Rhondda Leader Maesteg Garw and Ogmore Telegraph

Pandy Square Fountain. Memorial to late Mr. Archibald Hood. Thursday's Unveiling Ceremony. Mabon's Tribute. On Thursday last, in showery weather, Mr. W. Abraham (Mabon), M.P., per- formed the unveiling ceremony of the drinking fountain erected to the memory of the late Mr. Archibald Hood, J.P., founder of the Glamorgan Collieries. The fountain was erected out of a, surplus of the fund subscribed by the workmen and others towards the statue of the late Mr. Hood now standing in the grounds of the Workmen's Institute at Llwynypia. Mr. David Jones (assistant overseer), chairman of the Memorial Committee, presided, Photo by] [Levi Ladd, Tonypandy ÐNVEiILING OF MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN TO THE LATE MR. ARCHIBALD HOOD, J.P., AT TONYPANDY. supported by Mr. W. W. Hood, Mr. Thomas Thomas, J.P. (chairman of the Rhondda. District Council). Mr. Leonard W. Llewelyn (managing director, Cam- brian Combine), Mr. R. S. Griffiths, J.P., Mr. Tom Evans, D.C. (Penygraig), Mr. D. Watts Morgan (miners' agent), Mr. W. P. Nicholas (clerk to the Rhondda Council), Mr. T. Ayton Jones (secretary of the movement), and others." The proceedings were opened by the singing, of 0 fryniau Caersalem," Mabon conducting. Mr. J. Owen Jones (chairman of the Mid-Rhondda Chamber of Trade) expressed his gratitude, on behalf of that body, that he had been asked to say a few words on this occasion, and he desired to Mr. DAVID JONES. Chairman. pay his homage and respect to the memory of the late Mr. Archibald Hood. They would agree with him that it was Mr. Hood who really laid the foundations of the prosperity of Mid-Rhondda, which they were now proud to claim as being the Metropolis of the Rhondda (laugh- ter. and hear, hear). Statues and foun- tains were erected to the memory of com- paratively few people, and he was voicing the feelings of the inhabitants of the dis- trict when he said that it required no statue or fountain to bring to their memories the many kindly actions and good advice they received at the hands of the late Mr. Hood. If there was any name in Mid-Rhondda that was honoured more than another, it was Hood (applause). Mr. Thos. Lloyd, an old workman at the Glamorgan Collieries, was next called upon to address the gathering, and on taking his stand at the front of the plat- form, was humorouslv greeted by Mr. W. W. Hood with How are you, Tom ? Shwd mae? Mr. Lloyd said that it was; as difficult to prevent character coming out on top as it was to stop the Rhondda River flowing to Cardiff, and he was very thankful that such characters as the late Mr. Hood were to be found in the world. Masters and workmen needed something to draw them into closer bonds with each other. and nothing could accomplish this but the principles inculcated in the, Sabbath School (applause), Mabon, who was cM'tikfliy .greeted, said it gave him great pleasure to be able to avail himself of an opportunity to hand over this magnificent memorial to the Rhondda Council. Mr. Archibald Hood was one of the best friends he (Mabon) had ever had. Mabon then declared in a burst of confidence that on Monday morning, last he met with a slight acci- dent, which prevented him attending the monthly meeting of the Rhondda miners on Monday and Mr. Lloyd George's meet- ing at Treorchy on the same night. His ankle had been complaining of his weight for some weeks past—(laughter)—but he continued to weigh upon it until at length it turned out to be an unfaithful servant (renewed laughter). Proceeding, Mabon said that it was not very long ago he had had the pleasure of unveiling a statue to their departed friend. In the statue the outward annearanee of the man in life, as he walked the streets, and directed the great concern of which he was the founder, was brought before them but they would agree with him that in the memorial he this day had unveiled, brought before them the inner man—the real Archibald Hood. He was a noble man whom they all knew, always ready to appease pain and relieve distress, and in that fountain they saw a representation of the desires of his departed friend to continue in hie sympathies with the people amongst whom he had lived. They who knew him well, knew the qualities he possessed, knew how true and honest he was in his deal- ings with them. There were some who did not share their views. He heard the other day that he had a greed for money. He loved money, no doubt; he (Mabon) knew of none who did not. But he did not care for money for its own sake, but because of the good that could be done with it. He was a successful man, but he was not the type of man who wor- shipped the successful man because of his success. He was never given over to braggadocia. He was not a man of that character, but far above it (applause). Although he himself was successful, he always liked to see his people sharing the same success. They knew him as a man of large and general sympathies, a man who loved our nation," a man that revered their language, although he could not speak it. He was a gaeat educa- tionist, and always held that the man with two languages was better than the man with only one. Forty-five years ago, he was the