The Glamorgan Gazette

COMPENSATION AWARDS. NANTYFFYLLON WIDOW'S CIRCUM- STANCES. BABY AND BRANDY. BABY AND BRANDY. At Bridgend County Court on Thursday (before Judge Bryn Roberts), Martha Evans, a widow, of John Street, Nantyffyllon, ap- plied for an increase in the apportionment allowed her under an award in respect of the death of her husband, who was killed while at work at one of the collieries under Messrs. North's. Alderman E. E. Davies, for applicant, said the award was made on the 25th June last, which directed payment of L2 a month for the maintenance of the applicant and her daugh- ter, the only child, 2 years of age. Since the award was made the circumstances had al- tered. Unfortunately there had been a great deal of sickness in the family. The applicant had kept a lodger until a fortnight ago, when he joined the Army, and so she was without -that money. There was £ 266 in the Court and twelve years to run. Mrs. Evans said she managed all right on the money she got until the child became ill. She was still suffering from pneumonia and bron- chitis. She had at the doctor's orders to get special diet for the child. She had had to get two bottles of brandy for the girl.. His Honour: Then I can't grant the applica- tion. I don't think it is necessary; she ought* not to have it. Witness: It is the doctor's order. I go by that. His Honour: It is no good to the child. I don't care what anybody says. All that is necessary for the child is plenty of milk with good bread and butter. His Honour said the award would be con- tinued until October, and then it would be re- duced to 9s.

MAESTEG DENTIST'S BIDE I X COSTS £ 2. I Colin Anderson, a dentist, of Maesteg, was present at Bridgend Police Court on Saturday to answer the three charges that were preferred against him, viz.:—For having ridden a certain motor cycle with the identification plate ob- scured; for having driven a motor cycle reck- lessly; and with having refused to stop when requested. Defendant pleaded guilty to the first two.. charges. P.C. 414 gave evidence that he saw the defen- dant riding a motor cycle. He was travelling about sixty miles an hour. Witness put up his hand, but defendant took no notice and went on towards Tondu. About 4 o'clock the child- ren were coming out of school, and there was a bend in the road there, and many of the child- ren had a narrow escape from being run over. About 6.30, when defendant was returning from Tondu he shouted to defendant to stop, but he went on towards Maesteg. Witness was in plain clothes. He could not see the identifica- tion plate, as it was covered up by the coat of fo man who was riding on the back. When charged by the constable, defendant said, Don't make it too hot for me." In answer to the 'Chairman, defendant said he did not see the constable the firgt time, but he did see a man in plain clothes as he re- turned. He did not think the constable called on him to stop. He had been riding a motor cycle forf our years. The Chairman said it was fortunate that the defendant had ridden a motor cycle for some time without complaint, or he would have been dealt with very severely. For having driven recklessly, he was fined £1, 10s. for having re- fused to stop, and 10s. for having had the iden- tification plate obscured.

CHECKWEIGHER OR INSPECTOR? END OF LLANHARRAN APPEAL. Judgment was given on Thursday in the Court of Appeal by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Justice Swinfen Eady, and Mr. Justice Bray, in the case of Date v. Gas Coal Col- lieries Limited, of Llanharran, which was argued a short time ago on an appeal by the defendants from a decision of Mr. Justice Bail- hache, who held that the plaintiff, a check- weigher at the appellant's colliery, was also entitled to hold the post of inspector in the mine, appointed on behalf of the men. the question raised was whether this latter appointment was valid, or whether plaintiff's position as checkweigher in the colliery ren- dered him ineligible for the appontment. It was admtted that the plaintiff possessed all the necessary qualificatio for an inspector, but appellants showed that on the proper con- struction of Section 16 of the Coal Mines Act, he could not hold both ofifces. The Lord Chief Justice, in delivering judg- ment, said it was contended, that the plaintiff was ineligible for the appointment because the duties of such appointment would interfere with his work as checkweigher, and further, because a previous Act prohibited such a per- son as plaintiff holding both offices at the same time. He thought that the contention of the appellants could not be upheld, and that the appeal must be dismissed. Lord Justice Swinfen Eady agreed, and said that, however inexpedient such an appoint- ment might be, and whatever the difficulties it might give rise to in practice, the plaintiff was not inelgible for appointment as inspector. Mr. Justice Bray concurred, and the appeal -was dismissed with costs.

