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IMINERS & COAL TAX.
I MINERS & COAL TAX. Mr. Ritchie Asked to t Remove Impost. CHANCELLOR'S DISCOURAGING RESPONSE. I A deputation of the miners' representatives in conference in London yesterday waited upon Mr. Ritchie (Chancellor of the Exche- quer) at the office of the Treasury to urge upon him the removal of the tax on coal. Tne deputation was introduced by Mr. John Wilson, M.P., of Durham, and the speakers were Mr. Hugh Boyl (Northumberland), Mr. Alfred Onions (South Wales), Mr. W. E. Harvey (Derbyshire), Mr. W. Parrott (Yorkshire), and Mr. Robert Smellie (Scotland). Mr. Wilson said their object was to urge the abolition of the coal-tax. All the mining districts were represented, and all were still as strenuously opposed to that tax as they were at the time of its imposition. Sinoe the tax was imposed there had been large reduc- tions in the colliers' wages, and many pits were now working short time, owing largely to reduced exports, which he attributed mainly to the coal-tax. Mr. H. Boyl followed, as the representative of Northumberland and the North of Eng- land. Mr. Onions, representing the miners of South Wales and Monmouthshire, who was the next speaker, said that the districts he represented exported about 47 or 48 per cent. of the whole of the coal exported from the United Kingdom. Moreover, about 46 per cent. of the total coal output of South Wales and Monmouthshire was for export. The late Chancellor of the Exchequer, in receiving a similar deputation two years ago, said it was intended that the coal-tax should fall on the foreigner, not upon the miners, and that if he thought it would fall upon the miners he would be disposed to re-consider his posi- tion. In South Wales. down to the end of last year the South Wales miners' wages rate was regulated by a sliding-scale, so that the only factor in determining their general wage rate was the average selling price of coal. After the coal-tax came into operation the colliery owners adopted certain methods whereby the shilling tax did not come with the average selling price that determined the general wage rate. At first they were of opinion as workmen that by so doing the employers were violating the agreement under which the men were working. The opinion of eminent counsel was taken, and counsel were of opinion that the employers were not in that matter violating the agreement. It seemed to him that every ton of coal that was exported abroad, and upon which a shilling tax was paid, prejudicially affected to that extent the men's wages. He calculated that they must be suffering, roughly speaking, to the extent of about 4 per cent. in the wages rate as the result of the operation of the coal-tax. Since the imposition of the tax South Wales had suffered a reduction of 30 per cent. in wages, Scotland 311, Northumberland 35 per cent., and Durham approximately 30 per cent. All these were coal-exporting districts, and the districts that were non-exporting had only suffered a reduction to the extent of 10 per cent. They came to the conclusion that the tax, in addi- tion to keeping their wages low, had proved prejudicial also in other respects. The increase in the exportation of coal was not so much last year as in previous years, nor so large as it would have been if the coal-tax had not been imposed. The American strike had for a time given a large impetus to the coal trade. The export to the United States and British North America for the first quarter of 1891 was 66,934, while in the first quarter of 1902 it was 40,642 tons, or a decrease of 26,292 tons. For the second quarter there was a decrease of 12,600 tons. For the third and fourth quarters there was a material increase owing to the American strike, which affected the exports from this country last year by something like a million tons. Furthermore, if there had not been excep- tionally low freightage our coal exports of late would have shown up still less favour- ably. He had information that some con- tracts. more particularly in some parts of France, had recently gone to German firms because of the operation of the coal-tax. He could privately supply proof that one con- tract of 100,000 tons from March, 1903, to March, 1904, previously held by a British firm, had gone to Germany, and he knew of another instance of 3,000 tonB of fuel, which for eight years had been supplied by a British firm, which had also found its way into Germany as a result of our coal-tax. There were some parts of the South Wales coalfield, more par- ticularly in the western district, that were now wonting very short time, which was also mainly attributable to the operation of the coal-tax. Mr. Onions proceeded to quote statistics to prove that there had been a large falling off in our exports of coal to Holland and Belgium. These figures and the whole facts, he maintained, not only proved that in South Wales the miners were suffering a direct reduction of wages as the result of that tax, but also that our trade for the same reason was being considerably restricted. (Hear, hear.) As the depression deepened and we were on the decline, he believed that the unfortunate effects of the coal-tax would be more acutely felt than at present, and that we should sooner or later find thousands of miners thrown idle. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Harvey (Derbyshire) said there was no division amongst the miners of the country upon this important question, and they were becoming alarmed, startled, and surprised that an industry involving so much capital and an army of 800,000 men should be at all endangered by any Government or any Chan- cellor of the Exchequer. Neither capitalists nor miners in the coal trade feared foreign competition if they could enter the market on equal conditions. (Hear, hear.) He con- tended that the income-taxpayer was well able to pay out of his abundance. Mr. Ritchie: Not always. Mr. Harvey: Well, as compared with our men, who are only earning about 25s. a week. Mr. Ritchie: Where do you get evidence of that? Mr. Harvey said that many of the men were getting even less than 25s. a week; indeed, considering the fact that men had to work short time, there were many miners who were not earning above 13s. or 14s. a week. These people had the right to claim first considera- tion from the Government surplus. Mr. W. Parrott (Yorkshire) feared if the tax were not removed that some collieries would have to stop, and the result would be to swell the ranks of the unemployed. They did not condemn Mr. Ritchie for the tax being put on, but they wanted him to have the credit and honour of taking it off. (Laughter and" Hear. hear.") Mr. Robert Smellie (Sootland) said in Scot- land their employers had told them again and again that the imposition of the coal-tax had brought down wages. He believed the average earnings of miners would not exceed 27s. a week. They claimed that that was not sufficient to keep a man and his family. THE CHANCELLOR'S REPLY. I The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in reply, said something had been said about those enga-ged in getting coal being unanimous upon this subject, but if he might say so without offence, this was just one of those matters upon which there was likely to be unanimity. Then it had been suggested that he should have the "honour and credit" of taking off this tax. He was afraid the "honour and credit" he should receive at their hands, if he were able to do it, would be a good deal more than counter balanced by feelingB of a different kind, which might proceed from others who rejected a reduction in taxation, and would not be able to get what they wished. Some of the speakers had patriotically said that while the war lasted they were content, having regard to the necessities of the case, to bear the burden which they asserted had been put upon. their shoulderB, but that now the Government might fairly consider the pro- priety of taking off this impost on coal. Well, they had many competitors, and he had heard the argument in that room more than once that other taxes which were put on at war time might now be taken off, or mate- rially reduced, but as the deputation were aware, the burden of indirect taxation had been very greatly increased since the time the coal-tax was put on. The war lasted very much longer than was expected, and increas- ing burdens were placed on the people, and largely on the consumer. There would be very considerable disappointment if some- thing were not done for the consumer when anv surplus came to be dealt with. Even if a case could be made out for the reduction of this tax, on the ground that the war had come to an