Pioneer

Is Life Worth Living under Present Conditions ? This question is most perplexing, for as we look around us we see on every hand many of our fellow creatures, as it were, grovelling in darkness. They know little or nothing of the beauty of life, and thus to them life is not worth living. Many are to be blamed for their more degraded condition, but, generally speak- ing, the majority of the working classes axe not enj oying life as they should. Most of us are simply ekeing out a miserable existence, and life to us is not what it ought to be. The dam- nable conditions under which we have to exist have made life unworthy of our being. Take any class of worker, and I question if 10 per cent really know what it means to enjoy the fullness of the beauty and pleasure of living. 1 have hoai-d people, say. and I have often said it myself, that life is what you make it, but I 'I aim rea,dy to question this statement very largely under the present governing policy. With such a Parliament as we are at present governed by it seems impossible to make life worth living. While they hold the lock and key to God's great storehouse, and dole the provisions out in such small quantities, scarcely enough to keep body and soul together, they take great care that their own pantry is well supplied with the very best of luxuries. Who ought to enjoy the beautiful pleasures and luxuries of life but those who produce them? Is it fair that the loafer should participate in the luxuries and pleasures of life if he has not helped to produce them? It matters not whether he be a respectable loafer or otherwise, and let me say here that, in my opinion, it is because we have so many of these undesirable )esp< ctable loafers that: life is made so very hard for others at exist. So long as we are content to allow these conditions to exist, so long will we ,;iiffei, and life will be without mean- ing. The Kingdom of God, which is so much prayed for, cannot exist under the present con- ditions. Only when humanity allows its collec- tive reason to appeal to its conscience will the conditions be altered, and until these conditions are altered we shall not be able to breathe the beautiful air of freedom and liberty. The reason why we as workers do not enjoy life as we ought to is because we have not es- tablished our authority to claim our rights. We should remember that we are as much re- sponsible mediums through which the great life propelling force of nature can operate as those who sit in our Parliament- and on other manag- ing bodies, and so long as we refuse to this greao life. propelling force the privilege to oper, ate in and through us to assist us in establish-, iug our rights, so long will we suffer. It remains with us to alter the conditions, and to make life worthy of our being. We should consider that those fellows whom we have sent to the House of Commons are our servants, and we should not allow them to be our masters. Under the present system of ruling we are little better than slaves, and all that those fellows in the Commons require to complete their pre- sent position as rulers is a sombrero hat, a pair of breeches and leggings, and a whip, and these, no doubt, many of them would like to don, but we must haWj suffieient manhood about its to reply No, "massa, you sliaH not use your whip olt me. Just- think for a moment, men who profess to be followers of the Christ and worshippers of the true and living (Sod make liie so hard and monotonous for their brothers. I am impressed to believe that the Great God of Truth and Love will look down upon them with indigna- tion. and will ignore their infernal hypocritical worship. Is it reasonable to think that a righteous God can accept worship from an un- righteous person ? Their own Bible will con- demn them. Their religious worship is a mockery. How can they worship in spirit and m truth when they are so cruelly and mur- derously maltreating; their brother man? Why should any man in God's universe depend upon charity when there is enough for all and to ,? 1, ro t is enoii, spare? Is life worth living? No, a thousand times, no, to many of. Nature's children, many of whom have been over-worked and under-fed, and have to retire from work of old age at forty. And what of our soldiers fljfed sailors who Jiave returned home maimed and crippled' for life. If these have to depend upon charity, will life be worth living? In most oases where, a. pension has been given It is not sufficient to keep one, much less a wife and family. I feel most indignant at this damnable charity system. I sometimes feel like Rienzi did when talking to the Romans. He said: "Be we men and suffei such dishonour? men and wash not the stain away in blood ? Such shames are com- mon." Yes, and they are much too common in our country. We often sing, cc Broth ers we are treading where the saints have trod." I often wonder whether we are worthy of tread- ing where those saints have trod? Many of them have been murdered for the sake of truth and liberty, and are we going to allow ourselves to be robbed of that liberty? Shall they have been murdered in vain? Let us endeavour to be manly, and seek to make life worth living, remem bering what our forefathers have suffered for liberty and freedom, and let us keep the Red Flag flying until the whole world shall be emancipated from the iron hand of slavery, and humanity shall realise that life is no more a burden, but that all shall be able to bask in the sunshine of God's eternal love. JON AH BROOKS.

