Pioneer

Merthyr Notes. I Bakers' Wages Advanced. Merthyr Master Bakers' Associati on have granted the operative bakers' request for 7/- m week advance in wages, to take effect from Dec. 1st, thus bringing the minimum weekly m-oo of "first hands up to 56/- a week, and "d hands to 54/- a woek. Died in Church. Holy Communion at the Roman Catholic Church, Merthyr, on Sunday morning was in- terrupted under tra.gic circumstances. Whifet the service was ia progress a member of the oon- gregation. named John Kellaher, aged 00, ef Picton-et-reet, was seen to collapse and fall back in his seat, and on being carried out to the church porch was found to be dead. Brisk Boxing at Penydarren. A baxmg tournament at the Ptmydarroa Cinema, Merthyr, on Sa-turday was marked by a premature ending to a ten-round contest be- tween Bob Beavan, R.hymney and Bat Abbot, Dowlais, the former putting Abbot our for the count in the fourth round with a smart right hook on the point. Going the full 10 rounds,Rees Mitchell, Dowlais (runner-up in the Welsh eight- stone Amateur Competition) beat Dai Williams, Rhymney (champion of the Rhymney Valley) ,on points. Young Mitchell piled up points with brisk left, his leads, however, being discounted by his faihjre to follow up a dvantages thus gatined. Williams was the stronger fighter and handed Mitchell heavy body punishmest. Wil- liams was not satisfied with the bout, and chal- lenged Mitchell to a 15-round match far a side stake of C25 in three week 01; a months' time. Private Joe Johns. Royal Engineers, ex-light- weight champion of Wales, back home on leave from France, refereed in both contests. Can McCarthy, Dowlais, matched in a six- round contest, with Tim Harrington, Merthyr, gave up in the fifth round. A clever three-round exhibition was givetIl. y Tommy Williams and Sam Jennings, of Dowlais. A Stolen Watch. I- For stealing a watch, valued £ 8, belonging to Esau Harris, Tirphil, a thirteen-year-old Pen- gam schoolboy was ordered six strokes of the birch by the Merthyr magistrates on .Friday. Gas-Meter Theft. Charged with stealing 4/- from a gas-meter at his parent's house in Barlev-streeb, Deri, Thomas John Morris (17) now of Pengwn wag fined 20s. and costs at Merthyr on Friday. Miners' Agent Ballot. The ballot for the post of agent to the Mer- thyr District of Miners resulted as follows:- B. J. Williams, MerthyT, 1234: David Lewis, Merthyr, 829; Idris Davies, Mertvhr, 689; Noah Ablett, Mardy, 551; W. J. Francis, Pentrebach. 208; John Prowle, Aberdare, 114; T. J. Evan* Merthyr, 82; David Parry, Merthyr, 44; Thomas Davies, GTynneath, 31; William An field, Treher- bert, 21; Oaradoc J&mes, Pontardulais, IS; D. J. Jones, Tredegar, 18; John Thomas, Tredegar, 17; George Hitchings, Maesteg, 10; Hugh J. Williams, Treharris, 10. The names of the five candidates heading; the list will be submitted to a further ballot of the workmen. Penydarren Y.M.C.A. Hut Campaign. The strong Committee got together to further the above, having decided to make a bold effort to reach R250 as the Penydarren quota to the fund, organised a series of concerts. These took place on five nights at the Penydarren Cinema during the week ending November 17th, and were so well attended that the sum of £87 10s. was realised. The Committee, were fortunate in having the loan of the Cinema free of charge, the proprietor, Mr. Price, Mardy Hotel, thus acting in a very generous manner. The staging waa kindly lent by the officers of Bethesda and Zoar Churches, as were pianos by Mr. W. Burr, Music Warehouse, and Mr. W. Williams, f2 Lan- caster Villas. Curtains and decorations were loanetl. by Messrs. R. T. Jones (Merthyr), J. S. Davies (Dowlais), and Gwemllwyn and Horeb Churches. The programme, which was of a varied nature, was contributed to by the churches and schools of Penydarren as well ag outside friends. All the itom. were splendidly received, but special mention must be made of the Penydarren School items, which were encored every night. The Dusky Picanninnies played their part m to the manner born, the four principals evoking roars of laughter. The green ribbon song and dnoe" by the Girls' School was a pioture, and one of the finest items of its kind soon in the district. The Boys' School, not to be outdone, went through their dumb-bell exercises with swing, and precision leaving nothing to be