Pioneer

I The Teacher £ 1 a Week. I COUNCILLOR D. W. JONES' OUTBURST IN MERTHYR. "HOLDING UP" EMPLOYERS, MUNICI- PALITIES AND GOVERNMENT. Merthyr Education Authority on Wednesday evening considered the applications of their cer- tificated and uncertificated teachers for a war- wage advance of tl a week retrospective from April 1st last. A sjx'cial feature of the discussion was a re- markable speed 1 oy Mr. D. W. Jones. 011 a question as to whether the recent new scale of salaries to teachers had been granted liecause of abnormal economic conditions, he said What does it matter-' The Fisher Grant is from the taxes, and what Ave pay here is out of the rates. The rates and taxes are paid by every person in the country. We recognise the working-classes don't pay very much of the taxes but they are beginning to pay a little recently, since the budget of the year before last. But what does it matterWhat you are dealing with i", the question of the employees of the Education Authority and Inonev does not come from the clouds. What you have to do is to pay them a fair remuneration for their services. Recently we went into this salaries question fully, and the argument then placed before us was the ltigh cost of living: that was the burden of their song. It is a profound disappointment for me to find a'pistol put 10 our heads, as it were, now bv the teachers and hearing and re-hearing ru- mours of strikes and ali sort of threats if we don't comply with their demands. I do say such a course as this on their part is exceedingly un- reasonable, and from a body of men and women like the teachers one expects something very much better. It makes one almost despair of the country to find a body of this kind, coming. like the teachers of Merthyr, to us in this way. I really don't know how to deal with the ques- tion now, after we have dealt with it so t-hor-1 oughly during the past few months. NOT GONE UP? During the last twelve months the cost of, living has not gone up—or to a very small ex- tk-nt if you take everything into consideration, it will probablv be found to have gone down. Mr. L. M. Jon es Where do you deal. 31 r. Jones? (Laughter.) Mr. D. W. Jones I pay as much as you do, out perhaps I don't live so extravagantly That is illY experience, anyhow, and I think that of most householders. Certainly the cost of living has not gone up since we fixed the new sca les of salaries for the teachers. I think 31r. Price let the cat out of the bag when he told u> the mistake they made was to come to the Eduea- [ h tion Committee too soon. They got their scale of salaries settled and they accepted it at the time before the surrounding districts had dealt with their respective And now because other places have jfiven, so they say, a more liberal scale the teachers come to us and state We want Merthyr to go up." I want to know who is really going to bear this great burden of the war. IPLEA FOR A CONFERENCE. Turning to the Labour members. Mr. Jones continued It is all very well to smile, but those who live in the future will have something, I think, not to smile about but to regret with so many classes in the country trying to hold up employers, municipalities and the Govern- ment to screw every farthing out of them. One feels almost hopeless. One does not know how to meet the position. Let's know where Ave are with the surrounding authorities. Let's get the facts. Nobody here would wish to treat em- ployees, anv portion of them, unfairly or un- generously. I believe the county of Glamorgan is now dealing with their scale of salaries for the first time. I believe they hud a meeting yesterday for the first time, which practically adopted a new wale that might have some effect upon us here. Personally I should be one to re- ject it altogether. I think it is prematuae: nothing should be done for at- least twehe months after the fixing of our scale recently If you are going to enter the question let's go into it with the fullest knowledge possible so that Ave can come to a fair conclusion. Mr. Wm. Jones (Treharris) doubted tljt- ivis- dom of Merthyr taking up the matter again alone. If the Education question, he said, was going to be fought in sections it would he fraught with difficulties. The sooner the better the various aut hori ties thrashed out the points of dispute in conference. MR. JONES' ECONOMICS. Mr. L. M. Fran ( is put Mr. 1). W. Jones right on the economics of rates and taxes. Those who did no labour (be said) were parasites in some way or another, and the wealth of the nation was produced by the workers. How some of the teachers existed on their meagre salaries he could not understand. There were teachers at Dowlais whose appearance made it obvious that they were not living extravagantly. They ivei-e ]K*rfectly justified in asking their employers to give them a wage they considered necessary for existence. The Authority were not up against a rabble but an organised and intelligent body of men and Avomen one that could not be treated like the municipal employees. This state of affairs was now apparent; education authori-j ties were competing for teachers and larger salaries were acting as incentives for Merthyr 1 teachers and bovs and girls from the borough; trained for that profession to go into the neigh- boil ring districts. Alderman Wm. Lewis (Treharris) expressed his usual foal's about the rates, which, he pointed out. were now upwards to 13,1- in the. £ 1, and said that the teachers should SIXOAV sonic "nt1lo..fl.Là"o.n ;n r\H\1' ,lLnnnn.l, I' Mr. Francis moved that the Authority should | meet the teachers in conference. Mr. L. M. Jones seconded. Mr. F. T James suggested that the matter should go to the Salaries Sub-Committee who could make a thorough, hivestigation of the facts; and report to the Education Authority subse- quently. Air. Francis accepted the inclusion of Mr. James' suggestion in his motion, and this course was eventually adopted.

