Pioneer

Open Letter to the Iron and Steel Owners of South Wales. SEE PAGE 4

Against Compulsion. I MONSTRE PROTEST MEETING AT ABER- AMAN. BOB WILLIAMS' STRAIGHT HITTING. FINE SPEECH BY JOHN THOMAS, B.A. I On Sunday evening was lield at the Grand Theatre, Aberamati. under the Joint Auspices of the I.L.P. N.C.F, and A.C.L, a public meeting that in numbers and enthusiasm surpassed any gathering ever held in the district for years. Mr. Norman. the Chairman, called upon Mr. George Richards, of the N.U.R. Aberdare, to propose the following resolution — That this meeting of Aberdare and District Citizens demands the immediate repeal of the Military Service Act. 1916. and pledges itself to oppose any extension of the Compulsion principle. Mr. Richards said that he had great pleasure in speaking to this resolution for several rea- sons. because he thought it was necessary to take a step now to prevent militarism from taking deep root in the country, as one of the chief weapons that could be used by all the reactionaries of the country to thwart the eff- orts of social reformers and all who struggled on behalf of progress. Whatever the Govern- ment would decide in the near future, he. as a married man. would resent to the uttermost the efforts of militarists to rope in married men in the shameful way that they dragged m the single men. It was a perfect disgrace to any civilised country, the way in which we had allowed the young man with conscientious objections to be treated. He opposed militarism because it supports the capitalistic system of society and throttles the spirit of freedom. Then, further, as an Industrialist and Trade Unionist, he was most suspicious of Military Conscription for as far as he was concerned the !only difference between Military and Industrial Con- scription wao the difference between a bad egg and a rotten one. (Applause.) The speaker Wound up by quoting Keir Hardie's words in saying that the need of the moment was men; men to .stem the tide of reaction: men to stick to the Flag of Freedom; men to build a. New Jerusalem. (Loud applause.) Ooun. Idwal Thomas, in a short but pointed and enthusiastic speech, seconded the resolution, and referred to the sinister motives of militar- ists whose sole efforts-quite frankly admitted by many of their writers, as shown by extracts the speaker quoted—was to break the growing power of Democracy. As an Internationalist, Ooun. Idwil Thomas said he opposed militarism in all its forms, as it was the stumbling block in the way of International Brotherhood. Militarism drove the workers of every country at one another's throats, and thus diverted their attention from the ruling classes who were exploiting them right and left. He wound up by saying that it was a great pleasure for him to be present on the platform to sec- ond the resolution as a fulfilment of a vow he made in Glasgow at the funeral of his hero—Keir Hardie—to keep the Flag flying ag- ainst the forces of reactoin and capitalism and militarism in all its forms. (Loud applause.) The Chairman then called upon Mr. John Thomas, B.A., Trecvnon. to support the resolu- tion. Mr. John Thomas, in his opening remarks, said that as far as Great Britain was concerned militarism had raged and ravaged since August, 1914, and had done incalculably more damage than the snow blizzard of a few days ago. Its devastation was appalling. Millions of pounds worth of property had been destroyed and burned h.ut more tra.gic still was the homes that had been wilfully smashed. ("Shame.") Young men and middle-aged men had been swept off their feet by the blast of milit,ai-islrn. But. thank heavens! there were a few thousand young men, who were determined to resist, even unto death, the blast of militarism as con- tained in the yoke of Conscription imposed by the Military Service Act, 1916. (Loud cheers.) More than that, thpse young men, num- bering several thousands all over the country, had determined to keep their lines of commu- nication intact by banding themselves as mem- bet-s of the Independent Labour Party, No-Con- scription Fellowship, .Fellowship of Reconcilia- tion. Society of Friends, and the A.O.L. (Loud applause.) The speaker said he was proud to stand on the platform that night as one of the few stalwarts who were prepared to have his body riddled with lead before he would bend oven or break down before the dictates of the military machine. (Prolonged applause.) It was a perfect disgrace to any civilised Xfcfttien of the 20th Century, particularly Great Britain, with its reputation for fair play, that the conscientious objectors—some of them men like Clifford Allen (loud applause)—the nob- lest souls in these islands—had been persecuted by the Tribunals. Mr. Thomas then asked the audience to fol- low him further for a little in the realm of kiat«riaal facts, removed from this allegorical petrtrayail of militarism as a blasting, devastat- ing blizzard, to the stages in the development •f the placing of the yoke of Conscription on men between 18 aud 41 in England, Scotland and Wales. The speaker pointed out, the sig- nificance of the exclusion of Ireland from the Military Service Act, whether this was due to erafty Carson, rebellious Redmond, or wilful whiskey the speaker did not know. (Laugh- ter ) In a lucid and masterly fashion, with his typical Celtic zeal and boiling enthusiasm, the speaker elaborated the five stages in the histori- cal development of Conscription, commencing with the voluntary, or direct enlistment, phase, which has been bound up with the British Airmy from time immemoriaL and showed that the response to the national call had aston- ished even the avowed Conscriptionists, the Jin- o Northcliffe Press, and the reactionary Par- liana ent group had seized upon the /oc- casion to force forward a call for Conscription, as a step towards which the Coalitiom Gov- ernment was secured by a dastardly press cam- paign, "Ivhich was next directed towards the pres- sing forward of the Northcliffe National Ser- v ice Boom; in pursuance of which the Rus- sian reverses had been twisted to serve tie Jin- go ends. Lastly, as the direct forerunner of the Aot came the Derby Scheme of Group At- testation. This was followed by Lord Derby's guesswork report, which was so severely criti- cised by Sir John Simpn. (Cheers.) The Jingo Press were delighted with the clever way in which Lord Derby had got Asquith to play off the married men against the unmarried, and they ultimately succeeded in getting Conscrip- tion placed on the Statute Book through the passing of the Military Service Act 1916. The speaker very lucidly and briefly touced on the chief points of the Act, and in dealing with the classes of people that the Act did not touch. Then, coming to the classes w ho were, according to the Act, entitled as a right to be exempted, the speaker dealt with the Conscien- tious Objector aftid those who appealed on do- mestic grounds, to whom exemptions could be granted in absolute, temporary or conditional eel t-ificates. Finally, ooming to the administration of the Act. as worked out in practice by tie Local and Appeal Tribunals, the speaker, in his most vivid and eloquent way. described the disgrace- ful way in which the Tribunals all over the land, with very few exceptions, had aoted more like bullying and blackguardly recruiting committees than judicial bodies appointed to administer with justice an Act of Parliament. The pro- ceedings of the Merthyr and Mountain Ash Tri- bunals were a standing disgrace to the dist- rict and were the matter not so tragic, and serious, one would be tempted to laugh outright and treat them as ludicrous music hall farces The majority of Tribunals had not attempted to undren.tand the applicants nor, as a matter of fact, did not want to understand their point of view. (Loud applause.) Asquith's pledge* to the only sons of widmved I mothers had been deliberately broken. (Shame.) Mr. Philip Snowdenloud and prolonged cheer- ing speaking a week ago at a Convention where Mr. Thomas was a delegate on behalf of the Aberdare N.C.F. Branch, said: "Never since the days of Judge Jefferies and the Bloody Assizes has there been, such a, travesty of justice as we have witnessed in the proceedings of these Tribunals." (Loud cheers.) Mr. Thomas then said that if the audience '.rantoto know of the horrible anil ghastly treatment conscientious objectors received at th hand of military authorities, let them read this week's PIONEER—(loud cheers)—with an ac- count of Sara, of London. Here the speaker put in an ardent appeal for every member of the audience to subscribe to the PIONEEB regularly as it was the only paper in the district that had been fair to the Conscientious Objector. (Loud cheers.) Even a person-who was in favour of the prosecution of this war—Dr. Clifford (cheers)—-was so disgusted with the Military Ser- vice Act and its damnable maladministration that he had said publicly a week ago, that "The Military Service Act was a fraud. I am ashamed of my country. These Tribunals are a disgrace to our name." (Loud cheers.) Amid a frenzy of applause from the audience, Mr. Thomas terminated his speech in favour of the resolution by some apt verses by Charles Mackav. the celebrated Scotch poet of Freedom and Liberty. The audience, now having been worked up to a concert pitch of enthusiasm and sympathy, responded most magnificently to the Chairman's appeal for a collection to defray expenses. The cdnet'tion was a record one, amounting to four (o -,tion was a, ?i-e,cot,d o-tit, atn, oiinting to four After singing the appropriate hymn. Sons of Labour," the Chairman introduced Mr. Rob- crt Williams, the General Secretary of the Transport Workers' Union, as the next and last speaker, who had travelled up from Swan- sea. where lie had been addressing meetings ag- ainst Conscription; and, further, as one of the. very few Labour leaders that had stuck out ag- ainst militarism. (Loud cheers and ovation.) After referring to the International character of the words and music of the hymn Sons of Labour, Mr. Robert Williams stated how glad he was to be present, at the meeting to sup- port the resolution to repeal the Act. The last fHW weks the oapi talliståc press had gone out or their way to pour ecomiums on him for be- ing a sane man for his support of the Govern- ment in the prosecution of this war. Whatever he had done recently to aid the Government to provide means for the carrying on of the im- portant transport services in the interest of the State, he wished to make it perfectly