Llais Llafur

I FRIDAY'S PROCEEDINGS SEVERE CRITICISM OF THE HOME I OFFICE. At the resumption of the inquest on Friday, Mr Frank Llewellyn Jacobs, the mining expert of the Welsh Navigation CoLlieries, returned to the witness chair, and, Mr Sankey having concluded his examination on behalf of the colliery owners, Mr W. P. Nicholas, for the Miners' Federation, asked if it was the intention of Dr. Atkinson, on behalf of the Home Office, to cross-examine the witness. Ha strongly protested against the atti- tude taken by the Home Office to the In- quiry :— "We are here," he said, "inquiring into the greatest disaster which has ever oc- curred in the South Wales coalfield, and the department is not reprasented by counsel, neither has it cross-examined a single witness aa to the origin of the ex- plosion nor attempted to assist us with any theory of its own." Mr Sankey, K.C., for the colliery com pany, also regretted that they had not heard a word as to tho theory of the Home Office. Mr Clement Edwards, M.P., appearing for bereaved relatives, did not identify himself with the criticisms. Tjnder the new Act, he said, provision had been made for a very definite inquiry by a special tribunal. That tribunal had been set up, and its president had expressed tha view that it would have been better had it proceeded without adjournment. Had that been done the purely scientific evidence and the different theories ad- vanced would have been available for the Coroner's jury. I A REAL GRIEVANCE Mr Nicholas said they were oonducting the case for the miners, and they would not know what the theory of tne. Home Office was until the commissioner at Car- diff thought fit to put the mines' inspec- tors in the box. He would like to have their alternative theory and criticism thereon. They made their case for the miners independently and therefore they should know the case of the Home Office. Mr Charles Kenshole, solicitor for the colliery ocanpany, associated himself with the protest. He disagreed with the sug- gestion to keep the inquest within cer- tain limitations, because of another sub- sequent inquiry. They were there to in- vestigate the cause of the explosion, having regard to the fact that they had brought forward all the information at their disposal, and that their first wit- ness (Mr Edward Shaw, the manager) had given their theory they were entitled to have any theory which the representa- tives of the Home Office might have. Dr. Atkinson I cizi only say, sir, I am acting on instructions. MR JACOBS CROSS-EXAMINED. Mr Llewellyn Jacobs, the mining ex- pert, then continued hia evidence. Cross-examined by Mr Nicholas, Mr. Jacobs said the lamp waa found in the lamp station, but he would not agree that an important link in the chain of circumstances was missing. The psycho- logical moment arrived wh en the lamp- man freed his lamp to produce light for the other man, but he did not think that because there was paper in the work- man's lamp for the purpose of cleaning it that the paychological moment had not arrived. He did not go into the lamp- room with the preconceived idea that this was the seat of the origin of the explosion but he constructed his theory after making full notes and satisfying himself. He came back to the lamp station after getting all his facts. The witness was then taken through a long series of questions aa to the water- ing, etc., of the mines, and the general trend of the force of the explosion. Dr. Atkinson, in answer to Mr Nichol- as, said the Home Office had not yet (gathered sufficient information to lay- down any amended regulations as to the watering and! dusting. CAUSE OF IGNITION. Mr Clement Edwards, M.P., continued the jrosg-examination of Mr Llewellyn J acob. Questioned as to the production of ftamo by tho nibbing of tho rope against tin sheaves in the colliery, the witness rmI13,rk<>d that in tha South Se.a Island s tha natives produced & flame by rubbing two pieces of wood together. Nothing was impossible, but he thought it im- probable that a iiaroe had beon produced by rubbing in the present ca.,e. Mr Edwards arked the witness whether he had given consideration to the matter of electrical sparking in the neighbour- nood where the explion was. supposed :o have originated. The witness replied he had not, he- cause the means of ignition according to h;.s theory, namely, that of a naked light in tho lamp station, were so palpable that ho dismissed the consideration of spark- ing. Mr Edwarda questioned the witness as to whether the fall which started the trouble preceded the escape of gas or not. The witness gave his opinion that it was practically simultaneous. The fall would first of all cause a vacuum. If the gaa escaped before a fall it must have been an enormous quantity to cause an explosive mixture in the ..ir current, and if the fall preceded the escape of gas, it would restrict the airway, but he had not con- sidered the extent of the fall. The witness would not agree that it caused a rush of air sufficient to put any light there might have been in the lamp station, and a good deal of disturbance in the area. His theory depended on the light being exposed, but he would nob expect to see signs of great damage. It was generally accepted that at the very centre of the explosion, there would be very little damage. He did not think the force would be sufficient to blow the lamp from the table to the floor, nor that necessarily the paper inside the lamp j would be burnt. I SIGNALLING WIRES. Mr Cha-rles Sparks, mining and electric- al engineer, of Moorgate-street, London, was next examined as to the signalling wires. He said that at the colliery the signals were worked on a voltage of ninet. He had attended some experiments at the new Tredegar rescue-station, which were arranged by the Home Office, where experiments were made under conditions similar to those which prevailed in the mine, but in no single instance did the sparks ignite the charged after-damp. The voltage was increas.d to 13jj without result. When tried, however, with gas from the town supply, which was of a higher inflammable nature, there were a j few ignitions from hundreds of experi- ments. Mr Thos. Griffiths, a colliery manager, of Porth, describod his visit to the re- lighting station underground, in com- pany with Mr Watts Morgan, miners.' agent, and others. The top of the lamp which had the paper in was lying on the table and not undernea,th a desk. The inquiry was then adjourned to Monday. I JURY VISIT THE MINE. It having been decided at Friday's proceedings of the Senghenydd inquest that the jury should visit the mine where the disaster occurred an inspection took place on Sunday.. The party who des- cended the shaft consisted cf twenty jurymen, including Mr J. G. Thomaci, the foreman; Mr Edwa.rd Shaw, general manager and agent of the colliery; Messrs. David Morris and B. Morris, under-managOTs; Mr Hubert Jenkins, miners' agent, and Mr Rd. Walters. Mr Da.id Rees, the coroner, was not able I to be present. j Tho party were directed on their tour through' the mifre by Mr Shaw, the manager, and they inspected the various places in the explosion area, including tho lamp station—tho centre of origina- | tion suggested by the manager—and the Mafeking Hard Heading, which has been suggested from the miners' side to have been the starting point. The party descended at 9.30 a.m., and returned to the bank about 1.30. The jurymen said the inspection proved very interesting, and they had gained con- siderablo information by tho visit. Further proceedings on Page 4.