de- sired, whilst the beautiful singing of the Boys' Choir was a revelation to those who had no-b heard them previously. The performance each evening was concluded with J. 0. Francis' sketch, "The Bakehouse," the Caste of which wias sustained by the teachers of the PttnydarreI1 Schools. Eisteddfod. A suooassful Eisteddfod in connection with Hermon Chapel was held a.t the Central Schools, { Dowlais, on Saturday. Chief choral, Abercanaid Mixed Choir (conductress, Madame Webber Lewis); juvenile choirs, Dowlais Young Choris-, ters (conduotor, Mr. Morga,n Davies); aoprano solo, Miss A. M. Jenkins, Penygraig; contralto so lo, Miss Gladys Arthur, Beaufort; chief reci- tation, MIS. Ourtis, Penydarren tenor solo, Mr. Richard Lewis, Penywern; open solo (women), divided between Madame Cutter, Elbbrw Vale, and Miss Gladys Arthur, Beaufort; open solo (men), Mr. Morgan Edwards, Mountain Ash. 10.000 Women a Month! Addressing a meeting at the Merthyr Town Sail on Friday, Lady Maokworth said an effort was being made to enrol 10,000 women per month for the W.A.A.C. Mayoress's Brother Falls. A well-known Merthyr solicitor, Lieut. 0. B. James, South Wales Border ere, a son of Mr. Gwilym James, military Tribunal, and Mrs. James, Llanwysg, Crickhowell, and a brother of Mrs. N. F. Hankey, Mayoress of Merthyr, died of wounds in France on November 23. Educated at Eton and Magdalene College, Oxford, he, after qualifying as a solicitor, became a partner in the firm of Gwilym James, Charles and Davies, solicitors, Merthyr, in 1900. He joined tfoa O.T.O. in September, 1916, and was gazetted to the Borderers in May last, leaving for France the same month. Lieut. James was a member of the GelHgaer Hunt, and whilst at Oxford achieved some distinction as an oarsman. A vote of sympathy with the family WM passed by the Merthyr Town Council on Tues- day, on the motion of Mr. D. W. Jones, who said that Lieutonant James' dearth cut short a most promising career. Alderman David John (depu'ty-mayor) seconded. Dowlais Time Not Legal. The difference between- Dowlais and freax- wioh time was mentioned in a Central Ooabroi Board (Liquor Traifc) Order prosecution. at MtJr- thyr 011 TUiooa", ,heu Pa.trick Mu.u&field, land- lord of the Sun Inn, Dowlais, wag summoned for supplying Wer at 5.51 p.m. (before opening time) on the 21st inst. Mr. Mans^eM, in evidence, stated that he had satisfied himself It vrm six o'clock feefere the doors of the public-house wore ope-i&ed, and ono of the Dowlais hooters had previously sounded. "Dowla.is is a most bewildering place to keep time. There are five different sfeaiidarcfe—rail- way time, pos^-offioc time, two WDrks. hooters, and a puMic clock over Messrs. Guest, Keeai, and NettlefoMs' stables. I ondeavour to k$6p the boot time I can," he added. Dismissing the summonses on the payment of 4Gs. costs, Hi-. R. A. Griffith (stipeadi&ry) said he was satisfied that a bona-fide mistake had been made in the time, but intimated that Dow- rl.a, time, whioh Was five to seven minutes bB- fore Greenwich time, could not be red as legal. Time-piaoeii should be adjusted by post- office (Greenwich) time, Burglar Chawrls Loes, At Tuesday's moo-uing of the Mertkyr Town Council Mr. D. Davies (Pant) said a Dowlais workman who, finding a midnight intruder in his bedroom, chased and captured him in the garden only received 4s. for attending subse- quent police-court prsoeedings, and 10s. Aid. for the day he spent in giving evidence at the as- sizes. The man lost 16s. 6d. a day ia wages, plus his bonus, for the time he was in 'the courts. The burglar had offered him a few pounds to let him off. (Laughter.) Could nos the watch committee compensate workman for his pluck P Mr. D. W. Jones (chairman of tke watch committee) repMed that the committee had no funds for such a purpose. Uncertificated Teachers' Demand. Merthyr uncertificated school tea<ohsi«, who ad,o paid at a flat rate of zC65 pGr annum, are petitioning the education authority for a, salary minimum of £ 100 a year. Ministry of Health. Mr. F. A. Phillips iiioviod. a resolution at the Merthyr Town Council <-xn Tuesday in favour of the establishment of a Ministry of Health to be vested with the main lwahh functions of the existing central auHiorities. To-day, he said, the country was in a state of chaos as the re- sult of the multifarious authorities who