The Cambria Daily Leader

BLACKPOOL'S NEW I SURVEYOR. A copy of The Blackpool Times and Fylde Observer that reached us yesterday contains a half-column report, not without interest t3 Swansea, regarding the appoint- ment of Borough Engineer and Surveyor for Blackpool. In view of the discussions at two meetings of the Swansea Council last week (one being "in committee" of council and the other, the ordinary monthly meeting) we take the liberty of quoting from this report, with the preface that Mr. Merrells and others, but particularly Mr. Merrells, pleaded on Monday that tt was necessary, then and there, tc increase the salary of Mr. Heath, the Borough Surveyor and En. gineer, from R600 to £ 1,000 unless we were resigned to the prospect of losing him to Blackpool. That Mr. Heath would be appointed to the Blackpool position they had no doubt; in fact one councillor, who had spoken to the Blackpool depu- tation upon the occasion of their visit of investigation to Swansea, gave his fellow members to infer that he ha.d been given practically to understand that Mr. Heath was the chosen man. We do not know the hour of meeting of the Black- pool Highway Committee; but in all probability its recommendation was arrived at sometime during the afternoon. The report in The Blackpool Times is as follows: The appointment of the new Borough Engineer and Surveyor for Blackpool was practically made on Monday, at a meeting of the Highway Committee (con listing of all the members of the, Council), when it was unani- mously resolved to recommend Mr. Francis Wood, M.I.C.E., Borough Engineer and Surveyor at Fulham, for the position. Originally there were 84 can- didates, a oonunencing salary of zCl,000 per axmum being offered. The candidates were reduced to twelve, those selected for inter view being Mr. Francis Wood, Fulham; Mr. J. Heath, Borough Surveyor, Swansea; Mr. F. Wil- kinson, Borough Surveyor, Dept- ford; Mr. G. T. Bradley, Bacup Mr. W. Shackleton, Nelson, Major A. Roseveare, South Shields; Mr. J. Taylor, Walsall; Mr. A. Fidler, Northampton; Mr A. R. Carter, Acting Borough Surveyor, Blackpool; Mr. E. Worrall, Stretford; and Mr. F. Sadler, Acton.. The first tbr: named were le/t in the final, but before a definite decision was come to Councillors T. Fielding, T. G. Lumb, and R. Fen ton were appointed a sub-committee to visit the towns at which the three gentlemen are engaged and main full inquiries. This they did, and their report was submitted to the Highway Committee on Mon- day, when the deputation recom- mended the appointment of Mr. Francis Wood, which was unani- mously adopted. Mr. Wood, the successful applicant, seems to be a gentleman of con- siderable, and wide, experience. We are told in the report that at Fulham he has a staff of sixteen assistants; that his work in road construction is well known all over the world and that he is the author of two text books. It may be asked what g can come of debating this matter further? We answer that it may serve as a useful lesson to th^i Council if and when it is faced by similar situations. We want it t,) bo thoroughly understood that we have not one word of criticism to make of Mr. Heath himself. His position is thoroughly above ques tion. A few months ago, he, and the rest of the public officials, were informed by resolution that their applications for increase of salary i would be considered in a year's time. M?. Heath thereupon looke'l around him for other opportunities oi bettering his lot-as he was per- fectly entitled to—and became an applicant for the Blackpool post. He came into the Blackpool short list, and on Monday was prepared to withdraw his name if the Swan- sea Council could raise his salary to the Blackpool ifgure. (The Black- pool appointment was to be made on the Wednesday and Thursday; in justice to Mr. Heath it should be pointed out that the -Nlouday ine(-i; ing was of a committee, and only effected a recommendation to tht-, Council). Appealed to by mem- bers who said that they had spoken to the Blackpool deputation, and persuaded that only by this means could Mr. Heath be retained, th. Swansea Council decided to give the Borough Surveyor the Black- pool figure— £ 1,000; and made a virtual promise that the amount should be £ 1,250, because of the Main Drainage Scheme) in two years' time. There will, of course, be other de velopments. Other officials will ask, and rightly, why there should be differentiation against them- selves. i Our public service is often denounced, and nowhere as vio- lently as in the Council; but we are glad to think that there are old- standing officials of the town, men who have given it years of faithful work, who also render a valuable account of themselves. Are they to wait until they get into a sho:t list before they get a proportionate increase? It appears to us that the moral of this incident is, once having arrived at a general decision, to stick to it! ———————

