Tramway Company contemplated running oars from Mardy to Aberdare, and from there to Aber- ^ynon and Cilfynydd, and thus form a uitous xtaute. Clara would til so be n from Penygraig to Tonvrefail, and parliamentary Powers for this purpose would be sought at an early date. Mr Nisbett also informed the deputa, tl!>n that arrangements had been made lt the Barry Railway Company for the ng of through tickets to Weston and •hi r+ ^aces\ Passengers would thuis be i»»vf obtain tickets, on the cars, and °eed via Pontypridd and Barry by and steamer, without any incon- nience whatever. IT6 SBcl-etal-Y was instructed to write con* • j ls^ett, thanking him for his kind laeration of the Council's appeal.

I" Prudential Assurance Co., 'I Ltd. The summary of the annual report of the above company, which arm ears in our columns, this week, shows much cause for congratulation. In spite of the very un- satisfactory state of the trade of the country during the pasb year, a large accession of business is shown and increase of premium income. In the Ordinary Branch the number of policies issued was 80,379, assuring the sum of £7,614,898, and producing a, new annual premium income of £ 440,376. The premiums received were £ 4,616,837, being an increase of £ 135,960 over the year 1907. The claims amounted to £ 2,812,962. The number of deaths was 8,389, and 15,322 endowment assurances matured. The number of policies in force at the end of the year was. 866,797. In the Industrial Branch the premiums received were R6,925,755, an increase of £ 264,124. The claims amounted tc £ 2,670,345, including zC72,696, the pro- portion of bonus paid since the date oi the last annual meeting. The number oi claims and surrenders, including 4,35 £ endowment assurances matured, wa; 310,722. The number of free policies granted to those policyholders of five years' standing and upwards who desired to discontinue their payments, wae 145,261, the number in force being 1,395,929. The number of free policies which became claims was 40,0.94. The total number of policies in force at the end of the year was 17,963,127: their average duration exceeds eleven and a. quarter years. The assets of the company, in both branches, as shewn in the balance sheet. are C71,958,859, being an increase of t3,952,575 over those of 1907. In the Ordinary Branch a reversionary 1 bonus at the rate of £ 1 12s. per cent. or the original sums assured has again been added to all classes of participating policies issued since the year 1876. The directors announce an increase in I the Industrial Branch bonus. All policies of over five years' duration which become claims either by death or maturity of endowment from the 5th of March, 1909. to the 3rd of March, 1910, both datefe inclusive, will participate. This bonuh will be paid by way of addition to the sums assured of: to- per cent. on all policies becoming ( claims upon which at least five but less than ten years' premiums have I been paid; L10 per cent. on all policies becoming, claims upon which at least ten but less than twenty years' premiums have been paid; and R12 10s. per cent. on all policies becoming claims upon which at least twenty years' premiums have been paid. In the general increase of business of the company, the Rhondda, district com- pares very favourably, the superintendent and staff working well together. The company have recently insterted two new tables in their industrial branch prospectus. The first of these was prompted by the passing of the Old Age Pensions Act, and provides a deferred annuity or pension of 5s. a, week between the ages of 65 and 70, thus enabling everyone assured under this table to have a pension of 5s. a, week during life, com- mencing at the age of 65. This pension can at any time be commuted for a money payment, so that in the event of a change in the law by which the State pension is commenced at an earlier age than at pre- sent, policyholders will have the oppor- tunity of either allowing pensions to run concurrently with the Government pension, or of taking the cash payment. Although introduced only at the end of August last, over 27,000 policies were in force under this table at the end of the year. The other table introduced is the monthly premium option table. Full particular:S1 of these and other benefits to be obtained from this pro- gressive and prosperous company can be obtained from the, local superintendents and agents: -Mr. J. Williams, 70, Bailey Street, Ton-Pentre, superin- tendent Mr. J. R. Jones, 47, Bailey Street, Ton-Pentre, assistant superinten- dent Mr. 1. Jones, T'ajilan House, Llwynypia,, assistant superintendent; Mr. H. J. Lewis, 13, C'olum Street, Treorchy, assistant superintendent.

