Pioneer

I Very Secret Service. I THE NEED FOR PERSISTENT INQUIRY. I E200,000 VOTED FOR SECRET SERVICE SYSTEM. On December 8th the Government, with hardly any warning, brought the Secret Service Esti- mates to Parliament, and succeeded in getting them passed. It can hardly have been an acci- dent that they chose the night before the Special Trades Union Congress, when they knew that many of their Labour critics would perforce be absent, and there was therefore a chance that the Estimates would get through with less cri- ticism. The White Paper, which contained these and other supplementary Civil Service Esti- mates, lets out the fact that a sum of £ 200,000 is asked for the Secret Service, this sum being double that originally put forward. And the Government spokesman could not state how the money was to be spent." The Government have got their money, but clearly the mater ought not to be allowed to rest there. Every Labour man, and particularly any Trade Union- ist who has been active in the workshop, knows a lot about the spy system which the Special Branch of Scotland Yard, under the unintelli- gent direction of Sir Basil Thompson, has gra- dually built up—a system whose like has not been known since the French Revolution and the Napoleonic wars last put our governing class in a panic. This system of espionage and corrup- tion has, however, one weak point: it cannot stand the light of day. Publicity is death to it, and it is publicity which the Labour movement should demand. Every branch of a Trade Union should pester the Government and its local M.P. until it obtains light on the following facts —What is the annual amount spent on indus- trial espionage; how many persons are employed by the Secret Service Pepartment to go into works and pose as active Trade Unionists; what Department -is responsible for the blaeklegging circulars now being sent out to professional and other bodies, and what is done with the lists when they are obtained, where this Department gets its Trade Union information, and what are its relations with the police of foreign countries? Answers to these questions would materially help the cause of freedom for the Labour Move- ment.

I An Educational Opportunity I THAT YOU MAY SECURE. I An opportunity is offered for six English boys to have a course of free education in the United States. Though the kindness of the Sulgrave Institution and of the Lafayette Memorial Com- mittee in New York, arrangements have been made for the six boys chosen to have a oourse of one year's free education at Morris-ville High School, New York State, followed by a two years' free educational course in agriculture at the State Agricultural College, at Morrisville. The entire maintenance and education for the three years will be met from the Lafayette Me- morial Fund but travelling expenses to New York will have to be defrayed. Boys from 15 to 17 years old are required, and it is intended that they sliall obtain a thorough knowledge of Ameri- can methods in agricultural science; they will then be expected to return to their own country at the end of the course. In addition to this generous offer, the Colgate University of New York State offers three free scholarships for a four years' course to yoting Britishers, who will be maintained a.nd educated free of cost from the time of their landing in America. Applica- tions from those desiring to take advantage of these offers, with references and testimonials, should be addressed to the Secretary of the Sul- grave Institution, 1 Central Buildinfis, Westmin- ster, S.W.

Claims of No Trams. EBBW VALE MINERS SUE THE COMPANY. An important action occupied the attention of His Honour Judge Hill Kelly at the Newport County Court last Friday, when judgment was given in seven cases in which miners employed by the Ebbw Vale. Steel, Iron and Coal Company claimed from that company 13/7 each, on the ground that they had lost in one turn that amount by reason of the fact that they were not supplied with trams, because the roadway need- ed repairing. Officials of the Company claimed that the roadway was in good order. I I In giving judgment for the defendant com- pany, Judge Hill Kelly said that .according to the implied terms of the contract it was the duty of the employers to take all reasonable steps toj enable the workmen to employ their energies to produce the maximum output. In his view the Minimum Wage Act had nothing whatever to do with the case. There was not sufficient evi- dence that the roadway was out of repair to such an extent and for slwh ta length of time to find that the defendants neglected their duty. He therefore found for defendants.

Some Saving. The economy of employing the land values in oonneotion with public housing schemes has been excellently illustrated an the Ogmore and Garw Council area. The Housing and Town Planning Surveyor in his report to the District Council stated that the price asked by the land-owners for sites in connection with the housing schemes in the area was £ 37,000, but when the land valuer was called in the price agreed upon was "£7,900.