end, the expenditure in conse- quence of the war had by no means ceased. He thought that would be demonstrated when he laid the financial condition of the country before the House of Commons. So far as he could gather, gentlemen who had spoken had not alleged that.the export of coal had fallen off. What were the figures of exports ? He found that in 1898 the quantity of coal and other kindred material exported was 47,827,000 tons, in 1899 it was 55,&38,000 tons, in 1900-1 which they all recognised to be a bumper year-the exports were 57,850,000 tons. The tax was put on in 1901, and the exports that year were slightly reduced as compared with 1900, being 57,352,000 tons, but in 1902, which was the last year they had the figures for, the quantity was 60,045,000 tons, and even if he were to assume, which f« could not, that one million tons were due to the condition of things in the United States, even if that quantity were deducted, then the exports would show a very large increase over what he called the "bumper" year of 1900. Mr. Onions: May I ask you to consider the first nine months of 1902? The Chancellor of the Ezchequer: I have not got the figures for the first nine months. It would be of no use to make such a com- parison. Mr. Onions said his point was that for the first nine months there was a reduction, but. that when the effects of the American and French coal strikes came to be felt, then an impetus was given to the coal trade which turned into an increase what would otherwise have been a decrease. The Chancellor of the Exchequer desired to point out that the increase was extremely large. He had had some figures taken out which showed that the average quinquennial increase of exports since 1897 had been con- siderably greater than those in the two pre- vious quinquennial periods. It was said that this increase had been caused by the reduc- tion of freights. Everybody knew that there was a great boom in freights two years ago, and that shipowners were making great profits. To whatever the reduction might be due, if the result of the operation was to enable more coal to be exported and more men to be employed, of course it would be to the miners' advantage, even though that advantage was secured to some extent by the fall of freights. With regard to employ- ment, so far as the figures in his possession showed, the number of persons employed in coal-mining in 1902 was greater than in 1901 by 2 per cent., and the average number of days on which collieries were open was greater in 1902 than in 1901. In 1901 the number of days worked per week was .12. and in 1902 it was .22, showing that i¡¡"-I\ w'-e .10 greater number of days Worked in the latter than in the former year. With regard to wages he found that in no part of England were wages lower in 1902 than in 1899. Taking the wages of all classes of workmen in coal mines, he found that in 1899 in the United Kingdom the wages ave- ra,ged 29s. a. week, whilst in 1902 they averaged 30s. 4d. Figures from different dis- tricts showed:— 1899 1902 ¡ s. d. s. d. Northumberland 27 5 27 8 Durham 28 3 28 3 Yorkshire. Lancashire & Mids. 31 1 33 3 South Wales and Monmouth 24 8 28 2 West of Sootland 32 11 30 11 (A falling off.) Fife 29 7 27 2 (Again a falling off.) If they took into account the falling off in the employment at the present time as shown by the Board of Trade returns, which gave the number of the unemployed now as 5.5, as compared with 4.5 at the same time last year, and if they took the wages which were being earned in several other branches of employ- ment, his conviction was that miners would see that they had not much to complain of aa compared with other trades. The deputation had asserted that the miners' position would have been different if it had not been for the coal-tax. He very much doubted it. He felt perfectly certain that, apart altogether from this impost on coal, they could not have expected, it was impossible to conceive, that the prosperous state of things of 1900 would have continued. All he could hope was that the great prosperity they enjoyed at that period was made use of for the purpose of laying by something for the rainy day. The right. hon. gentleman con- tended that in a few instances the foreigners paid the tax. Everyone knew that a shilling a ton on coal was a, stupendous profit, and he ventured to thinK in ordinary times it would be impossible for collieries to be kept open if the colliery proprietor had to pay that large sum in duty. Mr. Ritchie added:—I think I have shown that there is nothing in the con- dition of the trade which would justify me in holding out to you hopes of a thing which I am very much afraid it will be impossible for me to give you. The condition of our national expenditure, apart altogether from war, is increasing so much that the future does not seem to me to hold out much hope of any considerable reduction of taxation. Of course, you will be entitled, when the ques- tion of reduction of taxation comes, to be considered along with other taxpayers, but I wouiu be sending you away with an altogether wrong impression if I were to hold out to you any hope that I could under existing cir- cumstances do what you have come here to ask me to do. I am Satisfied that what I said at the commencement of my remarks is abso- lutely true: that if I were to refrain from giving such relief to the consumer as it may be in my power to give I cannot tell yet what the position will be. I am perfectly sure for me to propose to Parliament to take off this shilling a ton on coal would not only be a proposal which would be unacceptable to the House of Commons, but unacceptable gene- rally throughout the country. Mr. J. Wilson, M.P., in thanking Mr. Ritchie for so courteously receiving the deputation, said the right hon. gentleman's statement as to wages was a startler to them as prac- tical men. He supposed the figures included the salaries of the officials, staffs, of the col- lieries, &c.. men who were earning R-500, £ 600, or JE700 a year. The Chancellor of the Exchequer: No, it does not include them. Mr. Wilson, M.P., said it was eaey to take an average, but he and his colleagues thought the test should be taken of the lowest paid men. The deputation then withdrew. The special meeting of the coalowners* conference called for to consider the Chan- cellor of the Exchequer's reply to the depu- tation. subsequently passed a resolution in favour of further considering the matter at a future date before the introduction of the Budget, when it could be fully discussed, and such measures taken as would lead to the abolition of the tax, and in. the meantime to hold meetings of protest against the tax throughout the country.
fDEFINITION OF SMALL COAL…
DEFINITION OF SMALL COAL I In the House of Commons on Friday, Mr. D. A. THOMAS (B., Merthyr Tydfil) had on the order-paper a question asking the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the new form of the monthly Trade and Navigation Returns, any deftnitiou of small coal had been laid down for the guidance of exporters in declaring the descrip- tion of their shipments, or whether is was left to their discretion, and, in the latter case, would he consider the advisability of prescrib- ing a maximum distance between the bars of the screen through which coal must pass in order to constitute small. Mr. GERALD BALFOUR has furnished the following written reply: The distinction now drawn in the official trade accounts between small, large, and through-and-through coal has been made experimentaaly to meet the wishes of the exporters, and on the under- standing that these descriptions are, gene- rally speaking, well understood in the trade, although the precise definitions may vary somewhat in the different coalfields. These statistics are based, like all the export returns, on the declarations of exports, subject to check when necessary. It is not thought desirable to prescribe a hard-and-fast ruh-al least, until more experience has been gained.
: GREAT FINGALL CONSOLIDATED…
GREAT FINGALL CONSOLIDATED I In connection with the extensive embezzle- ment on the Great. FingaU Consolidated (Limited) the directors on Friday night issued a. circular stating that Mr. C. A. Moreing arrived in London from China on Saturday, and had attended a meeting of the board. The directors are pleased to state that Mr. Moreing, as senior partner of Messrs. Bewick. Moreing, and Co., at once confirmed the infor- ma,l undertaking previously given by his part- ners to hold the company harmless in respect of all losses which it had sustained or might hereafter sustain in respect of the defalca- tions of the late secretary. The company, therefore, suffers no loss.
