The Rhondda Leader

Mr. Churchill at Porth r Unemployment and Old Age Pensions. The Eight Hours Bill. The scene at Caemawr Field, Porth, on Monday, on the occasion oi tiie annual demonstration of itnonuda miners, was indeed an inspiring one. heated and standing in a, vast square was a densely packed Humanity, the attendance being estimated to reach between 10,1)00 ana ..l=4,OUU people. Mr. Win. Abraham (iviabon), .I.P" presided, and supporting him on the piattorm were the Right Hon. Winston Churchill, M.P. (President of the Board of Trade), who arrived late in the pro- ceedings, Mr. Arthur Jiiendoi^on, M.P. (chairman of the Labour Party), Sir Alfred Thomas, M.P., Mr. William Jones, M.P., Mr. William Brace, M.P., Mr. Thomas Richards, M.P., Captain Fred Guest, Messrs. i). Watts Morgan (agent and secretary of the Rhondda District), Tom Evans, Penygraig (agent), Councillors Tom Harris, Tylorstown, Tom George, Fern- dale, and W. H. Morgan, Treherbert, Mr. W. P. Nicholas (solicitor), Mr. Evan Thomas, Rhymney, Mr. Morgan Thomas, uardiff, &c. A number of brass bands escorted processions of workmen' to the field, and discoursed sweet music pending the opening of the proceedings. The Demonstration Hymn. Mabon, on rising to open the meeting, gave out the words of an old Welsh hymn, slightly altered for the. occasion, which was sung to the well-known strains, of the Old Hundredth," the hon. member con- ducting. The improvised version thus sung was as follows — Newyddion braf a, ddaeth l'n bro, Hwy haeddant, gael eu dwyn ar go', Fed Undeb wedi cario'r dydd, Calif caethion Cymru fyn'd yn rhydd." Their 10th Birthday. Settling down to business, Mabon said that he wished to extend them a hearty welcome to the celebration of the tenth birthday of the Federation—a great Fede- ration which had brought to them the freedom and the rights of labour enjoyed in other parts of the, country, or as the poet would say, had brought blessings to South Wales and benefits to the nation (hear, hear). This festivity, said Mabon, resembled another held annually by the old Isra,elitish nation. On the festive board in those days were sour leaves, and, unfortunately, there were sour leaves with them on the present occasion, because not only had they to express their satisfaction at the continued success of the Federa- .tion, but they had to express their con- demnation insomuch as there were still many non-Union men among them. He was anxious to live long enough to see the time when these men would begin to learn to respect themselves. The non-Unionists had no right to live among the colliers of South Wales. That was a strong states ment, but he would prove it. The em- ployers in their wisdom had made it im- perative that the, workmen's leaders should sig» the wage agreement on behalf of all workmen, non-Unionists included, in the coalfield. Further, not a, man was allowed to descend a shaft unless he signed that agreement. Non-Unionists, therefore, ought to be men enough to support the organisation which obtained for them and maintained for them a wage rate which would otherwise be impossible. The em- I ployers, he had reason to believe, would rather see all their men joined in one Union than have repeated stoppages of work. Dealing with the Eight Hours Bill, Mabon thanked the Government for their courage in introducing it, and if the Liberals passed it they would perform one, of the greatest deeds for Labour ever done in the country (applause). A new plan of obstruction, however, was being practised to prevent the Bill passing, a method of opposition which Mabon charac- terised as shameful. A number of those sitting on the Royal Commission on Acci- dents in Mines had refused to sit after luncheon time, with the result that no quorum could be formed. The excuse given was that it was too hot, but the real reason was that they wanted to pre- vent the Mines Eight Hours Bill coming to pass (" Shame "). Mabon said he could prove this statement, as he possessed a copy of a letter which the Home Secretary had written, begging of them to give their attendance. It was for this reason that the miners congratulated the Liberal Government upon the courage shown in championing this measure of reform (ap- plause). Mr. W. P. Nicholas, solicitor for the Rhondda, District, proposed an omnibus resolution, protesting against the action of those workmen who caused continued disturbance to the trade of the district and unnecessary expense to the Federa- tion by neglecting their membership; regretting that the satisfactory operation of the Conciliation Board in the settle-' ment of the general wages question by the services of an independent chairman was not extended to the settlement of disputes which arise at the collieries, causing iriction and loss to employers and work- men contending that all workmen em- ployed in abnormal places should be guaranteed a satisfactory minimum