Llais Llafur

The London City and Midland Bank 5 LIMITED. ESTABLISHED 1836. Subscribed Capital, 922,947,804 0 0 Paid-up Capital, 94,780,792 10 0 Reserve Fund, 9,4,000,000 0 0 DIRECTORS: Sir EDWARD H. HOLDEN, Bart., Chairman and Managing Director. WILLIAM GRAHAM BRADSHAW, Esq., London, Deputy-Chairman. The Right Hon. LORD AIREDALE, Leeds. Sir PERCY ELLY BATES. Bart., Liverpool. ROBERT CLOVER BEAZLEY, Esq., Liverpool. DAVID DA VIES, Esq., M.P., Llandinam. FRANK DUDLEY DOCKER, Esq., C.B., Birmingham. TDE 'FOX, Esq FREDERICK HYNDE FOX, Esq., Liverpool. Sir GEORGE FRANKLIN, Sheffield. H. SIMPSON GEE, Esq., Leicester. JOHN ilLASBROOK, Esq., Swansea. ARTHUR T. KEEN, Esq., Birminghaim. FREDERICK WILLIAM NASH, Esq., Birmingham. The Right Hon. LORD PIRRIE. K.P., London. The Right Hon. LORD ROTHERHAM, Manchester. THOMAS ROYDEN, Esq., Liverpool. Sir JOSEPH WESTON-STEVENS, Bristol. The Right Hon. Sir GUY FLEETWOOD WILSON, K.C.B., K. C. M. G, G.C.I.E., London. WILLIAM FITZTHOMAS WYLEY, Esq., Coventry. HEAD OFFICE: 5, THREADNEEDLE STREET, LONDON, E.C. Joint General Managers J. M. MADDERS, S. B. MURRAY, F. HYDE, E. W. WOOLLEY. Secretary: E. J. MORRIS Welsh District Manager: JOSIAH E. JONES. Welsh District Assistant Manager: W. R. OWEN. LIABILITIES AND ASSETS. 31 DECEMBER 1915. £ s d To Capital Paid up, viz.:— P-2 103 9d per Share on 1,912,317 4,780,792 10 0 Reserve Fund 4,000,000 0 0 Dividend payable on 1st Feb. 1916 360,352 4 8 Balance of Profit and Loss Account. 113,597 15 2 9,254,742 9 10 Cuj-rent, Deposit and other Accounts 147,750,702 0 6 Acceptances on account of Customers 9,157,601 11 9 i £166,163,046 2 1 £ s d By Cash in hand (including Gold Coin -C7,000,000) and Cash at Bank of England 30,881,200 14 6 Money at. Call and at Short Notice and Stock Exchange Loans 8,651,257 17 9 Investments:— War Loans at cost (of which £1,490,000 is lodged for Public and other Accounts) and other British Government Securities 33,946,384 8 2 Stocks Guaranteed by the British Government, India Stocks, Indian Railway Guaranteed Stocks and Debentures 481,040 5 8 British Railway Debenture and Pre- ference Stocks, British Corporation Stocks 2,400,295 19 9 Colonial and Foreign Government Stocks and Bonds 962,062 7 6 Sundry Investments 1,039,650 15 7 Bills of Exchange 9,961,545 13 9 I!le 9,961,545 13 9 Advances on Current Account, Loans 88,323,438 2 8 Security and other Accounts 65,921,541 11 9 Liabilities of Customers for Accept- ances as per contra 9,157,601 11 9 Bank Premises at Head Office and Branches 2,760,464 15 11 2 1 EDWARD H. HOLDEN, Chairman and Managing Director. F. D. DOCKER, W. G. BRADSHAW, Deputy-Chairman. GUY FLEETWOOD WILSON, Directors. REPORT OF THE AUDITORS TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF THE LONDON CITY AND MIDLAND BANK, LTD. In accordance with the provisions of Sub-section 2 of Section ]TJ of the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908, we report as follows:— We h ave examined the above Balance Sheet in detail with the Books at Head Office and with the certified Returns from the Branches. We have satisfied ourselves as to the correctness of the Cash Balances and the Bills of Exchange and have verified the correctness of the Money at Call and Short Notice. We have also verified the Securities representing the Investments of the Bank, and having obtained all the information and explanations We have required we are of opinion that such Balance Sheet is properly drawn up so as to exhibit a true and correct view of the state of the Company's affairs according to the best of our information and the explanations given to us and as shown by the books of the Company. WHINNEY, SMITH AND WHINNEY, Chartered Accountants. London, 10th January, 1916. Auditors.

