Abergavenny Chronicle

LOCAL FOOD CONTROL. FEDERATION OF LABOUR AND THE TOWN COUNCIL. ADOPTION OF RATIONING SCHEME URGED. A special meeting ot the ADergavenn\ xown Council was held on Monday night for the purpose of receiving a delegation from the newly-formed federation of organised labour in the town, who were seeking representation on the local Food Control Committee on the ground that they were dissatisfied with the present system of control and distribution with regard to the essential articles of food. The Mayor j (Alderman Z. Wheatley, J.P.) presided, and the members of the Council present were Councillors XV. J. Tone, P. Telford. T. A. Delafield, F. Sadler, Alfred Graham, W. Horsmgton, J. R. Beck with, W. J. Meale, and H. A. Palmer. There were six delegates—Mr. W. Rosser (chair- man of the federation), representing the National Union of Teachers; Mr. J. Stark (secretary), representing the Printers and Kindred Trades Association Mr. Thurtle, representing the Rail- way Clerks' Association Mr. E. Pearce, repre- senting the Railway Shops Union Mr. S. Owers, -represeiltiii- the National Union of Railwaymen and Mr. C. W. Matthews, representing the Co- operative Society. I Committee's Resentment. Before the delegation were admitted, the Council discussed the mode of procedure. The Mayor explained that Lord Rhondda had no objection to food control committees being in- creased bv three members if it was desirable. Councillor Delafield Who are the representa- tives of labour on the Food Control Committee ? The Mayor Councillor Palmer is the direct representative of labour. We elected him out- side the Council. Councillor Palmer said that the regulations laid down that there must be at least one direct representative of labour, and, as the Mayor had said, he was elected as the representative of labour. It might seem strange to them that he knew absolutely nothing about this delegation Until he saw the report of the meeting in the Chronicle." The Town Clerk read the correspond, ence he had had with Mr. John Stark, the secretary, who in the course of one letter said that they were quite aware that in some measure labour was represented on the committee at the present time, but thev felt that the best interests of the Workers of Abergavenny would be served if they were allowed to elect labour representatives directly. The Town Clerk said he replied that there was no vacancy on the committee, as the tnaximuin number of members was 12, though Lord Rhondda had stated in a speech to com- mittees of London and the home counties that three more members could be elected. Later, Stir. Stark wrote asking that in view of the extreme urgency of the matter a special meeting of the Town Council should be called to deal Nvith it. Councillor Tong asked the Town Clerk for a list of the members of the Food Control Com- mittee, with their attendances. The Town Clerk read these out as follows, the Possible attendance being 13 :—The Mayor, 12 Councillor Telford, 9 Councillor Horsington 12; Councillor Sadler, io Councillor Graham, I > Councillor Tong, 12; Councillor Palmer, 6 Councillor Beckwith, 8 Councillor Plowman, II Councillor Mansfield, 10 Mrs. Pavord, 13 11rs. Edwin Foster, i (out of a possible 7). The Mavor said that Mrs. Foster had been ill. Councillor Tong said that he thought it was a Very respectable record of attendances. On the occasion he missed he received his notice half an hour after the meeting was held. Some discussion took place as to how the deputation should be received, and the point was raised as to whether the Councillors should put questions to the delegates. It was decided t 1at thev 'h 11 h d that they should hand their questions in writing to the Mayor, who should put them to the deputation. Councillor Tong said that, according to the newspaper report of the meeting the delegates had complained of the system of food control Wally, or the lack of system, and they thereby Implied that the committee had not done their duty. He was there to defend the committee and to say that they had done their duty, and done it well, and the officials had certainly done their duty well. Councillor Horsington said that he had the' Sanie point in his own mind. The publication 'r)f the report referred to was very detrimental to them as a committee, because it inferred ha either thev were incapable of doing their duty DT that thev had not done their duty, and he resented that suggestion strongly, especially as ? had gone forward to the public without their having a chance of replying, neither had they ad the chance of explaining the good work ?hieh the committee had done. \>1 Councillor Palmer We had better wait until e have heard the speeches. p Councillor Meale I think so, too. You are Patting your own. back. Councillor Graham said they should ask the delegates whether the intention was to criticise the committee or to strengthen their hands. Councillor Palmer We might go further and I); whether they are actuated by honest motives r ulterior motives. 