The Cambria Daily Leader

DISCIPLINED. Lady Astor's Amusing Experience. Lady Aster had her first experience of party discipline in the House of Commons last evening. She courageously stayed out the debate on the Scottish Lnnd Settlement Bill until 10.30, and then thought she would go home. She was making for the members' staircase when, to her surprise and amuse- ment she found the way barred by Mr. Towvn Jones, the whip who was "on the door. The vigilant Welsh whip told her in the pleasanjest possible way that sihe oould not leave, as there mirjlit be a divi- sion; but she might go if she could got a pair, he said. Lady Astor argued a little, but Mr. Jones stood with outstretched arms before the door, and with all his native eloquence assuring her of his pro- found regret at having to refuse her re- quest. I T.P.Is GALLANTRY. Mr. T. I). O'Connor was on the other side of the J/ibby, and saw the comedy I that was being played, so he weivt over and at once offered to release the new ¡ member hy pairing with her. Mr. G. Thome, the Independent. Liberal Whip, came lip at the same time and gallantly offered to do the same; so the member for Plymouth was released from her embarrasment. She left with a merry laugh, and a compliment to Mr. Towyn Jones on his devotion to duty. ) CALLED TO ORDER. Lady Astor had previously had her nrst experience of being called to order in the House of Commons. As many another j member before her has done, she hud innocently transgresfied one of the bewil- dering little canons of conduct and pro- cedure. While ti c Hour? w:is ■ "in? cleared for the dtviyjou, Lady Astor rose Irom her senj i\v the gangway on the Opposition ride and coming down to the floor turned (■> go into the lobby by the main door i under the clock. Before she reached the Bar she met Sir /1 J. D- Rf''s (Nottingham, C.U.) .and having shaken hands they two stood for a minute or so in conversation. Though it is a I breach of order for members tl- us to stand talking on the floor. it is not an uncom- I mon thing when a division is being taken. However. Mr. Whitley, Deputy Speaker, who was in the chair, called out Order, order." Engrossed in their conversation, Lady Astor and Sir J. D. Reos did nGt heed the admonition from the chair. Order, order," repeated the Deputy Speaker, in hinder ton?s. which were not without a hint of g"nia! humour. Then Lady Astor was ?en to look eagerly around, as if she were a little startled, and, at once understanding the situation, in two graceful skips she reached the Bar, a place of greater free- dom and less responsibility. From there she waved her hand to the Deputy Speaker, by way of apology, and stood laughing till she was joined by Sir J. D. Rees, who followed in a more leisurely fashion.

[ WELSH TRADE. Prospects in Coal, Shipping and Metals. A decidedly optimistic view of the coal shipping and iron and steel trados of South Wales is taken by The British. Manufacturer," a new magazine brought out under tlio auspices of the "Illustrated London Xews." KING COAL SUPREME. I The future of South Wales lies in its wonderful wealth of coal. There are pre- sent all the factors necessary to develop not only an unrivalled coal mining in- dustry, but manufactures that 6hould rank in the forefront of British enter- prise. There is capital in plenty, oppor- tunity and enterprise, and increasing sta- bility in ihe Labour market. The effects of the railway strike have left a profound impression. During that week coal pro- duction in South Wales decreased by 870,000 tons, but the miners have made a remarkable recovery, and in the second week following the railway strike, the output reached 965,000 tons. This is not merely a passing phase, for there has lately been a steady rise in the output, and the million-tons mark is within sight. SHIPPING PROSPERITY AND PROS. I PECTS. After a comprehensive review of the' South. Wilier shipping position during and since the war, the writer proceeds:— The period of prosperity will certainly last for IS months or two years, although freights may fluctuate considerably within that space of time, this being de- pendent almost entirely on the amount of tonnage available. IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRY. I The conduct of ircn and steel manu- facture in South Wales has always been marked by good business judgment and judicious expansion, so that the industry now reets on a sound basis for future de- velopment. Faith in their ability to hold the market for the highest quahty goods has induced manufacturers to lay down new plant and modernise the old. TINPLATESBUOYANT. I The tinplate industry is particularly buoyant just now. Mills are working at full pressure to complete the orders on hand, and are almost fully booked up to the. end of March 1920, for Japan, France, Holland, Portugal, and Scandinavia. Nevertheless, given the assurance of con- tinued demand throughout next year, makers are likely to set down new milla.