clear that nothing would deter him from opposing and criticising the Government, particularly when it imposed on the workers the damnable inqui- sition of Conscription as it had begun in the Military Service Act. (Loud cheers.) The Mi- litarists had demanded the institution of Cons- cription without any regard to its effects on industrial efficiency. If the industrial machine was crippled or hampered by the short-sighted- ness of militarists, our soldiers in the trenches would be the first to suffer. More than that, Militarism, in its Conscription form was one of the most damna,ble and sinister blows to Trades Unionism and the Industrial Freedom of th6 Workers. (Loud cheers.) He as a leader of Trades Unionism, could not allow this thing to happen without uttering his strongest and loudest protest. (Hear, hear.) Whatever the Stantons and the other reactionary "Morning Post" darlings Labour lead org did and said. (Prolonged applause.) The speaker then criticised in a most trronob- ant manner the proposal to "comb out" more of the- young men from industries. He pointed out that the consequences would be the bringing back of khaki-clad men from the trenches to take the place of these youngsters with the de- liberate intention of having the whole commun- ity. civilian and military, under military dis- cipMne, to carry out the behests of the govern- ing classes. (Loud cries of" Shame.") The Speaker then reminded the audience of the way in which militarists had always treats ed strikers at Tonypandv, Llanelly always with a whiff of grape-shot. (Prolonged applause.) He, as an individual. as a man-could never think of. taking the military oath—(loud ohoors)-tor it robbed him of his individual freedom, and placed him in the hands of "superior" officers, who could command him even to shoot his own fellow-worker. These "superior" officers were ofn his mental, physical and moral inferiors, and he would not lower his cfcgimy to enter the military machine at their dictation. (Loud and prolonged cheers.) The speaker then came to the treatment of the "boys"—he called them "boys"-as consci- entious objectors, as explained by the previous speaker, was simply disgraceful and unworthy even of Russia or Prussia. (Loud and prolonged cheers.) Where was Mr. Lloyd George, who had prattled so much about conscientious ob- ject i ons in his ea,r l ,?, jections in his early days? (Loud cheers.) Judg- ing from the vile and disgraceful way in which the Tribunals had scoffed at the conscientious objectors, one would think that conscience was some new-fangled notion and nuisance, but it had been recognised and provided for in an Act of Parliament as far back as 1870—the Educa- tion Act. If that reactionary Labour member of the Cabinet—Mr. Arthur Hellderson-had any con- science at all, it was his place to resign im- mediately as a protest at the treatment these conscientious objectors had had at the hands of the Tribunals. (Loud and prolonged cheers.) The same advice he would give to all the Labour Members also. as part of the Govern- ment—(loud cheers)—for these boys and young men of the stamp of Clifford Allen were the seed of the church of. the future against mili- tarism. The words used by the Government in the Act, that so and so was deemed to be a Conscript," were absolutely wicked, and were as unjust as if a highwayman had stolen one's watch, and in defence said, You are deemed to have handed your watch to me." Or if Germany herself had told Belgium, after violating her mdc]>enden«e, "You are deemed to have handed me your independence and liberty." (Loud and prolonged applauseT^ The speaker, in an eloquent manner, wound up his speech by asking the members of the audience to support the resolution, and thuv do their best as civilians to keep the liberty of the soldiers and civilians at home. While the soldiers were away at the front supposed to be fighting enemies abroad. We had as much to fear from Prussianism and Militarism at home as from Militarism abroad. (Loud and prolonged applause.) The meeting terminted ?-?h the singing o? the "Red Flag," and three cheers for Bo-j the ti-?ree ch eei-s or ?so-

Glais Notes. A Concert to Remember. On April 13 and 15 very successful performan- ces of the operetta, "Inspector for an Hour," preceded by an excellent miscellaneous concert, was given by the Juvenile Choir in the St. Paul's Schoolroom, in aid of the funds of the Penuel Baptist Chapel. From the raising of the curtain in the first scene on the chorus of miners-who sang with exceptional verve and sweetness—to the final scene in the farce when Air. A. Rees was discovered by the children and teacher to be an impostor, the evening went with a rare swing. Mr. Rees has got a fine touch for the farcical in comedy, and he did his work well, and he was well supported by the other members of the company, who entered into the inner spirit of the farce, and carried the whole off with lots of fun. Another distinctive item in the programme was the rendering of "Bom- bar do Graig y Pal," written and composed by the singer. Mr. H. Harris, who also did good work as conductor for the evening. It is a song of the true Welsh bardic type, and its rendition brought the house down. Miss Ben- jamin, of Llansamlet. a school teacher k the neighbourhood, also