Pioneer

The Working Class in South Africa. I INTERESTING EXTRACTS FROM NATIVE j PAPER. The following article from The Interna- tional," the organ of the South African Inter- national Socialist League, is useful as giving an idea of the Socialist view of the native wage system in South Africa — For the International Socialist there is neither Jew nor Gentite, white nor black, as snch: a Kaffir, or an Englishman, or even a vile Hun, may be an exploiter or a wage slave. Most whites in this country, however, need a Merri- man always at their back to remind them of the obvious fact that the bulk of our working class is native coloured, or Asiatic, and that whereas the outlook of the white wage earner largely tends to approximate to the ambition of a for- tune hunter, that (if the black kraal-dweller is rapidly changing to the typical proletarian stag- nation, with no hope of emancipation in his life- time from the chains of wagery. Not all na- tives are proletarian yet; but as they are more and more completely driven into the labour i market by Land Acts, Pass Laws, recruiters' bribes, and—education, the raw noble savage is quickly becoming a rare antique. Tolstoi, not recognising Socialism as a philosophy of actuali- ties, protested against the doctrine that every- one must become a factory hand before he could attain economic freedom. If it were merely a dictrine, his protest would have been good. Our own eyes prove it a daily fact. Where then is the working-class movement which will win for these helots that economic freedom ? Analogy from other countries confirms the observation that for a time at least it will be over-distracted with political struggles for status, franchise, parliamentary representation, capitalist state education, and the like,—under the leadership of intellectuals themselves prone ';0 batten on the movement; and that only when it becomes more predominantly concerned with dIe economic struggle in industry will it take en he qlear revolutionary Socialist character, and lt- the sam time become self-led; class-conscious < nongh to dispense with the middleman, and powerfully enough organised to defy the inevit- able attempts at repression and reaction by a Government alarmed too late. "Abantu Batho," the Johannesburg native paper, edited (consciously or unconsciously) under the aegis of the Native Affairs Department and Capitalist class, has nevertheless ventured in its issue of last week on a mi id, still somewhat cringing, yet perhaps epoch-making outburst en- titled Native Drudgery." As a change from Native Contingent flag wagging, aping of Euro- peans, adulation of Government, pro-native- Imidlord protests against Land Acts, old- f.ishioned bookish aspirations-for the vote as the i,3-all and end-all and snobbish cravings by an educated few for social recognition as whites, the article is on a good wicket, and sounds at last the initial rumblings of a spontaneous, indigen- ous class-conscious industrial movement in South Africa. It says: The unskilled labour and all kinds of drud- gery, both at the mines and in urban areas, are done by the native people. They form the major population of the country and they belong to the working class. They are the main- stay of she country's industries and the back- bone of the land's prosperity. And they are the most worked and the least paid. Treatment. "The talk among natives is quite common that a European thinks more of his dogs or other domestic animal of his than he does of the black man who does all the work for his comfort or even luxury. A European would sooner see that his horse has a good clean stable than that his native servant gets a decent room to sleep in. Some employers are so inconsiderate and almost brutal that they do not care even for their fe- male native servants to be housed properly, if at all. As soon as a girl's day's work is over- usually far in the night—she is turned adrift expected to return to work in good time the fol- lowing day. Hours of Work. "Natiye servants, at business places, private offices and private homes, are extremely over- worked. In laundry work especially, which is done mostly by women, there is a regular sweat- ing-system of a most shameful character. Bun- dles of washing of extraordinary quantities of clothing are required to be done within a certain time at quite a low wage—a bundle that takes the whole da* to wash being paid for with one or two shillings. Some steam-laundries, we are told, do not give time even for meals, a woman starting