DE-CONTROL. I Danger to Coal Prices. I In the House of Lords on Tuesday, Viscount Middleton called attention to the position created by the proposed reduction of lOs. per ton on coal. How could the Government expect to deal with an import- ant industry like the coal industry by. hap- hazard decisions which did not endure? If the latest proposal to limit coalowzierrl profits to Id. 2d. per ton were persisted in it would meaji that profits must fall or de- velopment be arrested to such an extent that in five years an inordinate amount would have to be spent. WOULD LEND TO SUBSTITUTION. .LQrd uamford said the reduction in domestic coal so aa to bring the price below the price for the inferior coal sold to miners would incite people to substitute the inferior ooal for domestic consumption. A host of oflicials would have to be appointed to prevent this, and that wouhL mean waste. Lord Lee, in reply, said he held no btief for the &ankey' Commission. Had he been in opposition he might have criticised it more oausticaJiy that his noble friend, but that Commission was set up when we ;eie faced with an internal danger es great aa the external danger through which we had lately passed, and the decision to accept tha interim report averted disaster. The grounds for the reduction of 10s. per ton" had been threshed out in another place. It would be found that the Government scheme made allowance for fresh capital brought into the industry. On Wednesday the Coal Controller was meeting the coat- owners in conference to work out a scheme for making immediate advances (by tele- graph, if necessary), to owners in a diffi- culty over wages, etc., owing to the reduc- tion. All knew the evils of control, but it was not possible to cBooe-e what would be the greater evil of de-control. DANGER OF DECONTROL. De-control would mean soaring prices, probably a doubling of prioes and a rise in. exports. Were the noble lords prepared to face that in the present time of induatrial' unrest? Lord Gainford (interposing) said he stated on Thursday that he recognised that price would have to be controlled and exports limited for a. time, but that could best be don* by the trade. Lord Lee (resuming) said the Government. could not delegate their great responsibility in that way. There was to be strict control of domestic consumption, ana on the que: t'.Oii of exports, a preference would be main- tained to our Allies over of her countries, and particularly a preference to Italy, Lord Buckmatter said the essential thinjr was not how to maintain the prpfits of the coalowner. but how to maintain our indll- triai supremacy. That could only be done by enlisting the goodwill of all engaged ia the coal industry. The Government scheme, so far from enlisting the goodwill of the miners, had only made them more angry and suspicious. They regarded these charger of policy as things done to discredit their claim to nationalisation. A JUST PROFIT, 2s. 4d. A TON. Lord Sheffield said that to give a return. to capital commensurate with the pre-war profit of 1". per ton would, in view of the increaFed cost of production, need a profit of 2s. 4d. per ton. Lord Emmott thought those in charge of this mattar must be incompccit if they did not foresee that the reduction in price would put many producers of house coal into financial difficulties. If they did foresee that, then it • was a.mazing that earlier arrangements had not been made for Gov- ernmcnt advances. Lord Lee, replying to points raised in th" later speeches, spid the scheme of the Government Bill which was to be introduced to deal with this matter only ran to the end of the financial year April 1st, 1920..Coal- owners uncler the scheme would receive not Is. 2d. per ton profit, but their share of the pooled lB. rj. on coal raised all over the country. The system of advances by the Coal Control Department had been going on for some time, and with regard to thi" nevj- reduction a shortage could not possibly arise for some weeks, so there was plentT of time.