1 A Desire to Help. r ?he deputation were then invited into the ???' and Mr. Rosser, as the spokesman of the b.is egates, addressed the Council. He expressed histhanks to the Mayor for the promptitude Vvi, '1 Xvhich he had called the Council together c) t e4r what they had to say. They were there nJot ? individuals, but in a representative S PCIty. They represented the Amalgamated ? Engineers and Firemen, 127 members t e Asylum Workers' Union, 65 members the ??amated Society of Lithographic Printers, 6 menxbers the Bakers' Union, 20 members .Co-operative Society, 320 members the  Union of Railwaymen, 500 members th e Peters and Kindred Trades Association, 80 'llenibers the Steam Engine Iakers: 35 mem ?? ??? Railway Shops Union, 6 members t? Railway Clerks' Association, 60 members Ra i liva, Clerks ?kssoccia tion, 6o members ? rational Union of Teachers, 30 members; he yP»^aphical Association, 6 members- together a total of 1,255 workers, and with t'?ir families and those who were closely akin to t ?ir he respectfully submitted that' they ?Presented the vast majority of the towns- People ?,? delegates Irom those respective pieties felt t incumbent on them at their mcct- 1119 last week to ask for direct representation on  ?ood Control Committee. They respectfully mitted that new conditions and new circnm- P"tarices were arising not only daily, but hourly, ^ud^ ??? very necessary in the best interests ?f H ? to?-n to maintain a very close touch with t?? ? ? them who were representing such a Iar malority of the burgesses. It might be said U Council were their TCPTeSeitatives and tTi Council were their representatives au(I th a/hey had their interests and welfare at ileart. ?", ley did not come there to speak dis- dIres pectfully of their work or of what had been done. I hey ?re there with a desire to help — (J?ar ??'?'and a desire to strengthen the Comm?? by co-operation. He trusted that thev a" a Council, would not in any way feel ? hurt or ??? their ?acks up, or think that they h?d ?"? there to find fault. They were there to i \\lat they could to help to maintain ??ari"?X ? carrying on from dav to day in the '?rY senous crisis in the nation's history. Of '??lirse Ule exigencies of the war had made it ? ?ry dim"cu? lt to say how they stood so far as local ■K" even national Government was concerned. ? ?Presentation was a little bit out of date. As jesses, he suggested that they had not had "11 (" P ¡ f ). portunlty since November, 1913, of ex- ?ssing their approval or disapproval of the illetlibers who represented them. It might be c that labour—and every man who worked f0r U,ls daily bread was a labour man—was alre ?P?sented on the Food Control Com- hiitt He granted that there was something t to??? ? §rantecl that there was something tobf & J ^°r ^-hat, but the labour represel1tatjo )n the ????ittee at the present time was not dirq,-tl ?' to a*nv federation of workers. ?h?y ? TIJ,Y a ^deration asked for additional repre- SentatiOQ011 the cominitte?, so that whoever titeyjjQ ????d to act on their behalf must keep ?u close t their wisheCh Wllh their executive and TC p crt the diniCtn?? ??? ?"' executive  report their ?-ist'? as they arose, and might know ?ere behi? ? ? Sreat many of the things which ^ere b^^iiu!rr Ju the countiy to-d?y were due t Igiloraiiceill ti,e C(,t,y to-(],,y Nv?-e due asked to be taken into the ?<? ? the commiu-v, -nd he assured t?m r^aSon:i'l",le ?- -?? ?'' L ,t they would ?ten.l? ???r sympi.ihy and th.ir help ^hey U1 ???e soin?.-? inical diHiculties >§aiiist them additional representation. 1 M>rrl RT» ho!ldda said on ..i. ,t the com- ??t?? es wuich had not giv?, more than the iJiii'inm.m amount of r ,pres ¡L.tiun of labour ? of women might in r s 'h?r number by t'L tree "?? members. T j movement for MCrl'!t'onal labour representation was going on ?" only in Abergavenny, but m hundreds of tt ? pieces, and -i? ? .L additional representation would be of material assistance in helping the committee to ensure smooth working. He did not propose to say in what respects they thought the local food committee might have been managed better. That was not the spirit in which they had come there, and lie hoped that gentlemen would not encroach upon that point. Though they might be pre- pared to enter into a discussion, he did not think it was advisable. If the Council acceded to their request, he was confident that it would result in increased energy and determination to overcome the great difficulties with which the committee were faced. I Rationing Wanted. Mr. Ihurtle said he would like to add a snort plea for additional representation. He would emphasise the point that they came as direct