DR. LATIMER'S SON MEMORIAL TABLET UNVEILED AT SW ANSEA. The Swansea Empire Day Church Par- ade Service at Holy Trinity on Sunday, was notable for the unveiling of a mem- orial tablet in proud and loving mem- ory of Sec.rlieut. Hugh Latimer, 3rd at- tached 6th) Battalion, R.W. Kent Regi- ment, scholar of Brasenose College, Ox- ford, killed in action at Ovillers, France, on July 3rd, 1916. aged 19 years (only son of Dr. Henry Arthur Latimer, sometime warden of the church, and of Mrs. Lati- mer), and for an attack by the Vic^r on national and local attitude to, and methods in. the matter of war memorials. The U.S.B., with Col. W. L. Morgan, it. president, paraded from Wind-street, with the Tramways Band, together with the Telegraph Messengers and their band. The hymns were, Soldiers of Christ, arise," Fight the Good Fight," For all the Saints," and God of our Fathers." It was between the second and t4, third hymns that the Union Jack was unveiled from the memorial by Miss Reid (daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Edgar Reid), who was in V.A.D. uniform. The bugle Last Post was sounded. Our practical appreciation, said the preacher, should be in other from than stately buildings and exquisite statues. Let it be a nation purified from her sins, an England cleansed of her impurity, a great and mighty Empire founded on righteousness and truth. As to the movement in Swansea itself, he was sorry to see the means being used to-f^ay to raise money for a memorial to the boys who had fallen. They deserved more dignified means than the taking of a barrel organ round the streets, and the collection of the paltry penny. Let those who made their piles of money during war disgorge and set up a memorial those who died.

WAITERS FORM A UNION. I That a man is entitled to a full living wage from the employer be works foT was the tone of a. large meeting at the Dockers' Hall, Swansea, on Sunday. Wait- resses, waiters, hotel porters .etc., were present, the objecat of the meeting being to iDFAungiirate a local branch of the Bri- tish and Allied Waiters, Chefs and Em- ployes' Union. The c'hair was taken by Councillor Al- bert Ball, and the speakers were Coun- cilor Harry Thomas and Mr. Bale, the or- ganiser of the Union. Mr. Bale said they were out for shorter hours, abolition of the tronc system, a living wage exclusive of tips, and good food to staffs. One woman present alleged that on Sat- urday she was dismissed at a minute's notice from her situation in a hotel, where she was being paid 2s. per week for work- ing from 8.30 til 5.30. and then Is. 6d. per week for continuing on during the even- ings until 11 o'clock. A resolution was passed that a Swansea branch of the/Union be formed at once.

jTINPLATE CRISIS. I BC FAR EAST ORDER COMES TO WALES I BUT U.S. COMPEilTiON KEEN The welcome news that Welsh tinplate manufacturers have retained a large Far East order for 350,000 boxes, in tace of keen American comeptition, comes at an opportune moment. The tinplat in question are destined for a huge oil com- pany. It is well-known that the American menace to the Woisli tinplate trade was never more serious than at the present moment, and this order will suffice to keep some 45 to 50 mills busy for the next two or three months. We under- stand that the price at which the con- tract was secured was one which will en- tail a loss to the manufacturers, but it was felt by them that the sacrifice would be well made in order to retain a re- munerative market which thus far has always been ours. I CRITICAL POSITION. The whole position ot the Welsh tin- plate trade is very critical at the moment, in fact it can safely be said that it was never more critical, and art no period in its history has the American competition been so keen. Our Trans-Atlantic trade rivals have during the past week actu- ally secured substantial orders, running into some thousands of boxes, for the English market. American prices, as at present quoted, are such that the Welsh manufacturers, ait existing coots, cannot hope to compete with them. America is to-day producing an output of tinplates equal to the com- bined pre-war output oi Britain and the United States.

