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Eight Hours Bill., -I
Eight Hours Bill. Mabon and the Opposition. Solemn Warning at Cardiff. Mabon made an important pronounce- ment upon the eight hours question at the adjourned conference of the South Wales Miners' Federation at Cardiff on Tuesday. After referring to the opposition en- gendered against the Eight Hours for Miners Bill now before Parliament, the hon. member said: If the friends who mislead or are being misled think they can defeat this measure, and that we shall ever again be willing to prolong this inequality, it is time they should be un- deceived. I will sav this—and as truly as I can say it of myself, I say it of my colleagues—we shall never again sign any agreement for this coalfield that compels our men to work an hour more in the mines than those in other parts of the kingdom (loud applause). I am not heated when I say that," continued Mabon. I am cool and collected, and I am surprised at the enormous amount of misrepresen- tation of the Bill and the extreme exaggeration of its probable effect." Proceeding, Mabon condemned the oppo- sition as coming mostly from people who were ignorant of the provisions of the Bill, and who hoped to defeat the measure by misleading the public. They persisted in saying that the Bill was a fixed hours Bill from bank to bank. They knew that that was not the case, for since the repre- sentatives of the workmen hat met the re- presentatives of the Mining Association in London it was agreed that this Bill should mean that one of the windings of the men would be outside the operations of the Bill. Mr. F. L. Davis, who, they all regretted, was compelled through illness to be out of the district, had allowed him- self to be the first to make this misstate- ment, and had said they were agreed to 0 8 hours, and the employers on behalf of the Mining Association, offered, if the men would agree to an eight hours' winding, putting both the windings of the men out- side the operations of the Bill, they would agree to withdraw all opposition. That would be a great boon to South Wales, but in some parts of Scotland they had eight hours from bank to bank and throughout England; with the exception of a portion of Lancashire. Even their friends in the Forest of Dean for more than 20 years had been enjoying the privilege of eight hours' so what would be a boon to South Wales would be wrong to other people. The only real opposition to the Eight Hours Bill was OPPOSITION TO SOUTH WALES, and the facts distributed by, South Wales owners and their co-agitators were being used all over the country as facts against the Bill, and two of the men. who appeared before the Home Secretary the other day and spoke against the Bill had never read it. They were afraid of its stringency and that it would interfere with the ordinary working of the mines. Since then the Bill was no more an eight hours bank to bank, but 712 hours wind- ing, with 8t hours in the mine, for they had refused what would mean a full nine hours' day. It was further stated that the Bill proposed to interfere with the time to be worked by the official staff of the collieries, including the manager, but sub- section 7 of Clause 1 defined the term workman to mean any person employed below ground who was not an official or furnacer, or setter, hitcher, or pumpman. The Bill did not interfere with the men necessary for ventilation,, nor those essen- tially necessary for the safe protection of men, horses, and property. It was fur- ther complained that the provisions of the Bill were so stringent that they em- barrassed the management in providing workmen doing; any kind of work beyond the time limit of the Bill, that no one could work a moment longer than the time specified, whatever might be the necessity for providing for the ordinary work of the mine either to-day or to-morrow. Sub- section B of Section 3 of the first clause provided for the case of any workman who was below ground for the purpose of ren- dering assistance in the event of accident or for meeting any danger, or for dealing with any EMERGENCY OR EXCEPTIONAL WORK which required to be dealt with, and, therefore, there was nothing that a prac- tical mind could conceive that would happen to create interruption with the ordinary work of the mine. The Home Secretary had gone very far to prevent any interruption with the ordinary work of the mine. Then it was argued that the Bill would create quite an enormous addi- tional extra work for Sunday for the colliery manager (laughter). Sub-section 6 of the Bill provided the provisions of this section for the purpose of avoiding work on Sunday, commence their period of work on Saturday before twenty hours have elapsed since the commencement of their last period of work, so that the repairers could commence work as soon as the Saturday shift ended, and there was nothing: to