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Labour Notes.
Labour Notes. WHAT DEMOCRACY IS THINKINC AND DOINC. LABOUR AND IRELAND. The National Executive of the Labour Party, .at its meeting last week, had under considera- -fcion the present position of the Irish question, ami adopted a resolution expressing deep mis- giving :1.t, the present policy of drift on the part of the Government in relation to Ireland and the dangers t)uit'ie ahead unless a determined effort is made to settle the Irish question .satis- factorily. The Executive urged the Parliamen- tary Labour Party to make it clear to the Gov- ernment that any attempt to enforce conscrip- tion in Ireland will he vigorously opposed. The Labour Party is watching the Irish situation very closely and has been in consultation with' responsible people in Ireland. At a flieetiji,, of tiit, War Emergency Workers' National Committee held last week a strong re- solution was adopted drawing the attention of 'he Prime Minister to the very serious condition of affairs in Ireland, in consequence of state- ments made by Irish officials that it is the in- tem ion of the (iovernment.to enforce military conscription in Ireland. The National Commit- tee protested against any enforcement of con- scription on Ireland, except upon the vote of an Irish Parliament it warned the Government ilui.t, according to the information laid before it, -any 'such action would certainly produce the ;nost serious consequences without- resulting in "any military advantage; and special attention was drawn to the statement that the Irish Gov- -ornment has been advised, and the National Ser- vice and Military Authorities have been in- vtructed that the Military Service Act will be- urne fully operative, and action upon it will bo legally warranted immediately an Order in Council i* laid before the House of Commons, without waiting for the expiration of the four- teen days during which it may be debated in the House. The National Connni.ttee asked for a public assurance from the Prime Minister that he will give instructions that under no circum- stances will any action be taken to put the Order in force until the expir.ition of the fonr- teen days allowed to the House of Commons to on^ider the situation. WOMEN WORKERS ORGANISATION. Some interesting facts with regard to tno in- crease. of women members in the societies affiliated to the Women's Trade Union League appear in the forty-third Annual Report of the League which has just been issued. During •the I:i-t year, the United Garment porkers' Union shows an increase of 80,1 lOO women; the General Union of Textile Workers, -0,000 the National Cnioll of General Workers, 1.),000: the Postal and Telegraph Clerks' Association, 7,000; and the National Union of Printing and Paper Workers, 0,900. The League has been very active during the past year in connection with "trade disputes, trade boards, where their efforts nave, secured many Improvements in minimum rates for various industries, and legal advice, two hundred compensation cases having been dealt with in the year. They have also been v. r\ active in looking after the legislative 111- terests of women workers. In order to avoid confusion with Women's Trade Unions,, tin1 National Union of Women Workers has decided to change its name to the National Council of Women of Great Britain, and Ireland. This organisation is an association of women whe^ meet to discuss prob lems a ffeet- vng women, and is in no way connected with or- guuised Labour. A further step towards carrying out the Rp-¡! solution of the Labour Party Conference in June last has been taken by the National Exe- cutive of the Labour Party, which has decided to have a Bill drafted to remove the existing i,og;ii Nvb'ch prevent women j from becoming Ministers of Slate or holding judicial office. The National Executive have al- ready published the draft of a. Bill which deals with the ri?ht of women to be elected to. and to sit in the House of Commons, and hope to have this deaJt with when Parliament meets. In 'I view of the coming Cenera! Election it is of special urgency, LABOUR ON FOOD COMMITTEES. The War Emergency Workers' National Com-! m it-tee, at its meeting last week, adopted a re- I ?)