Pioneer

I Llantfisant and District Notes. I Trades Council Campaign. The Trades Council has decided to conduct an open-air campaign throughout the district im- mediately after the Whitsun holidays. Promi- nent speakers in the Labour world are expected to take part. I Maternity and Child Welfare. The following women have been appointed members of the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee: Miss Vater, Llantrisant Mrs. Ar- nold. Pontyclun; Mrs. H. Owen, Tonyrefail; Mrs. Rees, Llantwit Fardre, and Mrs. Owen, Tynant. I To Select Sites. Committees have been appointed by the Dis- trict Council to definitely select sites for the building of these Government subsidised houses. We're moving, but apparently some time must elapse before we get the houses. Hospital Hut as Dwelling House. To help meet the scarcity of houses in the dis- trict, the District Council has decided that the hut, set aside as a small-pox hospital, on an isolated part of the Rhiwfelan Farm at the en- trance to the Ely Valley, shall be let as a dwell- ing-house, provided the tenant agrees to vacate the hut at a moment's notice if called upon to do so. So this is the extremity to which the Government of the rich and well-to-do has re- duced us. The working classes must now be shoved into a small-pox hut to—ineffectively— rpheve overcrowding. During the war we heard a good deal from the "patriots" about Equality of sacrifice," Making the world fit for heroes to live in," etc. What a sight it would he now to see a procession of these wealthy people, headed by the owners of Taly- garn and Miskin Manor, waiting upon the Dis- trict Council and saying: "We are prepared to lwa r our part of the sacrifice in this overcrowd- ing, with its consequent inconvenience, disease 1 and iiiiset-v, and we offer you our mansions to let in apartments. They are just the places for heroes to live in." It's hardly likely to happen, All the same, such large houses should be labelled Apartments To Let." Peace Celebrations. No apology is made for returning to this ques-j tion again this wee k. It is a matter of the greatest importance to the Labour, Movement that it should not he associated with the official celebrations of one of the most wicked peace treaties ever imposed by victors upon the van- quished. The Peace Treaty violates the armis- tice conditions, and it thwarts every hope and aSpIratiOll of the working classes of Great Bri- tain, France, Germany, Russia and every other country of Europe to establish a just and sane peace when wars shall be no more. At the be- ginning of the war we were told that it was a War to end war," A war in defence of small nationalities," "A war to make the world safe for Democracy," and such like hypocrises. To- day it is clear to the meanest understanding that the war was merel y, the climax of the rival- ries between the capitalist governments' of Europe, for territory, for markets, for coal- fields, for iron-ore, for oil-wells and the like. To secure these ends the Allied governments are prepared to go to any lengths. Since the armed men of Germany cea ed to face the armed men of the Allies in deadly combat, the war has been continued by means of the blockade upon de- fenceless men, women and children, and the vic- tims of this atrocious blockade weapon are to be counted in hundreds of thousands. The Lusi- tania atrocity pales into insignificance by the side of this blockade atrocity. Soldiers in whose j breasts dwells something of that old time ehiv- ,dry which disdains to make war upon the tie- fenceless, are unanimous in their disgust of the practices of these capitalist governments which know ii,) distinction between armed men and defenceless women and children, but murder all indiscriminately. Can the workers feel less dis- gusted:" Can the working classes of Llantrisant afford to take part in any official celebrations of a treaty which secures riches to our capitalist classes at the expense of the blood and tears of the working classes of the world Y War is I being made upon the w orkers of Russia merely j because they are making an effort to rid theni- selves of the predatory classes. It would be a hollow moc kery, a betrayal of Labour and of th" international solidarity of the working classes to associate the Labour movement with the official ccieoraiionsof the war-making Peace Treaty. It would he rejoicing with the capitalists over the defeat of the workers. If we believe any- thing at aJ! in our professions of unity, of in- ternational solidarity, the only hope of the world for preventing war, then we shall do as our fellow-workers in the Rhondda arc doing, demonstrate against the Peace Treaty, and re- llPII our faith in the old slogan, Workers of the world unite, you have nothing to lose but your chains, you have a world to win."

