Pioneer

Sabbatarianism and Sanity SEE PAGE 1

SABBATARIAN ISM. AND SANITY I I | Free Churches and Trades Council on Sunday Trading., I I 11 Opposes Act, I ff Labour Opposes Antiquated Act t( ..■ -—• ¡ Borough Council to PetItion Food l?o- g Powers. I I A ?Rday Trading—the vexed question that has I j §itated. the Free Church Council and Noncon- 0rmist conscience or Merthyr for some time r(HV-wa argued out at Tuesday's meeting of he Town Council, with the result that a petition V., to be. sent to the Food Controller asking him .? P'?t in force his powers under the Defence of ti" lt' -flea?lm Act, aad make an order prohibiting I'X"IL trading on the Sabbath, more effectively ^au can be done under the Puritanical Act of 'h17 j is at present the only legislation iat can be employed. It will be remembered that at the January Meeting of the Town Council the Free Church ^incil sent a deputation to state a case for ?nday closing but it agreed to rese've its case ?' & month on the Town Council falling in with ? suggestion of the Trades and Labour Coun- ?tha/t & decision should be delayed until the %ini«u of organised Labour had been obtained ? laid before the Corporation, On Tuesday ?th deputations were present. Tlae Rev. Arthur Jones, on behalf of the Free 9tlurch Council, stating the case for the putting ?? op?a,tMn of tH Sunday Observance Act of f. said he had beard three grounds of objec- '?: 1st, HUlt it was a hardship on the small ?a-der; 3?d, that it was an interference with the ?'rty of the subJect; and, 3rc?, that it was un- ^mely because their argument was based upon ??iquated laws. In answer to these charges he Vfe wqre living in an atmosphere: of restric-. every one of which pressed hardly on iOllleone, and there was no doubt that if this enforced some small traders would sur- The chief sufferer was the "poor, lone widow He thought all sympathised with the P°°r woman who found it hard to make a living, tlt that sympathy should not lend itself to h,hnse) and sanction of her dishonesty which t'(11191,t her within the law every time her shop "as opened on the Sabbath. On the second point 1X11 whole social order was based on the right of llterrence with the right of the subject, and hen such interference was for the larger liberty r tiJij Uu^fcit ".vt were not only justified b,-tt, bound to interfere. This ertv of Sunday trading, which was being ex- etc" 1sed in defiance of the law of our land,, was lllrurious. He was sorry that the grounds of ar- gument in this matter had so far been purely bbataria.n„ since he was sure it could be justi- ?d on the moral law, and the times and con- gous under which we lived. The chief offenders ?'p alien restaurant keepers, whose food ca- ?'ed to depraved appetites. The young people &i"e hayin the times of their lives. They were  monov than ever thev did and baking ino,,G" money than ever they did, an d tending more lavishly than their fathers ever ?red. And in this sort of spending, more money "? spent on the Sabbath than on all the other ¡:¡1 days put together. The chief offenders were !lns who had come to this country in the days ? h'eo hospitality, when their countries were too P?' or too hot to hold them. To-day they ould not be accepted. But they had come and ? making a fortune out of the unnecessary f!Pendino' of youth on commodities that took 'j?gar ad flour. If the fear of God could not h?t instilled into the hearts of these foreigners, ?R something ought to be done to teach them bat c itizenship implied. These men profited in illegitimate trade from the fact that those who did observe the laws closed their shops on t4t day. He did not sympathise with the atti- t Ude of non-pessimus. If we were convinced that  was a danger to our youth in these days iien economising of money and food was preach- ?s so necessary, it ought not to be impossible () ?.6nd ways of stopping it. If Christian public J ?ion was what it ought to be in Merthyr, ?t alone would have been sufficient to stop it. thl\rr. Hugh Williams (Treharris) introducing n? Trades Council deputation, thanked the 9'lllleil for ita impartiaMty and open-mindedness in?UsPending judgment until Labour's opinion 1,d been oannssed, and introduced the Trades C_l 'O"Ilclil spe&ker—Mr. W. Harris. ) ?h'. ? Harris pointed out that the matter l()a{ ???? ?? ventilated by the Trades Union lod S ^ur*n £ the past month, and each society I'en against putting this old Act into force, hes0 .rouds: 1st, it was impossible to put the ?'t into force, as it stood, because