dealt with the health of the people. After discussion it was decided to refer the matter, which arose from resolutions sent on from Bradford and Barnsley, to the Health Committee. Y.M.C.A. Motor Case. At Merthyr on Tuesday Mr. F. S. Simons (Messrs. Simons, Smyth and Daniel, Merthyr), gave notice of appeal against the decision of the Stipendiary Magistrate(Mr. R. A. Griffith), in the case in which Mr. W. Gor&n GriSthat, or- ganisi? soo?'et?ry of the Y.M.C.A. Hut Cam- paign in the Merthyr Brough, was &n?d IN. far using or causing or permitting to be used petrol substitute, contrary to the Motor Spirit Restriction Order, by using a motor car for journeying from Merthyr to Treharris and in- termedia,te places. Mr. Simons stated that the Y.M.C.A. Association, London, had decided to appeal in the matter. The usual recognisances were entered into, and the oase will be heard at the next Quarter Sessions for the County Borough of Merthyr. Secondary School Teachers. A new phase of the difficulty, of dist-ributiiag the Fisher Grant to secondary school teaohers in the Merthyr Borough was reached oia Mon- day when iollowing the withdrawal of the re- signations tendered by the assistants a Sub- Oommittee of the Education Authority met a deputation of the secondary school teachers, con- sistin of Miss A. Gornall and Mr. R. H. Pugh (Intermediate School) &nd Miss E. Growther and Mr. S. Adams (Cyfarthfa). Ooun.. Enoch Morrell, J.P., presided and the deputation, in putting their case, explained that they objected te the differentiation between aon- gi'aduates, two of whom had been put on the graduatss, scale, wbi1et others were not ivo6od to that figure. They also expressed dissatisfac- tion at tAie new scale proposed for the gra,duates and asked that they should receive at leaust L40 per annum more than non-graduates. They further objected to the fact that only E540 out of the £ 2,007 received as the Fisher Grant con- tribution for secondary education had been given in teachers' salaries and demanded that ab out three-fourths of the grant should go to the m- sistants. Alter discussion the meetinig was ad- journed till a date not yet fixed. Municipal Employees Wages. Merthyr Town Oouncil- on Tuesday turned down 4a lecopunendation from the General Pur- poses Committee that unskilled workmen should receive an additional 4/- a week, making their weekly war bonjus up to 15/- and adopted an amendment moved by Mr. D. W. Josies and seconded by Mr. Gomer Thomas that the bonus should remain at 11/- a week and that an ad- vance of 2/- a week should be given able-bodied unskilled men. Mr. John Davies, Dowlais, made QII. emphatic protest against the amendment which, he said, hit the lowest paid workers. What the Council should do was to go for the profiteers." Aid D. John (presiding): That doee not arise now. Mr. Da,vies: Some people are making fortunes and robbing the public wholesale whilst others are starving. The council ought to do it& duty in that direction. The majority for the amendment was three. It was also decided to reject the General Pur- poses Committee's recommendation that an ad- ditional bonus of 3s. per week should ke granted to the road inspectors. Canteens for Children. Dr. Alexander Dunoan, medical officer of health, suggested to the Merthyr Schools Man- ageme" Committee on Wednesday the estab- lishment in Dowlais and Penydarren of O.ntœ,RS for poorly nourished school-children on the linee of that already in being at Brecon-road, Mer- thyr. Many children, he said, were only getting bread for every meal. A special sub-committee ,wastllppointred to go into the, matter. "Starin The East." Mr. John Scurr, sub-editor of the Herald, and a well-known lecturer and writer, speaks this (Saturday) evening at the Trevethick Hall, Merthyr, under the auspices of the loeal centre of the Order of the Star in the Baet" an What is wrong with the World? Glamorgan (guild. The 29 th annual meeting of the North Glam- organ Needlework Guild was held at the Bush Hotel, Merthyr, yesterday. Mrs. W. T. Craw- Shay, formerly of Cyfarthfa, now of Oaversbam Park, Reading, presided. It was reported th&t the number of garments contributed this year was 3,980, which will be distributed- to the fami- of soldiers and sailors, and the dseeirviag poor. The exhibition was visited by a fcirgje number of associates nd friends.