Swansea Valley Notes Labour and Police. On Sunday afternoon a splendid open-air meeting was held on the Garth Field, Glais, un- der the auspices of the I.L.P. The speaker was Ex-Lieut. J. Goulding, who spoke, on "Social- ism from Chaos." The following resolution was adopted on the motion of Mr. Tom Evans, se- conded by Mr. Ed*\ in Thomas: mass meeting of the workers of Glais heartily con- gratulates the police and prison officers on their magnificent struggle for trade union recognition and caMs upon organised Labour to give them every necessary support." Ex-Lieut. Coulding's Career. 1 I'?, I- iiif pouce resolution was unanimously car- ried at the meeting held at the Playhouse, Ystalyfera, on Sunday evening, when Ex-Lieut, (ioulciiug gave another address. ft was moved by the chairman (Mr. T. Evans) and seconded by Mr. Dan How ells. The chairman stated that many meetings had been held under the auspices iff the 1. L.P. in Ystalyfera, hut without excep- tion they had been addressed by persons who had opposed the war from its commencement. Many of these speakers (himself included) had been accused of being cowards and that they had opposed the war in order to save their own skins. But the speaker that evening could not be open to stich accusations. He had boon a warrior on two fronts. He felt it his duty 1:1 1914 to go and tight against the Germans on be- half of what he believed to be Freedom and Jus- tice. After having been wounded and discharged lie began exercising the rights of free speech and the result was that the lip-service "patwots" sentenced him to a term of imprisonment. Still he was undaunted, and he was determined to continue to fight in the I.L.P., the Party he considered the only one which would establish a real peace and the principles for which he and others had fought for in France. Mr. Goulding explained how the Allied Governments were striving to overthrow the young Socialist Gov- ernment of Russia and were trying to crush the International Socialist movement. Very clearly he pointed out how the capitalist governments were bringing about chaos in the various coun- tries, and showed how the facts of economic evo- lution were making Socialism the inevitable out- come of the downfall of the present capitalist form of society. He appealed to the workers to join the LL.P., and to help hasten that down- fall and to peacefully and intelligently re-estab- lish society on firm and just Socialist principles. In the afternoon. Mr. Emil Davies, who had given such useful evidence at the Coal Commis- sion, addressed a crowded house in the same hall on Socialist Reconstruction," and in the even- ing he spoke at the Cinema Theatre, Ystradgyn- lais, Mr. John Thomas, B.A., presiding. I Pilgrimage to Porthcawl. The Pontardawe branch of the I.L.P. is ar- ranging a ehar-a-hallc trip to Porthcawl on Whit-Monday. The members intend having a picnic on the Common in the afternoon, and witt provide a flag for the Demonstration in the even- ing. I And a Tea. I A ?rand soda! and tea is a!f?o being arranged for the )ast week in the month when?Miss Pal- llistet- Is e,-Kp(?ct(,tl to visi-1, Pont-ar(laive. I Clydach Outing. The Clydach Branch is organising a trip to Parkmill next Tuesday, when the home-coming of the local be celebrated. I Social Science. I I Xun Nicholas' social science classes at Clydach I and Pontardawe are getting on fine." Be- I tween 40 and 50 students attend every Sunday. An Address in Welsh. I In the absence of the Rev. T. E. Nicholas, Mr. Tom Evans gave an address in Welsh under the auspicps of the local Brawdoliaetli y Cymod "on the subject, A gall Milwriaeth ddinistrio Milwriaeth." at the Institute, Pon- tardawe, on Wednesday evening..

I Mountain Ash Notes. Neighbour's Peace. I After sittillg month after month the Big Four" have made known to the war-weary peo- ples of the world their alleged peace terms. At the Brotherhood Church last Sunday evening the Rev. G. Neighbour proved conclusively that the terms were war terms and not peace, and that they were drawn up by a comparatively small number who were mad with the lust of con- quest. We are expected to go wild with en- thusiasm on.,4#fe appointed day of celebration about something which if allowed to remain as a treaty, damns posterity. In the bon-fires that we dance around the fiendish devil of war will be mocking and laughing a.t us. And all be-I cause the affairs of the world are left in the hands of a few who blind and drive the mass. As the Rev. Neighbour says, The things that go to make wars inevitable find favour, while the things that go to make for peace are at a discount, and the few who seek them have to face a life of persecution." The Rev. Neigh-. ?' 'I'he Rev. ?\eig l i- hour has known and still knows what it is to suffer because he dares to hold fast to tIw things that go to make peace. The lowly Carpenter was nailed to his cross because he believed and practised the things that make for peace. A "Big Four" cannot bring peace to the world if it wanted to. Peace can only come when the peoples have mutually agreed to work in har- mony and goodwill one towards the other, which was the theme of the Rev. Neighbour's magni- ficent address. Mines' Examiner Election. Congratulations to Mr. Isaac R. Jones on hie- appointment by the Aberdare District of Miners' to the position of examiner and minimum-wage agent. There were over 40 applications, and the exhaustive vote principle brought Mr. 1. H. Jones to the final with Mr. John Jones (Aber- dare). The result was: I. R. Jones (Mountain Ash), l-\H(j0; John Jones (Aberdare), 1,374. The successful applicant is best known for his strenu- otis sietivities in connection with the Aberdare strike of 1910 ,familiarlv -ii .-is the" Block Strike." It was not as some people imagined a wooden strike." but it was fundamentally a strike on behalf of the "bottom dog," and Mr. 1. R. Jones with others trustw orthily led tho miners in an attempt to better their conditions. By this he naturally aroused the anger of the colliery ow ners, and when the strike terminated he found himself on the road. For nine years I he has been severed from the miners' movement, but by a splendid majority the miners of the Aberdare District have determined that his valuable services will be made use of in the future in their interests. J.L.