Engineering Work on the Clyde. INCREASE REPORTED TO BE GRANTED. I It is reported that the official result of the application by the Clyde Allied Engineering Trades for an advance of 2d. per hour has now been issued. Skilled craftsmen are given an advance, but semi-skilled workers who received an advance of |d. per hour and 3/- per week last year are granted an increase of ld. per hour and 1' per week respectively.

I Navvy Pat s Views. I Pat looked cheerful when he entered the taproom, and Sandy wanted to know had he found sixpence or lost a mother-in-law, for nothing else could bring so cheery a look to his weather-beaten face. He aisy wid yer ehaffin, Sandy; ye know there isn't a purer pleasure on earth than bein able to say to people I towld ye so,' an that's how it is wid me. I towld ye that I hated the name ov Conscription, but it was sure to come an we'd been two late in startin to oppose it. Weil, it's come, an all we can say or do wont shove it off. An its brought a sarious disease wid it thUits tacklin a rare lot ov our stay at hemes. I axed our family doctor if he could give me enny information about its cause an its cure. He towld me it was caused by a new microbe which the profession called the Con- shierJshioo Objecticoccus,' which made them as catched it affeared ov punctures, espeshally shrapnel, shell, or bayonet punctures, on there was no cure for it but puttin them where the Jar it-a ns cud get at em, an the Guvvernment was goin to do that. "Well, the Doctor was j-ust about right, for here there's hondreds ov men found consciences inside 'ean that never showed signs ov havin' any thin' like a conscience since they left mar- bles an' took to football. There's Dai Cwm Scwt, hard drinker, brui- ser, general sqalliwag an' reprobate said his conscience wudn't let him kill a Jarman under any circumstances. A member of the Tribunal axed him, If you saw a German going to stab your wife, what would you do?' My conscience would not allow me to hurt him.' I am informed,' said the member, that your gang had a barrel of beer given you at the last sports; suppose one or two Germans had triea to run off with the barrel what would you have done?' 'Oh, that's different. lrd kill the lot, if there was a dozen, but they shouldn't have the beer.' Exemption refused. An' ye all know Pat O'Leary, who coarted Norah Maginty, an' somehow marrid her mo- ther by mistake. He took his conscience before the Tribunal, an' was axed, What would you do if you saw a Germa-n killing your wife?' '1 wouldn't interfere; the Good Book forbids shedding of blood.' 'But the last time you were at Donnybrook,' said the member, 'you ?. v (,, i c ,tt 1,)oi,?ii)? b i-oo k cracked a few crowns, an' a good deol ov blood was shed, though, happily, without loss of life.' 'That was only a thrifle, yer honour, an' ye know aieli wan ov us ha,d to uphowld his side But supposing you had married No- r-ah instead of her mother, and the same Ger- man tried to assault her: what then?' 'By all that's holy, I'd chop the villain as small as mic: meet before a hair of her head was touched.' I don't like them consciences that never showed up till the Conscription Ack was dis- cussed. Our peace and safety in this little islam; was bought and preserved by successive generations of soldiers an' sailors who gave then lives for it. an' its bein' preserved by our heroes at the front, an' our Navy all round our shores; an' them conscientious ob- jectors are content to enjov the peace an' safe- ty an' leave the fightin' to the other fellows." L Hut," says Josie, "there's plentv askin' for exemption without conscientious objec- tio.Rs., "Hight ye are, my boy an' the first I heard of was our Ed itor. ile came before the Tribunal claimin' exemption as he was indis- pen?ible; the 'Pioneer' could not do widout him an' air the local members riz up an' sliuk hands wid him, an' voted his exemption on the grounds that he was the only Editor in Wales who wud print Navvy Pat, an' wid- out Navvy Pat there was no wan to keep then in the way they ought to go. An' they hope-a the Pioneer would increase double an' double again to what it had been, ar. that the Editor wud get so much fresh capi- tal that he would invest a lot of it in 5 per cent. War Loan Bonds. They said the Welsh workmen shud be shot, for wan day's takin's at the pictures in Wales wud make the Pio- nee-- independent. The military representative was doubtful; he reckone d the Pioneer' was agin the war an' Conscription, an' though Navvy Pat might be sound on some points, he'd revolutibnise Bri- tain if he had his way. But the Tribunal told him to mind his own business, which was to advise on military law: an' they gave the Editor exemption and wished him luck. Patrick Muldoon claimed exemption as he was indispensable to his business. 