LONDON AND GLOBE CORPORATIONI
LONDON AND GLOBE CORPORATION I A circular has been issued by the London and Globe shareholders' prosecution com- mittee in connection with the London and Globe Finance Corporation to the effect that, contrary to the impression conveyed by debate, the committee are in possession of opinions of seven legal authorities that the offences alleged against Mr. Whitaker Wright constitute misdemeanour, and that the chanoes are in favour of a successful prosecu- tion. In essentials the London and Globe scandal is stated to be identical with three of the offences alleged against Jabez Balfour in the Liberator case.
IPONTYPRIDD CADET CORPS TO…
IPONTYPRIDD CADET CORPS TO BE ?-DISBANDED- It was announced at a meeting of the Ponty- pridd County School governors on Friday that the War Office has decided to disband the cadet corps because it has not reached the minimum strength-40. Major Hughes is to be asked to arrange an interview with the authorities, and the services of Sir Alfred Thomas and Colonel W.vndham-Quin, M.P.'B, are to be enlisted in this direction.
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OUR _LEGISLATORS.
OUR LEGISLATORS. Ministers as Company Directors. DEBATE ON THE EFFICIENCY OF THE NAVY. I HOUSE OF COMMONS.—Friday. The Speaker took the Chair at noon. On the motion of Sir A. ACLAND HOOD, a new writ waa ordered for the election of. a member for Dublin University, in the room of the Right Hon. William Edward H. Lecky, who has accepted the Stewardship of the Chiltern Hundreds. THE GUARDS SCANDAL. Mr. B. LUCAS (U., Portsmouth) asked whether the publication and circulation among members of a letter about the recent incident in the Grenadier Guarde-an ex parte statement of the case, the officers concerned not being in a position to protect themselves and make a counter statement-was not a brea-ch of privilege. The SPEAKER replied that it was not a question of breach of privilege. PRIVATE MEMBERS' BILLS. I About fifty new Bills were brought in by private members, and were given a first read- ing by the House. Among the more impor- tant of these were:—Mr. David M'lver, to amend the Church Discipline Act; Mr. Butcher, to provide compensation in certain cases of non-renewal of licences to sell intoxi- cating liquors; Sir Gilbert Parker, to amend the law as to marriage with a deceased wife's sister; Mr. Shackleton, to legalise the peaceful conduct of trade disputes; Mr. Remnant and Mr. Channing, to provide old-age pensions; Mr. O'Dowd, to amend the conspiracy laws; Mr. Helme, to regulate the use and sale of pistols; Sir Charles Dilke, to establish a single franchise at all elections, to abolish university repre- sentation, and to remove the disabilities of women; Sir Charles Dilke, to establish wages boards; Mr. Perks, to prohibit the sale of intoxicating liquors on Sundays; Dr. Robert Ambrose, to provide for the removal of certain disabilities affecting Roman Catho- lics in Great Britain and Ireland. MINISTERS AND DIRECTORSHIPS. I The debate on the Address was resumed. On Mr. Swift MacNeill's amendment con- demning the holding of company direc- torships by Ministers of the Crown, Mr. FIELD (N.. Dublin, St. Patrick) consi- dered that not only Ministers, but also mem- bers of Parliament, ought not to occupy such positions. Sir GEORGE BARTLEY (U., Islington, N.). thought Ministers on their appointment should give up their directorships, and devote their whole energy to the service of the country. Mr. PURVIS (U., Peterborough) defended the principle of Ministers being connected with commercial matters, instead of being doc- trinaires and bookworms. Sir WILLIAM HARCOURT (R., Monmouth- shire, W.) did not agree that it was well for those who governed the country to be engaged in other concerns. The country at large regarded it as a very serious matter, and, unless he had an assurance from the Prime Minister that be would do something to bring about a change, he should vote for the amendment. Mr. BALFOUR said that he had been unable to change his position in regard to the question. No man had a right to join the Government who was not prepared to give the best of his time, and, indeed, all the time that the duties of his office required. Some men were born with large responsibilities, or were engaged in business, the requirements of which it was impossible to satisfy without some expenditure of time. Were such men to abandon all their responsibilities when invited to join the Government? How was the case of a director of a public company to be dis- tinguished from that of a private firm; and, unless they laid down the proposition that every class of man might compete for the management of the country's affairs, except the business class, he did not see how they could accept the amendment. He could not deny that the relations of the House towards the great business corporations presented some difficulty, but if the amendment were accepted it must be extended to all members of that House and of the House of Lords. Nobody would say that Lord Rosebery was to blame for joining the Great Northern Rail- way directorate, and that because of that fact he should be precluded from giving his opinion on questions of railway policy. If they drove the amendment to its logical con- clusion they would make public life poorer, instead of purer, by driving able business men out of the service. He agreed that Ministers ought not to be connected with companies which might be affeoted by the action of their department, and was not aware that any Prime Minister had been a railway director. Sir WILLIAM HARCOURT: Lord Bosebery. (Laughter.) Mr. BALFOUR said he would leave that branch of the question alone. Having in view that some Administrations only lasted a few months, they could not ask gentlemen to give up permanent business engagements to join the Government. He was sorry to say that no one had ever asked him to be a public company director—(laughter)—but after the free criticisms of the want of business train- ing of the present Government he should regard such a request as a very high compli- ment. indeed. (Renewed laughter.) He had perfect confidence in the honour and dis- cretion of his colleagues, and did not mean to ask them to resign their directorships, and it was on their honour and discretion, rather than upon any hard-and-fast rule, that the credit of public life would depend. On a division, the amendment was rejected by 147 to 109. STATE OF THE NAVY. I Sir WILLIAM ALLAN (R., Gateshead) moved an amendment expressing regret that no men- tion was made in the Speech of the unsatis- factory condition of the Navy. With all due deference to the experts, he held that our modem Navy was unsatisfactory. The Ad- miralty clung to old and obsolete ideas, instead of seeking to design efficient ships. The ships were badly designed, under-gunned, and lacking in steaming power, and the Admi- ralty was extravagant and inefficient. He severely criticised the manner in which expe- riments were carried out by the Department. The Empire was being ruined because the Fleet was bad and could not be depended upon. Mr. RENWICK (U.. Newcastle) seconded the amendment. He said there was ground for dissatisfaction with the water-tube boilers, with the scarcity of seamen, and with the unfitness of a large proportion of the vessels to go to sea. Mr. ARNOLD FORSTER replied that much of what had been said 1-y Sir William Allan was largely out of date, because the Belle- ville boiler, having been declared by the Boilers Committee to be unsatisfactory for use in the Navy, the Admiraltjt was now try- iss the latest type of cylindrical boiler. He contended that if we were at war we should find the ships of our opponents were fitted with the same type of boilers as purs. As to arma- ments, ships of varlms classes were being strengthened. He denied that the Navy was inefficient. More than that, he maintained that it was making very rapid strides in the direction of improvement. Sir WILLIAM ALLAN then withdrew his amendment. The House adjourned at quarter to six o'clack.