I- Neath Notes. I A Pleasant Eve ling. I rI." 1, I ? ? I I 1.ne cattle iuarKot, N tll, was the scene of a lively meeting on Friday evening. The speaker was Mr. Ivan Davies, London, who had come to extinguish the fli-e of local Bolshevism, but he only .succeeded in making it burn brighter than ever. Mr. Davies tried to holster up the already tottering edifice of the capitalist svstem and the privileges of the capitalist class. He made his remarks under a barrage of interjec- tions. lowards the close of the meeting mat- ters began to look ugly, and only through the appeal of one of the prominent Socialists of the town did the speaker escape a rough handling, lhe local reactionaries under whose auspices the meeting was held, did not have the courage to appear in support of their champion. Question time came and the speaker was metaphorically bowled over time and again, and the meeting broke up to the strain of the "Red Flag." It was a fine evening's work for the Cause which, as our great singer, Illiiii -Aloi-ris, so truly sung, Alone is worthy till the good days bring the best." We are anxious that our enemies will hold more meetings. They are so helpful to the movement—ours, not theirs. ISocialists, Demonstration. Saturday night saw another fine- Socialist de- monstration at the Gwyn Mall, Neath, with Mr. A. P. Ysites, editor of the Merthyr Pioneer," and Mr. James Winstone as the speakers. Mr. Yates delivered a fine masterly and scientific address which evoked repeated applause. Mr. Winstone was also given an enthusiastic recep- tion, and gave vent to a fe? forceful home truths on I Itl matters. Mr. John Scott was chairman. The first of this season'g open- air meetings was addresse d by Mr. Yates on Sunday. As on the previous night, lie talked Socialism and delivered the straight goods all the way." Mr. Harry Bond presided.

■I INDEPENDENT LABOUR PARTY. OPEN=AIR DEMONSTRATION AT PORTHCAWL (NEAR ESPLANADE HOTEL) WHIT-MONDAY, JUNE 9th AT 6 P.M. Speakers Miss Pallister, Messrs. J. E. Edmunds, J. A. Kelly, Dan Griffiths, etc. ANNUAL CONFERENCE OPENS 10.30 A.M.. NATIONAL SCHOOLS, PORTHCAWL.

1- _u Briton Ferry Notes I Lecture. I The Rev. Daniel Hughes (late of Pontypool) re-visited Jerusalem Baptist Chapel, Briton Ferry, on Thursday and lectured on "The Edge of the S word." The proceeds are to assist- in I providing a church organ. The Rev. R. Powell presided. Prison Chaplain's Visit. I the Rev. Humphrey Chalmers, M.A. (Lon- don), chaplain of Wandsworth Prison, preached at Jerusalem Church with Miss A. Rosina Da- vies (Treorky). The Rev. Herbert Dunnico, who was the original speaker, was unable through illness to fulfil his engagement. Soldiers and Sailors. I On Saturday the discharged soldiers and sailors paraded Briton Ferry headed by the Aberavon Bit Badge Band." Prominently displayed was a large portrait of the" man who won the war," and there was a great show of flags. At the Crown Park speeches were made and resolutions passed, one in condemnation of Smillie and another of the C.O.'s. A discharged soldier, moving an amendment to the latter, was booed and hissed and was told" lie ought to be shot." He was followed home by jeering com- pany. How pleased the local jingoes and pro- fiteers must be! I.L.P. I On Sunday the I.L.P. held an open-air meet- ing at the Crown Park. The speaker was Mr. Noah Tromans (Mountain Ash). As usual a fine crowd gathered and Tromans "delivered the goods." Councillor Dd. Mort presided.