prevent the shift going down at two o'clock on Saturday. The Bill was an improvement upon what they had now, for it would protect the miners' one day of rest. Again, it was feared that bv reducing the hours of labour they would increase the danger to life and limb. Why, it had been proved by the colliery managers in their evidence before the Departmental Committee that in the districts working the longest hours acci- dents, both fatal and otherwise, were most numerous, and it had been further proved that death from all causes among the miners in South Wales was greater than it was among all males in the United Kingdom. One colliery manager had gone further, and said that NO BALLOT HAD BEEN TAKEN in South Wales on this question, but he (Mabon) remembered a ballot being taken and an immense majority found in favour of eight hours from bank to bank, and since then he had backed every Bill brought before the House of Commons which had for its object the shortening of the hours of labour (applause). Mr. Wil- liams. of Cymmer, had made a further statement that the hours, as they now stood, had been arranged at the desire of the men, but he (Mabon) asserted that the workmen had no voice at all in arranging these hours. Three or four came to Car- diff and agreed with the employers, in order to avoid evading the Act then in force, that the time to be worked should be nine hours per day. The employers read it nine hours' winding, and insisted upon that, and he, was sorry that the South Wales owners had committed breaches of the Mines Regulation Act, thanks to the weakness of the men's organisation and the inherent weakness of the Act itself. Now they were shouting against giving the men of South Wales equal treatment with the rest of the country. It was said that the Bill would add Is. 6d. per ton at least to the cost of working, and that it would ADVANCE THE PRICE OF COAL to local consumers by 2s. per ton. This, he alleged, was another misrepresentation. If they remembered when they, were struggling for the Compensation Act, an actuary was found who deliberately stated that the Act would mean an increased cost of 3d. per ton in the working, but when the Act came into operation they found the additional cost only Id. He was prepared to admit that during the tran- sition period before the Act came into force it would cost about a, quarter of what they said. (Cries of "No, no"). Even that could be avoided if the employers made provision in time. In the days of nine hours' winding, it meant the last man down and the first man up, so that they were practically nine hours in the pit. Many of them would be there for nine hours and a half, and there were thou- sands who were there for ten hours. They had in the Rhondda a large number of collieries winding ten hours per day, and insisted upon ten hours, and that meant that the miners of South Wales were in the pit for ten hours, ten hours and a half, and thousands, he feared, for eleven hours, for four days of the week. (Cries of Shaine "). Those opposing the Bill said that they had SYMPATHY FOR THE OLD MEN, but if the young men were in the pit for eleven hours the old men, who were obliged to walk slower, were often no less than twelve hours a day down in the dark regions of the mine. A meeting had been held in Cardiff on the previous day, at which it had been stated that the Bill would reduce the working hours to six and restrict the output by about a third. It was ridiculous to talk about reducing the hours by a fourth and the output by more tdan a, third. It was also said that the older collieries would be abandoned and a lot of men thrown out of employment, but in the Forest of Dean, where there were many old collieries, they had been working for eight hours for the past twenty years, and they still sold their coal as second-class coal.. He called such a meeting a meeting of bogeymen, and he asked, did they complain of the profits that were now being made by the colliery companies? (Cries of "No, no"). No, these were sufficient to thoroughly satisfy the greatest greed of the most avaricious (loud cheers). A Manufactured Agitation. Mr'. Wm. Brace, who followed, said that the agitation which had been engineered from one end of the country to the other wa,s a manufactured agitation. It was said that the miners had been dragooned by the leaders into accepting the eight hours day, but if the general public attended some of their meetings they would find that the leaders were being dragooned by the men. Were they not persuaded that the men were intensely in earnest for this reform, they would not advocate it. Why, the leader only held his position at the pleasure of the men, and the public should realise the grave responsibility resting upon the leaders, and that they would not dare venture to advocate a reform which
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Llwynypia Eisteddfod.