CONTROLLER, EMPLOYERS & WORKMEN. TO THK KDITOi:. Dear Sir.—In a recent letter to the secretary of the S. W.M.I' the Contrtoller emphasises the need for workmen and employers to do all in their power to keep up the output of coal. Some sentences in the letter are well worth repeat- ing, I-iz.. AAonld urge upon all, management and work-men alike, to sink all differences. to Avork together in peace and harmony. The management on their part should do all that is possible to see that proper facilities are not wanting to enable every man to get out the largest output possible, and that a sufficiency of tiii), ttr,.l i,, it)-ailal)ie., and the roads (un- derground) are kept in the best condition pos- sible. Every AVorker Avill agree with these ex- (to all in his power to carry out the desire of the Controller! But, what iis the attitude of the employer towards the Controller;* Judging by their recent actions in South Wales, we it re bound to declare that they are the opposite of friendly, and they do not show any desire to increase the output hy giving better facilities to their workmen. Time after time, at various collieries all oAer South Wales, Me see the employers causing stoppages and strikes, by Avilt'ully and unnecessairly breaking old customs and agreements. Avhich they know arc looked upon as sac-red by the men. In col. lieries Avbere the double-shift is worked, it oft011 happens that no Avorkmen are available to Avork the morning shift, and the men on d\(. aLu,_1 noon shift have requested the management per- mission to work the six days' shift instead of the live. This would mean an average increase in output of four or five tons per AAeek per man. hut strange to sj\y, the management refuse, and the increase is lost to the country in this time of v ital need. There is not a Aveek goes by. but what we hear complaints from men that they j cannot ?et sufhcient tram?: men who could and Avould fill "i" or ?even tons per day can only ?et sufficient trams for three or four t.on, Insu'ad t i it? fa(- I it* of increasing the facilities for output, the man- agement appear to be doing all they can the op- posite way. and increasing the co?t of 1)i-odii-,?-- tion in order,, to make things more difficult for the Controller. Evidently they do not like being controHed tttentsehes. however much they may like to control others. It is the duty of every AVorker to push forward the demand of the Federation" for complete control of the mines hy the workers themselves. and thus cheat these Hun? of South Wales of a German capitalist victorv. h' obtainin a British Demo- cratic victory. Ir. -X-OUNC;.

PARENTS AND THE MILITARISING OF SCHOOLS. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—I appeal to parents among your readers, w ho desire good international feeling after the war, with better social and industrial conditions for the people, to be on the alert now in regard to the "igIlt education of their children. In! many schools military driH is practised, and in some the joining of a Cade-t. Corp is made com- pulsory. Through son?s and ?tori?s for thf iitt? ones and through the biassed teaching of history and of current CA ents to Those Tbat. are older, bo ind ?iris are hein? hrou?ht up in a narrow patriotism. Now. what do parents w.ant. Are the children to grow up with their powers of body and mind fully develoj»ed so that they may become free-spirice<] citizens ? Or are they to be so driHed. disciplined and misinformed a? to be easily exploited by any self-interested -T.oiii) Although the Government has not as yet pro- posed to introduce military drill into the schools directly by legislation, freedom to do so Avill rest with the Local Education Authorities, who are given great powers under the iicav Bill, and the only effective way to combat both the spirit and the practice of Militarism in the schools is to bring steady pressure to bear upon each Edu -1 cation Authority. The responsibility rests with t-lie parents. I shall be glad to hear from any who are inter- ested.—Yours faithfully. E. Fostei: Bkown. Secretary. Joint Commission on Education. fU Avenue Chambers. Southampton How, London, W.CJ.

