Llais Llafur

miAmhm coytscii INTERESTING IXI S( XSSIOX ON PfHLIC APPOINTMENTS. The Pontardawe Council sat on J Thursday when -'I r. Daniel ,Jono,s, J.P. presided. H''Ha?t!Upp?rl<'d by Messrs Herbert Gibbon (viee-cluiirman), B. hhvyn J?hDIip.s (deputy o?UK?-r), A. E. Kdmunds ?nni?ry inspector), Wyndhaon Lewis (clerk), and Noali L. ( Davies (deputy clerk). < COUNCIL ACQUIRE MOKE LAND j FOR ALLOTMENTS. I The deputy engin«H>r reported that he had inspected a field situate at LOlle-road. l'lnlaeh, owned by the Gt. Western Itftilival the acreage of ¡ which was 1 acre 2 rods, ? pcrch?. The 6? td was at present in the occu- pation of Mr. of Mr. W. May berry, butcher, Clydaeh, who us?d it for _graziiig Tli-L? Sold could be divided up into 25 plots of 10 perches -each. The field adjoining was owned by the Rev. Thomas Rees, Clehongen Vicarage, Hereford, which was 1 aero 3 rood s, 3] perches, and could bo laid -out into 28 plots of 10 perches each, both making a total of 53 plots. Should this not iiK-et with the requirements he suggested laying out 34 plots at the Coedgwilym Cemetery. It was decid- ed that the three plots Ixi acquired. Letters were read from various a llotment societies in the district re- garding the Cultivation of Land Order and it was decided in the caw of Godre'rgraig to take steps to acquire part of the new cemetery. EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR THE FOOD COMMITTEE. Councillor R. A. Jones (Clydaeh) tlwve(, tliil t with a view to maintain- ing the important principle involved in the practice of advertising all paid public positions, tit" Council should take steps immediately to direct the Pontardawe Food Committee to adver- tise for applicants for the position of «JSecutive- officer as was done when Mr. Noah Da vies was appointed, stilt- ing that preference should be given to discharged sailors and soldiers. Wh en Mr. Jones got up to pe-ik lie was accorded a cordial welcome by the nine members of the Council who were present. Mr. Jones thanked the members for the welcome. He pointed out that the motion standing in his name involved a most serious principle, and one which was put into practice by most all Government Departments. He next referred to the fact that in the past it had been the custom of the Guard- ians to advertise all vacancies and by this means they got the best men ap- pointed. Some time ago the Food Con- trol Committee advertised for an ex- ecutive officer. There were six appli- catioris and out of the number Mr. Noah L. Davies was appointed. The next thing they found after Jr. Noah Davies had carried out the duties for a few weeks was that Mr. Morgan Davies had been appointed and ho (Mr ■Jxmes) asked was it fair to tidopt this procedure without giving the other applicants an opportunity to apply. The position was a paid one and al- though perhaps it did not carry a big salary he for one would not care to take on the job. The procedure adopt- ed in his opinion was most undemo- cratic, and when they realised that the war now on was a war for democracy, the services rendered by their soldiers and sailors would have been in vain if posts of this description were given otherwise than by force of competi- tion. He understood further that members of the Council who sat on the Food Control Committee were en- titled to bo paid as was done with the tribunal members. Mr. L. W. Francis, interposing, said he was not aware of that fact, although lie was a member of the Food Control Committee. Mr. Jones: It may be a pleasant surprise to you that it is so, but there, you may not come in under the proper category, CIII. (Laughter.) Proceeding, Mr. Jones said he had re- ceived fifteen anonymous letters re- garding the question he complained i of. He could not say whether any of them came from members of the platoon commanded by Lieutenant H. J. Powell. (Laughter.) But he felt that if there were any discharged soldiers about they should be given a chance. There were solicitors about