Pioneer

Cyfarthfa Steelworks. I RE-OPENING AFTER SEVEN YEARS' I IDLENESS. The Cyfarthfa Iron and Steel Works at Mer- thyr will be re-opened in a week's time. Work will then be commenced in the rolling-mill de- partment, the reconstruction of which has been ocmpleted. The blast furnaces, however, will not be started for some months, and consequently for a time ingots for rolling into steel products it is stated, will beprovided from other sources. The Cyfarthfa Works were acquired about thirteen years ago by Messrs. Guest, Keen, and thirteen years ago i :z, an d have been idle for Nettlefolds (Limited), and have been idle for some six or seven years. Their reconstruction was begun last September.

Political N otes. BY F. W. /OWETT, M.P. l  tnok ooo d Mr. Lloyd C?arg? &t Carnarvon, took ?ood mm to ?s- the Gcvemment o-f JII8fbility bi Mr. Walter Long-s public declaration con- cerning the disposal of Germany's African Colon- ies. Mr. Long stated definitely last week that the conquered German colonies couM not be re- stored to Germany after the war. It was a daring thing for the Colonial Secretary to Say, having regard to the military situation, for, un- less Germany can be crushed and beaten into a ste-to of utter helplessness, it is clear that all the territorial claims of the Allies cannot be enforced. If Russia and Italy insist on receiving the spoils of war on which they are so confidently reckon- ing, other claims will almost certainly have to fee abandoned. Mr. Lloyd George, therefore, is re- lyihg on his persua&ive powers with the colomaJ representatives to give him the African colonies for this contingency at Carnarvon. & With a Ministry so loosely organised as the one which Mr. Lloyd George has raked together there will be many occasions for corrections or repudiations of Ministerial declarations. In pre- vious governments ministers of the rank of the Colonial Seeretai-y were members of the Cabinet and it has always been understood that before making public d'eclaration on important matters of policy they obtained a Cabinet decision on which to found their statement. The present ar- rangement has upset the old Cabinet system ¡ without putting anything in its place of a more democratic character, and the result is that in- dividual ministers are less restrained in their utterances, although, .in point of fact, each de- partment is more at the mercy of the small War Cabinet, which has been set up in place of it, so for as matters of policy are clonem.-ned than de- partments used to be under the old system. :¡: := Mr. John Hodge, the Minister of Labour, has also been letting himself go. Although the Allies reply to President Wilson is quite incon- sistent with the famous Paris resolutions, which did foreshadow a system of protection after the war, Mr. Hodge, a minister of the rank usually included in the Cabinet, has declared for pro- tection in much more sweeping terms than were contained in the Paris resolutions. The Prime Minister has not publicly corrected Mr. Hodge as he did Mr. Long, probably he thinks the Liberal newspapers have done everything neces- sary in this respect. I see, however, that all the Ministers have been called together this week, and Mr. Lloyd George will probably take the op- portunity of admonishing them and advising them to hold their tongues in check in future. :1: :i: The Government has not yet disclosed its policy in relation to the franchise and redistribution proposals contained in the Speaker's Conference Report. The attitude of the Labour Party is on the whole favourable to the recommendations of the Speaker's Conference. The extra vote for business premises is a concession to the plural voter, but as the Conference Report also re- commends that all elections should take place on the same day the general effect of this extra vote will not be very great. A more substantial ob- jection to the findings of the Committee relates to the age qualification for women voters. This qualification is unfair because it excludes a very large proportion of industrial workers as well as most of the munition workers and most of the soldiea- wives. Even so, however, the recom- mendation as it stands will enfranchise a far larger proportion of the adult women in the coun- try than a women's suffrage bill based on the old occupiers' and owners' qualification would en- franchise. The wife of every man whose name is on the voters' list for local elections will, under the suggested arrangement and subject to the age qualification, be entitled to vote in Parlia- mentary e lectionhe recommendations relating to women's franchise were not unanimously agreed to, hut there seems, to be reasonable ground for believing that if an age qualification of not less than 30 years is accepted by the sup- porters of women's suffrage, the whole of the re- commendations, including votes for women, may go through. If a bill embodying the recommen- dations should be passed into law it will make an end of the lodger difficulty, which would be a blessing to all concerned. I The Derby Scheme of mobilisation for the in- dustrial army has been duly launched, and, as in the case of the military Schemethe compulsory sequel will probably follow in due course. The distinction between the means adopted to obtain men when the Government requires them and the means adopted for obtaining money is vital and important from the worker's point of view. When the Government wants money it bribes the holders of monev to lend it byoffering a higher rate of interest than is justified by the nature of the security on which the money is lent. The result is that money is made dearer all round. Indeed it is owing to extravagant terms on which the Government is borrowing that interest is higher than before the war, for, although the Government is borrowing heavily it is almost the only large borrower of new money because foreign investments are prohihitedand home in- vestments are severaly restricted by legislative enactment. These two factors would probably have kept the rate of interest down at the pre- war level if the Government had refused to pay more. Of course it is argued by the bankers and the money-lending section of the community that the Government was obliged to offer a high rate of interest or it could not have obtained money at all. This argument is sheer nonsense. When the Government wanted men of military age it took them on its own terms, and why should the holders of money and securities be bribed to lend their holdings whilst men are taken at the price of a bare subsistence for themselves and their families ? I see that the walls are pla carded with an extract from a speeoh by Mr. Bonar Law in support of the new War Loan. In the passage quoted Mr. Law asks his countrymen whether it snail be said of them that they were willing to give their sons but not their money. But the answer to that question is that it must be so said if the truth be told. The holders of money and securities will not give their money, and, if the Government were to demand their money the war would have to be brought to an end without much further delay. The Government dare not ask the rich to give their money and it is fully aware of the fact. The Government has asked nothing more of the rich than that they would share in the most, profitable investment ever offered to the money-1 lending fraternity. Of course, the worker is aeaged to invest also, but this is openly admitted J by several neaærB to be more fey the sake of political reasons than anything else, It fc believed that the security for the repayment of the War Loan will fee itea-essed if working people, invest freely in it. & It will doubtless be some comfort to the mean who are asked to place themselves at the disposal of the Government (to be sent to work for which- ever profiteering employer they are directed to work) that their wages will be not lass than fJfis. j per week. It will be rtiu more comforting for them to feel, however, that the surplus value of their labour, over and above the 25s., appro- priated by their employers, may be lent to the Government at exhorbitant interest. The labour of working people will be mortgaged tp pay this interest until the debt is paid off or tile liability of the workers is repudiated.

