THE DISTRESS. IN SOUTH WALES [To the Editor of the
SPECTATOR.]
have read with deep interest the article by Mr. F. Yeats-Brown in your issue of February 18th (p. 219), and although I agree with his conclusions I would like to point out the error of some sweeping statements contained therein. I am moved with no motive but the feeling that Mindy is wronged and the Communists here advertised. For example he writes :— " Almost everyone is a Communist here, to-day." This is perfectly unjustifiable, and anyone who lives here knows this to be erroneous. Probably the Communist Party in Manly would not amount to more than fifty in all, and of these possibly a few would not like it to be generally known that they were sworn Communists. Again : " The Working Men's Hall is now adorned with large framed portraits of Stalin and the Soviet Tsars." The Hall does not contain a single such portrait. It is true that one small room contains these, but apart from the few Com- munists no one here takes the slightest notice of these. Further : " Boys are growing up with no idea of living except on the dole, &c." When the collieries resume I can assure you that the Manly boys will show that they have a very practical idea of living on hard work and not " on the dole."
Your correspondent's information of Manly seems to have been derived from one source. He should have interviewed others during his visit and it would have been a revelation to him: Christ has not been displaced and a new saviour born--Stalin. What of our churches and our worthy pastors here ? It should be known that within the last year or so six young men have decided to spend their lives in the service of the Christian Church. The Young People's Guild in the various churches are very flourishing and show great talent.
I wish he had met some of our devoted Christian miners whose conduct in life is a moral and spiritual help to the young men and whose Characters bear the unmistakable mark of their devotion. Then we have a very successful Dramatic Party, the Conservative Party with Women's Conservative Guild, the Ex-Service men with the Women's' Section of the British Legion. Finally, what of the business men here who help to their utmost capacity to carry the burden ? They are all here despite the statement " that almost everyone is a Communist here." The only difference is that the Communists shout of their activities whereas others plod along quietly.
The term " Little Moscow " is a slight on the inhabitants of this village, and I have a shrewd idea a good advertisement for the little handful of Communists here and elsewhere.—
[Mr. Yeats-Brown writes : "If, as your correspondent says, there are only fifty Communists in Mardy, the people a South Wales must be mistaken in calling it ' Little Moscow it was not I who invented the" name. As to Stalin and Co., there they are as your correspondent admits • who ever suggested that their unattractive features were displayed in every room ? "—En. Spectator.]
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