Herald of Wales and Monmouthshire Recorder

THE CALL FOR NATIONAL SERVICE. I Sir Alfred Mond Condems Present Voluntary System. I In the House of Commons last night Sir Alfred Mond said he was sure the I House would have heard with great pleasure the statement of the right hon. gentleman the head of the Admiralty as regarded aerial attacks. All agreed with him that this form of warfare was novel. Its improvements were so rapid that no one could blame him or his department if our arrangements were by no weans, perfect. V» hat they were concerned with was not so much immunity from attack as some certainty of doing some damage j to the enemy's aircraft when they come over here. He did not think anyone was concerned either about his personal safety or the safety of his property. What they found galling was that they should get away without being brought down or being seriously damaged. He wished particularly to address a few remarks to the House on the very important debate initiated by the Prime Minister. No one could have listened to the extremely grave and important speech of the Prime Minister without feeling cnce more that they had placed before them, in language at once dignified and serious, the position in which this country was placed and the course of conduct we ought to adopt. Yet they were continually in fact finding that the things which appeared fairly obvious did not get done. One of the parodoxes they found very diffi- cult to understand, and which made them somewhat impatient in any expression of such views as they held was the fact that whereas they were told a great deal about the rulers and the ruled, the Government failed to rule sufficiently. Everybody was asking to be told what he should do, and could not get a re>ply. The people wanted instructions. The people wanted not to be asked to do thing?, but to be ordered to do things. There was a very great differ- ence. People would welcome being ordered to do things. Clear Direction Needed. There were many who seemed to think that to be ordered to do a thing was an insult to a man in a free country. As a matter of fact, a large number of con- scientious men were torturing themselves, more or less, because they do not know what they ought to do in the interests of the country. They <iid not know whether they ought to enlist or whether they ought to stop at their present work, or whether they1 ought to transfer to other work. They would welcome a clear and distinct direc- tion from those who nlcne were 'in a posi- tion to judge of these things, and who were in a position to tell them what they ought to do. A man who thought he ought to stop here walked down the street and had his life badgered out of him by bo-called voluntary recruiting agents. Peaceful Picketting! There was nothing voluntary in the pre- sent system It was a kind of peaceful picketting. There was nothing voluntary either, he was sure, in filling the hoard- ings with posters which reflected most un- fairly upon the manhood of the country. Ther-i was nothing voluntary in the ap- peals made to the employers by the War Office not to engage men of military age, "but to send them on to the recruiting office. That was a form of compulsion, not voluntary recruiting. These were the most unfair of all methods of compulsion. Compulsion was being practised. (Cries of "No" and Yes.") He knew of many cases of his own knowledge. Tie did not gee why in itself it in- tolerable to say to a man." We think it your duty to join the Army, and it being rour duty, we shall make it your legal duty to defend your country." They were discussing that day the expenditure of a very large sum of money. The ex- penses of the war were mounting up every day, and they would continue to go up under this most extravagant system of recruiting. They had taken away, and were continuing to take away, enormous numbers of married men with large families. He would say nothing of what he thought of the-moral aspect of making hundreds of thousands of child- Ten orphans, and hundreds of thousands of women widows. A Financial Blunder. As. however, thev were talking ifnance. he would -,a v that was a financial blunder of fie frst mag- nitude. They were burdening themselves with enormous separation allowances, and with taxes for years to come to, pay pensions. Thoy had not heafd a word that day whether or not that system was to continue. They had had an admission from the Prime Minister, and an impor- tant one, that they had not enlisted three million men in the Army as they had Ven told. The number now roughly, he imagined, was 21 millions. They had also been told that recruits were r.ot now coming in ?? well as could be ex- now C,-kming -I n so well as could be <,x- He was sorry the Under Secretary for War was not pre>en^. He was .going to ask him if he could give them any information as to what was going to be done with the famous pink forms which had been provided by the National Eegi«ter. Some of them were being asked to attend committees to make use of those pink forms. lIe should like to know what the committees were to do. Was it a fact that those to whom ihe pink forms related were to he visited either by committees or by soldiers at in- tervals to tell them to join the Army. Was it a fact that these people were to be voluntarily badgered into joining the Army, and if 60, why were they to lie driven to such an unfair experiment as that? It was altogether unreasonable, and he could Scarcely believe that to be the intention of the Government. Would it not be much better to take the bull by the horns, and resort to a system which we fell back upon in the Napoleonic wars,. They were entitled to know what was to be done about the pink forms. Question of Munitions. There was another question—a question which the Prime Minister himself raised -and that was the question of munitions. He hoped they would have from the Minister of Munitions and he had no doubt they would have a statement as to the position-a more detailed statement than they had had from the Prime Minister that day. They wanted to know what was the position as to recruiting and as to numbers. Surely he ought to be in a position to know, if anybody was. There was the question of skilled labour. They had in the Army at the present time thousands of skilled men. He 'knew of whole battalions of skilled engis from Lancashire who to-day were doing no more important .work than guarding depots in India. There were UAPUSMlds of uw4 in tjys country, skilled artificers, who had en-I listed in the home defence forces. He knew himself of men who were specially skilled, particularly in high explosives, who were serving on the East Coast for home defence, and who would not fire a shot during the war. Why could not they get these men back—(hear, hear)— as the Germans, and the Italians, and the French had done. He knew that what he was asking had been promised by the Minister of Munitions, but the firm in which he was interested had asked for such men, and had had nothing but the most spasmodic replies. It seemed to rest entirely with the colonels of bat- ¡ talions whether they released an officer or a man or not. The Word "Conscription." r Mr. Llewellyn Williams: Would it be different under conscription? Sir Alfred Mond: Let me deve lop one point at a time. I won't allow the hon. inember to put the word conscription into my mouth. In a properly organised State with compulsory national services, I think you can deal with the situation a great deal better