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J Merthyr Express" Diary.

Sunday, MARCH 27.

Notice to Subscribers.I

THE THREATENED STOPPAGE IN…

* * * THE PARLIAMENTARY PROSPECT.

GOSSIP.

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GOSSIP. Mr. Walter Runciman, President of the Board of Education, says he hopes that next session a Bill may be introduced which will deal partly with the raising of school age and partly with technical classes. He made a statement to this effect last week-end to a deputation repre- senting the Parliamentary Committee of the Trade Union Congress, who urged that some- thing should be done for the youth of the country from the time they left school until they reached the age of 18 years. One of the members of the deputation said that six out of seven girls and boys were running riot in the streets. Mr. Runciman said it was the desire of all education- ists to see the school age raised. Most children, who left school at the age of thirteen or fourteen, and who did not return, knew practically nothing about arithmetic or writing with ease. He hoped that the report of the Commission on Street Trading would go strongly against street trading for children under seventeen. The President also alluded to the medical examina- tion of children, and pointed out that^great advances had been made during the last eighteen months. The Board of Education, he added, would give, every possible assistance to the furtherance of open-air schools. Dealing with secondary school free places, Mr. Runciman said that, taking the whoje of the secondary schools of this country in 19Q7-8, they were 2 per cent. over the 25 per cent. standard, while in 1909-10 31 per cent. of the total places in the secondary schools were free places. They were, therefore, making rapid progress. The State was making a change in many of the endowed charities which were scattered all over the country. In the course of time they would be able not only to apply the whole of these educational endowments to the original purposes of their founders, but they would be able to combine the small endowments so as to make them effective. Honours fall thick and fast upon Sir Samuel Evans, the late member for Mid-Glamorgan. He has now been made a Privy Councillor. Mr. Rufus Isaacs, K.C., M.P., who succeeded Sir Samuel ae Solicitor-General, has had the honour of a. knighthood conferred upon him. Mr. Blandy Jenkins, who has occupied the chair for fourteen years, was unanimously re-elected at the annual meeting of the Glamor- gan County Council, last Thursday. There were eleven vacancies on the aldermanic bench, all the retiring members being Progressives. The vacancies were filled by the election of Progressives, among those appointed being Mr. Rees Harris (Aberdare), Mr. Rees Llewelyn (Aberdare), Mr. Jones (Mountain Ash); and Mr. W. Williams (Pontlottyn) Mr. DavidHughes, of Aberdare, was also elected an alderman for three years, in place of Mr. J. Davies, of Merthyr. « Mr. Keir Hardie, M.P., predicts that we shall have another election very soon, and he says the next Government will be a coalition of Whigs and Tories. The annual report, on the British Army, for > year ended September 30th last, states that ptevaiting opinion, among those who are | in closest touch wit!; (he men, is that Hie quality li of recruits for the Regular Army is improving, that the men enlisted last year were above the in *>hyfflqiie^$fl.y.catioo 0!Ù\aQ,C. L During the year 33,837 recruits joined the Army. a decrease of 3,338 as compared with the previous twelve months. This was solely due to fewer recruits being required to maintain the Army at its establishment. In a number of regimenl the standard was raised to check recruiting, and in the Foot Guards the standard was the highest since 1896. The total number of recruits medically inspected was 56,327, of whom 16,859 were rejected, the percentage being 29.93, compared with 29.36 in the previous year, and 37.71 in 1904-5. Of the men who offered themselves, 26,252 were unskilled labourers (7,846 rejected), and 13,766 skilled workers-(3,965 rejected).. Agricultural labourers headed the unskilled men with 6,352, and miners, with 1,984, headed the list of skilled men. General town casuals numbered 10,661, and country casuals 1,834. Defective teeth are responsible for the rejection of a growing pro- portion. vi&e&isffttitted Vale ^Northern Union Football Club have reaped at least out of the cup ties. In the first round they defeaffct: Merthyr at Rhydycar. Owing to the hnfa votir- able weather the receipts at that match did not realise expectations. In the second round it was their good fortune to be drawn to meet Huddersfield in Yorkshire, the receipts at this match amounting to about £300. The draw for the third round again favoured the Ebbw Vale