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The Hard Case of a Cilfynydd…
The Hard Case of a Cil- fynydd Man. THE STORY OF A COMPENSATION ¡ STRUGGLE. (To the Editor of the PIONEER.) Dear Sir,-Kindly allow me a space in your valuable paper to bring before the notice of the public the unfair treatment meted out to one of my fellow-workmen who met with a serious accident at the Albion Colliery. Cilfynydd, on 4th March, 1914. He received 18/6 per week compensation for five months, and was after- wards put on light employment, being paid per 6 days' work j61 7s. 2d.. with 5s. partial dis- ablement compensation. On this he continued for seven months. On the 12th February, 1915, he was sent by the Albion Company to be examined by the Compensation Doctor (Dr. Downing), who told Davies (the unfortunate man) that his arm would never come to its former strength again by light work. and that he had better resume his former work on the coal. Davies told him he could not cut coal, because the jarring of the mandrill would cause too much pain. The manager stopped the 5s. partial disablement compensation on the last week of January. 1915-two weeks before the Compensation Doctor recommended him to work on the coal-in order to force him off light work; and on 20th February, 1915 the manager stopped him without notice, three weeks at 5s. then being due, not yet been paid Davies being clear with his contribu- tions, sought the advice of the Federation Al- bion Lodge Committee, who advised him to try on the coal. and in the meantime they would select special doctors to examine him., and should he fail it would strengthen his case should it go to court. Davies. acting on this advice, gave three days' trial, but could only work one day owing to pain. He received for that trial 1/7. On February 25, 1915. he was sent by the Federation to be examined by Doctor Bonn or Davies (Llwynypia. Rhondda), who after a special examination certified fractured elbow joint; and the colliery doctor certifies him still unable to follow his employ- ment in consequence of an old injury to the elbow. The manager refuses to reinstate him on light work. Two months from the 25th February—on 24th April. 1915—he was sent for further examination to Doctors Rhys Griffiths and W. Martin, Cardiff specialists, and an X- Rays examination made, and photo of the arm taken. Again the doctors certified fractured elbow joint. Notice-the three specialists # and the colliery doctor, all four of the same opinion that Davies was suffering from fractured elbow joint; and still the manager refuses him light work, and no attempt is being made by the parties conducting this case for the Federation to secure for the unfortunate man his com- pensation. Although the doctors recommended Davies to light work, the representatives of the Federation were still persuading him to try- again on the coal. During the last week of May. 1915. at the solicitor's office, the solicitor and the miners' agent (No. 1 District Rhon- dda) and local agent Albion Lodge (Cilfynydd) strongly persuaded Davies to give another good trial on the coal to make his case good to come to court. Davies. acting on this advice, commenced work on the coal on Tuesday, 1st June, 1915. Notice the solicitors' letter Messrs. Morgan, Bruce and Nicholas. 1st June, 1915.-Deai, Sir,—John Davies and Al- bion Company. You will recollect that this case was adjourned from last court in order that Davies might try light work, as recomm- ended by his doctor. We shall be glad to know what the position now is. and whether he has resumed light work; and. if so, whether he is able to do I it satisfactorily i The case is down for hearing next week.—Yours faithfully, Morgan. Bruce & Nicholas. To Mr Dan Rees, 49 Cilfynydd Road. Cilfynydd." Sir.—How absent minded the solicitor seems to b¿-? Only the week previous at his office he is persuading Davies to try to work on the coal. June 2, 1915. Mr. Dan Rees (local ag- ent Cilfynydd) gives his reply to the solicitor: -"Da-v-ies, acting on your advice the last week in May. has began work on the coal Tuesday. ReplyMorgan, Bruce and Nicholas, 3rd June. 1915. Dear Sir, -John Davies and Al- bion. We have your letter of the 2nd instant, and note that Davies only began to work on the coal on Tuesday. We think it unfortunate that he waited so long and allowed so much time to elapse since the last county court. Under the circumstances we are approaching Messrs. Kenshole asking them to consent to a further adjournment in order that a proper trial might fee made. You will recollect our informing you that after Davies has worked some time he must at once be further examined if he feels any ill effects.