44pontificial Orations. I MERTHYR- COUNCIL BREEZE ABOUT A t VACANCY. The choice of a councillor to fill the vacancy The choice 01 a councillor to 6.11 th? vacancy j caused by the death of the late Alderman Dan j Thomas led to a lively discussion at the quar- terly meeting of the Merthyr Town Council on Wednesday. Mr. A. Wilson (a member of the Labour group) objected to the procedure. The mayor (Alder- man N. F. Hankey) ruled him out of or der. Mr. H. M. Lloyd then moved that Mr. Gomer Thomas, a local mine-owner, should be selected for the vacancy. Mr. Henry Owen seconded. Mr. L. M. Francis (another member of the Labour group) criticised tke choice. Upon Mr. William Lewis intervening Mr. Wil- son remarked: You want to bring a person in through the back door." Mr. Francis claimed the seat for the Labour group. Alderman Thomas was an independent member, and the only independent party was the. Labour group, he said. Mr. D. W. Jones: These pontineial orations .I.c, i l orat' from the other side are becoming wearisome, and are turning this chamber into a very cheap de- bating society. (Laughter.) He justified the selection of Mr. Gomer Thomas as a business man. „ On the matter being put 10 a vote, Mr. Gomer Thomas was chosen. Mr. David Phillips was chosen an alderman and a member of the Tribunal in place of the iate Alderman Thomas.

Child in Flames. TRAGIC STORY AT MERTHYR INQUEST. How a four-year-old child met a terrible death by burning was told at an inquest held at Mer- thyr on Mend ay upon Sarah Ann Collins, the daughter of Bartholomew Collins, a workman living H1 Taff-street. Mrs Janet Ann Collins, the mother, said that just before 12 o'clock on Saturday morning the little girl went to her grandmother's house in William-street, close by. Mrs. Janet Llewelwyn, the grandmother, said that on Saturday morning she left home on a message but had not been gone five minutes when a neighbour's child ran after her and told her that her grand-daughter had been burnt. The child was in the habit of coming to her house and spent most of her time there. In this ease the little girl must have come there after wit- ness had gone out. There was no one else in the house. Her grand-daughter was very fond of playing with the fire. Kate Hungerford, a neighbour, said that hear- ing screams she ran out to Mrs. Llewelyn's house and on the doorstep she saw deceased with her clothes all afire. With the assistance of another neighbour the flames were put out by covering the child with their clothes. The little girl died within a, few hours. A verdict of accidental death was returned. (