was heard' to good advant- age in a pretty song that reflected great credit on her choice, as well as on her voice. Alto- gether the evening was one of the most enjoy- able ever spent in Glais. Well Done. Mr. James Morris, Birchgrove, who was re- cently elected as one of the Labour Repre- sentatives on the District Council, has started off his public work well by calling the atten- tion of the Council to the bad state of the main road between Glais and Birchgrove. and in di- recting attention to the inefficient lighting of the village. Quite half the village has been without lights since the evening of the great storm. May he continue in the work he has so well started on. Illness of N. U. R. Secretary. It is with deep regret that we record that Mr. Charles Williams, the highly respected sec- retary to the local branch of the N. U .R., is laid up with illness. May he soon recover to continue the gpod work that he has been doing so well. Congratulations to Local Author. The Truth About the Germans JJ is a book that should be read by all lovers of freedom. It is a collection of the utterances of well-known politicians and writers of distinction that is eminently wanted in these days when the cheap sneer at the "Hun" and "Kultur" are so common. and we congratulate Mr. T Llew- elyn Thomas, of Llansamlet. Birchgrove. on the ability with which he has conducted his diffi- cult work of compilation. The book has been issued by the Nationa Labour Press, at 1/ and certainly should be on every shelf that sports "The War of Steel and Gold" and "Ten Years of Secret Diplomacy," to which it is a compan- ion volume in many ways.

MERIHYR. MEKTHYB I.L.P. MEMBERS.—Don't forget the Tea Dance and Whist Drive at Bentley's Hall on Good Friday. This function is reserved for menibers and friends 1, admission. 1/- inclusive. HARRY MORRIS' ILLNESS.—We regret to re- cord the illness of Mr. Harry Morris, the genial Secretary of the Merthyr I.L.P. The strain of the past few months has been, very heavy, and has at last produced neuresthenia, for which he has been ordered to take a oomlete chang and rest by his medical man. He left Merthyr on Thursday for a short holiday from which we hope he will return rejuvenated in mind and body.

IL- -Tonyrefaiii Notes. Coed Ely. The reactionaries of the Labour movement are busy at the Coed Ely Colliery. For some time their work and intentions have been obvious to those who have the interest of the workers at heart. Who are these men that pretend that they are the friends of the workmen? They have succeeded for a time in holding the wor. kers' confidence by their strategy. So far they can congratulate theanselves on their craftr- ness. But we venture to speculate that if they continue such attitude and actions towards the Labour movement their dooms, as leaders of the Federation Lodge, is inevitable. Much as we dislike in any way to differ with lodge officials, we feel that in the interest of the rank and file, we must bring before them the move that has been for some time planned and engi- neered by a few who are selling the rank and file to their enemies. What Trades Unionist with the least amount of common-sense would sever his connection wifrti the ways and means whereby his sole interest is involved ? The Labour Party is a Federation consisting of Trade Unions, Independent Labour Party, the Fabian Society, and a large number of Trades Councils and Local Labour Parties, the Women's Labour League and a Co-operative Society. One of its chief functions is Labour representation. Is there any true Trade Unionist'Who thinks that Labour should not be represented on all administrating bodies-? The one common belief among workers is that they have been outside too long. Yet these few cunning crafty men have been the means of severing the Coed Ely Lodge from affiliation with the Labour Party. Having been successful in this, thev become bol- der in their pernicious undertaking. Now they are contemplating the severance of all connec- tion with the Trades and Labour Council, which is a local federation of Trade Union branches. The function of the Trades and La- bour Council is largely industrial, and serves to focus local Trade Union activities, and safe- guard the general observance of Trade Union standards in the various localities. Their task is to carry out locally the centralisation of pro- paganda of the Trade Union n vement, of which an important n -1,,4- i the ii of the ■non-Unionist. In are "tie GcSili-c* oi industrial activity in every district, and are essentially the real representatives of Labour in every Trade Union branch within their sphere of influence. They are, or should be, the arbit- ers in local disputes between Union and Union; they are for the district what the Trade Union Congress is for the whole country; and their greatest work is to make local feeling articu- late. and offer a means of free expression to the rank and file Trade Unionists. The more the Unions demand a. share in industrial control, the greater will be the task and the power of the Trades Councils. On them in great part the smooth working and the reality of Industrial De- mocracy will depend. The importance of affilia- tion with such a representative body is obvious, and every Trade Unionist