Taffs Wet! Notes. I I.L.P. I Miss M..Pallister during her two days' visit to Taffs Well and Gwaelodygarth addressed an l I.L.P. meeting on "Women in the New World." She dealt with the intelligent use of the vote and pointed out tha.t the emancipation of woman and man rested in their own hands, and the surest way to attain that end was to work and vote for the I.L.P. programme. Mr. B. Rees occupied the chair. Next day Miss Psillister, in company with a woman member, canvassed the whole of Taffs Well and Glaiivllyn and addressed another public meeting on What is a Social Revolution?" Miss Pallister said that under the present system manias only valued for the amount of wealth lie could, create. I. tuler the I.L.P. programme man would he valued as a man, production would then have one object—to meet the material needs of men and not for capitalists. Mr. F. Jones presided. An appeal by Miss pallister for new members saw three women and two men ".10m up.

Newport Notes. I Maypole and Early Closing. I The National Amalgamated L'tiion of Shop As- sistants, Warehousemen and Clerks is corre- sponding with the Maypole Dairy Co., and Messrs. Liptons, concerning retention of d o'clock closing in Newport (Mon.). It is hoped that a satisfactory settlement will be reached in a few days, as the Maypole Dairy Company have expressed their willingness to retain the (j o'clock closing wherever this is a unanimous ar- rangement, and Messrs. Liptons have also writ- ten stating that they have no wish to extend the hours of labour, hut quite ^lie reverse, and all they insist upon is unanimity in closing ar- rangements.

The 1 heatre- Royal I Thc late Auguste Van Bien, touring South r oken Me l o d y. "re- Wales with his immortal" Broken )Ielody." re- in a certain speech that London im- pressirrios would do well to cultivsite the W elsh coalifelds. There was money there, lie said, and appi "cisition. George Dance wsis another believer in the box-office value of the mining centres, and he it was who first introduced the old gaiety and George Edwardes' musical comedies here. Now, Mr. Albert tie Courville is turning his at- tention to industrial V\ sties—apart from the Moss haJls-and the reception at the Theatre Royal, Merthyr, this week of lus London Hippo- drome achievement, "X?-Xa?/' i.s a happy au?urv of success to Ins new venture. There is nostor\. The show !S a joyous x?-Ka?a'o))? vaudeviHet?hrini'mt slaving a.nd wit!!ma?'n!- ficent dressing. Ernest Sd1m was truly Robeyesque in this delineation of the many parts falling to his lot and his quaint foolery as a lad fra' Lanca- shire" it) search of and hreakfast" in the wicked Metropolis was a thing of joy. Funny too, was he when the audience were xi?-xanKe(! hack to the Stone A?e, and no less d 1.I in j,t all too brief scene w as Katie Marsh as his }li'P-¡' -til too se(,rie \is T-iti?, Mii-sli is Ii i,, ))i.(? elaborate scenic- displays was Ryan's Chinese Lacquer design in black gold and red, which lent i a glorious atmosphere to the weird music of the "Chin Chu Chow" number delightfully sung j by Doris Clayton. Almost sis spectacular was McClecry's "Autumn," an episode which gave; an anonymous toe-dancer a chance not missed, Another of Mr. De CourviMe's' successes, Here and There," is coming along after next week's show, "Sugar Uaoy." Described as a laughing salad with musical setting, the book of the Sugar Baby is from the pen of Harry M. Vernon, the author of the famous Oriental j drama, Mr. Wil," and for t.he music and lyrics Grace V'ernon and George Arthurs are responsible, whilst the production is staged by J Gus Solilke. It has a clever caste, headed by Russell Brandon and Fred Williams. I

CORRESPONDENCE. N.U.R. CONCERT. Dear S' r,-It was announced on the bills for Good Friday's whist drive and dance, held by the Merthyr branch of the N.U.R., that the proceeds were in aid of the Orphan Fund. At. the branch monthly meeting it was decided to assist the branch benevolent fund from the pro- ceeds. As a member I objected to the proceed s being devoted to any ether funds than the orphan fund, unless a letter was sent to the Press making it known. But. this was not agreed to. Hence, this letter.—Yours truly, R. E. LEWIS, 163 Plymouth Street. Merthyr, June 3rd, 1919.