PONTARDAWE POU, CE COVU I Friday, before Messrs. E. G. Benthall, S. Jenkins, J. H. P. Lloyd., F. R. Phil- S. Jenkme, Williams, an d J. M. Daviea.  lips, D. T. Willi.ams, a,nd J. M. Davies. A NEW ORDER. I Evan Evans, rollermiain, now of Pent- ardulais, was charged with neglecting to mclint,aiii his children which were charge- able to the Guardiarfe. Mr. Wyndham Lewis (clerk) explained that some time ago an order was made against defendant for 19s. 6d. per week in respect to his three children at the H ouse. The ordeif it appeared was never obeyed, and defendant had been to jail .on several occasions in respect to arreaa-s which were due. Of late the eldest child, a girl, had been sent to a training home for girls at Bridgewater, and she had been sent out to service under the super- vision of the Ladies' Committee connect- .ed with the Institution. He ( Mr. Lewis) therefore asked the Bench to make a fresh order in respect to the two young- est children who were still under the care of the Guardians. Mr. Dd. Thomas, relieving officer, said the defendant's wages averaged- 92 4s. lOd. per week, but he had only paid 30s. since the first order was made. A new order was now made of-12s. 6d. weekly. LOCAL THEFTS. John Boyoe, winding engine-driver, of Cwmilynfell, was charged with stealing timber value 9d., the property of the Gwauneaegta-wen Golliery. Defendant pleaded guilty and was fined 30s.. For a similar offence John Freeman, Gwaunoaegurwen, was ordered to pay 30a. Thomas Beynon, was charged with stealing coal value 9d. from the Tawe Valley Gas Co. Defendant pleaded not guilty. He was represented by Mr. Mor- gan Davies. A fine of 40s. was imposed. WIFE WOULD NOT GO BACK. D: II, -i "-7__1_- -L-_J. AiiL.ij^cnu vowies, e<Jiii;r<«-cLor, Uiya-acil was summoned by his wife Mary, for per- sistent cruelty. The case had been ad- journed a month previously in order that the parties should have an opportunity of going back to live together. M.r Thorpe fielerk) Have you settled between you Oompu.ixiajii, jiio, fur. Defendant said he was willing to take his wife back. Complainant said she would never go back to him Cl6 he was cruel when in r drink. Clerk The magistrates threw out the suggestion at a Tecent court that your sister should leave the house. CompHlnarib She is willing to go, sir. After the evidence had been read over the riwLiV'trates made an order of 12s. 6d. per week. STIFF FINE. Llewellyn Thomas, Brynanuman, was fined P,3 for using a motor car without the proper licence. ADJOURNED. Henry Davi-es and David Davies, Allt- wen, were summoned for trespassing in search of conies at Cilybebyll. Mr. Mor- gan Davies defended. P.C. Shean gave evidence. The deforir-. was that the defendants had permission from Mr. J. Standidg;. The case was adjourned.