rate of wages: welcoming the action of the Government in introducing, the Miners' Eight Hours Bill and the Bill for pro- viding old age pensions, and trusting that reasonable amendments to both Bills would be accepted that would ensure them becoming effective measures of reform; expressing the hope that, as a, result of tne Royal Commission on Accidents in Mines, legislation would ensue that would do much to reduce the number of fatal and non-fatal accidents from all causes; calling the attention of the Government to the urgent necessity of legislation deal- ing with the question of unemployment, etc. Mr. Watts Morgan seconded the resolu- tion in a stirring Welsh speech. Mr. Henderson Speaks. Mr. Arthur Henderson, M.P., said it was a, very great honour to be invited to take part in what he ventured to describe as one of the most magnificent workmen's demonstrations that it had been his privi- lege to attend. Referring to. the resolu- tion which had been proposed by Mr. Nicholas, Mr. Henderson said that the first observation he had to make in regard to it was one of congratulation to them upon their splendid Federation. There were among them some who were disposed to undervalue the, usefulness of trade com- bination. He did not sav that the more responsible men in the Socialistic move- ment took up that attitude, but some young-men-in-a-hurry whom they found all ovor country were disposed to pro- claim from the housetopa that trade com- binatinn had seen its best days. An Absurd Doctrine. Presiding as he did over the most advanced, intelligent and useful section of Socialists in the country, he would say in most emphatic terms that this doctrine was positively absurd (applause). The vital problem of the last century, and the universal problem so far., was the organisation of Labour for more decent conditions of employment, and a higher remuneration for labour. During the last year, they had succeeded to. some extent in accomplishing the object they had in view, and- there was no greater monument of the wisdom of the working classes of this country than that they had been able by their own effort to bring; about such a, magnificent force for trade defence, pur- poses as was to be found from one end of the country to the other. Although he had stated that the great object they had in view last century was the organisation of Labour in order to improve the indus- trial conditions of their fellows, to-day their work was as great as ever, and the need for a fighting force as imperative as it had ever been. They had now a wider and a nobler object in view. Their problem to-day was to organise the whole of the working class vote- of the country. By that he did not mean the miner by himself, or the engineer, or the moulder, or the unskilled worker joined to the mechanics. He meant something vastly deeper and broader in the life of the country. Not a Class Movement. The movement for which he pleaded was more than a class movement; it was a movement that stood for the ennobling and the beautifying of the lives of the entire people who contributed something towards the sum total of human useful- ness. The object they had in view was that this great and mighty force should be utilised in this country on every ad- ministrative board, and in Parliament itself, for the deliverance of the people from the economic thraldom and the degrading social environment which were so largely associated with working class life to-day (hear, hear). He, therefore, rejoiced at the continued success of the Federation, and united his protest with that of Mr. Abraham's against those who shared in the benefits, which alone could, be obtained by the united efforts of Trades Unions. He wished tOo tell his Socialist friends and young-men-in-a-hurry that in their enthusiasm for a. better life for their fellows they should ever remember that the work they were endeavouring to do would never have been within measurable distance but for the magnificent work that had been done in the past by such men as Mabon and Mr. Tom Burt (hear, hear). He wanted them not to be in such a, hurry as to allow themselves to be actuated by the basest ingratitude towards those leaders from whom they had re- ceived favours in the past (hear, hear). iae great Trades Unions of the country must ever be the foundations upon which the movement for economic freedom must, build—(hear, hear)—and he congratulated their Federation upon their decision to affiliate with the Labour Party (hear, hear). Having: referred to non-Unionists as a, menace to. themselves, he said that the history of the Trades Disputes Bill was a. complete justiftea/biori of tMin pendent position takfen up by the Labour Party. The resolution thanked the Government for introducing the Eisrht Hours Bill, but he would thank them when they had passed it (applause). However. by hook or by crook, even if they landed in the