Ketehp e BFulayg inFg ly& inKge. ep BUSINESS AS I UTSOI UTAAL T f Wfe oraPG at the FRONT i■ BUSINESS AS USUAL A CALL TO DUTY. THE RIGHT HON. JOHN BURNS, M.P., writing on Sept. nth, 1914, says: I hope that the great army of Housekeepers will not only have their renovating done now, but QL /f will also RESUME THE BUYING OF FURNITURE. By so doing you will help to -???? relieve the distress and prevent unemployment, on which the GERMANS ARE COUNT- \Z?'? /T ING TO WEAKEN GREAT BRITAIN. Be Patriotic and carry out Mr. John Burn's ?t?S?? advice! Every purchase needlessly with-held is equal to a vote for German /? /jj /??? \( aggression 1 0?rFURM!TU?E, like our Navy, is Absolutely Reliable. !t We make your Homes w dl (Pi A ^es°:f_our Furnished and comfortable t prices for the P 1 S. I I for the Parlour ulte from £3 18 6 Minimum of Cost Bedroom -—■» £ 6li0l° IB HM Bedsteads „ £0/18/0 Solid Walnut Suite, £6 H'. A. Ew LOCKYER, Complete House Furnlslier, 138 K 139, Osimraal St., Maosteg IMWHIIII MM Will IIWWMFVWKFCIDI. I III II MILLIIIT N"III 'ill III IfrTTfftlgrrriiT^nHWTrirrnmTWITTiTirTirTiri'Br ail! III I MIL I III IHIPIH ■ III 11 mum <!■ m WIIMH I WI II ■■IMIMHH ■■