THA T METAPHYSICAL CONUNDRUM. Sir Alfred Mond and Counsel's r Question. "A BIT OF ADMIRALTY LAW." On Tuesday evening the hearing was ] adjourned until this morning of the action brought by Sir Alfred Mond against Mr. Harry Macleod Fragor and Mr. Henry Hamilton Beamish for an in- junction to restrain them from printing, publishing or exhibiting any poster or advertisement, alleging that he was a traitor, or from publishing any similar libel affecting him in his profession and office. Sir Alfred Mond. tho earlier part of rwhose cross-examination was given last night, was further cross-examined by Mr. Percival Smith. Witness said apparently no differentia- tion was made in the evidence between the relations with Merton before 1910 and in .19U. "I put it to you," said counsel, "that this is the first time it has ever been sug- gested that the relations between the icompany and Merton in 1914 were different jfrom those in 1910? Witness: That is possible, but there was a dierence. His Lordship; The very last thing you read makes it plain that they were brokers, and wo know that they were more. Witness was then questioned with re- gard to the Steel -Ilan uf actuf*rs;' Nickel Syndicate. I see," said counsel, that 3Jr. Robert Mond says you might call it an international syndicate of armour plate makers? Witness: I think that is a fairly accu- rate description. So that on his own showing it was in- ternational ?—Yes. ;Do you object now to being called an international financier?—I do entirely. I am act a financie and never have been ? my life. Your company has been an inter- national trader in nickel and non-ferrous metals?—Any company does business in more than one country. I am not suggesting it is improper at l." said Mr. Smith. Witness: I am glad to hear it. AN INTERNATIONAL JEW. .1 am only testing you. I want to know J whether you think it is wrong?—It de- pends on the implication. If one .calls > you with a sneer an international Jew ifnancier, that is not meant as a compli- ment. I am not here to pay you compliments, but I have not called you an international Jew. It may bo &0, but that is not my point. .Witness: I have not gathered your point. (l.<a ughter.) The Steel Manufacturers' Nickel Syn- dicate was an English company, and its foreign members remained registered as members until 1916?—I don't know any- thing about that. May I take it that Solvay et Convpagni" of Brussels with a tremendous business?— A very big ooncern. And you had close business connections with that firm" Very close for two generations. His Lordship: Mr. Smith, you said you did not call him an international firm. I find in the pa.rticulars of the defence. which you drew. j ,the plaintiff is an international finan- Veier, and, as such, it has been his busi- ness to enlist the financial co-operation of foreigners; and then I pass to the New Witness of September 13th, which you put in, and which is part of your ease, and I find: We fancy it will take a good deal of vigorous ventilation of the matter, and sharp questioning of the authorities. It will obviously be necessary to ask how much the Prime Minister knew when he appointed an international Jew to an ■f important position in the public r-I vica. Mr. Smith: That is not my article. His Lordship: You will associate your- self personally. I am speaking to you as an advocate. When you say I don't call you so, you must be speaking of yourself as advocate, and, here in this very docu- ment you put in, these words appear. Mr. P. Smith: That article was put in simply and solely on the question of whether Mr. Chesterton had called him a traitor, and whether Mr. Chestenon was worthy of credence. His Lordship: It is not a question of what Mr. Chesterton called him. It is a question of what the defendants called him, and you said you did not call him an international Jew. Mr. P. Smith: There is no stitenienti that Mr. Fraser called him an ititer-1 national Jew. SOLVAY ET CI E. .Witness agreed that Solvay et Cie, of I Brussels, held sharps before the war in the Deutsche Solvav, which owned fac- tories in various parts of Germany. And you know that Solvav et Cie con-I tinued that shareholding throughout tili.-I war?—I understood that during the war the Germans seized all enemy property. Would it be surprising to you to know Solvay et Cie continued their holding and were represented at meetings held in Ger- many during the war?—I should he ex- tmmeJy surprised, and I should think it; was not true. Do you know that the Deutsche Solvay were almost the premier chemical business in Europe?—It is one of the biggest manu- fa-e hirers of soda ash in Germany, and I feuppose in Euro no I And salt?—I don't remember whether fhey made sale. They had some potash. Mr. Q. was a director of the company. Being at the same time a director of Brunner Mend?