AFRIKANDER LOYALTY. I
AFRIKANDER LOYALTY. I Bond Leader and the Colonial Secretary. Mr. Hofmeyr, in his interview with Mr. Chamberlain on Thursday, told the Colonial Secretary that he had given too much heed to tittle-tattle. Sedition and disloyalty were not so prevalent among the Dutch as the mischief-makers asserted. He explained he new constitution of the Bond, and declared that it had never been a disloyal organisa- tion. He expressed himself delighted with Mr. Chamberlain's courtesy. A Cape Town telegram of Friday says:- All idea of a Coalition Ministry has been aban- doned. It is thought moet unlikely that the Colony will give any money contribution.— Renter. The Cape Colony Government on Friday entertained Mr. Chamberlain to lunch at Groot Constantia Farm. Covers were laid for 400 guests, who included Mr. Jan Hofmeyr and other leading politicians. The gathering was thoroughly representative of both politi- cal partiea. After lunch Mr. Chamberlain con- versed with several of the leading men, and had a long conversation with Mr. Hofmeyr.— Reuter.
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"Cochfarf's". I" 7 :- .- -…
"Cochfarf's" I" 7 .0 .00 Comments, It is rarely a community experiences such depressing influences as those which have befallen Cardiff this week. Nothing but the absolute necessity of attending to duties which cannot be put off can impel public men to any action. In the council chamber every member of the corporation is absorbed in picturing the forms of two departed colleagues in their most familiar attitudes, and by an effort to realise that they will never appear in their wonted places any more. A sentiment of bewil- derment pervades the members and offi- cials as they stand in groups about the municipal buildings. Voices are hushed into whispers, and even those who whisper are at a loss how to express their innermost feelings with the gravity due to the dominant subject of conversation. Now and again conversation is lightened by the relation of incidents in the public life of either Alderman Brain or Coun- cillor Norman, and the story least known to the public, perhaps, is that of a visit by the well-known temperance lecturer, Mr. Tennyson Smith, to Mr. Brain's office for the purpose of inspecting the share list of the brewery company. The genial alderman happened to be present when Mr. Smith arrived, and, guessing from the nature of his request who his visitor was, he conducted the interview himself. Mr. Smith has a very emphatic style of conversation, and, as is well known, Mr. Brain knew well how to give the soft answer which turneth away wrath. Before the temperance champion left the brewery premises he had become quite mollified with his unexpected reception, and hia surprise was great when he was about to depart to learn, that his courteous vis- a-vis at the office counter was no other than the gentleman by whose name the brewery is known. For a dozen hours I have been puzzling my brains to guess the reason the follow- ing message has been addressed to me, and I publish it with the view of know- ing if any reader can enlighten me: — Sir,-If you go to the concert on Satur- day you will hear an English band that will put your Zerman town band in the shade, from. the poor old man who was driven out of the town and not allowed to play his Instrument on the sts. Only Zermans and Italians are allow to play in Cardiff shame and a disgrace. Mechanical trash can excel-I where Eng- lish Talent can go to I Now, the above reads as if the writer intended to be very vehement about something, but I feel abso- lutely innocent of having given any just cause of offence to any English musician in any capacity in which I have authority; and if this disavowal of having shown any favour to any set of street musicians over any other does not satisfy my correspondent I shall be pleased ta have any further particulars of tho grounds of my offence. There was a very gratifying innovation made at the meeting of governors of the University College of South Wales on Thursday, viz., that of presenting an interim report of the work of the college and of its council and committees. The Court of Governors has too long been. regarded as being more ornamental than r useful; whereas it ought to be regarded as an admirable medium to cultivate a missionary spirit in favour of the work of the college. Upon it are representatives of every public body in South Wales, and whilst in assembly the fullest information and the most active esprit de corps should be cultivated by the members of the council. When the next court is held members of the co llege council should make it their business to educate their masters regarding every phase of colle- giate work, and then we shall hear less complaints of indifference to educational interests in the Principality. An act of characteristic generosity was that of Mr. Richard Cory, J.P., at the same court. Principal Edwards expressed a wish that a permanent memorial of such friends of the college as the late Dean Howell, Alderman Brain, and Dr. Joseph Parry should be obtained for the college library, and similar in character to those now to be seen there, viz., portraits of the late Lord Aberdare, the late Dean Vaughan, and others. Mr. Cory imme- diately responded by Undertaking to beat ,the expense of providing portraits of the three gentlemen whose names I have men- tioned, and, as there are plenty of bare trails in the college, Mr. Cory's example may well be followed by others. There is an excellent picture in existence of the late Principal Jones, but it has not yet made its appearance in the building in which the ex-principal spent many busy years. I hope this hint may lead some of his admirers to supply the omission. s The most enthusiastic meeting held in Wales for a long time was that in which the members of the Welsh. Society of the University College and their fellow- students welcomed Mr. W. B. Yeats last night. The distinguished visitor was carried away by the reception given him. He had only intended to deliver a brief address, but when his friends, who knew of his original intentioji, saw by their watches that the hour had been passed before the speaker began his peroration, and that he was pouring out his heart on his favourite theme of having a literature- loving democracy, they knew he had been inoculated with what he is very anxious to witness, viz., the Welsh "hwyl." Mr. Yeats is a delightful conversationalist, and is absolutely indifferent to time when he has congenial company. So delighted is he with his first visit to Wales that the writer has a stroflg hope to have the. pleasure of introducing him to his first experience of a Welsh Eisteddfod in the course of next summer. I have reason to warn users of gas by the slot system of a possible danger of escaping gas. It frequently happens that, instead of a gaslight -being absolutely turned off when persons leave a room temporarily, or sometimes for the night, the slightest flickering of a flame is left unextinguished, or the "gas is lowered," as we sometimes say. In the course of time, and especially if the gas is burning in full in any other part of the house, the pennyworth of gas is exhausted, and a fresh supply is not then turned on, and the lowered light disappears. When next a fresh supply is turned on the tap of the lowered gas jet is forgotten, and gas escapes into a closed and unused room. A carelessly introduced light into that room may mean a serious explosion, and the moral is to completely turn oif the gas when leaving a room.