I Funeral of the lata Mr. D. Edwards WELL-KNOWN ORGANIST'S BEREAVE- MENT. The interment of the late Mr. David Edwards, of Pennant House, Treharris, who died (after a brief but painful illness) was reported in our columDS last week, took place on Thursday last at GIyntaff Cemetery, Treforest. There was a large attendance of relatives and friends as- sembled to pay their last tribute of respect to one who was very highly esteemed by all who knew him. The chief mourners were: Dr. and Mrs. T. D. Edwards, L.R.A.R., A.R.C.M. (the only son and daughter-in-law) the Misses Arianwen, Hannah Tegwedd and Megan Eluned Edwards, and Mas- ter David Samuel Edwards (grand-children) and Mr. Lewis Edwards, Bute Town, Rhymney —deceased's youngest and only brother left of a family of ten brothers and one sister. The officiating minister was the Rev. William Jones, Pastor of Brynhyfryd Church, Treharris. At the short service held at the house, and the effective memorial service held -at the Comet-ery Chapel, the following ministers also took part: Rev. D. P. Evans, Merthyr Yale; Rev. Richard Lloyd, Rhondda Baptist Church; Rev. D. E. Dav.ies, Libanus Baptist Church, Treforest; Rev. Thomas Davies (" Cyfaill John), Treforest: Rev. W. A. Williams, Tabernacle, Pontypridd; Rev. John Edwards, Salem Baptist Chfkrcb, Ponth; and Mr. Humphreys, Edwardsville. The "following, among others, were also pre- sent Rev. T. Phillips, Welsh Congregational; Rev. G. Bedford Roberts, "Welsh Wesleyan; Rev. M. H. Roberts, English Congregational; and Rev. W. D. Nicholas, English Baptist—all of Treharris Messrs. Cales Davies, William Jen- kins, David Rogers; ,and Tom Stephens—deacons of Brynhyfryd Baptist Church; Messrs. John Davies, John Evans, David Jones, Willie Hughes, John Rhys (organist), D. W. Thomas, and Samuel Thomas—deacons of Rhondda Bap- tist Church, Pontypridd; Mr. Miles Llewelyn, Tabernacle, Pontypridd; Mr. William Hughes, Bethany, Hopkinstown; Mr. William Thompson, conductor of the Pontypridd Musical Society; Mr. Rhys Evans, conductor of the Porth Har- monic Oratorio Society Mr Tom Price, L.T.S.C., Merthyr; Mr. E. T. Lloyd, Porth; Mr. J. H. Richards, Tonvrefail; Mr. Gregory Evans, R.C.M, Pontypridd; Mr. W. R. Edmunds, soli- citor, Merthyr; Mr. David Williams, grocer, Tre- forest Mr. James Jones, Old Post Office, Hop- kinstown; Mr. William Henry Wilkins, grocer, Pontypridd; Mr. John Thomas (Mosses. Thomas and Evans), Porth; Lieutenant Jack Thomas, Porth; Mr. Gomør Price, E(livardsville Mr. Ed- mund Edwards, Edwardsville Mr. John Thomas, Great Western Hotel; Mr. Isiaac Price, Oak- lands; Mr. James Davies, winding engineer, Ocean Colliery; Mr. Evans, The Waverley, Mer- thyr Mr. Tom Williams, "Tylawinder," Ponty- pridd; Mr. Isaac Israel, Edwardsville Post Office; Mr. Evan Davies, Rhydfelan; Mr. Arthur Clarke, Edwardsville; Mr. D. E. Jenkins, Mer- tlivr Vale; Mr. Parry, winding engineer, Ocean Colliery; Mr. Tom Rees, Maritime Colliery; Mr. Thomas, Beechgrove Cemetery; Mr. Richard Davies, Birdh Grove, Porth; Mr. D. J. Smith, Port Talbot; Mr. Barnes, Mr. Tom Evans and Mr. Meyriek, Edwardsville. Sympathetic letters and telegrams were re- ceived by Dr. T. D. Edwards from a very large number of friends, including the following: Rev. W. S. Jones, Llwynpia; Rev. E. Grynllefin Thomas, Cwmparc; Rev. John Thomas, Glanam- man Rev. D. Llew. Morris (Llew Ogwy), Pen- gam Rev. T. Baker, Pontlottyn; Rev. leu an Evans, Cardiff; Mr. Walter Harrison, M.A., Mus. Bac., Qxon, Tonic Solfa College, London; j Dr. J. H. Lewis, Mus. Doc., D.C.L., M.A., war- den of the Guild of Church Musisians, London; County Ooun. W. R. Davies, Pontypridd; County Coun. William Evans, J.P., Porth; Rev. Hugh Williams, M.A., Rector of Llanfabon (Worship- ful Master of the Fforest Lodge of Ancient Free- masons) Mr. John Sutherland, Abercynon (M.E.Z. of the Kaunton Davies Chapter of Royal Arch Masons) Mr.. Evan Llewelyn, secretary of the Pontypridd Choral Society; Mr. Oliver Howell, Secretary of the Porth Oratorio Society Dr. Llewelyn Roberts, M.D., Pontypridd; Miss B. E. Evans, Headmistress of the Cribindu In- fants' School, Ynysybwl; Mrs. Warren, Tym- hordy, Treharris! Mr. Ebenezer Davies, grocer, Cathays, Cardiff; Mrs. Dyer-John, Llewncelyn, Cilfynydd; Miss Adie Jones, A.L.C.M., Tonyre- fail; Mr. and Mrs. Dan Davies (Prudential), Maesteg; Mrs. OwiJym Jones, Tumble; Mass Janet Williams, Ynysbwl; the Misses Thomas and Jones, Oxford Street, Post Office, Swansea; Mr. John Evans, Bedlinog; Mr. David Jones, Bargoed; Miss Lizzie J. Davies, L.V.C.M., Tre- herhert; Mrs. Richard Davies, Brieh Grove, Porth; Mr. Owen Davies (loan Ab Bewi), Bar- goed; and many others. One conspicuous feature evincing the high es- teem in which the late Mr. Edwards was held, was the fact that all blinds were drawn without exception in the village of Edwardsville, while the funeral cortege passed en route to the rail- way station. The deceased, who was in his 82nd year, was a native of Carno, Rliymney, but spent the major portion of his life at Ponty- pridd, and he carried on a. successful grocery business at Hopkinstown and Pwllgwaun. For many years he was a faithful member and Sun- day School teacher at Rhondda Baptist Church, and later—during the pastorate of the late Rev. Dr. J. R. Jones. D.D.-lic it-as appointed a dea- con at the Tabernacle. Pontypridd. Being of a retiring disposition and very reticent, lie, refused to accept public honours. Mr. Edwards and the late Mrs. Edwards (who pre-deceased him over 33 years ago), lived for about 11 years at Pittston, Pennsylvania, America, and it was in this town their only son -Ilr. T. D. Edwards, L.R.A.M., A.R.C.M. (the well-known organist and festival conductor) first I saw the light of day. Their period of residence in the States wa,s of a very disquieting nature, i.e., during the .latter stages of the great Ameri- can civil war. The deceased gentleman was one of the few founders starting the Welsh Baptist cause at Hyde Park, Scranton, Po., which is to- t day one of the most flourishing Baptist Churches in the States. For some years, he was also the Secretary of the First Welsh Baptist Chuirch, at Pittston, Pa. The late Mr. Edwards was fond of travelling, and had crossed the Atlantic Ocean no less than six times. During his last tour in the States, which included a visit to the Niagara Falls (then in his 73rd year), he undertook to write a series of very interesting articles (seven in all) entitled, On Tour Through Yankee Towns," for the Tarian y Gweithiwr (Aberdare)—which were translated by his son for the Glamorgan Free Press." He was of a literary turn of mind—his bardic title being Iorwertli Glan Elyrch," and frequently contributed to the columns of local and American contemporaries. May he rest in peace, until the day— Y bydd dorau'r beddau'r byd, Ar un air—yn agoryd

