Llais Llafur

YSTRADGYNLAIS NOTES An old resident of the place passed away on Saturday last in the person of Ah .John Griffith. Commercial- street, generally knoa-ii in the locality as "John Griffiths, Penllwynteg." De- ceased was 72 years of age, and was predeceased by his wife Vight or nine years ago. He had been ailing for some iinic, and had a seizure at the home of his son in Station-road, to whom he was paying a visit. He was conveyed home, and died sta stated, on Saturday. Mr. Griffiths leaves three *ons, of whom are in Canada, the other being Parish Councillor Phillip Griffiths, who is at present working at Crumlin. Deceased was also a, deacon at Tabernacle, and held in high es- teem in the district. The funeral took tplaoe on Wednesday at Cwmgiedd, and was a very large one. The Rev. J. Emlyn Jones (pastor) was the offi- ciating minister, supported by Revs. W. lveyshon Griffiths, D. J. Davies, R. M. Rhys. D. J. Jones, and Edward Vaughan. The mourners were Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Griffitiis (son and daugh- ter-in-law),- Mrs. Dannie Griffiths (daughter-in-law). Messrs. Tom, Rhys, Johnnie Griffiths. Annie, Sal, Gwenny and Dilys Griffiths (gr.'i'iidehildron) Deocased fellow-der.coiis liear- ♦■•ES. A beautiful wren ill was by the G1 an cam las family. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. Edgar O. Morgan. Master Thomas Glyn Jones, Anril House, who is a pupil of Mr. E. H. Hughson, won the eec-ond prize at the Pant tog Eisteddfod on Saturday of L-tat week in the solo competition for ohild- ren under 1G. Much interest was taken in a billiard tournament held at the Temperance on Tuesday evening, when Phillip George of Yst:dyf(Ta. played Morgan Grif- fiths, TrItraelgyDlllis, in a game of 400. Griffiths won by 67. his highest break icing 62, whilst P.G.J.'s highest was 42. ilir. Barney Collins acted as Marker. The I.L.P. Institute was well filled an Monday evenin g when Mrs. Des- pard, the well-known Socialist propa- gandist, sister of General French, gare an inspiring lecture on "Peace." She was supported by Rev. Llew. Bowyer, Alltwen. who also spoke. Tho meeting was an enthusiastic one. Mr. J. E. Williams was the audio,i- eer at the mart held at .stradgynlais this week, when Dye cattle and twelve iheep were sold to local butchers. A resolution was passed asking that Ys- tradgyulais should be made one of the food distributing centres under the new scheme. •Councillor I<ewi.s Thomas. J.P., pre- sided over a meeting on Thursday evening. when Mr. Skirro attended and lectured on the "Taxation of Land Talues." The address was thoroughly enjoyeo. and it is a matter for regret that the attendance was not better. Mr. Skirro said the land should be for the people and not for the landowners, and advocated tax of 20s. in the £ Miss Davies, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Davies, Cross-street, visited th place last week from a Red Cross I hospital near London, where she is new stationed. Miss Davies, despite thf" L: l't tha t sho has been through & number of air raids, looked well, and returned with the best wishes of a large circle of friends. The Ystradgynbis United Choir, (.opam'?'d by Mr. E. H. Hughson, E. 14,. ?l-iii,baon, for the holing of a gr?Md eisteddfod .» Good Friday. Tho choir is ?Io busy retoenrsmg "St. Paul," a?d judging by the excellent progress made it is QJI- ticipated that the performance will take place early in May. The enterprise of Messrs. Edwards Mid Pa«-e in bringing such an expen- sive film as "The Fall of It Nation" to TstVad^vnlais is worthy of recom penee in the form of enthusiastic support. This masterpiece, which is screened this week-end is a vivid portrayal of what would undoubtedly have hap- pened had the Hun invaded America. A full orchestra will give music during the performances. The collieries have again been work- ing irregularly this week, and the prospects in the trade do not seem to be encouraging. The difficulty of ob- taining tonnage is responsible for the bad time now experienced. The Ystradgynlais Council, together with the officials of the Allotment Society visited plots in the district on Thursday and decided upon the por- tions of ground for cultivation. The clerk of the council has accordingly been iif-trueted to put in notice of The new season of the Tawe Allgl- | Association was commenced on Tuesday, and some good fishing has already been indulged in. It is the society's intention to stock the river with brown trout, and there is no doubt that the waters will become very popular. The balance sheet for the past year has been published, and shows the society to be in a very floiir- ishing condition. Much credit for the successful running of the association j is due to the secretary, Mr. James Evans. The G.P.L. nii the Swansea Valley Province of the R.A.O.B., which has been held at the Masons' Arms, Ys- j tradgynlais for matw years, has been transferred to the Old Swan Hotel, j Ystalyfera. Sec.-Lieut. Cyril Do la Haye, son of Mr. and Mrs. De La Haye, station- master, has come home on leave. He has scon much active- service with the Roval Engineers in France, and joined up in the early days. Don't forget the performances »of "Rhys Lewis" at the Coliseum, Ystal- yfera, next week. It's topping.

