LYSAGHTS AND THE WAR

THE balance sheet of Lysaghts' Workmen's Relief Fund from September 1914-December 1918 makes very interesting reading, and if it is possible to read between the lines, the record of a great work. The men agreed to a reduction of one-and-a-half per cent from their wages, and this amounted to £13,489 11s. Out of the fund they decided to pay one shilling a week for every child of a man who enlisted. As the children numbered about 1,000, this absorbed about £150 - a total of £10,609 10s 6d. It was further decided to give £1 to each married soldier on furlough from overseas, and 10s to each unmarried soldier, and this (and other allowances) absorbed £1,485. But in addition to their own special work, they gave £134 to the Belgian Relief Fund, £50 for the entertainment of wounded soldiers, £20 for smokes for soldiers, £20 special donation to the Royal Gwent Hospital, and £10 10s to the Prisoners of War Reception Fund. There is now a balance in hand of £1,160 10s 8d. The balance sheet is signed, "T Corbett, Chairman; T Crowther, Secretary", and they and their fellow workers are to be congratulated upon the fine spirit which prompted their effort and the success it has attained.

In addition a Produce Show was held, and another £39 was realised, and sent to Lieut. J W Hunt, for the Wounded Soldiers' Entertainment Fund, while the whole of the produce, worth about £30, was sent to Woolaston House. About 1,500 men enlisted from Lysaghts' Works, and the firm throughout the war have made an allowance of 10s a week to the wives of all the married men.

NEWPORT'S SUBMARINE

THE officers and crew of the submarine visited the Alexandra Docks on Friday, and were entertained to luncheon by the Alexandra Docks and Railway Company. the General Manager presided, and the guests included Lieut. Brookes RN (commander of the submarine), Lieut. Murphy, and most members of the crew. Also present were the Mayor, Mr G Geen (of the Works Committee of the Newport Harbour Commissioners), Capt. Alexander RN (Naval Transport Officer), Major James (Chief Embarkation Officer), Commandant Davies RNR, Mr F W Higgison (Messrs Deloitte, Plender and Co), and the following officials of the company: Mr J L Cheyne (Secretary), Mr W J Harrison (Engineer), Mr Frank Brown (General Manager's Assistant), Capt. Cutcliffe and Capt. Roberts (Deputy Dockmasters), Mr W G Phillips (Traffic Superintendent), Mr J H Swallow (Chief Wharfinger).

After luncheon the General Manager announced that tug was in readiness to convey the party round the docks. He also stated that photographs had been taken of the U-Boat at the Town Dock, and he would have pleasure in sending a photograph to each member of the crew as a souvenir of their visit. Mr Vickery expressed his great pleasure at having had the opportunity of entertaining the officers and crew of the submarine, and hoped that their inspection of the Alexandra Docks would prove an enjoyable one.

Lieut. Brookes replied on behalf of the officers and crew, and thanked Mr Vickery for the very cordial reception they had been given at Newport, and for the entertainment they had had. He was quite sure that their visit to Newport and to the docks would always remain a most pleasant memory with the officers and crew of the vessel.

A tour of inspection of the docks, and a visit to the new lock and power stations was afterwards made.