to iron at seven in the morning on to six at night without a break. No wonder most of the native female servants usually suffer from rheumatic gout and quite a number of physical deterioration and deformity among our working women is noticeable. The same kind of overwork obtains at some big offices in town where natives commence duties at quite early hours and are not allowed a single hour for preparing and taking their meals till late at night. Pay. H I The usual rate of pay is from 7s. 6d. to 15s. a week. Out of this a man is expected to pay his rent, feed his family and himself, pay taxes, provide for doctor's bills, dress decently with his dependents, and do a thousand-and-one other things. It is impossible! He must be driven to do extreme things in order to get a livelihood or hloot domestic requirements. Talk of crimes of theft, illicit liquor dealing or even violence! How aan a community be immune of these where re- sponsible citizens fail to provide sufficinet means of subsistence and are content only with seeing to their own comforts and luxuries? It is often pleaded that a native has very little or no needs worth thinking of, consequently her should be satisfied with the lowest wages. This is a fal- lacy-a wilful blindness to facts. European civilisation has brought with it European wants. We would urge the Transvaal Native Coun- cil to inquire into the question of how natives are employed, especially in big towns, with a view to approaching the Native Affairs Depart- ment on the matter. In the absence of organ- ised Labour Unions among natives it is sug- gested that the inquiry should be directed to hours of work, rate of pay, and general treat- ment, particularly of women and girls. We have omitted some more racial passages from our quotations because, though they are excused by the equally racial attitude of white I men, racialism is fundamentally irrelevant to the working class movement. The white pro- letariat of Europe, and of South Africa too for ttbtot matter, is treated by the master- class in the same way, in essentials, as the black. In- deed, the reference to organised Labour Unions .shows that our contemporary is coming near to an inkling both of the position of the working class and of the trite remedy, which is not ap- proaching the Native Affairs Department on the matter," nor Labour Untons "among the natives" as 'Such, but one Big Union of all workers, irrespective of race, Golour, or creed. The increasing understanding among white wor- kers that natives are their fellow workers and not aiaimals er something below the working class which the working class in its turn is en- I titled to exploit, coupled with the opening of the native eye as foreshadowed in the article quoted, is big with promise for the future of the Labour Movement in South Africa. We invite the white labour Unions and the Trans- vaal Native Council to seize every opportunity of conferring together on this common move- ment of theirs; and in this connection the I.S.L.'s declaration of a year ago, though far from exhaustive on the matter, will bear quot- ing again: "The emancipation of the workers requires the immedi-ate gboliiticon of all forms of native indenture, compound and passport systems and the lifting of the native worker to the political and industrial status of the white, meanwhile endeavouring to prevent the increase of the na- tive wage workers and to assist the existing native wage worker to free themselves from the wage system."

I Maesteg Notes. I Music at Maesteg. Maesteg was well provided for in the musical line during Christmas week, commencing on Christmas Day with a cymanfa ganu of the Welsh I Congregational Churches of the lower part of Maesteg, comprising Zoar, Carmel, Ebenezer, Noddfa and Bethesda (Llangynwyd) held at Car- mel Chapel. The morning meeting was given over to the children's choirs, the Rfev. D. D. Davies, Llangynwyd, presiding. The singing was of a high character and much praise is due to those persons responsible for teaching the chil- dren, the conductor for the day was deiighted with the achievements of the children. The afternoon meeting was, in the unavoidable ab- sence of the Rev. J. T. Parry (Loar), presided over by Rev. W. R. Bowen (Carmel), and the evening meeting was presided over by the Rev. R. Walters (Garth), at both afternoon and even,- ing meetings the singing was of a high ordeJ, great praise is due to Mr. Rhys Williams (Brid- gend), who was the conductor for the day, for the able manner in which he