'What is your occupation?' I am unemployed.' Then what is your basiness?'' My wife's a washerwoman.' What part yo you take in the business?' I turn the mangle till me back's broke.' W hat remuneration do you receive for that?' '0, she slips me a bob or so for a drink while she does the washing.' Then she keeps the house -oing, foed and clothing for both of you, does she?' 'Yes, your honour.' We refuse exemption; she can get a woman to d your work and deliver the washing also, for less than half you cost her; and if you stop a German bullet she will live happy ever after." T; mo thy Broadribs cla-imed as sole support of his mother. W hat is your occupation?' Labourer.1 Have you any one here to speak for you ?' Yes, sir; my mother is here., Mothex. Take him away, gentlemen, an' let him learn the value of hie Home.' Ananias Drabsuit, conscientious obieotor' ■ State your objections.' My Bible says ( Resist not evil' and Thou shaft not kill.' How long have you held helS these view. &Pl (I am one of the Society of Friends an9 have, of coarse, held these views during my entire connection with that Society.' 'How long have you held these views?" For a considerable period.' 'How loog? We must know when you joined this Society. About this time last month.' "The's others shir kin' as ye know. Luk at the lot of counter-jumpers, clerks, butchers, bakers an' the Lord knows what besides that's crowded into the collieries an' even paid the gaffers to give them a job underground. They fancied that wanst they could attest as miners- they'd be safe, but the Tribunals has got their eyes on 'em, and divvel hel-o 'em. "An' now just luk. at the muddle that's been made of the whole affair. Ye've had sneshimens ov the sort ov wastrels our bovs in the trenches are fightin' and dyin' for; v an' Lord Deitby promised the married men that as far as possible they should be drafted into the R.A.M.C. an' be kep' out ov the fight-in' line. Then when the conscientious objectors come on to the stage they get drafted into the non-fighting ranks an' the R.A.M.C is packed iull. ov young strappin' conscienceless bucks, and there's no room for wan married man in the whole department. iNow, we wives ov Britain, ceinsidei- fur every wan ov tiiem tender-skinned bloods who liave sneaked into the itoyal Army Medical Corps, a married man—whether he is childless or iatiier ov a izbulily-lias to go into the iightm line to suiter-perhaps to die—to keep thean skulkers from hard work and danger. Get your money up an go fur Asquith tooth an' nail; he is to blame. now a wurd specially to the I.L.Peers among ye; I've said it to ye before, an' I'll say it to ye agin, an' yet agin till somebody can show me l m wrong. Ye declare war to be a cruise to humanity, an' Conscription a death blow to British Freedom, an' I agree wid ye the'-e, an' wud give my life to abolish the pair ov 'em. But we must consider that we live in a wurld where war is the final arbitrar when diplomacy fails, and where every nation, even the smallest, is armed. J admit that we have sinned in the past, an' may sin again; we have conquered fresh fields for our capitalists to exploit, all the wurld over. an' have used very questionable means to attain our ends; but I believe we lav less heavy burdens on our conquests than any other nation; and to renounce them which we wud have to do if we disarmed wud be to leave them at the mercy of the first big nation that cud pick them up. I believe we must keep the position we have won; that of the .First Power in the wurld till all hu- manity learns that peace an' prosperity are preferable to war an' glory. You tell me that this war hasoen ar- ranged bp the capitalists for their own bene- fit; it may be so, but they must have accom- plished it by making the Hapsburgs the dupe- as well as the allies of the Holienzoll- eriis, for the German finger is in every pie, an* the Kaiser dominates or tries to dominate the entire Central Alliance; and his expressed de, termination will be found in the national song 'Deutshland uberalles/ in trade, territory, po- litics and Dower. I can't finish wid this fb- night, for there goes stop-tap—' Time, gentle- men please '—but I'll begin next week where I lave off to-night. I hape ye'll think carefully over all I've said; but that's past pravin' for; and it's your failin' to think that puts ye in tne hole ye're in."