representatives of labour organisations, and they came with a direct commission from the various trades unions. They would have to go back to report to their unions, and they would come back again with fresh commissions if they granted them additional representation. I Mr. John Stark said that they felt that those proceedings should take the "lines of a con- ference, and if that was so they would have more to say than what had already been said. Mayor The Council are prepared to hear anything you have to say now. Now is the time to hear any grievances you care to lay before the Council. Mr. Rosser Criticism of the Food Control Committee would not be in the. interests of the committee at the present time. We are here to answer anv questions that you care to put to us. Mr. S. Owers said he would like the Council to understand that their express purpose was absolute rationing, in order to bring them all down to one bed-rock basis. That was the real object of their coming there that evening. They desired a fair distribution of all that came into the town, and he agreed with the chairman that it was not opportune to go into details. Mr. Matthews said that what they were seeing in the town of Abergavenny at the present time was not very nice. They had been forced by their organisations to get together and fyrm a committee with a view to getting direct repre- sentation on the Food Control Committee. If they got additional representation they would be able to bring forward what they thought was necessary in the interests of the borough and to stop some of the things which were going on in the town. The committee might have done good work, and they would perhaps be able to give them some facts to how that they had done so. He represented" the Co-operative Society, which appealed for representation 011 the com- mittee when it was formed, and they were only ¡ asking ior what was their right, according to the I circular issued by Lord Rhondda. They got a reply that they could not have a representative because no other tradesman was elected on the committee. The Co-operative Society was a labour organisation controlled by the people, and the fact that they were not given represen- tation on the committee showed a certain amount of hostile spirit to labour. The Mayor said that as far as the Council were concerned they had been tied in the matter of representation on the Food Control Committee. The scheme of Lord Rhondda stated that there should be 12 members, one of whom should be a direct representative of labour and one a woman. The only two tradesmen on the committee were not directly interested in a pecuniary way in the food question—Councillor Sadler and himself. They thought that the Council was fully repre- sentative of Abergavenny and its interests, and they saw that labour was more than representa- tive, as far as its members on the Town Council were concerned. They felt that they should appoint someone directly representative of la bour organisations in Abergavenny. There was no federation of labour in existence at Aber- gavenny at that time, and they felt that they should take the biggest labour society in the town, and that was the railway interest. The figures given by Mr., Rosser showed that the railway interest comprised 5°0 members, or about half of those represented by that delega- tion that night. Therefore he did not think the Council were wrong in their judgment in selecting a representative of the railway interest as a member of the committee. He might say that they met the grocers a few days ago, and they made an appeal for one of their representatives to be elected 011 the committee. They felt that they could not do that, and so they suggested to the grocers that they should form a committee of their own and act in an advisory capacity, so that they could give their ideas first hand to the committee. They also suggested the same thing to the butchers and the bakers. What the Committee Have Done. Abergavenny had not been heftnia m waxenmg the interests of the consumer anti the public. He ventured to say that they were quite as up-to- date as any town in the kingdom, and he would point out that there had been no queues in A ber- gavenny up to the present moment. If they would carry their minds back they would re- member that some months ago when the price of bread was soaring up they met the bakers to see if, in the interests of the working people, they could get them to reduce the price of bread. The bakers decided that they would reduce the price of the 41b. loaf by id., and that was before Lord Rhondda's scheme came into existence. Then, again, the question of the price of milk arose, and he thought the Food Control Com- mittee were to be congratulated on the way they .had managed this matter. They got the milk vendors to sell the milk at od. per quart