Pioneer

Retail Food Prices in the United Kingdom on April 1st, 1916. SEE PAGE 3

'l'====c=-c==c-ec-= •I Trade Union Notes. I 9 By TRADE UNIONIST. r The Executive of the S.W.M.F., at their meeting, resolved to apply for an advance of 15 per cent. on the 1915 standard, or 22l per ooxit. on the 1879 standard. Should the appli- cation be .successful,1 the wages will be 40.83 above the 1915 standard, or lllj per cent, above the 1879 standard. It-was stated that the joint audit showed an appreciable increase in the selling price of coal, and also in the volume of trade. 'J The coaiowners, on the other hand. have de- aided to apply for a reduction of 7! per cent., basing their application upon the increase in the cost of production. It is quite certain that the parties will fail to agree, the disparity between them being so great. There is some doubt, also, as to whe- » therLord Muir Mackenzie will continue to act I as Independent Chairman cf the Conciliation Board. » The coaiowners. we Jaiow, are making enonn- oug extra profits, owing to the high prices they oivs, exii-apro lits, are allowed to charge for their commodity. It 1 is a grave scandal that they should be allowed [: to exploit the nation to such an extent in, its hour of need, but being allowed to do so, it t. is only reasonable that the minors whom they k employ should receive a substantial portion of f; the benefits thus gained. The Tinplaters of South Wales have decided apply for an increase of 15 per cent. on the present bonus. At present the arrangement 18 tha.t men earning up to £1 a week receive 15 per cent bonus; from £ 1 to 30/ 20 per > wnt. from 30 i- to 40/ 15 per cent.; and above 40/ 10 per oent. Tliev have also passed > a resolution to oppose any further addition to the employment of female labour in tinworks. 1 We learn from the "Railway Review" that 5 the signalmen are getting very uneasy, "and," £ the writer comments, "the wonder is that they do not revolt." We sometimes read of railway ? disasters, and at such times, the tremendous responsibility of signalmen is appreciated by 5 the ordinary man. But the wages of these fnen alrer faa' from being commensurate with their responsibilities. If the railway compan- ies emphasise the importance of their occupa- f- tIon. and the men have to live continually un- it der the strain of such importance, their condi- 3- rerv-iec- should be verv favourable in- )• deed But about 30/- or 40/- a week is a.bout the Hm't of their wages. It is amongst i the N. E. men that the uneasiness is most no? the ii.E. n-leii that the uneasiness is most not- P The report presented by the National Mini- mum Wage Oommiti&e of the Shop Assistants Union upon its work during the past twelve months makes encouraging reading. It provides y, a record of successes quite unprecedented in t- the historv of the organisation. We learn from s it that 10,000 members employed bv 513 firms have secured advances which amount in the L aggregate to £ 118,153 7s. When it is considered t" that such a. sum represents almost treble the total amount of contributions paid by the whole membership of the Union for a year, the h achievement is tr,uly remarkable. It is pointed e- 6ut in the report, however, that the area where ø theoo advantages have been secured is com- ,crv limited. Had every p,aratively speaking, very limited. Had every f district displayed a similar spirit of activ- fr itv the minimum wage rate might have been securely estaMished in every city, town and Q, village where the name of the Union is known. t Let the backward districts now follow the ex- c f ample set them by the militant ones, ?suc ? wdl assuredly crown their efforts., I ^ee ? I 1 with the comments of the Union's pap?r, "The ? Shop A?ist?nt," which says-" With every 1 advance in the cost of living, there should be 1 <&vents of the past year have so shaped them- selve,s as to play into our hands. Never were f an equivalent advance in the wage scale. The L | the prospects bettor for shop workers Oui minimum wage can be had for the askmg." The monthly report of the Railway Clettks &• Union tell us that up to the 31st of March of this year there has been a net increase of 3,369 in the Union's membership since the eom- h aiencemont of the year. The total membership s. M now 44,019, about one-half the total number ø of clerical workers in the railway service. It witll thus be seen that they have a long way I cr to go before they can say that they are really 1- "Well organised. If the present rate of increase Continues, it wil take about 11 years to get them in. I sinGerely hope that the old prejudice so evident in the oast amongst clerks against Trades Unionism, is fast dying out, and that they have a clear appreciation of the grave dangers that surround their occupation. Railway stations are being closed by the soore. and rolling stock is being pooled and other managerial changes effected which, in the na- v tui-e of things, are bound to be menacing to 0 Vlx* clerks' condition of employment. Without •' strong organisation, their inteTests afe bound -,troii" o r .,g, aiii-,Lat i oit, ? su?er. ] | The same Union's E.G. are recommending the i Wanahes to raise the subscription to 6d. a week. "i Mr. Walkden, tha General Secretary, says that he is absolutely convinced that the Union must r have a cotter financial backing if it is to suc- ed or ever survive and fulfil its great obJiga- 9 ttons when the dimeult conditionB Hiat will f inevitably follow the war come. A Every Union in the country should be think- • W feig of that time, too. Many of them are doing fxoeedinglv well now. But these fair weather 'k?V% wNl soon pass, and it is necesaary to 'ke provision for the stormy weather ahead, f Several Unions have already taken steps to S "?fegiiard themselves. The Carpenters Md 1 '• Joiners, w h oee ordinary subscription is 1/- per t t? ? eek, ?r< paying 6cl? a week extra to build ;i ?P fmidB vhile trade is good. The Shop As- Ri*taiit-,? the Poatmen's Federation, and oth- ?t' '? ?? *? siiggesting to their members the ???? XttT?Mit? ? M&reasn?g their eoMtnbu- Y" M 1'' S. W .]\f':l:gai:I- ence on Friday next to consider the Government proposals for the extension of the MiHt&ry Service Act. The M.F.G.B. also will meet in conference on Tuasday of naxt week to consider the same subject. All the other Unions should lose no time in ascertaining the views of the members upon this point,, and to demand a. spe- cial conference -of all. Trades Unions and Lab- our bodies to give expression to those views. When that is done, I hope it will be found that Organised Labour will have no more Com- pulsory Military Service. No Government can legislate- against the will of such a powerful body of opinion.