it was fj. ^d for a pastoral and agricultural Britain, ?dar was mainly a manufacturing and jj^/ Ostrial Buitain. He wanted to make this ?" clear; because it hid the lone widow"— (lid 1.itee that s he was a dishonest per- hor it was maintained that she was dis- andest; thpueT61'Y shareholder of Guest, Keen, -fol, and every other large industry it\ +. We ???'ict was in the same position, because circu ell-ell pstnces ^'ad arisen which the frames of 'this ? ??? Act had never conceived. For in- sta ce ?? ??? Y nkee furnace at Dowlais was stopped ii Liu' Sunday an exp l osion similar to that at ? ?? Sunday an explosiOn similar to that at WO,t Ill.ain would resuit and similarly JiVprfioTi«\ ,4111?a-e, wouM be done in many other iirections by tia,e suspension of Sunday labour. The lo 0wl O'w (x)uld be left alone. "hat the Trades Tra?Co? ?n said was that it wou l d be very  Soald was that It would be very unjust to take one section of the Act to serve a purpose; whilst it could not be enforced in the whole because of such terms as this, which was taken from the Act: No tradesmen, artificer, I workman, labourer or other person shall do work of their ordinary calling." This would mean, not a. suspension of Sunday papers, but of Monday's, and parsons, who were amongst the worst of- fenders, would not be allowed to travel on this day. We could not help breaking this law when it came to bed-rock facts. Moreover, the Trades Council felt that it would be absolutely out- rageous to close small bye-street shops, whilst the authority had no means whatever of closing the chief offenders on the High-street, whose businesses were protected as licensed refreshment houses, not only by newer legislation, but by an order of the Liquor Control Board under the Defence of the Realm Act. He did not think there was any point in the argument that these shops were kept by aliens, and he trusted that the hospitality of these shores would never be barred. So far as the argument that sugar and flour was consumed in this trading, it was pro- bable that the persons so trading did not receive the allowance of fib. of sugar per head which Lord Devonport had mentioned as our right. Good citizenship simply meant keeping the law, and he took it that these refreshment house keepers did keep the law. (Councillor Lewis A bad Jaw). That might be, but it had to be ac- cepted, and anyway the workers were of opinion that the only way to solve the problem was by legislation. The workmen of the district had considered the matter thoroughly and they op- I posed the putting into force of the old Act, until some means had been found by which every- one could be deaH with alike. Councillor Marsh asked for the law on Sundav Trading, and the Town Clerk (Mr. T. A. Bees) replied that it was much as had been pointed out by Mr. Harris except that the licensed re- freshment house keepers could be made to sell refreshments and not luxuries. J on8S (chairman of the .Watati » i • moved the adoption of the old resolution of that committee, .by which the police authorities would be ordered to put the Act into force so far as practicable, taking action only! in the more flagrant cases first, and. proceeding against customers as aiders and abettors. The Sunday trading to which exception was taken was not that of the widow opening to oblige a neighbour, but that which made a real business of enticing young people to spend their money! in these places. In most places in South Wales the local authorities tried to put this down. It was difficult under the antiquated law, he knew, but if this was an evil then they should use all the powers that came to their hands to cope with it. Why should this trade be defended in Merthyr when constant prosecutions were brought in the county of Glamorgan? Quite apart from the Sabbatarian aspect, there was the question why should they allow what was absolutely unnecessary to go on on the Sabbath P Personally, he would like to stop them on other occasions during the week, for their hours were much too long, and much too tempting to young people. Councillor Lewis in a long Sabbatarian con- demnation of Sunday trading gibed at the La- bour men as co-operators, who did not care about any widow's livelihood. If there was any broad sympath with her and with the principles of hosi-iitality to the foreigners it was in Noncon- formity and not in the I.L.P. Councillor Parry, opposing the operation of the Sunday Observance Act, said that would affect 71 widows, and 22 wives of