The Theatre Royal. 1 When, in the final scene at the Theatre Royal this week, the telegram is received from the Censor prohibiting the revue because there IS no plot in it, I laughed and acknowledged the truth of the writer's verdict on his own work, whilst I most heatedly differed from the Cen- sor's decision that that was a reason for its suppression. As a, matter of fact, it is the su- preme joy of the creation, the real reason why it will live long after many of its more pretentious contemporaries have passed into the limbo of for- gotten things. Sunshine is an apt title; the, shall I call it revue ?--has all the charm, the warmth, and the glory of a ray of sunshine, and it is an inconsequential of the same. Florence Thurston, Basil Grey, Dick Ray, Connie Moore, Geoff Mepp, Essie, Elsie Goss and the whol e company are aglow with sweet merriment. They are great singers, dancers, and light humorists, and their completed work is a rhythm of enjoy- able lightness that is subtle beyond reduction to concrete phrasing, and charming beyond vaude- ville or average revue—from both of which it is compounded. My difficulty in dealing justly with Sunshire is that it is so different from the average touring light comedy revue. It is as distinct as is, say Gilbert and Sullivan comedy from the nonsensical froth that passes for musical comedy these degenate days. Without a stan- dard of comparison one can only express entire personal appreciation and canvass ne'g readers, for their own good pleasure, to visit the Royal, open to the radiant cc Sunshine," and absorb as much of it as can foe absorbed. For next week Mr. Rea has made another big dramatic catch in securing another Will Glaze production of an Eva Elwas play—" His Mother's Rotary," a drama instinct with domestic touches," and has that characteristic at- mosphere that is peculiar to this authoress's works. Of the producer's skill in presenting these works; his rare knack of happily filling i difficult parts; his perfect setting and manage- ment, Royal audiences are already fully eogni- sant and appreciative. Next week should prove a big draw. PLAYGOER. I

M.C. FOR MOUNTAIN ASH DOCTOR. I Dr. Ll. Williams, medical officer of health to the Mountain Ash District, has been awarded the Military Cross for gallantry in the discharge of his duties under fire. Dr. Williams, whose wife resides at Duffryn Ffrwd, Mountain Ash, was at the outbreak of war a lieutenant in the 5th Welsh Territorials. He obtained his transfer to the Staffordshire Regiment. He is a native of Capcooh, and he was appointed the medical officer of the district of Mountain Ash in 1913, and of the local schools in 1908. <