I South Wales Signalmen RE-AFFIRM BIRMINGHAM DEMANDS. I I AND INSTRUCT EXECUTIVE THAT DEVIA-I TION WILL BE OPPOSED. The N. U.R. signal men in South Wales held a well attended meeting in Cardiff on Sunday un- der the chairmanship of Mr. Champen, of Ponty- pridd. Mr. Dan Thomas, the executive member was present, as were Messrs. T. C. Morris, Dan Kirk, of West Ham, and A. J. Williams, the or- ganiser of the Union. Proceedings were private, but at the close the following resolutions which had been carried were issued to the Press :— "That this mass meeting of the N.U.R. sig- nalmen reaffirms the programme of the national Signalmen's Conference held at Birmingham in August, 1918, and submitted to our Executive Committee. We, therefore, express our deter- mination to stand by the Birmingham pro- gramme, and to intimate to our Executive Com- mittee that any deviation will meet with our strongest opposition, as we believe our demands are moderate in comparison with the responsi- bilities of signalmen. That this meeting emphatically condemns the system of taking lever movements for form- ing an estimate of signalmen's duties, as it only records the manual labour and in no way shows the many responsibilities attached to the signal- men's duties. That -we call upon the Executive Committee* to immediately demand that the 5s. increa.se re- cently granted to N.U.R. shop-workers should be extended to all members of the Union."