who had been discharged from the Army, and .also a solicitor Class C3 who had been rejected from the Navy. These lie maintained should be given a chance Instead of allowing them to hold the views that they had been flouted in tJjgir own district. Hence the reason that he asked them to pass a resolu- mittee to appoint an executive officer as was donp when Mr. Noah Davies tion directing the Food Control Com- was appointed. They wer £ the trustees of the ratepayers and they were ex- pected to c.o this.. Unless they did so lie felt sure that when the young men who were to-ay fighting for the country would return they would see that their rights were enforced. A few weeks ago when lie asked the Council to consider the m-itter he saw in the. "Llais Jjafur" a remark by the Rev. Evan XX1 vies that the letter he (Mr. Jones) sent had been written in ignorance. That he presumed was the type ol ecclesiastical humour, and he ventured to say that the Rev. Evan Davies was entirely wrong, be- cause he (the speaker) was kept in touch with matters transacted in the Council, not only by means of anony- mous communications. He also read a resolution passed at one local meet- ing where Mr. H. J. Po wdl was chair- man, and it was decided "to rtand by these young men not only in the workshop," etc. What was the result? When aji opportunity came to do something for discharged soldiers and soldiers, nothing was said about the matter. Mr. Dd. Lewis said that the matter was on. of their hands entirely. ,Nl r.i. A. Jones: The resolution is to direct the Food Control Committee. Mr. Joseph Thomas: Can we direct them? Mr. Jones: Why not? Chairman We can suggest to them. Mr. H. J. Powell felt that Mr Jones should have made his speech to the Food Control Committee. Mr. Dd. Jenkins said that as there were four members of the Council on I the Food Committee they were en- titled to an explanation. Personally he always considered that it was more democratic to advertise all public positions. i iiairmail: The council members are only a third of the committee. Mr. H. J. Powell said that when the first appointment was made there was not a singlû npplicHlOU from a discharged soldier or sailor VII the circumstances the eommittei; could not be blamed. Mr. R. A. Jones pointed out that the ratepayers would nand an ex- planation when it came to th.3 uexi ♦■lection. The Chairman" said that the Food Control Committee was anxious to dc all they could for the discharged sol- diers and sailors, but when the post under consideration was advertised there was no application from any dis- charged man, with the result that Mr Noah L. Davies was appointed, with Mr. Morgan Davies as runner-up. A few weeks later Mr. Noah Davies felt that he could not possibly carry on his own offi(-v work and attend as executive officer to the Food Com- mittee. He thereupon resigned, and having regard to the dilemma the committee found themselves in they sent for Mr. Morgan Ditvies and asked him to help them out of the difficulty. Mr. Morgan Davies agreed to do so, and he was accordingly given the vacant position, although he was not anxious for it. This was not the first time that procedure had been adopt- ed It had applied on many occasions in regard to the contractors who were unable to carry out certain work and also to the Union staff when a nurse or cook found themselves unable to accept, the offer was given to the second on the list. Several mem bers concurred with the remarks of the chairman. Mr. H. J. Powell said that when j the Food Control found themselves in such trouble it was essential that they should appoint someone at once in order to try and do away with the queues. The work of an executive offi- cer w-as not a soft job by any means, and it entailed no end of worry. Mr. Wyndham Lewis said that when. j Mr. Morgan Davies was hppointed it was a case of emergency and the com- niittee had to get out of a difficulty as soon as they could. After further discussion the matter dropped.