Sequel to a Detective's Visit to Swansea Inn. A licensing case that occupied consider- able time at Swansea Police-court on Monday was that against Robert Ed- wards, licensee of the Exchange Brewery Public-house. He was charged with per- mitting the sale of intoxicants during illegal hours on New Year's Night, and also with allowing gaming on the pre- mises. Mr. Marlay Samson (instructed by Mr. L. Richards) prosecuted, and Mr. Trevor Hunter (instructed by Mr. Henry Thompson) defended. Detective Gubb said he visited the place at night after closing time, and found eight men there. Five of them were en- gaged in card-playing, with drinks before them. Defendant, said the detective, got somewhat excited when spoken to, and, told the men to say nothing. When he asked one man, said Detec- tive Gubb, whether he was a lodger, the reply was! "No, I am a married man with four children." Defendant then cast a look at him and the man said, "I am lodging here to-night." Defendant, continued the detective, got angry, and, using some expletives said This is not the police-court. If you have got a case fight it. I will fight you. I am not a dummy to be dictated to." Witness said he then left, but returned a few minutes later and found five men there. In the meantime two policemen in plain clothes knocked at the door, and defendant told themi "You cannot come in. There are two 'tecs here." He further said to the detectivel "This is a nice start to the New Year. I can see myself going back to cut coal again." Defendant said he had been a check- I weigher, and was also connected with the '•Amman Valley Chronicle." He said that on the night in question he had men from the Amman Valley staying in his house, as they often had before. At 3.0 p.m. they closed the house, and sent the lodgers into the parlour. Not a drop of drink of any kind was supplied to those lodgers afteirwards. A man called on business, and witness took him into a smokeroom next to the bar. That room was only one through which drinks could pass to the parlour, where the lodgers were. Mr. Trevor Hunter Were there any drinks on the table?—Not a drink. Defendant said the first thing he heard was Detective Francis instructing Gubb t" close the docd" and take namot, —Aid addresses. He accused one man of passing money. Mr. Samson Did he say anything to you?—Not la word. Did he ask who had supplied the drink they had in front of them?-No, he did not. Did you say anvthing in Welsh ?-No, sir; not till my missus came in. Mr. Samson put before defendant de- tail remarks alleged, in the detectives' evidence, to have been made by him. All of these defendant denied. Evidence was then called for the de- fence, it being stated by one who called to see defendant, on business that, no drinks had passed the room in which he wa with Mr. Edwards. Sidney Lewis, Bryna.mman, collier, one of the men who were present, said there were no drinks on the table when the detectives arrived. None of these had any drinks after 9.0 p.m. William Hedges, blacksmith, Garnant, said the charge brought by detectives against Mr. Edwards was that two of the men present were playing cards. Henry Morgan, repairer, Garnant, an- other man who was present, gave similar evidence. John Llewellyn, Evan Samuel Jones, a.nd Richard Morgan, Gwalmcaegurwen colliers, were called, and the Court ad- journed for luncheon. The Bench, after a retirement, imposed a fins of £ 20 and five -uineas advocate's fee on the charge of permitting the sale of intoxicants during prohibited hours. The Bench declined to sit any longer in the court, complaining of the cold, and the charge of permitting gaming was ad- journed for a week

SWANSEA VALLEY TRADE. Growing pressure was evident in the industries of Swansea. Valley. At the steam and bituminous collieries there was a shortage of coal, and stocks on the sidings were being cleared. The yield of pig iron at the works of Messrs. Baldwin, Landore, was very heavy, and at the steelworks overtime was often worked. The copper estab- lishments and refineries were working at high pressure. The tinplate trade continued to show an improvement, and regular employment was given for more men at the Morriston group of works. Most of the mills were opera- ting, and the sheet mills at the Upper Forest were regularly engaged. There was increasing demand in the spelter trade, and a brisk trade passed at the safety-fuse factory, lead pipe works, and the sulphuric acid factories. The week's yield of artificial manure was quite up to the average. The Mond Nickel Works and Mannesman Tube Works were very favourable at the metal extraction works, Llansamlet. There was a constant call for mater- ial from the iron and brass foundries, and engineering and fitting shops were working very busily. Brickyards were also kept going fairly well. ————— ————

PENYGROES SHOVEL THEFT. At Ammanford on Monday David Mor- gan Rees, a young wirer, of Gorsddu-road, Penygroes, was charged with stealing a shovel, value 3s. 6d., the property of the Emlyn Colliery Company. Defendant was handed out the shovel while employed at the collierv. Since December 23rd ho haJ woi k-ed at an- other colliery, and had not returned the shovel, although requested to do so by the storekeeper (James Davies). P.S. Beynon found the shovel in the coa-1-hous? at his lodgings, and de- fendant said he was sorry he had not taken it back when asked to do so. He would not do such a thing again. He was given a good character, and the Chairman said they would not convict him and brand him as a thief early in his career. He would be let off on, payment of 21s.6d. costs.