9114-dimili""I 1-1-Irip- 11 1 "■■■■■ ■" ■■■ I 'AY- I THE CEMETERIES. I THE LANGUAGE OF THE FLOWERS. To Welshmen more than Englishmen, Palm Sunday has a special significance. Unlike other days, when the shadows fall and the day passes into oblivion, Palm Sunday has its perpetual memories. It is a day that is reverenced and a day that has its own peculiar sanctity. Technically Palm Sunday is the day kept in commemoration of the great and tri- umphal entry into Jerusalem of Jesus Christ, just a short while before the darkness over- came the world; but in Wales it is the day on which the busy people turn their thoughts more especially to the dead. It is a sacred day, hallowed with the memory of those who have passed away. It might even be said, it is the day when the mourners creep away to the rest- ing places of their dead, as if to get solace there. One would think, judging by what one saw on Palm Sunday in Wales, that the rain- sodden turf in the cemeteries gave forth living memories of those long dead, whose mortal frames lay cramped beneath the sod. People gathered together and talked of those they used to know and whose body lay rotting to decay; men and women had busied themselves to make clean the tombstones, and new stones were erected for that day. The day dawned, and a brilliant sun seemed to smile with gladness over all the earth; but, alas! in the cemeteries at any rate, the sunshine soon became dimmed. People moved about with solemnity; most of them carried a wreath, a bouquet of flowers or a plant. Let us for a moment stroll into the hallowed grounds as they were on Palm Sunday. It was an impressive picture, so full of sad- ness, and yet with a great spirit of hopeful- ness, and to the casual pedestrian it has its lesson. We get inside the open. gate, and behold, straight ahead a massive marble column glint- ing in the sunlight. Beside it two females, attired in black, kneel as if in prayer. On the grave were many flowers, the fragrance of which perfumed the atmosphere. Long- fellow's lines come to mind:— "In all places, then, and in all seasons, Flowers expand their light and soul-like wihgs, Teaching us, by most persuasive reasons, How akin they are to human things." We examine the flowers and wonder if their language is understood. At the head of the grave, resting on the column, a large circular wreath reposes. In it are moss roses, fragile and pure, and white as death. And pray, what do they mean? Surely there is a lan- guage to such a flower. Yes, here it is: "I adore you, or I long for you." Perhaps that does not convey the precise understanding of the lfower, so let us quote Hermann Kit-dst:- "The scent of these moss roses sweet Speaks of old times, and seems to greet Me kindly from the days gone by." Beneath the roses, forming for them a bed, is moss. How beautiful the meaning when together we see these placed. Moss speaks of maternal love; a memory that can never forget. There are other wreaths too, of a similar nature, but resting casually at the foot of the grave is a bunch of dried lavender, parched and decayed. The meaning here is pathetic, but yet, in a sense, solemnly beauti- ful. It is "I wait for you." That so often happens; it is the sadness of death; there is no return. A few feet away there is a little mound, not well kept, and with no headstone. Around the head of the grave small whitewashed-, stones had been placed, and on the grave itself a ring of mosses lay, insignificant and almost unnoticed No mourner was there to weep o'er the dead. The wreath alone told the story. Mosses speak of ennui. Away in another part of the Cemetery an old woman kneels beside a headstone—a plain granite stone. The mourner wept over it in silence. Here there was an abundance of flowers. In tho words of Herrich:- Old time is still a-flving; And this same flower which smiles to-day To-morrow will be dying." That is the way of humanity. Coupled with this must be the pure white rose, a frail tu- bular flowfer, so waxy and sweet. This, from the heart of the mourner, means 'I am worthy of you" or "I am hoping to meet you." There was also a bunch of large double daffo- dils, the emblem of inspiration, reposing on the ground, truly significant of a mother's love. There are other graves beautifully dec- orated. Sorrowers tend the soil and plant more blossoms. Among the flowers in abundance are the primrose, delicately tinted and strong speak- ing of an "early youth," and just beside it the lesser celandine, a stray neglected flower, and yet one that tells of the "joys to come," a typical emblem for a burying ground. Ivy too, in some cases, had crept, slowly and with- out any human aid. around some tombstones, as though it had a duty to perform. In ivy we see fidelity, strong of remembrance, with a. clinging powerful love. Again, on another we see nothing but violets, blue as the sky, and radiant with an unsurpassing beauty. There is a fragrance with these, and altogether they speak of great faithfulness. A few steps further and we see another grave, this time an elaborately decorated one and springing up from the turf we find little clusters of snowdrops. Beauti- v wr-w ■ :> '2I¡¡_tIr2-fi fully white, and with a degree of dignity as they bend to and fro with the wind with their heads bowed, these delicate flowers tell one of a hope; something more than mere desire, a hope; and to one who mourns a hope is, and must be, a means of consolation. Just beside the grave growing wildly in the grass the Spring crocus boldly showed itself, and per- haps was a little inappropriate, telling as it does of youthful gladness. Daffodils, too, were in abundance on the graves, a token of a true regard. Peering from the mould on many a grave were crocuses of purple and of yellow. These, bordering the tombs, were sentinels to those who so often pass through a cemetery, and with a careless gait, ste over the ground of a silent tomb. They speak in audible accents and they say "Abuse not." In one part of the Cemetery we find a mound, nioely kept, but with only a piece of wood upon which letters were carved, to tell of the one who lay mouldering beneath, but huddled beneath the quaint old tomb head, a lose bunch of mountain daisies were cast. A story with :a sympathy, a story with a moral; the daisy, in her snow white bonnet, tells of innocence. Buttercups, too, were prominent on many a grave, and although they speak of childishness, it is a childishness that is true, and a childishness that retains a love and a memory. And so we could go on through the Cemeteries and Churchyards taking unto ourselves the lessons they would teach. The whole day long the burial grounds were the scene of animation, of pathos, of sympathy and of love. There were those who, through lack of sympathy, paraded the pathways of the Ceme- teries, just to comment on the grave.s To them the tombstone spoke but little, and the array of flowers nothing, but to those who, out of anguish of soul and. purity of motive, gathered round the mudheaps on Palm Sunday to draw near to the dead, there was a lesson in the spectacle, a comfort at the graveside, and a language of truth and love and sym- pathy in the flowers that bedecked the tombs. If nothing else, the flower must surely call to memory that sonnet of Whyte-Melville:— Falling leaf and fading tree, The swallows are making them ready to fly, Wheeling out on a windy sky, Good bye summer, good bye, good bye. This, too, we must apply to life. Very soon we too, who bent over the tombs of those who now lie sleeping, must say good bye to the summer of existence, and pass on to the un- known. Thus, when the pale clouds gathered from the east and from the west and from the north and from the south, and the tired sun drooped away behind the summit of the hills in the west, Palm Sunday closed a pathetic spectacle. Beneath the fast fading, and yet pale blue canopy of heaven, mourners with their hearts comforted by their presence with the dead, trudge homeward, and once again Palm Sunday had passed.

