Pioneer

i 1, The Hospital Impasse. SEE PAGE 5 I

I Canon Lucan Retires. I FAMOUS ROMAN CATHOLIC DISPUTE I RECALLED. 0- Canon Lucan, St. Illtyd's Church, Bow]IS' ? giving up office on account of his ""lthl vvhi'c?i with his advancing years has been ? ?? ? ?t6. His succpssor is Dr. Allison, 11ig of late His successor is Dr. Allison, ?rpool. I j CSa-n061^^6^ in Merthyr for over twenty years, Bubr Lucan has taken a leading part in the Pliblic life of the town, particularly in educa- t;"?"? ? affairs, and has distinguished himself as ?, ?ial worker. For many years he waa a mem- 6()I? of the old Merthvr School Board, and is still °ne of the managers of the Dowlais Roman (yVtF, holic Schools. He was, of course, much in th 0 Public eye during the long drawn out Dow- ? ?oman Catholi.; School dispute with the jfti'thjj- Education Authority, and the many ????s arising from the controversy. His re- ?ent is received with regret by his congre-

Merthyr Club. CLAIM AGAINST A COLLIER. h There were a few bn:ey interludes during the ht)ai?ill.. of a case' at the Merthyr County Court Oday. The case was a aLum by the oGlIrt Workmen's Cottage Building Club against ""I?m Hughes, a collier, Merthyr, for ?42, the 10unt of subscriptions due on a membership ^ntraet. I 'u-'t l l ai-ik was foi- p l a i, d L M. Pulliblank was for plaintiffs, and Mr. R. Idmnnds was defendant's solicitor. Toliii Henry Pugh said that In 1911 defendant *%Qed an agreement to take shares in the Ociety. Witness ceased acting as secretary to the club before any subscriptions were collected. IV. H. Edmunds (cross-examining): Did f I rQ, tell him it would help you a good deal if he ¡\)1e.d, inasmuch as you would be appointed and 1,)!\ld as secretaryp 90 Bryn Roberts (interposing): He was g according to your account for a fraudu- nt purpose—not for the purpose of getting cot- -ges, but to help this man cü make money; to rde on the backs of his. fellow workmen in get- the secrataryship. nds, questioning witness as to aether defendant had ever received a rule booli want io b limit iic has not been rcogmsed as a member of the club, and has not "tended any meetings. «udge He signed the document? (membership a^eement). Edmunds Yes. Judge Then he is liable. Here the judge further remarked that appar- ntly defendant finding that his friend was not 4outinuing in the secretaryship he was going to tele .out of paying his subscriptions. ""The irb.lng is absurd." he declared. Mr. Edmunds: He thought that as Mr. Pugh Was not appointed secretarf ultimately that he Vr(luld not be called upon to pay his subscriptions. The judge replied that had defendant attended  Meeting of the members and declared his rea- J?r joining, he would have been kicked out ofQ+the room. He would not have been allowed ? vote there." f Mr. Edmunds: He never attended a meeting. j;iudge: Whether lie did or not makes no IffereJiolce. Mr. PuUibank then arose for the purpose of bowing there was no fraudulent intent alleged In. defendant's action. fjjudge: I don't say there was; but if the de- f ee put up were true it would be a fraudulent J1.1dgment was awarded plopintiffs for the rn()Illat claimed and an order for it to be paid t °s. a month was made.