—Yes. Now Brunner Mond had a controlling inte-rest in Kastner Keller? Thev had some interest, not a controlling interest. At material times they held 250,000 shares in Kastner Keller?—There was an exchange of ehares between the two com- panies. Would it be correct to say that Kastner Keller was one of the Brunner Mond con- cerns?—No, but they worked together. THE JUDGE'S QUIP. His Lordship: While you are at it, would you tell us did Brunner control Mond, or Mond control Brunner? (Laughter.) Mr. Percival Smith went on to ask whether witness would be surprised to Iwar" that one of the sharoholder6 in Kastner Keller took the chair at a com- pany meeting in Germany during the war? Witness: I don't know what happened in Germany, a.nd have no means of know- iDa. His Lordship: Mr. Smith, you are not entitled to put that kind of question to the witness. It was invented to meet a particular case. You might just as well say to witness, On a particular day the Kaiser said to his footman, Go and get me a gun, and I will shoot somebody/ would you be surprised to hear that? (Laughter). Mr. Percival Smith: Would you agree with me, Sir Alfred, that when the whole nation is embarked on one bottom, every citizen must be reconciled to submit to one common fate?—I don't know what it means. (Laughter.) I hope it is not a speech of mine. (Renewed laughter.) Mr. Smith: Do you agree with this statement, that everv individual of the one nation must acknowledge every indi- vidual of the other nation as his own enemy because the enemy of his country? METAPHYSICAL CONUNDRUM. I Sir Alfred: I am afraid I am rather stupid this afternoon. I should like an explanation of that metaphysical conun- drum. (Laughter.) The Judge: Is it from Edmund Burke? Mr. Smith: It is quoted from Sir Samuel Evans in the Prize Court. The Judge: Oh! a bit of Admiralty law ■—(laughter)—when everybody who meets a man of the nation with whom he is at war, wherever he meets him, is bound to set upon him and kill him when he can. I suppose he ought to, but what comes of the conscientious objectors? (Laughter.) There must be some limit in the conduct of cases. I cannot have his opinion on all and sundry subjects. Mr. Smith (to witness'): Did you finaner- anybody during the war?—I helped a good many people financially. Did you help a man called De Beck to run a national newspaper?—Yes, I took some shares unfortunately. (Laughter.) You discovered afterwards that he was a Hungarian Jew?—I don't know whether he was a Jew, but he waR a Hungarian. He made all kinds of mis-statements to me. And at a critical juncture of the war he was attacking the Government of which you were a member?—No, he was sup- porting the Government. PRETENDED TO BE CANADIAN. I I put it to you he was attacking the Government ?—Only after I stopped help- ing him. He was head of the Canadian news, and represented himself to me as a French-Canadian. I had no reason to disbelieve his story. He said be had been serving in the French Army during the war, and wanted to start a newspaper to help the Empire generally. I assisted kio. with a few thousand pounds. I dis- covered his statements to be incorrect, and I withdrew my help. The Judge: And after that he didn't support the Government ?—No. (Laughter.) Mr. Smith: Did you as a member of the Government think it your duty to show him up as NNprof, a jj^p^r which was carrying on this spurious compaign?—I had nothing to do with it. The Judge: What need was there for anybody to show him up, if, as you say. the Evening Standard was already showing him YIp? Witneas was not tho proprietor of. a newspaper. Sir Alfred, in reply to further questions, said he thought a letter written by Sir Charles Matthews, Director of Public Prosecution, was a very complete answer to the charges mad e in a certain periodi- cal that the 1914 directors of the Mond Xickel Company, including himself, had wrongfully allotted shares to enemies in the first four months of the war. I wish," remarked Sir Alfred, protesting against an expression used by counsel, that yon would not. refer to the com- pany as my company. I resigned my chairmanship in 1916." SIR E.-CARSON'S WISH. Sir Edward Carson: I wish it were mine- (Laughter.) The Judge (to witness): Tell Mr. Smith it is Sir Edward Careon's, and then he will be pleased. (Laughter.) Sir Edward: And then I shan't eOrne here to-morrow. (Laughter.) Mr. Smith then referred to the election at Swansea Were you," he asked of witness, advertised at Swansea to appear at Swansea to answer vour detractors I don't think so. I don't know. I may have been. Sir Edward Carson, interposing: Did vmi send anv advertisement vourself?— X0. Mr. Smith: Did you from your platform deal with these charges at all?