Still Too Many Pubs. MERTHYR CHIEF CONSTABLE'S REPOAT TO LICENSING JUSTICES. THE TEMPTATION OF SMALL PUBLICANS- THE LICENCES REFERRED. The Chief Constable (Mr. James A. ported to the Merthyr Licensing Justices tit theIr annual meeting on Monday that he had pie?t?? in placing before the licensing justices a retisrt1 of vital statistics in licensing matters fo? the past eight years, from which it may be o:os?M? i that there has been a continued and steady duction in drunkenness. This was due in the opinion of the Chief Constable largely to the policy of the licensing authority in reducing number of houses in redundant area?, to thes?' tive supervision of licensed premises by the poR?? to the better housing policy of the CorpoM?? to the facilities for recreation and amuaw-Bt parks, cinema, billiard halls, to the w:M', ?s d a?.? to the higher standard of mora"kty of the inh?' tante. 0' h The number of licensed houses in the boro-ugli at present is 237, being 166 ale houses, 52 B061* houses and 19 off licenses. Four houses were compensated and closed during 1916. The number of inhabitants pel' licensed is 363, the estimated population of the borotlg being 86,000. In the opinion of the Chief Con- stable the number of licensed houses are still ex- cessive, and in nearly 00 per cent of the houses the licensee had to carry on some other oceuPa" tion in order to make a living, the result pelil that the business ef the licensee was often in the hands of persons who had not sufficient 111# terest in the house to be careful in cary.ing cmt the law. The number of proceedings for during 1916 was 213, viz., 159 males, 54 femalSS^ This number is four less than in 1915, when males and 61 females were proceeded against. b The Order of the Liquor Control Board v.-bitb came into operation in April last has not affected the figures for drunkenness, but the restrictive measures have had a beneficial effect- in so for as improving early and regular attendance of workmen employed at the local collieries and steelworks. The number of offences by licensees which hafe been detected by the police give cause for soø anxiety inasmuch as considerable- ingenuity is exercised by some in order to evade the provi- sions of the Liquor Control Board's Order. Thirty licensees and the stewards of two clttbo were proceeded against during last year, and 2D convictions ensured seven eases being dismissed. It would be unfair to say that licensees as a body have not loyally tried to carry out the or- der, but m the smaller class of house the pexraug in charge have either been indifferent in note);- excising care, or the trade is such that they have a difficulty in paying their way, and they Vill run the risk of being detected rather than tbø risk or offending or losing a regular customer- Quite 75 per cent. of the licensed houses opeIl only during the hours allowed for the sale Of intoxicants. The sale of non-intoxicants and solid refreshments is confined to a very small percentage of licensed premises. Chief Constable's observations he J stated that generally persons who frequent publio houses at either 6 a.m. or shortly before 11 p.m., do not go for the purpose of obtaining lemonade if there is an opportunity of being supplied with something stronger, and the licensee who keeps his house open during all the hours allowed for the sale of non-intoxicants is subject to grave temptation especially from his regular customed* The Chief Constable referred to the fact i,bait upon his representation the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) had suspended the license of the Joiners' Arms, Brecon-road, Merthy>"> until the -5th of April in consequence of the ho,150 having been twice convicted during the ye3r. The closing of this house had had a salutary effect and complaints and offences by licensed persons had noticeably decreased. The whole of the billiard halls and premises licensed for music and dancing had been visited regularly by the police and had been conducted without complaint.' N oticeof objection had been served on the licensees of The Full Moon," Twynwaun, Dowlais, and the" Crawshay Arm8," High-street, Merthyr, on grounds of redundancy, f and notice of objection on the grounds of con- victions and being ill-conducted had been served on,the licensee of the Joiners' Arms," Brecon- roaoj Merthyr. The return presented bv the Chief Constable showed that the ifgures for proceedings for drunkenness have been reduced as follows during the past eight years: In 1909—1,106, 1910--702, 1911—612, 1912—481, 1913—536, 1914-5: 1915—214, 1916-213. The presecutions a-gai" it licensees during the past eight years number 146, there being 93 convicted and 53 dismissed. Commenting on the report the chairman (ibO Mayor, Mr. J. Hankey) said that the magistral had heard with considerable pleasure from the Chief Constable that there had been a steadv and continued reduction in drunkenness for the last seven year and they were also pleased to hear t h a- t h e,, that the billiard halls and places licensed for music and dancing had been well conducted. 011 the other hand they desired him 1Lo call the serious attention of all persons holding licenses to the paragraph in which the Chief Constable said that The number of offences bv licensees which have been detected by the police gave cause for some anxiety, inasmuch as considerable ingenuity is exercised by some (and he desired to emphasise the 'soiii-e 'I) in order to evade the pro- visions of the Liquor Control Board Order." He was asked by his colleagues to inform persons holding licenses that the Bench would deal sharp- ly with people caught infringing the Liquor Con- trol Order. He also desired to call the attention of persons holding licences to the paragraph in which reference was made to the "Joiners' Arms," Brecon-road, where the licensee was twice convicted in one year, and the Board of Control Order under which the premises were to be closed until April 5th next. That would also be carried out. The licensee of the Full Moon," Twynwoun; the Orawshay Arms," High-street, Merthyr; the "King's Arms," Merthyr, and the Pekia Stores, Dowlais, would be deferred until the ad- journed Licensing Sessions on March 5th, the two last on the grounds that promised alterations had not been carried out. All the other licenses were granted.

Treharris Sensation. LABOURER WITH THROAT CUT. A sensational discovery was made at Trehwrris on Saturday when John A'Hearne, aged 64 yeslfrs, a labourer, living at Webster-street, was found with his throat cut. The man was lying on the floor of his bedroom and had apparently rolled off the bed. By biØ side was a razor. Medical attendance was ob- tained and he was removed later to the Merthyr Workhouse Infirmary. His condition is precari- ous.