up to the end of March, or longer if they wished it. He did not think that there was any town like Abergavennv placed in the same position. They knew the difficulties in Cardiff, Newport, Swan- sea, and other towns. If they were situated in an entirely rural area, away from the industrial districts, they might possibly have got milk cheaper, but, considering that they were adjoin- ing an industrial area, he thought that Aber- gavenny had done remarkably well to secure milk at 6d. per quart. They also met the butchers, and lie thought the butchers' price list, taking it upon the whole, would compare favourably with any agricultural town, such as Gloucester and Hereford. The public (lid not know what they were doing. Lord Rhondda had himself issued a circular to the effect that the meetings of the food control committees were not to be open to the Press, because of the co- troversial questions which might arise con- tinually, and it was not to the advantage of traders generally or the public that details of different businesses should be made public. They had decided that they would give a resume of their work to the Press so that the public should know from time to time what they were doing. One of the speakers had mentioned rationing. He could assure them that the com- mittee were anxious themselves to see a ration- ing scheme in force, and they were waiting for the time to come when everybody would be rationed, because they knew the difficulties at the present time. In fact, a scheme was on foot for a voluntary rationing scheme on the basis of the sugar cards. Abergavehny would be de- lighted to put any rationing scheme in force, because it would prevent people from outlying districts coming into the town and getting food which, rightly or wrongly, they said belonged to Abergavenny. There were two or three ways in which they must look at this food question, however, They wanted everybody to have their share. The committee were strongly opposed to outsiders coming in and taking away food, unless Abergavenny had sufficient. They did not, however, want to prevent outsiders coming in. Abergavenny was supposed to have a population of 8,500, and it might interest them I to know that there were no less than 1 7 ,000 sugar cards in Abergavenny, so they would see that they could not restrict themselves to Aber- gavenny alone. There had been no difficulty with regard to sugar locally since it was rationed and the 1 7 ,000 sugar cards were met week by week, and if the rationing scheme was brought into operation the people would be dealt with in the same way. He did not know what was being said in Abergavenny which was ddriment21 to the committee, but they would like to have any complaints laid before them. The com- mittee were determined to thrash out every complaint which was brought before them, to investigate it thoroughly, and to take pro- ceedings, as far as they could, to bring the one who had done wrong to justice. They were prepared without fear or favour, to investigate any complaint anyone made, provided that they were prepared to stand by their statements, so that the committee would have something to work upon. As he had said, the Council had appointed Councillor Palmer as a direct labour representa- tive oil the committee, and he thought that they would agree that Councillor Palmer was repre- sentative of the largest organisation in Aberga- I venny. Then they appointed not only one lady, but two ladies, so that they could consult to- gtther and bring forward any complaints they had from the ladies of Abergavenny. There had been no slackness on the part of the com- mittee. They had sat there for many hours, and often for two or three hours at a time. They went through all the details of the various literature they received from the Ministry of 1IFood, and they carried them out to the best of their ability. The Council felt rather hurt- perhaps it was not intended—at a paragraph of the report of the federation meeting which ap- peared in the Chronicle." This stated that the present system, or lack of system, with regard to food control was totally inadequate for the present needs, and unless some strong action was taken in the near future the position was certain to become acute." The present position, said the Mayor, was created by Lord Rhondda, and the local committee had nothing to do with it. They had followed out the views of the Ministry of Food to the letter, and the system they had carried out had been for the benefit of the consumer. He thought the com- position of the Town Council was such that it represented the working classes more than any Town Council thev would find in South Wales, unless they went to a totally industrial area. The Council had no objection to anyone being on the committee. I Questions for the Delegates. I He had had two or three