conducted the sing- ing and thereby bringing out of the singers the best that was in them. Miss R. A. Isaac (Zoar) and Mr. Stephen Page, L.T.S.C. (Llangynwyd) were the organists, who did their part well. The committee choir conductors and the con- ductors of the rehearsals are also worthy of praise for the part they played in making the Cymanfa such a success, but the members of the choirs who gave their time in attending practices, etc., must not be overlooked. This was followed on Tuesday evening, Boxing night, with a grand evening concert held under the auspices of the Libanus Choral Society, at 'the Town Hall, at which Mr. Jenkin Jcaies, J.P., M.E., presided. The vocalists consisted of the following eminent artists Soprano, Madame JonDi-e Ellis, Swansea contralto, Madame M. S. Sam brook Jones, Bridgend; tenor, Mr. Gwynne Jones, London; and bass, Mr. Win. Batev, Here- ford the elocutionist was Miss Gertrude Toma- lin, London, all of which gave a good account of themselves and came up to what was expected of them. All, with the .exception of Madame Sambroke Jones (who was a great favourite at Maesteg), were appearing at Maesteg for the first time. The first singer called to the platform was Mr. Gwynne Jones, who gave a. good rendering of Coleridge Taylor's Onaway, Awake, Be- loved." He has a beautiful tenor voice, well controlled and can and did sing in the top re- gister with ease; he was all that could be desired and he received an encore which he had well earned. He was followed by Madame J. Ellis, who gave a splendid account of herself in ren- dering that difficult solo from Faust, "The Jewel Song." The audience, who were quick to appreciate a good thing, could not be appeased until she returned for an encore. Miss Tomaline was the next to appear, and gave a monologue, "Love Stories," which kept the audience smiling from the first to last word, which sent some of the loving couples as shy as the couple in the* piece; she was again en- cored. Mr. Batey was next, and rendered The Desert." Emanuel ilws a rich bass voice, both top and bottom, and sang vefry dramatic, a good performance, he came in for an encore also. Next on the programme was Madame Sambrooke Jones, who gave of her best in "Softly awakes my heart (Saint Saens). A duet entitled Tenor and Baritone," by Messrs. Qwynne Jones and W. Batey (Wilson), brought the first part to an end. The second part took place as follows Song, "Sink, red sun" (Riego), Madame Sambrooke Jones; song, "Lohengrin's Farewell" (Wag- ner), Mr. Gwynne Jones; duet, "Quis est homo," Mesdames Elis and Jones; monologue, "Mrs. Green, Miss Tomalin: song "Shipmates of mine, Mr. Batey; song, The pipes of Pan are calling" (TJprickton), Madame J. Ellis; quar- tette, "God is a Spirit," Mesdames Ellis and Jones and Messrs. Jones and Batey. The sing- ing of the National Anthem brought the concert to a close. Miss Nellie James, Maesteg, presided at the piano, who acquitted herself in a worthy manner. It was of -the best concerts ever held in the district, and the Coinmitteo,doserve great praise for their efforts in providing Maesteg with such a "grand fare." The secretarv was Mr. E. Verley Merchant. ■ Competitive Concert. x /1 On Wednesday evening a grand competitive concert was held at Bethania Chapel 'particu- lars of which will appear next week. Elijah at Maesteg. Christmas night the lown Hall was packed when the Nantyffyllon Harmonic Society gave a grand performance of the Orotorio ,Elijah," the proceeds of which goes to the funds of the Maesteg Cottage Hospital; the conductor was lVlr. Win. J. Watkins. The principle vocalists were: Soprano, Madame Bronwen Jones Wil- liams, Maesteg; contralto, Madame Sambrook V ti- I). J. Davies, Jones, Bridgend; tenor, Mr. D. J. Davies, Nantyffynon; bass, Mr. Glanville Davies, Maes- teg; supported by the coming boy soprano, Mas- ter Tresize, Maesteg, and full Orchestra, under the conductors hip of Professor Gomer Jones, R.C.M., of Bridgend. The accompanist was Miss Cienwen Davies, A.R.A.M. The singing was the finest heard in the town for many years, the rendering of the choruses by the choir was great, the bass especially did their part well. The sopranos also were great, especially on the top notes, which were clear as a bell. The tenors were a little weak at times, but on the whole gave a good aceount of them- selves, they were at their best in the top register. The alto's were also good and sang solid. The artistes were aN at their best, and it would be difficult to say which was