Death of Former Ystaiyiera Resident The dentil occurred at an Aberys- ) | t-wyth hotel, on Sunday, of Mr. D. J. Douglas Stewart, metal merchant, Swansea, one-time of Ystalyfera. De- oeased was the eldest son of the late. Mr. and Mrs. James Stewart, for many years of tlu Golden Lion, Godre'rgraig. During the South Afri- can War ho joined the Imperial Yeo- manry, and went through many of th? menu.-rahje lights and 'marches of that campaign. After his return to this country he removed to Swansea, and ultimately established an iron- brokerage business. It was in connec- j tion with a business deal that ho went to Aberystwyth a week previous to his death, and while there was taken ill with pneumonia, from which ho j died on Sunday as stated, aged 40. | Tho burial took place on Wodnea- day at Mumbles Cemetery. He leaves a widow and one little boy. j

GODHE'RGRASG- At the weekly meeting of the Godre'rgraig Mutual Improvement Society on Monday evening, a miscel- lanoous programme, arranged by Miss Joan Brazell was presented. The fol- lowing took part: Selections by the girls' party, conducted by Miss Joan BrazeH; solo, Miss K. M. Brazell- recitation, Miss Maggie J. Jones; pen- illicn singing, Messrs. Phillip Rees, Jenkin Rees, and John Davies. Im- prompt-u speeches wè-re given by Mis- aes Hannah M. Morgan and Mary H. Griffiths, Mrs. B. Evans and Messrs. Ben Evans, John Davies, Phillip Davies and Emrys Brazell. A paper waa read on the life of Daniel Owen by Mrs. Ben Evans. The following also spoke-Mrs. Hugh Williams, Mr. Ben Erans and Mr. Phillip Rees. Mr. B. W. Jonathan accompanied. We were glad to see several of our j local heroes home on leave, amongst them being Lieut. A. Gwynne Rees, Pantteg; W. J. Brazell, Pantteg; Sapper Harry Dtlgay and Pte. Peters, Godrer'graig. All are looking Vfell.