Llwynypia Eisteddfod. A highly successful eisteddfod, promoted by Penuel (P.M.) Church, Pontrhondda, was held at the Swimming Baths on Saturday. The general arrangements reflect much credit on the secretary, Mr. Blanchard Evans, Pontrhondda Schools. The Rev. J. Nicholas (Moriah) proved a capable chairman. The adjudicators were: Music, Mr. W. Howell, G.T.S.O., Porth; literature, Rev. J. Gwrhyd Lewis, Tonyr- efail; prize bags, "Mrs. 1. P. Adams, Llwynypia. Awards:—Solo for children under 16, Dacw Gymry yn y golwg (4 competitors), Master Cyril Roberts, Peny- graig; recitation for children under 16, Y Neidr Fach" (4 competitors), Miss Beatrice Maud Thomas, Treorchy; con- tralto solo, The Lord is mindful of His own (2 competitors), Master Myrddin Watkins, Bodringallt; quartet, Bedd y Dyn Tylawd (2 competitors), Mr. Hugp. Hughes (Salem Terrace) and friends; soprano solo, Llythyr fy Mam (3 com- petitors), Miss Beatrice May John, Tre- alaw; marwnad to the late Mrs. Mary Evans Sherwood (4 competitors), Cenech, Ton, Ystrad prize bags, 1st Miss Prichard, Sherwood, ,2nd Mrs. E. Hughes, Sher- wood juvenile choirs, Clychau'n canu" (3 competitors), Penygraig Choir, con- ducted by Mr. Wm. Evans; essay on "Perseverance" (4 competitors), Mr. G. J. Thomas, Penygraig; bass solo, Arm, arm, ye brave (7 competitors), Mr. Dd. Williams, Penygraig; any recitation (5 competitors), Mr. Rees Richards, Gelli; tenor solo, Thora (5 competitors), Mr. D. H. Daniels, Penygraig; baritone solo, The Warrior's Return," Mr. Dd. Wil- liams, Penygraig; mixed choirs, "Jeru- salem, fy nghartref gwiw," Bethesda Choir, Ton-Pentre, conducted by Mr. Wm. Davies (tne only choir competing).
District Council Election.
District Council Election. Nomination List. Contests in all Wards but one. Nominations for the forthcoming Dis- trict Council elections were handed in at the Council Offices on Thursday. It will be seen from the following list that, pro- viding there are no withdrawals, contests will take place in every Ward with the exception of Ward 8, where Mr. Thomas Griffiths will be returned unopposed. WARD 1. Daniel Davies, 58, Miskin Street, Tre- herbert; builder and contractor. Morgan Rees Rees, 14, Taff Street, Tre- il erbert weigher. William Herbert Morgan, 7, Hill Street, Treherbert; colliery checkweigher. WARD 2. John Richardson Armstrong, Gilnochie, Treorchy physician and surgeon. "William Thomas Jones, 129, Bute St., Treorchy accountant. John Williams, 216, High Street, Tre- orchy; grocer. George Edwards, 217, High Street, Tre- orchy butcher, &c, (Nomination invalid —proposer's name not being on register of voters). WARD 3. "Thomas Davies, Windsor Hotel, Ton; hotel keeper. Thomas Charles Morris, 23, Wyndham I Stréet, Gelli; railway signalman. WARD 4. William Phippen, 81, William Street, Ystrad-Rhondda; coal miner. *Thomas Thomas, Bodringallt House, Ystrad-Rhondda; merchant. WARD 5. Noah Rees, 121, Court Street; check- weigher. William Thomas, 103, Wern Road, Clydach Vale; winding engineman. WARD 6. George Burton, 11, Brynhyfryd, Tony- pandy; checkweigher. *David Charles Evans, 86, Miskin Road, Trealaw; gentleman. WARD 7. Lewis Hopkins, 6. Simon Terrace, Williamstown; insurance agent. Thomas Naunton Morgan, Hillside, Hendrecafan Road, Penygraig; architect and surveyor. *David Rowlands, Brynffrwd, Peny- graig; estate agent. WARD 8. *Thomas Griffiths, Maesgwyn, Cymmer mining engineer. WARD 9. ""Griffith Davies, Penrhys Hotel, Ponty- gwaith; licensed victualler. Thomas Harries, 98, Madeline Road, Pontygwaith; checkweigher. WARD 10. Thomas Isaac Jones, 4, Brook Street, Mardy; checkweigher. Henry Ed. Maltby, Ewelme Villa; mining engineer. Denotes old members.