BIG FIRE AT MAESTEG. I EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. I On Friday morning a big fire broke out at the drapery establishment of Mr. W. G. Roberts in Commercial Street, Maesteg. Smoke was first observed coming from the roof of the premises by Fireman Griffith Rees (Talbot Street), and with another fireman- knowing that Mr. W. G. Roberts and family did not live on the premises—they woke up the occupants of the adjoining premises, ob- taining an entrance to Mr. E. Tucker's shop. They also woke up the occupants of these premises, and helped to carry the children to a place of safety. In the meantime, the fire alarm had been rung, and the Fire Bri- gade turned out very promptly, and com- ,menood operations, under the command of Lieutenants H. Elliot and G. E. Howells. By the time they were ready to manipulate the hose it was obvious that Mr. Roberts' shop could not be saved, as everything inside appeared to be in lfames, and the premises were like a furnace. Attention was there- fore given to cutting the fire off from the adjoining premises. On the one side was the confectioner's shop of Mr. E. Tucker, and on the other the chemist's shop of Mr. Mor- gan. A hose each played on the line of com- munication between these premises. Hap- pily there was an abundant supply of water from the hydrants, which were also conveni- ently situated. The brigade succeeded in their task,, and the flames were extinguished in about three hours. Sergt. Evans and a staff of police were soon on the spot, and ren- dered very good service. Lieut. G. E. Howells received his baptism of fire. The origin of the fire remains a mystery. The damage done was very extensive, but was covered by insurance.

>>« n immnini ■ I »wwwiw—»i I The Welshman's Favourite. fMABON Sauce As good as its Name, DON'T FAIL TO GET IT. anufacturtrs—BLANCH'S, St. Peter St., Cardiff. "¡:¡ I My Moil's Sauce I < Large Bottle 21tL )  Delightful Sauee and tots of It for • I the money. <y?c??<?f?M. B  ?? .IfB&.uc8' 8&. sa.. C-?.  ??jjj?jjjjjtjjSj)K???a)?<t)<N?9at??

?.!9Tttiim-Y)i?f*?f<?matM.m.?!.nSZ)MF??? GLAMORGAN TEACHERS? COUNTY COUNCIL REVERSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE'S DECISION. The annual meeting of the Glamorgan County- Teachers' Association was held at Cyfarthfa Castle, Merthyr, on Saturday, the President (Mr. J. Howells, Treorky,) in the chair. Miss R. Deacon, Gowerton, was elec- ted President for the ensuing year, Mr. F. Griffith, Swansea, Vice-President, and Messrs,. E. C. Willmott, Cardiff, and P. Thomas, Neath, Secretary and Treasurer respectively. Miss Deacon, who is the first lady Presi- dent of the Association, in the course of her presidential address, referred to the way in which German children are taught to hate England. There could be no doubt, she said, that the seeds of the. present unreasonable out- burst of hatred against England were sown in the German schools by German teachers. Without assuming an air of superiority and conscious virtue, they, as British teachers, should strive to retain a higher ideal of education. (Applause.) Mr. Willmott presented a lengthy report on the work of the Association during the past year. He complained that many decisions had been arrived at by sub-Committees and the Glamorgan Education Committee attended by two or even one person, and as a result great educational questions had not received the consideration which a large county like Glamorgan should give them. The question of the payment of teachers serving with the colours had also been shabbily dealt with by the Glamorgan Education Committee, but on appeal to the County Council the decision had been reversed, and Glamorgan "teachers were now on the same footing as those of most forward education authorities in the country.