soldiers or in- valids who were dependent upon their small shops for their livelihood. These would all be crippled, whilst the chief offenders could not be touched because of their licences as refreshment house keepers. These people provided pleasant places where the young could go, what was the Corporation prepared to offer in its place? His own observations inclined him to the opinion that church and chapel goers were the worst offenders in this matter of Sunday Trading. Councillor Wilson quite agreed that restric- tions with regard to Sunday labour should be imposed, but the legislation ought to be brought up to modern requirements; and he moved that a petition be sent to the Home Secretary, to move in this direction. He could not support a resolution which would hurt the small shop- keeper and leave the foreigners to do their busi- ness. Councillor Francis pointed out that the organi- sation to which he belonged had worked hard at this question of the abolition of Sunday trading, and had approached the Home Secretary on this matter, and he had refused to do anything &fc the present time. He suggested that the better person at the moment was the Food Controller, who could do their work under his powers under the Defence of the Realm Act, and Councillor Wilson accepting this amendment, it was put to the meeting-and carried by 14 votes to 9; the latter number voting for the resolution to put 1 the Sunday Observance Act into force. Chelsea Hospital Vacancies, I The Commissioners of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, have notified the Town Clerk, Merthyr, that there are vacancies at the present time in this institution for In-pensioners, and that in all probability Candidates passed as eligible, if they apply now, will not have to wait more than a few weeks for admission. Applications should be addressed to the Secretary, Royal Hospital, Ohelsea, S. W.

Olympia Rink. '?\ To-Morrow, Sunday Afternoon, R. C. Wallhead. I Chair to be taken at 2.45. | Silver Collection,

,[,. T. d ( "I an  The Trades Council and Sunday Trading. WORKERS OPPOSED TO OPERATION OF OBSOLETE ACT. THE TRUTH ABOUT MUNICIPAL FINANCE. The relegation of the question, of Sunday Trading" to the Trade Union lodges and branc h es at Merthyr has resulted in an expres- sion of opinion opposed to the putting in force of iJhe Act of'1677, as inadequate to touch the worst features of Sunday grading, whilst doing harm to the very class who should be left alone. The matter was re-introducsd at last Thursday's meeting of the Merthyr Trades and Labour Council, at which a letter was received from the Town Clerk consenting to receive a deputation at the next Town Council meeting on this matter. The Council unanimously deeided to affiliate to the National Council for Uivil Liberties. Mr. Williams (Merthyr Vale) reported that at a general meeting of the Merthyr Vale workmen it was practically uanimously decided to support the Trades and Labour Council in opposing the putting of this old act into operation. Mr. Hugh Williams (Treharris) said the Tre- harris colliery workmen had had the matter un- der consideration, and had, passed a ,resolu.tion opposing the Act because it would not'h&ye^the desired effect. The Act would only affect certain people whom. it was not desirable should be af- fected. The people who were responsible were the foreigners, and the foreigners being pro- tected by refreshment-house licences would not be affected. Mr. J. R. Janes (Merthyr N.U.ii.) said the feeling amongst the railwaymen felt that it would not be wise to support the Free Church Council in this matter for the reasons given by Mr. Williams. They were of opinion that legis- lation was the only thing which could put this thing on a right and proper basis. Mr. E. J. Davies (A.S.E.) said the same thing applied to his branch. They were of opinion that something should be done to get at the for- eigners who carried on Sunday Trading as a nuisance. The Troedyrhiw Branch of the I.L.P. had felt very strongly in the matter. They thought that the old Act should be wiped off the Statute Book, and its place taken by something new and cap- able of dealing with modern circumstances. Mr. John Adkins asked if anyone could inform him whether the Free Church Council had created much of an agitation to get the Shop Hours' Act put into force. (T nights.) The Chairman (Mr. S. 1 > a ags): Out of .order "*■' Councillor Ll. M. FrsutN asked whether the delegates were of opinion that Sunday Trading was desirable