Merthyr Rate, 10/7. THE FINANCES OF THE BOROUGH. REDUCED ASSESSABLE VALUE. The Finance Committee of the Merthyr Cor- poration have decided to call, for the same rate for the ensuing year as was levied last year, -namely 10/7 in the £ made up of 4/5 general district rate, and 6/2 borough rate. J,a,te an C The BorcL??qh Fund The Bo,"ouqn Fund. The Borough Comptroller (Mr. W. R. Harris) in a report to the Finance Committee pointed out that the charges on the borough fund amounted to £ 57,609, and the income from sources other than rates- £ 6,131, leaving £ 51,478 to be found for such expenditure, which in- cluded £ 26,874 eiementaa'y edticatioT. i, R,6,126 secondary education; educa- tion; £ "1,060 free libraries rate; £ 1,178 in aid of cemeteries revenue £ 5,922 Watch Commit- tee's expenses; k748 Joint Asylum Committee; £ 250 Law and Parliamentary Committee; 3060 contribution to the Glamorgan County Coun- cil, and t2,740 general charges, salaries, print- ing, Ac. The total was £ 2,267 more than was called for last year, and was brought about by an in- creased call for education amounting to £ 2,500, and for cemeteries k206. The Watch Com- mittee called for £ 608 less. The estimated ex- penditure on elementary education showed an increase of £3,444, but there was an estimated increase of R892 in the income from grants, so that the net increased call on the ra,t,es was £ 2,552. The total amount required for elementary and higher education was £ 35,894, and the balance on the Education Committee's account on the 31st March was £ 5,884—barey sufficient to cov- er one month's expenditure—and it was inadvis- able to draw upon that for the current year's expenditure. Owing to t JO r.-ducc1 assessable value of the borough the rate would produce C-30 per jaenny less tihan last year and conse- quently if the rate was to remain the same the call should not exceed £ 47,300. Genera! District Fund. "I? I expenditure through the general district funn was t64,541, with income other than rates of £10,538, and consequantly £ 54,003 should be raised by that rate, which included £ 365 for fine brigade, £ 33,4.38 Pub-lie Works Committee (lighting, highways, scaveng- ing, etc.), L,4,052 Health Committee; £ 4,323 Parks Committee (iticii-iding C2,731 maintenance of Parks; £ 1,822 Law and Parliamentary; £ 4,459 Finance Committee; and £ 4,539 in aid of water revenue. That meant an addition of t2S9 on last year's requirements, and the re- duced assessable value made the product of the Id. rate tIO less. By reducing the expenditure on the General District Fund by about £ 1,000, and utilising £ 1,000 of the balance on the fund on March 31, and by reducing the expenditure on the Borough Fund by £1,500 or £2,000 and applying a portion of that fund's balance, it wouM be possible to draw the same rate as last year. The total amount required for all purposes was £ 105,841, or £ 2,556 in excess of last year. On the proposition of Alderman Dan Thomas, seconded by Councillor Marsh. it was decided to fix the rates at 10/7, and to draw on the committee's balances to the extent of £ 3,000.