I MORE NURSES WANTED. I I AN ARMY APPEAL. I The Press Bureau issues the following":— The Director-General of the Army Medical Service wishes gratefully to acknowledge the great help the civil hospitals have given in the treatment of wounded soldiers, and makes an appeal to them to help yet more. In the near future a greatly increased num- ber of nurses will be needed to tend the sick. The ranks of the fully-trained will not supply all that are wanted. The Voluntary Aid Detachments are already being called upon for assistance, which they are freely giving, but the need will be even greater than can be met in this way, and the Director-General, there- fore, asks all civil hospitals with training schools to help the country still further by maktng every effort to train for three or six months as many probationers as possible, so that they may be available for work later under supervision in military hospitals.

I THE BRITANNIC ASSURANCE CO., LTD. I The Britannic Assurance Company has been able to show improved results for the; past year, in spite of the problems which had to be faced in consequence of the war. Premium in- come is essentially the life-blood of the busi- ness of insurance offices, and it is particularly satisfactory to note, therefore, that there was an increase of over t47,000 in the revenue derived from this source. This figure is arrived at after making good a wastage of premium income caused by death and maturity claims amounting to no less than < £ 77,000 per annum. In regard to claims the company distributed during the lear < £ 684,597, including Y,186,420 paid under maturing poli- cies. This brings the total amount paid in claims by the Britannic since its inception forty nine years ago to over .210,000,000, a fact which is amply demonstrative of the company's utility.. It is somewhat astounding, but none the less true, that, notwithstanding the claims arising out of the war, the mortality experience was more favourable in 1914 than for many years past, thus affording conclusive proof of tlfe care- ful manner in which the management always selects its business. The results of the year's transactions is an excess of income over exepn- diture of .£261,814. I The annual valuation reveals a surplus of £ 146,222. Oout of this a sum of < £ 40,000 has been reserved to meet exceptional liabilities j arising out of the war, etc., and although it is impossible to foretell what those liabilities may be, the directors have not been illiberal in their provision for them. A further sum of Y,50,000 has been placed to the investment re- serve fund, raising the latter to < £ 170,000. The balance available for distribution amongst the participating policy-holders and the sharehol- ders is < £ 44,145. This provides a reversionary bonus of 26s. per cent., which, though neces- sarily smaller than last year, is under the cir- cumstances quite satisfactory. It should be mentioned that when the war broke out the directors resolved that all claims under existing policies on the lives of persons belonging to or subsequently joining the Forces should be paid in full, and no extra premiums were imposed. Premium rates were previously calculated, of course, to cover only peaceful oc- cupations. This is one notable instance of the impartiality and fair-mindedness which has al- ways characterised the methods of the Bri- tannic, and which, while rendering the com- pany deservedly popular, has contributed not a little to its uniformly successful career.

Up-to-Date Appliances for turning out I every class of work at competitive prices, at the "Glamorgan Gazette" Printing Works. t

