Welsh Newspapers
Search 15 million Welsh newspaper articles
12 articles on this Page
Miners' Federation.
Miners' Federation. Conference at Cardiff. if A conference of the South Wales iners Federation was held at the Cory Cardiff, on Monday. There was a ftige attendance of delegates. In the Absence of Mr. W. Abraham (Mabon), the president, the chair was occu- pied by the vice-president, Mr. W. Brace, vno was supported by Mr. T. Richards, i general secretary, and the mem- eis of the Executive. .A vote of sympathy with Mr. W. tl braham (Mabon), M.P., the president of le Federation, in his illness having been Passed, the Chairman moved the following resolution: That this conference extends its heartfelt sympathy to the widows, orphans, and relatives of the victims of the Wattstown Colliery explosion, and trusts that, the public generally will Illake a generous response to the appeals made for help to enable them to bear the heavy burden that has been "nposed upon them." | his was carried unanimously. ■In moving the next resolution, "That this conference of delegates, representing the whole of the miners employed in the South Wales coalfield, call the attention of the Government to the frequency with which colliery explosions occur, causing a great loss of life, and request the Home Secretary to exercise the powers vested in him by section 45 of the Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1887, to order a special investi- gation into the causes and circum- stances of the Wattstown explosion, for the purpose of considering the possi- bilities of further preventive measures and any provision it is possible to make tor facilitating the efforts of rescue parties with a view of minimising their disastrous effects. Copies of this reso- lution to be sent to the Prime Minister, the Home Secretary, and the Leader of jthe Opposition," Brace said that a motion had been „anied at the previous conference in avour of the Federation of Great Britain .^coming amalgamated with the Labour ^presentation Committee, but in conse- quence of a previous resolution having !reii accepted at the annual conference the Miners' Federation at Glasgow the Motion carried by the South Wales Fede- ,ation could not become a matter of ^siness at the Bristol meeting, and if it the pleasure of this conference that be pressed forward it would be neces- \ai'y for them to confirm what they had one at their last gathering. At the ?'»tol meeting a resolution had been Pies.sed expressing belief in the principle the political independence of all Labour rj?mbers, and that all members who ?)\ght be returned under the auspices of Federation should do everything pos- .ible for the formation of a Labour group the House of Commons. Regardless the fact of what people said of the andidates running under the Federation cheme, the speaker assured the confer- that they were running as Labour ^ndidates pledged to the policy of the Ol'mation of a OBLimliamentary Labour Group. 5 the House of Commons. An under- j 1Gilding had been arrived at between the j^bour Representation Committee, the r,liainentary Committee of the Trades a0llgre.ss and the Federation of Trades Mutual working understanding under oich the whole of the Labour candidates t>ld receive the unanimous support ot ,e three (applause). i Arr. Brace then dealt with the approach- es termination of the Conciliation Board Agreement. t was necessary, he said, for the Execu- tive Council to ask for power to open Negotiations for the establishment of a ^age system to succeed the present Con- flation Board agreement, otherwise the "lalfield would find itself face to face with crisis without a settled system for the egulahon of the workmen's wages. The Ilterest of the workmen, of the employers, M of the community at large depended .Pon everybody knowing as early as pos- r< what was to be their position. The 11I IIClhatlOn Board, although an experi- eut, had succeeded beyond the most k'Siiine expectations of either side. It maintained general peace for the ha?'u Pei'i°d over which the agreement 0p oeen signed, and that was something value to everybody. There were, un- tunately, a large number of disputes a ^llieries, and many workmen were idle individual collieries at a standstill, at a¡;¡ it too much to say that they were 3 a standstill because the Conciliation fat-a' had not applied the same principles the settlement of individual disputes Hip c.°il'ei'ies as it applied for the settle- Peni the wage question? The inde- t^ent chairman had made it impossible have a general stoppage of work, io ere had been occasions when the deci- bel independent chairman had not Li11 Acceptable to one side or the other, ci G. the very fact that the independent a,iriliall had 44intained the General Peace. fOra certain number of years with regard Piin • WaSe question was proof that the to could be applied with advantage liei-6 8ettlement of disputes at the col- i(jjles- With regard to the men who were Wot e Would ask those present to go to their lodges and do their level a* to secure additional financial assist- thftf way of grants. It would be to lr interest to do so, for the men who Vi^f .fighting these battles at the indi- te a c°lliei ies were fighting battles for all Jpllei'al principles of importance to &lan engaged in the industry (ap- i.8e). They were told trade was bad. i trade might be a little depressed, ^oiin i n £ the figures of last year they W* that over ,2,000,000 tons of coal Hot \!old »ore than in 1903, and he was ^P^suaded that a, trade that could f k Measure of progress was in that to v. depression that employers ought ti, glamouring at all times for reduc- tion lln wages. Even if trade was depressed, he had yet to be per- ^ist reducing wages was going to VhcL the maintenance or creation of i, there had been periods of depres- Mce tlie Sliding