W. A. WILLIAMS, Phrenologist, can be eonsuf d da-ilv at the Victoria Arcade (near the Market), Swansea

Important Appointment. In addition to the Hon. Violet Douglas Pennant, the only representative of Wales on the Committee to report on the finan- cial scheme of the Insurance Act is Mr. Idris Davies, Bwllfa, Abercrave, who is secretary to the Breconshire Associa- tion of Friendly Societies. Mr. Davies is well known in a much wider sphere, be- ing a member of the Brecon County Council, and one of the most active workers upon several of the committees of that body, taking special interest in education. Mr. Davies, who is still on the right side of forty, is well known in the Swansea Valley, having for some years taken a very active part in local affairs. He is a son of the late Mr. Gwilym Davies of that district, and a brother of MT. Llewelyn Davies, Liberal agent for South Glamorgan. Since the initiation of the Insurance Act Mr. Davies has given that subject special study until he ranks as an expert in regard to its administration, and hence his appointment as a member of the com- mittee which has been selected to act under the chairmanship of Sir Gerald Ryan. The committee will report upon any necessary amendments in the work of the Insurance Act, and in particular how far the work of approved societies can be simplified and the costs of the administration reduced without detriment of insured persons. —————-

I UNDELIVERD ADDRESS. I I WOUNDED SOLDIER AND MR. OUTHWAITE. Mr. R. L. Outhwaite, the Hanley, M.P., who addressed a public meeting at YstradgynLais the other day, was re- fused a hearing at the Brotherhood Church, Southgate-road, London, on Sunday, where he intended to speak on "Finances of the War." Rev. F. R. Shaw, pastor, ajinounced Hymn 23 of the Brotherhood, sung to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne. While the organist played it the great majority of the audience sang "God Save the King. Meanwhile a soldier with his back to the wall in a corner of the church was fight- ing two pacifists. The appearance of Mr. Outhwaite on the platform was the signal for an out- burst of booing. He stood with his hands clasped, waiting to say something, while others, more resolute, attempted to gain a hearing for him. At one period four were standing in front of the platform shouting at the top of their voices. Mr. Outhwaite had an argument with an armleted man, who said that Mr. Outhwaite had called him "a traitor." A little later a wounded soldier climbed with difficulty on to a table and tried to take off his greatcoat but failed. Ready hands removed it for him and he then addressed to Mr. Outhwaite some words which could not be heard Almost simul- taneously Mr. Outhwaite and Mr. Shaw exclaimed "The meeting is closed." Cheers were raised and the soldier was lifted from the table. Mr. Outhwaite had been on the platform for half an hour. The National Antham and Rule. Bri- tannia were being sung when a police inspector appeared and the proceedings closed.

I SPIRITS TO COST MORE. I The enormous and grow ing demand of the Government for spirit for use in the manufacture of explosives is having the effect of curtailing to a serious ex- tent the quantity of spirit obtainable for industrial purposes, and it is antici- pated that the supply available for the production of whisky will be greatly re- duced during the present yean-. The Government is tightening its control over the outpit of spirit, and higher prices both for potable and manufacting spirit are not expected. It is exteremely de- serable that there should be no wastage, and householders who use methylated spirit for heating water and other pur- poses should be very careful to ensure against waste, as the spirit is required for important purposes.

George Scale, Crown Stores, PONTARDAWE, FOR WREATHS, CROSSES and SPRAYS. Made at Short Notice. Also a Large Stock of FLOWER PLANTS. Nat. Tel: 028. T!  crn FU NITURE. Call and See Our Collection of Artistic and Useful HOME .88 FURNISHINGS Conveniently Arranged for Inspection in Our New = ARCADE WINDOWS. F. C. EDDERSflAW k SON, House Furnishers. Cabinet Manufactures, Upholsterers, Removal Contractors and Warehousemen. Glass, China and Earthenware Merchants, 19, 20 & 21, HIGH STREET, SWANSEA.