I I DROWNED IN DEVON. I Swansea Woman's Body in a Pond. I A body found in a pond at Crediton (Devon) on Saturday was identified as that of Mrs. Mary Graen, of Swansea! aged 48 years. She had been staying at Crediton with some friends and returned to Wales about thxc,2 weeks ago. She was missed from home only on Friday morning. The deceased who resided in the Pentre, near Cwmfelin Works, had lost two sons in the war.

SEMI-NATIONAL. Rev. J. Gimblett Wins Essayist Honour. The adjudication upon the essay com- petition at the Pontypool Semi-National Eisteddfod, recently held, has now been issued by Prof. Levi and Mr. W. L. Thomas. The subject was: "Property: Its Right and Duties," and out of a num- ber of competitors the Rev. J. Gimblett, Brynhyfryd, Swansea, is declared to be the victor. The adjudicators state that the essay is of expository and literary valpe, and they highly commend the production of Mr. Gimblett.

FELT ILL IN STREET. I Landore Resident's Sudden I Death. Whilst iwweedins along .Xeath-rosul, T in- dore, Oil Sunday evening abc-ut seven o'clock Mr. D. J. Hopkins, of Wcrn-road, who apparently felt unwell, turrred into a houee in Morfa-terrace, and asked for a glaso of wator. Dr. Bell, who lives in the vicinity, wa-s called, and did everything possible, but in leas than a quarter of an hour Mr. Hopkins died. The deceased, who was about 30 years of age, has been in failing health for some time, suffering from an internal complaint, for which he had been attended by Dr. H. H. Thomi-a

DOCKS QUESTIONS. I Important Ma*rs for Cham- ber of Commerce. The monthly meeting of the Swansea Chamber of Commerce will take place on Wednesday afternoon, when the following new members will be elected: Messrs. T. Sydney Bevan, T. E. Evans, W. T. Fa IT, jnr., Wm. Greening, R. D. Heard, V. E. Jones, Edgar A. Owen, and W. Shepherd. There are also two or three matters down for consideration, and they include: Delays on Rhondda and Swansea Railway; pilfering at docks; letters from railway companies; method of election to Execu- tive Council osf Association; trimming coal—merchants' foremen; Cambridge University Appointments Board; and Income Tax Commission.

THE HOWITZERS. I Swansea Meeting to Arrange Re-union. A re-union meeting of Howitzers, 1st, 2nd and 3rd lines, te-ok place at Mond Buildings, Swansea.,on Saturday even- ing. Lieut. Haldane presided, and there were about 100 men present. The proposals for the general re- union weie: (1) an outing to Gower, and (2) a dinner and social evening. The following committee was formed to work up the suggestions of the meet- ing President, Col. Davey; vice-presi- dents, all officers of the Brigade; chair- man of the committee, Capt. J. S. Davies; secretaries, y.M.S. C. Jones and Corpl. Thomas; committee, Sergt. JSvans. Q.M.S. Chamberlain, Corpl. Fisher, Sergt.-Major Campbell, Mr. D. Williams, Bomb. Samuels, Gunner Hughes, Signaller Phillips and Gunner Edgar Davies. It was decided to call another Meet- ing shortly to arrange matters finally.

WOMEN FALL OUT. I Mary Bennett (72), a widow, was sum- moned by Rose Rogerston, at Swansea on Monday, for assault on May 19th. Complainant stated that defendant struck her several times, and dragged her clothes off her back and pulled her to the ground. The assault occurred at defendant's house in Sketty, where com- plainant lodged. Defendant denied the allegation, and I said that complainant owed her money. The calse was dismissed.