Club, they having choice of ground, and their opponents being Salford. The officials of the Monmouthshire Club agreed to play the match at Salford, having received a very substantial offer from the Lancashire Club for consenting to the change. The official state- ment has not been made, but it is whispered that Salford offered considerably over £200 if Ebbw Vale would agree to visit Lancashire. Fortune has certainly smiled on the Ebbw Vale Club this season. At the annual meeting of the Carnarvonshire County Council the,Chancellor of the Excehquer was appointed an alderman of the county, and his brother, Mr. William George, was elected vice-chairman of the Council « The final ballot of the miners in the East Glamorgan Division, for the selection of a Parliamentary candidate was taken last week- end, the names submitted being those of Mr. C. B. Stanton, Aberdare, and Mr. Alfred Onions. Tredegar. The official figures have not yet been published. An excellent start has been made by the Labour Exchanges throughout the country. They have, an far, more than realised the hopes entertained when they were opened. Accord- ing to < a statement made in the House of Commons the other day, by Mr. Buxton* the President of the Board of Trade, the vacancies notified in the first five weeks were 32,500, while nearly 20,000 places were filled. He also stated that there were on the live" registers over a hundred thousand men. The managers of the Exchanges are taking the greatest care to recommend such men only as are likely to be found suitable. But for this, possibly many more places would have been filled. The figures are very satisfactory, and promise well for the future success of the Exchanges. Mr. Richard Bell, of the Labour Department of the Board of Trade, Sir Wm. Crossman, manager of the Cardiff Labour Exchange, and Mr. W. J. Davies, manager of the Merthyr Exchange, waited upon the Corporation on Monday night to invoke their assistance in making the local exchange a success. Mr. Bell, who is a Merthyr boy, congratulated the Council on the great progress made by his native town, and said he hoped to see the day when Merthyr would have a Lord Mayor. He then appealed to the Corporation to do all in their power to make the Exchange successful. Exchanges, he pointed out, could not make work, but they could bring employers and workmen together, and if they had the co-operation of local authori- ties men might be saved the trouble of wandering from town to town in search of employment. He pointed out what had already been accom- plished, and said he had great hopes that in the future we should see fewer wastrels than there are to-day. The Mayor and other members assured the visitors that the Corporation would do all they could to make the Exchange a useful institution. The announcement that the Local Govern- ment Board has dec ided to issue the provisional order applied for hy the Merthyr Corporation, empowering the Council to acquire St. David's School site. has given general satisfaction in the town. It is proposed to erect a Free Library and additional municipal offices on the site, and an application will have to be made for sanction to borrow the money required. Another enquiry will, therefore, be necessary. For a long time St. David's site has been an eyesore, and it must have created a bad impression on visitors to the town. The new offices will add greatly to the architectural beauty of the town. The official notification appears to have been made to both members for the borough. < The text has been issued of a Bill to provide for the more effectual prevention of destitution and the better organisation of public assistance. It is presented by Sir Robert Price (L, East Norfolk), and supported by Mr. Robert Harcourt, Mr. Barnes, Mr. Mond. and others. The Bill embodies some of the recommendations of the minority report of the Poor-law Commission. It provides for a new department under a Minister for Labour, and for the abolition of the boards of guardians, and the transfer of all provision of public assistance for the non-able. bodied (whether children, sick and infirm, aged, or mentally defective) to the county or county borough council, etc. Abolition of distress committees is also provided for, and the transfer of all matters affecting unemployment and the regulation of the hours and conditions of labour to the department of the Minister for Labour. Throughout tbe Bill the several authorities are empowered and required to take steps to prevent the occurrence of destitution, as well as to make provision for those who are destitute. t < All political parties now regard it as almost certain that another General Election will take place ere long—possibly before the end of May— and preparations are being made accordingly. At the annual meeting of the Labour