than it is dealt with under the present system. New you have I to take men when you can get them; under the system I advocate ycu take the Qien from where you can spare them. Proceeding, he said no one had been lable- to explain why we could not get these skilled men back from the Army in order to put, them on high explo.sive and munition work. When they were sent back to work one of the conditions was that these men should work in their uniforms. At a great cany places they j could not work in uniforms. They were not convenient, and they got spoiled. When that was so they had to send them back and get a new uniform, If a man was allowed to keep his old uniform to work in. and wear his new uniform when he went on work, it would he more practicable, and would save some of the vast amount cf money we are Upending. It is difficult to understand, continued Sir Alfred, why we cannot get the relatively small number of men we require. It is a relatively small number. On investigation it has been established that there are in this country something like four million people be- tween the aires cf 18 and 41 who are en- gaged in no industry connected with muni- tions, who are not engaged in coal min- ing, on railways, or in agriculture, and who are not engaged in our export trade, If thev were oil taken away the country could still go on maintaining its export trade and the manufacture of munitions. We have an enormous body to draw on, and yet we arc continually assured that there are no more men. and that there are enormous difficulties in providing; 200.000 skilled labourers. That cannot be the case. There must be something defec- tive in the organisation which cannot provide thesp. Unnecessary Work. I I came to London on Tuesday. You see I men at W aterloo btation erecting a beauti- ful facade to a building. Go a little fur- her. and yon see people putting up a beautiful county council building which is entirely unnecessary at present. You see other men repairing a road which is not required, and a littl? further people paint-' ing the out?id(? of a hou?. Why is all his labour not called on and put into your muni tion factories? The Prime Minister told us that this war was going to be won by mechanism and organisation. Why do we not have the organisation? To per- suade everyone in the country to do his duty is an immensely long process. It i.s a process which is very well adapted for peace purposes, but time is of the essence of the war, and that seems to be con. tinuall,- overlooked. Your enemy is not going to wait until you have persuaded people to do anything. The enemy is acting every day. He is attacking your Allies, faking positions and destroving armies, and if you want to win this war you have not to fight with one hand tied behind your back, you have not to go on with a system of organisation which neither your Allies nor your opponents can fight with. You have to adopt the system which is scien- tific and speedy. I could understand, if ) none of our opponents had adopted any kind of svstem except ours, people coming to me and saying, Are we le-ss patriotic than they? Do we require more than they?" But that is not the case. I should say we are more patriotic than j any country in tIl" world. We have pro- rtuoed more by voluntary effort than any other country has ever tried to produce. But vou cannot produce eno?h against j reople who are adopting another system. It is not efficient, and you are pitted against people who have an efficient crstem. Organised Application. After all, we are all old hands at elec- tioneering, and we all know the difference between fighting an election with purely voluntary work and with efficient organ- isation. It is not the enthusiasm and the zeal of the voluntary workers that win the election; it is organised application. How lean hon. members who will not fight n election by purely voluntary efforts, ask us to right the greate6t war the Empire has seen in that manner. Really I think these considerations have 101; impressed themselves sufficiently on those who seem to us entirely opposed to what would be a really considered method of organising. An hon. member: What is the remedy ? Sir Alfred Mond: The remedy is to or- ganise your people in such a way that the Government can say to anyone," we want you to do a thing, and he goes and does it (An hon. member: Compulsion). Certainly. There is no compulsion to a man who wants to do his duty. The com- pulsion is only to a man who does not ant to do his duty. Compulsion is a misnomer; it is no compulsion to a man who voluntarily enlists. We do not say our Russian ally has been compelled. They feel that they are doing their duty as the State has asked them to do, just as much as when I pay my income tax and the hon. member pays his super tax. He does not feel that he is being compelled, but. is making a contribution towards the. national need. It is really a curious point of view. Will Not Do Their Duty. There is a certain number of people in every Community whom you must com- pel, because they will not do their duty. Does anyone contend that they should be allowed not to do their duty at the ex- pense of those who will. Is that the con- tention that those who will work, or will pay should be allowed to do it. and the others, for some mysterious reason, are to he allowed to sit and look at them and do nothing, and take all the benefit. I saw in the newspapers this morning a resolu- tion by a very large trade union—the Miners Faderation of South Wales-ftsk- ing for a sjjpw of tickets at a. for the whole week, and saying that any- one who could not show the Federation ticket was to be compelled to leave his work and to leave the colliery. They did not say, This is compulsion." They said, If you went to work in these collieries, you must belong to our union." I do not say whether they are right or wrong. I do not say whether it is right on their part to say that the in- terests of their particular class are greater than the interests of the State, but I do say that as practical people they adopt that principle. They do not give voluntary permission to the people working in their trade to say whether they will join together for the interests of their class or not. It is naturally so in every State, and every law that you im- pose, and that is passed through this House, is based upon the same idea. Waiting To Be Told. Great masses of people, far from resen- ting that, would welcome it. I have -talked to working men and other people, and I do not find people resenting the idea of being legally asked to do their duty. I find thousands of people who are only waiting to be asked. There are large numbers of people who have signed the National Register. What does the man who has signed the National Re- gister expect, when he says lie i6 capable of doing munition work? That man is ex- pecting to be told where be is to go to bo a munition worker, and the sooner he is told the hetter., If you do not tell him he does not know what to do or where to go. If you do not tell him he is to go, his employer will probably prevent him from going. The most obvious course for a human being to take is to remain in the same direction in which he is travel- ling. Therefore, it takes a great deal more energy, thought and force to move him cut of that direction than to keep him there. If you want to move him out of that direction you must have a legal enactment, and something of that kind becomes necessary in practical experi. ence. The