questions put to him by members of the Council to ask the deputa- tion. The first was, Do you say that the Food Control Committee has not done its duty ? He unhesitatingly said that they had done their duty and spent hours in meeting there. In reply to Mr. Rosser, the Mayor said that they had had 13 meetings since September. The Mayor said that the second question was, What are the special complaints as to the committee's control, and are they aware of the hours devoted by the committee and the officials to the work ? He (the Mayor) did not think the Councillors were themselves aware of the number of hours the officials worked. If they went into the Food Control Office they would see thousands and thousands of leaflets which had to be addressed and sent out from Abergavenny. The work was really more than the officials could do. The third question was, Were these com- plaints duly reported to the committee ? The Mayor said that anything that had been reported to the committee had been thrashed out. Where they had felt that a conviction would result they had unhesitatingly decided to take proceedings, but where there was a doubt they did not go so far as the Police Court, but they cautioned the individuals. They wanted to be strong in every case they took forward, because it would only weaken the committee if they lost their case. The Mayor said that the delegates would perhaps like to know the reason for the shortage of some of the commodities at Abergavenny. He had taken the trouble to ascertain from some of the grocers why they had not had butter. He found that the Ministry of Food, who controlled the output of butter, would not release it. On the 8th of January they issued a circular that I they were going to release two-thirds of the margarine and one-third of the butter, and the circular went on to say that weekly allotments would be made. That butter and margarine had not yet been released, however, so that Aber- gavenny could not have it. Last week they released the January consignment of cheese, with the result that there had been a considerable quantity of cheese in some of the shops in Aber- gavenny last week. (Voices Where ? ") He knew one shopjyhich had ISCWt. in. He knew one sli o  aaid that he had not been able Councillor To that he had not been able to get any. The Mayor said he did not have any himself. They had to make that supply last a month, as they would not get any more this month. Councillor Graham Does that apply to the whole of Abergavenny or to one or two shops ? The Mayor To some of the shops, and they have given other shops some of their supply, to help them out. The Town Clerk said that on the previous Saturday they found that one shop had a large supply of margarine, and part of it was dis- tributed to others who had not got any. Mr. Stark said that the Mayor had told then) that there had been no queues at Abergavenny. He was quite willing to admit that there had been little, but he submitted that there had been great hardship apart from queues. Women, upon whom the shopping devolved, had gone to the grocers who held their sugar cards, and found that they could not get such essential things as butter, margarine, bacon, cheese and tea. He submitted that the distribution had been very unequal, as far as the retailers were concerned, and women had been unable to get the articles he had mentioned from their usual shops for sometimes as much as five weeks at a stretch. When they asked the grocer what they were to do, the answer had been that they must go somewhere else, but if they went somewhere else they found that they could not get the things because they had not placed their sugar card with that particular shop. There had been no law passed, yet, compelling people to deal where they had their sugar cards. Many women had gone from shop to shop and had been refused. It was a great hardship for women and children to go from shop to shop to try to get these commodities and to be told deliberately by the shopkeepers that they had not got the stuff, even though they had. The Mayor said he would admit that there had been hardship. He had had to go without many things he should like to have had. He had not had any cheese for nearly three weeks, and fresh butter was a thing he scarcely remembered the taste of. One thing the grocers had decided was that they should honour one another's cards as regarded butter and cheese. They were en- deavouring, as far as they could, voluntarily to get a better exchange between the different shops, but they had not got the power to do it yet. If they had the power they would com- mandeer to-morrow. Councillor Tong said that he had not heard one specific complaint against the committee. He wanted the delegation to give them one, if they could. Mr. Rosser's Specific Charges. Mr. Rosser said that the committee could not