I Loss on the Railways. I I SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATE PUTS IT AT I £ 45,000,000. According to a Supplementary Estimate, re- cently issued, the estimated amount payable to the Ministry of Munitions for rolling stock (in- cluding road Vehicles) constructed for the Min- istry's own use and to be transferred to the Min- istry of Transport is £ 5,320,000. An additional sum under the Vote is required of £10. The doficit-it is explained in a note—on rail- way working in respect of 1919-20 is now esti- mated at £ 45,000,000.- The sums actually paid during the year include, however, amounts in re- spect of deficits of previous years, payments for lost ships, special (war) railway diversion works ( £ 300,000), and expenses in connection with Government lorries lent to railway companies under the Traffic Emergency (Dock Congestion Relief) Scheme. Allowing for these services there is estimated to be a saving of approximately £ 10,000,000 in the original estimate of £80,000,000 on railway agreements, of which saving £ 5,319,990 is ap- plied to meet new expenditure. I

An/Ogmore Innovation. I WHY NOT LEND MONEY FOR HOUSE I BUILDING? A Blaengarw resident made a novel request to the Ogmore and Garw Council last week in a letter asking for a loan under the Small Dwell- ings Acquisition Act. for the purpose of erecting a bungalow at an estimated cost of £ 220. The Town Clerk said that he had replied point- ing out that the Council had no authority to make a loan for an erection under the Act, Svhich only applied to buildings already in exi&t- ence. Aid. Llewellyn was, however, struck with the idea as a good one in these days of house- shortage, and on his motion it was decided to ap- ply to the Ministry of Health for consent to grant the application.

I Your Doctor Will Cost You More I I 50 PER CENT. ADVANCE RECOMMMENDED I BY BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. Even the luxury of being ill is to cost us more in the future, for the Council of the British Medical Association has (recommended an in- crease of 50 per cent, over pre-war rates on doc- tor's, fees. The Council has been urged to tho decision by resolutions from clivision-s and branches all oyeor, tlie. country, but, of course, it is not binding on any member of the medical, i profession.