—Yours faithfully, Morgan, Bruce and Nicholas. To Dan Rees, 94 Cilfynydd Road. Cilfynydd." However, Davies tried on the coal 1st, 2nd and 3rd June, 191 o; and failed owing to pain in his arm caused by the jarring of the mandrill. His earnings for the three days' work were 5/7, less stoppages at office 1/7: net cash from office 4/ You have no doubt observed he has tried to work six days, but could only work four days. His total earnings were 8 less stoppages at office 2/5: net cash from office 5/7; The average handsome sum of I 1! 4-4 per day. The Federation has been furnished with his pay tickets as proof, and they still hold them, but no use has been made of them. Where was the Minimum Wage Committee for the Albion Workmen? Why was the case not Drought into court before 8th July, 1915? Dan Rees (local agent) states that it was owing to the severe illness of Dr. Bonnor Davies that the case was upon two occasions adjourned. Will the local agent of Cilfynydd give to me proof of the two adjourn- ments? The above letters from the Federation solicitors—1st and 3rd of June, 1915, are the only two adjournments accounted for —the 1st June in order that Davies might try light work recommended by his doctor; and the 3rd jfuno. 1915 that a proper trial might be made, on the coal, acting on the advice of the Federation. These letters, which are in my possession, are an emphatic contradiction t. Dan Rees' statement. On the 3rd June, 1915, Davies was again examined by Dr. Martin and reported still suffering from fractured elbow joint. His house coal and compensation have been stopped since January, 1915; and he has been idle since the 20th February, 1915, with the exception of the four days on the coal. The agent for the Albion Co. still refused light work. July 8th. 1915. going to court without doctors. Davies asked the miners' local agent, "What about the doctors?" and the agent replied. Why; don't you know P They are not eoming. Only Dr. Bonnor Davies and the col- liery doctor, and he is not much good to you." Davies (to agent): "You had better adjourn the case." The solicitor going to court turned back to us, and told us he had received a wire stating that Dr. Bonnor Davies could not at- tend re Davies' case. Davies: "That's finish- ed it now. It's no use going to the court vithout the doctors." But no notice was taken of him. After sitting in court ten minutes, Dr. Hhys Griffiths appeared. Davies (to ag- ent): You told me there were no doctors, coming and Mr. Dan Rees, on seeing the' doctor, said to Davies* Oh! we 'phoned to Cardiff." Well, Sir, the doctor must have come up on the 'phone for fear of being late. However, Dr. Rhys Griffiths gave evidence in favour of Davies. He also showed to the judge the photo of the arm taken at the X-Rays examination; but owing to the absence of Dr. Martin (specialist) the evidence was not ac- cepted. For the company there were two com- pensation doctors, solicitor, assisted by the com- pensation clerk to the company, who where successful in getting the award for the respon- dents. Sir and fellow-workmen, as this was purely a medical case. surely it was a very unfair trial? It was due to the inactivity of the parties conducting Davies' case in failing to subpoena the specialist and doctors to at- tend the court in defence, that this unfortunate man's case was lost. We cannot attach any blame to His Honour, for he exercises his judgment according to the evidence given and the strictures of the law. Davies is still idle without compensation and house coal. The com- mittee state they have been fighting, and beg- ging for him, but with the help of the Minimum Wage Albion Committee, have failed to get him one penny to the average sum of 1/41 per day. They are satisfied that everything that could be done has been done. I am. Sir, Yours faithfully. JOHN SIMPSON. 73 William Street, Cilfynydd. Pontypridd. 21st August, 1916.
