Pioneer

The Palace. I The Palace is the centre of attraction at present on account of the special programmes now showing and the big attractions ooming on. This week the special picture is "Woman and Wine," a fine exclusive drama of society life. Other special pictures are Sergeant Jim's Horse, a pathetic drama, and an ex- citing picture of the national sport of Spain, "The BullfighteTs of Spain," followed by a fine selection of Interesting and amusing items and the latest Animated News. On Friday the Special Merthyr General Hospital Benefit will be held, when it is expected the Palace will be taxed to its uttermost by crowds of people who are anxious to assist in the good work of this invaluable institution by support- ing the effort which is being made. The Di- rectors of the Palace have generously placed I the Palace at the disposal of this institution for the day. when the whole of the proceeds will be given to the Hospital Funds. A special programme of pictures has been arranged, with special musical selections under the direc- tion of Mr. T. O. Llewelyn, the musical direc- tor. One of the pictures is very appropriate, entitled "The Angel of the Ward the story of which appeared as a serial in "Anwers" some time ago. Ticket holders would be well advised to ma ke a special effort to attend as eairly as possible on this day, as there is sure to be some difficulty in obtaining seats in the evening. Next week we need say little of the great attraction, as it is the talk of the district. A moving picture of the most criticised book ever published, the novel by Victoria Cross, Five Nights," will be shown for six days, and at stated times, in order to give everybody an opportunity of seeing this wonderful pro- duction, and will be showing at 3, 5, 7 and 9 daily. In order to secure seats and see this picture in comfort, patrons should try and visit the Palace in the afternoons. As is usual the remainder of the programme will be changed on Thursday, viz., the Gazette an3 the Comie and Comedy Items. Watch the Palace for future attractions, which will be announced in due oourse.

IIV MENTION THIS PAPER me WHEN YOU BUY!

PublicControl of Foodstuffs. W. C. Anderson. See Page 7 TP||

LOST & WON By Tom Smith. EW See Page 3 -V4

Hirwain Collier's Death. I CORONER'S POINTED CRITICISMS. Dr. Jones. the Breconshire Coroner, held an inquest at the Glancvnon Inn, Hirwain, on Monday, touching the death of Patrick Mochan (48). a collier. of 3 Cynon Place, Hirwain, who died at his home on Saturday morning follow- ing injuries received at Pwllfa' On Colliery, Glvnneath, on Tuesday, August 31. There were present at the inquiry Mr. T. Maldwyn (Mines' Inspector) and Mr. T. D. Thomas, mi- ners' agent for the Avon Valley District. John Mochan (19), deceased's son, who gave evidence of identification, stated that his father woiked with him at the Pwllfa'r On Drift. On the day of the accident he and his father were seated in the roadway of their working place. Witness left his father and proceeded to work on some second rippings about four yards away. Whlist he was thus engaged a portion of the roof suddenly gave way and fell, pin- ning his father underneath a stone weighing about half a ton. Witness shouted for help, I and John Williams, who worked in an adjoin- ing stall, came to his aid, and they extricated deceased, who was quite conscious. The fire- man was sent for and deceased, who com- plained of considerable pain, was conveyed to the surface in an empty tram. Replying to the Coroner, witness said that a stretcher was not brought right to the work- ing place. Coroner: It is one of the things that I am most particular about. that injured men should receive the greatest possible ca.re. Witness added that what he was dissatisfied with was that his father was taken," liome from the top of the colliery in a gambo, and that the journey took 4 hours to accomplish. The Coroner: It is a most awful thing that an injured man shuld be conveyed for a dist- ance of six miles in a gambo. Whatever inju- ries might have been received must be in- creased in that way. Witness, continuing, said that his father was attended by Dr. McClure. of Glvnneath. On Saturday morning early Dr. leuap G. Tho- mas was called in. as his father was on the point of death, and Dr. McClure resided at Glvnneath. Replying to the Inspector, witness said his father had worked underground for two years, while witness had worked as a collier for five years. He recognised that as master of the stall he was responsible for the safety of his father. He took every precaution to ascertain that the place was safe on the day of the ac- cident. There was nothing to indicate that th. roof would callapse so suddenly. Dd. I noma* uxe iitwnaa «>ke xo vis- iting the working place that morning and finding it quite safe. Witness said that a box of surgical appliances was kept in the working district, but no stretcher. He agreed with the Inspector that a stretcher might be kept un- derground in readiness for a case of emergency. Mr. R ees Howells, the manager for the Ab- erpergwm Group of Collieries, spoke to receiv- ing an intimation of the accident, and pro- ceeding to the colliery, which he reached in time to ~(>e ighe man being brought to the surface. Witness said that he remonstrated with the men for not having told him it was a serious accident, and proceeded to explain that he dispatched a cyclist after Dr. McClure, who had left the house, and he also ordered a motor car or brake to be requisitioned. As these could not be obtained, the deceased was conveyed a part of the way on the stretcher, ann then placed in a gambo. which witness or- dered to be overlaid with sacks of bran. Dr. McClure approved of that arrangement. Wit- ness added that he was insisting at present for the provision of a motor ambulance for the conveyance of injured workman. Dr. Icuan Thomas, who said that the imme- diate cause of death following the injury was probably peritonitis, added. in reply to the Coroner, that there was no arrangement bet- ween himself and Dr. McClure to attend to the patients of the latter. In summing up. the Coroner commented up- on the strong desirability of some arrange- ment whereby persons should be attended by medical practitioners in their own district. Alluding to the absence of a projver ambulance conveyance, he emphasised the supreme im- pottance of injured men receiving proper treatment. It made his heart bleed to think of what suffering might be caused m such a case as that of conveying an injured person over a rough, road in a gambo. for such a long dist- ance. He complimented the manager upon having done the best under the circumstances. The jury returned a verdict of Accidental death."