—No. I didn't, think it worth while to deal with them. I did not think it sufficiently in- teresting to the electors. UNNECESSARY. Witness said he did not deal with the allegations against him at the Swansea ,-I(-ction-he regarded it as unnecessary to waste timo on them, and the electors on- dorsed that view by returning him by a largo majority. Witness was referred to a leaflet issued at the Swansea election in reph- to the insinuation? against him. He ?id that this included a letter from if Charles Matthews, who expressed satis- faction that there had been no offence committed against the Trading with the Enemy Act. Witness ndded that he was called a traitor and a liar, and was said to have corrupted the Premier., and a whole number of things. Mr. Smith: You did not refc-r to the. charge of transferring shares without a license?—I gave the opinion of Sir Charles Matthews. You yourself went down and spoke and had the .opportunity of speak- ing about it. Sir Alfred said that the company was never actuated by any desire to protect tho interests of foreigners. Asked if black- mail were the ulterior motive for the] attacks against him, he said, If you like to put it that way." Counsel: Is that what you SHV ?-I would not like to say that. I do not think that is the correct interpretation of what I said. Witness added that the action which the Mond N-ickel Company took in pass- ing the resolution to allot the shares in the new company to those holding shares in the old company was necessary to get the new company in a position to get a certificate for trading. It was necessary to get the old company wound up. That was cue of the reafon- why it was done. ENORMOUS CONCEIT. Mr. Smith asked if plaintiff agreed that answers given to questions in Parliament were framed as they wore in consequent of the exposure which began with the articles in the New Witness." Plaintiff: Do you seriously suggest that ? Counsel: I do. Plaintiff: Some people's conceit is enor- mous. (Laughter.) The idea that ov- eminent department gives instructions to one of its officials because of obscure news- paper articles—you can't seriously sug- gest that. Mr. Smith asked if witness adopted the answer of Mr. Wardle with regard to the allotment of rhares? Sir Alfred: I don't know if I ever adopted it, but it seems a good reply. Counsel next referred to a reply of Sir Albert Stanley to a question in the House of Commons on 31st October, by Major Hunt, as to the correspondence that passed between the Mond Nickel Company and the Board of Trade concerning the allot- ment of shares. a Were you consulted about that answer?" Sir Alfred: No, Counsel: Did you see it? Sir Alfred: No. Counsel: Did you adopt itf His Lordship: How could he adopt it? Sir E. Carson: You would think it was a baby? (Laughter.) Mr. Smith read the answer of the Presi- dent of the Board of Trade giving the grounds on which the registration of the shares were authorised. Sir Alfred, in reply to counsel, said he thought the answer was a good one. SWANSEA LEAFLET. I At Swansea," proceeded counsel, you published a leaflet addressed to the electors, headed You believe in fair play, don't you? which you wanted the electors particularly to :'ead. You published this leaflet?" Witness: Really I can't say. I should imagine that my agents published it. Have you described the leaflet as your answer to the allegations and charges made against you?— Yes, it con- tains a good answer to the charges. At any rate, if you say I meant it to answer I the charges I will accept that from you. (Laughter). ALL THIS FUSS." I His Lordship (to counsel): What is the use of all this fuss? lie says the leaflet was issued by his agents. Counsel: If Sir Alfred would give a direct answer to my questions, much time would be saved, and no fuss would ensue. (To Sir Alfred):. Were you con- sulted about the publication of this" leaflet? Sir Alfred: I doubt if I ever saw the thing. Counsel: But you have read that it told the electors that charges had been made to the effect that Sir Alfred Mond had been guilty of trading with the enemy, and that such charges were empty and futile? Was there anything in the answer on the leaflet hich dealt with the allotment of shares to enemy people ? Was there anything to show the electors of Swansea that an un- founded charge had been matte of allot- ting shares to those people? Sir Alfred: Surely the gist of io charge was that I was trading with the enemy. I don't know that I ,-as ever charged specifically with allotting shares to aliens. There were so many charges. I was called a financier, a liar, traitor, and all sorts of things, and the leaflet dealt with the allegations that I had been trading with the enemy. Counsel: Why did you not make a statement on the leaflet whioh could have come from you?