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I Trade Union Notes.
I Trade Union Notes. < By Trade Unionist. 48 ? anticipated i& my notes of last week, the! 4greer'4011t arrive d at between the M.F.G.B. fx'B'Olltiv-e and the Coal Controller is being ac-! "Pt?d by the miners of the country as a very lkt?factory ozbe We are assured that the Oon- ?04'5r told the men's representatives that they | o?ing to the power of their organisation, P4 a Po6ition to demand the full 25 per cent. on  earn,ngs originaJly contended, but, he \¡ dad, that it would nQt be ia the national in- « for them to accept it. This frankness eObably w of great service to him. If he had hi6d the Executive, and had refused them Ult-blank, it is certain that the challenge v ld have been t&ken up and a struggle would Ve ensued, for Is. 8d. per day at }eat. His ,?? ?aion of the men'* power, however, im- N%ed them favourably, and they thought it ? to give way iA some measure. ^■^rieing out of the new terms, however, ()ubl8 has already arisen in South Wales. For 0Qg time now, many collieries in South Wales "a been working short time, owing to shortage vvagons The new terms provide that Is. 6d. t day increase shall be p&id for every recognised orkday, irrespective of whether there would be 8Qork or not. It ia only when the workman ab- io nts himself from work that the increase is not; be paid. Some of the largest colliery com- whose collieries have not been working Ioil time, immediately ineisted, that, on any It Y upon which there would be no work, the should present themselves at the colliery 471d sign a 'book, otherwise they would forfeit th e'-r claim to the Is. 6d. for that day. At the I)- Collieries at Bargoed the men refused to %ritplY Wi.th the new coaditions. Some men ,,ve t6 come from a considerable* distance to aeir work, in many cases long train journeys ke ecœsary, and the hardship of such an im- ?sition is apparent. However, the men refused -? submit to it, and they are to be complimented Pon the prompt manner in which they dealt '?h it. It in an impractical and intolerable con- pon. The colliers of South Wales will never ?"?t to it. Tens of thousands of them have W conveyed by workmen's trains to their ?k, and to compel them to get up in the early '?rs of winter mornings and go a long journey Ot nothing more than to have their signature* o:ded is imreasonable. Of course, it must be emitted that the employers have a grievance, ^emueh ae only those prepared to work are ^titled to the bonus, but they must devise &ome ?Ore practical and reasonable method of 8Bcer- ning who are prepared to work than the one Copied last week by the P.D.'$.? a: .The M.F.G.B. have for a long time contended that all men (and women) engaged in the kllnmg industry should be members of their 'ranisatíon and that there is no room for any othr organisation whatever. The justice of "sir contention has been made more plain than \'er bv the recent agitation for an increased e. The Enginemen's and Stokers' and other 6aniAations catering for colliery craftsmen, ■aVe always been accustomed to work thingl on 116 cheap. The miners' organisatio-n would carry on an agitation for a certain reform, would "Pend thousands of pounds in connection with it. "?Id open up negotiations, would order a strike ?fhap6, and ultimately, after mueh trouble and *xpense, would attain their object. Whereupon, ? tO;vvard' their o bject. Whereupon, •or ward would come the small craftsmen's ?Mons who had done nothing to demand the ex- ?Rsion of the new reform for their members. The big body having secured it, it followed as Inattw. of course, that there would be no trftble in securing it for the very small body. 