LANDORE BANDS OF HOPE. I The annual demcmstration in connection I with the Landore and District Band of Hope Union, took place on Saturday, when all the lodges attached to the vari- ous places of worship turned out en bloc. There were two bands in attendance, namely the Industrial and the Salvation Army. All the principal streets in the locality were toured. The procession, as usual, started from the Pwll Cwm square and ended up at the same quarters. Several of the lodges, after dispersing, went to their own headquarters, were tea was served.

TOWN TALK. The Queen's birthday is to-day. The New _xiu ;-The amount of troubles brewing in a given period is in inverse ratio to the amount of be<?r brewed in that period. —: o: — The tit-bit of the evening at a &Ocil function at Neath was this slip-of-tbe- totigui, by ot.e of tlie speakers: Mo-ve up gentleman, there's a lot her-e that haven't arrived yet 1" -:0- German diplomats say that no sane Ger- man will sign the Peace terms. This is probably due to the fact that after a care- ful and exhaustive search no sane Ger- man has been found I x):- A writer in a Sunday paper says that returnod soldiers will not put up with old and ugly houses. A good many demobbed men we know of would be only too pleased to get a house—old or ugly, or indeed in any CDildition I —:o- — The gesticulations of a certain man in a borough by-lane the other day would have done credit to those desirous of ac- quiring the noble art. It was, indeed, a good example of what John Barleycorn and the sun could do in combination. -:0:- That's real philanthropy/' said the old lady to the little Swansea boy whom she saw picking up orange peel off the pavement. Is it, m'mr said the boy, looking attentively at the peel in Iii* hand. "I thought it was off a blood orange. — -x»:— Motorists may complain as much as they like about the state of the Mumbles-road, but they won't get much sympathy from the general public if they scorch along as (lid a few on Saturday afternoon, raising a bar- rage of dust as effective as any smoke screen used in the war. :CIo A correspondent has been having an argument with a friend, and he appeals to as for a decision. His friend avers that they can't bury the ex-Kaiser in a Ger- man churchyard, and our correspondent wants to know why. We have no official information on the point, but we believe it is because he is not dead yet! —o:— Commenting on the fact that the Crr- poration are advertising for mackintosh coats and oilskins, a correspodent wishes to point out that just now it would be more fitting if efforts were made to supply the men with straw hats, flannels, white boots, etc. We are living, he says, in a very advanced age. But we have not got to that stage—yet. —SO! — According to reports from Devon and C^ ornwall, liuch bumper crops are ex- pected this season that strawberries and cherries will be selling as cJicao rL 2d. a lb. While hoping for the best, we can only sav that we've heard similar stories before, but something unexpected usually happens—either too much rain or increased cost of transport—with the result that prices remain high. -:0:- A paragraph appeared in this column a few days ago complaining about the state of the children's corner of the lake in Brynipill Park, and pointing out that it badly wanted cleaning. Now a corv respondent w ho spent an hour in the Eark on Saturday writes to say that no hann would be done if the main lake it- self received a little attention. Mem- bers of the Parks Committee, please note. Swansea leads. London follows! For some time the Leader has been pro- testing against the practice of audiences at local concerts applauding and show- ing other marks of approval before the final notes of a particular or chorus have been reached. A London paper htf; now taken up the matter with regard to 1hc opera, and is inviting the opinion of its readers on the question To clap or not to clap." — :0:— As we are all so apt to grumbe at any shortage in our food supplies, writes a correspondent, it i* only right and fair that we should express our gratitude when an improvement is reported in any direction. Rhubarb this year, he eays, is plentiful, and as there is more sugar about with which to make the fruit palatable. then we have something to be thankful for. We are—but where are the onions gone to? —:o: — The retirement of the headmaster of Brynmill will cause a gap in educational circles which it will be extremely difficult to fill, for Mr. Williams for many years has been a veritable institution in the western suburb of Swansea. It is no ex, airgeration to say, either, that the fame of the school and its master has extended far' beyond the confines of the borough. The testimonial, without a doubt, is going to be a tremendous success. — so:— It is really remarkable how some cricket players retain their youth and activity. A spectator at the Swansea v. Cardiff match at St. Helen's on Sat- urday said there were two men taking part in the game whom he distinctly remembered playing in a "match twenty years ago-Creher on the Swansea, side and a Cardiff player whose name he coukl not for the moment recall. And what about W. J. Bancroft? —:o: — The Rev. Moffatt Gautrey offered a Swansea audience as a solution of the possession by ministers' sons of a full, and sometimes abnormal, strain of original sin, the suggestion that it arose from the suppression by the fathers of what they had of it and that it came out more strongly in the next me ra- tion! Does not seem to square ith the Weismann germ plasm theory, but de- cidedly interesting! -:0:- Ait the Skewen Nursing annual meet- ins Mr. John Rees, one of the workmen representatives present, made a refresh- ing pronouncement in favour of better pay for the nurs-es. He said he was afraid nurses were almost under the sweating system, and they as workers were willing to make a sacrifice on their behalf. It may be that ere long. a move- ment would be started to get them eight hours, with an ample staff to work "threw shifts," and a living wage" in the bar- •: gain! — :Os— What has bceomo of all the expert workers with the needle that one en- countered in the liost)itaisp asks a contemporary. We know a couple of them who have returned home, but far from continuing the good work they learnt in hospital things are quite the reverse. Only the other day OJlQ woman was complaining -that her Ins- band who was responsible for n9 works of art while lying in hcspital, would nrefcr to go out with holes m his socks rather than darn theig him- self I -:0- After four years' rest, the T«?ttnis Club at Neath starts:! operations op Saturday. And with the shadows of efout".de c<Ui!<5 lo-ud and long taj-pings from the pavilion. These w*er$eventually heard by an a'lrt- ltIJ:"o:nt holder whilst relucta-ntly leaving tha scene of his labours, and fearing a tragedy in thac ht1e, isolated hut, h^ vaulted the fence and in the dim light he M'W the palo and agisted fa..ee. of a man within. In response to h's cr:es oi "Open the door," the allotment holder began to bang at the lock with a hamper. Bang! BangiL FIff!! And the door yielded Someone had blundered and. locked a player itl. Buv tha greatest joke, of all is that the key was in the lock till the time.