—Because I >- lieved that the word of Sir Charles Mat- thews, the Public Prosecutor, would carry more weight, especially seeing that he was an impartial man. His Lordship: Sir Charles Matthews said he was satisfied that there was ab- solutely no evidence of Sir Alfred .ond having traded with the enemy. "BACK, BACK AND BACK." I To counsel his Lordship obserevd, It seems to me that you go back, back and back on this question of allotment. Counsel: I intend to go back, back and hack until I get some satisfaction from Sir Alfred. His Lot (lsliip: I should think the jury can see how futile it is. Sir Alfred, replying to other ques- tions by counsel, said his answer was that there was a satisfactory answer made to the allegations, for he was re- turned by a majority of 1,200 That was in his opinion a satisfactory answer to all the charges. AN ULTERIOR MOTIVE. In an affidavit plaintiff said he be- lieved the charge was made against him with an ulterior motive. Mr. Smith: What ulterior motive do you suggest?—Some people might i ,to have something not to make the charge. Blackmail?—I would not like to put it like that. It would not he fl'r, You have said it?—I don't tuink thht it a correct interpretation of what I said. There must have been some motive in making charges like tiiat, be- cause defendants made no attempt to get at the true facts. Counsel: Was it in your affidavit made recently that for the first time you really directly met the question about allotment of shares to enemies ? Sir Alfred: I certainly met it before j that time. This concluded Mr. Percival Smith s cross-examination. MR. BEAMISH'S DEFENCE. Mr .Beamish then took it up. You have had rather a harrassing time in the witness-box," ho began, and some unpleasant things have been suggested which I take it you don't ap- prove of. Yon are a member of the Privy Council? Sir Alfred said he was. No one would hold that position un- less he were of the highest integrity and above suspicion ?-No. I take it, before you were made a Privy Councillor, your whole career and moral character would be thoroughly gone into?—I hope it was. Being a Cabinet Minister, one thing you would be particular about would bo your friendÚ- Yes, I hope so. You know the old saying, A man is known by his friends? Do you beliero that?—It is a very good saying. You would not associate with bad characters, with people who had lurid records, or had been in gaol ? Sir Alfred smiled. "Not if I knew it." He said he should certainh rot finance anyone ubiui he kin w wrong, but sometimes he was not u> careful as ho afterwards wished he had been. HAD BEEN "LET IN." He had been let in several times by people he thought were all right. You represent yourself as a ery much injured man?—I certainly do. Did you approve in the tavlier pro- ceedings of committing Comma ader Fraser to gaol? Sir Edward Carson pointed out that this application was for contempt of court. Mr. Beamish said he had called Sir Alfred an international Jew, and a good deal of what he had to say would be about Jews. As Sir Alfred had taken the oath on the Old Testament ne would iike to know if he were an Orthodox Jew. Sir Alfred said he should -arcely de- scribe himself as orthodox. Sir E. Carson objected to this line of cross-examination. He said uiat the questions were only designed to insult, the witness, and had no bearing on the case. His Lordship: I do not say that the questions are relevant, but I feel bound to gi considerable license to the defen- dant, who is appearing in person. The witness said that He was not a Son of the Covenant." He was a very unorthodox person, but he regarded the oath he hr1 taken as binding on his con- science. He had never seen the Jewish Year Hooc but he was <ilad that e was 'is ?h)d ''hat e wm highly spoken of in that book. With regard to the libel, whom do you consider most to blame, Commander Fraser or myself?—I don't ttunk X can J- # r differentiat. He did not say that either 1 had been the tool of the other. t HELPED INVENTORS. I Sir Alfred said he has assisted a num- ber of inventions. including the Guar- dian Angel" parachute, and the hydro- plane which was used in oonnectioll with submarines. He had made noproht out of these things, but a loss. The Prime Minister had asked him to become First Commissioner of Works. There was a salary of £ 2?00Q. Mr. Beamish: Do you draw it? Sir Alfred: Certainly. Witness said in his position he was re- sponsible for the upkeep of public build- ings. but not of Westminster Abbey or St. Paul's. Mr. Justice Darling: The Law Courts? Sir Alfred: Yes, my lord. (Laughter.) Mr. Beamish: You say you have re- ceived great injury to your credit and reputation ?—Yes. In what way ? Has the bank stopped vour overdraft ?—I am not referring to bank credit. At this stage the Court adjourned until Wednesday morning.