Scale, when the f,ci bCoal was brought down to 8s. Mote ,,Ju(lged by that it would not pro- prosperity of trade if wages ^uced. Employers failed to re- •0 Pav1 t it was as important for them ^U-str ten.tion to the selling end of the e di/ as 't was to the producing end. t)lliopld,1 llot, think it would benefit the en's 1 s to be saving pence in the work- t ve eiv'ages at tlie time their agents l aPer 8 coal away at shillings per ton n tli Employers united to a man .r attani ",len'S! wages had to be reduced fed' hllt when they talked of ^taiir en)ployers for the purpose of p fa;!n^ Prices at a point which would fWtal ah WageB and a fair return upon said it was impossible. He, h? PrevAv,lVa^. c°nvinced that combination xn + dumping of coal on the ELU^cts 6a j on^y carrying out business action' i maintained that as much the he paid to the selling end producing end. It did not bespeak business acument to produce coal on the best scientific lines and then give it away at shillings per ton leas than it ought to be sold for (applause). In conclusion, he said it would be im- prudent for him to say what ought to be done upon the eve of a meeting with the employers. He preferred meeting the employers and arguing the matter out. The workmen would have an opportunity of making suggestions as the negotiations proceeded, and the workmen's represen- tatives on the Conciliation Board would have opportunities of consulting the dele- gates. He would not be doing justice to the delegates present, and the great body of workmen whom they represented if he did not declare that it was the unanimous conviction of the workmen of the coal- field that there could be no agreement which did not recognise the principle of a Minimum Wage. and that, there must be no reduction in the present minimum. The workmen had formed themselves into a great federation, which was worthy of all admiration. It was true that a few men had caused trouble at some collieries. Those men were much to be pitied, because they were, consciously or unconsciously, play- ing into the hands of their employers and against the interests of their class and fellows. If they were under the impres- sion that the employers had any parti- cular affection for non-Union men they had not studied human nature. He trusted that those men would be brought to see that they ought to do voluntarily what they otherwise had to be driven into in justice and fairness to their fellow-workmen (applause). Mr. D. Watts Morgan, in seconding the resolution, emphasised the importance of the step which they were taking, and said that they were convinced whatever might have been the obstacles in the way in other cases that no objection could be taken in this case, for all who were in the mine, and who might have been re- sponsible were now removed. For that reason no effort should be spared in probing it to the very bottom, for they could hurt no one's feelings. There had been three disasters between January and July-at Elba, the Cambrian, and Watts- town—and he was convinced that their mines were not in that condition they ought to be in regard to the protection of the lives and limbs of the men working in them. He believed that facilities should be given to rescue parties in the shape of the necessary implements, machinery, and appliances in every col- liery, and that these should be within easy reach. Those who had read the reports of the inquiry at the Cambrian Colliery would have seen that in 40 work- ing places 22 blowers of gas were reported in one district; and in the very district where the seat of danger was agreed upon there were 18 working places and eight blowers in that very district. Was that anything like the degree of safety that could be obtained in the mines of South Wales? No district should be in a posi- tion that there should be a blower of gas working out in every other of the working places, and if it could not be improved upon they should insist upon the adop- tion of the French style, to reduce the output in that district or stop the work altogether until the danger was removed. Under the Act of 1896 larger powers were given to the Secretary of State, but he felt convinced that very little improve- ment had followed. Throughout the whole of the South Wales coalfield, in similar collieries to those of the Rhondda, he found that 10, 12, and 14 blowers were habitually found reported by the ex- aminers, and he held that something must be done to reduce the danger. They had been recently told by an eminent mining engineer that he thought there would be something wrong with the colliery if he did not find 25 or 30 blowers reported every day. What he (Mr. Morgan) would say was that such a colliery was not safe with the lamps they had, and it was not right that any human being should be in that return at all. At Clydach Vale the question was put to the chief Mines Inspector if he had anything to suggest by way of improvement, but he said, No, the law had been fully complied with in its practical sense. All blowers had been diluted, and he had no reason to com- plain of the condition of that mine. He (Mr. Morgan) ventured to predict that so far as the provisions of the law were con- cerned they would be told about Watts- town that they had been observed, and that, there would be no blame attached to anyone. He did not blame the in- spectors, but he held that the law was too weak. He believed for that reason that the time had arrived when an indepen- dent inquiry apart from the coroner's inquest should be held, and an indepen- dent man appointed by the Home Secre- tary to probe this matter to the very bottom in order that the sacrifice of 119 valuable lives should not, have been in vain, and in order that the lives of other men might be made safe in future (ap- plause). The resolution was adopted unani- mously.