I- Opposition to Compulsion at Pontypridd. ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING AT JUBILEE HALL An er-thusliastic aiid largely attended meeting was held under the auspices of the local I.L.P. and N.C.F. Branches at the Jubilee Hall, Pont- ypridd, on Sunday, when the speakers were Messrs. John Thomas, B.A., Aberdare, and E. J. Williams, Pontypridd. Tbefollowing re- solution was proposed and seconded:- That this meeting of Pontypridd and Dist- rict Citizens demands the repeal of the Mili- tary Service Bill, and pledges itself to op- pose any extension; aJso, we call upon the Government to state in unequivocal languge what Peace terms it is prepared to a(joopt. Mr. Thomas, on rising to support the resolu- tion, was accorded a very enthusiastic reception, and enhanced his already fine reputation with a. masterly oration whioh was greatly appreciated by the audience. He dealt very ably with the factors in the recruiting world since the begin- ning of the war, culminating with the Military Service Bill. He showed clearly the sinister motives behind the Northclitfe agitation, and denounced the in al-a drn ins brat on of the Act. Comrade Williams, who followed with a very able address, dealt with the industrial outlook, and pointed out cases of Prussiauism occurring daily in the locality. He impressed upon the audience the necessity of uniting and strengthen ing the movement to fight and overcome the forces of reaction now at work. The resolution, upon being put to the meet- ing, was carried overwhelmingly, there being only one dissentient. This meeting was the most successful one hold in the locality for some time, and, it is hoped, the forerunner of many similar ones in the future. Please note: It has been decided to hold a aeries of meetings every Sunday, when it is hoped we will be able to arrange a capital programme of good speakers. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to speakers for their services, and the meeting temiaated witk the "-Red Jnag."

