Llais Llafur

WALES AND LAND SCHEMES The Welsh Agricultural Council at a special meeting at Shrewsbury on Saturday, Mr Brynor Jones presiding, discussed the report of the Welsh Par- liamentary party on the proposed es- tablishment of a farm colony in Wales for soldiers after the war. Mr J. H. Davies, Cardigan, said thousands of men had been taken from agricultural operations, and personally he felt grave doubts whether many of them would return under the old conditions unless the circumstances of agriculture were considerably changed. The country needed as many men on the land as it was possible to get, but the type of ma,n with no previous experience on the land would very soon give it up unless the conditions were considerably changed. The great difficulty in re- spect to small holdings was transport and the provision of proper roads. In many parts of Wales the money spent on the highways, mere patching having been done, was wasted, and many of their roads would have to be recon- structed. That would involve a great deal of expenditure, but it would be economical expenditure. In that work therefore, or road reconstruction he saw an opportunity for the employment of an indefinite number of men. He moved that they should have a small committee to consider the best sug- gestions for meeting the difficulties, and then forward a. selection to the Agricultural Reconstruction Com- mittee. Mr Grant. (Monmouthshire) seconded the resolution. Mr Akers (Glamorgan) said they were bound to realise that the great difficulty in all these schemes would be the housing of the men. The motion was carried. It was agreed, on the motion of Mr Akers, to thank the Welsh members of Parliament who supported the motion for allocating to Wales one of the soldiers' land colonies.

I TINPLATE MILL FIRE. On Monday night 'a fire occurred at Burry Tin plate Works. Ltanellv, owned by Messrs Richard Tomas and Company Ltd. It originated in the mill depart- ment, and the flames quickly spread to the rafters of the roof, which suffered most damage, the machinery being saved thanks to the energy o fthe fire brigade. Operations will be suspended at the works for a few days while re- pairs are being executed.

rl h e,  iii kr- liotlle- ?e wif? of a Barry boardm?-hMtse- keeper told the magistrates that she drank two flagons of beer a day because she was suckling the baby.