Unfair Press Criticism.
Unfair Press Criticism. A complaint was made by Mr. C. B. Stanton that miners' leaders' speeches were not reported in the Cardiff papers as they ought to be, and if they were reported, they were reported wrongly. He specially complained about the action of the editor of a contemporary who placed at the top of an article Stanton makes a silly speech," because he had said some- thing which did not suit the palate of the editor, He protested against the shabby way in which they were treated. Some men were not reported at all, and others had been misrepresented. Were they going to tamely submit to be kicked in this way? Let the Press criticise, but let them be fair; let them publish his speech in Aberdare, and he would not be afraid of the result as far as the opinion of the general public went. He wanted fair play, and he was going to get it, and asked for their co-operation. Mr. Brace remarked that, while he felt that Mr. Stanton had a complaint, and was entitled to make it, he could not accept more than that that morning, as no resolution had been submitted to him in writing nor had it been before the Executive. Personally, it occurred to him that if a newspaper criticised a speech, it was not too much for the person whose speech was being criticised to ask in common fairness that the portion of the speech, which the paper differed from, should appear in the same issue, so that everybody might see the basis of the criticism, and judge whether it was fair or not. Two delegates thought that a resolution ought to be submitted, but Mr. Stanton said, "If you are satisfied of what I have told you. I am satisfied; but allotliertiine we shall have to take some more drastic means." The matter then dropped, and the ordinary business of the conference was proceeded with.
Official Report.
Official Report. At the close of the meeting Mr. D. Watts Morgan furnished the representa- tives of the press with the following official report:
Advertising
HAVIFQ MUCIN* imperial Furnishing Stores UH1 V 1 El VP V? UP If CP 11*1 (Opposite Opera House), PORT H Departn1ents: RE # E.5r ARTISTIC M D 44 44 FURNITURE BEDSTEADS. CARPETS, RUGS. IRONMONGERY. CUTLERY. CHINA GLASS. Special lines WOOL IN 0 VERLA YS WIRE FHOM MATTRESSES. :h; 7/11 to 45/ The Cheapest House in the Trade for High-Class Furniture, Bedsteads, Bedding, &c.
County School, Porth.
County School, Porth. Matriculation Succesees. We have much pleasure in announcing the following successes from the above school at the recent examination for the London Matriculation — First Class.—D. J. Jones, Pentre; and Nellie Selwood, Dinas. Second Class.—Gethin Jones, Clydach Vale; John Llewellyn, Ti-eoi-chy; and Arthur J. Williams, Porth. There are only six candidates in South Wales who have passed in the First Class, and the fact that two of these were from the Porth County School reflects very creditably on the thoroughness and the efficiency of tuition in that school.
The Cymmer Dispute.
The Cymmer Dispute. In connection with the three weeks' stoppage at the Cymmer Colliery, Porth, as a protest against the employment of non-Unionists, Mr. Bosley, J.P., trea- surer of the South Wales and Monmouth- shire Enginemen, Stokers, and Surface Craftsmen's Association, has attended at the Imperial Hotel, Porth, and distributed strike pay to the members of the Porth branch of the Association, which had stood by the colliers in their efforts at eliminating the non-Unionist element from the colliery.