Let There Be Peace, By THOMAS THOMAS. Were half the power that fills the workl with terror, \Were half the wealth bestowed on camps and courts, Given to redeem the human mind from error. There were no need for arsenals nor forts. The warrior's name would be a name ab- horred And every -nation that should lift again Its hand against a brother, on its forehead Would wear for evermore the curse of Oain J Down the dark future, through long genera- tions, The echoing sounds grow fainter, and then cease; d s fa-* And like a bell with-solenin sweet vibrations. I hear once more the voice of Christ say Peace Peace 1 And no longer from its brazen portals The blast of war's great organ shakes the s Iz- it; But beautiful a.s songs of the immortals, The holy melodies of love arise." —LONGFELLOW Peace! af ter nearly two years of mad warf- are; after untold sacrifices, suffering, and op- pression, Peace still remains an exile from the hearts of statesmen. Nations still indulge in military bombast, though 20 months of insane human slaughter has resulted in nothing but devastation. And yet. underneath all. this martial manifes- tation, there is a yearning for Peace-—a yearn- ing none the less intense because inarticulate. As the motives which animated the people at the commencement of hostilities are being exhi- bited in their true perspective, as ideals are being shattered one after the other as minds are being disillusioned, and the grim realitites of war brought more forcibly home with every passing movement, so is the longing for Peace becoming more ardent with every disillusion- ment. This desire for Peace is felt in every country; and although,, proportionately, the number of persons who advocate this desirable consummation may be few, the number is legion who would gladly welcome Peace by negotiation. Thousands ardently wisih for Peace who feel reluctant to express their desire from fear of being dubbed unpatriotic. & Judging from the last speeches of Mr. As- quith and the German Chancellor the gulf which divides the two countries is, evidently. U's.s wide than it was a few months ago, and TW both Britain iind Germany to assume more honesty and less hypocrisy. the gulf could eas- ily be bridged without further loss of life. Both countries are gradually realising that a milit- ary victory, even if possible, would entail such loss of life as to render the success a ghastly failure. The German debacle at Vei dun is sufficient evidence of the madness of offensive measures against well-entrenched and fortified enemy positions. Civilians glibly talk about the great prospective Allied offensive as if Brit- ish, soldiers were insensate automata whose sole duty is to provide thrilling entertainment for them. If a military victory for the Allies is to be won at a cost proportionate to the loss of the Germans at Verdun, then the price will be too prohibitive. The ineffable courage of the British soldier should not be utilised for the base purpose of pandering to the inhuman de- mands of the stay-at-home warriors. No! the only sensible course open for the belligerent countries is to decide the issues of the war by peaceful negotiation. Should the war be end- ed by this method, it would contribute to a last- ing peace far more effectively than by contin- uing hostilities until one side is exhausted. So far as military prestige is concerned both sides can cry quits, and the lesson of the war to Prussian and British militarists will be forced home by an awakened conscience of a .disab- used people. It is absolute madness to continue this criminal folly any longer. Every warring country is bleeding to death—an infamous death. Soulless is the creed that cannot sanc- tion amity when strife haa been disrobed of its seeming virtues. England, or more accurately. the terrorists of England, talk about general compulsion. Good God! Was there ever a more ironical demand made on a gullible peopvo ? The Allied Armies are computed to be about 20 million men, and to win the war it is necessary to enforce a matter of a few hundred thousand Conscripts into the British Army! If the war cannot be won with the men already. in the colours, it will never be won. These insidious encroachments on the liberties and lives of the people are not more sinister than Prussian arrogance, and will ultimately prove more tyr- ranieai. Of what consolation will be an Allied victory to the British workmen if the iroc heel of British despotism is to grind him to the Oust? Already we have the terrorists ply- ing their nefarious practices on the Pacifists and on the champions of Free Speech. To read of the treatment 'meted out to Conscientious Objectors who are already under military super- vision is enough to send a blush of sham« to the face of the most hardened criminal. It were charity to inflict the death penalty upon these high-spirited men rather than sub- ject them to the ignominy to which gome of them have been exp,oced. A.hi yes! the patrio- tic civilian may applaud such deed* at the mo- ment, bat so sure as these men are suffering for a holy, Divine cause, se will Nemesis follow the track of ttheir perseoutor*. The hand that has the power and cruelty of punishing right- eous deeds will not discriminate when, in the near future, the present patriot wili be fighting for bread. However, the evils arising out of the war are beet removed by removing the cai-iise. Heaven already knows the suffering Already endured ought to havo 'been sumcisa-t. to satiate the Ap- petite of the most blood-thirsty. By continuing the conflict we are only adding to the mnsery. Why do the people persist ist ithei,- *Teo to palpable facts ? Why prsrsu* a. will-o'-the- wisp? Peace now by negotiation# is swraly better than Peaca by negotsatioa a J'8IU" hence when the bailiffs will b. h.re Let th401 yearn- ing that is in every heart find expression, im a clarion v.ice that wiR ro-asko vwW stataemsn ARE to, think in tarms of Feaae.