Pontycymmer Notes. Geo. Neighbour's Visit. On Wednesday last week the Rev. George Neighbour, Mountain Ash, addressed a, meeting at the Ffalddau Institute, Pontycymmer, on Current Events," Comrade Tom Jenkins in the chair. The address was much appreciated, and many went away with a bitter conception of what the I.L.P. stands for. He told how overy" great movement" went through three stages: (1) When people ignored it; (2) when they ridiculed it; and (3) when they persecuted it. The third was the best because it proved who was true to the principles of the movement. He very clearly showed who the true patriots were. The Liberals and Tories were now coming to the workers saying they wanted their help to form a "National Party." It they "who toil not neither do they spin wanted us, then they oould come into our Party. Acoident at the Duchy. I A collier named W. J. Morgan, of Station- road, Pontyrhyll, met with a serious accident,at the Duchy Oolliery on Tuesday lafrt week, which resulted in both his legs being broken and his back injured. He was cbnveyed to Cardiff Hos- pital where he is progressing as favourable as loan be expected. Weeding Out. The management of the Duchy Colliery had given notice to part of its workmen, but owing to the contention of the agent that seniority should prevail, they have now given notices to au. I.L.P. Forginq Ahead. I The second meeting of the I.L.P. was held at Carmel Chapel, Pontyrhyll on Friday last, when Comrade Will Jones gave us a very educative address on Capitalism in Peace and War. He took us from chattel slavery to the present day wage-slavery. Comrade A. Pearce was in the chair. We opened with a hymn from the hymn sheet, True Freedom, then, we had a recitation by Millie Pearce, entitled "Lift up the People's Banner," which had a good effect. After the questions the Red Flag" was sung with gusto. "Pioneers" sold well at the meet- ing. Meth Jones is coming shortly. Our Condolences. I Our sympathy goes out to Mr. and Mrs. Tom Squire (Pontrhyll) in their sa-d bereavement, Mrs. Squire losing her mother recently, and last week her brother, Mr. Branch, was killed at Ton-Phillip Colliery, Kenfig Hill, by a fall of archway while waiting to go in for the afternoon shift.

Theatre Royal. I Very few of the confessedly sensational sexual-morality plays of to-day possess the power to enthral that always resides in," How Girls are Brought to Ruin," that has attracted such good audiences to the Royal during the first three days of the present week. There is a something in the. work that lays strong hold on the" gods" and that holds stalls and circle in an equally iron bond of interest though per- haps loss demonsitra-tive in, its expression. And the Morton-Powell Company is just the enthu- siastic little aggregation to give effect to the play's very plainly worded lesion. They have played it with a vim and zest that has made me almost regret that they were not running this fine little melodrama right through the week. But, as I pointed out last week, it has been decided to divide the present week, and from to- night the stage will be occupied with a particu- larly good version of Ouida's famous play lJn- dder Two Flags," 31 play that shares first place in the hearts of all lovers of the truly romantio play with" The Prisoner of Zenda." I question whether there is a legitimate stage in the world upon which Ouida's masterpiece has not drawn the loudest cihome of delighted audiences; and its representation GIlt Merthyr by a company of players auch as these have proved themselves, should tax thc- Theatre to its utmost, capacity during these next two days. N,ox-i week we are to have a treat, and one we owe to some pa-trons of thei Theatre who have made representationat to the management which have been readily acceded to, to stage, that fine dr80111" "The Old Home." I am not sure whether this grand atory of real life hag ever before oocupied the boards ai the Royal, but I am perfectly convinced that it but neectm a visit to oNe of the two houses on Monday to turn all of us into keen advertising agents for "The Odd Hoate,1 amongst oar frieadcb. PLAYGOER.