r President Wilson and Peace Principles. STAND FOR CIVILISATION w- AMERICA'S POSITION DEFINED. President Wilson on Monday last addressed Congress a" follows:—- On the 8th of January I had the honour of addressing you on t.he ob- jects of the war as our people con- eeive them. The Prime Minister of Great Britaiin, had spoken in, similar terms on the 5tliuf January. To these addresses the German Chancellor im- plied on the 24th. and Count Czernin for Austria on the same day. It is gratifying to have our desire so promptly realised that all exchanges of views on this great matter should be made in the hearing of all the world. Count Czernin's, reply, which is directed chiefly to my own address in J anuiLry 8th, is uttered in a very friendly tone. He finds in my state- ment a sufficiently encouragin g ap- proach to the yjews of his own Govern- ment to justify him in believing that it furnishes a basis for a more detailed discussion of the purposes of the two Governments. He is repre- sented to have intimated that the views he was expressing had been com- municated to me beforehand, and that I was aware of them at the time he was uttering them. But in this, I am sure, he was -misunderstood. I i had received no intimation of what he intended to say. There was, of course no reason why he should coinmumoate privately widl nw. I mn quite con- t-ünt to of his public audience. HERTI.ING'S VAGUE REPLY. Count Von Hertling s reply is, I must siv, very vague and very eon- 1 fusing. li is full of (equivocal phrases and leads it is not clear where. But it is certainly in a very different tone from that of Count Czernin, and ap- parently of an opposite purpose. It confirms, I a.m sorry to sav, rather than removes the unfortunate impress ion made by what- we had learned of the conferences ^t Brest- Litov^k. His dwussion and <i"ecp ta.n-ce of our general principles lead him to no prac- tical conclusion. He refuses to appl)- them to substantive items which must constitute the body of any final settle- ment. Ho is jealous ef international action and of international counsel. He accepts, ho says, the principle of plibl "C diplomacy, but he appears to insist that it be ec)aifined-at any rate in this (ó-o-tó gen-eral'ties, that the several {>articular quevstion of terri- tory, that sovcroieTrity and the several questions upon whose settlement must de]>ond the acceptance of peace by the 23 States now engaged in. war, must be dise:ie.s6d and ,c--Ltl,d not in genera l council, but severally by the nations j most immediately concerned by in- terest or nc-ighbourhood. FREEDOM OF THE SEAS AND ECONOMIC BARRIER I- He agrees that the seas should he free, but looks askance at any lii-nita- tion to that freedom by international action in the interest of the common order. He would, without reserve, be glad to see economic barriers removed between nation and nation, for that could in no way impede the ambitions of the military party, with whom he ■ seems oonst rained to keep on. terms, Neither does he raise objection to a limitation of armaments. That matter be settled by itself, he thinks, by economic conditions which must follow the war period. But the German Colonies, ho demands, must be re- turned witliout deboate. He will das- cuss with no one but representatives of Russia what dtsposition shall be made of the peoples and lands of the Baltic Prwince«, with no one but tli« Gorern- ment of France the "conditins" und':o- ^"bich French territry shall he evactia- ted, and ooly ith Austria what shall be done with Poland. In determina- tion of all q-uasti-e'-s affecting the Bal- kan States he defers, as I understand him to Austria and Turkey, and with repiard to agreements to be entered in- t concerning the non-TurIrish peoples of the present Ottoman Empire to the Turkish authorities themwlves. j "NO PEACE OF 8HREDS YD jI n PATCHES" I After seirtlement all round effected in this fashion, by individual barter and concession, he would have no objec- tion, if I correctly interpret his state- ment, to a Leaglle of Nations, which would undertake to hold the m w balance of power steady against ex- | ternal di^turbanoeis. It must be evident te ereryene who understands what change this war hae brought in the opiiwcn and Msmpei- of the w rid that no general peaoe, no peia.ee worth the infinite ■ sa-crifioas of these years of tra"cal suffering, cap :> ;iblv be arrived a1. in amy such n. j The method r =•- Cn ancellor ])mposeti is th» ;1 of the C n- gi-ess of Vienna. YVe .:6Wt and will not return to that. Wliat ia at stake n-ow is the p-eac-o ef the world. What we are gtrkving for is a new interna- cicmiaj pranoiples of right and justice —nio mere peace of shreds and patches, Is it possible that Count Van. Hert- ling docs not eee that, does not grapp it -is, in fa-ct, living io his thought in | a. Avorld dead and gone? i RrBMINDED OF REICHSTAG RESOLUTONS. Has he utterly forgotten the Reichstag rasohitions ef the 19th of July, or does he deliberately ignore thiem They spoke of conditions of a general I. n t of national ag- gEandasenaeiit or of aixangements be- « I tween state and state. The peace of ■ the world depends upon the just settle. mtent of the several problems to which I I adverted in my recent addiess to Congress. I CANNOT BE DISCUSSED SEPARATELY. f I, of course, do not mean that the peace of the world depends upon the acceptance of any particular ;*3t of suggestions as to the way in which those problems are to be dealt with. I mean nly that these problems each and all ajffect the whole world, that unless they dealt with in the spirit of unselfish and unbiassed justice with a view to the wishes, natural connec- tions, racial aspirations, security and peace of mind of the people involved. No permlanent peace will have been attained. They cannot be discussed separately or in corners. None of them constitutes a private or separate interest from which the opinion of the world may be shut out. Whatever affects the peaee affectis mankind, and nothing settled by military force, if settled wrong, is settled at all. It will presently have to be reopened. Is Count Von HertJing not aware that he is speaking in the Court of Mankind—that all the awakened nations of the world now sit in judg- ment on what every public men of whatever nation nia-- say on the issues of a conflict which has spread to every region of the world ? The Reichstag resolutions of July them- selves frankly accepted the decision of that Court. "There shall be no an- nexations, no contributions, no puni- tive. damaged; peoples. are not to be handed about from one sovereignty to another by an international cohfer- enoe or an understanding between rivals and antagonists. National as- pirations mutt: be expected. Peoples may now be dominated and governed onlv by their own consent. THE UNITED STATES' STAND- I POINT. The I. n-:t&d States has no des,re to interfere in European affairs or to act as arbiter in Europe.an territorial dis- putes. She would disdain to take ad- vantage of WIly internal weakness or disorder to impose her will upon an- other people..She is quite ready to be s hown that the settlements she has suggested are not the best "or the most enduring. They are only her own pro- vitsional sketch of principles and of the way in which they should be applied. But she entered this war because she was made partner, whether she would or not in the sufferings and indigni- ties inflicted by the militaTy mtasters of Germany against the peace and security of mankind, and this con- ditions of peace will touch her ns nearly as they win touch any of other nation to which is -entrusted a leading part in the ma in benance of civilisa- tion. She ea.nnot see her way to peace until the causes of this war are re- moved and its renewal rendered aa nearly as may be i mpossible. This war had its roots in the dis- regard of the rights of small nations and of nationalities which lacked the union and force to ma ke "Cod their claim to determine their own oDJlegianceS and their own forms of political rife. Covenants must now be entered into which will render such things impossible for the future and those covenantc. must be backed by the unite dforce of all nations that love justice and are willing to maintain it at -brLv cost. POSERS FOR HERTLING. If territorial settlements and the political relations of great populations which have not the organised power to resist are to be determined by the contracts of powerful Governments which con si de-red thom<selvft? most directly, as Ccxunt von Hertling pro- poses, why may not economic qli(,t !on-, -Li- -o? It has come about in the al- t-ere-d w->rld in which we now find our- i.cdves that justice and the rights of j peoples affect the whole field of In- ternational dealing sjs much as access to raw materials and fair and equal conditions of trade. Count ron Hert- ling wants the essential bases of com- mercial and industrial life to be safe- j ?i?rded by commoo agrc?m?nt and guaranty, but he cannot expect tzt to be conceded him if the other, matters to be determined by the artotdes of peace Dire not handled in the same way as the items in the fiiial acc-ounting. He cannot ask the benefit of common agreement in the one field without according it in the other. I take it for granted that he sees that separate and selfish compacts with regard to trade and essential materials of manu- facture would afford no foundation for peace. Neither, he may rest assurred J will separate and selfish compacts with [ regard to provinces and peoples. COUNT CZERNIN'S POSITION n x ri • a i vjouhi i zeniin Lt,-en-ib w see ZM fundamental elements of peace with clear eves, and does not »eem, to ob- scure them. He sees that an inde- pendent Poland made up of all the j indisputably Polish peoples w ho lie oomtriguous to one another is a matter of European concern, and must, of course, be conceded, that Belgium muet be evacuated and rtored..n() matter what sacrifices and concessions J that may involve, and that national aspirations must be satisfied even within hie own ET)Tn,T* in th,- common interest of Europe and mankind. If he is ftilent about questions which touch the interest and purpose of his Allies rworo clearly than they touch those of Austria onlv it must, of course, be because he fftelf constrainecl. I to Germany and Turkey in the eircaiTK^tn.niees. Seeing j and eonceding does the principles involved the licc-easitv t i candicllv applyir.fr them, be naturallv feels that Austria Pin respond to ifco purpose of peace as expressed by the United States with less embarrriss- ments of Austria's alliances and of her dependence upon Germany. PRINCIPLES TO BE APPLIED After all the test o fwhether it is possible for either Government to go any further in this comparison cf views is simple and obvious. The principles to be applied are t,hesf, First.—That each part of the final I settlement must be hasrd upon the I essential justice of that particular case, and upon such adjustments as are mose likely to brjng a peace that will be permanent.