!))tion of protest agamst the action of the Food Ministry in issuing the new Order n'I,atÎl,lg; I to the formation of the Local Food Committees without submitting it to the Consumers' Coun- -il. in spite, of a decision by that Council that the Order should first be so submitted The National Committee relies on the hood Mmistei to see that the provisions with regard to Labour •representatives on the Committees being nomi- nated hv recognised Labour bodies, .the nomina- tion of women by recognised working women s organisations, and tJIf" due representation Oi '•o-operatiye societies where such exist will be properly carried out. Dissatisfaction at the in- adequate representation secured to the co-opera- tive movement was expressed by the Committee, which especially called attention to the failure absolutely to require such representation wherever co-operative societies exist, and to the absence of any provisions requiring co-operative representation whore larniers, but not food traders, are placed upon the, Committee. COAL RATIONS. The existing scale of rationing lor fuel and light does not meet with fhe approval of the War Emergency Workers' National Committee. The Cortimittee. at its meeting last week, adopted a resolution pointinp: out that the scale of rat ioning bears most unfairly upon the great mass of working-class households; that the al- lowance of three or four tons for liolistllold occupying three or four rooms is insufficient to keep even the kitchen fire going; and an ill- crease in the allowance for small houses up to a minimum of five tons for the smallest separate -household having a kitchen fire is regarded as absolutely necessary. The increments for larger households, the Committee thinks, should he smaller than under the existing scale, and there seems no reason why any allowance should be made for rooms in excess of twelve for one hoiiselioid, unless it can be shown that more than twenty people are living there all the year round. It is suggested that an absolute maxi- mum of twentv tons for the largest house should be imposed. EARNINCS AND PENSIONS. I Strong protests are being made by trade and labour councils against the decision of the Ministry of Pensions to take January, 1916, as the basic month in estimating the earnings of men who enlisted before that date. The depen- dents of such men are placed in a, much worse position thereby than the dependents of those ( called up at a later date, as wages in most oc- cupations rose greatly in 1916 and last year. The 'Trade. Cotifteils at Eccles and elsewhere are I in all caves be taken as tin1 basis for estimating earnings, as only in this way is it possible to avoid the perpetuation of a. great injustice to the dependents of the men who joined up in the early months of the war. I TH ENE W PROTECTION. Persistent and determined efforts are being made in various quarters to commit the country to a. fiscal policy of Protection. The word Protection is not often used, and even tin,1 more alluring title of "Tariff IR,efoi-iii is whis- pered quietly. The phrase that Protectionists prefer to shout aloud is Key Industries." It is said that certain products are the keys of in- dustry, and that these keys must be entirely in British hands. Examples are given of certain manufactures which previous to the war, were c ntirely under German control, and plausible arguments are brought forward to show that all persons, whatever may be .their general views, must certainly agree that these Key Indus- tries should be held and protected. There are several ar?um?xts against this pro- posal. Nobody, for example, seems to be able to say what exactly is a Key Industry." The chairman oi the Mond Nickel Company stated r<'c(;)t)y?hat he iii(i tli(, (lif?(-iiltv in finding a definition, but went 011 to say that his own company's indlltry was Key." Every manufacturer, in fact, who previously wanted Protection or Tariff Reform now a bandons all the old arguments and simply affirms that his is a Key I industry. The Tariff Reform League is at present running an exhibition of Ken* Tn- dustries" in London. The weightiest of all ob- jections to this campaign is that protection of "Key Industries" means "economic war after the war." It is entirely contrary to tll" tOllr- teen points of President Wilson and his pro- posals fora League of Nations. ITHE EMBARCO COMMITTEE. Labour opinion, while admitting that the .lp-I yointment ot an Advisory Committee as SUg-1 gested in Ali..)list McCurdie's report on the recent embargo strikes, represents something of a concession, does not regard it as anything like I sufficient. It is pointed out that the Committee j appointed includes only tViur trade m)ioJlits, that women are without representation, and that consultation, it it is to be effective, must be held with a fully representative body even though this should cause some slight delay. The new Committee is, further, to operate centrally, and Labour maintains that the place where con- 1 sulfation is required is in the several localities | where trouble usually break s out. and where the bureaucratic methods of the Ministry of Muni- tions have been most bitterly experienced. fit advanced La bour ci rcles the necessity for loca consultation and local responsibility were recog- nised as the present con- cession. if it goes 110 further, is distinctly dis- appointing to them. !