I Women Workere I. Series-No.6. ;,¡.t:j;ti.:tí')lj';i;Xf'C; A good ■ "THIS is Rowntaee's Cocoa. The stuff to keep you S warm and chful. I drink it with my breakfast fl|Bff H every day, so I ?<7?. Oaen I am delayed no nd of a H Nt ?me, and I shouJd get desperately hungry if it wasn't B ? for that cup of RGwnt-reés I had before I started. R H And when you come in from the cold at night a BE a?i cup of Rowntree's to your supper is just grand! a? 1 Koumwuijocoa I I O I JE ?MM???????????M?f' a aw4tw S

T onyrefail N otes.1 A Cruel Protest. I Our Correspondent writes: —Quite a sensa- tiaii was created last week by some of the Coed Ely workmen. It appears that arising out of the decision of a general meeting to grant as- sistance to a section of the workmen who have been hit very hard for some time owing to no work in one of the pits, a very small number of workmen made a protest against the decision, on the pretext that the meeting and procedure was unconstitutional. A second general meeting was heJd to reconsider the question and proved to be very unfavourable -and menacing to the dissenters. On suah ait issue, i.e., on a matter of food for the hungry and needy a protest on such a procedure on the grounds 'of oonstiDu- tionalLsm is ridiculously absurd, and deserves all the reproof that can be exercised. It is said that those who protested were in favour of the payment of the grant. If that is true, and they agreed with the decision of the meeting, why protest nd impede the decision P You can- not put your immediate needs off for some fu- ture time. With the ever growing difficulties in the cost of living and shortage, precious time cannot be wasted in quibbling about sectional- ism and constitutionalism, nor any other "ism." Action, and immediate action, is the only course to adopt in such emergencies. But it appears that some persons are obsessed with the idea that time and misfortune will abide, whilst its critics have talked out every point of divergence. These expressions are made without reference to any person or any political opinion. A Quibbling Objection. I There is dissatisfaction in the minds of some persons concerning the attendance of persons who have become students of the Industrial His- tory Class, and who are not members of an affiliated body to the Education Committee. It is said that the class should be closed to out- sider, on the ground that they should not benefit at the expense of others. It is difficult to understand such reasoning in matters of education. The Education Committee was formed for the express purpose of educating all the Labour forces in both industrial and poli- tical action and efficiency. The two methods it proposes at present is by public lectures and classes. If it is not right for any outsider to attend and participate in the class, then it is not right for any such persons to attend public lectures. Fancy a local election meeting held, at which only members of an affiliated body were allowed to attend! If success is to be obtained either on the industrial or political field, the people must be educated beforehand. It matters not who they are. The want of interest in such matters is long overdue, and it is the duty of every Labour man to help and not impede the wheels of progress. A monopoly of education has prevailed too long already in the hands of the ruling class. Here we have a common plane and our interest as workers are identical and prejudice on other questions should not be exercised by anyone. Council Employees Grievances. Last Saturday, November 24th, a deputation of the District Council employees attended the Trades and Labour Council to state their griev- ances. After hearing their case the Trades and Labour Council came to the decision that they could not deliberate on their behalf until they were organised as a trade union. Also it was decided that the Secretary should oall a meet- ing of the unorganised employees of the Coun- cil with the new to organising them immediate- ly. This step will 1 surely be of material ad- vantage to the workers concerned in the near future; otherwise there is little hope of justice. The question of representation on the Food Economy Committee was deferred until the next meeting. A Regrettable Error. iI The Sacred Concert that was held at the Cinema last Sunday, for the benefit of the War Memorial, was very sparsely attended, and. did not prove to be as grea.t a success as was anti- cipated. This was probably owing to the price of admission which was Is. The Committee re- sponsible for many such arrangements are for- getful of the fact, that the people are overbur- dened with taxation in every form. In spite of the many worthy causes then are limits be- yond which workpeople cannot go. Many peo- ple undoubtedly would have liked to patronise it if the admission had been less. It may be said that it was not Irom lack of avmfmthy but economic difficulties. The Cymrodoifiea Society. A meeting of the above aoeiety took plaae at the Mwthodkt Kail reoentlj when two papers were read viz., "Gwvl iVIabsantau 11 an6 Enwau'r Ardal," by the Rev. Gwryd Lewi, and Mr. David P. George. The first paper dealt with thig origin of an ancient Welsh holi- day or festival held by the Roman Catholic- Church. He showed also its relation with the' drama. Wales produced several dramatic poets, in the 17th and 18th centuries, the greatest of which was Thomas Edwards, of Denbigh, known throughout Wales as "Twm o'r Nant." The lecturer also pointed out how the above festival had degraded into debauchery and how it was put an end to by the religious revival of the 17th Century. The second paper dealt with the origin of the present names of farms and other places in the district of Tonyrefail. Both essays were- very instructive and interesting. We may say that those who failed to avail themselves of this meeting lost an intellectual treat. The attend- ance was rather meagre, and both lecturers de- served a much larger audience. The chairman for the occasion was Mr. John H. Richards.