or otherwise. Were the represen- tatives who were going to appear before the Town Council going to say that they were not opposed to Sunday Trading, or that they merely disagree with the old Act, and would co-operate in order to bring about new and up-to-date legislative enactments? He himself felt that something definite ought to be done in this matter. The organisation to which he belonged favoured a movement for the putting into force of present legislation- but this had been held up owing to a feeling that if this agitation was taken up it would hinder the prosecution of the war. He would not like it to go forth that the Trades Council as such favoured a seven days' working week. So far as the clerics were concerned he did not think there were any greater sinners in this respect than they. To go before the Town Council and' say that they desired that the Council should hold its hand until after the war, when an agitation should be set on foot to procure adequate legislation to deal with Sunday labour, would be to adopt a proper attitude. Mr. Hugh Williams pointed out that the Tre- harris men felt very strongly that anything which could be done to favour one day's rest in seven, they were prepared to do it. It was not the age of the Act but its inadequacy to which they took exception. They were prepared to join in any agitation to secure a more adequate Act. Mr. J. Adkins moved that the deputation op- posed the putting into force of this Act of 1677 il) view of the fact that it did not deal fairly I with the question of doing away with Sunday Trading at all. Seconding this, Mr. Devenald (Merthyr Vale) emphasised that the present Act did not inter- fere with the worst offenders in this respect, i.e., the refreshment-house keepers, who could sell what they liked. The Act left these untouched but it came down heavily on the poor widow of the side street who were trying to make a living and to whom a 5s. fine would mean bankruptcy. (Hear, hear.) The resolution was carried, and Messrs. Hugh Williams (Treharris), J. F. Jones (Merthyr N.U.R.), Mr. W. Harris (secretary), and Mr. Devenald (Merthyr Vale) were appointed to wait, upon the Town Council to state the workers' views. Mr. Henry Evans, presenting the Guardians' report for the month, said the position of the Stipendiary and the Guardians was unaltered, but he believed that at the first opportune mo- ment the question of a deputation to wait on the Stipendiary from the Board would be raised. He took opportunity to ask some of the Labour councillors to look into the question of the main- tenance of the mentally deficient children—who under the Mentally Deficient Act were charge- able on the Education Authority. In Merthyr the Education Authority had done nothing with the Act, with the result that the children became chargeable to they Guardians and were pauper- ised, besides which the charge ought never to have fallen on the Guardians. The Aberdare Education Authority had provided an open-air school for such children, and the Brecon Educa- tion Authority, whilst making no provision themselves, at least paid the Guardians for their maintenance. He also referred to a case of boarded-out chil- dren from West Ham. Under the Act Boards were authorised to pay a sum, not exceeding 6s., per week for boarded-out children, but in these i j two,sa.ses of children in this union chargeable on West Ham the magnificent sum of 2s. each was allowed. The Merthyr Board had done all I it could in the way of appealing to the West S Ham Union for an increase, and had then taken I the case to the Local Government Board, but the Central Authority had refused to move in the matter, and now it was desired that the full- est publicity should be given to the cases. Allusion was made to the unfair and easily answered criticism of Poor Law finance, appear- ing in a contemporary, concerning which many hard things were said. Mr. T. T..Jenkins (chair- man of the Board of Guardians) regretted that the discussion had been raised sinoe the articles were" beneath notice," and the Guardians gave the Merthyr people more credit than to imagine that they were influenced by them. They would be easy to answer, since, for instance, the Poor Rate was what the Guardians used, what the local Education Authority used, what the Over- seers used, and !j-d. was used for the Museum, and a further ld. for parks afrid cemeteries. Several of the delegates, however, felt that the proper position should be put OIl local financial affairs, and a resolution was passed that the local Labour Qroup on the Guardians and Town Council should publish the true facts in the "Pioneer." Councillor Rany presented an interesting re- port of the work of the Town Council during the month. I