Boys Betting on Football. 1 "SWEEPSTAKES ON THE INCREASE IN I MERTHYR," SAYS A COUNCILLOR. rhne amongst juveniles was discussed by the ? '?hyr Education Committee on Monday. The tnat,te? arose from a letter sent by the Board of tdlleation suggesting that the Home Secretary's sh l that elementary schools after class hours Rh 'Illd be placed at the disposal of societies for th ? Welfare of children, boys' brigades, etc. ?t. L- M. 'ranis said there was a good deal ,of ??'enile crime in Merthyr. Recently, as he ?? ?Soing up High-street, he saw a small boy caref8nly wüching the movements of a shop- kee '? ? to snap his chance of getting at th e +-i Besides" small boys were about the &t+ • a^ ?? o'clock at night selimg newspapers iftd -?9? with bigger boys, soon learnt their thIC j8, w^h the result tha? they often got into the 1 li!!Vls of the police. He moved a conference shm ho ?ied of the teachers of the town and a s ~f*munittee of Hie Authority to consider th,?, ,,tt,.Tyllttcke of -tiie Autlioi-ltv to consi d ei- ????y said that a bad habit on the increase ??'f'hy?' was the participation by school ehi J fi 'n in sweepstakes on football match results ^*11 boys would get up a ? sweep" On their o l d  up a sweep nd the win h, pav ? a halfpenny or ?o each, and the wi?..? ?'ouid get sixpence or a shilling. The tc-? d 'ncv TheOyl(,y ,a?, ti,?it 'f ??Y cou!d not get their halfpennie/??.?' ????? y would steal. T ™ Sinn t a l so d <nd a opte aue It wa;¡¡ a so e- Mid it also dC- ticnwith rega??,?? Secretary's sugges-

Merthyr General Hospital. PORTER WANTED (Ineligible). PARTICULARS as to?uti? may be obtained xro^ the SeCleIalY. ?ages ? 37s. 6d. per ?'?'?R?M'm. Applications, with three ??? testimoniaJs. to be sent to E. EDWARDS /?c< eret?y), 113, High Street, Merthyr, on or before February 26th, 1917. 1

Merthyr Hero. I MAN WHO GAVE HIS LIFE TO SAVE SOME CHILDREN. FACTS TO BE PLACED BEFORE THE I CARNEGIE TRUSTEES. The story of how a man sacrificed his life for the safety of the public was told at an inquest held at Merthyr on Tuesday upon Evan Joseph Evans, aged 27 years, a colliery haulier, who resided at Trevethick-street. Edgar Thomas, a carter employed by George Dix, contractor, said on Monday morning he was leading his horse and cart out from the yard of the Merthyr Electric-Traction Company in Trevethick-street, when the animal for some in- explicable reason took fright, knocked him down and bolted down the street, towards the main thoroughfare. Mr. M. A. Evans, the widow, giving evidence under considerable emotion, said her husband had just gone out into the street after a pet pom dog, when he heard the horse galloping down the street. He instantly ran to the middle of the roadway and spread his arms out with an idea of stepping the runaway. "He failed to stop it with his hands, and he saw some little kiddies in the street, and jumped into the cart to get huid of the reins," she added. Coroner (Mr. R. J. Rhvs): Were there some children in the street on ahead ? Witness: Yes, sir; on the corner. William John Powell, a Penydarren trades- man, said that he was driving along High-street I (the main road) when he saw the runaway gal- loping in his direction from Trevethick-street. The cart made a kind of screw. So I should I say the wheel came into contact with the lamp- post and that upset the cart," he explained. Alfred John Evans, Dorothy Restaurant, said tha t :mvans was pinned underneath the over- turned cart, and the horse had fallen on the o ground too. The scene of the accident was only afoont 50 yards off the main road. Miss J. T. Ruddy, matron of the Merthyr General Hospital, said that Evans died within four hours of being admitted to the hospital. His injuries were internal. The Coroner said that the young fellow had clearly lost his life in attempting to do a public service. the runaway had reached the main road serious consequences would certainly have resulted. There was no doubt deceased's idea in jumping into the cart was to get hold of the io pull the horse up. He was going to place the be;or» the Carnegie Trustees, who re- warded the dependants of persons killed in per- forming courageous actions, and he was hopeful of securing some monetary grant for the young widow. A verdict of Accidental Death was returned. The jury at the close of the inquiry returned their fees to be handed over to the widow.