More About Economy. I Arising out of the consideration of the dir- ect labour employed on school repairs by the Sites an,] Buildings Committee on Tuesday, tiic, Director of Education observed; "It is not economy to allow your property to deteri- orate for the proverbial ha'porth of tar. Some of your schools are going to rack and ruin."— The Mayor also expressed himself in similar terms, but the Chairman (Aid. Lewis) thought that too much use was made of these phrases. He had been one of the deputation who had investigated a case In which the condition of a .school had been painted in black terms, and he thought they might sav that they had been agreeably surprised to find that the premises had not been so bad aq was represented. Coun. Francis, as another member of the deputation, said he did not 3,rree with the Chairman's re- marks. Some of the exterior woodwork in this particular case was so bad that when it had re- ceived two coats ef plant it crumbled and fell down.

OUR PRINTING IS GOOD, OUR TERMS ARE MODERATE, OUR STAFF IS TRADES-UNIONIST, Vnd we give a guaranteed undertaking to DELIVER IN TIME.

Rhymney Valley S.W.M.F. INTERESTING MEETING UF DIST- I RICT DELEGATES. There was a good attendance of members at the district meeting of the Rhymney Vallev S.W.M.I., over which Mr. T. D. Matthews presided, supported bv Messrs. Walter Lewis J.P., miners' agent; Albert Thomas, Sub-Ag- ent and Secretary; and Edmund Jones, treasurer. The President reported on the ag- reement come to by the Conciliation Board. He reported that the Rhymney Minimum Wage case had been referred to an umpire for de- cision. This was caused by the Firemen's Strike at Rhymney, as a result of which the men lost 3 days work in two consecutive weeks. The miners claimed that the stoppage was due to no fault of theirs. The case was stated on behalf of the workmen for the full mini- mun wage for the three days worked, while the employers, on the other hand. argued that the stoppage was due to no fault of theirs, and that the men could have worked had they so desired. The umpire decided in favour of the employers. Application for Advance. I The Agent further reported that. the Execu- tive had appealed for an advance of 12} on the new 1915 standard, and that the owners had offered a 5 rise. The matter had been referred to the Independent Chairman, who would give his decision on Sept. 10. It was stated that the show cards during the week had proved very satisfactory, with the excep- tion of two lodges. who had not complied with the District request. Disputes. I It was also reported that a number of mi- nor disputes had arisen in the district over the 1915 agreement, such as piece workers and colliers working the 6 for 5. and hauliers with the previous bonus and the present one. Central Labour College. I The meeting accepted the report embodying the rules drafted by the Joint Sub-Committee of the S. W.M.F. and N. U .R. regarding the proposed method of scholarships to the Central Labour College. rt was stated that the contributions for the month came to £ 863 lit. 5d. The President drew the attention of the District delegates to the fund which had been set on foot for the relief of the Russian poli- tical prisoners and exiles, and asked all who were prepared to assist to apply to himself or the Secretary of the Bargoed I.LP. for tickets to sell at Id. each.