How the Conscientious Objectors are r Faring. SOME NOTICEABLE CASES OR ARREST FOLLOWED BY COURT-MARTIAL. SELECTED FROM REPORTS PREVIOUS TO APRIL 28. tverett, E. J., St. Helen's. A school teacher under the St. Helen's Edu- cation Committee (who have passed a resolution that his post shall be kept open for him until his imprisonment is over). From early youth he has had a conscientious objection to war. Both the Local and Appeal Tribunals gave him an unfair hearing, and on March 31 he was ar- rested as an absentee, fined £ 2 and handed over to the military authorities. He was taken under escort to Abergele. He adopted through out an attitude of passive resistance to all mili- tary authority, and in consequence has been court-mairtialled and sentenced to two years' hard labour, which sentence has. however, been commuted to one of imprisonment in a deten- tion barracks. His conscientious objection is undoubtiable and he was willing to undertake work of national importance which did not directly release another man for war service. Cnappelow, E I Clerk to the Oamberwell Education Com- mittee a man of hlielraryattainmen ts and a friend of various well-known literary men. His conscientious objection to war is of many years' standing. The position in which he has been in lately since his arrest on April 11 has been advertised by the full page photograph of him in the "Daily Sketch" of April 14 under the headline, A Conscientious Objector's First Day in Prison." He is there photographed strapped irt .in army blanket, as he refused to put on khaki, between guards. He has been court-martialled and sentenced to six months' imprisonment. Tremewan, J.. Perranporth. Cornwall, I Where appeal for exeinption at the Local Tri- bunal was endorsed bv one member of the Tri- bunal as a perfectly bona-fide one. "There can be no doubt of his conscientious objection," was this member's admission. Fined t5, how- ever, and handed over to the military authori- ties; and refusing to obey all orders has been court-martia-Hed and sentenced to two years' hard tabour at Wormwood »Serubbs. Price. E. and R. Wicp Local preachers. They we> e arrested with- out a warrant on April 10, and without civil trial were immediately taken to Ayr Barracks, and thence to Ashton-uander-Lyne, where they were dbnfined in separate cells and are refusing to obey at orders. The last information con- cerning them is that they are being sent to Liverpool for court-martial. Huxstep, D., Bristol. I Market gardener and a Salvation Army mem- ber. The Bristol Adjutant of the Salvation Army has known him for years, and gives him a very high character. He refrained from bring- mg w itnesses to vouch for the sincerity of his conscientious objection, because he was scrupu- lous about making his case stronger than the cases of some of the younger men. He was arrested on April 12. fined and handed over to the military authorities. He has refused to obey all orders, and is reported to be hunger striking. He has been told that if he does not give in he will be shot in the end.

Emrys Hughes Court Martial. I TO BE HELD AT CARDIFF ON SATURDAY. I We understand that our Comrade Emrys Hughes and his three compatriots from Aber- oynon are to be tried by court-martial at the Cardiff Garrison Artillery Barracks—where they are at present detained—at 11 o'clock on Saturday morning next. During the week about 15 more conscientious objectors have been taken to Cardiff and lodged in these baracks owing to the Depot being full. Thesa include the three Risca objectors, who were fined L2, held in Newport Police Station over Sunday and Monday, and arrived in Cardiff on Monday in sompany with the othar Newport Conscienti- ous Objectors. Two other Objectors were lodged in the Barracks on Wednesday night.

How Emrys Hughes Fared. I MISS HUGHES CORRECTS A LETTER. I (To the Editor of the PIONBER.) I Deox Sir.—There appeared -in a letter m your last issue, the following statement refer- ring to the Abercycon Conscientious Objectors who are at present prisoners at Cardiff Bar- raeks-" In the meantime they are being fed on little more than bread and black tea." Kindly allow me to contradict this statement. The treatment they have received has been ex- ceedingly harsh and severe; but there is not an atom of truth in the above statement. The food they have had has been rough but good arwj plentiful, and has to be taken in the pri- mitive fashion of uncivilised days, minus any form of cutlery whatsoever. Your readers will fee glad to know that Em- rys and his three fellow-prisoners, or rather heroes, are still steadfast in their convi&ions- neither frightened by threats nor moved by flattery. They were allowed visitops at first, but now even that privilege has been, denied them: even their nearest relatives are prohib- ited from seeing them. Thev are not allowed M) receive or send letters. Several more Con- scientious Objectors have been brought to tlie Barracks this week, but as yet our boys hare »ot been allowed to see them. They are patien- ity slnd fearlessly awaitiMg cqurt-martial; after that—the unknown.-TourA sincerely, AMfBBBFUGHBS.