Y Golofn Farddol. I DEIGRYN HIRAETH I Ar ol fv hen gyfaill anwyl David I "Penhow" Jones, Cwmilynfell, yr hwn a fu farw Rhagfyr 21ain, 1915. Y mae hiraeth yn fy nghalon Ar ol cyfaill wedi myn'd, A fu imi yn yr anial, Lawer tro yn ffyddlawn ffrynd. "Penhow'' anwyl, d'wyt ond ^laenu, Dof ar dy ol di maes o law, Gan hyderu cawn gwrdd eto, Yn y wlad sy' 'r ochr draw,- Lie nad oes diffyg anadI I Nag un dolur yn y wlad, Ond awelon hyfryd iachtls Fvdd yn fywyd o fwynhadt Mae Cwmilynfell oil yn wylo, Gan alaru ar dy ol, A phob peth sy'n tystio wrthyf N a ddylchwelu byth yn ol. Os na chefaist ddydd Nadolig Ar y ddaear gyda ni, C,e'st groesawiad bendigedig I wledd fawr y Nefoedd fry. Cofio'r ydwyf am dy gwmni Lawer tro ymysg y llu, A'tli storion ffraeth. a difyr Oedd yn felus iawn i mi. Dy gyfaill Price sy'n colli dagrau Wedi claddu 'i anwyl ffrynd, Nid oes dim a wnai'i gysuro,- "Dai Penhow," sydd wedi myn'd. Bydd dy enw'n argraffedig Yn ein calon ar bob pryd, A'th fwyn eiriau hoff caredig Ar ein cof wna ddal o hyd. Cwsg yn dawel, gyfaill anwyl, Mae angylion Duw gerllaw, Yn gofalu am dy feddrod A'th gyfodi maes o law. --H. "Rhywenfardd" Jones. CLYCHAU'R BRIODAS. I Ar ymuniad Mr. Thos. Morgan Lewis, Pentwyn-row, Lower Cwmtwrch, a Miss Annie "Roberts, Pontardawe (nith Mr. a Mrs. Jones, New Inn), dydd Sadwm, Ionawr 29ain, 1916. Mae Clychau'r Briodas yn canu- Yn canu yn swynol o hyd, Wrth weld yr hen lane fu yn cam Yn canu wrth newid ei fyd. Mae Clychau'r Briodas yn canu Yn beraidd yn ymyl y nant; Ac adar y Gwanwyn yn dathlu Yr undeb yng nghoedvdd y pant. Mae Clychau'r Briodas yn canu Fel gwew y Gwanwyn geillaw; A Thomas ac Annie a glybu Beroriaeth y bore o draw. Mae Clychau'r Briodas yn canu Wrth weld yr hen gadno'n y rhwyd Mae serch pan y mynno yn trechu Y "cuai" ystyfnicaf ei nwyd. Mae Clychau'r Briodas yn canu Carolau pob llwydd ar bob tu Nid hir y bu Annie cyn plethu Ei rhwyd am yr hen dderyn du. Mae Clychau'r Briodas yn canu Fel crwth Nant-Penswyngrug islaw; A phwy yn y byd all wahamu Dwy galon ynghlwm mewn dwy law ? Mae CIveliLu'r Brl odas yn canu Mor ilawen yng nghwymp yr Hen Mae Cupid a'i fwa yn saethu [Lane; Pob oed i ddiwallu ei wane. Mae Clychau'r Briodas yn canu Mor fyw ag eriod yn y Cwm Ac aelwyd Pent-wyn sydd yn gwenu Mewn bendith ar Annie a Twm. .Mae Clychau'r Briodas yn canu Fel ceiliog y wawr ar ei glwyd A phwy yng Nghwmtawe all wadu Na ddaliwyd y gwalch yn y rhwyd ? Bu Twm am flvnyddau yn oellwair A'r Tvlwyth Teg—gwav, diai eu swyn Ond heddyw mae serch yn cvniwair Trwy'r iodnvy ar aelwvd Pentwyn. Mae Clychau'r Briodas yn canu— Ac eilia'r hen ardal y gerdd Palmwydden eu cariad fo'n tyfu. A'i deilen o hyd fvddo'n werdd. Mae Clychau'r Briodas yn canu Hir ddyddiau i Annie a Twm; N a ddeued un storm i gvthryblu Cynghanedd y clychau'n y Cwm. Cenwch i Twm ac Annie—eich glee iach 0 glychau digyni; Caed eu calon vmlonni Yn swt; *>i>h hoff seiniau chwa. —GWELEDYDD. Cwmtwrch Isaf. Odiaeth gariad a'th gurodd,—yn dy fron Di frawd serch enynodd: Ha.! iaith Anne a.'th ddenodd, Dy gan drist o gwyno drodd. Oes a'i hyd o eisiau Ann--o hyd gaed Gan dy fynwes lydan: Buan y dest i ben dan Sel ei hagosol gusan. I Twymo'i le bu Tom Lewis—yn ngalon Ei an gyles glodus; Dihafal foed ei "fel fis,ly I oes euraidd gysurus. Hir einioes. llawn o riniaii-a dreuliont Yn drylwyr hyd angau A gwlawied nef ei cliedau Nos a _dydd i'r ddedwydd ddau. —Cyfaill Calon. CYFARCHIAD I Mr and Mrs. David Thomas. Ivy Cottage, 3 Zoar Road, Ystalyfera, er eof am eu priodas. Rhagfyr 20. 1873. Calenig wyf yn a.nfon I chwi o fodd fy nghalon. Er cofio am v dedwydd ddydd— Yr unwyd eich (Iwlv galon. » Dwy a deugain o flvnyddau Wedi'u treulio yn gytun, Llawer iawn a gafToch eto Parha.'n lion fel mab a'i fun Magu wyth o blant rhinweddol Yn v cvfnod hirfaith hyn. Ac maent oil yn rhai rhagorol. Boed eu hyivyd ell yn wvn, Hir oes ddedwydd a ddyrrmriaf I holl deulu'r bwthyn ciyd, Llwydd i fagu'r wyrion anwyl Fel v byddo gwyn eich byd Bendithier chwi gyfeilil-on-- Ffyddlonaf yn y lie, A phan ddaw' aia-i- i 'madael Eich t/igfan fyddo'r Ne'. Yma. codwch "Ebenezer." Yn Faen Coffa d.a. bri. Am y mawrion drugareddau A rad roddwyd gan eich Rhi. Treherbert. Rachel Evans. [Bydd yn dda gan lawer o hen bres- wylwyr Y.stalyfera. heblaw Mr a. Mrs. D,avla Ttiomas, ddarllen y gan uchod, pan welant mai gwaith Mrs. Rachel Evans. Treherbert. ydynt. Treuliodd Mrs. Evans foreu ei hoes yn Ystalyfera ac y mae iddi lawer o ffryndiau yma eto vn mhlith vr hen breswvhvvr.— Gol.]