Grieved over dead Husband Ystrad Widow's Suicide. Mrs. Mary Jones (62), widow, who resided at Tyisha Court, Gelli, Rhondda, committed suicide by cutting her throat with a. table knife on Saturday. Her little. grandson, Walter Toozer, ran for Mrs. Butt, a neighbour, who, upon reachinor the house, was startel to find the deaceased lying on the floor of her bedroom, with a wound in her throat. Dr Costello promptly arrived and pronounced life extinct. Deceased had been in her usual health, and had presented no sui- cidal tendencies. An inquest on the body of deceased was held on Monday by Coroner R. J. Rhys. Evidence was given by deceased's adop- ted son Charles Cox, who said Sunday was the second anniversary of the death of deceased's husband. If anything troubled his foster-mother he was un- aware of it. Mrs. Miriam Toozer, Cardiff, deceased's daughter, said that her mother had spent nearly three weeks with her, and had left last Thursday, saying that she want- ed to go home, as she had not long to live, and would like to die at her house. Dr. Costello said much force must have been used in inflicting the wound. The Coroner remarked that in all prob- ability deceased had been grieving about her husband's death. A verdict of "Suicide whilst of unsound mind" was returned.

Royal Co-operative Collecting Society. Annual Meeting at Pontypridd. The annual meeting of the Pontypridd and Rhondda branch of the Royal Co-op- erative Collecting Society was held at the Park Hotel, Pontypridd, on Tuesday, March 9th. 1 The chair was taken by Mr. NEI be, Swansea (manager of the South Wales District), and he was supported by Mr. W. Watson (the general secretary), Bir- I mingham, Mr. George Hutchinson (of the Board of Management, Bolton, Lanca- shire), Mr. Weeks (district manager, Pontypool), Mr. N. J. Pulling (manager of the Rhondda and Pontypridd Branch, Ferndale). The proceedings were preceded by a dinner, to which ample justice was done. The chairman proposed the toast of the Royal Co-operative Collecting Society, and remarked that this was the first occasion upon which they had the Mon- mouthshire men, and on the present oc- casion they were honoured by the presence of Mr. Watson, the general secretary, and Mr. Hutchinson, of the Board of Man- agement (applause). It was with confid- ence that he was now proposing that toast, as there was no other society which had only been in existence for ten years, could show equal progress (hear, hear). During that period there had been built up a premium income of L50,000 and this without the adventitious aid of a big capital (hear, hear). All the moaey which had been raised belonged to the members who had a controlling interest in the society. During the same period there had been saved also a. good reserve fund. At the same time all the men were paid fair trades union rates of wages (hear, hear). All the men had 25 per cent. on the books, and so much enthus- iasm was taken in the work that he felt that in South Wales there was a great prospect for the Society (hear, hear). Good work had already been done, but he hoped that better work still would be accomplished in the future (applause). All the men doing their best, they would be able to secure that position for the society which would be a credit to such an institution, and also a credit to them- selves. Referring to the management of the concern, the chairman added that the men at the head of affairs were those who themselves knew what it was to get up business, as well as how to control it; they were all good workers. He then proposed the toast of the "The Royal Co-operative Collecting Society." Mr. Hutchinson, in responding, pre- faced an interesting speech by explaining that that was the first opportunity he had ever had of addressing a body of Welshmen, and he was very pleaised to have had the opportunity, as he had heard a good deal of the Rhondda, but had never had the privilege of being here before. With regard to the Society, they had had difficulties to encounter, but in the worst of storms there was always observable some relieving feature, even in the darkest of days. As with the Israelitish army, with the rocks on either side of the Jordan in front of them, and the Prudential Army, they had had to stayd still and look for the bright streak in the dark cloud. But those men who had undergone those trials and diffi- culties, were the men who were able to speak to others in the same trials and in the same difficulties (hear, hear). As far as his connection with the insurance work was concerned, he had nothing to be ashamed of. They had had to combat with the great insurance companies, so to be regarded as the "fighting society" that the Royal Co-operative Insurance Society came to be regarded as the fight- ing society. (Voices: "Quite right' and applause.) The men connected with the society were those who had been ready to do the fighting, and now they had an institution of that honour and standing of which they need not be ashamed (applause). Having explained the genesis of the society as being due to the unjust treat- ment meted out to the originators by another concern, the speaker maintained that it was only right that every man should have an interest in that business which he created, and in the Society. Every agent had a financial interest in his books, not only in the agreement, which they entered into, but by the rules of the society also (hear, hear). Mr. Watson, who was