claim that they had established in Abergavenny equality of distribution, and that was what the delegates sought. They represented 1,255 workers who were willing to bear equality of sacrifice. They would tighten-their belts as mufch as any other class of the community. They were there to help the committee, and they had a definite policy to pursue. Mr. J. R. Clynes, who was connected with the Ministry of Food, had said that if there was to be any preference given in the matter of food it must be given to the munition workers and the industrial population generally. The labour they were doing for the nation demanded that they should be even better fed than the well-to-do. The order in Abergavenny, however, was reversed. The Mayor had dealt with specific matters, and he would refer to them in the same order. In the matter of meat, what might the committee have done ? He was speaking as the son of a butcher. Last Tuesday they knew very well that there were only 72 sheep in the market. He submitted that the committee should have been called together when they knew what pro- portion of the sheep was allocated to Aberga- venny. It was easy to say that they had not the power. He was there to tell them that they had a very definite course to pursue. They could have gone to the Commissioner of Live Stock and said, Only so much mutton allo- cated to Abergavenny send down supplies immediately." Other food control committees in Monmouthshire had done it, and the result was that 100 carcases of sheep were sent into I Ebbw Vale. While they got supplies, Aberga- venny had been deprived of meat. They did not ask for a respectable joint, but they said that when they found men driving engines from there to Crewe on a ration of bread and dripping, they had a right to ask what the committee were doing. That was one specific charge. Tlie Mayor had referred to the laudable action of the committee in arranging the meat prices. He had supplied members of the committee with the prices charged "elsewhere. They knew as well as he did that at the beginning of December they allowed the butchers of Abergavenny to charge the consumers 4d.4c)r 5d. per lb. on specifie joints more than the butchers of Nantyglo and Blaina, who had to come to Abergavenny market in open competition and pay their own expenses and the cost of transport, and, if anything, they were entitled to higher prices than Abergavenny. Could they, as workers, afford to pay 4d. or 5d, per lb. more than the workers up the hills ? He was there to say that the prices at Nantyglo and Blaina were too low, but the prices at Aberga- venny were too high. They sent a sub-com- mittee to see a Imllock cut up at a local butcher's. He did not wish to speak disparagingly about it, but he submitted that there were tricks in every trade, and that it was easy to cut up a bullock to show a profit and equally as easy to cut it up to show a loss. I A Municipal Dairy Farm. I He came to the question of milk, and he felt very sorely on that matter, not only as a repre- sentative of labour, but also as a schoolmaster who had child ^velfare at heart. (Hear, hear). Milk was very essential and he believed the time would come when they would have to tackle this question of milk supply. They were in an agri- cultural district, and a little municipal enterprise and brains would undoubtedly enable them to establish in Abergavenny a dairy supply farm, by means of which the children of Aber- gavenny could be supplied with milk at 4d. per quart, at a profit to the rates. It was no dream, but a practicable scheme. To allow od. per quart to be chargcd for milk was no feather in the cap of the committee. Sixpence per quart --what for ( The farmer said, Look at the price of feeding stuffs." What were feeding stuffs to-day ? Nothing more nor less than turnips, swedes, and other roots grown on the land, for which they paid the same rental as they did in pre-war days. A cow, to-day, would show a very handsome profit indeed with the milk sold- at less than 6d. per quart. The question had been put to them very straight as to whether they com dered the Food Control Committee had done heir duty. He was prepared to say that they h id a great deal of work to do and that the difficulties they had to contend with were exceedingly heavy, but they had to speak of results, and if they could see any way in which matters could be improved it was their duty to come to them, as a Council, and offer them advice. They were asked if they were aware of the work that the committee had done. His answer was m tne negative, ihey were not aware, and that was their grievance. He knew that the meetings must be held in committee, but they, as a Council, did not forget to have their monthly meetings, at which full reports of the committees were issued so that the public would know what was going on. They