j MINE LEADER'S POSTERS. I MINERS AND IMPORTANCE OF WORK. I That the South Wales miners will show their patriotism in a practical form at the present juncture is pretty certain. Apart from other considerations a strong appeal is made to them by Mr. T. Richards, M.P., the General Secre- tary of the South Wales Miners' Federation. In addition to circulars he has had distribu- ted large posters urging ,all the men to return to their work on Wednesday in Easter week, and only to take two days' holiday. The following is a copy of the poster:— Consequent upon the supreme national im- portance that the output of coal shall not be curtailed more than is absolutely necessary at the present time, the Conciliation Board has decided to limit the Easter holidays to two days, Mondatand Tuesday, April 5th and 6th. Lord Kitchener, the Home Office officials, and our naval authorities realise that two days' holiday from the arduous toil of the coal mines is not unreasonable. But all of them agree in impressing upon us that if the holidays are extended beyond the two days it may cause a curtailment of the output of coal that would be disastrous to the interest of the country. Your representatives urge the importance of this upon every workman that to neglect to return to his working place on Wednesday morning after the holidays may be fraught with as serious consequences as the neglect of his comrades at the front to return to the trenches or firing line. The supply of ammunition to our heroic soldiers on the Continent, the emciency and success of the naval operations in the North Sea and the Dardanelles, the home comforts of the poor of this country, are all dependent in a very large degree upon the extent and regu- larity of the supply of coal. The appeal is to every workman to return to work on Wednesday morning after the holi- days, and thenceforth to work as regularly as possible, with the assurance that his work in the mine is as necessary as the operations in the trenches in this great national crisis. Your country needs you at your post on Wednesday, April 7th, and every working day possible during the war. (Signed) THOMAS RICHARDS, General Secretary.

SAFETY LAMPS Y. NAKED LIGHTS I COLLIER'S EARNING CAPACITY I REDUCED. When safety lamps are substituted for naked lights the earning capacity of underground workmen, such as coal hewers, are stated to be reduced consequent upon the diminished amount of illumination. Recently such changes have been made at three or four col- lieries in South Wales and Monmouthshire for reasons of safety. At the Blaenavon Col- leries electric safety lamps have been supplied the men, and the pieceworkers at these col- lieries, among others, are seeking increased rates, so that they may be recouped the loss sustained by the change. At a meeting of the peace committee of the Conciliation Board for the Welsh coal trade, held at Cardiff on Saturday, evidence was given relating to the effect of the change at the concern referred to. For the owners Messrs. Waplington and Carpenter (the general manager and colliery manager res- pectively) stated the case for the owners, and Councillor Cooke on behalf of the men. Though the latter did not, for the present, submit a specific demand, it was stated that in Monmouthshire the pieceworkers were generally given an advance of 71 per cent. on occasions when naked lights were done away with. A decision on the matter was de- ferred until the next meeting of the Com- mittee. OFFICIAL REPORT. Mr. Finlay A. Gibson supplied the following official ieport:- A meeting of the peace joint Sub-Committee was held at Cardiff. Mr. Evan Williams pre- sided over the owners' representatives, and Mr. James Winstone presided over the work- men's representatives. The Committee had been asked by the Con- ciliation Board to consider the question in re- gard to a demand from the workmen at several collieries for extra payment for a change from naked lamps to safety lamps. The Committee had already heard evidence in three cases, and evidence was submitted by the workmen at Messrs. the Blaenavon Com- pany's Old Pit and Mill Frame Pit, and by representatives of the Company. The Committee will meet again on Friday, April 9th.

Up-to-date appliances for turning out every class of work at competitive prices, at the "Glamorgan Gazette" Printing Works. ?HYARCHER&C? t mSENRETURNS 1 I. l!~j3*r3REGISTE:REPEa^ ?ii:- REGISTERED E?li: -1  Facsimile of One-Ounce Packet. Archer's Goiden Returns Tho Pcrfcction of Pipe Tobacco. III I CCOL. SWEXT J. NT) FRACF.AKT. WI iii ????SM s M ? ?? ? ? f. ?/?"???????? ? ? '? ? ?????"?se? ?.<???- ? ? -???.??\ M lljdi 1 ^4 M ? :? M T 4. ?\. ? ? ??  I ? I 14wH0< %??? M?? ?:?j;% ? ? ? 41 ? ????!:? ilMli I&A} m* fx ?(S? ???*????<???*<?  ????<????*  ?? ( <?J No. 8139. In White and Ecru. 2i yards long, 52 inches wide. 28. 6id. per pair. Strong and well made curtains. 1 NOVELTIES ALSO IN WINDOW NETS AND BLINDS. Henry Laviers, MAESTEO. Henry Laviers Original Designs in i LACE CURTAINS. 1 Prices from 1/llf to 28/11 per pair. No. 2063. In White and Ecru. 3i yards long, 58 inches wide, 5s. lid. per pair. Smart and Effective Design. J  W. JENKINS SONS. :O;h:rs,e 15, Commercial Street, MAESTEG, | In no other Furnishing Establishment in this district will you find such a pleasing variety of || Sideboards, Bookcases and Suites as we are able to offer. H A still further reduction in our Prices while the War lasts. f _i11—M This Sideboard, nicely Carved, we sell at the ridiculously low price of S2 18s. 6d. i 1i .I i? I ?l I f 11 In a I I A well finished Walnut Bookcase S2 15s. Ode i ———————————— i ALL WE ABK Inspect our Showrooms, compare the Quality of our Goods and the prices with other Furnishing Firms and judge for Yourself. miiin—i«i^—iw i mi mi mm mm u iw—