should see that the few assumed dictators shall not succeed in severing their branch from the Trades and Labour Council. Now we ask the rank and file if they think that these men are truly helping the Labour movement? We are inclined to think that these men are enemies to the workers, and are doing all they can to undermine the Labour movement. It is assumed that a prom- inent colliery official intends contesting, as a candidate, at the next District Council Elec- tion in the interests of the employers. Now the fact of the matter is that these few dictators, whose move has been for some time to under- mine the workers' representative power, are paving the path. by severing connection with these representative organisations so that the course to support their prospective candidate will be favourable and free. The rank and file ought by now to have learned the value of such representatives. Also, refuse to be dictated by the few to sever connection from such bodies as the Trades and Labour Council. It is gratify- ing to learn that the work of the Llantrisant and Llantwit Fardre Trades Council has been mostly of an industrial nature, such as the wa- ges of Council employees and musicians at cine- mas and places of amusement. The directly af- fect the workers' interest in the sustainance of their livelihood..Further, such work as Town Planning, Sanitary Inspection, Water Supplies, Allotments and Small Holdings all of which are of vital importance to the welfare of the workers. We hepe that the rank and file at Coed Ely Colliery will not permit these men to carry on their little game. We wonder what will be their next move. I Gilfach Goch. I Fellow-workmen of Gilfach! We are now pas- sing through thr; most critical period in our life's history. Events are now happening which make the diffusion of Democratic ideas a matter of the greatest expediency. Is it noth- ing te you that our fellow-workers in other parts of the country are being trodden upon by Hie yon heel ef a cruel despotism? Pat- riotism is a right thing provided that we accept its true meaning; but still, is not our bread and cheese of more import? Mell of our class, and Mieir families, elsoYqjhere are being exploited; their bread and cheese is in danger. We are as a whole free from privatiton, but our turn may come sooner than we expect and it behoves us to be on the alort. It is up to us thee to prevent the devolution of tyranny upon our heads, and the most effectual way in which we can work is to read the Labour Press, which is the mouthpiece of the workers. The one thing needful is sympathy, and this can only be cultivated by an inquiring mind. Concert. At A in on Chapel. en Thursday, the 6th mst., a grand concert was held under the auspices of the Welsh Society. The following soloists took part: -Soprano, Miss K. Fancotfc Cardiff: con- tra.lto, Mass E. Mathews. Ctaxdlff tenor. Mr. H. Morgan. Cardiff; bass, Mr. John Jones, Owmlai; also Mr. Dan Price, Tonyrefail. who gave a violin solo, "Fantasia la Traviata" (Ver- di) in a very effective manner. The songs selec- ted by the soloists were very appropriate to the I times, and were sung very effectively. The children's choir, under the baton of Mr. J. H. Richards. sang the following:—" Rhyfelgvroh Captin Morgan." "Forth to the Battle," "Cwcw Fach," Cwyd dv Galon," and "Pan Ddaw'r Llanciau 'n ol"—the latter being a translation of When the Boys Come Home (Mr T. Thomas, Benoni, Tonyrefail). The (Siair was taken by Mi*. William Evans, J.P., who' gave a short address. There was a fairly large audience. The proceeds are to go to the Red Cross Society and the Btind Soldiers' Fund. [ Lecture. A very interesting and instructive lecture was delivered at Salem English Baptist Chapel on Thursday evening the 13th instant, by the Rev. W. Paran Griffiths, of Blackmill. The chair was taken by Mr. William Jones, J.P., of Pontypridd. TZhe text was "The Immortal Dreamer in Dreamland." The character chosen to represent the dreamer was John Bunyan. The lecturer intrøduced his theme by an outline of the life of John Bupyan. and the circum- stances under which hi famous work, "The Pilgrim s Progress," was written. Here we have a vision and a fact-the life of the author himself. Bunyan did not have the education and advantages that some have; yet his "Pil- grim's ProgreRs" ranks as one of the foremost of the literary productions of the world. Al- though perhaps the theological views are too narrow for us to-day, this alegory will always be imperishable. The lecture was illustrated by, a lantern which, was operated by Messrs. Garfield Mathews. Lewis W. Thomas and Dudley T. Llewelyn. What a different aspect the world would present to-day if the average professing Christian really believed in tfiepreeepts of kis l'eligion and had the moral courage to practise them in every-day life. The author of Pilg- rim's Progress suffered much because lie dared to live up to his religious convictions. We are in soi-e need of more dreamers and visiona- ries, for a people without a vision will perisk. We want men and women having lofty ideals and genuine characters and pure motives, like John Bunyan, to bring about the Kingdom of God on earth. The lecturer was supported with remarks by RCYS. T. Thomas. A. Richards and D P. George.