I Are Merthyr AEIotmsnts Toe Dear? LABOUR MEMBER'S SPIRITED PROTEST. I COUNCILLOR D. W. JONES AND IRON MASTERS HEAVY MONEY BAGS." I Are Merthyr Corporation smallholders being I charged exorbitantly at 10s. per plot for the land they are to occupy P Councillor Wilson thinks so, and said so very bluntly at Tuesday's meet- i ing of the Council. In other places he said the land was let at 6d. per perch, whilst here it worked out at Is. per perch for land already in the possession of the Council; or, in other words, the Merthyr Corporation charged 100 per cent. more for land than other similar authorities. Moreover, land owned by adjacent authorities was better land, more on the level, and with greater depth of soil, than the rubbish tips offered here; and the continuity of tenure was there secure, whilst here it was dependent on a twelve months' agreement, which in itself miti- gated against the proper working of the soil. It Roomed to lum absurd that thev should bp: writing letters to 'andowners anH probably protiw" • the amounts demanded for the land, when uicy I themselves were encouraging that very thing by charging exhorbitantly for their own land. If they acted as pioneers in letting the land at rea- sonable rentals there might be some hope of other landlords in the district following suit. He moved that the price be not more than 6d. per perch, at which price it could be obtained from private owners. The Mayor (Aid. Hankey): You are out of or- der. This Committee has plenary powers. Councillor Wilson: I have made a protest. Councillor Owen: It is not the first time that Councillor Wilson has made that protest, but he does not give you everything. When we charge 10s. we have to pay the rates, provide fencing and keep it in order. Councillor Wilson said that the Caerphilly and Gelligaer authorities provide land at 6d. per perch, inclusive of everything. Councillor D. W. Jones, as chairman of the Parks and Cemeteries Committee concerned, said it was very unfair for a member to get up and make the speech which Mr. Wilson had. Mr. Wilson was a member of that Committee. Councillor Wilson: And I protested there. Councillor D. W. J on 00 "You did not! T9 get up and make a long song of it as. had been clone, seemed to imply that there was something behind it. Was an election coming? Councillor Dai Davies said that what Councillor Wilson said was perfectly true. Guest, Keen, and Nettlefold were more generous than was the Council. In Abergavenny the school children were given 100 yards of land, including seed potatoes to plant it, for 7s., payable in 28 week- ly instalments of 3d. Merthyr was putting diffi- culties in the way of its people. Councillor D. W. Jones said Councillor Da vies misconceived the position of the Council entirely. They were the trustees for the people. If they were great iron people with heavy money bags they could afford to be as generous to the people as those people were to their workmen. The matter then dropped.

Merthyr Stipendiary's Rulkigs. SOLICITOR AND LIQUOR PROSECUTION. A nove l contention was made by a, solicitor at Merthyr Police-court, Tuesday,when Evan Simon Jones, licensee of the Belle Vue Inn, Heolger-! rig, was summoned for selling intoxicants after hours specified in the Order of the Central Con- trol Board (Liquor Traffic), and Frederick Jones and James Meyrick, to whom the beer was sup- plied, were summoned for aiding and abetting. Mr. F. S. Simons (solicitor for the defen- dants) said that under Sections 10 and 56 of the Defence of the Realm Regulations the sanction of the competent naval or military authorities for the area would be necessary before proceed- ings regarding such an offence could be taken in a. court of Summary Jurisdiction. Mr. J. A. Wilson (chief-constable) prosecuting, pointed out that the prosecution was not taken under the Defence of the Realm Act, but under the Order of the Liquor Control Board. Mr. T. Elias (Clerk): These regulations were made under a special Order of the Defence of the Realm Act, 191o. Mr. R. A. Griffith (stipendiary): I must rule against you, Mr. Simons. I don't think there is anything in those sections to exclude our juris- diction. The licensee was fined £5 (or 31 days), and the I two other men 40s. each (or 21 days).