Open Letter to Mr. Frank Hodges.…
Open Letter to Mr. Frank Hodges. I PLEBIAN RETURNS HIS THANKS. I Dear Frank,—If only to apologise to you for what you deem a lack of courtesy on my part in not having forwarded you a copy of the Pioneer in which my previous letter appeared, I think it incumbent upon me to again address you through the same medium. I foolishly laid myself open to correction simply through believing that. although a miners' leader, you would consider it wise to contribute a weekly "copper" to the Pio, neer" as being one of the two or three South Wales papers through which the aspirations of the, workers find their expression. As this belief seems to have caused you some* offence, I now humbly apologise. It struck me while reading your letter that it had been written in as contrite a mood as one might ever expect to find a miners' leader in; therefore, to follow on with the correction —as I at first intended-would show a deplor- able lack of chivalry towards the penitent. Naturally, you make some show of giving an answer by pointing to the Conference decision to suspend the holidays, a sweet little ex- ample of cauae and effect." Quite so; cause— leader, effect—led (by the nose, eh, Frank?) Being in quite a mercifu l spirit I will not deal further with your letter than to indicate one little inconsistency between your theory (patent applied for?) and your practice. The theory you hold you state to be: Given a knowledge of the cold facts of any situation, the workmen of this coalfield may always be relied upon to act in their best interests." Your practice? "I am at present too busily engaged in distributing the facts relative to abatements for miners under (a) pernicious form of taxation." Now in the name of all that's reasonable, why did not you, as a "leader," give beforehand to the workmen "a. knowledge of the cold facts" of this "situation"? You knew from the outset of the thing that it was an unmitigated evil. Some of us in our small spheres endeavoured to rouse an opposition at the time when it would have been of the greatest use, i.e., before it became law; but, of course, our words did not carry the weight of a miners' leader's. Nevertheless if, in your own good time, you feel like attempting to repeal the Act, give us the "cold facts." We'll follow—you shall have the credit! Finally (we must have a "finally"), allow me to make an appeal to your better nature. Don't bring discredit upon the O.L.C. the invaluable institution that supplied you with the qualities of leadership you undoubtedly possess; and don't wantonly antagonise, as you did over the holiday question, that section of the S. W .M.F. to which you must turn for support in the vicissitudes that are ahead of the college.—I remain, vours truly, PLEBEIAN. P S.—You have a fling au my anonimity. Believe me when I say that considerations other than personal are responsible.—P.
The Hon. Bertrand Russell…
The Hon. Bertrand Russell and Conscience. Writing in thte "Tribunal," the organ of the Conscientious Objectors, this week, the Hon. Bertrand Russell deals with the cases of those men who will not accept alternative service, and who, according to Mr. Forster's statement in the House last night will. after imprison- ment, be sent back to the Armv and probably to the front. Mr. Lloyd George," he says," seems to think that conscience can only forbid things: the kind that enjions is apparently unknown to him. Does he think that St. Paul would have been satisfied with a certificate excusing him from preaching paganism? Does he think that Luther would have acquiesced in a dispen- sation from maintaining the doctrine of in- dulgences. on condition that he should preiserve silence as to his objections to the doctrines? Does he think that Joan of Arc would have accepted civil alternative service? Would he himself have been willing to spend all his time during the Boer War in growing cabbages? All these parallels, and especially the last, are applicable to the case of Mr Clifford Allen and. in varying degrees, to the cases of the other men who will not accept alternative ser- vice. He is in the position of a medical man who believes that he has discovered a cure for a pestilence from which hundreds of thousands are dying, anfl who is ordered to cease from practising medicine for fear he should discredit rival practitioners. It is not unwillingness to serve the community that pro- duce disobedience to such an order; on the contrary, it is the sense of duty to the com- munity that makes obedience impossible."