Advertising
-I fTT What to eat ^HJ in Summer il told you in the booklet Summer Dishes "—a dainty collection of recipes for Ight and nourishing Summer fare, made with Brown & Poison's PATENT Corn Flour. A post-card to B. & P., Paisley, will Iwing you the book free by return. I
Gossip.r
Gossip. The Tariff Reform meeting held at the Workmen's Hall, Ton-Pentre, on Thurs- day evening last was a success—not from the Tariff Reformers' point of view, though. For some days previous, posters f 11 had been stuck on every hoarding announcing to all and sundry that a meeting of the people who do their very best to save this wretched country from destruction would be held at the Hall, and great expectations were roused in some quarters as to the reception which these valiant reformers would receive. -+--+--+- Well, it turned out a miserable fiasco. The great body of the hall was practically empty a few lukewarm supporters of the Brummagem Protectionist Policy lurked near the doors, looking very much as if they preferred the fresh air that crept in through the doors better than the stale, rotten arguments which were ex- pounded from the platform. If this meet- ing be a criterion by which we may test the feelings of the Rhondda Conservatives on the Fiscal Policy, it comes to one or two things, viz. (1) That there is no immediate danger of this country falling into that destitute condition which Mr. Chamberlain has pictured so vividly or (2) that if there be a danger, the Con- servatives of the Upper Rhondda do not appreciate its character, and that they prefer their drinking clubs to the dubious enjoyment of a speech upon Tariff Reform. -+- -+- We are not responsible for the follow- ing — Lives of grocery men remind us How they make their starch half lime; In brown sugar wholly blind us, Putting sand in all the time. Equally we disclaim responsibility for these next four lilies Arithmetic we learnt to-day Is, twice one are two, and twice two are four Then shun the grocer who will say That 191bs. weigh just a score. Please Note.—We don't give private addresses at this office. -+--+--+- Considerable excitement is felt in local circles at the approaching visit of General Buller to Ystrad. Posters are distributed about the district asking the inhabitants toi give the veteran a right royal real Welsh welcome. There is no doubt but that he will get it. The Welsh people are more fascinated bv Buller, I believe, than by any other living British General, with the exception perhaps of Baden- Powell. Sir Redvers stands out pro- minently and pre-eminently as the best type of a British soldier, and as such he will have a rousing reception on Satur- day when he alights at Ystrad Station. -+- Writing of General Buller, I well re- call a statement made by a certain Frenchman on a visit to this country when the Boer War was just drawing to a close. Writing of his impressions, he said that what struck him most forcibly in the character of the British soldiers he met was the admiration which was evinced towards the original of a portrait of a soldier in the uniform of a General. The portrait was that of a man well advanced in years, hair turning grey, with a thick moustache covering a mouth of extra- ordinary strength and will-power. Need I say that the portrait was that of old Buller." The age of chivalry is by no means past, loud as Marie Corelii may proclaim the fact What makes me believe this is an experience which befel me the other day. Going into a crowded compartment on my way to this office, I was very graciously accommodated with a seat. Before I had hardly time to sit down, an elderly lady came in, and being next to the door, I at once prof erred my seat to her, which, with a torrent of thanks standing on her lips, she was about to accept. Judge of her dismay and mine when a red-haired, pipe-collared youth promptly ensconced himself in the vacant seat. -+- There are several ways of paying a compliment. A friend of mine, who owns a very intelligent horse, was one day enumerating his many good qualities to a lady friend, and added, "W auld you believe it, that horse knows almost as much as I do." Indeed! gasped the young lady, "I quite believe it 1 -+- Cyclists, like dogs, have an extreme antipathy towards the man in blue. This is proved by an incident which was related at Ton-Pentre Police Court last Monday. A young man on scorching bent" espied a constable as he furiously rode his bicycle down Ystrad Road, Pen- tre, and from motives which have not since transpired he bent his head down on the machine," and made" for the constable. The Bench apparently have a higher regard of the utility of the man in blue than the cyclist entertained, and they lined the latter 10s. as a proof of it. +. The recent Manoeuvres at Minehea-d remind me of an incident in the Salisbury Plain manoeuvres some years ago. A certain General, a son of Devon, was in- specting a regiment of soldiers, and it was generally known among the regiment that the General paid a particular regard to a soldier who hailed from the same county as himself. After conversing with a number of men, the General came upon a private who bore the name of Spriggins. With a wink towards Spriggins, the officer in command informed the General that Spriggins was a native of Devonshire. After eyeing the indomitable Spriggins up and down, the General remarked: H'm. you are a Devonshire man. are you, SprigginsP Yis, yer 'anner," glibly returned the private and a divil of a foine counthry it is, shure, yor 'anner."
"Social" at Blaenclydach.