BRUNSWICK ANNIVERSARY. 1 The anniversary of Brunswick Wesley Sunday School, Swansea, on Sunday were a great success. The morning service, conducted by the Rev. W. J. Morgan, was notable for a big muster of Boy Scouts of several troops; Rev. R. W. Green spoke at a flower ser- vice in the afternoon, and the Rev. E. Joliffe preached at night. The special singing was of a bright and interesting character. I

LANDORE TUBE WORKERS. I A mass meeting, iVIiieli was largely at- tended, of the Landore tube branches of the Iron and Steel Confederation, was held on Saturday at the Central Hall, under Bro. Ben Rees, no permanent officials being present, to consider the report of the Parliamentary Committee of the Trades Union Congress, on the com- plaint of the National Union of General Workers, on the transferring of members from that organisation to the Iron and Steel Confederation, which took place on the 5th October, 1918. An inquiry had been held before a smb-ccwnniittee of the Parliamentary Committee of the Trades Union Congress on the 9th January lnst The following resolution was carried unanimously:— That this mass meeting of members of Landore tube branches of the Iron and Steel Confederation is of the opinion that in the interests of the general body of workers employed in the manufacturing departments of the Mannesman Tube Works-, Landore, and of the firm, that the workers should be all organised in one nnion representative of the iron and steel industry; and that in view of the fact that a great maiority of the workers are represented by the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation', we consider the time has arrived when the organisation should be completed by the elimination of sectional bodies and unorganised workers, and we pledge ourselves to render the fullest sup- port to the Joint Committee in whatever constitutional action they may find it necessary to adopt to deal with the posi- tion."