the, best, as each gave a good account of themselves, and-they are a credit to the town, as they are all Maesteg folks, except the contralto. I must congratulate Master Tresiz" the boy soprano. He was great, and he is well worth looking after, as he has a good future. Great credit is due to Mr. Powell who performed the duties of secretary, as was to be seen in the able way he had arranged everything, and also to Mr. Wm. J. Watkins the conductor f,or his labour and time in teach- I ing the chow*. He is a collier working at the coal-face, and is a strong trades unionist and I has newly been re-elected treasurer of the Maes- teg District of the S.W.M.F. for the twelfth year. The chair was taken by Mr. Dd. Evans, M.E., manager of Caerau Colliery, who in his opening remarks said that the choir handed a cheque for £ 60 ovar to the Cottage Hospital Committee last year and he thought that they would reach that mark again this time, if, indeed, they did not double it. A vote of thanks to the vocalists and choir and chairman brought one of the most en- joyable .Musical evenings to a olose.-One who was there, R.J. Musical Success. We wish to congratulate Mr. Glanville Davies, the eminent bass vocalist, Maesteg, upon his sue- cesses during the holidays. He successfully com- peted for the Champion Solo at Porth on Satur- day, the ehampion solo prize fell to his lot at Aberavon on Tuesday, and the bass sole and champion solo prizes were carried away by him at Bethania competative concert at Maesteg on Wednesday. We are informed that he carried" away about £ 15 in priaes during the week—a great achievement and a credit to the town. May he oontinue to do so for years to come is the wish of the writer. Lost! We regret that last week's Pioneers for Maesteg went astray on the railway. We shall do all we can to obviate a re-occurrence of this in the future.—[Ed.]

Gilfach Goch Notes. Cantata. A grand cantata was held at the Bethania In- dependent Chapel on Wednesday and Thursday, December 20th and 21st, also on Christmas and Boxing Day, proceeds going to the building fund. The operetta entitled Golden Hair and Three Bears, was performed •under the conductorship of Mr. Evan J. Bryant. Mr. Thomas Williams conducted the orchestra. Characters were as follows Golden Hair) Miss Kitty Piigh; Fairy Queen, Mrs. Jones Walters; Bard, Mr. D. J. Howells; Frailty, Miss M. Phillips; .Faithful, Miss M. Mile s; Bipnlln, Ben Harris; Mammy Muff, Glyn Rees; Tiny Cub, T. Rees other ar- tistes— L. Miles, Mrs. Williams and O. Evans. The following chairmen presided: Thursday, Mr. Ivor Griffiths; Christmas afternoon, Enoch Jones; Christ-mas evening, David Rolands Box- I I)aN- I d R o l ari d s; Box- ing ening, Hopkin Evans. Mr. Hugh Butter was stage manager. N othwithstanding the .fact that the possession of a large hall would have greatly facilitated the successful rendering of the operetta, everything was done in a perfect manner. All those who took part were in tip-top form, and the various items were thoroughly enjoye d by the audience who had turned up in huge numbers. This event was a great success in every way. Conversazione. On New Year's Night at the Church Hall a social was held consisting of a tea concert and dance. The concert was a brilliant affair. Mr. John Edwards was chairman and Mr. Will Fran- cis the accompanist for the evening. All pre- sent enjoyed a good time, especially one young man, who, it appears, was amply repaid for his devotion to the end of making others happy and losing a doubler at the pit in consequence. Pro- ceeds of the affair we ret to aid the payment of the heating apparatus.

I — Tonyrefail Notes. I Festival. A united singing festival was held here on Christmas Day under the auspices. nf the three Welsh chapels of the village. The tunes selected were quite appropriate to the occasion; as also were the anthem and chorus. The conductor was MivT. Hopkin Evans, Mus. Bac. The choir (numbering about five hundred) rendered the various tunes admirably, especially the chorus Bendigidig (J. Thomas), a difficult composi- tion. This reflects great credit on the various leaders of the rehearsals. There was a large audience at each of the three meetings. Ainon. At the Young People's Society on .Friday even- i. ng a paper OW 11 Hen Gyminiadau Ainon was read by the Rev. Thomas Thomas, Tonyrefail. The paper was very instructive, the lecturer pointing out the chief characteristics of the old characters of the above church and the lessons that could be drawn from their examples.