SOUTH WALES COLLIERY ENGINE- MEN. APPLICATION FOR WAR BONUS. I It has been decided by the colliery engine- men, stokers, and the surface craftsmen in the Welsh coalfield to make an application to the owners for a war bonus of 20 per cent. on the standard rates to meet the increased cost of living. This was the effect of the most important resolution carried at the conference convened at the Y.M.C.A. buildings, Cardiff, on Thurs- day, by the Monmouthshire and South Wales Colliery Enginemen, Stokers, and Craftsmen's Association. Ail parts of the coalfield were represented by delegates, over whom Mr. W. J. Wathen (Blaenavon) presided. The atten- dance also included Mr. W. Hopkins (General Secretary), Mr. W. Woosnam and Mr. W. Dayies (agents) and the members of the Ex- ecutive Council. It will be noted that, while the enginemen have followed the miners as far as fixing upon the amount of percentage is concerned, the two proposals differ materially in their appli- cation. For while the miners base their de- mand of 20 per cent. on the total earnings after the addition of 60 'per cent. to the standard, the class of colliery workmen repre- sented at Thursday's conference propose making their demand of 20 per cent. on the base wage. 14 other words the latter is 10 per cent. less than that put forward by the Miners' Federation. Statistics were presented to the conference giving detailed comparisons between the prices now charged for groceries, provisions, etc., and those which obtained before the war, and the resolution demanding the bonus from the colliery owners was agreed to unanimously. Another matter of interest had reference to the proposed new general wage agreement for are specifically excluded from its operation, and all disputes relative to this class of work- men are dealt with by a joint Committee, of which Mr. T. H. Deakin is Chairman. It was pointed out that the enginemen and craftsmen have been, as a matter of fact, ex- cluded from all the previous conciliation board and sliding-scale agreements for the past 40 years, and the proposal for their inclusion had now been put forward by the Miners' Federa- tion. This suggestion evoked a good deal of dis- cussion, and strong objection was taken to the proposal on the ground that the Enginemens' Association was not represented on the Con- ciliation Board. Eventually, however, it was carried by a majority of 55 to 46 votes that the members of the Association express them- selves as being prepared to be included, pro- vided they were given representation on the joint board. It was pointed out that this was already the course adopted in Durham, and it was maintained that there was no reason why I a similar course should not be adopted in I South Wales.

THREE BROTHERS AND THREE. NEPHEWS. Mrs. Acland, 3 Margam Street, Cymmer, has three brothers at the front and also three nephews serving in the trenches. Her brothers are :-Private Harold Pearce, 1st Monmouth- shires; Lance-Corporal Ernest Pearce, 1st Mon- mouthshires; and Trooper Charles Pearce, Royal Gloucestershire Hussars. I

CAERAU AND MAESTEG GO-OPERATIYE SOCIETY, Ltd. EVERY MEMBER IS NOW INSURED ¡ And in the event of Husband's death, 4/- in the on all money paid as a trading member will be at once paid. If his Wife dies, 2/- to the < £ will be paid to the widower. This is not I a "bubble" idea, but is backed by the CO-OPERATIVE INSURANCE SOCIETY, Who have Accumulated funds of over £ 450,000. Our Sales for the Quarter just closed again show a VERY LARGE INCREASE, new Mem- bers joining freely. Two Shillings in X on all Money spent comes to a nice sum every Quarter. Just think it over and join. Entrance Fee, 1/- only. We pay 5 per cent. on Share Capital, 4 per cent. on Loan Capital, and 3i per cent. on Penny Bank Deposits. Established 15 years during which, about £ 2 5,000 has been paid in Dividends