MINERS' RELIEF FUNDS PLANS FOR THE CONFERENCE IN LONDON Tho conference to be held in Lon- j don on Monday next, on the invitation of the Lord Mayor of London, to oon- sider prpasals for the amalgamation, or pooling, of colliery disaster relief is of much importance to South Wales. It is felt that co-ordination would make for efficiency and economy in ad- ministration. The conference sugges- tion emanated from South Wales, and general satisfaction is expressed at tho readiness with which public and semi- public authorities agreed to send re- presentatives. The South Wales ooalowners will re represented by Mr F. L. Davis, Mr Fra.nk Shaw, and Mr Gascoigne, Dal- ziel; the Miners' Federation by Mr. W. Brace, M.P., Mr Thomas Richards, M.P., and others; Cardiff by the Lord Mayor (Alderman Dr. Robinson), and the committees of the many funds which have been in existence for years j will also send delegates. There is no doubt that the multiplication of relief j funds, each under independent control, has tended to overlapping and to ad- ministrative expenses which would bo obviated to an appreciable extent by the formation of one central fund. That is the view of tho Miners' Federation, the coalowners, and of those who have subscribed to tho var- ious funds. The hope is generally ex- pressed that the conference on Mon- day next will evolve and adopt some scheme for centralising all the relief funds under one representative author- ity.

WELSH STEEL WORKERS' WAGES I A meeting of the Joint Committee of Iron and Steelwork era, Michanicfi, and others, Sliding ScaJa Association, was held at tlie Angel Hotel, Abergavenny, on Saturday to receive the report of the auditors (Messrs. Kirk aixl Jolliffe) for tha throe month.'} ended 30 th November, 1913. It was resol ved that the wageo payable to the workmen at the ar^ocia- ted works from 1st Januaiy remain as at present.