Struggle in the Dark. DOWLAIS STABBING AFFRAY. "DAN THE DARKIE" SENTENCED. A desperate struggle in the dark between a wounded man and his assailant at the Dowlais Works was described at the Merthyr Quarter Sessions on Wednesday. Dan Sullivan, a, rag collector, known in the neighbourhood as Dan the Darkie," was charged with unlawfully wounding Benjamin Williams, a labourer, living at Graig-terraoe, Dowlais. Mr. J. A. Daniels prosecuted. Benjamin Williams said .uat about 3 a.m., on November 25th, as he was leaving work at the coke-ovens at the Dowlais Ironworks he heard footsteps from behind him. As he turned round he was stabbed by Sullivan just above the heart. He grabbed his assailant by the wrist as he was aiming a second blow. A struggle ensued for about ten minutes. "When r had made him swear he would leave me alone I let him go," added witness. Williams afterwards managed to find his way to an engine-house near by. Benjamin Davies said that Williams was tot- tering on his reaching the engine-house and m a feeble condition. Pol ice-sergeant Bull said he then removed Williams to the Merthyr Hospital. Police-sergeant Thomas Davies said that when Sullivan was arrested shortly afterwards he had in his pockets a table-knife and a pair of scis- sors. I Dr. M. Gabe said Williams was in hospital a week. The wound might have been caused by the sharp end of a scissors. Sullivan throughout the trial maintained his innocence. He said: "I am not the man. I never struck a man with a knife in my life." Mr. J. 0.. Wilson (chief constable) proving previous convictions for assault against prisoner, said that he was a violent character and a re- gular pest at the Dowlais Works in the out- buildings of which he would persist in sleeping, although he was kicked out of the premises times without number. Prisoner was found guilty and sent to pligOR ,f or nine calendar months. ■ )

Bargoed Notes. Joy Rides Instead of Business. Harriet Ethel Grundy, givnig a Birmingham hotel address, applied to the Birmingham magis- trates last Thursday for a separation order against her husband, Francis RicharS Grundy, butcher's manager. According to Mrs. Grundy's advocate the parties had been married 13 years and had three children. Defendant had squan- dered C4,000, which had come to her as a legacy on unsuccessful business undertakings, largely unsuccessful because of his drinking habits. His violent oonduct made it impossible for Mrs. Grundy to continue to live with him, and the fact that he had ordered her out of the house constituted legal desertion. Complainant bore out the statements of her lawyer, and added that she had bought her hus- band a motor-car for business purposes, but he had used it for taking joy rides" with his friends. Defendant, giving evidence, denied the accusa- tions made by his wife or that he wished her away from him. Shortly before she went away his wife struck him and threw a butcher's knife at him. The day she left she said, You won't finrI me here when you come back." When he arrived home that night his wife and three chil- dren had disappeared. "lie Bench granted a maintenance order, de- fendant to pay 20s. a week towards his wife's support, and Mrs. Grundy to have care of the children. Mr. and Mrs. Grundy are well known to Rar- goedians, for their residence in the town during his employment there. Miner-Dies of Wounds. Sapper John Jones, of the Tunnelling Corps, R.B., a son of Mr. Samuel Jones, Ynysglvd St. Ystrad Mynach, and a former miner in the Pen- allta Pits, has died in hospital at Boulogne of Wounds. He had been on active service since May' of last year. No Weights. I. William Lewis, baker, Treharris, was fined 20s. at Bargoed last Friday for selling bread otherwise than oy weight, and with failing to carry scales and weights on his cart. His son, who was summoned for aiding and abetting, was ordered to pay 8s. costs. Rather Go Down. Nellie Gould, a married woman, of Pengam, exclaimed on being ordered to pay for two plate glass window panes and 10s. OcT. advocate's fee at Bargoed, I won't pay a penny piece. I would rather go down. I am innocent." The windows which she was accused of damaging were those of her next doai- neighbour. No License. A fine of £ 2 was imposed by the Bargoed magistrates on Friday on John Croker, of Aber- bargoed, for driving a car without a drivers' li- cense, and with failing to illuminate the identi- fication plate. The car belonged to defendant's father, and on being stopped by the police, de- fendant produced his father's license. A Peculiar Case. The adjourned inquest on the body of the in- I fant son of Thomas and Mary Bvans, who live in a local lodging house, was held at Gilfach Goch on Friday. The evidence at the previous hearing was that while the parents were serving a term of imprisonment for neglecting another child, Inspector Sta-»r, of the N.S.P.C.C., took the baby in question to the Merthyr Union In- firmary. On coming out of prison the parents made representations to have the child tak-eii from the infirmary, and succeeded, contrary to the advice of Inspector Stan. I Dr. Florence Ward, of the Merthyr Union, now attended, and said that the child was ad- mitted to the