I THE I.L.P. AND THE C.L.C. TO THE EDITOR. In the correspondence in the Pioneer re- garding the C.L.C. and the I.L.P. no one seems to hare confined himself to the most, vital ques- tion of the Avhole issue: whether the C.L.C and the I.L.P. can come together on a common edu- cational basis to assist in the furtherance of Socialism, which is the essence of Mr. Brock- house's original appeal. Let me ask Mr. Barr a few questions. If these troublesome young men of the C.L.C. are honestly opposed to the educational j>oliey of the I.L.P., and as a result I f}' 1 .I'ff ..} of this honest difference criticise the I.L.P.. does it follow they are enemies of Socialism!' They yield to no one in their zeal for Socialism. have put in effective work and sacrifice for Socialism, and w III (tontlnre to do so. To you the I.L.P. may be Socialism: to me ib is not. It is only a phase of it, and from an edticationti viewpoint, a IwickAvard phase. And when 11 loan said that the I.L.P. is the same to-day as it was twenty year* ago, he lmilded better than he knew. Thai is iu^t the hottott)of till" Avhole trouble. The I.L.P.—and I ;1.111 here con- cerned Avith its educational side—is in the same place as it was twenty years ago. But economic condition? ha?e changed. The many schisms discernable in the Labour and So<-iaUst Move- ment through the "odd are but different j phases of deve?iment c<irrespondin? to ddiniw economic conditions. The movement is a-lways in a process of transition. Each successive stage in its ideological development, with its new policies and tactics, are determined by the suc- cessive stages of development in capitalism it- self. And as Capitalism proceeds on its twenty years' economic march, to intense industrial j crises and disputes, with theii concomitant periods of poverty and unemployment, there arises a need for a new institution better adapted to these new econom ic conditions. Has the educational side of the I.L.P. adapted itself to these economics 1* Or has it, as loan as- sures us, remained in the same place for the last, twenty years!' Now, where docs the C.L.C-. stand in relation to this economic sit,ii,,ttlon:, I'lie line which separates the sellers of labour power from the [wyers of labour-power, finds its exact expres- sion in the C.L.C. The C.L.C. represent the sellers of labour-power, the University, the W.E.A.. and other condescending institutions, represent the buyers of labour-power. The C.L.C. is based upon the class-struggle there lies its economic foundation. It carries this class-antagonism into the sphere of education. In that intellectual class-struggle it means to play its part, teaching the workers history, j sociology, economies, psychology, from the point of view of the exploited class. Does the I.L.P. recognise the class-struggle, and (loes, it carry that struggle into its educa- tional propaganda ? Or does it subscribe to the ''impartial doctrines ef the W.E.A. Let us have these questions answered, then we may come nearer to that common ground which everyone desires.—Yours, etc., W. J. ERTWAKOR. (Pressure on space necessitated the curtailment of the above letter.—Editor.)

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I MAY-DAY AT DOWLAIS. TO THE EDITOR. Dear Sir.—With reference to the May-Day conuovcr¡.;y which appeared in your columns, as a Dowlais miner I would urge the disputants to cease quibbling and concentrate their energies in endeavouring to raise the status of the dis- trict, which, to itiy mind, is in hopeless The intellectual development of the Dowlais miners has not evolved to the stage whereby an injury to one is recognised as an injury to all. The controversy ought never to have been car- ried to the columns of the local press, but should have been settled in ma", meeting. I Avothkk AINKK.

I RUSSIANS AND MILITARY SERVICE. I TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—The following points as to the relations of Russians in this country towards the Military! Service Acts might prove useful to your re-ader, (1) Russians, recruited since March 26tii, are to be posted to labour and auxiliary unit* only, Avhilo they can volunteer for light- ing .services. (■J) Russians, who attained the age of 41 years on or lwfoi-e Sept en liter 20th. 1917, are (a.t present) NOT i.iuir/K for Military Service. (IJ) Should the age limit be raised for Rus- sians. these would be giveli tllc- choice of Hen- or Russia." (-0 Uussians born iii (ir later can. on application get temporary exemption from the Russian Military Headquarters, London Might I at the some time take the opportun ity to point out that Russians pleading eon. ,?(-ient i ous o l )j e(?ti scientious ion are not being dealt with e i t hc-r in accordance with law or with the pro oedure laid down by Army Order- X of 2,-)tli May. 1^16, whereby a conscientious objector who bi, been court-mart-ialled is entitled to imprison- ment In a civil prison rather than militarv de- tention. The practice seeiu> to be to **udr*a.A'<>ur it., force these men to give in by means of the dis- creditable and brutal methods used against conscientious objectors in the earlier days of the war. Within the past few days my attention has been called to several instances of Russian.^ being sent to military prisons after court martial. I Chan. G. Ahaiov.