'That is what has happended in this case again. ?y have let the M.F.G.B. do the work and *?Bd the money, and when the battle had been lVon, they have been prompt to "mop up the ^eam." Now this is inexpressibly mean and "tern Ptible, and I cannot imagine what oon- option of lioaour the leaders of these unions 4tlld the comparatively few men who form their Membership can have. They must realise that tfeey are parasite?, preying upon their fellow "len. Well, it has come to this: the M.F.G.B. *r*nnot allow such a state of things to continue; am assured that the Executive of that body r determined to wage war upon the parasites, *»d compel them to fall into line with their fel- *ows in the mines, and shoulder their share of the burden and responsibility of fighting the *&en'B battles. < The miners' agitation is now disposed of but ":al\y other classes of workmen are quite as in- sistent for an increase of wages as the miners >ere. The textile and woollen factory employees Lancashire and Yorkshire, the railwaymen, re amongst them. Whether they will be able 5° bring the same pressure to bear upon those lrl authority as the miners remains to be seen. f more than ordinary interest to us here in kouth Wales is the effort made by the Tinplate 1VOl'kers for increased wages. The various unions made an application some time ago for all increase in war bonus to 100 per cent. (in- 'ding those now paid) for all grades. This ap- lcation came before the Tinplate Conciliation oard on Friday last. At present a graduated system of percentages obtains, which results in J,0 many anomalies that the workmen are en- eavouring to establish a flat rate of 100 per nt. The employers, at the Board meeting re- fused to agree to the flat rate principle, and offered 50 per cent. on earnings up to 20s. a "eek; 60 per cent. on earnings from 21s. to "•j* and 25s. a week bonus on earnings from upwards. The 25s. a week was afterwards raified to 30s. per week for earnings over 50s. The men, after a long discussion, decided that they could not accept, and the matter will be referred, by mutual agreement, to the Committee on Production for settlement. We have not been told a great deal about the ?dustrial troubles of Australia, by our news- P'Pert'and it is comparatively few workmen in @hIS country who know that Australia has lately. ?perieneed the greatest strike in her history. ^volved in this strike were the transport Wrjrlk-or?s, r?ilwaymen, tramwaymen, seamen, car- -'?? and miners. The immediate cause of the ?"s'-tion of work was the intention of Mr. "?Ughes' Government to introduce into industry <:iai'd system for the purpose of investigation rp^,° production and with a view to speeding up. The workers of Australia rightly looked upon tV Sy8tem as a Srave danger to the principles of Irades Unionism, and would conduce to J^eating. The enemies of progress, of 6ourse, said that the workmen objected to the card /stem because it interfered with the ca- ^^v' policy adopted by them. The truth is that the employers and the Government took ad- V*altago of the war to interfere with the privil- ges and benefits enjoyed by the workmen. We ? accustomed to such methods in this country. The workers in Australia had to fight against tra wend,ous odds. There was a strong public .J:Dl0n sympathetic to the views of Labour on e "ard system, but that it was not desirable at the present time to impede the conduct of the war. Volunteer strike breakers came forward and money was freely contributed towards their support. The workers went back to work under the card system with the distinct understandillg that its operation should be enquired into by a Commission after a three months' trial. The "Manchester Guardian" in a leading article upon this question suggests that the rights and wrongs of the card system was an un- important factor in bringing about the strike. The real cause was much deeper. It was born of distrust of -the Hughes' Ministry. Mr. Hughes has fallen into discredit with the workers of Australia since ho identified himself with the rabid Imperialism and trade war projects advo- cated by enemies of freedom while on his visit to this country. His exceedingly doubtful devices! to induce the workers of Australia to accept Conscription was another cause of the distrust, of him engendered in their minds. They de- feated his policy in the referendum; but he was returned to power as Premier of a National Government at a general election. "The recent strike," according to the litancheister Guardian," "has been largely an attempt to undo the verdict of that poll."