The New Geliifaeiog Centre. I OMMITTEE. TO CONSIDER NEW WORK. I a j The Sites and Buildings Committee on Tues- day- received an offer from the outdoor fore- man of the Waterworks Committee for the purchase of the corrugated iron building in tiie playground of the Gellvfaelog old school, which ho proposed to re-move and erect on some relatives' farm in Breconshire. The Director of Education, however, pointed out that the building could not be done with- out until the proposed cookery centre was completed, and as yet this had not been started. Coun. E. Morrell said he understood that the Committee had sanction to build the new pre- mises. an d the Chairman (Aid. Lewis) agreed, but questioned the ability to get the money to do the work, but it was also pointed out that the money also was in hand. Coun. "Morrell said that if they locked up that money now and kept on with the old cor- rupted iron building, the probability was that it would be left on their hands later w hen the new building was completed. Hi(j Director said the man had first ap- proached him with an offer to buy the build- ing. and he had pointed out that it was im- possible to dispose of it at the moment. but that if the new building was proceeded with it was possible that it would be disposable in December. The man had told him that that would suit him. The Architect (Mr. Thackeray) said that the scheme for Geliifaeiog was not only for' a cook- for- Ge l ll f a.e l ()g 11, l ery centre, but also for a manual instruction centre as well. On the motion of Coun. Monll. a small sub-committee was appointed to go into the whole question of the provision of the new block.

Comedian's Black Eye. I ABERDARE EMPIRE SQUABBLE. I The sequel to an incident behind the scenes I at the Empire, was heard at the local court on Wednesday, when an artiste named Jack Clare was summoned by Frederick Win. Bry- an. otherwise "Little Zolo," described as a well-known comedian, for assault. Mr. William Thomas, who was for the complainant, said that his client had done a great deal of recruiting all over the country. Complainant said that on Friday evening last, the defendant had not quite finished his turn at the Empire, where they were both engaged when witness went on the stage "mode up" as a Crimean veteran, in order to appeal for recruits. Defendant followed him to the dressing room, and told him he was not a man to interfere with his turn in that wav. Complainant replied that if he had given any offence it was quite unintentional, and he ap- ologised. Defendant repeated, "You aire not a man and witness got excited and spilled a bowl of water in which he was washing. De- fendant thereupon struck him, and he was ren- deied unconscious by the blow. He bled pro- fusely and had a discoloured eye. In imposing a fine of £3.. or 14 days' impri- sonmentt. Mr. D. P. Davies said there w a, provocation but this did not justify the assault.

01jr HELP THOSE WHO HELP -JM YOUR PAPER!

THE PIONEER 10,000 SHILLINGS FUND. There is still urgent need of funds to assist us to tide over the next few critical months of cur existence. The "Pioneer" must live. It was never wanted moie than at the present critical juncture, when deliberate attempts are being made in powerful quarters to smash the organisation by which the workers have won the little freedom they possess to- day The fight ahead is the biggest we have ever had to face. and the "Pioneer" is needed, not only as an intelligencer to the outside public, but also to bind together in a strong connecting link all who aae inside. The "Pioneer" is one of the strongest links in the industrial chain in South Wales, and its break- age would mean a gap in our defensive and OffH sive machinery that could not be filled. It is for you to decide whether that link shall be strong and able to withstand every attempt made to break it down. If you are concerned, it cannot break, but your concern must be pactical: it must go deeper than mere lip concern It must reach your pocket. Send a- long your mite for the share capital or Shil- ling Fund. and know that you are doing your bit to carry on the fight; for we are carrying on The absence of your contribution may mean the difference between defensive and offensive. If we are to live, and live aggress- ively for the cause, A on must get your hand down now. Share Capital. £ s. d. Already Acknowledged 273 3 0 Received this week 3 17 6 R277 0 6 10,000 Shilling Fund. s. d. Already Acknowledged. 1.364 9 Per Mr. J. E. Jones. Merthyr Branch. ,U,R.-Messrs. D. Jenkins, W. R. Morris, S. Ant-honey, T. Edwards. Daniel Jones, J. E. Jones, B. Gil- lam (1/- each) 7 0 Messrs. A. Jones, G. H. Bennett, J. A. Hubhard. A. J. White (6d. each) 2 0 Mr. E. Harris. 0 3 1,374 0