TWO DAYS' HOLIDAY. I i I I SOUTH WALES MINERS' VOTE. I I I I Leaders' Advice Rejected. I A delegate eonifefrence of the South Wales Miners' Federation, held at Car- diff, on Tuesday, rejected the recom- mendation. of the Federation Executive Council that the Government request for a postponement of the August holida/s be granted. The conference decided that the August holidays be limited to two days. Under the Conciliation Board agree ment the miners are entitled to 12 days- holiday each year, three of these to be in August. But on this occasion the Government had appealed to coalowneis and miners to postpone the August holidays as they were looking tothe coui- ficld for an additional output this year of 5,000,000 tons for the successful pro- secution of the war. The Federation Executive—who had made with the owners a provisional ar- rangement whereby each man working full turns over the holiday week would receive an additional 6s. and each boy an additional 3s.-stron-gly recommended the miners to remain at work. Mr. James Winstone, the acting presi- dent of the Federation, delivered a stir- ring address appealing to the workmen's loyalty and patriotism. Mabon, Mr. Vernon Hartshorn, and 'Mr. Alfred Onions also made similar strong appeals, and a general discussion followed, most of the delegates expressing regret that the Owners' Federation offer a.nd the Executive's views had not been made known before the lodges had given their mandate to the delegates. THE VOTING. I The first voting took place by show of I hands, as follows :— No holidays 73 J One day 73. Two otftys 59 Three days 53 A card vote was then taken on the question of how many days' holidays should be taken, and the voting was :— For -one. day 1296 Two days 782 The days 678 The final voting was as follows For two days. 1366 For one day 1264 Each card vote represented 50 miners. Therefore the actual number of miners voting was For two days. 68,300 For one day 63,200 Majority. 5.100 THE OFFICIAL REPORT. I Mr. Thomas Richards, M.P., suppb. the official report as follows :-This wa,* a special conference, called to consider the postponement of the August holidayr Air. James Winstone presided, and thei wero 268 delegates present, represenftiiif. 141,767 members. Messrs Francis, Wilde, \Vilham Besant, Fred Briley, and John Reynolds weire appointed tellers, and Messrs Tom Langley, J. Jones Edwards, Albert Field, Idwal Thomas, and Tom Edwards as a Credential Committee. MR. WINSTONE'S ADDRESS. I :'Ur. Winstone said he would not be doing his duty to the Federation, the country and their kith and kin if he did not press upon the conference the great responsibility that rested upon the delegates. The Federation Council had been faced with many difficult situations during the period of war, and n-evei- before in the history of the Federation was it more essential that unity and loyalty should exist throughout the Miners' Federation of Great Britain. He caJlled attention to the conference of owners and workmen in London wherk, a pledge was given. to secure during the period of the war the greatest possible output of coal, and the Federation since that time had endeavoured in all their doings to act within the spirit of that pledge. After referring to the reduc- tion in output between between 1913 and 1915, which amounted to 35,000,000 tons, he pointed out that the restriction of holidays was the policy of Miners' Federation of Great Britain. Resulting from joint conferences with the owners it had been urged that the 6 hours provision o fthe Eight Hours Act should be -Litilised, ar-A indeed th-at the Eight Hours Act should be suspended. I OWNERS' OFFER. The President then put before the conference the offer of the owners to pay ls. per day extra to evrv man, and 6d. per day extra to every boy who would work the full week of six shifts and the five shifts in the afternoon a id night. He appealed to the delegates not to allow any prej udice that had been created by any action of the employers to influence them, but to accept the re- commendation of the Executive Com- mittee atld refmin from taking any holi- days next week. I THE DECISION. I I After several bourns' discussion a vote I was taken upon the reoammend'ation of i the Council. The final vote was whether the workmen should take one or two days' holiday, and it was carried by a small majority that two days' holiday be taken, the figures on an accumulated card vote being :-For one day, 1,264 for two days. 1,366. WAGE RATE ISSUE. RIVAL CLAIMS 124 JER CENT. RISE v. 15 PER CENT. REDUCTION. On Tuesday the South Wales Miners' Federation gave notice of an applica- tion for a wage advance of 12-,L per cent. on the standard rates of 1915. The aplication is based on the big rise in the average selling price of coal and the increasing volume of trade. The coalowners gave notice calling for a reduction of 15 per cent. in the wage rate, basing their application on the in- creased cost o fproduction, particularly the increased cost af material. The rate at present gives an approximate mini- mum wage of 7s. Oid. per day to the lowest paid men. Should the miners' application be conceded, it would give a minimum wage of 7s. Bd. per day. On the other hand, in the event of the owners' application being conceded, the minimum, wage would drop to 6E;. 3d. per da.v—the wages paid in October, 1915. Lord Justice Pickford, the new inde- pendent chairman of the Board, will, in all probability, be asked to decide between the parties. In June last, when the parties previously failed to agree, thhe Board of Trade intervened, and granted the workmen an advance of 15 per cent. in spite of t,he coalowners' pro- test. The joint audit s hows that the aver- age selling price of coal was 25s. 8d. per ton, as against 23s. 8.60d. at the previous audit--an increase of Is. 111-1 per ton. The calculation upon which the miners make their aplication is a percentage of 9.3 per cent. on the shilling on the old agreement, or 6.2 per cent. on the shilling on the present stan- dard. This they declare entitle them to 11.42 per cent, advance. They ask for 12i in order to make up leeway, and after making full allowance for the increased cost of production and giving an ainple n-taigiii for any possible in- crease in future cost of production.

MR. HARCOURT, M.F.G.B., AND THE 2s. 6d. In the House of Commons on Monday Mr Anderson asked the Presideait of the Board of Trade when he was consider- ing the application o fthe South \V ak-s ccalowners for an advance in the selling price of coal by 2s. 6d. pea" ton, he re ceived a request from the Miners Federa- tion of Great Britain that they should 00 hes-rd before the decision was reached, whether he agreed to meet the deputa- tion from the Miners' Federation, but before meeting them announced his de- cision to concede to the claims of the coaiowraere, and i fhe would state the rason for such action. Mr. Haxe-o-urt I explained the eircuni- stances fully to the deputation. The delay was to suit their convenience, not mine. "ifr. Anwferson Is it not the ease that in the interval, when the Miiier- Feder- ation were asked to place their views before the right hon. gentleman, that he came to a decision, and is it not a wrong thing to give a decision with- out the miners' point of view being heard in the matter? Mr. Harcourt I offered tne Miners Federation an early day for the deputa- tion, but they said that week would not be comiement to them. I therefore, offered them any day in the following week, but I took the pains to write about the same time that I was obliged to give a decision in the other matter before they would be able to come to see me at a later date. Mr. Anderson Was the other matter so urgent that the right hon. gentleman had to come to a decision within a week ? Is it not the case that the Miners' Federation could not attend that week becmise they were holding their annual conference ? Mr. Harcourt It was to meet their convenience that I postponed the depu- tation. I had to come to a decision be- cause the matter was under consideration for several weeks. I promised the roal owners that I would accelerate a doe- c'isloo.