Ystradgynlais Notes. A Public Nuisance. It is full time, in view of the fact that the summer is approaching, that a. complaint should be made of the drains in certain parts of the Ystradgynlais District. At the so- called "Garden Village" at Glanrhyd a sewer drain overflows into the main road, and on a sultry day the stench can be better imagined than described. Children, with the innocence so characteristic of childhood, play in the disoa,se--ca,yrying We may point out flat the same state of affairs prevailed at this spot last summer; the Council "moved" in the matter, but nothing was done. The same evil also prevails at the Council houses. If this is what we may expect, from "Garden Villages, it is not to be wondered at that the workers do not welcome these communities. Persona!. Congratulations to Mr T. E. Lewis, check- weigheir at the Gwaundawdd Colliery, Aber- crave, on his appointment as the representative of the Breconshire area of the Anthracite Dis- trict on the Soldiers' and Sailors' War Pen- sions Committee. There were three candidates for the position, and the appointment of Mr Lewis only shows the high esteem in which he is held by the miners of the district. He is only 28 years of age. and has been Secretary of the Gwaundawdd Lodge for n years, and checkweigher for 6 years. He is one of the candidates for co-option on the Ystradgynlais Rural District Council instead of the late Coun. D. R. Morgan. V-We hope that the Labour ele- ment at Abercrave sees to it that the man is put in the right place. Gymanfa. The a-.itiua l singing The annual singing festival of the Congrega- tionaiists of the Ysti adgynlais district took place on Monday last at Sardis Chapel, Ystradgyn- lais. The churches in the Union were Sardis and Brynawel. Ystradgynlais; and Peniel, Pen- rhos. Mr John Phillips, J.P.. of Aberavon, was the conductor of the singing, and expressed himself well pleased with the performance of the choir..The Rev. D. Aubrey, Peniel, pre- sided over ifiemorninc, serv ice; Rev. Ellis Parry (Brynawel) in the afternoon, when the children took part; and the Rev. R. M. Rhys (Sardis) in the evening. The trainers of the choir were Messrs Tom Williams, L.T.S.C., and David Jones, A.C., while the organists were Messrs W. Jones and Azairiab "Williams and Miss Elizabeth Williams. The hymns that were most conspicu- rendering were, "Brwynog" NAb- erteifi" "Gwywa y Glaswell tyn'' "Mi hoffwn woI'd yr lesu" "Dewch i'r Ysgol Sul"; "Maes- gwyn" "Bendigedig fyddo Arglwydd"; "Dduw Israel," and "Fe Aned y Messiah Fawr." The gvmanfa was a great success. Ordination Services. ""II' Urdmation services were held on Thursday last at the English Congregational Church, when the Rev. Edward Vaughan, a native of Aberdare, was ordained to the ministry. The Revs. D. Bur of Walters, B.A.. Swansea; J. Oliver Stephens, B.A., Carmarthen; Jacob Jones, Swansea, and others officiated. Mr. Vaughan was educated at the Presbyterian Col- lege, Carmarthen. The services were well atten- ded, both during the morning and evening. I I.L.P. Ball. The I.L.P. finished up the dance season with a. most successful fancy dress ball on Monday last. The winners were Messrs. Evan Palmer (as Charlie Cliaplin)land Terrence Murray (as the Sioux Warrior). The M.C.'s were Messrs. O. Phillips and 0. H. Thompson. Lecture. At the I.L.P. Hall there will be delivered cm Saturday next, at 6.30 p.m., a scientific lecture on "The Origm of the World," by Mr H. F. Northoote. All interested in scientific are wolcbmed, Congrats! Mr. Gwilym Jsnes, the genial treasurer of the local I.L.P., was again successful at the Mountain Ash Eisteddfod last week, where he captured the prizes for the two baritone solce. His list of successes ? now a formidable one.

Llandebie Notes. There axe only a few readers of the "Pioneer" residing at Liandebie, but there are a good many there complaining that they cannot get it, that although there are newsageuta in the village, none of them stock the "Pioneer." In- deed, it is not always one can get tit after order- ing d it in advancw, and once was offered the "Merthyr Express" in its stead. It is quite evident that with this state of affairs existing, there is no hopw for a, good circulation of the "Pioneer" in this locality; and I am sure it is a great loss to the working community. I heard it whispered some time ago that &a arrangemeill t had been made between the Editor of the Pioneer and a cerbain Llandebie ra" for a better system of distributing th. Pioneer" in this locality, and I should like to ask these two gentlemen, through this week's issue, what has become of what transpired bet- ween thvm and is there any hope of reviving it ? What a mar reads has a great influence oat his way of thinking, and I sympathise with young men with anti-militarist tendencies who have to read papers with militarist tendencies for the lack of facilities to get the papers they need; and thus they are left ia a doubt ae to what action they should take. If such men were to read the "Pioneer," I am sure they would be relieTed of every doubt, and weulfe at once obey the convictions of their inner ma. a,nd defy eyen the bullying of militarism whe* conscience calls for such a thins. OOMBADB.

BW MENTION THIS PAR6R 10" WHEN YSU BUY!