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Merthyr Board of Guardians.…
Merthyr Board of Guardians. I DAN SULLIVAN'S CHILDREN'S FUTURE. IRISH HOME NOT SUITABLE. It was a quiet routine meeting of the Mer- thyr Guardians that Mr T. T. Jenkins presided over in the Board Room on Saturday last. The Children's Homes Committee reported that they had deferred consideration of the receiving home creche for infants for a month; the Chairman, Clerk, Superintendent and Mat- ron to prepare details for submission to the committee in the meantime. The same commit-j tee also recommended the Board to allow Is. per week spending money for the first three months to boys placed in situations, then 6d. extra every three months up to 2/6 a week. When the Farm Committee recommendation to purchase a second-hand motor for the chaff-cutting machine came forward for con sideraton, a Mr Davies. who had previously criticised the proposal to purchase gas irons for the laundry as experimental—declared that the motor could not be purchased under R150. Mr Prowle: "Tommv rot! I have never heard such an exhibition of ignorance in my life." Mr Davies replied that he had been round farms and seen installations at work, and that the farmers had told him what they had had to pay. Mr Prowle said that Mr Davies was talking about farms where there was no electric in- stallation and where the farmer had to get a gas suction plant,. Then the cost would be quite j6150, but this was not going to cost £ 25. He had had something to do with buying many motors, and the most they had ever cost was tl7 10s. But even if this was to cost E150 he would have gone in for it. The Local Government Board wrote with reference to the application of the local Guard- ians re an extra payment to Mrs. Roberts on the contract price for vegetables, that they could not sanction this extra payment, and that it would, therefore, rest with the Guard- ians to satisfy the auditor. Mr Prowle remarked that this was the cus- tomarv dodge. The position had been pheno- menal* and the price of potatoes had practically trebled whilst the contract was running. Tlfe Board had seen the invoices and were unanimous in their decision to make the extra payment. The Master had taken the marked returns and reported that she was really entitled to £ 20. He moved that a cheque be drawn, and the Guardians take the consequences. This was seconded. Mr Meth Davies questioned whether the con- tractor would have given the Guardians the benefit of the difference in prrice if the marked price had declined below the contract price. The Chairman did not see that there was any need for a motion. The matter rested with the auditor now. Mr Harry Evans asked whether the auditor had taken any exception to the extra payment tfo the fish contractor. The Assistant Clerk: No; they passed that. We have a precedent to go on with the au ili. nf The House Committee of the Welsh Memorial Association—the lessees of the Pontsarn Sana- torium wrote pointing out that new paths were wanted at the institution, but in view of the short period of their lease to run they did not feel justified in incurring the ex- penditure. The work was urgently wanted, and they had decided to write to see if the Mertliyr Guardians would do anything in the matter Mr Prowle, who was a representative of the Board on the Committee of the Memorial Association, was present when the matter was discussed, pointed out that if the work was done by the Board, it would be only pursuing the work that they had already decided upon. They had a resolution that the necessary work should be done, but the building had been hur- riedly handed over to the Memorial Association because of its then urgent need for buildings. Now they had only three year to run, and he questioned whether the lease would be renewed. He thought it was probable that the Guardians would decide to utilise it for its original purpose as a convalescent home. The work was urgent, and it was already the in- tention of the Board to lay out these gounds, but unfortunately the class of patients now treated there could not undertake this work. On the male side there were not 30 yards for the patients to take exercise. To carry out the work properly now would cost from 250 to R.100, but he would not advocate this at the moment. He suggested that they ask the ask the Master and the handyman to carry out such work as they could at a cost not exceeding £ 30. and to utilise such labour as they could. Then if it was necessary to spend more, they would have to come to the Board. It seemed to him that if indoor labour could be employed with a little help from outside a good deal of the work could be accomplished for £ 30. Mrs. Edmunds (seconding) also dwelt on the necessity of the work and the fact that it was only carrying out the intention of the Board. It was decided to adopt the suggestion. The matter of what had to be done was left to the Bpard's representatives on the Memorial As- sociation Committee. It will be remembered that recently Inspector Starr reported to the Board that relatives of Big Dan Sullivan in Ireland were willing to take the children providing someone was willing pay the fares over to Ireland. Be- fore agreeing with the application the Board instructed the Clerk to write to the Clerk of the Cork Union asking for a report on the home. At Saturday's meeting a reply was read stating that the vice-chairman of the Board was familiar with all the facts of the case, and the home was not suitable for the children. Mr Prowle said he saw that poor Sullivan had again expressed his view that the children should go to Ireland. The children in the homes, in which Sullivan's children were placed, knew who they were and why they were there. This was unavoidable, since some' of the children went to Dowlais and then returned. His opinion was that in the interests of the children and all concerned they should be put into the hands of the Catholic Authorities to find homes for the children where they would be cared for. Possibly Mrs Wills could' do something to get the Catholic Chaplain at Swansea to get Sul- livan's permission. Of course, unless it was done within a very few day it would be too late, since the father's permission was necessary It was agreed to do this. Mr H. Evans asked whether Canon Lucan could be got to move in the matter of finding a suitable home for the children. Mr H. Evans asked whether as a Board they could relieve an able-bodied widow who was unable to go out to earn a livelihood owing to a large family. The Chairman: I think there is a regula- tion of the Local Government Board for March, 1910 in which they recommend that where it is of benefit to the children the mother should be relieved. Mr Prowle said they had relieved under such circumstances. They had insisted in romo oases on widows getting rid of lodgers and had given them relief in lieu thereof. Mr H. Evans: Let me put my case clear. Suppose we get a new case of a widow and four or five children. We usually recommend 4s. or 5s. per child. Can we in future legally say 3s. or 4s. for the widow? It was decided to secure copies of the Regu- lation referred to by the Chairman and to consider them at the next fortnightly meeting.