right hon. gentleman mentioned some cases the other day. There are cases of men refusing to work with non-union men, other men refusing not to restrict output. That does not sur- prise me very much, because human beings having an automatic brain, act in an automatic manner. It is natural that a man who all his life has refused to work with non-union men should continue to do so, and merely to tell him that he is wrong, does not mend the matter. Mr. D. M. Mason: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker, is not the question beforo the House a Vote of Credit for £ 250,000,000? Praqtical Steps. Sir Alfred Mond: I am referring to tho remarks of the Prime Minister, when he introduced his speech. We arc spending some 01 this £ 250.0007000 on munitions of war, and the cheaper and the more quickly we can get munitions of war made the quicker we can end the war, and the less money we shall want. It is very re- levant to the question of finance. I do not want to labour the point, but it is a fact which is well worth notice, that it 16 extremely difficult to get anybody who is working in a certain direction to realise any change, snd you have sometimes to do something more than of an ordinary character in order to bring home to him that there ii, an extraordinary change. 1 think a considerable number of very piactical steps might be taken. It is no use imagining that because the war is on, every one is going to become suddenly an angel and is going suddenly to reverse the practioo3 of generations, and going unaided and uncontrolled to do what w best for the country. That would be an ideal, but not a probable stato of things. You have a very large proportion, per- haps the biggest proportion, who are doing, or are anxious to do their dufly. There are, however, a certain number -who will want a great deal more than | voluntary persuasion to make them do their duty. Fixing Prices. I The Under Secretary foe War dealt with other points connected with the ex. penditure of money. There is no other point to which I would reier; it is true that we have a certain timber of con- trolled engineering establish an nts, but why do not wA go much further and fix the prices of other commodities? There is a tendency among a certain number of people—I hope it is a small number—to immediately raise their prices who A they know it is Government contract. I know or cases connected with materials of cojisi'ler iblo importance, where prices have been raised to a quite unreasonable degree, because they knew the Government wanted them. Why should we not control not only engineering shops making shells, but prices of the materials which the Government wants I to buy? The financial burden ie very great; it is enormous. It is so great that we bear it smilingly, because we cannot realise how much it is. We ought. how- ever, to do everything that is possible to Lighten it, and in some of these directions that I have mentioned, something could be done to lighten it. There is another point which I think wo ought to emphasise. When I heard the Prime Minister speak to-day about organisation and mechanism, I felt that there is one thing which we have done less than any other I count. throughout the progress of this war. No other country has so little called in men of experience in organisation, men of experience in business, to assist in the business propositions, than this country has done during the war. Making Use of Business Men. I I Now we have appointed a committee to inquire why we have taken the National Register and what we are to do with it now we ,have taken it, but I have not been made aware, and I have not seen any statement, that a single man who has knowledge of organisation of industry has been asked to serve on this committee. This country is richer in men of great experience and organising abilities, than any country in the world. We have men at the head of enormous concerns which ithey have built up, who have been used to dealing with labour troubles all their lives, men who have spanned oceans, built railways across vast deserts, and who have handled great problems; yet these men are not called in to do any or-! ganisation work whtn the country requires vast organising ability. Is it not high time that we make use, as the Germans have made use. of men who know, a-nd not men I who have to be taught their business? When the Germans wanted to buy chemi- cals for the army, they did not appoint a committee to inquire into the matter and i advise them, but they appointed six men, the heads of great chemical worVs in Ger- I many, the ablest men they QOuld get, and they Baid to them, You are responsible for the chemical purchases we want. You are responsible for them and for the supply of them." They adopted the same methods in re- gard to steel and other things. I can understand why they are not short of munitions. They appealed to the man who knew, to the men who were best able to do these things, and having got them they left them fo4do the work t&at Was necessary. We should do the same thing here. There is not a man who would not give his time, his money, and his heart's Iblood, but the one thing they complain of is that they have not been asked to do it. Mr. Llewelvn Williams: Whose fault i? that ? An Hon. Member: It is the Govern- ment's. A Mechanical War. Sir A. Mond: I would not like to say j whose fault it is, but in view of the j Prime Minister's statement as to the im- portance of organisation, and that it is a mechanical war, I do ask why insuf- ficient use is being made in the four- teenth month of the war of the genius we possess in this country? We have been asked for unity. The Prime Minis- I ter made a plea for unity. For fourteen months we have scarcely asked a ques tion or offered a word. We would all much sooner say nothing, and leave the responsibiliy of waging this war to the Government of the day. It would be easier for us, and would leave us with leso trouble and responsibility, and it would be a more convenient and happy state of things. Hut what have we seen during fourteen months? Occasion after occasion we have seen when things which ought to have been foreseen have not been foreseen by the Government. Take the case of munitions. After fourteen months wq are doing things which might easily have been done eight months earlier. Then there is cotton contraband, alien registration, and the American exchange. There is not one of these things that had not been j foreseen for months before action was taken. The American exchange was common talk last March. When you get) to a position in which your exchange is j disarranged, you begin to deal with it, I instead of taking action earlier in order to avert it. Are we to be told next year to keep silence and say nothing? Are we to be told next year we cannot make the advance we ought to have nvulc, and that the country is to be quiet for an ther twelve months. It is intolerable, ami we cannot do it. ( Victory More Than Unity. It is our boundqn duty to the country, to our constituencies, to our flesh ana blood, to say what we think openly and boldly in this House. It is no use having a unity of silence. Victory is more than unity. Let the Government convince us that nohing will stand in their way. Let them convince ua that no precon- ceived ideas will stand in the way. Let them convince us that they will govern the country, and we shall only be too glad not to have to utter another word on this or any other subject connected with the war.