-L'A,DE UNION ORCANISATION. I., 11 At the Derby I ratio ,lmion Longress tnis year considerable interest was shown in the organisa- tion of trade unions, and for the first time ap- proving the principle of union hy industry, and instructing the Parliamentavy Committee to draft suitable schemes. Interesting develop- are oii foot. A large number of engi neering trade unions, comprising over tiOO.OOO workers, have held a hig amalgamation conference at York, and a scheme is in process of preparation which will put an end to many sectional disputes in the engineering world, eoachma kers, whee iiid vehicle builders of all kinds are also gradually combining into one large society—whose organisation has been immensely strengthened by war-time develop- ments— are wisely considering the amalgamation of their forces. The imminent fusion of two of the largest societies of post-office workers may produce a fourth partner in the great alliance ot miners, railw ayvnen, and fransport workers, while the absorption of the British Steel Smelters in the new Iron and Steel Trades' As- sociation renders one union for all iron and steef v/orkers only a matter of time. IRISH TEACHERS' STRIKE. In Labour circles considerable interest is taken in the national strike of Irish teachers, who have received miserably small war bonuses ranging from zero to and who demanded the fun civil service bonus which stands at 19/6 to 21/- foil lileii. The Irish edu- cation authorities were quite willing to concede this demand, hut the English Treasury refused to allow the eltiiii to go before the Civil Ser- vants' Arbitration Board, denying that the teachers were civil servants. Largely in re- sponse to Labour agitation in Ireland in which to Li,b oiii- ag -it] oii, in lr(,Itnd I 'n wliIeli active, the Treasury has given way and civil ser- vants in the post-nfHoe and elsewhere are claim- "? i.his as a Mow at the system, of TreasurT C'otnx?, which has always been a stumhhn?- block in the way of any radical reform of the civil service. TRADE UNIONS FOR PROFESSIONALS. I I lie grow th of the membership of the Trade Union Congress from three to four and a half millions in one year is not the only remarkable sign of the times. The movement towards or- ganisation is spreading, and the most surpris- ing development has been among the profes- sional and supervisory classes who have hitherto regarded themselves as superior to trade, union- ists. The supervisory grades Oil the railways and the postal workers among civil servants have long since shown a tendency to organise themselves; and the leaven is working amongst other classes, as is shown by the enormous num- ber of societies catering for all grades of gov- ernment workers, including even the proud first division of the civil service in which a union has been formed. Outside the ovd service are to be found draughtsmen and industrial engineers, industrial and reseanh chemi sts, hn Ilk officials. foremen and managers of all grades hurrying into trades unions. The latest news is that the Actors' Association has decided to transform it- self into a trade union, and to undertake trade union action. Nor are these developments fri- volous. Their serious intention may perhaps be 1111 erred from the decision 1 of several post-office unions to pursue a strike x policy and to. form a strike fund. NATIONAL WAGE ADVANCES. Tlw application of the Transport Workers' Federation for a. national increase in wages of 4d. per hour, affecting iii all about 200,000 workers, marks a new stage in a very important movement. In Mav of last year the Committee on Production first agreed to hear engineering wage applications on a national scale. This has always heen ardently advocated by the miners, and the principle has been extended to building chemical, and certain classes of transport workers. The present is, however, the first oc- casion on which all transport workers have ap- plied simultaneously for an increase in pay. An important provision in the engineering and building agreements is a, clause providing for the levelling up of wages in low-paid districts, which should get rid of many serious inequalities and should make the future settlement, nf wnorec n+
iCwmavon and The I.L.P.