asked to be taken into the confidence of the committee, and they would have nothing to regret. They would have their assistance, and they were con- ceited enough to believe that they could help. Supposing they got rations on February 25th, what were they going to do in the meantime ? These difficulties were arising hourly, and he thought the Food Control Committee should meet a couple of times a week. The Mayor had said that the Ministry of Food had not released a certain quantity of butter which was due on the Sth of January. He would like to ask, in reply, if the committee took action on that. A point like that should be fought tooth and nail by the committee. Other towns had had volun- tary ration schemes. They did not ask for anv privilege, but at the same time they said that if there was to be any privilege it should be given to the man who had to work long hours. He had a list of the hours worked by Abergavenny men in a week. They were 107, 102, no, 101, log, no, and 105. He said that the privilege should be given to the men who had to do hard manual labour, but he was afraid it rested with those who led sedentary lives and did not require the same amount of food. The Mayor said that no butcher was allowed according to the law, to exceed 2d. per lb. profit, and if anybody could prove that the butchers had made more than 2jd. per lb. profit the Food Control Committee would take action. Mr. Rosser said it was important to have absolute evidence, and it would be necessary to have a chartered accountant in each butcher's shop in Abergavenny. He did not wish it to go forth that he was antagonistic to the butchery trade, for he was sympathetic to them in their difficulties. He suggested, however, that the butchers should supply a ticket with the meat they sold, showing the name of the joint, the weight, and the price. Councillor Horsington It is passed. Mr. Rosser It is not carried out. Councillor Beckwith said that he was one of those who had had to work some of those long hours. He had been delighted to hear the delegates, and he trusted that they would elect some of them on the committee, and he, who had done so little, would willingly give up his place to them. He quite agreed with what had been said, and if anything could be done to further the distribution of food in a fair and just manner he should be delighted to see it done. He should be delighted to see three of the delegates come on the committee. Considering the time that some of them gave to the Food Control Committee and other committees, it was absolutely impossible to attend two Food Con- trol Committees a week. A Tale of a Frail. Mr. Stark said he was the one who sent the report to the Chronicle," and it was certainly the feeling of the full delegation that there was a lack of system at Abergavenny. He would give them an instance of it. Last Saturday evening a lady from the hills, with a basket or frail, went into a boot stores at Abergavenny and asked if she could leave the frail there. The manager said that she could not. She turned rounds to go out, and on second thoughts said, I will buy a pair of boots." She could afford to buy a pair of boots for the privilege of leaving her frail there. She left the frail, and, producing another frail from some secret recess, went out of the shop. While she was away, curiosity overcame the manager of the shop and he looked into the frail, and found it full of the commodities which his (the speaker's) wife and other work- men's wives had been unable to get. The woman afterwards came back with another frail well filled. Those who did not get their wages till Saturday evening found the butchers' shops closed and notices in the grocers' stating that there was no margarine and no tea. If that sort of thing went on there would be trouble. Councillor Graham said that if the children were going without food he would not sit on the committee and tolerate it. Neither would he tolerate people coming in from outside and getting food while they had to go without. Let them have evidence, and they would deal with it. The fact was that these statements which were being made were not substantiated. They had to attend two or three committees a week and they had to deal with a large number of circulars from the Ministry of Food. The delegates were quite welcome to take his position, if they thought they could manage these matters. Food control was not an easy matter to manage. He knew very well that the people with the brass had plenty of food. They could not prevent outsiders coming into the town, and if the delegates could the opportunity was theirs. The Mayor said that he was going to suggest that employers should pay the men on Fridays, so'that they would have their money in plenty of time for shopping. Mr. Thurtle Have the committee power to prepare a scheme of voluntary