Represen- tation Committee for the Merthyr Parliamentary Borough, at Aberdare, on Saturday, the question of running two candidates was under consider- ation. Representatives of the Press were not present during the discussion, but it is under- stood that it was decided to take a ballot of the workmen on the subject. From the tone of his speech it would seem that Mr. Keir Hardie, M.P., is in favour of a second Labour or Socialist candidate being brought forward. On the same day the annual meeting of the Merthyr Liberal Federation was hold at Abernant, when officers were elected and other formal business was transacted. At this meeting an attempt was made to raise a discussion on the question of running a second Liberal candidate, but it was ruled out of order. Mr. Edgar Jones, M.P., was present, and he delivered an interesting speech.. He dealt with the political situation and observed that his faith in the Prime Minister was stronger than ever. He also showed that since his entry into Parliament he has been able to serve his constituents in various ways. » » » A resolution was passed earnestly appealing to the Chief Liberal Whip not to consent to the surrender of any seat to any other party, without consulting the local Liberal Associations. Probably this was prompted by a statement published last week-end to the effect that an arrangement had been come to by the party leaders in London not to oppose members who were returned at the recent election by sub- stantial majorities. It has since been denied, however, that any such agreement has been arrived at. The Conservatives of Mid-Glamorgan decided on Saturday not to contest the seat at the bye- election. There will, therefore, be a straight fisrht between Liberals and Labour. Nomina- tions will be made on Saturday, and the polling will take place on the 31st instant. 1 m Mr. F. W. Gibbins, of Neath, the Liberal candidate for Mid Glamorgan, is connected with Aberdare. Mrs., Gibbins was born at Llety Rhys, near Hirwain, and is a sister of Mr. R. J. • Rhys, of Plasnewydd, Llwydcoed, Coroner for North Glamorgan. Mr. Gibbins, who has been High Sheriff of Glamorgan, is a member of the Society of Friends. He takes a keen interest in Welsh life, and in Welsh antiquarianism, and is a member of the Car- marthenshire Antiquarian Society, as well as of the Cambrian Archeological Society. His knowledge of Quakerism in Wales is unique. He recently contributed an important article on Quakers' Yard" to the Friends' Historical Association's Journal. The Daily Chronicle Parliamentary corres- pondent, in Tuesday's issue of that journal, stated that a conference had taken place between Mr. John Redmond and Mr. Dillon, and Mr. Lloyd George and the Master of Eiibank (the- Chief Whip), as the result of which there good reason to believe that the Government, asul i the Irish leaders would now arrive at a C01>t- XllAt..t .laiab "HilJ 4IIventuaia •*VJ ■ common and concerted action during the life- time of the present Parliament. Mr. Lloyd George told Mr. Austen Chamber- lain straight to his face, in the House of Com- mons, that the object of the opposition in pressing for the introduction of the Budget before the other business, was to kill it and bring the Government to grief. Hear, hear," said Mr. Austen, and Mr. Lloyd George asked, after that cheer, where was the honesty of their anxiety about the financial confusion. We will get through our Budget," added the Chancellor, long before you could bring in yours." The Veto propositions were laid on the table of the House of Commons on Modnav. The first expressly disables the House of Lords from rejecting a Money Bill, and that any such limitation by law shall not be taken to diminish or qualify the existing rights and privileges of the House, of Commons. The first resolution defines what is embraced in Money Bills, and 'det?^W' it the question ever anses what is to be regarded as a Money Bill. The second resolution declares it to be expedient that the powers of the House of Lords as respects other Bills than Money Bills shall be restricted by law, so that any such Bill which has passed the House of Commons in three successive session?, and having been sent up to the House of Lords at least one month before the end of the seession, has been rejected by that House in each of these sessions shall become law without the consent of the House of Lords on the Royal assent being declared provided that at least two years shall have elapsed between the date of the first introduction of the Bill in the House of Com- mons and the date on which it passes the House of Commons for the last time. A third reso- lution proposes to limit the duration of Parlia- ment to five years. In anticipation of the near approach of another General Election it is stated that the Government intend to introduce