I WAR- STORIES. I FROM BATTLEFIELD AND SEA. An officer writing from the front says:— "A certain Scottish Territorial tegiment has been learning trenchwork with us. Our colonel was rather amusing in describing the way he took their colonel round the trenches. In his words: We came to a drain, so I told him to be careful. No good; he was in it. Then we passed a shell hole. Splash! He was in it. A little later we came to a tele- phone wire. 'Look out!' I said, 'Here's some wire!' Down he went again. He mast have been quite wet at the end of it." I WHAT A CHANGE. "I walked into the nearest market town. What a difference from a month or two ago! It shows how the Belgian people regain their confidence wherever the British soldier is. When we first arrived at this town the Ger- mans had only just left; hardly any people were there. All the houses were deserted, the shops closed, the streets dirty; no food or milk or anything to be bought. And now, what a change! Shops crowded with all kinds of articles. Hotels and restaurants busy as can be; barbers, shoemakers, dentists, all re- turned to their business; in fact, everybody back at their old homes. All due to the Brit- ish soldier, and the great trust in us."—A Sergeant-Major in the H.A.C. THE FIRST BAYONET CHARGE. Private A. Bond, of the Connaught Ran- gers. writes: inever shall I forget my first bayonet charge. We were in the trench for two days and nights, and only had four men slightiy wounded, when the order came, 'Col- lective fire!' Then 'Fix your bayonets.1 fol- lowed by 'Crawl out of the trench and lie flat in front,' then the whistle went— 'Charge!' and over two hundred men charged nearly four hundred yards. We dropped in dozens, but kept on, reached the German trenches, and jumped in, and absolutely dug the Ger- mans out. You ought to have heard them yell, and run! We got three trenches that night, but had forty killed, and as many again hurt in some way or other." GERMAN'S DIABOLICAL ACT. A passenger on the Falaba, the liner which. was sunk by a German submarine with a loss of over 100 lives, said that though the Falaba tried to escape by full steam ahead, the sub- marine was much too fast for her. The Falaba was overhauled in about half an hour. They sent up a rocket, ordering us to stop, and we did so. They then came round on to our star- board side and took up a position from which to fire. They allowed us only five or six minutes in which to lower the boats and get clear of the vessel. They torpedoed us at about a quarter to one, and th ? was nothing left of the ship in about te; minutes. Of course, we had no chance of bi ,ging anythingi with us. There were six women on board, but* no children. I believe four of the women havefi been saved. I believe that in addition to the captain, the purser and the doctor are dead. The whole affair was most dastardly. They gave us no chance at all. It was nothing but? sea murder." i t. ? <* A t?'d LAUGHED AND JEERED. f?j Another of the survivors of the steamships i Falaba (named Blair, an engineer) was inter- < aj viewed in passing through Swansea from Mil- ? ford. He said that about 5 o'clock on Sunday y morning they sighted the submarine, who or- dered them to heave to. The skipper (Captain Dayies), however, replied by putting on full, speed, but about 12.30 o'clock they were over- hauled and the captain of the submarine said they were going to sink her. The Germans on11 vfl board laughed and jeered at them as they t launched the boats. Their wireless operator tried hard to get communication with Land's End, and afterwards said he had done so, and, < that two destroyers were being despatched. When the boats were being lowered the sub- marine torpedoed the vessel. Some of the boats fell into the water. The captain was on the bridge at the time, and jumped into tho water and was picked up, but died afterwards. The trawlers Eileen Emma and Orient were,, sighted, and came to the assistance of the crewtJ,t in the boats, and so far as the interviewed man' 1 (Blair) knew all except one or two were saved, including six women.