What is Fpee 9
What is Fpee 9 fo the Editor of the Rhondda, Leader." Sir,—I suppose the letter of Ap Darian in regard to the above question is meant to be taken seriously; but most Nonconformists, I venture toi say., will look upon it as a, silly play upon the word Free." For instance, England is called a free country," but no one outside of a lunatic asylum thinks that Englishmen can do as they like. Liberty is one thing, but license is another. Similarly, the so-called Free Churches" are free only within limits; but the difference between them and the Estab- lishment is that the limits are self- imposed, while in the other case the limits are imposed frflm without. The long list of statutes quoted by your correspondent has nothing toi do with the freeness of the Free Churches. Par- liament only affects them in regard to the terms of its holding property, precisely as it affects any secular institution that may hold property. Parliament cannot legis- late regarding the doctrine of these churches. It can only direct that their property shall be held on the terms speci- fied in their trust deeds when they were founded. One would think that the question of property exhausted the whole subject of the freedom of religion." In fact, all through your correspondent's letter, one can hear the words property, pro- perty, property." If his contention be correct, viz., that the Free Churches are as much subject to Caesar as the State Church itself," then there ought to be a speedy end to the Disestablishment campaign, because there is no difference-all are established. A pertinent question, however, still remains. Will the upholders of the Establishment within the Anglican Church be content witu the same amount of establishment (r) as the Free Churches possess? Are they willing to be placed precisely on the same footing? That they are not now is shown by those within the Established Church who are desirous of Disestablish- ment and for the freedom of the so- called Free Churches." But your correspondent gives away his case. He admits at the close of his letter that the so-called Free Churches may be less hampered by the State than the State Church." (Why "THE State Church" if all are State Churches?) If they are less hampered, then they are more free, How, then, can they be as much subject to Caesar as the State Church itself ? Ap Darian's" logic seems in rather a parlous state. But I will try to show him that the so- called Free Churches" are free and in what respect. If he would read the first paragraph in your Editorial Notes for the same issue as that in which his letter appeared, he might find instruction. There it appears that the Rev. W. A. Edwards, M.A., Vicar of Llangan, has departed to a living which is in the gift of the Crown. I defy your correspondent to show that there is anything analogous to that in regard to any of the pastorates of the so- called Free Churches." In none of the Free Churches has any State official any power to interfere with the appointment or dismissal of a minister. He remains the servant of 'the denomination, or, as with the Baptists and Congregatidnalists, of the particular congregation itself. Again, the Free Churches ARE free to modify their doctrines. The question of property and trust deeds does not affect their freedom." If any section disagree with the trust deeds of a ehurch, they can leave and form a new church, and-formu- late their doctrines themselves (or leave them unformulated except for a general declanvtion. which many do), and yet be affiliated to the same Union. Can the Established Church do that? Ap Darian knows that it cannot. Through its connectioii with the State it is bound by the dead nand" to creeds, clauses of which many of its clergy heartily detest. Its Prayer Book is ,the outcome of statutes
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Mid-Rhondda Chamber of Trade.
Mid-Rhondda Chamber of Trade. The usual monthly meeting of the above Chamber was held on Wednesday, when Mr. Noah Meredith presided over a large and enthusiastic attendance. The Secretary (Mr. John Rees, County Boot Stores) read a communication from the local Nursing Association desiring the Chamber's assistance to wipe out an adverse balance, which created much dis- cussion, and resulted in the appointment of a small committee to co-operate with the Nursing Association with the view or putting the latter on a, sound financial basis. A strong feeling prevailed that, rather than this excellent institution should be allowed to become defunct, the area should be extended to the whole of Mid-Rhondda and more nurses engaged, and to solicit a fraction of the percentage now deducted from the earnings of the colliery workers generally. Application was made to the officers of the late Gold Crown Eisteddfod for a portion of the surplus, amounting to about £ 300, now lying at the bank, towards the Nursing Association, and Mr. D. Jones (overseer), F. B. Thomas (trea- surer), and G. Evans (secretary) stated that whilst these monies had been collected for a specific purpose, they would take the necessary steps towards this end. ihe kind offer of Mr. Leonard Llewelyn (agent of the Clydach Vale and Llwynypia Collieries) offering free of charge the De Winton Grounds, Tonypandy. for the holding of an eisteddfod on August 4th next, was accepted with much cheering. A much-looked-for event is the opening of the Tonypandy Fire Station, which will take place within the next month, when a demonstration of the various brigade of the Valley and a banquet will be held. Mr. J. Kinstley (jeweller), who has been assiduous in the formation of the brigade, was unanimously chosen to formally open the building. Advantage will also be taken of this auspicious occasion to present Mr. J. B. Thomas, the late secretary of the Chamber, with a gold watch and chain for his un- remitting and gratuitous efforts in the service of the Chamber, the Fire Brigade, and Horse Show.