St, David's Day Celebration. SFLENDID CELEBRATIONS AT HEOL- GERRIG. It is estimated that between i-W and 800 people assembled at Salem Congregational Cha- lel. rIeolgerrig, on Wednesday evening week, to celebrate our National Anniversary. The chair was taken by the Rev. G. Eyans. B.A., pastor of the church, who delivered a brief, inspiring address before proceding with a" lengthy programme. A novel and attractive feature of the meet- ing was gie, sweet rendering of several Welsh Airs by the scholars ef the Mixed School, under the oonductorship of the' Headmaster (Mr. W. T. Williams). Four Welsh sketches were also performed by the school children, and the loud applause which greeted the efforts of the little ones indicated the keen and hearty appreciation of the crowded congregation. The sketch entitled Y Meddyg a'r Dddoli" was so excellently well rendered that its repetition was demanded. The other sketches were entitled: "Hen Ganeuon Gym- rn"; Yr Ysgol Gymraeg"; and "Y Forwyn N«wydd." Messrs. Idrys Morgan and Brinley Griffiths accompanied with their usual ability, the former delighting the audience with a brilliant piano- forte selection of Welsh Airs. Solos were sweetly rendered by Miss Maude Lambert, Miss Maggie Davies, Miss Margaret Jane Abraham, and Mr. Llewelyn Richards. Master John Rowland Lewis, dressed in the quaint garb of an ancient Welshman, gave some penmllion singing in his inimitable style. Re- citations, appropriate to the occasion, were ably rendered by Mr. Dayid Davies (Bwthynog), Mr. Ezekiel Rees, Miss Maggie Mary Griffiths, and Miss Rachel Annie Rees. The following Welsh airs were tastefully ren- dered by the School Choir of one hundred vpices several of the scholars being attired in the national costume: Yn lach i Ti, Gymru"; "Y Gadlys"; "Oodiacl yr Ehedydd"; Daf- ydd y Ga.rreg Wen"; Rhyfelgyrch Gwyr Harlech. The three-part song. Cwsg. f'an- wylyc1. Owsg," ,was also artistically sung by a section of the School Choir. The singing of Hen Wlad fv Nhadau," the solo being taken by Master John Williams, brought to a close one of the most enthusiastic and inspiring celetbra-tions in the history of the village. The proceeds amounted to R5, three pounds being banded over to the fund to pro- vide comforts for Welsh troops, and the re- mairing two pounds to assist the Y.M.C.A. in their noble work amongst our soldiers. Mr. Thomas N. Williams and Mr. Ezekiel Rees made energetic secretaries. The head teacher, Mr. W. T. Williams, and his scholars were specially complimented for contributing so generously to this popular festival. MIXED SCHOOL.—At this school, in addition to the rendering of Welsh airs and part songs, spirited addresses were given to the various classes by their respective teachers. Banners, suitably inscribed with Welsh mottoes, were also exhibited throughout the week: "Eu Hiaith a Gadwant"; Nid Cenedl heb Iaith"; Nid Cymro heb Gymraeg" "Oymru am byth"; "Y Ddraig Goch ddyry Gychwyn." A drawing competition on the morning of St. David's Day proved an interesting event. Book prizeb were given in the upper classes for the best pastel drawings of the leek and the Welsh Dragon.

Government Intervention Sought. S.W.M.F. COUNCIL DECISION IN DEAD- LOCK. Mr. James Wmstone presided over an import- ant meeting of the Executive Council of the S.W.M.F. at Cardiff on Tuesday There was a full Council present, including Mabon," Mr. T, Richards, M.P., General Secretary; and Mr. A. Onions, treasurer. The principal object tÐf the meeting was to discuss questions rega-rding which the Executive had failed to agree with the owners at the last meeting of the Conciliation Board, when the negotiations came to a deadlock. These questions related to the Sunday night shift, me bonus turn for ostlers. and advanced rates for surface craftsmen. It was reported that the Federation had been invited to send a deputation to meet Sir George Askwith with respect to the differences which have arisen over the non-Unionist question in South Wales. The Council decided to meet him on Thursday in London. It was also decided to sesk the intervention of the Government upon the three matters in dispute arising out of the New Agreement. 1

Tenants and theHRents Act. A SIMPLE EXPLANATION. It is increasingly obvious to those who get m touch with the domestic side of the workers' lives that despite the passage of the Renta Act, the people are still uninformed of the protection that it offers to them, and that un- scrupulous house owner's are using their ignor- ance to their own ends. Efforts of various sorts have been made by the South Wales Trades Councils to frustrate these attempts, and un- doubtedly with good results in many cases, but there is always a thick substratum of workers who. from timidity or ignorance, will not avail themselves of invitations of the Council to place themselves in the hands of ward representa- tives or attend expository lectures, and these are consequently untouche d by the ordinary means adopted by the Councils. The Mynvddi6- Iwyn Trades and Labour Council have had this class under consideration and they have hit on the happy expedient of issuing the following circular, in which the rights and privileges of the tenant under the Act are set forth in the form of question and answer