Merthyr Motor Mishap. I CAR IN FLAMES: MOTORIST'S NARROW I ESCAPE. Two men narrowly escaped serious injury in a motor-car fire at Merthyr on Wednesday morn- ing. Thomas Jenkins, a chauffeur employed by lVIr. Daniel Jenkins, Globe Hotel, Merthyr, was driv- ing a passenger named John James, of Plymouth- street, Merthyr, from Tonypandy, where he had taken him the previous afternoon on a business trip. Some difficulty with the car was experienced at Quaker's Yard, and on its arrival at the Mardy railway-crossing, on the outskirts of Mer- thyr, flames suddenly shot from underneath, the chauffeur and passenger who were on the driving seat being enveloped. The passenger jumped into the roadway, and his right hand, coming into contact with the wind screen, was badly gashed. The driver quickly put on the foot and side brakes, stopped the car and jumped clear. He had only just done so when the petrol tank ex- ploded and the wood-work of the car was blown sky-high. The Merthyr Fire Brigade were sum- moned, and the flames shooting up about 20 feet into the air on their arrival, were eventually ex- tinguished. It is thought the origin of the fire was that the exhaust became red-hot and ignited the petrol in the tank above it. The damage is estimated at £ 175.

Merthyr Guardians and Nurse. I INQUIRY INTO ALLEGATIONS OF ABER- CWMBOI WOMAN. During the hearing of a relief case at Satur- day's meeting of the Merthyr Board of Guard- ians it was alleged that an Abercwmboi woman who declined to return for further treatment at the workhouse infidrnary had stated that she was advised not to remain in the institution by a nurse who said that the treatment there would never make her well. Mrs. M. A. Richards said that the nurse was stated to have told the woman the food was not good enough for her. She (Mrs. Richards) knew the diet upon which this woman was put, it was good enough for any king," she said. (Laughter.) A Member: You would give it to the Kaiser even? (Renewed laughter.) Mr. S. Bolwell said that the reputation of the infirmary was at stake, and were such reports circulated people would fight shy of coming into what was the best institution in the borough. A motion was put forward requesting the pres- ence of the nurse and the woman at the next meeting of the House Committee, when Mr. D. J. Phillips moved an amendment that the matter should be allowed to drop. The Rev. Llew. M. Williams (Rector of Dow la-is): And tell her as much as they^ike. Mr. Rees Rees (protesting!y): Fair play, Rector. Mr. Phillips said the affair had already been discussed and thrashed out at the Aberdare Re- lief Committee. The motion on a vote was carried.

Merthyr Tradesman COMMITTED FOR TRIAL AT ASSIZES. CONSIGNMENTS OF BRASS HIDDEN IN BALES OF RAGS. A ease which has caused something of a. sen- sation in the town was heard at the Merthyr Police-court on .Friday when Wm. Brown, a well- known tradesman, carrying on an extensive busi- ness in Bethesda-street as a marine-store dealer, and Henry Lee, a haulier employed by him, were charged with stealing and receiving 65 lbs. of brass, valued at £ 6, belonging to Messrs. Orawshay Brothers. Mr. D. W. Jones prosecuted, and Mr. F. S. Simons defended. Mr. Jotoes, outlining the case, -said Browne's store was near the Cyfarthfa Works, which had been closed for many years, and there was no doubt there was a great deal of material, in- eluding brass, stolen from -the works. It ap- peared that early in January two young men brought two brass bearings and other brass to Brown's store. Next day this metal was packed by Brown's assistants in bales of rags, and some days afterwards Brown arranged to send a con- signment of these bales, amounting to 20, to another dealer in Cardiff. In these bales the police found the brass after they had been loaded into a. van at the T. V.R. goods-yard by Lee. The consignment note was made out in the name of Brown and the description given on the note was simply rags." When Brown was arrested sereral letters were found upon him from which it might be inferred that he had been dealing rather extensively in this class of material with the Cardiff dealer of late. In the book in which purchases of brass were supposed to be entered by Brown the last entry was for the date October 11th, 1915, and the amount 2/6. Brown must have known that brass bearings, etc., of this kind were only used in the local works. Moreover, the mark of Messrs. Craw- shay Brothers—" C.B." and C.B.L."—was stamped on. Lee had only been employed by Brown a few weeks, but it was clear Brown had been pur- chasing some articles previously from him. The weight of the bales when he handled them must have made him aware of their contents. Mary Ellen Lyons, a sorter at the store, said the brass was handed to her-ttud packed in the bales on Brown's instructions. When cross-examined by Mr. Simons this wit- ness exclaimed: It is not the first brass we packed. (Laughter.) Police-sergeant Clinch said that the brass was hidden in four of the consignment of bales. Chief-inspector A. J. Phillips said th,6 bales containing the hidden brass were marked with a dot on the sacking. At this stage of the proceedings Mr. R. A. Griffith (stipendiary) intimated that there being not sufficient evidence to convict Lee he would be discharged. Lee then said he wished to join the Army and asked for facilities to do so. Mr. J. A. Wilson (chief-constable): I will see he goes to the army. He is of military age. There is no difficulty about that. (Laughter.) Brown was next charged with stealing and re- ceiving a brass hydraulic spindie and valve valued at £ 8, the property of the Cardiff Rail- way Company. George Morris, marine-store dealer, Atlas Works, Canton, Cardiff, said he had received a consignment of rags and metal from Brown, but could not swear that the valve and spindle had been sent him by Blown in that consignment. Detective-constable David Davies said that when formally charged at the police station, Brown .answered, I know nothing about it." A third charge was then preferred against Brown, namely, stealing and receiving four axle- box bearings for railway waggons, valued at RI 4s., and the property of the Western Waggon and Property Company, Cardiff. Geo. Morris gave similar evidence with regard -to the bearings which the police alleged had been sent by Brown. Detective.-eonstable Davies said Brown's reply to this charge was alsro, I know nothing about it. After a four hour's hearing of the case, Brown was committed for trial at the next Assizes. Bail was allowed, himself in k50 and two sure- ties of £ 30 each.