infirmary on July 9th. It was then a big child for its age, but looked delicate and was not robust. Later it became seriously ill. She saw the parents twice on their release from prison, and warned the father as to the serious condition of the child, and said it was not fit to be taken out. If the child had been left in the infirmary there was no hope of its recovery. The Coroner said there was no evidence of im- proper treatment on the part of the parents. He did not think any jury woul d convict on the charge of manslaughter—the evidence was not strong enough. The jury returned a verdict that the child died from tuberculosis of the lungs and added a rider that there was a certain amount of neglect on the part of the parents after the child left the Workhouse Infirmary. Proficiency Certificate. "I Sapper John Dunstan, prior to enlistment a re- sident in Deri, and a ..worker, at the Groesfaen Colliery, has gained a proficienoy certificate in mine rescue apparatus work after a ten davs' course while serving in France. Literary and Debating Society. The Literary and Deoattfng Class held their first dnce at the Workman's Institute, Bar- g-oed, on New Year's Day. There was a very d attendance, and a most enjoyable evening was spent. The duties of M.C. were ably car- ried out by Messrs. A. Burrefl and C. Jones. There was no whist drive as advertised. A prize was offered for thQ best couple waltzing around the room, an d was won by Mr. Lewis and part- ner. A New Year's Resolution for Non-Unionists. Join a Trade Union without delaf. Thore is only one day in the calendar of wisdom, and that l is the present. For Unionists: Don't allow your sons and daughters to become blacklegs to their fellow work-mates. Get them into a Trade Union. Do it now. Soldier and Girl. I Un luesday at the Glamorgan Quarter Sos- sions at Cardiff, Joseph Stephenson (4), soldier, indicted for an assault on Ethel May Morris at Gelligaer, as he was now serving his country, received one day's impriaonmeNt, which meant  his regIment at onae, that he cou l d re- j oin his regiment at once.

THE DEAR RAG. I A Pioneer in hand Is worth two in the bag, See the Boys is you can, And buy the dear Rag. It is sold on the street And also the Cross,, The paper is a treat And small is the cost. One penny you pay, And the paper Y. get, Like me you will say- It's the best Local yet. I sa- to all workers Get the paper that hit6 All the rich shirkers And the Capitalist. I ,it,

The Reply of the Allies. PEACE NEGOTIATIONS CLOSED FOR THE PRESENT. It has taken the Allied Powers a fortnight to draft a reply to the German Note, and the pro- duction is the most puerile, undignified, evasive,- and ineffective document which diplomacy ever produced, says Mr. P. Snowden in this week's., I" Labour Leader." Even such a pro-war jour- nal as the "Manchester Guardian is impelled, to write of "its peor quality and poorer expres- sion, and of "its undignified and abusive, style. It suggests that the reply was drafted, in Petrograd, and that the other Powers have been content simply to attach their names. Whether chat be so or not it is really what ought to have happened, for Russia appears now to be diotating the policy of the Allies, and to be keep- lteg the war going until, with the aid of Britisli. money. and British lives, she has realised the age-long dream to annex Constantinople and the Straits. The reply to the German Note closes the door to peace negotiations for the present. The Central Powers cannot be expected to fol- low up with further approaehes. The Allied Note makes no request for any further reply. It is couched in language which is obviously meant to put an end to the suggestion of peace at present. The effect cannot be otherwise than bad for the Allies in the neutral countries. The reiteration of the tiresome tale before the out- preak of war makes no other impression on any I l -1 inrormea person to-day than one of disgust that statesmen should still persist in trying to hide- the truth about the long course of secret and. dark diplomacy leading up to the war, which the diplomatists of all the European countries had been conducting for many years. The only approach to a statement of terms which the Allies' reply contains is the re-affirmation in a changed form of the Lloyd-Georgian formula of "reparation, restitution, and security." Peace- is not to be considered by the Allies until these things havo been given. How in the name of, commonsense can these conditions be fulfilled so long as the war continues, and how can they be even considered until the parties come to- gether in conference? It is made a ground of complaint against the German Note that it is written in the tone and terms of a victor offer- ing terms to the vanquished. That eriticism ap- plies with greater force to the reply of the Allies, and with much less justification, when we remember that the Central Powers occupy five- of the capital cities of the Allied nations. The will to peace is lacking. More lives are to be lost in the-futile hope that the "war map may enable the Allies to justify a claim to dictate terms which they can only make to-day by count- ing victories before they are achieved.