I BRITONFERRY CLASSES. Certificates Distributed to Evening Students. The distribution. ot certificates to the successful candidates at the Britonferry evening classes of last session took place at the Neath-road Council School on Monday evening. Mr. David Davies presided, and gave an encouraging address to the students pre- sent. He congratulated both teachers and students on the great success they had attained, as out of the large number who had sat for examinations there were only nine failures, and in the examination for shorthand every shident was successful. lie was pleased to find that so many young men and women who had been members of their ambulance *ind nursing classes had given their services to their country to succour the wounded. He reported that the county authorities had given instructions that the classes for the coming session had to be abandoned, but he was glad to find that the teachers of the several classes were arranging to continue the classes on their own account, and he sincerely hoped the students would rally around their teachers. He would like to add a word of praise for the good work carried on by Mr. Fred Thomas (organising secretary of the classes) who had for so many years done so much to make them such a success. (Cheers.) Mr. Davies afterwards presented the certificates to the successful students. During the evening, solos were rendered by Messrs. William Jones, D. L. Jones, and some amusing impersonations by Mr. W. S. Bevan, the accompanist for the evening being Miss Hold way. The successful students were: Book-keeping.—Stage III., 2nd Class, Hubert James; 3rd Class, Sidney CoI?iII. Stage II., 3rd Class, Brinley Richards, E. H. Rees, Hu?rt Jones, Frank Morris. Stage I., 1st Class, Ivor Morris, GJyn  Thomas: 2nd Class, Joseph G. Davies, W. Harold Phillips, Leslie Harry, W. J. Morris, Sidney Jones, Ivor C. Llewellyn. Mabel Sallis; 3rd Class, Cyril Thomas, Brynmor Morgan, Frank Pope, Brynmor Thomas, Blodwen Abraham, Rhondda Evans. Sborth,ind.-104,1 words per minufe: 1st Clarss, Cyril Thomas; 2nd Class, Brinley J. Richards. Advanced Stage: 1st Class, Ivor C. Llewellyn, Harry Davies, Ivor (L Thomas, Brynmor C. Thomas, George Jarrett, Frank Pope; 2nd Class. Sidney Jones. Elementary Stage: 1st. Class, W. Fred Morgan: 2nd Class, Ivor Morris, Samuel Duffield, Harold Phillips, H. Ann- strong. Minnie Harrison, Blodwen Abra- ham: 3rd Class, Brynmor Morgan. Welsh.—First Stage: 1st Class. Mary Bromli'i-m-, 2nd Class, Gwen Williams; 3rd Class, Walter W. James, Florence Jones. Art Needlework: Miss M. Williams and Miss G. Burch passed the South Kensing- I ton examination with honours, while M'ss B. Norvick, in addition to passing the above, was awarde d a special prize. In the ambulance examination, all the 16 students presented were successful.