iCwmavon and The I.L.P. A REPLY TO "NEMESIS." TO THE KUITOM. i.ilot.1r the ebullitions of Neniises and the fulminatioHs of the "pious pastor of Peuuel" i must not go undaunted on their way. With re- ference to the former's letter let me quote Pope:— A vile conceit in pompous words expressed, Is like a. clown in regal purple dressed." And with reference to the latter let me again quote the same poet:— Words are like leaves, and w here they most a bound, "Much fruit of sense beneath is rarely found." it is IlIanifest that organised Christianity is launching an offensive against the Cwniavon I. L. P. The offensive, I predict, will fail, as everything born of illogical pleas must fail. The initiator of the offensive, probably egged oil by his satellites of the Big Seat, is the pious pas- tor" to whom reference has already been made. There is. however, a second offensive emanat- ing from that Hou&e of Wisdom, the Conserva- tive Club. Profoundly perturbed at the iJl- vincible courage of the I.L.P., the Soloilloilic habitues of this architectural monstrosity, with their appalling versatility, their itappy inno- cence, their placid solemnity, their religions fer- vour, their intellectual supremacy, and their lucid calmness, show, how ever, no implacable front. Theirs is the offensive of calculated dis- cretion. Inspired creatures! THE" BIG PUSH." The other offensive is the illogical plea of one I lost, in a horizon of dreams and it is with this I want to deal. e will assume that the min- ister of Penuel is ferociously virtuous. Lest his virtues lend themselves to rollicking farce and fantastic humour, lest his desires to ride on the I breeze of popularity, come to grief, he must at least be resaonably accurate when spitting vitu- perat ion from the pulpit 011 a Sunday evening. To-day, like the kitten who has all interest in chasing its own tail, he is dancing after his own nonsense and so long having failed to catch his belated partner, he has become fulminant in his denunciation oi her. H's flirtation has ended in (blaster: Contact \\ith that, blandishing young lady, l)ora, would not have brought him to greater grief. But the front line of his of- fensive is already showing signs of weakening. A FICKLE LOVER. J say this because only six months ago this I reverend gentleman was himself flirting with the I.L.P. To-day he denounces that with which lie once flirted. And now, just hp- cause they smoke pipes and talk economics', lie apparently means to hound out of his church the f" ). L. IVers !cttth?r<\ \Ybat 1't> ligions aspirations! What a sublime jest! What inalignant antl unutterable folly! What mas- terful management! Does he. do this because of 11(? do this 1)(,eaiise of bidding of his ow n conscience and in the capa- city of a minister of Christ.? These democratic saplings who occasionally gyrate around and (.1tv o f IIItili "t(,]. of C]ITi,,t with suspicion, for here now \\? hav<? cue f, ¡ he breed threatening to hound them out of both public and spiritual life as so much canaille. But perhaps lie makes this threat because of their attitude to the war. Well, the war has re- vealed the1 inadequacy of organised Christianity as it exists to-day to deal with a moral issue it is complicated with political aspirations. It is in the realm of the spirit that we win do- minion over the material. But the "pious pastor" has forgotten the spirit and'flirts with the material, with the result that he spits venom at the I.L.P., the only political party that has found that spirit. BANKRUPT AND WORSE. If he succeeds in hounding them out—and his chape) as a result of his Sultanic action is al- ready showing signs of disintegration the ])oil(", tll(, worse off, for the spirit of religion as they understand it know s no statecraft, and Christianity is indifferent to the claims of Nationalism and the claims of an ex- clusive patriotism. Christianity is no more de- pendent on tite churches than the municipal wel- fare of this Arcadia is dependent 011 its orna- menta l Pa.rish Council. Since the war began the organised spiritual resources that we lie- lieved we possessed as a nation have proved bankrupt. fn the general catastrophe that has befallen society the churches have suffered the itiost, As i, result, under a decent, though hypocritical veil of religious com- monplace. men go on hating one'another very much as they hated in or Imperial Rome. So let the pious minister go on with his hating. He is asking for trouble, and subject- ing himself to criticism, and both lie will get- abundantly, for those whom he wants to hound out. of his chapel have a conception of life far grander and nobler than that which the ohster- perous adherents of Churchianity have—and Cwmavon is literally flooded with such people. We know them for what they are, and have therefore no illusions about their way of diving, although they traverse our artistic- and beautiful streets with eelestiat countenances, and sit on our committees with superb deeorousness and tragic dignity. They have divine wisdom, thev walk with flute-like softness across the tumult of society, their actions are all ns delicate as a woman's blush, they do everything asked of t hem with impeccable neatness and acute per- ception, for they are the potential material of tIlt. Spirit. By his hectic desire to despise men because of their political beliefs and ideals, the "pious pastor of Penuel," aided by the intermittent stars (they do not shine always) of his and per- haps other churches, is committing the greatest faux pas of his life. In the agitation and con- fusion that will follow, he AN-ill have to deal with apostles of sanity, and not amiable asses borne along on the wing of irresponsibility, as he be- lie >ve.s the I.L.P. ers to be. ORION. I