best educationist in Wales. He advocated that the Welsh children should be taught un to the same standard as the Scotch children. Mr. Hood. continued Mabon, had also led the miners through many troubles in the coalfield. He well remembered a momentous occasion when Mr. Hood, not- withstanding that the relations were strained between the employers and the workmen, said to him. "We will have peace, but let us conciliate, and, if that fails, go to arbitration." That was the spirit they wanted in the management of collieries—(annlause)-—and he hoped all who followed him would be actuated by that desire for peace—peace based on jus- tice that would draw workmen and em- ployers closer together (loud applause). If they would allow him to say so, he was very hopeful that the troubles at Llwyny- pia would soon be settled-settled with peace based upon justice. Councillor Thos. Thomas said that on behalf of the Rhondda Urban District Council he desired to tender his grateful acknowledgment of their acceptance of this beautiful and useful gift. The com- mittee deserved their sincerest thanks for their foresight in erecting such a splendid monument, and handing it over to the public. It would serve a two-fold purpose. It would add to the beauty of the locality, and it would also prove an inspiration to the youths of the district to do their utmost for the welfare of the Valleys. | Mr. Hood, through his undertaking and enterprise, had made the district, and it could also be said that the district had also assisted in making him. The rela- tion that existed between him and his workmen was such that it was.very seldom any serious friction arose at the Llwyny- pia Collieries. If there was any dispute, the workmen would say, The old gentle- man is coming up next week; everything will he all right (applause). He loved Welshmen, and it was his boast that he appointed them to positions of trust and responsibility. His advice to his mana- gers always was, You take care of the safety of the workmen, and the coal will come." He set the safety of his em- ployees first, and his own interests after- wards. Mr. W. W. Hood, who laboured under great emotion, said that this was an ex- ceedingly trying ordeal for him, as kind- ness always killed him. He would never forget the kindness of the people of Llwynypia and Tonynandy in erecting that splendid statue to his father, and again this fountain. He had no idea that any- body knew his father's character better than he did, but he now found that Mabon did. His father's object in life was not money. He would say that openly and plainly—(applause)—but being a Scotchman and spending little, people gave him the credit of being fond of money. He always had three things in his mind. One was the Llwynypia Col- liery, the second the Lothian, and the other Barry Dock. The safety and the interests of the workmen were always nearest his heart, and his first question to him (the speaker) every Saturday night was, Are the men safe and are they comfortable? "—he would then go on to speak about the works. Mr. Leonard Llewelyn said that the late Mr. Hood was greatly honoured, respected and loved, not only in Mid- Rhondda, but throughout the whole of the South Wales coalfield. His old friend Mr. Lloyd had given him (Mr. Llewelyn) some advice with regard to following in Mr. Hood's steps (laughter). They should, however, remember that the ability to manage men was not given to everybody as it had been given to the late Mr. Hood, and they should also remember that every man gained by experience (hear, hear). His experience had not been so large as Mr. Hood's, but he hoped that, though he might not be able to please them as Mr. Hood had done, with their help and the co-operation of the officials, they would continue to have peace in Mid-Rhondda. He could assure them it was not his wish to have conflict, but at the same time, there must be peace with justice and honour. He was perfectly willing to meet everybody, and as far as possible to copy the late Mr. Hood. He esteemed his memory, and he looked up to him as a man whom he would like to copy. As Ions as there was coal worked in the South Wales coalfield, the name of Hood would always be revered and esteemed (applause). The proceedings were brought to a close sooner than it was intended, owing to the continual heavy downpour of rain. The fountain, which is 13 feet high, is built of cast iron on^a pedestal of Aber- deen granite, and is surmounted by an Egyptian water carrier supporting a Mr. T. AYTON' JONES, Secretary. ) powerful gas lamp. It has three drinking tans, one cattle trough, and two dog troughs. It was built by the Coalbrook- dale Company from designs by Mr. R. S. Griffiths, architect, Tonypandy, and bears the following inscription —■" This foun- tain is erected in conjunction with the statue at the Workmen's Institute, by the workmen of Llwynypia Colliery and others as a memorial to the late Archibald Hood. Esq., J.P., founder of the Llwyny- pia Collieries." Also the following in Welsh —" Y cyfiawn a fydd ofalus am fywyd ei anifail (Diar. xii. 10.). The platform on which the ceremony took place, was erected at the personal expense of Mr. L. W. Llewelyn, Llwynypia Collieries.