"Model Body of the District." I DOWLAIS RECTOR'S SARGASTIC REFER- ENCE TO MERTHYR TOWN SOUNCIL. The Rector of Dowlais (the Rev. Llew. H. Williams) criticised the Merthyr Town Council at Saturday's meeting of the Board of Guardians. There was a letter from the Town Cler,k (Mr. T. A. Rees) in regard to two mentally defi- cient children to the effect that lie could not advise the Town Council to pay the- cost of their maintenance in the homes to which the Guard- ians intended transferring the boys irom the workhouse. The Rector, calling attention to this commu- nication, said these were really not cases which ought to be in charge of the Guardians. They should be chargeable to the Town Council. "But the Town Council which is, I suppose," he re- marked, "The model body in this district has taken steps to guard itself against any expendi- ture during the war in this direction by making the war an excuse for not carrying out the Men- tal Deficiency Act, with the result that the two boys are -o the Guardians." These children had already Cost the Guardians £ 42 bè- cause nobody else carried out their duty. A recommendation of the House Committee that the Clerk should take up the matter and see ifauything fur could be done in the in- terests of the was adopted. "1: ■m

I Co-operation & the Future. I INTERESTING MEETING AT BARGOED. I PROFESSOR F. HALL AND THE POSITION AND OUTLOOK. What must have been one of the most success- ful meetings—both from an educational and a musical point of view—was held at the Co-opera- tive Hall, Bargoed, last Saturday evening under the auspices of the New Tredegar and District Co-operative Society. First-class artistes were secured for the musical programme provided, whilst the services of Prof. F. Hall, M.A., Man- chester, was secured for the educational side. It was a pleasant departure from the usual methods of propaganda^ and the attendance proved its adoption successful. In the absence of Mr. Wal- ter Lewis, J.P., Mr. Lane, the general manager of the Society, presided. Cutting out the usual chairman's remarks (a very wise proceeding) he immediately called upon Mr. Lewis Jones to render a solo. His rendering of There's a Land was a great success—and established a standard which was well maintained throughout the evening. Miss Myfanwy Walters (New Tre- degar) in a rich contralto voice sang Sweet as her roses." and to repeated calls for an encore gave When the tide comes in." A fine bari- tone solo entitled Friend o' mine was sung by Mr. Will Bowen, giving as an encore" God bring you home again." Other items of music well rendered and well received were" Mary O'Neil and Nervana," by Lewis Jones: "The laddie I love and My Treasure," by Miss My- fanwy Walters: and two 'cello solos by Mr. T. J. Daniels. Miss L. Gabriel was at the piano. The lecture was well delivered and received. Prof. Hall, after remarking that a nation that gees to war must prepare for war, urged the necessity to prepare for peace. It was difficult to prophesy what would happen when the war was ended. People had prophesied the end of the war within six months from its outbreak. Those who stated that it would last more than a year were laughed at for their undue pessi- mism. The same applied to the industrial posi- tion. The unempioymecrt expected never came, and after two years, instead of men looking for jobs—jobs were waiting for men. The people who needs most prepare for the future were the working-class, for if the peace found them unprepared they would be left high and dry. The war had caused an enormous dis- location of industry. That huge army of workers who had transferred from their peace-time oc- cupations to cfcc army and navy and also totie production of munitions of war would find it more difficult to regain their old jobs again. When the boys came back they will find their places filled with- women workers. Are the women to go again out of industry? Some of the Trade Unions had accepted the women- workers into their ranks—when they would be ,c?