I American Socialists 'and…
I American Socialists and the War. I I SUPPORT FOR THE INTER-ALLIED CON- FERENCE. In its congressional programme for 1918.the American Socialist Party declares itself to be in general accord with the aims of the Inter-Allied Labour and Socialist Conference. This au- nouncement disposes of the. suggestion that the American Socialists are doctrinaire pacifists, and it is pointed out by the New Republic of America. that by its adhesion to the Inter-Allied Conference the American Socialist Party pro- claims its inflexible resolve to continue the war until Belgium is liberated and compensated, Po- land reconstituted in unity and independence with free access to the sea, and throughout Europe, from Alsace-Lorraine to the Balkans, those populations that have been annexed by f orPA TWvv?T*nr 1 f l* 1 J. ■-»
The Government and Meat
The Government and Meat WHY THE PRICE IS ADVANCED 2d. THE MEAT TRUST DANCER IN EUROPE. Maior Astor, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary j to the Ministry of Food, addressing his consti- tuents at Plymouth 011 Friday, said :— There appears to be some considerable misun- derstanding connected with meat, its price and control. Firstly, it is said that the retail price which has just been put up 2d. is higher than is warranted by the price paid for cattle to the British farmer. This as far as it goes is true But its the Ministry find all the meat re- quired at home the balance has to he imported. There is lots of cheap meat in Australasia, but- it takes three times as long to fend a ship to Australia as to the United States. )1r. Clynes decided without hesitation that the British con- sumer would infinitely prefer to get his nwat trom the United States and thereby shorten the war, even though lie had to pay a higher price. Don't let IS ever torget—not for one moment— that we are still at war and that there is still a very great shortage of shipping. Every time we can divert a ship from New Zealand or from Argentine and sent it to North America we double or treble its carrying capacity and there- by increase the number of American soldiers or munitions brought across. Our policy then is! first to ?et as much home kiHedbeff as possible.! next the Allies exh:)ust the nearest, i.e.,th? American suppiy. and Ia st Iy we ?ei the balance from the Argentine and Australasia. The Food Controller pools these supplies nnd retails them to British consumers at such a flat rate as will square accounts. The balance or our Meat Fund fluctuates according to the relative amounts of the different priced meats we put into tlijc pool at various times. MEETING THE LOSS. The Ministry has been accused of trying to pay for a portion of the loss on imported Ameri- can Meat by a part of the recent increase of 2d. per lb. Of course this is exactly w hat Mr. Clvne.- is doing. There is nothing to hide. There is no secret.. He is continuing Lord Rhondda's two guiding principles on 'meat prices. First, so long as meat is rationed the retail priee of the various cuts and joints must he the same ir- respective of the particular country from which the meat happens to have been brought. Equal- ity of opportunity to consumers is our motto. The rich man and the poor man have the same chance of getting home-killed, fresh or imported frozen meat. Whichever they get the price is the same. No other course is possible. Differ- ences in the retail pric es of fresh. North Ameri- can, South American and Australian meat would at once create queues and jealousy. It would not be possible to check the butcher if he charged the higher price for the lower grade meat; and at present rates the charge would have to be higher for the worse (i.e., the im- ported article). Secondly, we want to avoid as far as possible frequent fluctuations in retail prices. At one time of the year we lost, zit iii- other remake on our meat transactions, but we try to iix a stable average price to the con- sumer. as Mr. Clynes feels this facilitates house- keeping for those with limited incomes and helps fo stabilise the cost of living. THE DANCER. There is another point which is undoubtedly causin?consideratne anxiety both among far- mers and consumers. Mr. Prothero referred re- cently to the anxiety felt hy British farmers at the reduction of our herds. They see themselves at the end of the war with depleted live stock [apparently at the mercy of the Meat Trust. The danger is obvious. It is a. danger not only to the British farmer but to the European con- sumer. It is a danger faced by the French w hose herds have been reduced by nearly 20 per cent, dining the war, and by the Italians who claim to have lost ovqr 20 per cent, of their cattle during the German drive of 1917. It is a danger, too, to every "European neutral, since their beds have been reduced more than our own. It is feared that '\ve are becoming increasingly dependent on America and that when the war ends that country may dominate this market. In less responsible quarters I observe it is also in- sinuated that somehow Mr. Hoover in some mysterious manner is controlling the Ministry of Food through the new Inter-Allied Food Conndl. Mr. Hoover quite1 naturally did not want tlie I responsibility ol determining the supplies which, should be sent to individual European countries. Further, he is a great believer in allied co-oper- ation and hopes that Inter-Allied organisation for the control of shipping, food and munitions j will lead up T( )it and make pract.tca.bte a League of Nations after the war. ABLE TO CONTROL TRUSTS. The Food Controllers of Britain, France and Italy being in agreement as to closer co-opera- tion, which Lord Rhondda had contemplated Auied Food Organisation has been set up. Mr. hdorp his death, a very comprehensive Inter- Clynes is Chairman of the CouncH, Sir John Beaie. Secretary to the Ministry of Food. is Chairman of the Executive Committee. It is nattering to (?reat Hritain that these appoint- ments should have been unanimously made by our Allies. The Allies are combining to buy jointly in the producing and exporting markets of the world. They no longer compete and drive up prices to each other's disadvantage. This Tutor-Allied Council of Food Controllers for this purpose represents consumers. The consumers of Britain, America. France and Italy are get- ting a hold on the markets of the world and are apportioning supplies according to their re- spective needs. By the end of the war the Al- lied Food Council, fortified by the Allied Ship, ping organisation, will be in a position to dic- tate terms to any Food Trust, a nd they will hn' able to prohibit the export of food-stuffs by any such group if there is any attempt at exploita- tion. In fact the machinery which Mr. Clynes and Mr. Hoover have set up has freed us from a very real menace which threatened ns last, spring, namely, our griwing dependence on over- seas supplies. Lord Rhondda had been fully aware of it and had much correspondence with Mr. Hoover about it. At the end of the war we. almost a sub-committee if you like of a League of Nations, shall be in a position to con- trol the operations of any food trust. Such con- trol must continue for a time at all events during the period when the world returns to normal conditions. Other purchasing countries must be included in our organisation. Take meat. The price of beef in the United King- dom is 1/4 per lb., in Austria it is 6/9. We cannot allow Austria to go into the American Market and put up the price 100 per cent, when )Q rlonlarnr ? T rvr^
I A Manager's Adventures.
I A Manager's Adventures. I I QUEER CHARGE ACAINST COLLIERY LODGE OFFICIALS. I CYNON CROWD SAYS FAREWELL MY OWN TRUE LOVE." I he charge <>l persistently following Thomas Redshaw, manager oi the Cynon Colliery, from place to place, which was mentioned at the Aberavon County Police Court a fortnight ago, was gone into at last Monday's sitting. The defendants were .JoJlJI Edwards, collier, and secretary of the Cynon Lodge. S.W.M.F., 1:\11<1 John Williams, collier, and chairman of the lodge. A further charge of assaulting Redwood Iwas brought against Williams. Mr. Dan P?r- kins prosecuted. and Mr. \V. P. Nicholas de- fended. Mr. Perkins said that 011 September 7th Ed- wards spoke to the manager. Redshaw, with rt- ference to a claim by a Thomas Morgan, a haulier, lor extra money 011 the question of water. Edwards is the1 secretary of the Cynon Lodge and Williams the chairman. Redshaw said he had paid all the money legally duo. If there was' any further claim they to Disputes Board. On Tues- day. said* the advocate. Redshaw went to the eollicrv through the fields, when he was met bv i a crowd of eolliors. and stopped hy Edwards and Williams. During arguments Williams caught hold ot Kedshaby t lio shoulders and shouted, To the hk.. \1 it]! him. hoys! HIS LIFE IN JEOPARDY. The crowd pushed him along, and Williams picked inm up by the waist clc^sn off his feet and threw him to 1 ite ground. The under-mauager came to Redshaw assistance, hut the crowd got him tn the field*. Edwards was in the crowd and Williams was the ringleader. In consequence of being afraid, and feeling his life in jeopardy. Redshaw turned to the men and saio. "Rather than have anything mere to do with you I will resign my position." Redshaw («* plained :\1r, Perkins) was a man experience, and had been twelve mouths at the colliery, and Edwards then said, I hat's exactly what we w ant." lr. Redshaw wa> then allowed to walk to Ponrrhydyfen. Ac tin- Oakwood Colliery yard a crowd had followed linn, a.nd Edwards said that they had come down determined to march him to Aberavon. Thomas Redshaw. giving evidence in support, said to his protection at Pontrhydyfen. As he was going clown the colliers made a hostile demonstration and sang, Farewell, my ow n true love." After Mr. Nicholas had addressed the bench the defendant Edwards gave evidence. He said that all he had done was to press Morgan's claim. to Red- shaw down to A beravon. The defendant Williams denied laying hands on Redshaw. The magistrates fined defendants £ '1 each on the charge of persistently following. The other summonses were withdrawn.