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COMMERCIAL RETALIATION.I
COMMERCIAL RETALIATION. I Retaliation as a commercial policy has never really appealed to Englishmen, and larrgely on that account an enormous dif- ference now exists betn-een the mercantile marine laws of England and of other countries. The difference is entirely against the English shipowner, and, con- sequently, English commerce. There are limits to everything, though; and now the shipowners are protesting loudly, and with justice on their side, against a con- tinuance of these disabilities. A Select Committee of the House of Commons has recently reported strongly in their favour on nearly all the demands made at the annual meeting of the Chamber of Ship- ping in London yesterday. It must not bo thought that the agitation is against the wise legislation that the late Samuel piimsoll carried through with years of labour for the benefit of the seamen. In the old days the lives o four sailors were forfeited by rascally shipowners, who sent overloaded and leaky old hulks to sea with the knowledge that their only certain desti- nation was Davy's locker. No shipowner desires a return of those days. On the contrary, they seek to extend the wise restrictions under which they themselves are placed to their foreign rivals, and the restrictions they wish to remove are not wise. The load-line, for instance, is hardly likely to be ever threatened; but it seems an anomalous thing that when an English vessel is sold to a foreigner (if, as may be, on account of her unseaworthi- ness), she can come to the same port and load a larger cargo than when she was British owned. In regard to this it has been urged that the Board of Trade regu- lations are enforced against British ships with undue interference, even, while the foreign ships have been allowed to come and go pretty well as they like. The Board of Trade will assert that this is not so: that the regulations are vigorously enforced but it is a matter of common knowledge that this is not so. Although some foreign shipowners have voluntarily adopted a load-line, the Board of Trade cannot compel them to mark one. It may stop an overloaded or unseawortby ship from proceeding to sea, and that is all. But the difficulty of performing even this duty properly is very great. There are other restrictions, such as light dues, wait- ing to be removed. Mr. Radcliffe (Car- diff) brought forward another valuable resolution, asking that English workmen injured on foreign vessels in an English port should be entitled to compensation the same as foreign workmen injured in English vessels, whether at home or abroad. This is only common justice and it should be pressed for. The unfor- tunate part of it is that these amendments to the law are sought by the shipowners rather for their own benefit than for the benefit of the sailors; but, whoever takes the initiative, the reform is a desirable one.
[No title]
There is no hope of getting rid of the Coal-tax this year at all events. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has rarely been more definite in expressing a negative than he was yesterday. Not only did 1 e assert that there was no reason for taking the tax off exported coal at present, but lie supported his statement by an array of figures which must have astonished the deputation. The next Budget does not promise to bring much joy into many hearts. There is only to be a very small reduction of taxation, it would seem, and the consumer of something or other is likely to get the benefit. The Incomc-tax payers will continue to growl, ,nd the Coal-tax agitators will continue to agitate to no purpose.
[No title]
It is disappointing to hear of the dis- bandment of the Pontypridd Cadet Corps because it is below the number of 4.0. There are very few of these corps in Wales, and it is well known that in giving boys a grounding in military drill and in preparing them for entering the Army, Navy, or the Volunteers afterwards, these cadet corps are invaluable. We hope the governors of the county school will suc- ceed in saving the corps; we hope, too, that the corps, if saved, will be brought up to the required standard of numbers.
[No title]
So far all attempts to discuss the Guards' scandal in Parliament have failed, and now there is a rumour abroad that Colonel Kinloch's friends have come to an agree- ment with the War Office that criticism of the latter's action is to be minimised in consideration of the colonel being given another appointment. We hope the rumour is untrue. The Guards' scandal requires full investigation, not for the sake of Colonel Kinloch or any particular officer or officers, but for the sake of the regiment. )
[No title]
The decision of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain to interfere with the new South Wales agreement is a little imperti- nent. The Welsh miners desire to obtain an agreement on the splendid terms for a period of three years; and the parent federation have taken a wrong attitude in objecting to the three years' agreement. Their proper course would have been to declare their opinion, and then ratify the South Wales agreement, instead of which they have sent the South Wales men back with instructions to ask for an agreement for one year only. The three year period, as Mr. William Jenkins pointed out, is the basis of the agreement, and since it offers advantages to all concerned the masters are not likely to listen to the Miners' Federation of Great Britain. By and bye the federation will forget its present attitude and climb straight down to mother earth.
I Mainly --About -People.…
I Mainly About People. I It is an odd coincidence (as we have already remarked in this column), and interesting in view of the fact that the Kind's Speech promises a new Licensing Bill, that both the mover and the seconder of the Address in the Commons are associated, directly or in- directly, with the liquor trade. There is, indeed, a singular resemblance between the two in many little ways. Both are in the thirties, within three years of each other, both polled within fifty votes of one another, and. while one is the son of a peer and the son-in-law of a brewer, the other is the eon of a. brewer and the son-in-law of a peer. Mr. Gretton stands for Baas. His father was a brewer before him. and he himself is a director of the firm which hae made the town of Burton famous to the ends of the earth. He is thirty-six this year, is a major of the North Staffordshire Volunteers. and is the husband of Lord Ventry's younge-it daughter. Magersfontein means something tragic and personal to him, for General Wauctwpe was his uncle. Mr. Greville, who, if he survives his father, will one day enter the peerage as Lord Greville, left the Army for warfare of another kind in the House of Commons, which he entered by way of East Bradford. He had Mr. Keir-Hardie and a Radical against him, and won, though he did not poll half the aggregate vote. That was in 1896. and at the last electron Mr. Greville strengthened his position in a contest man for man. He married the step-daughter of Mr. W. M'Ewan, the head of the brewing firm across the Tweed. Now that he is in Parliament, he has given up the Army entirely, having retired as captain of the let Life Guards six years ago. He served for a, time with the Highlanders, but sport and politics claim hia attention now. He is something cf a paradox, for. though neither a soldier