CLAY PIGEON SHOOTING. A clay pigeon shooting match for Mr. C. Cooper's cup and the championship of Wales took place at Pontiliw. it turned out one of the most exciting ever held in Wales. After shooting till dark there were six left with ties, and it was decided to shoot off on Saturday, September 25th, when a £ 5 sweep will be got up. The fol- lowing gentlemen were left for the cham- pionship :— Mansel Davies (Narberth). one claim; Ben Davies (Caerau), one claim; M. C. Chesterfield (Glyn-Neaifch), Thos. Knibbs (BargoeZ), H. Knibbs (Bargoed), and Bob Grey (Pontlliw). Those who are out of the competition are: J. Morgan (Seven Sisters), one claim; W. Williams (Pontlliw). Idris Jones (Dunvant), H. Isaac (Dunvant), Tom Williams (Dunvant) and J. Davies (Swansea). The proceeds of the next match will be handed over to the Wounded Soldiers* Fund.

KIDWELLY BOY WOUNDED. News is to hand that Private Charles Gibbard, son -of Mr. and Mrs. Gibhard, of Water-street, Kidwelly, was Avounded in the left leg in France on Wednesday. He Jl, -W,* SIL, d is in the 9th Jiel5h,

SKEWEN MEDALIST. I [ HIGH AWARDS TO SEVERAL I EVENING CLASSES. On Monday evening, at the Coedffranc School, Skewen, Councillor Ben Davies presided over a public meeting in connection with the evening classes. The Chairman referred with pride to the fine record of the local classes in the past session, in spite of the exceptional diffi- culties due to the war. Mr. J. E. Evans, organising teacher, presented his report, showing that 26i students had attended the classes, the number including 104 course students. There were some unique successes, two of the students having won the gold medals for the county in mining and mine surveying respectively, and in the City and Guilds of London Institute examination the silver medal and S3 prize (highest in England and Wales) had been secured by one of the students. The Rev. J. Evans Jones, Mr. Wm. Davit's, Mr. David Richards, M.E., mining lecturer, and Dr. D. Samuel also addressed the meeting, all urging still greater efforts. A vote of sympathy was passed with Mr. John James, one of the gold merallists, in his severe illness. Advanced Mining Classes. I Two important resolutions were adopted the first in support of the petition of 13 young men to the County Council asking that advanced classes in mining bo estah. lished at the Skewen centre, and the second asking the County Council to re- consider tli. ecIA-isioii to discontinue so many of the usual classes. The certifi- cates. etc., were presented to the students by Mrs. (Dr.) Samuel, who was cordially thanked, on the motion of Mr. J. G. Rosser. The following is tho list of suc- cesses (the home nursing and first aid results have already appeared):- Coal Mining.—Board of Education, Lower Examination Philip Davies, Ivor LI. Evans, Lewis W. Jones. Minilkg.-Coiiiiv, Council Examination: 1st stage. Class 2, Thos. E. Davies, Danl. J. Davies; Class 3, John R. Rees; 2nd stage, Class 2, Arthur Jones, Lewis Jones; Class 3, Jenkin Davies; 4th stage, Class 1, David James. Hy. Griffiths, *John James; CIas 2, Phillip Davies. Gold medallist. Mine Surveying.—1st s tage. Class 1, Philip Davies, jTbos. E. Davies, Lewis J. Williams, Jenkin Davies, Ivor L. Evans; Class 2, Daniel J. Davips, Arthur Jones, Fred Curtis, Thps. Evans, Lewis Jones; 2nd stage, Class 1, *Ba.vid James, Henry Griffiths. Gold medallist. "t at-ii engineering.—1st stage, class 2. John E. Clement. Shorthand.—1st sbge, cla-ss 2, Wynd- lism Rees; clas, 3. Charles Urwin. 2nd stage, class 2, Ernest G. McNeil, Oswald S. Hanford; class 3. Idwal Daniels. 3rd stage, class 2, Charles H. Poley (80 per mir-ute). Applied inec-hallics.-let stage, class 2, A Leigh. Electricity and m-ijactism.—let stage, class 3, J. E. Clement. Piactical mathematics.—1st stage, class 1. A. Leigh; cla&s 3, Lewis W. Jones, Philip Davies. Thos. L. Joshua. 2nd stage, class 1, J. E. Clement; class 3, Jenkin Davies, W. O. Bowen. .;t. 6tage, class 2,, Machine drawing.—1st stage, class 2, David James; 3rd stage, class 2, Arthur Leigh. Book-keeping.—1st stage, class 3, Haydn Evans, D. J. Daviets. Fred Richards, Wyndham Rees. 2nd stage, clas& 1, Lewis Davies; olass 2. Evan R. Davies, Charles H. Poley, Percival Poley; class 3. Alfred J. Wilcox'. 3rd stage, class 2, Ivor G. Lewis. City and Guilds Examination—Mine Surveying.—Grade I., pa-ss, Wm. Rees, Hv. Griffiths, By. Clement. Ben. Thomas, Jas. Morgan; Grade II., Class I., David .Tas. Afor,,an; Grade 11., Class I., David City and Guilds Examination—Occur- rence, raising and dressing of ores.— Grade I., Class I., David James. Final, Class I-. John James.* ♦Silver medal and S3 prize. It was announced that for the coming season, the c lasses have been confined to nine:—Practical Mathematics I., Practi- cal Plane and Machine Drawing, Applied Mechanics, Mechanics and Heat Engines, Mining and Geology (elementary), Min- ing Drawing (elementary), Ambulance and Home Nursing.