Importent Education Conference WHOLE POSITION TO BE THRASHED OUT AT MERTHYR. In face of the serious effects of the war ott Education, and the still more serious outlook for educational advancement after the war we feel, it imperative to call the attention of every fathei, wnatever his political opinions, and of every educationist to the important Educational Conference which is to be held at the I.L.P. In- stitute by the Merthyr Trades and Labour Coun- cil on Wednesday next at 7 o'clock.' The agenda has been drawn up carefully, and comprehends the administrative aspects, induct- -< ing revision of existing legislation; abolition of school fees; the raising of the school age by twe* years; universal free compulsory secondary edu- cation, and the allocation of a large proportion, of the cost of local education costs bo the Na- tional Exchequer; the hygienic aspect including revision of present school conditions, and educa- tion in hygiene and physical improvement; and, lastly, the educational phase as confined to the- curricula and staffs. It will be seen how very important are the matters just touched upon, and every education- ist has deplored the fact that a popular expres- sion of the people upon these points has not been made. The opportunity has now arrived for con- soli dating public opinion in Merthyr on these points, and we trust, therefore, that all inter- ested will lend their presence to the conference and endeavour to bring a practical programmer for thg future out of the. discussions.

Abercynon Notes. C The Land Hunger. Last Thursday week a meeting was held ate the Lesser Hall at which Councillor T. W. Jones,. in the absence of Councillor Bruce Jones, pre- sided. The meeting was organised to discuss the recent Order re the cultivation of waste land' and the advisability of forming a local Allot- ment Holders Association. Councillor Chas. Maddox ably explained the Order, and men- tioned some lands which- might profitably be used for gardening purposes. Guardian W. C. Dyer also spoke, but, as he explained, he was- in favour of nationalisation of the land. He- pointed out that many men would demand se- cufity of tenia re before they toiled at breaking- new ground and making it fit for gardening pur- poses. Alr. E. H. Battram offered to give all the help he could to the proposed Association if formed. Mr. r • w" r atson (county expert) showed the beneJit of co-operative buying and of associating-. for the purpose of education in the art of gar- dening. It was decided to form an Association and' also to hold a lfower show in 1917. Messrs. W. T. Humphries and J. Powell were,- elected secretaries of the Association. Spiritualist Christmas. The Christian Spiritualist Society entertained; about 150 children at their Christmas Tree en, Christmas Day in the Oarnetown Schools. The. Children's Choir rendered the anthem, "Hark the Herald Angels Sing." Mr. Dd. Williams gave a, short address, after which the children were presented with toys, fruits and sweets. Mr. W. Parr played the part Qf Father Christmas. On Thursday the same Society held a success- ful tea and concert. Councillor T. W. Jonee was chairman of the entertainment. The fol- lowing artists took part:—Mr. Geo. Williams, elocutionist, Aberaman; Mr. R. Williams, Tre- harris; Mr. H. Williams; Miss Boaden, Ponty- pridd; Mr. Jas. Thomas, and Mr. A. Humphries. The secretary was Mr. Evan Davies.