Theatre Royal •From Monday on next Aveek. Kric Norman i- paying a quick return to the Theatre Royal with his clever little company in a series of revival- of those old-time dramas that I have so oftea expressed a preference for. There is something full-blooded and stirring ahout the situations that the old writers like Augusta Tulloek created that Avarms my heart much more than any. thing the timid and neurotic productions of our present-day playwrights can. There is a certain nobility, too, in the lines that, is lacking from present-day work in the same school; and in tin- latter's one claim of suf>eriority—that of do uiestic interest,—it is questionable whet-lier tit" contention could be sustained. The plays that Mr. Norman has decided to stage are Th; Woman Who Atoned. for Monday and Tues- day The Man of Mystery for the two fol- lowing nights; on Friday a representation ot ne I)ijiiil, Man of Manchester," at the special request of a number of patrons who failed to see it last Saturday night, when it 'pfayed tr. two full houses and on Saturday the eornpan\ will resurrect that super-sensational stage work Maria Martin," or "The Murder in Hie Recr Darn." The company has been strengthened, but I am pleaded to note chat it stilt contains. in addition to Mr. Norman himself. George Little, who, I understand, was the originat- "Dumb .tan of Manchester," and the ladies who graced it on its visit a Aveek back. During the current week a strong vaudeviih bill is headed by Morritt, whose mysteries offer a first-rate entertainment on the lines of the- Egyptian Hall. In particular was I struck bv his small table trick. The Four Prairies, who bottom the bill, are real red-skins, with a show that is strongly dramatic in its fihale. Madame Beulah is a good representative of the stage clairvoyant school, though I must confess th surprise that two Merthyr young men from the small number who were privileged to be the subjects of her gifts on Monday should have been inthe eternal triangle of the two girls problem. Miss Olive Reece is a talented 1-o(.Lil.v and 11-?s are charming artistes in song and dance Lismore and Lee are comedy entertainers, and' the musical act of Gerald Gordon is above the average. Pr. YCOY-H.

DOWLAIS MINERS AND MAY DAY. Mr. Evan Evans, sub-agent of the S.W.M.I' DoAvlais District, has sent us a letter in reply tc. his critic in our columns, re-enforcing his con tention of non-responsibility for the opposition that the obserA ance of May 1st a.s a. general holi- day met with in that district, and denying any hand in the informing of the managements of the pits of Executive decisions in variance with., the holiday. "We gladly accept the word of Mr. Evans, and since no good can possibly come from a continued acrimonious point, incapable of de monstration, we close the discussion with tie letter reproduced elsewhere.—Ed. Printed and Published by the National Labour Press. Ltd., at the Labour Pioneer Presm., WiUiams' Square. Merthyr Tydfil. I SATURDAY, JULY Oth. llQ

I Pontypridd Notes. I I.L.P. Mr. Herbert Griffith, deputising for Mr. J. Smith. Xewport, addressed the Pontypridd I.L.P. on Sunday on housing problems. Mr. Owen Hughes presided. I Trades Council. The Trades and Labour Council are holding a meeting at the Palladium on Sunday next, with respect to the raising of the rentals of working- men's dwellings.

Death of a Ynyshir Comrade. < I RED FLAG FUNERAL OF A STAUNCH I WORKER. I TO THE EDITOR. I Dear Sir.—Will you kindly allow me a small space in your columns, to record the death of our CVjmrade Josiah Gealy, which took place at Ynyshir on the 9th inst.. after an illness lasting only a few days; also to tender our heartfelt gratitude to his comrades ard friends for the splendid effort which they made to attend his funeral, which took place at Llanwonno Church on the 13th inst. For many years, our comrade had been a staunch advocate and an enthusias- tic worker for the cause of International Social- ism and Avorking-class solidarity; one of those quiet, unobtrusive workers, Mr. Editor tif vou will permit me to say so) aiAo do most of the work, yet receive least of the acknowledgment. Living thus, it was only to be expect: that his la.-t Avish should be for a Socialistic inter- ment. That Is, lsll, I am proud to ay, was so diligently carried out that en-en our late com- rad e himself Avould have been perfectly satisfied could he but have seen it. There was a large profusion of floral tributes, prominent among them were two beautiful red wreaths from his comrades of the Ynyshir Economic Class. The last rites AA'ere conducted by Comrade W. Main- waring, of Clydach YaJe, who in a few brief, liti"u AVell-chosen Avords, spoke of the noble and self-sacrificing life our deceased .comrade had lived for the sake of the completions which lie held. He concluded by a request for the sing- ing of the Red Flag." and I can assure you, Mr. Editor, that as the strains of the grand old Socialist hymn rang out on the still evening air, there W1. not one of the large crowd assembled who did not shed a tear. Thanking yon in an- ticipation of an insertion.—Yours, etc.. • Fkank Eowaktjs, Secretary. Ynyshire C. L.C. Class. 47 William Strt^ei, Ynyshir.