COLLIER BOYS & THE ARMY, New Instructions Announced at Swansea. At the South-West Walez Colliery Tribunal at Swansea, Captain Harold Williams made an important announce- W ment as to the trrangements in regard to enlisting lads attaining the age of 18 while employed in or about coal mines, other than collierv clerks. (1) The National Service Depart- ment has issued instructions that a lad working on or about a coal mine will not in future be served with a calting-up notice.to report for service on a date earlier than that on which he attains the age of 18vears and 8 months. (2) Applications to the Colliery Re- cruiting Court for certifica.tes of ex- emption may, as from the 9th of Jan. 1918 be made by or on behalf of lads as soon as they attain the age of 17 years and 9 months; and the certifi- cates may be issued prior to their at- taining military age, and will be re- garded by the National Service De- partment as valid, although so issued. (3) The Court should grant exemp- tion if the lad was working in or about a coal mine prior to attaining the age of 17 years, and should refuse if he did not begin work in or about coal mines until after attaining the age of 17. If it is refused the lad will not, in fact, be called up until he has at- tained tho age of 18 ye Hi's and 9 months. (4) As attempts may lK. made by lads to enter the industry from other occupations in order to get the addi- tional eight ment-hs allowed by para- graph 1 before calling up, the Con- troller of Mines has issued instructions to coalowners that they are not to take into employment any lad coming from some other employment who has attained the age of 17 years and 9 months unless he can show some good and sufficient reason for entering the industry—for example, illness or acci- dent, or that his father has beer, habi- tually engaged in coal-mining.