"Social" at Blaenclydach. A very enjoyable evening was spent on Saturday last by a large number of the male members of the Waun Court Mission at the new Dorothy Restaurant recently opened by Mr. and Mrs. Evan Jones at Court Street, Blaenclydach. After par- taking of an excellent repast provided by the worthy host and hostess, they retired to the concert room, and the rest of the evening was spent in singing and recita- tions. Mr. John Hoskins was unani- mously elected to the chair. The Chair- man. in a short address, said it gave him great pleasure to preside over such a happy and genial company as those pre- sent. It was only real Christians who knew how to be happy, and if he at any time met with professors of Christianity wearing a melancholy look, he considered there was something radically wrong with their ideas of Christianity. 'He also com- mented on the absence of facilities for enjoyment and recreation for the people. and of the many temptations which bestrew the paths of the young people of the district. He enjoined those present to do their utmost by being affable and sociable, to lead others into paths of righteousness and holiness. Mr. George Tulk also delivered some very appropriate remarks. The programme was as follows: — Overture, Win. Bv. Thomas; Chairman's address solo, Mr. William Thomas; graphophone selections. Mr. Frank Harris recitation. Mr. Benjamin Bull solo. Mr. John Smith solo, Mr. Luke Thomas trio, Mr. Sam Thomas and friends address. Mr. George Tulk; solo. Mr. Arthur Young; solo. Mr. Jones fhost); solo. Mr. John Thomas; grapho- phone selections. Mr. Frank Harris solo, Mr. William Thomas. At the termina- tion of the programme a very hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. and Mrs. Jones (the host and hostess) for the ex- cellent manner in which the catering was carried out. The Doxology was then sung. thus terminating a very enjoyable evening.
[No title]
Oh, tradesman, in thine hour of e e e, If on this paper you should c c c, Take our advice and now be y y y, Go straight ahead and advert i i i. You'll find the project of some u u u, Neglect can offer no ex q q q. Be wise at once, prolong your d a a a, A silent business soon d k k k.
Advertising
mar SIGHT ACURATELY TESTED and CORRECTED Free of Charge. Testing Rooms fitted upon the Latest Scientific Principles. Spectacles froni 3/6 io 21/- EMRYS Chemist and RICHARDS Optician. The Dunraven Pharmacy TONYPANDY 2305 (Lower end). Swansea Temperance Houses l.-I'TIIE NVAYERLY" HOT]] High street. 2.—" THE LIFE-BOAT," Quay Parade. 3.—" THE OXFORD," Oxford Street. Caterers for Pieuics, &c, D. GRIFFITHS, Sec. 2476
Miners' Federation.
Tellers:—Mr, J. H. Lewis (Porth), Mr. Legge (Blaina), and Mr. J. Davies (Brynmawr). Credential Committee: -Messrs. T. Willis, T. Griffiths, W. Harris, and T. Davies. The Credential Committee reported that there were present 212 delegates, representing 217 lodges and 107,431 members. A long discussion took place as to whether the Miners' Federation should affiliate with the Labour Representa- tion Committee. It will be remembered that a resolution was carried at the annual conference with a view of amending the labour representation scheme of the Miners' Federation, and the motion now made was in order to allow this to be done. The unanimous recommendation of the Executive Council of the South Wales Miners' Federation was, with a view of being consistent with what had already been done, that the motion as it now stood on the agenda should be agreed to without a division. After a number of questions had been put and answered satisfactorily, this was unani- mously agreed to. Question 4 on the agenda, was To consider the recommendation of the Executive Council for the payment of the general secretary's travelling ex- penses, in addition to his yearly allow- ance for Parliamentary services." Several questions were put as to Mr. Richards' present position in regard to any clerical assistance that might be necessary, but having regard to the nearness of a General Election, and that the scheme would then come into operation, the almost unanimous desire of the lodges, as expressed by the dele- gates, was that nothing should be done pending the scheme coming into opera- tion and, therefore, it was unani- mously agreed that so far as Mr. Richards' Parliamentary position was concerned matters would remain as they are, pending the coming into operation of the scheme. Negotiations to be Opened with Owners. Question 5 was: Having regard to the termination of the Conciliation Board agreement at the end of the present year, the lodges are invited to consider the present position, and to authorise the Council to open negotia- tions with the employers with a view of entering into a new agreement for the regulation of wages." A large number of questions were put by way of eliciting information, and the matter having been fully explained by the chairman, it was with unanimity agreed that the representatives of the workmen upon the Joint Board be in- structed to kindly request the em- ployers to at once open negotiations with regard to a new agreement. On the motion of the General Secre- tary, the heartiest thanks of the meet- ing were tendered to the chairman, and other gentlemen who had made ex- planatory speeches with regard to the matters under discussion.