I Found Dead at Abercynon. I CARRIER'S SAD END. Coroner R. J. Rhys and a jury sat at Aber- cynon on Tuesday morning to inquire into the death of John Ernest Davies, one of Sutton's parcels' carriers who made journeys from Pont- ypridd to A bercynon. and was pretty well known. He was found dead under his upturn- ed cart on the Common Road last Saturday about 3 o'clock. Evan Griffiths, 48 Merthyr Road Ponty- pridd, employed by Thomas and Evans. Porth. said he saw the deceased about 25 minutes to 3 on Saturday afternoon near the old crab- tree, Abercynon. He was lying on the road partly under the cart, which was upset. His head was out on the roadway, and the pony's head was in the direction of the T.V.R. Sta- tion. He knew the deceased to be a haulier. Where the accident happened there was a slight slant in the road. He first heard a little girl crying, and went to see what was the matter. He pulled the deceased from under the cart. and sent a boy to Abercynon to get assistance. William Davies, Travellers' Rest, Abercynon, said he knew the deceased, and saw him pass- ing down the road about 11 or 11.30 in the morning. He again saw him about 2.50 going back to Pontypridd, driving a pony attached to a crank-axle cart. He had a little girl with hiii. Somebody came along soon after, and said deceased had been pulled from under the cart. George Ambrose Davies, a son of deceased, said he was a carrier for Messrs. Sutton, Lon- don. The pony belonged to deceased, and was blind. Connie Trapp, aged 6, said she was in the cart with her uncle when the ponv fell down, and she and her uncle fell out of the cart. Dr. Griffiths. Abercynon, said he saw the deceased about 3.45. There were three small contused wound s on the upper side of the skull. and he was bleeding from the right ear and nose. "He was a very heavy man, and he must have been pitched on to the side of the road. Death was due to fracture of the base of the skull. A witness named Morbey said as he got to the Travellers' Rest the landlord said to Mr. Daves that it was a nice state of affairs to have the little girl in the cart. There was nearly a smash-up by the corner with a motor car. P.S. Clinch said he examined the road w here the accident happened and on the left hand side of the road there was a recess in the ? C, 1. C ,( T l lp? ?V'Ikla l bank where road was sterol. The wVal of deceased's cart had climbed the bank about 21 feet, and two yards lower down the acci- dent happened. A verdict of "Accidental death" was re- turned.

The No Conscription Fellowship. I MANIFESTO ON COMPULSORY SER- I VICE. The case for and against compulsory military and munition service is being argued by many who, for reasons of age or sex, would not be subject to it. The signatories to this mani- festo. think it imperative to voice a protest in the name of large body of men in this ecounti-v who though able-bodied and of military age, will, in the event of coercive measures, be bound by deep conscientious conviction to de- cline these services, whatever the consequences of refusal. We yield to no one in our admiration of the self-sacrifice, the courage and the unflagging devotion of those of our fellow-countrymen who have felt it their duty to take up arms. Never- theless. we cannot undertake the same form of service; our conviction is solemn and unalter- able. The Commandments' Meaning. I Whatever the purpose to be achieved by war, however high the ideals for which bellIg- erent nations may struggle, for us "Thou shalt not kill" means what it says. The de- struction of our fellow-men—young men like ourselves-appals us; we cannot assist in the cutting off of one generation from life's op- portunities. Insistence upon individual obliga- tions in the interests of national well-being ha, no terrors for us; we gladly admit-we would even extend—the right of the community to impose duties upon its members for the com- mon good. but we deny the right of any Gov- ernment to make the slaughter of our fellows a bounden duty. b We have been brought to this standpoint by many ways. Some of us have reached it through the Christian faith in which we have been reared, and to our interpretation of which we plead the right to stand loyal. Others have found it bv association with international movements we believe in the solidarity of the human race, and we cannot betray the ties of brotherhood which bind us one to another throughout the nations of the world. Prepared to Sacrifice. I All of us, however we may have come to this conviction, believe in the value and sac- redness of human personality. a-ad are prepar- ed to sacrifice as much in the cause of the world's peace as our fellows are sacrificing, in the cause of the nation's war. Pelieving it is the imperative duty of ev- err citizen to serve his country, we are eager to render national service through such occu- pations as shall .help to build up the life and strength of our country without inflicting loss on that of other people. Points Not Developed. I We have not empnasiseci the objections to Conscription which are widely held bV many who do not share our views on war. There are many who are now exposing the folly of forced service from the military standpoint; there is the vast body of Trade Unionists who view with suspicion the agitation of the National Service League and the Conscriptionist Press, and see in it a menace to the working class there are experts who demonstrate that the revolution entailed would undermine the fi- nancial and commercial stability which is not the least valuable asset this country offers to the Allied Powers; there are the advocates of national unity who for that reason alone de- precate the raising of so disruptive an issue; and finally there are those whose objections are held on the ground of the great traditions and liberties of our country. I But Realised. We, too. recognise to the full the grave dan- ges to those liberties and those traditions in the present agitation for conscription, and es- pecially as it must affect the workers of the nation; but first and foremost our decision rests on the ground of the serious violation of moral and religious convictions which a system of compulsion must involve. We believe the real inspiration that prompts all effort toward progress is a desire that hum- an life may become of more account. This I ideal we cannot renounce its claim is absolute. (Signed) Clifford Allen, Chairman. Edward Grubb. Hon. Treasurer. A. Fenner Brockway, Hon. Secretary. A. Barratt Brown. A. Sutherland Campbell, W. J. Chamberlain. J. H. Hudson. Mor- gan Jones, C. H. Norman, Rev. Leyton Richards, Committee. Merton House. Salisbury Square. London. E.C., September. 1915.

CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondents are requested to condense their letters as much as possible. Letters of a personal character will not be inserted The Editor wishes it to be distinctly under- stood that be will not hold himself responsible for the opinions or atatements of correspond- ents, nor undertake to return rejected manus- cripts. Correspondents MUST write on one side of the paper only. MORE PLBLlC PROTESTS. (To the ^xlitor of the PIONEER). Sir,—The ,t London .Federation of the Suffragettes, United Suffragists. Forward Cym- ric Suffrage Union, Women Writers' Suffrage League, Herald League. B.S.P.. the Dockers' Union. and branches of the I.L.P., Amalgama- ted Toolmakers. Enginemen and Machinists. Electrical Trade Union. and National Union of Railwaymen. the societies which organised the joint demonstration (In Registration Sun- day. protest against. iug and demand that if a WTim (il- nanwor! she shaP have a man's pay; and to demand that there shall be neither industrial nor military com- pulsion, and no taxation of the people's food, and to press forward the cause of Votes for Women, are organising another great meeting in the London Opera House on Sunday. Sep- tember 19, at 7.30 p.m. The meeting is timed at an opportune moment, as it will probably be held on the eve of the introduction of the Budget.—Yours, etc.. E. SYLVIA PANKHURST. TO CORRESPONDENTS. H. M.—Your letter on "Women in Iu- dustry will appear in our next Lssue.

Temperance Hall. 16 There has been another big week at the Temperance Hall this week. Nixon Grey, in particular, having added to his already con- siderable burden of laurels, by his fine com- edy. Nixon Grey is the last word in stars, and it is not difficult to realise that his success should have been so rapid and so unanimously acclaimed. Nixon Grey has that touch of ge- nius that marks the star. and keeps him at the top of his profession, and his inclusion in a Merthyr programme ha.s been a real joy to myself. But his engagement, costly as it has been has not interfered with the merit of the rest of the show; indeed, every turn is a great one. Take the Adams, that delicious trio of trick cyclists. Their show is as great and as distinctive as that of the famous Robbins. Fun awheel is often as flat a.s punctured tytes but it is real spntaneous fun with the Adams. I enjoyed them. The Slaters have a pleasant mad musical comedy turn. "Moments of Mad Mel- ody." that lias caught with the Merthyr peo- ple and tie Granville Trio have that musician- ly tone that adds distinction to their pleasantly conceived and well executed extravaganza, "Before the Ball." The Great Vincent, the ac- robalSe table expert, has as novel and intensely interesting a show as I have seen, and the Mysterious Kidd, that good singer and dancer, has also a novel and enjoyable turn. Gray and White, the two ta.11 talented talkative tale-tel- lers were a show as good as their alliteration, an'] that speaks for itself in the "t's" above. Mdlle. De Yola and Rex do wanderful and da- ring feats of equilibrium, and temps one to question the Newtonian laws of gravity. For next week Mr. Price has been extreme- ly lucky in booking that great Indian mystic. Linga Singh, whose feats have left many of our promnent national conjurors agape. It is not long since the Indian sorcerer left the Ba- iooes of his Native land. bnt it is long enough for him to have created a sensation in the Metroplis and other big centres. Next week he gives the whole of his marvellous performance, including that most astounding af feats the pulling of a local four-wheel carriage by his eyes alone. He is the master of the incredible. A strong bill is backing him, including Gordon Strctton, the natural artiste coon; Little Vit- toria. that charming little Gipsy Queen with the twinkling feet: Bros. Lavelle, the popular aciobatic comedians; the Kelby Comedy Co., including Tom Kelso, in "Midnight Visitors"; Cissie Morton, the rising male impersonator; the well-known Welsh comedian, Fred Harris; and Reg Amber, the tuneful comedian, and Elfie New. the soubrette at the piano.