nor a sailor, hé belongs to the Naval and Military Club, and, though a. married man, he is a welcome figure among the Bachelors. The Duke of Roxburghe, who moved the Address in the Lords, is one of the youngest dukes in the House, where he sits, not as Duke of Roxbnrghe, but as Earl Innes. On his mother's side he is descended from the great Duke of Marlborough, and he himself has some right to be regarded as a brave soldier. He was invalided home from South Africa, but he performed at least one fine act of gallantry before he came home of which I we should probably not have heard but for a private letter from the man whose life he saved. A squadron of eighty Blues had gone out under General French's orders to find the enemy, and they were received by a storm of bullets, which fell so fast that they retreated to the bottom of the hill, where the horses were. One of the men, on reaching the foot of the hill, found that his horse had gone, and "I thought," he wrote home, "that my last day had come, for I had no chance of getting away alone. But the Duke of Rox- burghe came back for me, and I got up on 'his horse behind him, and he carried me in safety away from fire. So I owe my life to him." The Duke's grandfather was the first man upon whom Qaeen Victoria conferred a peer- age, and his mother was at one time Mis- tress of the Robes and for many years a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria. The Duchess was with Queen Victoria in one of the most exciting moments of her life, when only the failure of a madman's aim saved an empire from mourning. Had a lunatic at Windsor shot straight in 1882, King Edward might have on Wednesday been opening Par- liament for the twenty-third, and not for the third, time, and the Queen's reign would not have been the longest in our history. The Duchess of Roxburghe, a daughter of the seventh Duke of Marlborough, was in the carriage at Windsor when the madman fired, and the bullet whizzed within a few inches of her. The Duchees has been ten years a widow, and lives at Broxmouth Park, Dunbar. The duke is 26, unmarried, and figured in the Coronation honours as a K.T. Lord Leitrim, like the Duke of Roxburghe, served in South Africa, and had the interesting experience of coming < f age in prison at Nooitgedacht. He had the happy inspiration to send a note to De Wet telling him that it was his twenty-first birthday and begging free- dom as a present, but De Wet, it is said, only smiled. The earl has entered into his inheri- tance in a spirit which haa made him im. mensely popular on the estate, which has been managed for years on progressive principles. It was not always so. Lord Leitrim's father, a nephew of the third earl, came into the title after a terrible tragedy on the high road at Donegal, where the third Lord Leitrim, with his secretary and his coachman, were all shot dead. Mr. Arnold Morley, who was 54 on Wednes- day, entered Parliament in 1880, and he has filled the positions of Chief Liberal Whip and Postmaster-General. He attracted the notice of Mr. Gladstone during the trip which the late Liberal chief made to Norway on Lord Brassey's yacht, the Sunbeam. His father was the famous philanthropist, Samuel Morley, who died in 1886. The right hon. gentleman is a great sportsman. He rowed in the First Trinity first boat, which was at the head of the river, in 1870; and he is fond of shooting, fishing, stalking, cycling, and yachting. M. Jesserand, French Ambassador at Wash- ington, is an author of repute, and is best known as a writer on England in mediaeval times. Born at Lyons, he studied law, and became a Doctor of Letters. M. Jesserand, who was at one time counsellor at the French Embassy in London, is 48 to-day. Mr. George Henschel, composer, singer, and conductor,, was born at Breslau 53 years ago yesterday, but has been a naturalised English- man since 1890. As a boy of twelve he played the solo part of Wetoer's Concerto before an audience at Berlin, bat at sixteen he came out as a vocalist. He then gave piano instruc- tion in the German capital at fourbeen-penoe halfpenny a lesson. me straitened circum- stances suggested his accepting the post of second Kapell-Meister at Cologne; but he was dissuaded by a friend, who saw a. fortune in his voice, and who helped him to tide over the financial consequences of his refusal. From his appearance as a vocalist in the "Messiah" at Brussels in 1872, George Henschel dates hisi ascent. Five years later he made his London debut, and demonstrated by the management of his baritone voice the wonderful effeot which correct tuition and deep feeling can produce. Mr. Henschel married Miss Bailey, the singer, who shared with her husband in the enthu- siastic receptions accorded to them in all parts of the world. Mr. Henschel has written over 200 songs. One of the greatest authorities on Japanese art is Mr. Eo F. Fenollosa, Professor of English in the High Normal School, Tokio, who has written and lectured much on the art, litera- ture, history, philosophy, and religions of Ohina and Japan. He haa thrice been deco- rated by the Mikado—4th and 3rd Class "Rising Sun," and 3rd Class "Sacred Mirror." In fact, his recreation is Oriental Archaeology, and the collecting of old Japanese and Chinese paintings, books, and prints. Mr. Stopford Brooke is laid up with in- fluenza- Originally a clergyman of the Established Church and a Chaplain-in-Ordi- nary to the Queen, he gradually seceded, becoming a. Unitarian, but still continuing his ministry at Bedford Chapel, Bloomirbury, where his discourses at one time drew large congregations. His discourses were essen- tially aesthetic, and he brought his love for art into the pulpit with him. It is nearly ten years since a severe illneee led him to give up the chapel, which has been pulled down, and since then he has lived a life of quiet retirement amid his beloved books and pipes in his house in Manchester-square. Princess Louis of Bavaria., the heirese of the line of the Stuarts, whom the preposterous cranks who call themselves the loyalists of the White Rose style, withoutvher permission, "Queen Mary of Great Britain," celebrated yesterday the thirty-fifth anniversary of her wedding. Her union has been fruitful, for besides Prince Rupert (the "Prince of Wales" of the zealots aforenamed), who himself has two children, she has nine other living chil- dren. The Princess herself, who will in the ordinary course of nature be Queen of Bavaria, is so reconciled to the Act of Settle- ment that she sent her son to congratulate Queen Victoria on her Jubilee. Her Royal Highness is at present in deep mourning, as she is the daughter by her first marriage of the Archduchess Elizabeth, who died on Satur- day. One of the men who has been hardest worked over the late war in South Africa La Sir Walter Hely-Hmtchinson, who has this week been looking after the Colonial Secre- tary in Cape Town. Sir Walter was one of the young men of promise singled out some years ago by Sir Hercules Robinson (the late Lord Rosmead), and he accompanied that astute official to Fiji 30 years ago to assist in the work of taking the islands over from King Cakobau. After rising to various high posts, he became Governor of Natal ten year3 ago, and has had his noee kept continually to the grindstone in South Africa ever since, the last two years occupying his first chief's old quarters under Table Mountain. Sir Walter is uncle to the EaTl of Donoughmore.