ITTXEfcS CANDIDATE FOR ABEHAYOii At the monthly meeting of the Atan Valley mwiers at Pert Talbot on Saturday it was reported that Mr W Jenkins, J.P., the di^t^ct miners agent, had been selected by the miners and adopted by the Federation to con test the Aheravon Parliamentary Di- vision, and Ms nom^na/tioci would, therefore, go to the vote with any other nominees submitted by other Trade Unions. Mr Jenkins expressed a string desire that his supporters would de everything above board. As far as he was concerned it must be a cdean fight, and his sole define was that Labour should be united and all matters conducted is a democratic spirit. The agent reported upon his in- terriew with the G.J Controller in connection, w'.th the OoaffTOood d.spute and the question of the ta audereTiee of miners to other industries. Satisfac- tory progress was made with the ques- tion of employing men who were idle to work at s hirf'irdt-. and c.Iso timber felling. The representatives 0f the Minister of Employment undertook to conve- all the projKJsaJs in writing to the Right Hon. T. Richards. M.P.. in due course, and the matter will be considered by the central executive at thetr next meeting.

TAKE YOUR OWN SIT) GAP, DRASTIC INTERPRETATION OF PUBLIC MEALS ORDER.- The Director of cnigor Distribution, having learnt that some misapprehen- sion eists with regard to the effect of the amended Public Meeds Order re- cently ieeued, wishes it to be under- stood that no club, inn, hotel, or boarding-heuse may serve sugar as such (i.e.. is any form other than as aa ingredient in cooked food) to any- one except to a person residing there- in for tlie major portion of a week. Even in these cases, sugar (1.<; such may only be supplied if (1) the person isaviHg eharge of the club, iron, botel., or boarding-house is satisfied that :110 sugar ration for that week has been obtained in respect of the person sup- plied: (2{ the amount supplied does not exceed 6oz. in any week; (3) the total amounts so supplied are entered in the register (4) a record is kept of the mmfiff and permanent addresses of the persons supplied. This Order makes it necessary for those taking meals in any club or public eating place where are not re- siding to take with them any sugar which they desire to consume either with beverages or to add to the food served to them.

SEED POTATOES FOR 1918. Order early to save disappointment. -Seven Immune Varieties: GREAT SCOTT KING GEORGE LOCHAIt TEMPLAR GOLDEN WONDER SHAMROCK IRISH ffFEEX At lock Bottom Prices. Sole Distributing Agent for Ystrari- gynlais and District, under the Breconshire War Agricultural Excc- utive Committee. T S "[ K' OJ) II" T. S. Williams Stores. YSTRADGYNLAIS. 1F16]

A CMEC?E?EER'S APPEAL, i n Mr Robert Edwards, <;hiH;k\vc-;gher I at Garnant Colicery. has beer, the subject nf successive appeals for mili- t&ry exemption under cir?'?mstatjeea of an i'nt<er??t)n? character, with a «equol which is (n1y .j?st cow announced. ¡ He fjt of 211 a.pp<?i<'J t» th? West |j ,WÜes Mining Tr?butM-L ami was j granted exemption by Mr Dyer Lewis at that time the president. The mili- tarv y?pre?&ut?Ltive &ppeakd against j the dacision, but C4. Poa??'n, at a j subsequent court, eanfirated the esemp tien and refused tlue. appeal. Th? military then ?o<-? the ea,se to «ie Central Appeal Tribunal in Loa- I,' don, and tllf,? o' til(, West Wales Court Wi." «r«r-ruled. i The Sc-nt'i V* ales j Miii«rs' appea.li.td agi.iT.tt that docis-, ( ion, andr at a r<s-hesiriiig, the Central > | Tribunal revcn-eil its d^c;s:onr apxd { ««au finned > th« CMtiicra of JC^r Dyer j Iwi." and P«sarvo»i. Br Vorncn ( H^-rtslxorn now write* to Mr Kd^raiids statinc that h;^ ^xeajption ia tkus now ( formally eomArajed.