A Book of Radiant Joyoosness. [Punch Almanack for 1918—" Punch Office,. 6d.] There is no more difficult duty at present en- joined upon us than the duty of smiling. Every inst-liact and thought is overshadowed by the, war, which is certainly not a thing to smile over; and Mr. Lloyd George has rendered the task still more difficult by revealing to us the futility of the politician. Still, however difficult the task the duty is a clear one; and the abjuration to Smile, damn you, smile," is evolving from the puerility of an alleged humorist, into an em- phasised command. But still we must have some- thing to smile over, someone to smile with; and I am putting in a word for the smile-producing merits of the new number of Almanack." Mr. Punch has clearly recognised his responsibilities and every page, nay, every picture and every line oi letterpress is a rich seam Jl1 which the most melancholy may mine- drams" of sunny smiles. It may be hack- neyed to say that there is not a dull line or curve in the bright little volume, but it is true; indeed, even the advertisements are refreshing, though mostly they will appeal to others than myself and the readers of the "Pioneer," who. do not, so far as I know, run to shilling cigars, 95/- shoes, or 21/- bottles of scent, even at Ohristmastide. The offioeof "Punch" have' very sensibly turned out the new number at the old price of 6d.; and I myself feel that it is worth about three timee that sum regarded from the economic standpoint of use-value alone; whilst the humour of the presentation pIs,tlt which cleverly cartoons G. Bernard Shaw patriotically acting as a scarecrow, and portly G.K.O. revelling in his job as "chuoker-out" at the War Office, that shows us, amongst others, H. G. Wellg acting as Chaplin to the Forces, and Charlie Chaplin "hooking" recruit with his stick is worth another equivalent of the w hole cost.

RHEUMATISM-KIDNEY TROUBLE. Rheumatism is due to uric acid crystals ia the joints and muscles, the result of excessive uric acid in the system that the kidneys failed to remove as nature intended, and this acid ie to a great extent the cause of backache, lum- bago, sciatica, gout, urinary trouble, stone, gravel and dropsy. The success of Estora Tablets for the treat- ment of rheumatism and other forms of kidney trouble is due to the fact that they restore the kidneys to healthy action, and thereby remove, the cause of the trouble, and have cured num- berless cases after the failure of other remedies, which accounts for them superseding out-of-date medicines that are sold at a price beyond all but the wealthy. Women frequently suffer from ills, aches, and pains under the impression that they are victims of ailments common to their sex, but more often than not it is due to the kidneys, and in suck- cases Estora Tablets will set them right! The test is at least worth making, as woman's happi- ness and success in life depends on her health. Estora Tablets fully warrant their description, —an honest remedy at an honest price, 1/3 per box of 40 tablets, or six for 6/9. All Chemists lor, postage free, from Estora Co., 132, Charing Cross Road, London, W.C. Bargood, and Aberbargoed Agent-W. pAMMr WtLMAMS, M.P.S. Printed and published by the National Labour PreM, Ltd., at the Labour Pioneer Pressj Williams Square, Merthyr Tydfil, SATURDAY, DECHMBER Ist, 1917.