Is Socialism Anti-National…
Is Socialism Anti-National and Unpatriotic? By MARK STARR. I The purpose of this article is to examine Socialism in its relation to patriotism and na- tionalism, and to find out if there is any opposition between them. The patriot is he who loves and serves his fatherland. The nationalist is he who advocates the rights of a nation. A nation is a group of people coming from the same stock, living in the same coun- try, and speaking the same language. Either one of these national attributes may be miss- ing; for example, the Jews are a nation, yet they have no special country; and in Amer- ica, folk, though coming from different stocks and speaking many different languages, com- pose a nation, in the sense that they occupy one country. These examples show that no cast-iron definition of the word "nation" ex- ists. History shows that, in many instances, occupation of the same country by rival races will, in time, modify and finally weld together their languages; mix their lines of descent by inter-marriage; and in some cases create physi- cal likenesses between them. National barriers of race, language and territory fade away. It will be well to remember as we proceed that a nation is elastic and changing in its nature. Some of the noblest feelings of which man- kind are capable have gathered around pat- riotism and nationalism. Poets have talked about the land we love the most," and dam- ned the wretch in whom no love of native country burns to be unwept, unhonoured, and unsung." The force of tradition and as- sociation link the individual to his national clan with powerful bonds: Our fathers' sepulchres are L3re. And here our children dweli; How could we ever learn to love. Another land so well?" We must not under-rate the power of pat- riotism, for it is engrained in our very being; we suck it in with our mother's milk; and it is hard to throw away the old shibboleths. Many Socialists, whilst fiercely denouncing blatant patriotism (i.e., Jingoism) still claim to be patriots, because they do not wish to part with all the noble associations of heroism and sacrifice which have been coupled with the word, and this state of mind makes them pacifists till war breaks out, and then, believing they have something worth fighting for in their national heritage, they fight. Let us examine some of the chief Socialist societies and their relations to nationalismi and national wars, particularly in the present crisis. The Fabians are not anti-national or anti-war. As in the time of the South African War their members are divided upon the suo- ject; their secretary (W. S. Sanders) has, I believe become a recruiting officer; while another member (Clifford Allen) has become Chairman of the N.O.F. A new group of Socialists, containing such men as Burgess, Stanton, Hodge. Fisher and the writers of the Clarion has been formed recently, which declares that it is emphatically British first and Socialist second. The B.S.P. has split upon the question, and the two papers, "Justice" and "The Call," represent the division of opinion. The veteran exponent of the Marxian Theories (H, M. Hyndman) is now in strange company, and he has tried to prove that the materialist concep- tion of history is insufficient in order to defend his position. One would have thought that m this camp-with its dogmatic insistence upon the existence of the class war"-there would have been no split; here, at any rate, there should have been no misunderstanding of the issues involved. Alas! to affirm a belief is not sufficient, for the belief becomes a blind do"crima To understand, to bring forward, and to apply carefully the Marxian theories is a harder task. And we respectfully suggest that the modern logical outcome of the Marxian Theories is Industrial Unionism. Turning to the I.L.P., we find that around the I.L.P. attitude" have gathered all the pacifist forces. The I L P. however is not united upon its attitude toward s this war. The position of Clynes, M.P., typifies the posi- tion of many of its individual members. Its Parliamentary leaders—Snowden, Jowett, An- derson and others—and its rank and file mem- bers up and down the country have been, and are doing, splendid work in opposing compul- sion exposing profiteers and many other irre- gularities, denouncing secret diplomacy and demanding adequate provisions for pensioners and disabled soldiers. But they (the leaders .and the rank and file) have never clearly de- fined or thought out their fundamental rela- tions to patriotism. The Bermondsey Resolu- tion, passed at Newcastle in last April, wnicn declared the opposition of the party to all wars, whether for defensive or offensive pur- poses, and called for the introduction of this proposal into the next meeting of the national, was thought to be the result of the irritation against the Military Service Acts and the influx of Tolstovans and Quakers into the I.L.P., rather than the result of a care- fully made study of Socialism and Its relations to patriotism. The Parliamentary leaders quickly disassociated