RAILWAY WORKER'S DEATH AT j NEATH. At Melvncrythan, Neath" on Tuesday, Mr. Edward Powell conducted an inquest on the body of Arthur Morgan Davies, II age<l 44, of Coronation-road. Noatli, who died the previous day whilst following his employment as a carpenter at the G.W.R. sheds, Penrhiwtwyn. I The widow said deceased had never complained of illness. Arthur Harrison, fitter's mate at the sheds, said deceased fetched a chain and connecting screw from another part of the sheds, and on returning, remarked to witness. That chain is heavy enough for three men." Davies then fell for- ward, and expired almost immediately. Dr. D. Ll. Davies said he could not state the cause of death without a post mortem examination. The Coroner ordered an adjournment for this purpose.

ABEBAVON BRONZE MEDALIST. ABERAVON BRON ZE MEDALIST. Congratul.ationse to Miss Blodwen Wil-\ Hams., Taibach. on her winning the bronze medal presented by the J?ondon College of Music for pianoforte playing (advanced intermediate spction) at the April exami- nation held at Swansea. A very able and intelligent player, she was highly praised by the examiner on her brilliant playing. We shall look forward to see further suc- cesses, and also to n brilliant future. She is a pupil of ilr. R.. Griffiths, organist, Pontrhydyfen.

NOVEL RECRUITING CA'MPAIGN.  Capt-a? Somerville, the popular recnut- ing oSicer at Neath, has taken advantage of the Fair field by having a novel re- 1,I.I-Iil.?n?, office made out of one of Mr. Harry Studt's wagons. Posters are well ) displayed, the most conspicuous being the invitation Come inside and join the Army. The cheapest show in the Fair. II Admission free. God Save the King." Captain Somerville has reason to be proud of Thursday's response.

I WOUNDED CWMGORSE MAN. Official intimation has been received by his parents at 28, Church-street, Cwm- gorse, that Private Sam Evans, of the l/3rd Welsh R.A.M.C., has been severely wounded in the Dardanelles.' Prior to enlisting, Private Evans worked as 9, collier at the Gwaun-cae-Gurwen Colliery. He is 21 years of age.

I NEATH MAN DIES ÕF-WOUNDS. I Official intimation has been received of the death from wounds, received some- where in France, of Private William < Davies, 8th Wlsh. His mother resides at 61, Unioia-r<wl, Neath,

NEXT OF KIN. AUSTRALIANS' RELATIVES WHO CANNOT BE TRACED. Many of our readerc arc doubtless not I aware of the very large accumulation of monies which are now lying dormant and unclaimed in the various Government departments of our dominions. It is estimated that there are many thousands of pounds emanating from Australia alone, and Ave propose during ¡ the next few weeks to publish a portion of a list of unclaimed balances to which claimants have been unsuccessfully sought for in Australia and which have not yet been discovered in this country. Readers who may consider they are justly entitled to enter claims against these monies should write to the editor 0; this paper, marking their envelope, Unclaimed monies," or write direct to Lloyd's Inquiry, 55-6 Chancery-lane, London, W.C., who have established offices in Australia and who ke^p records of the particulars relating to same. A stamped envelope should be sent for reply. The following is the weekly list:— Henry Aifiridge, William Alton, Thomas Bennett, Jam-ea Bevett, Alexander Bissett, John Carter, Augustas Carroll, Margaret Chapman, Henry K. Davis, Cornelius Gal- lather, John Ga.y, Joseph Hamilton, John Hart, James Kennedy, William Lawson, William Martin, .Nicholas Morris, Thomas Roach.

————————————— CHARGES OF TRICKS AT POSI j OFFICES. I Mary Jane Anderson, of St. Helen's- avenue, Swansea, was charged at Aber- avon on Monday with stealing .£1 by means of a trick from Evelyn Bevan, an employe at Port Talbot Post Office, on July 31st. last. Superintendent Ben Evans prosecuted for the police, and Mr. L. M. Thomas defended. Prosecutrix aid she was doing counter duty when prisoner came in and asked for change of t-tl, which was refused. Prisoner then asked for a 10s. postal order, and tendered £ 1 and 2s. stating, Take the commission for the postal order out of the 2s., and give me 10s. in small change with the postal order." Witness did so, ond picked up the two-shilling piece and asked prisoner for the JSJ, but prisoner insisted that she had handed over the .£1 note with the two-shilling piece, and p, ( that Avitness had picked it up. She then gave prisoner Is. lid. ch?ng° out of 2s., Iwliedng that she had picked up the £ 1. Later, when she checked the oash, witness found that it was 20s. short. Two Other Charges. Prisoner was further charged with stealing YI by means of a trick from the sub-postmistress of Neath Abbey, on July 14. Amy Gertrude Thomas (sub-postmis- tress) said prisoner asked for a Is. 6d. postal order, for which she tendered 2s. She then asked for change of a sovereign, and was given two 10s. notes. When asked for the sovereign prisoner replied: I have given it to you. Look again." Prisoner left the office and witness im- mediately found she was a sovereign short. She then followed defendant, and overtook her at the Collier? Arms, SkeAA-en, half a mile awgy. She ex- plained to prisoner her loss, and prisoner took a sovereign from her pocket and gave it to her. Prisoner was further charged with stealing by means of a trick, £1 from the Melincrythan sub-post oiffce, Neath. Catherine Dayif, daughter of Herbert Davies, sub-postmaster, and boot and shoe dealer, said prisoner asked for a penny tin of boot polish and then for two ten- shilling Treasury notes, and whilst wit- ness was serving another customer prisoner walked out. Witness ran after her, and prisoner said, I left a Sl note 0'1 th8 counter. I will come back." Prisoner returned with witness to the shop, and after searching the counter prisoner held up a £ 1 note, which was folded up small, and gave it to witness. The defence was an alibL. and prisoner stated that on July 31st she left Swanse-d.1 by the 3.35 p.m. train and went to Llan- dilo, travelling in the S6me oompartmem a? a Llandilo solicitor. She denied being in Port Talbot on the date in question. Prisoner was committed to the A6Sizes. bail being allowed, herself in E30 and two siueties of £ 15.

