Welsh Journals

from all the big collieries in the Valley, have no difficulty in arriving at an agreement on points of industrial policy. Their views on these matters are readily accepted by their comrades in badly- attended lodge meetings, and the decisions of the lodges determine the policy of the district unions. Now the Rhondda district comprises practically one- third of the mining population of South Wales. It is evident, therefore, that if unanimity is arrived at in the Rhondda only a small amount of support is needed from other districts to secure the acceptance of the Rhondda policy by the South Wales Miners' Federa- tion, and as the latter body is the largest constituent unit of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain, com- prising nearly one-fifth of the total membership, its recommendations and demands must always receive respectful consideration, and ultimately, if persisted in, acceptance. The recent proposal of the South Wales Miners' Federation in favour of a "down tools policy against conscription is an example of a decision arrived at in the manner indicated. The Rhondda is the strongest anti-conscription centre in South Wales. The most striking instance of the power of the Plebs League was in connection with the Minimum Wage agitation. The dispute at the Ely Pit over the cutting prices of coal in new seams led to the Cambrian Combine strike, involving 12,000 men. The Com- bine strike lasted several months during which serious rioting occurred, and all settlements arrived at by their leaders, and by the M.F.G.B. were rejected. Now was started the agitation for the Minimum Wage, in which the Plebs enthusiasts played an Gwenno, 'rwy'n hiraethu Am dy wenau cu, Pan ddaw'r nos i daenu'i Chysgod du. DISGWYL. Disgwyl rwyf am danat Yn y dduaf awr — Ond heb lais yn ateb important part, and the demand for a national strike to secure this reform was proposed. The Rhondda miners being unanimous the South Wales Miners' Federation decided to back the demand, and en- deavoured to prevail upon the M.F.G.B. to declare in favour of the same policy. The abnormal places question and the demand for the minimum wage obscured the Combine strike, which ultimately broke down. The M.F.G.B. now declared in favour of a legal minimum wage for abnormal places, and a national strike was called to enforce the demand. Government interference then became necessary, and Parliament was forced to enact the Miners' Minimum Wage Act, one of the most important pieces of industrial legislation ever placed on our Statute Books. This great reform sprang directly from the industrial troubles of the Rhondda. and is mentioned to show what far-reaching results may accrue from purely local agitations when backed by apparently insignificant educational forces. I do not propose to discuss here the weaknesses of the C.L.C. education or of the teachings of the I.L.P. It must, however, surely be obvious, in view of the important results which may accrue from wrong systems of education both to the mining community and the nation at large, that the subject of civic, economic, and political education should be carefully considered with a view to the provision of some State-aided system on unbiassed lines, which will appeal to the largest possible number of young men residing in our teeming mining valleys. Tyred, fy anwylyd, I fy mwthyn tlawd Wylaf ddagrau chwerw'n Erbyn Ffawd. Tros y cefnfor mawr. E.A.W. Observer.