A W- ?,- E T H I COUI ARCHWAETH I Y mao colli archwneth bob amscr bron i'w briodoli i ryw ffurf a anbwvl- deb ar v evil,a nou vr afu, a gellir ei gymeryd fel arwydd fod y cyfrfnsoddiad trouliado! mown angen am tonic i'w symbvlu. Pan fydchrrb yn mo Mm bwvta, non pan fvddo bwyd yn ddi- Has. treiweh yr effaitli o gvmoryd Mother Seifrel's Syrup ar oi eich prvd- iall bob dvdd. Y map y feddvginiaoth lysieuol hon yn nerthu yr organau treuliadol. ac yn rhoddi min ar yr aroJnvaotb, ac yn rlieoleiddio yr boll gyfansoddiad. Yna, nid yn unig bycld- wch yn bwyta pi eh ymborth gyda bias, ond yn fwy pv> v?ig fvtb. bvdd i'r bwyd a gvmenvch gvfoctbogi eich gwaed. iraotlm eich corph, cynyddu eich north a'c1, yni, gwneyd i e'lrych yn dda, teinro yn clda, a chadw yn ddao.

FOOTBALL I ——.—— ASSOCIATION YSTALYFERA V. RESOLYEN HOME SIDES' RUNAWAY VICTORY I VISITORS' SEVERE HANDICAP I In many respects the match between Ystalyfera and Resolven on the Ynisy- darren Ground on Saturday, was some- what disappointing. The visitors came with two men absent, and were do- j priTed of the services of a third shortly after the start, by an unfortunate accident. The home side also had not a very strong team, and consequently play was not of a very attractive order. Again, the attendance scarcely reached expectations in view of the im- portance of the game. Yet there were compensations. At times some really fine football was witnessed, and when it is remembered that ultimately the home side ran out victors by 8 goals to one, it will be seen that at the conclusion of the match the home sup- ports had very reason to be on good terms with themselves. Of course, tliete was from the start no doubt as to which was the better team. The hom& eleven exhibited an altogether superior style of play, but. it has to be remembered that the visit- ors were heavily handicapped by reason of the absence of three regular players, had lvesolven been able to place a full team in the field, the task of the home side would have been much more diffi- cult. As it is, they "romped" over the third round of the intermediate cup competition, qualifying for the semi-final. The respective teams were as follows: YSTALYFERA.—Dickinson Hopkin and Taylor; Williams, Higgs, Smiles and Rees; Birt, Bates, Stallard and Royal. RESOLVEN.—Newbury; Jordan and Ridinf; MiLner, Hadlev and Chugg; Davies, Downing and Lilliput. The two men who failed to turn out for the visitors were Chattington and H. Jones. The home side played up the slope during the first half, and the opening stages of the e saw a dramatic score on the part of the visitors,— their only goal during the whole after- noon. Indeed, the leather had hardly been sot in motion when Downing, taking advantage of a fine opening, shot right into the net, the home goalie appearing almost too daxed to attempt to stop he ball. But this triumph was short-lived. Less than two minutes later Royal landed a beautiful goal for the home eleven, the result of a tricky dribble up the field. This effort was followed up with another clever effort to score, but it was unsuccessful, and Jeff Birt had similar misfortune a moment afterwards, his shot at goal hitting the uprights. At this stage it was clear that the visitors were al- together outclassed, but they were not altogether daunted, and a determined rush down the fielck.wa$looking danger- ous, but Dickinson saved the situation in excellent style. Downing in particu- lar was playinga really good game. A clever dribbling move up the field placed the home side in a favourable position for "shooting," but Newbury proved equal to the occasion. It was at this stage that Resolven were de- prived of one of their players. In a melee near the touch line side, JoT- dan was so badly hurt that he had to be carried off the field, and it was dis- covered that he had sustained a twisted knee, which would prevent him from taking any further part in the game- most discouraging news for the visitors. From this time onwards, the ulti- mate result of the game was a fore- gone conclusion, the chief question being by what margin the home side would prove victors. After st spirited dash up the field, in which all the for- wards were conspicuous, Royal looked like scoring, but the attempt failed, although almost immediately after- wards Williams found the net amid a burst of applause. Bates, who had strong assistance from other forwards, took the ball to a very favourable point for the goal kick, but he lost the leather at the critical moment, and the effort was a failure. Again Royal was near increasing the home sides' score, but he lacked support, and his hasty shot, taken too early, went dead. The i half-time score thus read: YSTALYFERA 2 goal. I RESOLVEN 1 goals The second half was opened on a perfect quagmire. The ground, very I sort at the commencement had been 1 completely churned up during the early stages of the game, and very soon after the restart, the players were in a sorry plight, almost coated with mud. It was in this part of the game however, that the home side fully realised llosolven's weakness. Now, Ystalyfera had the advantage of the slope, and as a matter of fact could soore almost whenever they desired, The first incident of the closing half was a clever move by the home side down the field, Bates failing to register a goal though in a favourable position. Play of the "give and take" order fol- lowed, culminating in a second rush down the field, from which Royal regis- tered his second goal. Twice after- wards, the home eleven evaded tho visitors, but the shots at goal proved that the Resolven custodian was equal to the occasion, but nevertheless play was for the most part centred in this portion of the ground. The forward s opened up an excellent opportunity, and Royal seizing it, registered the fourth goal of the match. Only one determined opposition on the part of Resolven followed. By tricky play near the line they staved off Ys- tah-fp-ra's attack, but afterwards, Ys- talyfera were complete masters of the situation, ar.d goals followed quickly, Taylor, Royal (twice), and Bates, scor- ing, so that the game ended as already indicated. YstaRfera 8 goals, Resol- ven, 1. By general agreement, 21.11 the home forwards played well, but Royal distinguished himself.—whilst for Re- solven, Downing played an excellent game against admittedly formidable odds.