Clock Tower, he was prepared to say that the Labour1 members would stand together and see that the Bill would be passed into law before the present Session cl osed (applause). Mr. William Jones, M.P. Mr. William Jones, M.P., said that when he entered Parliament, and the first day they met together as Welsh members, Mabon asked them to support the Eight Hours Bill. It was not the fault of Wales that the Bill had not been passed long ago the blame lay at the doors of Durham and Northumberland," and he was glad to find that Durham had at last come right on the question. He asked them not to forget Mabon and the others who had worked so nobly in the past. They, could not get measures in one day, and there had been a great deal of sacrifice on the part of their fathers in order to secure such a measure as was now being pushed through Parliament. Profitable Unemployment. Continuing, Mr. Jones said that he had just come from Pembrokeshire—(applause) —where he had seen working men from the Rhondda and Ebbw Vale claiming that they were unemployed, and being paid £1 al day for doing so by the Tariff Reformers (laughter and cries of Shame "). They told the people of Pembrokeshire that they could not get home-cured Welsh bacon in the Rhondda (loud laughter). Those were the people who opposed the Eight Hours Bill, and who characterised the Old Age Pensions Bill as a sham and a, fraud ("Shame"). He asked them to be loyal to a progressive and democratic Government, and not divide the army. The Liberals were in agreement with the Labour members on 99 questions out of every 100, and were they going to divide their forces because of one disagreement? (" No "). The Conservatives, Tariff Reformers, Brewers' Leagues, the Coal Consumers' Defence League, and what not belonged to the party which was against the people. If they turned out the present Government, they would put in another which would tax their food, thereby enriching monopolists, selfish millionaires and trusts at the expense of the workers (applause). Prepared to Trust the Govern- ment. Mr. William Brace, M.P., advocated the extension of the principle governing wages to the calling in of the independent chairman of the Conciliation Board to settle disputes at issue between employers and workmen. Referring, to the Eight Hours Bill, Mr. Brace said this was a measure that had been looked forward to for twenty years, and was not longer to be delayed. Mr. Churchill, in the House of Commons, had made one of the most powerful speeches he had ever heard in favour of the Bill, treating it from a standpoint of high humanity. The measure was actively supported by most of the Liberal members in the House of Commons, and it would be less than charitable on their part if they failed to acknowledge that support. Personally, he believed that the Government had made up its mind to redeem its pledges to the electorate, and it was well for them to take the Government at its own value, and not allow the faintest suspicion to creep in their minds that they did not intend to carry out their obligations. Mr. Churphilf and Eight Hours. The Right Hon. Winston Churchill, who had a great ovation, said he had heard a great deal about the miners of Wales, and he had been trying to pay attention to some of their affairs. They had impor- tant duties to discharge in the future political development of the country. Various measures in which they took deep interest were now engaging the attention of Parliament. First of all, there was the Mines Eight Hours Bill (cheers). He felt a particular sentiment in regard to that measure, because, as they perhaps knew, his father, the late Lord Randolph Churchill—(cheers)—always supported It long before it had attained the wide measure of popular strength it now had behind it, and he was quite sure he would have been proud to lend his support to an Administration engaged in driving that measure forward to the Statute Book (cheers). The Tory Party had changed tneir opinion about this Bill. They used to think that it was a measure which it would be unpopular for them to resist. Now, however, they were, beginning to think they could make some capital out opposition to the measure. He knew v iat because he had to fight a bye-election in Manchester a little while ago. A powerful attack was then made upon the Government and upon himself in conse- quence of that Bill. which. the poorest voters were told, was going to be a great injury to them in their daily life. If they wanted to get the measure through, they had to watch these sort of things. They must take effective means to explain to the people in the great cities the mean- ing of the Bill, and how great was the justice of their cause. Having referred to the excellent service rendered in this direction at the Manchester election by Mr. Brace, he said bye-elections were not of great consequence so far as the House of Commons