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Buried under Debris, Workmen Killed at Tylorstown. Over five hundred men were thrown out of employment on Wednesday at the No. 7 Sons), through an accident, by which two repairers, named W. Rowe, married, with one child, 17, Donald Street, Tylorstown, ana William John Hughes, single, 9, Frederick Street, Ferndale, lost their lives. It appears that the unfortunate men were doing special work, timbering, when a journey of trams became unhitched near the spot where they were engaged, on an incline known as the Llanwonno district the heavy vehicles running wild and before they had an opportunity of gaining a place of safety, the noor fellows were buried alive, the staging being knocked away and tons of rubbish falling upon them. The officials of the colliery, Mr. Stephen Davies (manager), Mr. Wm. Morgan (night overman), and a large number of willing helpers were soon on the spot, and not- withstanding their strenuous efforts, it was evident from the first that their endea- vours would be unavailing to bring the men out alive. Strange to say, in the same mine Rlioderick Rhoderick, a labourer, Oak St-'eet, Ferndale, was seriously injured a short time before, and taken to Cardiff Infirmary.
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Eight Hours Bill., -I
in any degree would mean the ruination and the disaster portrayed in some quar- ters. Why, the colliers were paid by the ton, and if the collier did not work he got no pay, and he had to make his living by the amount of work he sent to bank. The first condition of comfort to his family was that lie should send out a certain amount of coal. The workmen nor their leaders were neither idiots nor fools, and they were not likely to advocate a measure which would reduce their income and bring about an enormous reduction of out- put. Proceeding, Mr. Brace pointed out that at the present enormous price paid for coal the collier only received an average of Is. 6d. plus 60 p6r cent. for the ton, and he marvelled at the Mr. Brace pointed out that at the present enormous price paid for coal the collier only received an average of Is. 6d. plus 60 per cent. for the ton, and he marvelled at the AUDACITY OF THE COALOWNERS trying to get at the public through the consumer, as if the consumer could only be protected b7 backing the coalowner and opposing the workmen. The output of coal in Great Britain last year was 267,828,276 tons, an increase of 16,777,467 tons upon the previous year, and though there was no Eight Hours Bill in operation the general public had to pay a very high price for their coal. This was not to give the colliers a high standard wage rate, but to give to the employers the great profits which placed them beyond the dreams of avarice It was difficult to get them to admit that they made great profits, but the balance sheet of the Powell Duffryn, with £ 980,000 capital, showed that their profits were £ 453,757—enough to pay a dividend of 50 per cent. The profit was 2s. lOd. per ton-rather more than the men got, for cutting the coal, and this was one of the companies whose trade was GOING TO BE RUINED. The others were the Cambrian, paying a profit of 3s. per ton, which Mr. D. A. Thomas would consider satisfactory, Messrs. D. Davis and Son 2s. 7|d., North's Navigation 2s. 7d., whilst others paid 2s. 3d. and 2s. 4d. per ton. Yet with these enormous profits per ton, the con- sumers were thought nothing of by the colliery owners, and now they were going to be made their tools to fight the men who risked their lives to provide them with these comforts, and who won the source of this nation's wealth. The collier was thankful for the practical sympathy which was so readily given him in times of disaster, but he would like to have a little now, too (hear, hear). The days, had now arrived when the colliers were not working full time, but were the consumers reaping any benefit from that? Let the public understand that thi,si cry of increas- ing the cost was raised for a special pur- pose-to put the consumer against the workman. There was no substantial ground for it. Their chief competitors were working less hours. In America and in Germany, and in France less hours were worked than in Britain, but their trade had not been ruined, and lie did not fear any great dislocation of trade when the Act came into force. The Bill, after all, was ONLY A COMPROMISE. It was the minimum the colliers proposed to accept (hear, hear). They had already met the owners halfway. It was asked why should