so plainly worded that the simp]set can understand simply and at once exactly where they stand. The instruction is a model of conciseness and completeness, and we congratulate Mr. Wm. Harris. Political Or- ganiser for the Monmouthshire Labour Party, on the manner in which he has done his work. Whilst on the subjoined text the matter is made to apply only to the Mynyddislwyn Coun- cil we have no doubt that it is equally appli- cable to all the Councils in the South Wales area. The questions and answers, of course, apply to the whole country and if anv of our readers find that thev have been threatened in their rights under the Act. we advise them to J get into immediate touch with the Trades Coun-j cil in their locality — AIYNYDDISLW-YN TRADES & LABOUR COUNCIL. J To All Housholders in the District. ■ Don't pay any increased rent? Why? Be- cause the Rents Act of 1915 protects you. WI-iat does the Act provide? It says that no landlord shall increase the rent above what it was on August 3. 1914. Suppose I was not living in the house I am now living on tha.t date?—Then the landlord cannst charge you more than was paid by the tenant that occupied y(i)ur house on that "1. date. Suppose my landlord has incurred expense in repairing or decorating my house, can he increase my rent for that?—No, the Act say" s he must not. Suppose my landlord has improved my house in other respects?—If 1*5 has added to the size of your house, or. other improvements he can increase your rent, but only to the e: tent of what will give him 6 per cent. on the cost of improvement. I If he has increased my rent since the be- ginning of the war, can I get my mone back ?—All you have paid in increased rent since November 25, 1915. is illegal, and you can deduct it out of your future rent, or recover it in the courts. j But will not that be a very troublesome matter ot at all. The 'Trades Council will do aM that is necessary if you will on]V communicate with their Secretary, as they I have a Special Committee to deal with the j whole matter, and you can send on the j particulars of your case through the Secretary of your own Trade Union. What size house comes under this Act?— Any house or part of a house up to a ren- 1 tal of £2(j per annum, or 10/- a week. ) Suppose I take action under the Act. Can the landlord turn me out?—No, as long ae yon pay your rent, and do mot commit a nuisance, the landlord cannot turn you out, and no cotirt can issue an order to have you turned out unless the landlord requires the house for his personal use or that of his family, s How long does this Act remain in form?- For the period of the war and six months | after. But even after the period mentioned. the landlord carwiot recover the increased ']] rent for the back period. If your rent has increased, let your Branch Secretary know at once, giving full particu- 1 lars. or communicate direct with SYD JONES ] Cartref. Woodfie4.d Side, who is the Seertea.rv of the Trades Council for your district. I i

— J Merthyr Building Trades 0, Federation. AN INDUSTRY THAT HAS SUFFERED GREATLY. The annual meeting of the above Federation was held on Friday evening last at Bentley's Rooms. The whole of the affiliated societies were represented. A review of the past year's work was given, and commented upon. The outstanding feature of this being the extreme slackness of the building trade in Merthyr and district. About 50 per cent of the members here had to leave the district owing to this fact. The building trade has ben hard hit since the war-a great many things being put down to the war—but our trade has suffered worst of all. This, it was felt, should not be so. The housing of the working classes, the condemning of the slums in the town, and the re-building of de- cent houses are as essential as the teaching and feeding of the children. I cannot under- stand the apathy of the workers in respect to the housing question. Why they are contented to live in some of the houses or hovels that are not fit for pigs to be housed in is a perpetual puzzle. I have often wondered why the people of Merthyr are continually re-papering their houses. I am led to believe that if the me- jority of them did not do so the houses woulfi fall down. The paper acts as a kind of retain- ing- wall. Then, again, the discussion that arose in the Council a few months ago regarding the plac- ing of troughing and shoots outside houses. In a great many cases if this were carried out the weight of the troughing would pull the walls down. All this points to the immediate necessity of erecting good and substantial houses for the people. The election of officials resulted in the re- election of the secretary. Frank Bateson; min- ute secretary. Edward Shadbolt; chairman, I. Williams, O.B.S.; vice-chairman, M. Jenkins, O.M.S. It was decided to be represented at, the Cardiff Conference. Frank Bateson being selected as the delegate. A discussion arose with regard to the Mili- tary Tribunal. Eventually, it was moved "That we, the building trade workers, protest against the Tribunal as now formed, and that we are of opinion that previous to the forma- tion of he Tribunal the various workers' or- ganisations should have been approached with the view of securing adequate representation." E. S.