RUGBY. YSTALYFERA V. BRYN- CETHIN These teams met on the Wind Road Ground on Saturday in real football weather, before a g¿od orowd. It will be remembered that it was Bryncethin, which tarnished the record of Ystaly- fera when the latter paid a visit to Bryncethin near Bridgend about six weeks ago, and the visitors were de- feated by a try to nil, so that more than ordinary interest was manifested in the game on Saturday. The teams lined out: YSTALYFERA.—Thompson; Tom Davies, Dai Griffiths, T. Smith, H. Thomas; Langdon, Williams; Joe Evans, T. Morgan, J. Davies, T. Hughes, 0. Phillips, T. Richards, W. Taylor and D. J. Jones. BRYNCETHIN.—E. Thomas; O. Rees, P. Pugsley, S. Bayliss, S. Roberts; T. Pugsley, E. Thomas; A. Tatchel, S. Ledbrook, D. Jenkins, J. Williams, D. Richards, 1. Harris, M. Rees and E. Rees. Within a few minutes of the start Ystalyfera commenced attacking, and Tom Davies, after some rushing tactics by the home forwards, got over at the extreme left, but touched down out of the field of play. Ystalyfera continued to press, and T. Davies was again un- fortunate in losing possession after he crossed the line, and for the second time he touched down over the line. but in touch. The home forwards were simply irresistable and carried every- thing before them, both in the scrim- mages and in the open, but the visit- ors' backs, and especially Thomas and P. Pugsley, were safe. The home backs were clearly being outplayed at this part of the game, and despite the series of attacks, the home forwards continued to make, the backs could not hold the advantage iand clear, clean and pluck defence work was responsible for stopping the homsters from crossing the line when scores seemed inevitable. Scrimmage after scrimmage followed lines out, and but little individual play was noticed; the play being of a very close character, indeed. H. Thomas kicked from half-way and followed up closely and oompelled E. Thomas to touch down. The next item of note was a fine bout of passing by the Ystalyfera backs, which culminated in T. Richards and Joe Evans reaching the visitors' lino, but the attack was repulsed, and then Bryncethin began to assert them- selves. Thompson was called upon to save, and in attempting to kick the oval up the field was charged and play followed in the home 25. Several scrimmages ensued, but the play was scrappy but rough, and on two occas- ions T. Pugsley almost succeeded in breaking through. The play was cer- tainly keen, but the defence of Thomp- son and T. Davies was line. Play was again transferred to the visitors' half, and a knock on by Dai Griffiths re- sulted in a free kick to the visitors, which relieved a determined attack. Following this, however, the homesters pressed, and one of the visitors mulled the ball on the line, and a scrimmage followed. From a forward pass by T. Pugsley, Dai Griffiths secured the ball, and by sheer weight dashed over and touched down at the right corner. The same player failed to convert. The opening stages of the second half gave promise of some lively play. The homesters began an attack by a pretty piece of combination on the part of Langdon, Williams and H. Thompson which took tho ball to the visitors' 25, and it was a splendid bit of defensive work which stopped the progress of the latter player, as he nearly reached the line. The game was stopped through Tom Smith being injured. The play bocam more open, and an exchange of long kicks gave neither side much advantage. After a scrimmage in the Bryncethin half, T. Pugsley got possession, and passed to Bayliss, who transferred to Pugsley, and then Reo simply elec-trificed the spectators by a dashing run from the home 25, and romped over and placed a trw almost under the posts. The kick failed. This success on the part of the visitors livened up the homesters, and play became so strenuous that the referee, Mr Griff. Walters, of Swan- sea, ordered off Tatchell and T. Davies for back slang. Then the game be- came close despite the efforts of the homesters to open it up. Both teams had openings which were not taken ad- vantago of, and W. Taylor had hard lines in failing to hold the ball when a grand opening presented itself. Ys- talyfera. pressed and some tidy passing movements were seen, but the tockling of the visiting backs wait deadly. Ys- stalvfora reached the line, and Thomas conceded a minor, Dai Griffiths being a second too late. The visitors next commenced the final attack but they were repulsed, and the game ended in a draw. Soore: YSTALYFERA 1 try BRYNCETHIN 1 try It was reported to the Middles- borough Guardians on Thursday that two windows at Brookland Hospital has been broken by a stray pheasant. Councillor Gray suggested that they should intimate to Mr Lloyd George that tho pheasants had transferred thoir attention from mangold wurzels to windows.