"Upholders of Peace." During the police crisis of the week-end the Merthyr chief-constable (Mr. J. A. Wilson) cir- cularised his force-98 per cent. of whom are- members of the police union—relative to the- threatened strike. After dealing generally with the situation, he said he could not conceive "any police-officers worthy of the name of up- holders of public jieace," acting in an illegal manner when an assurance of a settlement of legitimate grievances was only a question of act- ing legally and remaining loyal to their oath I assure the members of t.h? Merthyr force," he went on, that the improvement of pay and conditions of service will continue to be mv fore- most consideration in endeavouring to secure a contented and happy force. My appeal to everv man in the force is to be loyal to your oath of allegiance, for with the definite pronouncement of the Government regarding the question of in- creased pay, the police stand to gain immediate- ly, vihereas to act illegally and leave their posts- at this critical period must incur the odium of every loyal subject." The chief-constable's action was approved of bv the Watch Committee on Monday when Mr- II)Av 'ilst)ji supplemented his report with a state- ment that 60 per cent. of the men who had joined the union did so on the understanding, that it would not become affiliated to tziv otliel- organisation, but, "finding they had been takeit in," these men had seceded that day. Mr. F. T. James asked whether in the event of si strike sirrsingements had been made to eope- with the emergency. Mr. Wilson: I liatl sufficient men to carry oil- Mr. James: Were you prepared to meet all emergency ?— Y es. That is so. The men said' to-dsi\ that they felt sure I should plead with the Committee that whatever the Police Com- mission grsinted they would shan' in it. I think the other I)oiiit-tlie 26 years* seri-ice- application respecting which has been before this Committee will also be settled by the Po l ice- Commissioners. Mr. James: With regsird to the t: lOs, mini- mum—does that apply to this forced Mr. Wilson That will apply to all forces d1 the country. Mr. James: Supposing that is broug"ht our force, will it improve the po.ition of our' men ? Mr. Wilson: les. It will considerably. On the suggestion of Mr. Knoch Morreli < La~ hour) it was agreed to give an assurance to the Merthyr policemen that the recommendations of the Police Commission would receive favourable consideration by the Merthyr Committee.

Electric Tiieatre. II The return of cluirming Jewel Carmen to the Electric Theatre next week, in a new Fox show' that the management of that enterprising Ij()u(" has not failed to remember that holidsiv week demands a s.how well above even the spicndi? an'rage of an Electric. In thi> tragedy in which the ghost of the past engendering fear is laid b?' tiii? (,Iiost of the past I bv' work i,n "The Kingdom of Love." and "Th? Grl with the Champagne Eyes." It is a surf, winner, and with most houses the certainty o* success that the securing of such a 111<1 stprr>iect' means would he an excuse for ii till-up pro- gramme of indifferent-s. But there is no.'a!-? of iiid I liijt Reckless Romec'/ in which the erstwhile ?reat Keystone Triangb" comedian Roscoe (Fatty) Arbuckle appears. l sureto be as great sin attraction in its line a* the star picture, Again, tJlilt splelldid Trsin?" Atlantic super-serial winch i-> coming to Mer- thyr at the request of ntinmrous patrons, Til** Brass Bullet," is to open its story for the first time in the Monday to Wednesday programing" Ibis story of romantic adventure and startling sit,nations lists been entrusted to dariu?, .J lIanita Hansen, with Jack Mulhali as the chief support. It is only necessary to mention tJ¡ee names to secure big houses. From Thursday on anoth er remarkably programme is down for presentation. Leading is M ae Marsh-—than whom no one- secnr^ J greater admiration in Merthyr—is phiying her l finest part in All \N' It quaint GoIdwyJ*! replete with dramatic opportunities, of whic^ sweet Mae makes full use. ft has been de"j scribed as the most originsil ptay of the year, HJI upon its steady development of plot, and stotf arguments of real soundness have ht,pn has<:( for the film's priority right amongst the med> of story telling. Fatty" is in this programnlt' too, in Out \Vest," a burlesque roar of lau^r ter from start to finish. The current programme is as pretty a show 0 was ever screened, and the ccxd of the hotl st', coupled to such entertainments, is being dated to the full. Printed and Published by the National Laboto( Press. Ltd.. at the Labour Pioneer PreØ Williams' Square, Merthyr Tydfil. f