cordially received also responded, and said that he had been longing to get the society estab- lished in the industrial centre of the Rhondda Valley, for it was a society for which there was room throughout the country, and eapecialliy so in South Wales. The Society had conferred bene- fits upon hundreds of thousands of people who could not have been so benefited by means of the Insurance Companies. There was one striking feature, and that was that he had never found any difficulty in getting good men to represent it (hear, hear). He had carefully refrained from endeavouring to poach upon other people's preserves, by offering fabulous sums. It was only about three or four weeks ago that he was asked to interview about 20 men belonging to another institution who were desirous of becoming agents of the society, but he had at the outset made it clear that it should be understood that the interview was not of his seeking. He had never sought to tempt men to leave other companies. In the case of a society such as theirs, they were prevented by law from spending more than a limited sum in expansion expenses, but the society had had offers from other con- cerns) to amalgamate, and between £ 50,000 and £ 60,000 was offered, which of itself, showed that it was a valuable asset. Nothing gave him more pleasure than to note the splendid progress which the society had made in South Wales, thanks to the efforts of Mr Newcombe, Mr Pelling, and Mr. Weekes. The noble band of workers whom they had in South Wales augured well for the future (hear, hear). Mr. Weekes having spoken in gratify- ing terms, Mr. Pelling remarked that in the Rhondda they had had to fight against unscrupulous opposition. Messrs Skim, Prior, and W. L. Wil- liams, also spoke, remarking that speak- ing as exiperienced insurance agents, they had found the Society the most satisfac- tory to work under. The proceedings were interspersed with musical selections contributed by Messrs Pelling, Daniels, Bartley, and others.

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Taught Her Children to Steal. Amazing Evidence in Ystrad Case. T/ahenbert Mother Sent to Prison. Some remarkable evidence was given in a case heard at Ystrad on Monday, when Beatrice Jones (13) was charged with stealing a parcel of groceries, value 5s. 8d., the property of Frank Hiley, grocer, Treherbert. A charge of receiving the goods, know ing them to have been stolen, was preferred against the girl's mother, Annie Jones. Mr. Hiley said that lie packed the goods up in a parcel to be delivered to a customer, and left it in a store-room. He then went to tea, and on returning, found the parcel gone. He made en- quiries among his staff and gave infor- mation to the police. P.O. Thomas said that at 8.20 p.m., from information received, he went to Brynwyndham Terrace, Tynewydd. He saw Mrs. Jones, and asked her what became of the parcel of groceries: her boy had brought in. She denied all know- ledge of the goods. He asked her per- mission to search the house, and subse- quently found part of the goods in a cup- board upstairs. Prisoner said that these had been' bought at the Chinai Shop," Treorchy. The goods were in a paper bag bearing an address written by one of Mr. Hiley's assistants. P.O. Williams sa.id that he visited the house later the same evening, and asked Mrs. Jones to account for the goods found by P.C. Thomas in the cupboard. She replied that everything the police had found had been bought by her in different shops. Asked to name the shops, so as to make enquiries, prisoner said that she could not do so. Witness then told her that she would have to accompany him to the Police Station on a charge of receiving the goods knowing them to have been stolen. At the Police Station, the little girl said, in the presence of her mother, that she had stolen the goods, and had told her mother that this was so. The mother did not deny it. A charge of stealing a small bottle of sweets, value Is., the property of Alf. Wilkins, confectioner, Tynewydd, was next preferred against Percy Jones (8), and a, second charge of receiving the sweets was preferred against Annie Jones. The sweets were found in a perambulator by P.O. Thomas whilst that officer was in search of the goods mentioned in the previous case. When charged, the boy said that he stole the sweets, took them home, told his mother where he stole them from, and she hid them in a perambulator. P.C. Williams said that Beatrice Jones was one of the smartest thieves in the district. She went about dressed in a long shawl, and her little brother acted as spy, and there were continual com- plaints of things being stolen. When witness visited the house on Saturday, he found as many as half-a-dozen fresh loaves of bread which Mrs. Jones could not account for. The house was in a filthy condition, the husband was addicted to drink, and the mother taught the chil- dren to steal. Mr. T. P. Jenkins, addressing the mother, said that hers was a sad plight for a mother to be in. It was bad enough for a mother to discover that her chil- dren had been guilty of thieving, but in her case she had been proved a ready receiver and had employed her children to steal. She was not worthy the name of mother. The case against the boy was dismissed on account of his tender age; Beatrice Jones was placed on probation for two years; whilst the mother was sentenced to fourteen days' hard labour in respect of each of the offences.