:=.=.=- MID-GLAMORGAN CORONER. Death of Mr. Howel Cuthbertson. We" regret to record the death, at mid- day on Tuesday, at his residence near Neath, of Mr. Howel Cuthbertson, the venerable coroner for the Mid-Glamorgan district, whose retirement was announced last month. Over 80 years of age, Mr. Cuthbertson was coroner for over fifty years, and his father held the office before him for a number of years. Jurymen's Tributes. A touching tribute to the life and character of Mr. Howel Cuthbertson, who held the coronership of Mid-Glam- organ for over half a century, was made at a Melyncrythan inquest on Tuesday by the forman of the jury. In moving a Arote of condolence with the bereaved relatives, he said he had been associated with the venerable coroner for many years. He had always found him very courteous and patient, sympathetic, and always punctual. Other jurymen referred in feeling terms to the deceased gentleman, and the vote was carried in silence.

CHARGE AGAINST A SOLDIER'S I WIFE. At a special sitting of the Abarayon County Polioe Court on Wednesday—before Mr. Charles Jones-Jane Ann Jones, 185, TrealoAv-road, Trealow, was charged on a warrant with stealing 25s. by means of a, trick from the Soldiers' and Sailors' Family Association, Cymmer. Prisoner, a middle- aged woman, is the wife of a soldier, and it was alleged that she told the secretary of the association that her mother was lying ciead at Nantyffylon, which proved to be untrue P.C. Thomas (Cymmer) deposed to receiv- ing prisoner into custody. When charged, she replied. I had the money. I got Jato bad company." Prisoner was remanded on bail until j Monday.

MUSICAL SUCCESSES AT PONT- I RHYDYFEN. At the recent Examination held at Swan- sea. under the auspices of the London College of Music, the following candidates passed in pianoforte plaving:Madge Ilrice, elementary, 1st clas:s; Henry W. Davies, intermediate, 1st class; Maggie Howells, advanced intermediate, J st class; Albert J. John, intermediate, pass; George John, intermediate, pass; May Williams. primary, pass; D. Vatkin Jones, elemen- tary (organ), pass: Ben Price, elementary (.Organ), P-s. The abova are pupils of Mr. R. GciSths, organist, Pontrhyd?cn.

CORRESPONDENCE. iDUKt OF NORFOLKS NATlONALJ COMMITTEE FOR RELIEF IN BELGIUM. To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD." Sir,—I have much pleasure in acknow- ledging the following subscriptions to the above fund:Sir Stafford Howard, U 2s.; Girl Guides, Ystalyfera, per Mrs. J. E. Williams, Wern House, IC13 10s.; Mem- bers Henllan Congregational Church, pep Mr. John Sc-ourfield, BlaenAvernddu, Whitlend, £16 .s. 6d.; Members Cana Congregational Church, per Mr J. Davies, Coedcae, Eankvfelin, near Carmarthen, 1-5 17s. 6d. Two contributions of Y,25 each Lave already been sent to the hon. trea- surer of the fund—J. W. GAvynne-Hughes, Lord-Lieutenant County Carmarthen, Tre- geyb, Llandilo, HIGHER GRADE OLD BOYS. lo THE Editor of THE "HERALD." Sir,—To thousands of "Old Boys of the Higher Grade School (now Municipal Secondary) the news conveyed in your columns last week of the decease of Mr. Samuel Roberts, B.A. (Lond.), must have come as a personal loss, for although it is some fiye years since Mr. Roberts was compelled to relinquish his post as Head Master of the School, all who went through his hands will always retain .the memory of his conscientious and pains- raking attention to their well-being dur- ing their schooldays. Last Monday (the 13th inst.), was the first opportuinty the Staff of the Muni- cipal Secondary Boys' School (most of whom served under Mr. Roberts—many of them being themselves "Old Boys") —had of acting in concert in this matter, and it has been decided, with the per- mission of the Authorities, to proceed forthwith in the question of a Mural Tablet to be placed on the school pre- mises as a permanent record of Mr. Roberts's great devotion to the cause of Secondary Education in Swansea. For this purpose a fund had already been started amongst the staff, and this letter is an appeal to all H Old Boys and masters who at any time were under Mr. Roberts, to co-operate in this matter. In these days of many calls .on one's purse it would be unfair to ask for large subscriptions, which in fact would be unnecessary if all to whom this appeal is made would immediately make a small contribution to the fund. We trust that you will be able to give this appeal a prominent place in your columns, and feel sure that if you do so, the desired re- sult will be quickly achieved. Contributions may be handed to any of the. present staff of the School, or sent direct to the undersigned at the School. or 39, Windsor-terrace.—We are, yours, ph. The Staff p.p. John Mendus, acting secretary for the fund. Municipal Secondary Boys* School, Dynevor-place.