themselves from the opinions expressed in this resolution and that is how the matter stands at present in the ILP The N.C.F. and other like bodies- though they contain many Socialists—ha\ e no agreed fundamental basis to their opposition to war. They contain people with most diverse views who have been brought together by a common danger to obtain mutual support, and they have and will further, justify their existence in this respect. The U.D.C. attacks effects, i.e., secret diplomacy, instead of causes; for secret diplo- macy is inevitable in the bargainings and al- liances between rival Imperialist Powers. They will supply much information on the diplomatic game and foreign relations; but there is some- thing which goes deeper than all the Blue Books and Yellow Books go. Economic interest underlie diplomatic negotiations. The Trade Union movement has attended (by representatives) International Conferences. In- stances have been known where money and food have been sent to support strikers in other lands. But beyond a vague feeling of good- will and brotherhood nothing has been done to link the various national unions into a working alliance. This is the work of the future. Or- ganised Labour is the only power which can stop war, and we h-ave a long row to hoe before the average Trade Union member will be Glass-conscious enough to be deaf to the appeals of the capitalist press, when it asks for his. help to slaughter his fellow-workers across the- seas. The importance of the relations between- Socialist and progressive thought and patriotism is the only excuse for this lengthv survey of the 'state of present opinion upon this subject. Readers wishing to follow out this subject more' fully than it can be dealt with in a newspaper article should read Herve's My Country Right or* Wrong," which is a popular perfervid, attack on patriotism. The subjeot is dealt with- in a more scholarly fashion by Boudin, a prom- inent American Marxian, in his Socialism' and War," a. book which no person can afford to neglect in these days if he would understand. modern Imperialism and its tendencies, and how it affects the modern Socialist and his- attitude to war. I The times call for earnest thought on the- t part of us all. Many difficult questions loom on the horizon. The International will need. re-building, and this re-building should govern our attitude towards all proposed Trade Wars i and towards patriotism. While discussing this subject, it is interest- ing to recall that while no one expected co- religionists to refuse to kill each other, there- was in existence a belief that the Socialists- would refuse to fight, because Socialism was opposed to national wars, and would in time prevent them. Now how came this belief ab- out? Was it warranted in the teaching of the Socialist theories, and whv in the testing: time did it so miserably fail? These are ques- tions which demand our attention. Scientific Sosaalism has always been inter-- national. Thsse of you who are familiar with. the Materialist Conception of History will remember that Marx rejected the idea that, progress has been made through the struggles of" rival nations. On the contrary, he saw- progress evolving through the struggle of rivat classes. The nation or empire is not the final form of I society; in fact, it is breaking down already. II National barriers separate people into vertical ] 4' divisions, but through these divisions sweeps- I the great horizontal cleavage between the ex- j ploited and the exploiter. "The conflict of the? j present and immediate future is not between- j the people of different countries. but betwee&- the two great classes." wrote Mr. H. Quelch. j This is how the teachings of Marx appeared tO, Professor Lecky. the historian:—" It was the j great object of Marx to denationalise the wox' king classes, obliterating all feelings of dis- tinctive patriotism, and uniting them by the bond of common interests, common aspirations, j and common sympathies in a great league for the overthrow of the capitalist and middle class. While this great cleavage exists it is useless- > for the worker to agitate himself unnecessarily over the virtues of Protection and Free Trader the big and the little loaf, though he may be" against continuing national animosities by 5 tariff barriers, and wish to continue the ini?or?,,i national intercourse encouraged by .Free Tiade- The class-conscious worker has a new stand" point from which to view all men and thin;:¡ to paraphrase the patriot he would say. My class be it right or wrong." A patriot is o0?, who loves his fatherland. The worker of future will love and serve his class. If I believe it was Robert Blatchford who sai(? ?' "A man can no more deny his country tha^ J his mother." We agree, but in pursuing tb? analogy we find that.in the life of every persOO'. the mother-tie is dwarfed by other ties, and & in the development of the worker. The stef^i facts of life reveal to him that CLASS and nO  COUNTRY counts. Therefore the force of ^j tionalism and patriotism must decay as forC? outgrown.