-w h en they wou l d be displaced by the men now at war the demands on the funds for unemployment benefits would prove a serious drain upon the unions' resources. Other probably foreseeing this, had not accepted them into their ranks. This, too, would create a difficult problem after the war. It is possible that a number of women-workers, such as soldiers' wives, would retire from industry but there would still remain a very large num- ber of women workers who had learned sufficient about their work to prove serious competitors for the men's places. The fact that these women were not organised would probably lead to a large non-unionist army of workers, who re-act to the detriment of the trade union stan- dard. There had also been a tremendous trans- fer of capital from one trade to another. It would be difficult to convert the machinery now used for war purposes to the requirements of peace-time production. Again, Capital was being destroyed during the war. Wealth was not sim- ply £ s. d. As an illustration: The capital of a miner was the tools with which he worked; the capital of the agricultural labourer was the plough, etc., also the seed, which he required. If either had these taken from him he would be unable to produce the amount hitherto pro- duced. During the war Capital had been di- verted from the production of useful articles such as clothing, to that of munition making. The longer the war goes on the poorer the na- tion would become. Prices had not gone up solely through short- age, but had been enhanced by those who were prepared to exploit the nation in its time of need. The Co-op. had been successful in keep- ing down prices. In one place, sugar; in an- other, butter; in another, bread. And this bene- fit was not felt solely by the members, but also by the whole consuming public, thus doing a national service. But the effect was limited owing to the fact that the Co-op. did not own the sources of production. The Oo-op. movement must not be content to be menely distributors but must push back to the sources of production. Another problem created by the war was the higher interest paid on money lent, and the di- minished purchasing power of the workers. Those who had money for investment could get a higher return during tha war than they could ever have got before, whilst the workers, al- though in many instances wages had gone up, real images, measured in the purchasing power of the sovereign, had actually gone down. tfter the war those who lived by interest would have a higher return, while those who lived by wages would have a lower return as a result. It will be difficult for trade union regulations to )e restored after the war owing to the changes that have taken place. during that period. New Governments had taken the place of old, and did not feel compelled to carry out the promises of its predecessors. The Co-operative movement must increase its capital as much as it can, and, for this purpose Co-operators should leave as much of their divi- dend as possible at the disposal of the movement. The true Co-operator is concerned for the wel- fare of the movement. The Rochdale Pioneers, poorer than any Co-operator to-day, put their surplus after meeting all costs, for the develop- ment of the movement, and only by such methods the Co-op. movement can grow. The greater the capital of the Co-op. the greater the redemption of the workers would be after the war. One hundred and fifty years ago the worker was his own capitalist. The Industrial Revolu- ¡ tion had changed all that and had divorced the workers from the means of production. The Co- operative movement aimed at making the workers the owners of capital in the intedest of all workers. There is hope for the future of Co- operation. It aims to make the workers their own capitalist and landlord. Only by uniting land, labour and capital would the workers get the best results. There is no help like self-help, unless it be mutual help. That is what the movement stands for. Although in favour of Land Nationalisation, the C. W .S. must purch ase land. It was no good to wait until everyone was in favour of nationalisation. Production for profit and not for use would find hundreds of manufacturers producing the same article, sell- ing for as high prices as they can, and paying as little as possible. The time will come when too much will have been produced, then will come the slump. The Co-op. movement stood for a better life for the worker, and Co-operators must be prepared (by increasing their capital and producing commodities) to put as many of their members as possible to work. This will have a steadying effect upon production. What was needed was a better education, more comradeship and a new spirit of mutual help. Competition breeds jealousy and bad feel- ing. The Co-operative movement was a better method of trading and had no need to resort to the "tricks of the trade such as adulteration and short weight, for by such methods they would deceive no one but themselves. The move- ment stood for the spirit of fellowship and gave all an opportunity of putting into practice the command to do unto others as we would they do unto us.