-I" NEATH GUARDIANS' CLERK. Appointment of Mr. Edward Powell. By an unanimous vote Mr. Edward Powell was on Wednesday appointed Clerk to the Neath Board of Guardians in succession to the late Mr. Howel Cuthbertson. in llloying the appointment the Chair- man (Mr. E. J. Hopkins) said the Board had had the pleasure of Mr. Powell's as- sistance for many years, and his ability was well known to them all. Mr. John Thomas seconded. He felt sure that Mr. Powell would fill the posi- tion with the same dignity and efficiency as his predecessor. Miss Curtis, Messrs. H. P. Charles and others supported. Returning thanks, Mr. Powell said he had received universal kindness from every member of the Board during the 40 years he had been connected with it.,

NEATH MAN DIES IN SOUTH AFRICA. The death of Mr. Fred C. Thomas, thefe youngest son of the late Mr. David Thomas, stationmaster, Neath, has taken place at Boksburg, Transvaal. The deceased was the chief draughts- man on the East Rand Gold Mines, Trans- vaal, and prior to his leaving for South Africa held a similar position at the Admiralty Works, Colchester. Mr. Thomas leaves a widow and two daughters, for whom much sympathy i/f:< felt, also for the brothers and sisters

The death has taken place at Beach- ville," Eichardson-street, Swansea, of M'f. Jane John, in her 75th year. Mrs. John was well known in the town, and was the mother of 11 r. Edgar John, of the Welsli Rugby Union, and manager of the Swansea* Labour Exchange.

2IRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS. MARRIACES. DAVIES—JOHN—On September 9th, at Caraiel Congregational Church, Clydaeh, by the Rev. W. Griffiths, Newquay, Gwilym, elder son of the late Mr. James Davies and Mrs. Davies, St. John's-road, Olydach, to Gwenllian Olwen, youngeat daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. John, Bryn- derw, Clydaeh. JO-NE,S-EVA-NS.On Saturday, September 1.1th, at Maesyrhaf Cbapel, Neath, Miiid M. J. (Polly) Evans, of Jersey-road, Cwm- avon, to Mr. John E. Jones (of Brynam. mani. The Rev. 1). Marlais Davies, B.A., (Cwmavon) officiated. PEACOCK-AUSTIN.-On .the 8th inat., at Mount Pleasant Chapel, by the Rev. H. 0. Alander, assisted by the Rev. James Owen. (late pastor), George William, youngest, son of Mr. and grE. Alfred Peacock, 14, Milton Park, Redfield, Bristol, to Lena, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Aus- tin, Hollybush House, St. Helen's-road. Swansea. DEATHS. COLQUHOUN.— On Friday, September ILtit suddenly, at Woodbury Villas, Swansea. Second-Lieutenant Ivor Kenneth Colqa. houn, son of Mr. and Mrs. John P. Colqunoun. aged 22. EVANS,—On September 12th, at Glenwood. Sunnybridge, Eddie, third son of Edward and Elizabeth Evans, Brynamlwg, Gower- ton, late Aberdulais.. Age 23. JOHNS.—At Beachville," Eic-hardson- street, Swansea, Jane Johne. in her 75th year. MORGAN.—On Monday, September Sthu Emrys Morgan, aged 10 years, son f" George and Elizabeth Morgan. RICKAiti).-On the 7st inst., at 35, Jerft street, Hafod, Edwin James Rickard, his, 19th year. Youngest eon of J. li. Rickard, Swansea. BliYS.—Ou Monday, Sept. 6th, John CastelU Evans, aged 13 years, son of Rev. W. Cae. nodyn and Jessie M. Rhys. WALTERS.—On September 8.b, at the Private Institute, St. Helen's-road, Eliza.. toeth Waltere, Fruiterer, College-street. Swansea. Printed and Published for the Swansea Press, Limited, by ARTHUR PARNELIi HIGHAM, at Lder Buildings, SWDHf6

Lt. and T. BULIL-liv, 1 HEATHFIELD MEWS, I SWANSEA. MOTORS AND CABS ALWAYS READY. Telephone Number, 65. Telegraphic Address: Bullin, Swansea.