-Llanelly Labour Association.…
Llanelly Labour Association. I IMPORTANT EDUCATIONAL DEPARTURE j SOLDIERS IN STEELWORKS RESOLUTION L The usual fortnightly meeting of the -^j • sociation was held on August 26.—The minu11! having been disposed of, the meeting taci,-l the correspondence which seems to incr? with every post. Mr Will W, Oraik (of the Central Lab,010 College) offered a date on September 17th.- This was accepted, as also his suggestion of lecture by post course on The History 0 Our Movement." The intention being to devote every altern? meeting to study, the Association to bear tb8 expense and to invite the workers to atteD ?? Arrangements will be made to form g'O11? and to hold classes at other times in order meet the convenience of the men working dig-- eent shifts, etc. It is expected that iitet,est will thus be stimulated in the Association &0 in the general question of education. Mr Lansbury's offer of a date in .Febr?4 was acceptedA The National Guilds Leaguewrote statio?? that Mr W. Mellor was ill, but that th?. f. wold try to find a good substitute.—Reso^ K1 that we stick to the original arrangement, G. H. D. Cole or W. Mellor; otherwise! cancel the date. Letters were to hand from Mr W. LlewW.; Williams, K.C., M.P., the Labour Party. tbei Williams, K. C for i?ivil L i b e i,ties an d National Council for Civil Liberties and Jt.: British Steel Smelters' Union, on the quest1 of the employment of soldiers at the Llaue* Steelworks. A deputation that had waited on Mr Jr ° W j. Hodge on the same business gave a report, it was resolved—That inasmuoli as there vvji no alteration in the conditions of e<mploy11le;ø 3 of the soldiers at the Steelworks, that 1| press for the demobilisation. There were many expressions of surprise hot! after the statements in the House and in tbi Press, there was no change. e! The Secretary reported correspondence pecting the constitution of the Pensions vO if i mittee, and efforts to secure pensions for d abled soldiers. There was a red, white and blue ciroll wl from the new weekly, and requests for subscrir" tions from the Land Nationalisation Society a i the Temperance League. A Finally, two delegates were elected to a.t00a; the Labour Conference at Cardiff on Sept- be Will all readers who intend joining t ¡j, classes please send their names and addreS. to the Secretary, so that a preliminary meet ( can be arranged. The text book will be W. Oraik's Easy Outlines of the RistO" < of the Modern Working Class MovemeO- Price 6d. j
'• K Dowlais Works Official's…
K Dowlais Works Official's DeatO Mr J. Harry Willia.ms (manager of the S:r:f mil department of Messrs. Guest. Keen !<{\ Nettlefolds' Ironworks at Dowl??is) di?o ? ,j Saturday at Llandrindod, where he went v eral weeks ago to 'recuperate his health.. ? Williams wa? 46 years of age, and a D?ti??-, Dowlais. He was a son of the late uf Henry WiHiams, cashier at the Dowla.is  and lived at Penydarren. He leaves a Nwvqldol?,' and three children. AM