'rheatre Royal
rheatre Royal The return ot Louis Hector to the Royal this week has again proved the power of drama- to hold an audience witli an intensity unknown to musical comedy, opera or the light frivolity of revue, if the work is chosen with the discrimina- tion that Mr. Hector always shows, from amongst- the stage-writings of our literary giant*, and staged with the care that the Hector company is showing both in respect to castes and settings. Searchlights," with which the visit was opened on Monday is a peculiar piece of work, but of its lI\'frit t here can be 110 two opinions. it is a play in which characterisation is the dominant feature and with wondrous art Vachell has managed to isolate the character of Robert Blaine by throwing it against the sharp- cut cameos of its antithetical characters from many points of view. Robert Blaine is a Napo- leon of finance., but he is one of the most piti- fully detestable characters that has ever been given to the stage, and the poignancy of the picture owes much to the peculiar art of Mr. H ector, w hich is peculiarly adapted to this kind of character. In contrast with him the natural- ised German, Sir Scwaltz, as told by Dennis Bfyan—an-actor of sympathetic understanding, is all embodyment of all the humanities. But without question, the best work in the piece is being done by Clive Woods, whose spontaneous natural buoyance is so natural, as Harry Blaine, am! by .Miss Marion Faweett as the "Hon Mrs, Blaine." Miss Faweett is unquestionably the best lady we have1 had for a long time. She enters so thoroughly into the part, with such convincing, but unstrained emotion that she ca,r- ries her audience with her from first to last. Searchlights" is essentially a triumph for Miss Faweett and C live Woods, and Hector's nrt hut ll1akt''i d". triumnh more nronounced. as I that of Jessie Belmore's is necessarily comple- mentary to it. j This week-end •" Miss Elizabeth's Prisoner" is the theme. It is a story of the American civil war, vi-itli a touch of true love allied to the pano- ply of smart military uniforms, and old-time ?ch'pss?s and ways. For next week the company is present]))? Those famous plays, What Hap- pened to Jones," with Hector as Jones of the pell?-,i to Ai-I tli He(-toi?as Ioii(?-, of the, :111(l Al iii fb(? Both PLAYGOER.
[No title]
control in the interest of the consumer is being applied to the world. Meanwhile Mr. Hoover is not standing idle. He has recommended to the President that the Government should take over all the cattle yards and refrigerated cars from the meat packers. He regulates their profits. Alle fix prices in consultation with him. We pay ex- actly the same price in the United States.as the American Government pays for its army sup- plier There you have an outline of the meat situa- tioll. It has given us considerable anxiety and .1 anx I (,tv a7i d we are not- yet out of the wood. The shortage of feeding stuffs which is entirely due to the lack of tonnage is serious. The President of the Board of Agriculture, realising military ne- cessity and relying on the patriotism of British farmers, has agreed .with our feeding stuffs pro- gramme. The Central Agricultural Advisory Council have approved of the scheme proposed for rationing live stock. The Cabinet have passed oil" I imports progi-,tinn)(-thel are fully aware of the sacrifices involved. It is obviously not. to Mr. Clynes's interest to reduce food im- ports whether for man or beast. He has fought successfully for a minimum. It is a low mini- mum. Tt may involve a reduction of the meat ration after Christmas and it means the ration- ing of live stock. But having secured what- he considers essential he lias absolute confidence in the response that British consumers and farmers will make and in the contribution each will ae-