a short Bill to have all borough elections on one day, and all county elections on another day. Mr. Steele Maitland, a barrister elected for East Birmingham at the last election, is spoken of as the rising hope of the Unionists. He is tall and dark, with a resolute face, and speaks well, with a taking Parliamentary manner. At the County Court, at the Town Hall, ou Monday and Tuesday, his Honour Judge Bryn Roberts, disposed of 384 judgment summonses and 13 administration requests, besides hearing the ordinary contested cases. On Tuesday the Judge became exasperated at the volubility of a woman, who persisted in interrupting his Honour. Even when the teamed Judge shouted "Keep quiet, woman," the lady persisted in having the last word by replying All right, sir." At last his Honour broke down under the strain. You can talk till you are blue in the face, and I wouldn't believe you," he told her. At the police court, on Tuesday, the Magistrates disposed of over 160 cases, many of which were summonses in respect of rates. The Judge sat so late on Monday that the monthly meeting of the Corporation had to be held in the committee-room, many members and officials having to find sitting accommoda-i tion as best they could, while the reporters were cramped up on a small table behind the Mayor. The Town Clerk was asked to present a report to the Council ypon the matte* As will be seen from a report prepared by the Merthyr Borough Controller, which appears elsewhere, the maintenance of the Merthyr cemeteries entails a cost on the rates. At Cefn, for instance, for every interment that takes place £1 3s. 6d. has to be found out of the rates and 10s. 5d. for every interment at Pant. At Aberfan there is a alight balance in favour of the Corporation, but at Treharris there is a loss of over a pound on every interment, which has to be made good out of the rates. With the exception of Cefn all the cemeteries are in the borough, and are assessed at nominal sums for rating purposes, but the Cefn cemetery is assessed at the full value. This loss on the cemeteries is a serious matter for ratepayers. Mr. Harris has also prepared a return showing the charges made by other local authorities, and these are to be gone into by the Committee with a view to the fees at Merthyr being revised. The Mayor stated at the meeting of the Merthyr Town Council, on Monday night, that the Corporation had now practically agreed to join with Swansea in the erection of an asylum, and the draft agreement would be submitted to counsel. As previously stated, the cost is estimated at about a third of which;, will be borne by Merthyr. Some of the members of the Merthyr Board of Guardians expressed annoyance at the meeting last Saturday at the attitude adopted by Sir Marchant Williams in connection with the granting of maiiftenance orders. The majority maintained a discreet silence, but one or two indulged in tall talk. The Rector of Dowlais suggested that they should apply to the Hiffh Court for a mandamus, and also Bend a protest to the Lord Chancellor. The Stipen- diary, however, was quite right. Mr. James (the Clerk) explained that no order made by the Magistrates could be varied without the consent of the Court. It was because this had been done that Sir Marchant took the stand he did. The Clerk also pointed out that by means of maintenance orders the Board recovered about £2,000 a year, and said that in the interests of the Board friction should be avoided. After this the discussion fizzled out. It is unfortunate that, through some misun- derstanding of the facts probably, there should have been any altercation between the Chief Liberal Whip and the Liberal and Labour Association of Mid-Glamorgan. No doubt the failure of the Association to secure a good candidate from outside created an impression that they were being jockeyed at head-quarters, but the Chief Whip has distinctly declared that he has in no way interfered with the indepen- dence and rights of the Association. It is evidence of the intense state of feeling in the constituency when the Liberal party determines at all hazards to fight rather than submit to the handing of the seat over to a Socialist, who, they allege, is using Labour as a stalking-horse for the party which aims at the destruction of Liberals. We are not surprised that they have determined to fall fighting if they are to go down at all. They have a good local man as their champion, and we shall all be deeply interested in the outcome of the struggle. It will decide whether Mid-Glamorgan Liberalism is able to hold the field or sinks beneath another glorious victory for Socialism." POLONIUS.

CEFN COED.

Glynneath Men on Strike

Chief Whip and Merthyr Liberals.

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

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