EX MINERS LEADER. LIEUT EDWARD GILL'S PROGRESS Lieutenant Edward Gill, the ex-miners' leaden- and Military Cross hero. who was wounded in the "Big Push" whilst serving with his battalion of the South Wales Bord erers, is sgtall lying at a London hospital. A very important operation has just been performed on him and proved successful Lieutenant Gill is progressing favourably.

An eleven-year-old boy was charged at a children's court at Aberavon on Tuesday with stealing RII in Treasury notes from the pocket of Henry Richd. Adams, greengrocer, Arthur street, Aebravon. who said he had left his coat in his cart while he went inside a. shop in Church-street. The bov was placed on probation for twelve months.

I SOLDIERS' PENSIONS I MONMOUTH MEN S PROTEST I AGAINST CHARITY. Presiding at an economic- eonference of Labour organisations. Co-operative Societies, and Free Churches of Mon- mouth.shire held at the Park-hall. New. port, Mr James Manning (Blaina) said the country which took the men awav ought to take the ful share of the bur- dens brought about by the sacrifice and make it easy to get relief. The Is. of the old-age pension was not now worth more than 3s.4d. in purchasing viiiie. Mr George Barker, speaking on the pensions question, said he hoped he never would see another Coalition Government. All the crimes against humanity that one could think of had been committed by the Government, and especially towards the dependents of the sick and wounded. (Hear. hear). But the Trade Union movement ought to take the matter up and give the Government an ultimatum on the sub-. jects of the conference. Mere talk would do nothing. A Voice: If Mr Barker would destroy the present Government, how wou ld he substitute a new one? Mr Barker: I am not here for Cabinet-making this afternoon. I am only out. for Cabinet destruction at present. A delegate suggested a down-tool policy throughout the coalfield in order to bring pressure on the Government. The Chairman said he thought most of the public bodies in Monmouthshire were pledged not to administer the new Act if there was any charity in jt. Mr Evan Davies. miners' agent, of Ebbw Vale, said a practical way of forcing the Government on the old-age pension question was for the workmen to refuse to pav the income-tax when it was xlemanded. (Hear. hear). Resolutions were passed deprecating the attempt to support the families of I sailors and soldiers out of charity, ask- ing for an extension of the amount of the old-age pension, asking for munici- pal housing schemes and an extension of the limitation of rents, and protest- ing against the "exploitation of the people's food supply."

NEUTRALS' PEACE POINTS I SOCIALISTS AND SUPERIORITY I OF THE ALLIES. At the opening of the Neutral Sofia ist Congress, the Dutch leader. Mynheer Proelstra, in the name of the executive committee, laid great stress upon tha disastrous consequence of the war 111 hampering social progress. The grea-t miilitarv successes had hitherto been on the side of the Central Powers, but it seemed that those Powers had now passed their zenith, and that the superior- ity of the allies in mw-ii and money was definitely coming into play. The vital of all Socialists required them to ask whether the time had not arrived for them to resume their liberty of action. As regards the question of ending the war', the speaker thought no dui-abl, peace would be possible on the basis either of the present war map or of the definite destruction of Prussian militarism but Socialists must see that the restoration of the independence of Belgium and Poland and the constitution of a. democratic Balkan Federation were made essential poi'nts of any peace pro- gramme. The question of Alsace an d 1 .orraine was a moTe difficult one, and it behoved the parties of France and Gennany to aim at some such compromise in this connection as had been suggested before the war M. Vendervelde, the Belgain Minister forwarded a letter, which was read to the congress, in which he explained why it was impossible for him to, atend. "Our neutral comrades. he wrote, "have not only the right, but the duty of speaking, now that thev are suffering from the war a* well as we, and it is -io • their interest as well to see that peace, when it oomes, shal be just if it is to be durable.. Belgiaal Socialists are un- able to attend this congress because they cannot be at the same time the judges and the parties judged .but Ûley cannot believe that the Socialists of neutral countries will remain unmoved bv the f-It that Belgium has fulfilled her, duty hile Germany has violated her pledges and destroyed and sandered Belgium, We ask oailv that our case shall be exajTDined."—Central New,.