was concerned, but they were of great consequence so far as the House of Lords was concerned. That body would like nothing better than to throw out the Mines Eight Hours Bill—if it dared (laughter and cheers). They had to keep on showing them it was not worth their while to dare. He urged them to impress upon their fellow-workers in the grea^ cities who were not themselves connected with coal mining that their cause was a just one, and that out of justice never came harm to anyone in the world (cheers). Another reason why they should keep a sharp look out on this Bill was that it did not stand alone. It was part of the general movement taking place all over the world to reconcile the hours and conditions of labour with the laws of health and science (cheers). Being strong and well organised, the miners were able to place their case effectively before the country, but there were others who were not so strong and who were not organ- ised, and they, being strong, should ahead and make a clear road along which the weaker could walk (cheers). He meant they should try to prove this great fact that shorter hours did not mean injury to production (cheers). Proper and reguter hours of healthy labour were the only foundation on which a highly complicated modern system of industry could stand- If thev could show the people in the next few years that they did not suffer by the institution of an eight hours' day f°r miners, but, on the other hand, that they gained, they would strike a great blpW not only for themselves, but for humanity ll'lgmV;)r'1Ù(-ôh). Oid Age Pensions. While they were gathered there that afternoon, he House of Lords would have an opportunity of turning their attention to the Old Age Pensions Bill. He wisdom might enlighten their proceedings (laughter). No doubt they would be told the scheme the Government had intro- duced ought to have and could have been on a, contributory basis. He was strongly of opinion rio scheme of old age established on a contributory basis couj<* possibly be complete (cheers). It be tardy in its application, partial ineffective in its action, and it would I8" to assist that class of people who, tao*e than any other, needed assistances-1^ meant the poorest of the poor (cheefS/- if old age was an evil, it was not the onv evil to which human flesh was heir. Ther was unemployment and infirmity, and h trusted it might be within their po,,r, before this Parliament had exhausted it's mission, to take some steps of an effecti^ character in regard to the diminution the first of these evils, and in regard^ insurance against the second of evils. There was an element whi^1 differentiated these evils from old Old age to most people was a remote con* tingency, and all attempts to start age funds had failed because the contip' genoy was so remote that people could be induced, to contribute to those Sickness, infirmity, and might, nowever, come at any j While, therefore, he thought provision. old age could not be made on a contri>> tory basis, he was of opinion that Pr" vision for the infirm ought to be orgall, ised partially on the contributory basis. The Licensing Bill. They might safely say the cause of t, working people of the country had d been situated in the history of En"T1JY better than it was to-day (cheers). 1Ie were moving forward by many roads, -^e was very glad to see the result of Pembroke election (cheers). That, thought, would show those who fye inclined to obstruct and destroy labours of the House of Commons „ tho re was a solid driving force behind n sures of social reform (cheers). They 0 surely to be glad that among the ca to which democracy had set its prg). was the noble cause of temperance (c j-eji What a catastrophe it would have. to the world if the tendency of the cratio voters of this country had^ towards free and unrestricted indulg in the consumption of liquor, what injury it would have inflicted u 0 ela development of the people, what a of it would have caused to the extensi ie the franchise widely amongst the P and what a hindrance it would have -rg, to their effective control of public a_ They might be confident when they^^y vanced the cause of temperance 0$0 would at the same time advance the es of democracy (cheers). The Navy. biclt He saw opposite him a banner OIl JJ1" was writen an excellent tM Defence, not defiance." That a principle which ought to &ov6TZ,\l t which he believed did at the presen tj,i6 govern the foreign relations i cop' country, and which he believed wo pSrÝ tinue to govern them as long as 0 with a sincere desire for Pea<r,nee i*1.^ power. They did not want to jrfWy the cost of armaments, parties. regard to land forces, in which pngagef' nations of the Continent si0ji They were bound on every o set their faces steadily. toward: _(chee- administration of public money COViff" -,T1(1 away from those bragff ntjoiif 0 tions which had loaded the 11