rationing and submit it to the Food Controller and get his sanction to put it into operation ? The Mayor The committee have already a scheme in hand, and it is only a matter of time. Councillor Palmer said that whether he was a direct representative of labour was a matter which was quite immaterial to him at the moment, but he did want the Council and the delegation to know that he had not had one complaint made to him, although lie had ap- pealed over and over again to people to state their complaints to him. It might be startling for them to know that. Mr. Owers knew that he had urged it in his own branch meetings on more than one occasion. Did people think he was going on a house to house canvass through his ward to obtain the information ? He had been quite unable to get any concrete cases that would justify him in taking them up in a statu- tory way. He hoped that people who had com- plaints to make would give the required in- formation to the committee. The delegates here retired and the Council disc-Lissed the matter in their absence. Committee Anxious to, Resign. Councillor Tong To cut a long story short, I propose that we draw lots as to who shall go off the Food Control Committee. The Mayor I am willing to go off. Councillor Telford And I am. Councillor Palmer proposed that application be made to Lord Rhondda to increase the com- mittee bv three, and Councillor Meale seconded. Councillor Telford It seems that I have not being doing my duty to a certain extent, and so will you please accept my resignation ? The Mayor No. Councillor Graham If the majority of the members are of the same opinion as myself, there will be plenty of room for them. The Mayor put the vote, which was carried. Councillor Graham said he was not voting There were sufficient who were willing to retire to put the whole lot on. Councillor Meale said that it was evident that there was ground for the grievances mentioned on account of the distribution during the past few weeks. Things were sent or taken up the hills, while local people were going without. Men were going to work with bread and dripping or bread and treacle in thdr baskets. Councillor Tellord Why were the complaints not brought to the Food Control Committee before ? These gentlemen knew about it. Councillor Horsington Councillor Palmer represents 500 men and they won't give him their complaints. Councillor Meale said it was only during the last few weeks that this grievance had come about. If the committee would go to Brecon- road station they would see the food that was going out of the town, while local people could not get it for love or money. What was the reason ? The delegates were afterwards invited into the room and the Mayor told them that the Council were going to apply to Lord Rhondda for per- mission to increase the committee by three members. Mr. Rosser asked if the Council proposed to accept their nominees. Mayor said they could not sav anything furfu'r nr.u.i they nail received the reply to the:r application. Mr. Thurtle asked if they would agree pro- >,ially o-! the reply beii;? satisfactory. j :ie Mayor said that They ctdd'pr-ni s' nothing, as ttiey were not in lo,ihm u promise :]y'hi?? yet. I DELEGATES' DISSATISFACTION. At an executive meeting of the Abergavennv Federation of Trades Unions, on Thi?rsdav even ing. at Morris's Temperance Hotel, at which two additional Unions were represented, the report of the delegation to the Town Council was pre- sented in detail by the Chairman (Ir. W. Rosser) and the other members who accompanied him to the Council Chamber. A full discussion ensued, and the following resolution was submitted and unaninn usly adopted by the meeting :—" That this con Terence of delegates, representing over 1,300 of the various labour organizations of the town, having heard and duly considered the report of the delegation that awaited on the Town Council on January 28th, news with grave concern and dissatisfaction the refusal of the Town Council to give a definite pledge for grant- ing direct representation to the Abergavenny Federation of Trades Unions. Thev further wish to record their dissatisfaction with the manner in which the Council expressed thejr decision to the delegation. They are fully con- vinced that had the Cou'ncil immediately given a sympathetic reply to the deputation, tbe best interests of consumers, retailers, and distributors of food would thereby have been secured, and they hereby pledge themselves to support a special committee to be set up now to make the necessary arrangements in order to enforce their justifiable demands, and to obtain equality of distribution of available foodstuffs pending the adoption of a compulsory rationing scheme." A committee, consisting of 19 members, was appointed with plenary powers to make the necessary arrangements for future action.