.BAROMETRICAL INDICATIONSI
BAROMETRICAL INDICATIONS The following are th-b readings since are o'clock last evening, as given by the barometer in the vestibule of the Kvenini Exprees." St. Mary-street, Cardiff, which Is 33ft. abovu mean am le"el:-
THE COAL CRISIS. I -
THE COAL CRISIS. I Federation & the Wages Question. I OBJECTION TO A THREE YEARS' AGREEMENT. (FROM OUR ENGLISH MINING OORRESPONDENT.) As reported in the Extra-Special and later editions of yesterday's Evening Express," A special conference of the Miners' Federa- tion of Great Britain was held yesterday at the Westminster Palace Hotel, London. Mr. B. Pickard, M.P., president, was in the chair, and there was a full attendance of delegates. South Wales was represented by the follow- ing:-Mesars. W. Brace, T. Richards, A. Onions, J. Williams, B. Davies, C. B. Stanton, J. Morgan, D. Beynon, J. Watts Morgan, J. Thomas, J. Davies, G. Morrell, V. Hartshorn, W. Voyce, J. Thomas, M. Severn, J. Gardner, J. Kemp, W. Morgan, J. Manning, G. Thomas, D. Morgan, and J. Winstone. The proceedings were of a. protracted character, occupying from ten o'clock until nearly half-past five. The representatives from South Wales reported the result of the negotiations with the coalownere and the basis of the agreement provisionally made for the regulation of wages. This provided for the appointment of a conciliation board with an independent chairman to regulate wages for the next three years, with a maximum and minimum wage standard, the minimum to be 30 per cent. above the standard, with a selling price of 12s. 3d. per ton. Mr. W. E. Harvey (Derbyshire) condemned the agreement as a violation of the wage deci- sion of the Southport Conference, which provided for all wage agreements to be termi- nated at the end of the present year. Mr. T. Richards defended the agreement provisionally made by the South Wales repre- sentatives as in the interests of the workmen. A prolonged discussion followed, strong objection being raised to the Welsh miners making an agreement for three years, and further objection was raised to the selling price of 12s. 3d. as the basis of the mini- mum wage. The opinion of the conference was that the selling price governing the mini- mum wage ought to be fixed at Us. 3d. instead of the higher figure. The Welsh miners' representatives asked the conference to give them a free hand in further negotia- tions with the employers on the two points raised. In opposition to the proposed agree- ment, several delegates objected to this course of procedure. They regarded the period over which the agreement should extend as a vital principle, interfering with the whole wage policy of the Federation and upsetting the decision of the Southport Conference to ter- minate all agreements at the close of the present year. Eventually the conference resolved that the South Wales representatives should go back and endeavour to make a revised agreement with the coalowners on the basis of a minimum wage fixed by a selling price of lls. 3d. per ton and terminable at the close of the year. The result of these further negotiations is to be reported to a special conference, which is to have power of accepting or rejecting the same. In the course of the discussion the possibility of a stoppage in the Bouti Wales coalfield was considered, and the financial support of the Federation under the twenty-fourth rule was definitely promised. Another factor discussed was the agitation which, is about to be set on foot against the coal-tax, and the possibility of a general stoppage of production in the event of the Chancellor of the Exchequer declining to remit the tax. The representatives of the North of England miners suggested that a shutting down of the pits was the only effec- tive weapon in the hands of the men with which to fight the tax. Though the conference was in a decidedly bellicose mood, it would be premature to rush to the conclusion that the possibilities of a peaceful settlement in South Wales are yet exhausted. The position is that the decision has been postponed to afford opportnity for further negotiation. Situation Created not Serious, (BY OUR WELSH MINING CORRESPONDENT.) The conference has been a source of die-! appointment, not because it has etopped short of endorsing the action of the South Wales miners, but because it has unnecessarily pro- longed the suspense of all classes of the com-1 munity throughout the South Wales coalfield. As to actual settlement there is no real danger, but, under the pretence that they think the South Wales leaders have not made a strenuous effort to limit their agreement to this year's operations, and so meet the views of the Southport Conference—because views they were, whether worked upon or only recommended-the Federation have called upon the Welshmen to go back to the coal- owners and ask for final offer in regard to the period for which the agree- ment must be made. They are then to bring back an answer to another general conference, without either signing or actually accepting the terms until those terms have been submitted for acceptance or rejec- tion by the Federation. Meanwhile, the Midland and Scottish leaders will test their own constituencies as to whether, in the event of the South Wales men being induced to reject their employers' proposals, the other coalfieldllJ will pledge themselves to support South Wales by declaring a general strike. That, briefly, is the position. The adjourn- ment sine die means for a month. It is a very badly-worded resolution, and in trying to use words to conceal their thoughts (as the old classic phrase puts it) the people who framed the resolution have used very bad English. However, the situation created is not serious, except in so far as time is wasted without any very definite object in view. It was thought in the morning by many who were in close touch with the English and Scottish leaders that the Welshmen would come in for a wigging for daring to report the proposal of a three-years' agreement, but that at the end of the day's debate the Mid- lands men would gracefully withdraw all opposition, and, without exactly approving of the South Wales terms, accept them with a sort of "Don't do it again" message. It was acknowledged privately by some of them that the Welsh terms were better than they had expected. It was admitted that they had no idea when at Southport that such terms were likely to be secured by the South Wales work- men; but it was, undoubtedly, regarded as very advisable to secure simultaneous action between the various coalfields, and, without straining the idea at all, I may say that it was thought that South Wales could make terms with the employers for any period, short or long. as if there were no difficulties in facing the employers to be taken into consideration. This was, as I say, the position in the morning, and the treatment of the matter as a purely local question was, if anything, emphasised by the action in regard to the coal-tax. Almost as soon as the deputation had left to wait upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer the conference adjourned for dinner and to await the return of the deputation. Then on a resumption in the afternoon it was under- stood that, to use the words of one of the English leaders, the Welsh question was to be "closured" at three o'clock to facilitate the holding of a national conference on the coal- tax and to receive the report of tke deputa- tion. When that coal-tax conference was over the South Wales question was resumed in the same room. but the day was by that time far spent, and yet, as several members of the executive had meetings in their own districts to attend late in the day. they were deter- mined to rush through to a finish of some sort. But, to fathom the programme from the beginning, let me say Mr. Pickard opened with a criticism of the action of the South Wales men's leaders in ignoring, as he described it. the Southport resolution. This was done seem- ingly in following up the report submitted by Mr. D. Watts Morgan and Mr. Manning to the executive meeting recently held at Sheffield. Mr. W. Abraham (" Mabon "). M.P., in sub- mitting the South Wales case, referred to Mr. Pickard's point, dealing, of course, with the recommendatory character of the Southport resolution, denying the notion of ignoring the Southport resolution or anything else done by the organisation, and tactfully and calmly putting before the conference the steps taken by him and his colleagues. Mr. Harvey, of Derbyshire, one of the great apostles of the Federation, and I say it respect- fully. for he is an able man and a general, one who simply wants the principle of real unity put into effect (only he wants South Wales to do it first rather than Scot- land, whose agreement was entered into at the beginning of the year, or the Midlands. whose agreement will expire at the end of this year, suggested that the South Wales leaders had not made a determined effort to limit the agreement to this year. Mr. T. Richards, the general secretary of the South Wales Miners' Federation, by way of a temperate reply gave an outline of what had been done in South Wales from the beginning of the negotiations to the present position, including the endorsement of the action of their leaders by the delegates at the annual meeting of the South Wales Federation. Then came the adjournment already alluded to for luncheon and for other purposes. In the course of the afternoon Mr. Smillie and Mr. Gilmour, the Scottish leaders, spoke, strongly objecting to the course proposed by South Wales, and. naturally, contending for their own Southport resolution. Mr. Pickard took the same view, but, although the awkward position did not seem to suggest danger then, the Englishmen and Scotsmen seemed to be expecting some new revelation from the