Tonyrefail Notes.-
Tonyrefail Notes. Competitive Amusement. Great interest prevailed during lact week at the Picture Palace, Tonyrefail, whe. a Go as You Please open competition wae held. There were a great number of competitors. General satisfaction is felt at the result. It is to be hoped that the management will not bo, satis- fled until thely have eclipsed this. Trades Council and Representation. The Trades and Labour Council held their monthly meeting last Saturday, October 6th, at the Bute Hotel, Pon-tyclun. Mr. T. 1. Mardy Jones was present in his capacity as an organiser. Mr. James Dicks presided. There was a very full representation of affiliated bodies present and the interest was keen. Several matters of importance were discussed, among the chief were the Labour representation on the Food Control Committee; Housing Question, and La- bour representation on the District Council. A letter was read from the" clerk of the Dis- trict Council stating that they had appointed a Labour representative in the. person of Thomas Thomas (collier), Coed Ely, on the Food Com- mittee. At this, several expressed disapproval at the action of the District Council in ignoring the Trades and Labour Council on the nomina- tion, on the grounds that the Trades and La- bour Council was the only representative body of Labour. It was considered advisable to ask the co-opted member to attend the Trades and Labour Coun- cil to report on the deliberations of the Food Committee so that Labour may have the benefit of his representation. On the Housing Ques- tion it was previously decided that Mr. Jones should report the District Council, as a default- ing body, to the Local Government Board. Mr. Jones stated that a new and important circular had been issued by the L.G.B. to all adminis- trative .bodies asking for information as to the needs of their localities in housing accommoda- tion and for all proposed schemels to meet those needs. It was decided to ask for further information from the District Council with regard to the adoption of the Town Planning Act and the financial provisions of the Government for build- ing schemes in the future. Considerable discus- sion took place as to the applicability of the resolution passed at a previous meeting to the effect that all seats on the District Council to be contested at the next election in the interest of Labour. It was decided to adjourn the ques- tion of modification for further discussion at the next meeting. Workers and Education. I Last Sunday a very successful meeting was held at the Picture Palace under the auspices of the Joint Labour Education Committee. Mr. N. Ablett being the chief speaker. Mr. James Dicks was -in the The audience was not as large the previous meetings held, due undoubtedly to the weather conditions. Mr. Ablett addressed the meeting on The Workers and Education." It was short, very inspiring, and to the poirit, and found a fine response at the end of the meeting in the enrollment of 56 students for the forma- tion of a class under the C.L.C. It is not to be expected by any stretch of imagination that that 56 will be present at the class, because of the various shifts. But it can be reasonably expected that a good average will be reached. The choice of subject is not made at the time of writing. If we assume that such a class will seriously endeavour to learn only the history of the modern working class it will strengthen every lodge concerned considerably in sound trade unionists. It is to be hoped that some of the younger ones will Uake it up with determina- tion to find a place in the near future in the Central Labour College Social Science. Owing to thedifficultv of available certified teachers for the Co-operative class, Mr. T. Young has been appointed to lead the class. Last .Friday night at 6.30 p.m., at the Primitive Building, Mr. Young delivered a very fine and able lecture, introducing the subject of "Social Science." It is not expected that he will attain the position of a certified teacher as yet, but nevertheless he will prove an asset and a great help to any local student in real preparatory work in Industrial History. In such a study- circle it is often easier for the student or be- ginner to break the ice. After the lecture I) good discussion ensued to the satisfaction of all present. Those who can spare Friday evening will find a real treat at this class. Fatality. A very sad fatality occurred last week-end when Trevor Davies, a lad of 18 years of age, of Pritchard-street, Tonyrefail, met with his death at Taffs Well, being run over by a train while crossing the line. The sympathy of the whole locality will go to Mr. and Mrs. Davids in their bereavement.
Rhondda Notes. I
Rhondda Notes. I The Sugar Ban.. -I I Rhondda Food Control Committee have de- cided not to allot any sugar supplies to licence holders who are not caterers and none for the purpose of hot drinks in public bars. Considera- tion having been given to the question of sup- plying sugar for the manufacture of ice-cream, it was also agreed, in view of the need for econ- omy, not to allot any for this purpose for the next six months.