I Nationalisation and Selfishness. I I BY LORD HEADLEY. J Whenever I write or speak words of caution 011 the subject of Nationalisation I am told that we are selfish as a nation and that it is our duty to get over this selfishness and become altruistic. In my letter -to the "Westminster Gazette" of October 15th last, entitled The Sense of Pos- session," I pointed out that all schemes of na- tionalisation must include the taking on of vast crowds of fresh permanent officials, and so in- creasing the wages bill; also that the gigantic State Monopoly would tend to destroy the spirit of adventure which has made this country what it is, and further, that as Government-controlled units we should lose all individuality and be the slaves of a political bureaucracy. > This letter, which appeared also in the columns "■ of the Journal of Commerce and the- t Pioneer' of Merthyr Tydfil and other papers, has received only one reply, and that an anony- mous letter over the initials A.P.Y." in the "Pioneer." What I endeavoured to show was that we had to legislate for, human nature as it is and not as we might wish it to be. "A.P. Y. in a long letter of two columns does not get over the difficulty, and by no means replies to my ob- jections to nationalisation as a practical remedy for unrest and discontent. Stereotyped generalisations about higher -ideals," "a new world and "loving one's neighbour" do not get over the difficulty—we must change human nature very considerably before making drastic changes in our methods. If we legislate for imaginary human beings or angels we shall find plenty of trouble with those who are not angels. If being gifted with natural ability and cuf- tivaiting that gift of God by hard work and thrift for the sake of oneself and one's family is sel- fish, then I hold that the best and most success- ful men are selfish in the right sense. My con- tention is that every right-minded man who works hard for himself and his family, putting by part of his hard-earned gains and thus ren- dering himself and his dear ones independent of State support, is a good citizen and deserving of every protection and encouragement in his- efforts—this is the right kind of selfishness and it makes for the good of the whole community: in it we may recognise the exemplar of good citizenship.

The Maimed-Horse Case. I MERTHYR FARM WORKER'S APPEAL 1j .DISMISSED. i I vor. Hudson, who was sentenced to three years penal servitude at the Cardiff Assizes for cattle maiming at Merthyr appealed for an order7 of Justice Salter refusing leave to appeal against the conviction and sentencé in the Court of Criminal Appeal on Monday. Hudson was not brought before the Court. In dismissing the appeal the Lord Chief Jus- tice reviewed the case, which, it will be remem- bered, showed that in June Hudson, who work- ed on the farm of David Jones, wanted to work a valuable mare but was told that the horse was too wild for him. Hudson seemed to object to the statement and was heard to declare that if lie could not work her lie would put her so that no one cl se could work her. He was discharged from the farm and a few days after the mare, which was worth £ 150, was found to be lame and examination showed that two nails had been driven up one hoof. and the third in a second. The animal was absolutely crippled. When arrested, two nails si,mil-ar to those driven into the mare's hoofs were found on Hudson, who gave no evidence at his trtal. The Lord Chief Justice, after recall- ing the facts of the case, said there was ampl e evidence on which the jury could convict Hud- son, and it was difficult to see how they could have come to any other conclusion than to find him guilty. Appellant had been rightly con- victed.

I The Coal-Owners Threaten. I GOVERNMENT CONCESSION TO DERBY- I SHIRE MASTERS. Although the miners are having to call the I whole of t'he trades unionist forces into action to secure the nationalisation of the mines that [ the Government's own Commission recommend- 1 ed in the nation's interest, it is not so difficult to get what you want out of Parliament if yon are not a worker. This is shown by the fact that the threat of the Derbyshire coalowners to revolt unless the reduction of 10/- per ton on coal was accompanied by a Government guar- antee against loss to the owners ha.s ended in a satisfactory agreement between the owners and the Coal Controller. The threat of the Derbyshire men was accom- panied by the serving of 60 days notice on t!hc- 3,000 men employed by the private owner of the Shipley Collieries, but now that the guarantee has been given the notices have been withdrawn. The other private owners of the Derbyshire field, it is stated, have received satisfaction from the Government who will- make frequent ready- monev grants. t

At a meeting of coal-owners and iron and steel masters at Sheffield to protest against the Government Bill to limit coal profits, Mr. Charles P. Markham urged that if the Bill passed the. coal-owners should go on supplyink om.I-btit it should be Government coal, unscreened and unwashed. The Government, lie said, would soon get tired of thal Who said" sabotage ?