I NO MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. In the House of Commons OIl Tues- day 1r. Waiter Long stated that the I Government proposed to renew- for a further 12 months the postponement of the el-tion of local authorities and other similar bodies. k

PEOPLE FORCED TO STEAL í MUNICIPAL DEPOT FOR I ABERDARE. The A bet-dare Urban District Council has resolved to establish, subject to the necessary sanction, a depot for the retail supply of house coal, a^d t:.t sn-ps be immediately token to provide a coalyard for the sale and distribution of coal. In support of the motion. Mr. William Thomas said it was a strange ill i ng that in a coal mining district such as thears the price of coal should be so hdgh. Of late several persons had appeareJ at the police court, charged \\it.h coai stealing from Hirwain, simply because they could not possibly get coal. Re. spectable w oiieai and children had con- victions recorded against them, and from inquiries made by himself he had estab- lished the. truth of the statement that they had fouasd it impossible to get ccal. The chairman said that Mr. Thomas's statement was quite correct. People had been running about from one place to another in search of coal in vain He had himself been for fourdays at a stretch without any coal.

NEW LABOrR PAPER. I A new penny weekly Labour paper is announced to appear in the course of the next week or two. largely under the auspices of the British Workers' -N7atioiial League, which is supported by such men as Mr John Hodge M.P., Mr Will Crooks. f.P., Mr Charles Duncan, M.P., Sir Leo Chiozaa Money, M.P.. Mr David Gilmour (president of the Scottish Miners' Federation). Mr Stephen Walsh, M.P. of the Lancsw- sliire and Cheshire Miners' Federation) Mr C. B. Stanton. M.P.. Mr Wm. Abraham M.P.. Mr James O'Gr"ley-" M.P., Mr A. Wilkie, 5 £ P.Mr J. A. Seddon (past presdent of the Trade rnion Congress), Mr J. Havelock Wil- son (National Sailors' and Firemen's Union), Mr J. Sexton (National Union of Dock Labourers), and Mr H Gi Wells. —————

EMPLOYMENT OF BOYS. The question of boy labour in local collieries was discussed at a special meeting of the Eastern Valleys branch of the South Wales Miners' Federation. The Agent (Mr James Winstone) said that he had been in communication with Mr Greenland Davies, his Majesty's inspector, upon the matter, and he hoped to hear shortly that no more boys were being employed. Mr Andrews: Some of the men nefw present in this room are offenders. Mr Winstone: It is not right for any man to condone these serious breaches of the Mines Act, and I sllall do all I possibly can to put a stop to the practice. He suggested that. the quickest way to remedy the grievance would be to write to Professor Red- mayne, telling him that unless the practice was abolished within fourteen days the men would withdraw their labour. It was decided that tlufc course should be adopted.

BACK TO THE TRENCHES. In Parliament on Tuesday Jowett asked the Secretary for War if he was aware of a feeling among relatives of soldiers and among the. public generally that the military authorities were act- ing unfeelingly as well as unfairly bv sending back to the trenches men who had newly recovered fTQffi wounds, m majig instances time aler taroe .before their turn came to go in t.. the trencher- again: and whether he in landed to t<a action in the matter. ,Nl.r. Forster ("Fiiuuieiai Secretary \.0.. the War Office) said he "vas not awa^r, of any such feelirag a-- that .uocestftd in the question. Men were n..t se,t: back to the front until tney ere f- covered from wounds and. fit for service7 in the field. Trained and experienoed men were, of course, very valuable, ami Army officers at the front were too vreli aware of the services of these men to subject them to any avoidable risk or strain. ————— —————

CLYDACH MOTOR FATALITY. A sad motor fatality occurred at' Clydach on Saturday. A lad name.d.: Griffith John Lewis, aged 9 years, the sor, of Private and Mrs, Wm. Lewis, U Quarr-noad, Clydach. was accidentally knocked down bv a passing motor-car in the vicinity of the Public- Hall, and djed soon after he had been taken home. The lad's father is serving with the colours.

I A big demand for allotments haot; caused Pontypridd Council to look fw land.