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1 Technical and Social Science
1 Technical and Social Science TO THE EDITOR. Sia-My letter of September 29th drew agree- menil from Bargoed, criticism from Glasgow, and fire from the heavy guns of the editorial." With the last I am not much concerned though still taking the view-be it *1 doctrinaire or otherwise—that education in social science should have the first claim upon the energy and funds of organiead Labour, because organised Labour alone will develop that sort of education, while other kinds have been, and will be, at- tended to ioy the class opposed to the wage- worker. Having once had a glimpse at the personality behind the pen of Comrade Hardie, one feels sure that, behind his criticism, is an earnest de- sire to be instructive. First of all, let me em- phatically deny the contradiction he discovers in my letter. Is one opposing or undervaluing im- provements in technical science when pointing out that hie i., under present conditions, pri- nt arily the work of the class which receives the larger share of the beliefits from such improve- ments and that, for example, it is not part of the task of the miners' union to increase the ply of mining chemists? Is one opposing the entrance of the machine or women into industry because they do not advocate that the Trade Union Congress should build institutions where mechanics might be studied, or start a campaign recruiting women for industry V Apart from ith subjective existence in the mind of our Glasgow friend, the contradiction is absent. The discovery of the value of small coal does not, in that fact itself, bring shorter hours. If we as workers by our technical nkowledge could present a most brilliant case as to the size of this new source of revenue, would the coalowners immediately disgorge it? I hae ma doots." That would only result from the hight of might possessed by a strong, militant organisation. An organisation of this sort is dependent upon the, clear know- ledge of its members, not only of this new source of revenue, but also of the whole revenue of the shirking-class. Shall we find how to shape effi- cient industrial and political organisations by studying chemical f-oriniiloe ? With, or without, our help, technology will be developed. By it- self, it worsens the relative position of the wage- worker. Social Science analyses the disease of society, unmentioned in technical studies, and attemp to find its cause and cure. When our Labour Councillors on Education Committees and such like bodies have a good grip of this kind of edu- cation then they will see to it that technical science will be robbed of its present dangers, then our Comrade Hardie, as an organiser of the technical classes in Glasgow, with likeminded col- leagues, will be able to show to technical students the importance of social science and help to bridge the snobbish gap between the intelli- gentsia and other divisions of workers, thus making control a possibility. Re the appointment of a mine inspector: Per- haps faulty expression ajid limitations of space are to blame for this and other impossiblist in- ferences drawn by Comrade Hardie from mv letter. Not a syllable therein contained a justi f:cation of illiteracy or ignorance of any sort. Without attempting to outline a definite scheme, one might suggest that in the future of the mining industry every mine-worker will receive some technicarinsight into the science and art ot mining; he will know the nature of the strata and the gases, the working of the machinery,' and the reason behind all the proper precautions against danger. This will result in improved methods of working, increased efficiency in every way, and supply the workmen with the knowledge necessary to elect the best fitted men ar. inspectors, managers and foremen. The farce of Government inspection and the usual shop window nature of the C.M.R.A. will be replaced by safety regula-tionei appreciated and intelligently obeyed. This may seem a long way off, yet it is all in our aim of control, and here! the maintenance by the miners' industrial union of a technical institution for, not the few, but the many may be a practical proposal. Re "narrowing effect M y letter discussed the average wago-worker with limited time and energy for study and not Prince Kropotkins. The citing of such cases does not contradict the facts given in the sixth paragraph of the criti- cised letter. It is not quite clear what lesson we have to learn from the references to Russia as illiteracy prevails there toward social and tech- nical science to some degree; and apparently the efforts of the experts named have not been suc- cessful in completing the Revolution, though they have been technically trained. Russian conditions are not ours; remember the Work- men's and Soldiers' Councils in England. Might I respectfully suggest that the distinc- tion made by our Comrade Hardie between "in- struction" and "education" doee not really de- note a difference. One is "a building up" the other, "a leading out." (This is a distinction akin to that sometimes made between "propa- ganda" and "education.") Also, that you can have Biassed education. Not in the rudiments of general knowledge nor in the exact portions of technical science I agree. But in industrial history and economics "working-class" education or "working-class" instruction is imperative; and that as independent of capitalist thought as the politics advocated by the revere4 late brother of our comrade. Again, "The accumulated knowledge named education should not be put into class sections," says he. Without dwelling upon the confusion in the sentence between the process itself and the material used in the process, it cannot be too forcibly stressed that in so far ae history, economics, philosophy and morality are con- cerned, the putting is not necessary; already they are in class sections and they uphold or ftttack the existing scheme of things. The capi- talist class in England destroyed the divine right of kings and other feudal relics because they did not correspond with its economic, class needs. Through a lack of knowledge in the social sciences from an independent working-class standpoint, many Socialists in the past have ac- cepted without critical examination capitalist definitions of the State and of supposedly abso- lute morality to their detriment. Probably, elsewhere in this issue of the Pioneter Coinrade Hardie will be able to find further information as to the Plebian attitude toward technical science. As on three former occasions (29,/7/16, 21/10/16, and 21/7/17) the case for working-class education has been given space in these columns, I will not trespass further upon your editorial generosity by at- tempting a re-statement.—Yours sincereiy, M.S.
