Bargoed Journal. — 1907-01-31 (Gelligaer, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

COITUTIOII4. (Loud applause.) There was a googl deal of talk about socialism to-day but such reforms as he had mentioned wags the true kind of sot:lake:el that was wanted. (Applause.) The Chairman, in his introductory speech, said he was not eatiethel with the Church Cornmiesion, and he would be the only man that was satisfied with it if he was, and if there was nothing behind it wouid be a stone and that stone would be Ming at the heads of the Government. There were some who were in favour of dealing with the House of Lords, but he believed in having a programme and sticking to it. (Hear, hews.) They had an old quarrel with the House of Lords, which had always opposed popular legislation, but there was one exception, viz., the passing of the Magna Charts and they scented to have exhaueted themselves in that great effcrt. The time will conic when the Homo of Lords will have to be made up-to-date. They are not all fools and they took care to keep on the side of Mr. Evan Thema+ and others (Laughter.) They passed the Trades Disputes and the measure of his eloquent friend Mr. Lloyd George. He told the latter, " You didn't seem to have much trouble in passing that," and lie ier,liod. " No, the trouble was to prevent them putting more pressure on the middle class." If they wanted to nese the Huase ut Lords " Hie happy dispatch " (suicide) they should send up dieestablishment. (Applause.) He was very proud that they had such a brilliant man in Mr. . • Lloyd George and another following in his footsteps. Ile (Sir Alfred) would congestulate tne latter from the meeting on his pr sunitioe to Cabinet rank. They need not be alarmed at the State, and he had the promise of teir H. Campbell-Bannerman that he wined continue to bring it on. (Applauee.) They would rally ' around " C-B." and heip Min to heels his ertenize. (Loud applause.) IMr. ' R. W. Jones then moved, "That ilia.. ! mooting zejoices in the prospect Of Tetuperaziew  Legislation (luring the coming session, and! desires to express its _conviction that such legislation should have regard for the opinions of the people in the matter of granting or renewing drink licenses. We further hope that the new Bill will deal effectively with clubs, grocers licenses and Sunday closing." The speaker, after paying a compliment to Sir Alfred. said that from experece at home and abroad it was a matter for ffie legislature. The traffic was unique and he was not speaking from the teetotaller's point of view. Another reason why he supported the Motion was that the solution of the social questions was at the bottom of this question. They wanted to improve the question of education, which all felt so strongly upon. He did not say that this traffic was at the bottom of it but it might be said they would not get the proper stratum. in children for education. (Applause.) The drink question touched the questions of hours and wages. He was in favour of high wages. but he would dread this if it was to be wasted in drink. Whilst sitting on the bench at New Tredegar he saw some fine men coming up to be fined through drink,and his heart was sad thereat. (Hear, hear.) Now, with regard to clubs, he said he remembered going round at Gilfach with a petition against a public-house license, and one woman told him she would not sign it as her experience of signing such a petition was that a club was worse than a public-house. He had no quarrel with a publican and he believed as a class they conducted their houses as well as they could on account of the law. With regard to grocers' licenses he must say that he had never forgiven "Old Gladstone" for giving the license to grown', as it had done such harm among the womefl of this country. (Applause.) With regard to Sunday closing he would like this to be brought about in a universal way, and if this was nett possible then he would be glad if they could push the borders up to the Wye. (Laughter.) The Rev. Harri Edwards, in seconding, said the public-houses in Bargoed on a Sunday were orderly, but on the other side of the river the scenes to be witnessed on a Sunday were altogether out of harmony and spirit of the Lord's • Day, and inasmuch as there was such a large population just on the borders of Monmouthshire and Wales it would be a splendid thing if Sunday closing was extended to Monmouthshire. as the population on the other end of Glamorganshire was not so great as here. There was one matter that was omitted from the resolution and that was the question of house to house canvassing. The drink traffic was not going by its own weight but by push, and there were agents going about getting orders and these gentlemen were by their winning way difficult to get rid of. These agents even came to his house and asked him to buy drink, and surely I if they went to his house what would they do with those who were wavering and accustomed to take a glass. This feature of the drink traffic was mischievous as this system brought drink into the home.