"-r'p 1  The Patriotic h\ per Cent? COUNCILLOR FRANCIS' PROTEST AT MERTHYR. A criticism of the patriotism that finds expres- sion in 5J per cent. interest on War Loan Stock voiced by Councillor Ll. M. Francis at Tuesday's meeting of the Town Council was provocative of many interruptions. Councillor .Francis based his criticism on a minute of the Watch Commit- tee, That War Stock to the value of L- 1, 000 be purchased, and, further, that Stock to the value- of £ 3,000 be purchased by the utilisation of a portion of the General Fund balance." Coun- cillor Francis said he was against what he termed doing an action which was not favourable to the country in the present crisis, for that was how he regarded this proposal to enhance the funds of the Corporation. It was not a very de- sirable thing to do this. If the proposal had been to lend the money a-t pre-war rates of in- terest, or at the rate at which they borrowed, money he would have found no objection to it at all. To take advantage of the present circum- stances to improve their own position was not patriotism as he understood the word, though patriotism in this sense was a word very much on the lips of the people's oppressors. Councillor Francis here began to read an* ex- tract on the definition of patriotism when Coun- cillar D. W. Jones asked whether members were allowed to read at Council meetings. Councillor Francis: "I do not know whether Councillor Jones is the official heckler for the other side." He was proceeding when the Town Clerk spoke to the Mayor. Councillor Francis: I don't know- whether the Town Clerk wants to take the floor of the cham- ber, but if so, I will meet him. The Town Clerk: I was only remarking, sir, that the money has already been invested. Councillor Francis You had no right to do that. These things are only done because people use influence they possess behind the back of the Council. If I tried to exert similar influence it would not work." The War Loan was supposed to be £ 1,000,000,000 and the income for that would be E,50,000,000 a year. (Aid. Lewis: We all know that). The population of Britain was 40,000,000, so that the charge per annum would be £ 1 5s. per head. (The Mayor: We are all aware of these things). Councillor Francis: But you are not; or else which of you would consent to receive interest which ha.d to be taken off your own children in order that you might be paid. But it is the worker, who receives nothing or this that has to pay the interest. This change oX interest from 21peFcent.b £ ner cent, ip "1J)e tt\t> aehuü gauiolm *t'* 1 lwpâttio- tism or morality in it. that I do object to anything of this nature done in this Borough, and I think it the duty of all who disagree to disassociate themselves from it. (Councillor Marsh: I hope this is not a peace meeting) Councillor Lewis asked if the Standing Orders did not. limit speakers to five minutes. Councillor Francis: I am an old footballer, and if you. will take out interruption and acci- dent time I will stick to that order. The Mayor There is such a Standing Order, but by general consent it is not put into opera- tion. Councillor Frands: Because I am stating moral truths they are not appetising to some people. I simply want in closing to say that I for one think that war is horrible, and I am doing all I can to do away with it. If I was asked how I would do away with it, I should answer: "In the same way as labsur disputes are brought to an end, by bringing the parties together for negotiations." The Mayor I am afraid I must rule you out of order.

T?n* e *?' *? I J. P.'sCertl*ficate. I NOT ACCEPTED BY THE BENCH. I MANY FINES AT MERTHYR. Patrick Dugan, licensee of the OwaSn Glyndwr Inn, Dowlais; Catherine Dugan, and Honorai Donovan were summoned at Merthyr on Tuesday for breaches of the Order of the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic). Mr. J. A. Wilson (chief constable) prosecuted. Mr. J. A. Daniel was solicitor for the Dugans, and Mr. E. Roberts represented Donovan. Police-inspector Lamb said he saw the girl Donovan coming out of the Owain Glyndwr Inn at 8.30 p.m. on February 19th. He asked her what she had. She replied Nothing." She was then taken to the police-station, and there it was found that she had a bottle containing whisky in her hand under her coat, which was saturated with liquor, as also was her skirt, sug- gesting that the whisky had been poured out on the way there. Mr. J. A. Daniel asked to put in a certificate from Dr. J. J. Brennaa to show that the whisky was required by Donovan's mother for medicinal purposes. Police-inspector Lamb stated that the girl had. no certificate with her at the time he met her. Mr. Daniel said he did not wish to hand the certificate as evidence but in the hope that it might have some influence. Mr. R. A. Griffith (stipendiary): Not an atom. Mr. Daniel: Dr. Brennan is one of the bench- His Worship: All the more reason that he should not give a certificate. The stipendiary added that doctors were much too ready to ac- commodate patients with certificates after an event. Mr. Daniel: He had been attending to her and had ordered something for her. He thaught he could give her a certificate without deflng any harm. Patrick Dugan was fined t5, or 31 days, for selling intoxicants during prohijt^ed hours; Catherine Dugan was fined 40s., of efeven days, for supplying intoxicants during these hours, 20s., or eleven days, for supplying less than a re- puted quart of spirits, and 20s. for supplying the whisky in a bottle without a label. The girl was fined 10s. for aiding and abetting.