PONTARDAWE &UARDIANS! i WAR BONUS FOR PAUPERS. At the Pontardawe Guardians on Thursday. Mr. H. J. Powell, J.P., presiding, it was reported that all cases out out-door relief had been revised, and considered, as they would be in future on their merits. A war bonus of GO per cent was also to be grant- cd. THE DRYMMA INSTITUTION. Mr. F. R. Phillips, J.P., moved that the Drymma Institution for the feeble-minded be not prooeeded with for the duration of war. He said he did not know much about the details of the scheme, as they were represent- ed by two members who had plenary powers. Only 20 bds were provided, and it was hardly worth spending such j a tremendous sum of money from the various Unions, although the share of each was a small one. The committee, so he was informed, was an unwieldy one, and it was economical. Ho had been told it was a committee that had ttli its expense: paid, even when go- ing to lncheom;, and that was "getting a bit thick. The fire had thrown the -i d t h i-c),A-n the work back, and he therefore moved • that tlie institution should not be at I present re-built. Mr. W. I). Walters referred to the fact that there would be general de-! mobilisation after the war, and it would bo rieeesxdry to find the.se men some. work to do. They, could therefore Ik put on building. After some further I discussion the motion was accepted.

L. Young gvpsies have grown beards ■ since the Military Service. Act had i come Int-44 force, said a police hispector; at Eastbourne.

YSTRADGYNLAIS NOTES The wedding took place quietly at Pontardawe on Saturday last of Mr. William Davies, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Davies, Curwen House, Ystaly- fera., and Miss Mary Ellen Jenkins, Glanley-terraoe, Ystradgynlais, daugh- ter of the late Mr and Mrs. John Jen- kins. The bride was tastefully attired in a navy blue costume with black velour hat to match, and the party were acoompanied by Messrs. William Jenkins and William Howells. The meeting announced last week to take place on Monday at the Church schoolroom in connection with the burial ground question was post- poned for a while. A letter had been received by Mr. Tom Williams, sec- retary of the Free Church Council, following upon the meeting of the District Council on Thursday last re- garding the offer of Col. Gough of a piece of ground for burial purposes at Ystradgynlais. The Free Church Coun- cil has decided to consider the matter before the public meeting is called. On Sunday evening Mr. Hywel Phil- lips, A.T.S.C., precentor at the chapel, gave an instructive address on con- gregational singing at Tabernacle. Mr Phillips illustrawd his remarks by a variety of hymns that were sung by the oongregation, and the singing of these was thorouohly enjoyed by all under Mr. Phillips' leadership. The members of Tabernacle have sent a New Years' gift to all boys on service in any way connected with the congregation, in the form of a postal order. The gift has been made to all who have taken the King's Oath, ir- respective of where they are serving, and 23 men- have been; dealt with in this way, 15 of whom have already acknowledged the thoughtfulness of their friends at home. Police-Inspector Thos.. Evans and family have arrived at Ystradgynldis. Inspector EvanB having already taken up his new duties. Ystradgynlais people will be pleased again to see him in their midst, as during his previous period of office in the place, he made I many friends. Evidence of the esteem in which h wa»s held at Breoon, where lie was last stationed as police ser- geant, may be gathered from the fact that before leaving Brecon he was presented with a wallet and £10 on behalf of inhabitants of the town. Superintendent Williams has also taken up his duties at Brynmawr, and he and hns family have the 'best wishes of their Ystradgynlais friends for the fu tu re. As is usual at this period of the year the collieries have commenced working short time. All the local pits have been affected, and in view of the unusual lack of. shipping, if is feared that an improvement cannot be looked for at present. One wag has, how- ever, expressed satisfaction at the fact that he gets a "bob and a tanner" a