The Prime Minister at Carnarvon. BY JAMES WINSTONE (S.W.M.F.) it is very significant to observe that the Pre- | mier has at- last adopted a very moderate and wise method of expressing his views, and has dropped the phraseology of t he prize ring. It is a sign that reason is again finding a, plac e in the councils of the nation. There is still some hope that even before tha great slaughter of our noblest young manhood, contemplated in the spring proceeds, he may adopt the sane policy of bringing about peace by negotiation. There are several statement* is Carna-vori speech which would be distinctly refreshing were it not for the tragedies which they reveal. Tho Balkan muddle, for instance, is a. frank confes- sion of failure on the part of everybody in gen- eral and nobody in particular. This statement may be excellent as a flight of oratery or as a means of evading the real situa- tion or the issues involved, but it is not sound statemanship nor will it satisfy the thoughtful man' in the street. He will one day want to know who is responsible and why the muddle took place. It is a considerable In odifica tion of tone from the knock-out blow to but let us not b* weary in wild-doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not." Bat not very cheering to the bitter enders." There we are told: On the Western front— both Western fronts, France and Italy—we have driven the enemy back in battle after battle. But he was most careful not to state at what cost in men and money to the Allied forces. Nor did he say that France is bleeding to death and that the burden is falling more heavily on the British, nor that the British and German forces are in death's grip, and while Germany as a nation may eventually go under, Britain will hardly survive. Why not an attempt at peace by negotiation. It would be more in keeping with his earlier pro- fession of faith. It surely is not statemanship to carry 011 the war while half the world is dying and to take the gambler's last throw on the chance of victory when half the world is dead. Has it not occurred to him that President Wil- son is right when he says every year that this gigantic conflict between the nations of the white race continues must see that race lose some- what in strength as compared with the human hordes of Asia. This is not an appeal for an ignorble peace, aor for an inconclusive peace. The final test of peace is the living of it, and no peace can be judged inconclusive without being tried. But the alternative to peace is-what? For two and a half years Europe has experi- enced the agony of it. The result of the greatest military efforts history has known is a war that is certainly not conclusive, whether or not one may call it noble. The question is whether another year, or two years, or even three years more of this conflict, could possibly solve Europe's problems more ad- vantageously or decisively than they could be sol ved by the processes of peace. Is it, indeed, necessary that the forces of de- ? that the forces of cl e- struction be utilized for a longer period in order that the forces of construction may the better succeed in the work that awaits them? One of the saddest features is the impotence with which the Labour Party view this matter of life or death to this nation. It is true the Labour Party Conference voted against peace by negotiation and this with the vote of the British Miners Federation; but it is significant that this same Federation declined and would not face the only alternative contained in the Gas Workers' Societies' amendment, viz., And pledge us te Rght until victory is achieved. Now the only alternative to peace by negotia- tion is the position taken by those who say We must fight to the end." Whether they" reaIisQI what it means or not is not for me to sav. The responsibility rests with them. It is no use the miners complaining about the loss of civil liberties, industrial conscription, combing out, or the indignities inflicted on them as the effects of war. They must face the issue. If they say war they must make the sacrifices by finding the men and material. If they say peace, neither will be necessary. I stand irrevocably for a speedy, for a conclu- sive, for a lasting peace to-day.