a great Federa tion seek to get what they needed? Well, for 20 years they had waited, hoping, almost despair- ing, to create the public opinion necessary to make this Bill possible for the sake of general peace, thinking: that it was better it should be settled by legislative enact- ment than by a fight between masters and men, and because a law would bring uniformity, but he would like to say here that if Parliament declined to give them what they wanted, let it be known that immediately this Bill was' rejected, and the favourable opportunity presented itself, the power of this great Federation in Wales and throughout Britain would be used for getting for the men what they wanted (applause). Whatever the conse- quences might be, the responsibility for what might eventually happen must not be placed upon the shoulders of the work- men and their leaders, but on the shoulders of the coalowners and others who declined to give the miners of Britain this much- needed reform (loud anolause). On the motion of Mr. H. Luxton, Porth, seconded by Mr. Wm. Cook, the following resolution was then put and carried: That this conference, representing the whole of the colliery workmen of South Wales, strongly repudiate the attempt of colliery owners and others, financially interested in the production and sale of coal to represent that, the operation of a, Mines Eight Hours Bill will seriously reduce the production of coal and enhance the price to consumers. We would remind the country that on every occasion when legislation has been pro- posed on behalf of the mining community similar statements were made which further experience proved to be entirely groundless. The conference again repeats that they expect the Government to fulfil their pledges by giving immediate facilities for passing the Bill into law this Session, feeling assured that to reduce the hours of workmen employed underground will not detrimentally affect the interests of either the con- sumers of coal or the general public, while it will brine some relief and miti- gation to the arduous, dangerous em- ployment of the miners, who for 20 years have been pressing forward this reform.
What is Fpee 9
of the reign of Edward VI. and Queen Elizabeth, and cannot be altered without Act of Parliament. In fact, the Church of England is an Act-of-Parliament Church all the way through. Its legal title is The Protestant Reformed Church Estab- lished by laiv." It was dominated at the Reformation by Henry VIII., and later by Queen Elizabeth, and the Church itself was not free to formulate its own articles. Even to-day, its headship centres in the monarchy. It is supposed to be the iNational Church," and, in accordance therewith, the monarch has to subscribe to its tenets, and its Bishops sit in the House of Lords. Why is this if its Establishment does not differentiate it from the so-called Free Churches? Can the King be a Baptist, or, say, Dr. Clifford sit in the House of Lords? Moreover, can Ap Darian" produce any evidence to show that the State had any hand in the formulation of the dis- tinctive principles of the different Free Church denominations? But why continue further, Mr. Editor? Everyone of any knowledge knows that the relation of the Free Churches to the State is an entirely different one to that of the Established Church. The whole history of Dissent is one long-drawn-out protest against ecclesiastical privilege and mono- poly. There was a time, indeed, in which the" so-called Free Churches" were not free." That was when their right to exist was denied by an insolent and tyrannical hierarchy. Perhaps Ap Darian has never heard of the following and the dark history connected with them ? Tne Act of Uniformity": The Conven- ticle Act," which forbade all meetings ex- cept those of the Establishment; The Five Mile Act Test and Corporation Acts." It is not long since University Tests were done away with, and we are still face to face with the fact that in 8,000 parishes no Nonconformist need apply for a teaching post in schools which are financed by the nation. Free Churches? Free Churchmen? No! there are none such. I apologise, Mr. Editor, for the first part of my letter. Ap Darian is right. The so-called Free Churches are not" free" It is only the Established Church that is free—free to call for the tune without paying the piper! The unworthy sneer at the business side of Nonconformity should never have come forth from the obscurity in which Ap Darian" has chosen to hide his identity. am, &c„ g |(mN Clydach Vale, March 18th, 1908.