MILK AT lOd. I Hopeful Prospect at Swansea This Week. I The Leader" sought the views of the Swansea Food Executive Officer (Mr. Victor Evans) on Wednesday regarding the report of the Milk Prices Investiga- tion Committee. He thought that the recommendation of the committee justi- fied up to the hilt the attitude taken up by the Swansea Food Control Commit- tee in their refusal to confirm the pro- ducer's price fixed by the Ministry of Food. I PROFITEERING IN BOOTS AND I SHOES. The Committe also pointed out that the price of hay, straw and i Jots should still be controlled. Hay has been sold in the Swansea district,for £ 24 per ton. Indeed in one case a year's production of roots and other feeding crops was sold for £ 2,000—pretty nearly the value of the farm which produced them But," Mr. Evans sugrsted, the farmer does not use one tithe of the quan- tity of oil cake and feeding stuff which he alleges ha use-; in calculating the cost of milk production to him. The Govern- ment has encouraged the increased manu- facture of concentrated stuffs, so as to ensure the farmers the ample supplies which they suggested they so badly needed, but the only result has been that a great portion of the output has been left on the manufacturers' hands. I MILK AT lOd? I He regarded the adoption of the Inves- tigation Committee's ret-ommendation as a foregone conchtsion. This practically ensures that the price of milk before the end of the week will drop to 10Jd. I Local retailers, the" Leader under- stands, are quite amenable to a substan- tial reduction, now that their contention all along has been vindicated, and it would not be surprising to find the price per quart being adjusted aa JOd.-the round figure.

I RUN YOUR EYE ALONG THIS LIST. I I You Will Want to be Buying Gifts Presently. Cut This Out. I Valet Auto-Strop Razor, 30s.; La Rose I de Rosine perfume, ITs. 6d.: Quart Ther- mos Flasks, 35s.; Large Hot Water Bottles, 15s.; Hair Brushes from 7s. r,.I.. I California Poppy Combination, lOs. Pd.; jl Violet Combination, 21s.; Conversation Tubes from 21s.; Ear Tiuinpets from 31s. í fid.—Rich, the Chemist (Ltd.), 30, High- kstreet, Swansea.

EX-SERVICE MEN AND 1 LABOUR. I New National Union at I Swansea. I Under the auspices of the National Union of ex-Service Men, a meeting called for the purpose of forming a Swansea branch was held at the Elysium on Tues- day night. Mr. J. Dun ley presided over an attend- ance of about 50 people, among whom, there were representatives of the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Sailors and Soldiers, who were present at the invitation of tho new organisation. NON-PARTY 1. BUNKUM. 1 The Chairman, at the outset, said that in the past there had been various or- ganisations formed for the purpose of looking after the interests of discharged men and the dependants of deceased sol- diers and sailors, and each of these organisations claimed to be non-political and non-party He, however, suggested that no organisation of that kind could be non-party and succeed. For instance, the Federation had not been able to have its wrongs righted and its grievances remedied by any political party yet. He believed the only party that would do them any good was the Labour Party, and it was their duty now to come to- gether under the Labour banner, and to realise that as ex-service men their in- terests were identical with those of the Labour Party, because the majority of them were of the working class. When they went to war they were promised a I country fit for heroes. They had come back to a country a thousand times worse than that which they had left. kAl)- plause.) Mr T. Locke Thomas, in the course of a lengthy speech, dealt firstly with the growth of the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Sailors and Soldiers, an organisation, he said, that had done its utmost for the ex-service raan and the widows and orphans. But there was in it what he would call non- party bunkum." The new organisation had a political