Welshmen-" something up their sleeves," as was afterwards remarked to me. But there was nothing to come. Mr. W. Brace spoke, and refuted the sug- gestion, implied or inferred, of disloyalty on the part of the South Wales members or leaders. He asked who had done more than he had to spread the principles of the Miners' Federation, a challenge which met with cor- dial support from all sides. Then he followed it up by asking where greater success had followed the steps taken in organising on Federation lines than in South Wales. It was altogether admitted to be an effective defence of the position of South Wales. "Mabon." of course, had to do a considerable amount of talking in leading the Welsh case in the after- noon as well as in the morning. Messrs. Onions, D. Watts Morgan, and Harts- horn made brief speeches, and nearly all the South Wales men, if not all, punctuated the debate with interjectory remarks when the opposition speakers were on their feet, and the debate was decidedly lively, but, although some of the English leaders were credited with a desire to give the Welshmen a downright good notion of their idea of what bad been done, there was, I am told, no acri- mony. On the other hand, Mr. Enoch Ed- wards, of Burslem, and Mr. Whitehead, of Bris- tol, among others, vigorously supported the Welsh case, because they did not see what more could be done or that the position could be improved by rejecting the terms offered. For a considerable time there was no resolu- tion moved, and it was difficult to say which way the conference would go, simply because the speakers were alternately advocating one side or the other. The first proposition was to the effect that the matter be referred to the executive to consider and report, that the conference be called to consider the ques- tion upon that report, and that, should the South Wales men go back to the employers and those employers insist upon a three years' agreement, a general stoppage of all the men in the Federation area take place. It was, however, soon clear that the latter part of the motion must be withdrawn, for upon a challenge from the South Wales men it was admitted that the English and Scottish leaders had no mandate to pledge their men to a sympathetic strike. I know it is stated on behalf of those leaders that they consider they have pledged themselves to support South Wales by such action if the Welsh terms should be rejected, but it is only a personal promise and a promise to advocate that course should it be eventually necessary. However, this brings us to another point of objection. The opponents of the South Wales settlement objected to the 12s. 3d. per ton offered by the coalowners, and contended that 11s. 3d. should be the selling price upon which the minimum wage should be baeed. The South Wales leaders, by way of a. counter- proposal. moved that, while considering that the South 'V:. Jes terms were not quite satis- factory to the Federation, yet, considering the importance of the endeavour made to abolish the sliding-scale, that it was not deemed advisable to offer any objection to them. In the discussion upon- this counter-proposal it was elicited that there was a feeling in favour of allowing the sliding-scale to continue until the end of the year rather than bind the Federation to a three years' agreement. Now, as this had been a subject under discursion in South Wales, and the men's leaders had cordially rejected the offer of the employers in deference to the usually held opinions of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain, it was only natural that the Scottish agreement, practically a sliding-scale under Federation auspices, should be brought under review. It is held that the South Wales men have secured about %d. per day more by their new provi- sional agreement than the Scottish miners have secured under the latest agreement made in Scotland. Even Mr. Harvey admitted that selling prices had entered into con- sideration in the recent agreements to a greater extent than Federationists would have wished. Yet over and over again were the Welsh leaders urged to try to get the employers to agree to a short period, by a sliding-scale monthly arrangement or any method, to avoid overlapping the end of 1903. The reply to this was that the South Wales men saw no prospect of improv- ing upon the present offer within the next four or five years, and, possibly, more. They had done their best, and their action had been approved by the delegates who represented the collieries. Just as might have been expected, up came the question of a general strike. Mr. Pickard foreshadowed the possibility of the rejection of the South Wales miners' appeal by the employers, and, consequently, the remedy had to be mentioned. The South Wales men asked if they were to understand that the English and Scottish miners pledged themselves to carry out the rule of calling out the whole lot if the South Wales terms should fall through. Here came in the neces- sity for withdrawing the English motion already referred to. which mentioned the general strike. Messrs. Pickard and Smillie promised to advocate such a course, but. on the other hand, they asked if the South Wales men would join in a general strike at the end of 1903 if the Midlands peonle failed to come to terms. To this the answer was obvious:—"We cannot pledge I ourselves to strike with you without knowing anything at all of the circum«tance3. Here we tell you what terms we can get. and all the circumstances are before you. The cases are not parallel." I am not professing to use anybody's words, hut the effect of them. Often traversing this ground, and much more, the maiority passed th" resolution as given in the official report. But before this was asrreed to there were attempts at tacit understandings as to what to read between the lines, as I hinted at the beginning of these notes. At any rate, the South Wales men are asked to go back and try once more to shorten their term of agree- ment. and also, incidentally, to endeavour to or-t the Its. 3d. selling price fixed without the reference to arbitration which they have definitely agreed to. That is about all that is certain from the resolution and explanatory remarks which can be elicited, for all sides are reticent as to the proceedings and the intentions. It is a. question of policy, evi- dently'. If the Southport resolution be upheld the Scotgmen-tbe least organised of the miners—reckon upon a general strike in sup- port of their demands next year. This matter of policy was mooted effectively bv Mr. Brace in the course of the afternoon discussion repeating what he said at South- port. that the South Wales men had entered the Federation through manv tribulations, and had not entered with the idea of seuttlinar out again as soon as they could. He remarked that the question evolved mierht not be one of principle, but of nolicv. He reminded the conference that the English and Scottish had on manv occasions been allowed to overlap each 'other, and. therefore, there was no fundamental principle involved in the question whether the South Wales agreement was made terminable in 1903 or at the end of 1904, 1905, 1896. or 1897. Still, the Welsh motion was rejected by an overwhelming majoritv. and the other motion, as given in the official report, passed. Immediately afterwards the South Wales section decided to hold a meeting of their own at the Hotel Victoria, London, to-morrow (Saturday) morning, in order to consider the present position and future action prior to the joint TneptinL- fired for Monday next. and arranged to be held. na usual, in the Engi- neers' Institute. Cardiff. In conclusion, it is as well to add that there is a strong belief prevalent that had the clear issue for and against accepting the Welsh nroposals been put to the vote there world 'have been a majority in favour of South Wales. Even now there seems to be no apprehension of an immediate general strike. because, as has been explained, the English and Scottish miners cannot declare one with. ont a breach of their agreements, but that when the South Wales leaders have made another application to the employers and had their reply their action will be either approved of or at least quietly acquiesced in. The Official Report r The official report presented to the press at the close was as follows"The confer- ence was called especially to consider the proposals negotiated by the employers and workmen in South Wales for the settlement of the wages question. The following resolu- tion was agreed upon, after fully discussing the South Wales suggested wages scheme:- This conference stands adjourned sine die until the South Wales Federation receive the final decision of the coalowners; before finally agreeing to the suggested terms the same be laid before the Federation of Great Britain, and that delegates come to the conference to deal with the question as to whether the same be rejected or otherwise." Views of the Coalowners. I Amongst the coalowners there is, we believe, almost a consensus of opinion that the three years' agreement must stand. Mr. William Jenkins, the ohairman of the Coal- owners' Association, when seen by a "Western Mail" reporter stated with much emphasis that, personally, he did not think the South Wales coalowners would give way, aa the three years' period was the basis of the agreement. Of course, Mr. Jenkins spoke only for himself, but amongst his colleagues there is a strong feeling, as we have said, that the three years should be adhered to. Find of Coal at Glyncorrwg New I Pits. A seam of coal was struck in "the bore-hole a.t the Glyncorrwg Colliery on Friday. It proved to be 6ft. thick. This makes the second valuable seam won here recently. Houses are very scarce in the district.
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