day whether he works or not! Heartiest congratulations are exten- ded to Mr George Whiting, Pentre- j bont, who, as a result of a recent e x animation held at Cwmtwrch, has se- cured a. Matriculation Certificate as j Associate of the Tonic Sol-fa College. Mr Whiting deserves every praise for hIS success, as he is only a working man, being employed at the New Dia- mond colliery. He is a pupil of Mr. D W. Rowlands, F.T.S.C., Upper Cwm- twroh. Gunner C. Melling, of the R.F.A., wh<\<>e home is at Churoh road, is home on furlough. He has been in France since Sept. 1916, and this is his first leave. He took part in the battle of the Somme in 1916 and 1917, and at Arras in 1917. He has also been engaged at Hill 60, and the battle of Cambrai. during attacks, Gunner Melling, who looks qui?e well, has not received a scratch of any kind. j lias not m, ce j v.ed a scratch of any i d. On January 2nd, the death took place of Mrs. Elizabeth Jones, wife of Mr Wm. Jones, of Wind road. De- ceased, who was very popular, had been ill for about a year. A son, Pte. Alexaader Jenes, M.F.S., of the Brecknocks, now in India, where he has been since the outbreak of hos- tilities and a son-in-law in the person of-Pte. Geo. Jenkins, of the 2nd Welsh Regt., who was taken prisoner^ by the Germans at the battle of Mons, aind who is now in Switzerland. I The funeral took place at Ystrad- 1 gynlais on Saturday, Jan. 5th, when the chief mourners were: Mr W. Jones I (husband); Mr and Mrs. Dl. Jones (son and daughter-iin-Law); Mrs. C. Jenkins (daughter); Messrs. T. J. Jones and Joshua Jones (son). Many I friends a-Ko attended. The officiating ministers \"01" the Revs. W T Hughes Cwmtwrch J. Davies, Ystradgyn- lais, and D. L; M?s. T.langenneolr. Pte. Samuel Jones, son o? Mr ?nd Mrs. Jones, Gough buildings, has re- turned to Franco after haviing been home on leave. Pte. Jones is pleased I with the hearty reoeption accorded hiim by his friends and neighbours. Hit? sister, Miss Bessie Jones, who is with the W.A.A.C., ajid who is sta-' tioned at Newlraven, has also been on furlough.. r The Rev. ESeazer Davies. son of Mr and Mrs. T. E. Davie, Smithfield, Ys- tradgynlais, hae visited his parents during the last week. Mr Davies, who is a Baptist minister neatf- Ponty- cymer, has been out jn France for four months with Y.M.C.A., and is shortly returning for another four months. He hu the best wishes of a largP circle of friends. Q A public meeting was held at A public 'meeting was held at Tabernacle vestry on Wednesday even- ing, when the building was well filled. The object of the meeting was to con- sider the food shortage question, a-nd t41 pass a resolution. Mr J. D. Morgan, J.P. (Miners' Agent), wiio presided, dealt with the universal sltortage of too?, and urged a more equitable form of distribution. Mr T. Roger Williams, 4beadmasfer at the Wern School, spoke of the great scarcity of food, and said that if there was a shortage, that all should at least have a share. There should be a means bv which the burden' would be equalised, and no vested interests should be alio wed, to stand in the way. Mr John J. James (Miners' Agent), spoke of the way in which the Government had consistently ignored the co-operative movement, and disre- garded the voice of labour, irrespective of the fact that the Co-operative Society was the greatest -single dis- tributor of food in the country. County Councillor T. Prosser .Jones moved the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted: "That we call upon the Ystradgynlais Food Control Committee to immediately take in hand the rationing of the available food supplies in the district." Amidst general manifestations of re. gret. the interment of the remains of Mr Thomas Thomas, Cilgwyn, former- ly headmaster of the Yniscedwyn Schools, took place on Monday at Ys- tradgynlais Churchyard. The large attendance testified to the esteem in which deceased was held. and the funeral was one of the most represen- tative seen in the place for some time. The officiating minsters were, the Revs R. M. Rhys, Sardis; and D. J. Davies Ainon; whilst others present were, Revs. W. M. Morgan (late of Sardis), J. Rees, Kidwelly; J. Emlyn Jones, E Vaughan, and W. T. Jenkyns, B.A., Cuxate. The chief mourners were Mrs. Thomas (widow); Miss Mary Thomas (sister) Mr an d Mrs. Morgan (brother in-law and sister in tw); Mr Hy. James, Mr Tom Jones, Maesyffynon; Mr D. J. Thomas Pontardawe; Mr John Thomas, Brynamman; Mr David Thomas, Brvniamman; Mr Thomas, Emporium, Brynamman; Mrs. 