machine already in exis- tence, ready to fight for them; the Feder- alion had to build a machine, and while it was doing that the orphans of dead soldiers were starving. While tens of thousands of pounds were being contri- buted towards monuments, the little ones were going ill-clad. That was why the new Union was started. NO ATTACK ON FEDERATION I OFFICIALS. I lie did not want a word to go out of I that meeting against the officials of the Federation, for under the non-party ban- ner they had done their duty well, and had, moreover, done all they possibly could. The new Union would be worked under the banner and the constitution of the National Labour Party; it would have representation on the National Labour Congress, and it would be able to foist its opinion there as well as at the Parliamentary Committee of that body. The Government had already St-Ill the danger, and had paid men in the Federa- tioll and in the Comrades of the Great War to try their utmost now to com- bine the two bodies in order to h?ht the new Union. The Government was trying to get them to sell their principles. In conclusion he urged all to join the new Union. Air.- F. Corteen also spoke, after which there was a bombardment of questions from Messrs. W. F. Francis (secretary of the Federation), C. F. Presley, D. J. Williams, and others. CAPT. AUBREY WILLIAMS. I Capt. Aubrey Williams, who said he was there to represent his brother, Lieut.- Col. Brock Williams, D.S.O., asked. Mr., Lock Thomas to explain what he meant in his reply to Col. Williams in a con- temporary when he said, "Thank God we have been delivered from tho treat- ment we had at the hands of our officers." I He now challenged any man who was in the Swansea Battalion to Thank God he (lid not want to see Lieut.-Col. Brock Williams." (I-oud applause.) There was not a single man" who could possibly say anything ag«iin.?t his (the speaker's) brother. Mr. Locke Thomas said lie was sorry if he had classed Lieut.-Col. Brock Wil- liams with the had officers. There were some officers they would be prepared to die for, but the majority had been pigs. Capt. Williams replied that Mr. Lock Thomas' letter in the Press was not one that could possibly have come from a man who had fought under a decent officer. The meeting then terminated.

i IEX-SOLDIERS' RATES.  I' Ammanford Council to Take Action. I At Ammanford Council on Tuesday, the I Clerk reported on the position with re- gard to the recovery of arrears of rates from local demobilised soldiers and I sailors. The ruling of the" aurlitor was that sum- monses must be issued against any de- fan Iter, and if the magistrate declined (oj make an order there was an end of the matter. In that way only could the I Council avoid being surcharged. After further discussion Mr. Wlii Evans proposed that the matter be de- ferred to the Finance Committee and the overseers to consider each case on its merit. Mr. Dd. Jones seconded, and ol)- served that it was not the intention of the Council to be hard on any ex-soldier. Mr. D. R. Smith remarked that to issue summonses, and for them to be dismissed was a farce. The motion was carried.

The handicap arranged in the spacious hall of Llandovery Church [louse C:ra.. s I a large number nightly. There are some CO entrants, and excellent play is wit- nessed. The death has occurred of a very old Llandovery inhabitant in the person of Mrs. Catherine Walters, wife of Mr. Del. Walters, retired fellmonger, Victoria- crescent. She is surv ived by a daughter, j xa&rriedr J

I "BOBBIES'" DERBY. I The following is the Swansea • Police team to oppose Newport at St. Helen's on Thursday: Full-back, P.C. (63) Lewis; three-quarters. P.C.'s (68) Dnvies j (capit.), (G2) John, (07) Hart, and (75) Thomas; (72) iAnon; forwards, P.C.'s (32) Price, (Hn Cox, (MOi Lewis, (79) Hunt. (90) Spnir&s. l (M) An dt?ws. (102) Bown. and (!?) Keep, (vice-captain. First rp?fA'p P, C. (PSj (jordge. Kick off at 3 pm.. ?harp by Councillor Daniel Jones, J. P. lWiwM. t Mr* .W* h. Trej.