CALL FOR AMMAXFORD PASTOR. I The m-embers of the Belhania Welsh Congregationa l Church, DowJais, have unanimously decided to give a call to the R.ey. E. J. Rosier Evans, of Amman- ford. The church, which has a member- ship of about 800 and which is the larg- est in the town, has been without a minister since the Rt'v. Peter Price, M.A. D.D., left some six years ago. The Rev. E. J. Rcsser Evans is a native of Llanon. near Aberystwyth, and is the son of a blacksmith. ————— -00

DEATH OF EMINENT WELSH SINGER. I A musical career of quite exceptional promise has been cut short by the death at the early age of 29, of the Welsh bari- tone, Mr. William Samuel. Deceased was born in Swansea, and. after many suc- cesses at Welsh Eisteddfodau, studied at the Royal Academy of Music. He first made his mark in the performances of the Quinlan Opera Company in the Colonies. His rendering of the ptincipal baritone parts during the recent performances at the Shaftesbury Theatre, where he sang in the Venetian scene from the "Tales of Hoffmann," had been universally recog- nised as one of their most distinguished features. It was generally recognised that he was the most brilliant operatic singer of natice origin since Santley. Indeed, all good judges said that h's ultimate destination was undoubtedly the grand seaxin at Co vent Garden and a cosmopolitan career. He had a splendid voice, fine musical instinct, and a remark- able power of characterisation. His death, from typhoid fever, after about three weeks' illness, is a blow to the cause of English opera. In early days he w<;s em pi ym! at the Port T-enl,ant Wagon Works. Mr. Samuel was a native of the St. Thomas cistrict of Swansea. Before he left Swansea, to pusue his musical studies in the Royal Academy of Music, London, he was a prominent member of Swansea Choral Society (under Mr. J. D. Thomas) and of the Swansea and District Male Voice Society (under Mr. Uew. R. Bowen). He also assisted the concert party known as the Tawe Glee Singers. Other members of that combination were the well-know-i London tenors Mr. Juhn Roberts s,nd Mr. Ivor Walters, the ac- companist being Mr. D. Richards, or- ganist of Elfed's Chapel (King's Cross), London.