'Jenkins (cousins), and Mr SI. Davies. New- castle Emlyn. Mr D. Thomas, chemist Norwich, formerly of Ystradgynlais" (brother-in-law of deceased), was 11In- able to attend owing to illness, and his wife, Mrs. Thomas was unable to come further than Swansea owing to the indeqiiaqte train service. Floral tributes were as follows:— Wife and son, Friends and Inhabit- ants, the Staff, Scholars, and Old Pupids of the School; Breoonshire Onin ty Teachers' Association, E. J. Thomas. Gastlebank; Jim. Maureen, and Eddie Walsh, Teachers of Ystrad- gynlais District. The children of the school walked in the funeral, and sang, "In the Sweet" at the Church, and Mrs. Williams played the "Dead March" very im- pressively. The bearers were the following school masters from the district- Messrs. T. R. Thomas, ON-mtwrob IV, j. Thomas Cynlais: J. Thomas, Colbren; R. J. Lewis, Abercra/ve; J. Walter Jones, B.A., Neath County School: T. T. Rees, Pearhos; and Griffiths, Ca.e., hopkin. Practically all the teachers fthe different schools walked in the procession. The arrangements were in the hands of Mr Edgacr O Morgan. Our readers are aware that there was recently a movement inaugurated to present the late Mr Thomas Thomas on his retirement, and over- L20 had been collected for this purpose. The school children had presented Mr Thomas with a beautiful silver tray, as a sign of respect and esteemi^Now however, that Mr Thomas has passed away, Mre. Thomas has expressed the wish that the memorial should take the form of a tomb stone, and her wishes in this direction will doubtless be respected. Mrs. Thomas also desires to thank those, through the medium of our columns, who sent floral tributes, and who expressed, both personally and by letter, sympathy with ther in her be- reavement. The large number of messag es received makes it impossible to reply to each individually. The exceptional snow storm at the beginning of the week was responsible for the breaking down of the telephone and electric wires, and owing (to the latter; a number of houses were with- out light at the middle of the week. We feel sure that Ystradgynlads people will not hesitate to avail, them- selves of the opportunity of seeing the performance of "BeLshazzar's Feast," which will be given in full character by the Tabernacle Choir at the Cinema on Wednesday- and Thurs- day evening next. The choir, which, needs no introduction to our readers, is under the able conductorship of Mr Edgar O. Morgan, and will be assisted by a full orchestra-. A matinee will be held at the Cinema. on Saturdav of this week at 3 in the afternoon.

Watts Jones. i Ig jR. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NEXT, 18th and 19th. I All Remaining Millinery 31  I Underclothing at Ridiculous Prices Blouses, Ladies' and Children's Blouses, Ladies? and Children's Underclothing at Ridiculous Prices SEE WINDOWS. DOORS OPEN 9.30 A.M. OXFORD STREET, SWANSEA.

There was a jam queue at Merthyr. Cattle ilfcre so scarce at Newcastle that they trore balloted for. Controlled rabbits at Is. 9d. are scarce. Marmalade prices are to be fixed at lid. a lb. and Is. 8d. for 21b. The "food crowd" of women in High street, Merthyr, was estimated at 1,000. Wild geese are flying inland from the Channel in some parts of the country. These birds are regarded as harbingers of bad weather.

r i Shorf-Sighted I Persons I wont to bring the book close to their eyes. It means that the object looked at does not focus on N the retina, the focus comes in front-too soon—the eyeball is therefore too long. Wo cannot change the eyeball, so we change the focus. We put a lens in front of the eye which throws the focus back to the proper position. Call upon as and learn more about this important subject of defective vision. C. F. WALTERS F.S.M.C., F.I.O. QUALIFIED OPTICIAN, Oxford* St., Swansea L (Nearly opposite National School -J.