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Swansea Barmaid's Breach of Promise Case PRISON WARDER LOVER AS POET Portland has among its staff a prison warder poet, but when Ernest Charles Long figured on Thursday at Swaneoaj in an undefended breach of promise case his gift, "8 displayed in love letters, wm considered by the crowd in the (Jnd^r-Sheriff'B Court to be merely enter- taining. Five yearn ago Mr Long paid a visit to Swansea and f&te decided that he should then and tooro meet with Miss Lucy Harris, a barmaid. The acquaint- ance ripened into an engagement and it yvsia from many letters that counsel for M ifia Harris extracted Mr Long's feat-a in Terse. Ono of the verses, inspired by his first meeting with the plaintiff, ran "I then glanced towards bar, my thoughts all oonfuaed. Her beauty was charming; amil. I could not refuse. Cupid with shaft and bow dcait slaughter right On right. I died a droth; lore had entered in my aoul, That Taller with ita rippling stream my memory will retain; My lfower, I found thee, to treasure while lifco rema-in." The wedding-day waa named After a vir-it defendant pa.id to Swansea in April lalit, but his letter^ grew cool. Mise Harris was awaxded L50 dajnagea.

——————— < w • I SPEECH IS SILVER. Some vsare izgoin[r. Rudyard Kipling sold a book to a firm of publishers for a sum that worked out at the rate of a shilling a word-a fact which was very much advertised. A Fleet-streeb humorist, for the fun of the thing, wrote to the author say- ing that, as wisdom seemed to be quot- ed at retail prices, he would like one word, for which he enclosed a shilling postal order. The reply came in due course, says the "Typographical Journal." Mr. Kipling had kept the shilling postal order and written on a large shoot of paper the word "Thanks!"

Dr. Elieworth has been elected chair- man and Dr. urban Marks secretary of the now Swansea Panel Committee under the National Health Insurance Amendment Act.

Pan Fyddwch yn Abertawe ac am GWPANAID 0 DE neu GINIAW BLASUS Y lie goreu i chwi fyned yw i'r HOTEL MONICO, r 33 IIIGH. STREET. Y&talMl e:ing, gysurua at wasanaeth Un. debau, Owib-gyrrh Yegolion Sal, etc. PEReiiENOUES MRS. A. E. RICHARDS Prisoedd rhad, t'r Kwb Wwou.

INEFFECTUAL. The Sunday afternoon quiet of the e lder members of the Reynold's fa.mily in the living room was broken in upon by sharp words from the den adjoining. "You sha'n't hang it there!" "I will too." "I'll take it down." "I won't let you." By. this time mother and old brother interfered, preventing a tusele. And it was discovered that the cause of the argument was a beautifully illuminated Sunday-school card bearing the words "God is Love."

SUPERHUMAN. Mrs. Johnson, a very kind-hearted and benevolent lady came upon a tiny mite of a boy crying piteously. He was in charge of a fat and comfortable old lady, who was calm and unmoved by his grief. "What is the matter?" inquired Mra Johnson, who was very fond of child- ren. "Is the boy ill?" "Wall, ma'am," replied the com- fortable old lady, "he isn't hexaetly hill, but no stomach carn't stand nine buns."