Bargoed Trades Council TO TAKE ACTION IN RENT-RAISING CASES LONG DISCUSSION ON. CO-OPERATIVE BANKING. lhere was a good art tendance of members at the meeting oi the Bajgoed and District Trades and Labour Council last Thursday, when Mr. Ivor Thomas, the Divisional Representative on the N.A.C. of the I.L.P, and the National Council Against Conscription wrote, asking tor an interview with the various Trades Coun- cils in the Valley. A representative meeting of the Councils will be held 'in Aherbargood on the 27th inst., when Air. Thomas will explain the oDjects of the National Council Against Conscription. The Council also decided to conti- nue its affiliation to the Union of Democratic Control, and the Secretary was instructed to communicate with Mi". Mardy Jones and en- deavour to secure a public meeting for the pur- pose of hearing Mr. Alfred Onions, the prospec- tive Labour Candidate for the constituency as the next Parliamentary Election. The proposal's of the League for the Taxation of Land Values were gone into and approved bv the delegates, who decided that the Council should affiliate with the League. Several oases of rent raising were reported upon. and as a result action is to be taken with the full and complete backing of the vari- ous Trades Union organisations in the valley. A long discussion took place on the advisabil- ity of promoting interest in the C. W .S. Bank- mg System. Several delegates spoke in fav- our of the movement, and Mr. Walter Lewis, J.P., enlanged on the advantages that would accrue if the workers studied their own inter- ests and instead of supporting the capitalists banks made their deposits in the workers' own banks.—It was decided to invite the Secretary of the local Society to attend the next Council meeting for the purpose of further explaining the working of the C.W.S. Banks. Several complaints were received as to the state of the pavements along Park Place, Gil- fach ,and the bad condition of the main road due to the heavy motor traffic running between Bar- goed and Caerphilly, and the dismissal of the Clerk from Brithdir Cemetery, and finally it naa decided that the Secretary (Mr. F. Lloyd) should take up these matters with the District Council. The Bakers' Delegate reported on the recent settlement come to between the men and the masters.

Merthyr Cymreigyddion. PREPARATIONS FOR A GREAT WELSH CONFERENCE. Tlleannual meeting of the Merthyr Gym*- reigyddion Society was held on Friday evening, Mr. David Morgan (Cerddwyson) in the chair. The following were elected officers for the enaw- ing year:—President, Mr. R. Edwardes Jam., solicitor; vice-president, Mr J. P. Lewis; trea- surer, Mr. Job Williams; and secretaries, Messrs W. 0. Jones and J. H. John. The forthcoming meetings of the Union of Welsh Societies to Merthyr in May are being looked forward to with great interest, and o. Friday evening the local arrangements W6T. completed. Mr. Edwardes-James, the new president, is an old-time secretary of the Cardiff Cvmmrod- or ion. and was succeeded in that office by Mr. John Rowland. He was later one of the secreta- ries to the Dr. Joseph Parry Memorial Fund and the Tom Stephens' Memorial .Fund, and has since his removal to Merthyr been an active member with the Cymmreigyddion there. The new secretary, Mr. W. 0. Jones, is known throughout the Principality as a pennilliarl singer.