WHISKY FOR TRENCHES. A straij; e phase of trench life was dis- closed at Glasgow when a soldier was charged ,vith having been drunk and in- capable, n'hn accused wao; apprehended he was found to have in his possession eight bottles of whiskey. He arrived in the city direct from the trenches on short furlough. Before he left several of his companions clubbed together and gave him sufficient money to buy whisky. which he was eo bring back with him if pos- sible. The eight bottles of whiskey were confiscated and given to a Military Hospi- tal.

Nothing pleases the boys at the Front so much as news of home. Send them the "Llais" every week.

I W. WILLIAMS, Phrenologist, I ean be < n.<ulted daily at the Victoria Arcade (n'^r the Market), Swansea

FACTORY STAFFED BY FISHER GIRLS. Women have shown themselves cap- able of performine: excelieniiy ume of the most skilled engineering processes. One factory in Yorkshire is worked mostly by fisher girls from an J-t Coast town badly hit by the war, says I"Th Daily Mail." Those who have seen these women at. work, and par- ticularly those who supervise them, speak with enthusiasm of the success of every experimeHt. The: are aJ- readv being used in numbers that twelve montlis ago would have skeined im}>ossible. There have been notified to the Board of Titcle Statistical De- I, partmwu no fewtjr ::I8.n 109:°0 cases of women having replaced men In Var- ious parts of tli, country. and it 1-4 known that this numbers falls very short of the actual total. omen can release skilled men in many ways. Many cew mac hines can be brought into work, and women, taught to perform operations prev- iously d-one by men can work under one male supervisor. A Birrnirirham firm has taken men off capstan lathes and trained them for the delicate work of tool setting. Each of the men has been put in c harge of six machines operated by women, and in some cases a man has had eight or nine women under his supervision. Given the necessary machines, each skilled man's output has been multiplied by nearly ten times. HIGHLY SKILLED WORK In a corner ot a Lancashire worka fourteen automatic machines are operated by women, with one skilled man in charge. One somi-skille-d man meanwhile is being trained for similar work. and in time he will t.ake over the supervision of the fourtee-H machines from the skilled man and re- him for another batter^ of lathes. In a turbine segment building fifteen women, with two skilled fitters to supervise, are cutting off blades, bor- ing the distance pieces and blades, building up the turbine segments, and. brazing the who,e work which before the war was considered to be so highly skilled that a skilled fitter would re- ceive 3s. above his ordinary rate for doing it. There are many instances cf firms- having been able to moderate their demands for skilled men after having, at the in.-tanocs of the authorities, ex- perimented in the training of female labour. A report of the progress of dilution up to January 8 details some hundreds of processes upon which women had been put with complete success.

-00 THE CRANKIEST CRANK. I have just heard of the funniest "war-crank" imaginable. She is an old maiden lady who makes a habit of meeting soldiers just arriving in Lon- don from the front and asking for any "chunks'' of Flanders mud they can scrape off themselves or their belong- ings (says a "Daily Sketch" writer). The old lady's ambition is. to get- enough of this hi<rorical earth to grow a small rose-bush in'

BRADFORD and MANCHESTER WAREHOUSE COMPANY, 12 CiOWEK STREET SWANSEA (Opposite Mount Pleasant Chapel) The Bargain Warehouse of South Wales. GOOD SELECTION OF SERGES FROM ls.9d. to 76.9d per yd. TAILORS AND DRESSMAKERS, LININGS AND TRIMMINGS A SPECIALITY AT WHOLESALE PRICES. NAVY SERGE SUITABLE FOR BOYS' SUITS OR ANYTHING FOR HARD WEAR, 54in. WIDE, 2&.gd. per yard. ORDERS BY POST RECEIVE SPECIAL AND PROMPT,