RAILWAY PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATESI
RAILWAY PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATESI The National Union of Railwaymen has de- cided to run another two additional candidates for Parliament, making in all seven, on behalf of the Union. This decision was arrived at re- cently by the Executive Committee. Nomina- tions are now being invited from the branches. Mr. T. O.Morris, E.C. representative and presi- dent of the Rhondda Labour Party, also Mr. Williams, Organiser, have been nominated from South Wales, and a keen contest is being looked forward to.
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I Maesteg Notes.I
I Maesteg Notes. I I Prussianism at Maesteg. j About three weeks ago there was a dispute at the Garth Colliery, Maesteg, and on the Thurs- day night the committee was sitting discussing the situation (in one of the rooms in the Garth Workmen's Institute) when the police officer walked into the billiard roem and inquired where the Committee of the Colliery were holding their meetings a.nd who were the members of the Committee. What were his objects we do not. know, but we consider that he as exceeding hijs duty. I More News of our C.O.s. During the last week we have received a letter t from each of our C.O.'s, both of whom are in good health and spirits. Oomrade Johnny Day has sent his first letter since his third sentence by court-martial was passed u170n him placing him under iock and key at Shrewsbury Prison for two years. The tone of his letter is: "Don't worry about me, but do all you can for the Caryse. The Cause is greater than the man." Then Comrade Thomas Anthony (Nantyffyllon) writes from Princetown showing the difference between the rules laid down by the Home Office and the actual rules and condi- tions prevailing, and we can assure our readers that the latter are much more stringent than the former. For instance, if a man has been on the sick list and lost work in consequenoe of the sickness he is deprived (even after he commences work) of certain leave until it suits the whim of the Home Office agent to grant it him. So a man is punished for being iill. But he does not complain, and his advice to those who are- free is to forge ahead for the Cause. Referring to the National War Aims Campaign, he says: It would be interesting to learn from the speakers what the aims are. Those wha do know are wearing a grey suit with the broad-arrow upon it, while those who don't know the War Aims wear a suit of khaki with stripes. These are, generally speaking, the distinguishing marks between those who know and those who do not know." I Trades and Labour Council. Maesteg Trades and Labour Council held their fortnightly general meeting on Wednesday, when Mr. Scarborough, of the Welsh League for the Taxation of Land Values, attended to ad- dress the Council on the objects of the League. The attendance was very poor, undoubtedly due to the rough weather, but those who faced the rain and wind were amply compensated for so doing. The address was very instructive, but the discussion that ensued was the best from an educational point of view. The speaker was very frank in answering any questions put to him, and he hae promised to pay us another visit, when we hope that he will "have a bigger audi- ence. He is worthy of a crowded Town Hall meeting, but to obtain the Town Hall for a speaker on such a subject is impossible, aa I am informed the intelligentia (?) of the Urban District Council have passed a resolution that the hall is not to be let for political meetings, except at election times, to any party. I should like to know if War Aims meetings are not poli- tical meetings. I must confess that I cannot see how such meetings can be classed as any- thing other than political meetings. The U.D.C. must have meant, when they passed that resolu- tion, politics that were not of the drum-beating, flag-wagging, and German-bullying (with the mouth) brand.
Guardians and Hospital ProtestI
Guardians and Hospital Protest I In oonsequence of the closing of a number of beds at the Merthyr General Hospital on account or lack of funds, many patients entitled to ad- mission there have of a necessity been obliged to enter the workhouse infirmary for treatment. At Saturday's meeting at Merthyr, Mr. Harry Evans drew attention to this scate of affairs and the Rector of Dowlais (the Rev. Llew. M. Wil- liams) declared that the ratepayers should not be exploited by bearing the expense of providing for -hospital patients, and that the infirmary should be utilised only for the purposes the rate- payers' money was intended. Mr. S. Bolwell said this dumping of people in the infirmary was a shame. If there was nothing else to be said against it there was the taint of pauperism. In order to trace the number of such cases it was decided to obtain a return of all admissions to the infirmary during the past two months.
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