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Papers of D. A. Thomas, Viscount Rhondda, including letters to D. A. Thomas on political matters such as working conditions in the mining industry, education, church disestablishment, and the temperance movement, 1891-1910 (mainly 1891-1895); drafts and copies of letters from D. A. Thomas on similar subjects, 1891-1895; miscellaneous letters, 1893-1895; subject files, 1874-1917, on the coal industry, including the Cambrian Navigation Collieries, the Mining Association of Great Britain, the South Wales Liberal Federation, temperance and disestablishment; scrapbooks of press cuttings, 1894-1927, relating to Cymru Fydd, D.A Thomas, Merthyr politics and Keir Hardie, the Lusitania, and Lady Rhondda; miscellaneous items, 1897-1934, including genealogical material and congratulatory addresses to D.A.T.; circulars and memoranda.

They are grateful to D. A. Thomas for helping to secure the interview with Sir George Young. Would like D. A. Thomas's assistance in effecting an introduction to the Commissioners. He is especially anxious that D. A. Thomas should be present at the interview.

He is happy to meet D. A. Thomas at the House of Commons to discuss an improvement in the postal facilities for south Wales.

Agrees that it would be best for the writer and his colleague to have an interview with the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary before the Federation deputation on the same day. Would like D. A. Thomas and Mr Pritchard Morgan to make the necessary arrangements. Hopes that D. A. Thomas and Morgan will speak and vote against the second reading of the bill.

Encloses a copy of a resolution (A1/12a) passed by a meeting of some three hundred young people convened under the auspices of the Merthyr District Tpsce Union at Morlais chapel. He is pleased that D. A. Thomas has a question on the paper - 'To rid our Country of this curse would be a great blessing & may your efforts in this cause be a success.'. The resolution - (A1/12a) - 'deeply deplore[d] the demoralizing effect of the Drink Traffic upon our young People', and welcomed the intention of the Government to introduce legislation. It urged the introduction of a measure which placed 'full & unlimited control directly in the hands of the People'.

D. Fleming, Advanced Elementary School, Merthyr Tydfil, president of the Merthyr Tydfil, Dowlais and District Teachers' Association, and four other officials of the Association. Gives a resolution adopted by a recent meeting of the Association on the importance of a motion to be introduced in the House of Commons by Sir Richard Temple on 24 February relating to the desirability of establishing a 'National State aided system of Superannuation for Teachers in Public Elementary Schools in England and Wales'. The Association hopes that D. A. Thomas will support and vote for the motion.

Regrets the delay in responding to D. A. Thomas's note. He is fully prepared to voice the opinions of the constituency before Mr Gladstone in the presence of the federationists, 'but I fancy that they & my friends from other parts of south Wales don't care for our company, therefore I leave it entirely in your hands & the Prime Minister to arrange'. He has written to the secretary, but has received no reply. Is the date fixed for 3 March? Would like D. A. Thomas and Mr Pritchard Morgan MP to attend.

Encloses a circular which he has received from the representatives of the Federation of Great Britain. It is not possible to meet Gladstone together with them. Could D. A. Thomas ascertain whether a separate meeting with the Prime Minister is possible? Should they come up to London on Thursday or Friday?.

Gives a detailed statement (9 pp.) on 'The Defence of Cardiff' addressed to D. A. Thomas as the President of the Cardiff Chamber of Commerce.

Were the Shipowners' Liability Bill to be passed, 'a great injustice would be done to a large section of the community who have invested their money in shipping'. Hopes that D. A. Thomas will oppose the measure strenuously. The shipping trade is already labouring under a disadvantage and it is difficult to make ends meet.

He is very glad that D. A. Thomas is sufficiently recovered in health to take his place in the House of Commons and to address his question on winding ropes to the Home Secretary. He is much impressed by Mr Fowler's new Registration Bill, but believes that it could be improved in some respects. Outlines the improvements which he would like to see to the measure - the lodger franchise; the rating qualification; the desirability of a half-yearly Register. Has read in the paper that Fowler is likely to delete from the Bill the clause placing the appointment of Registrars in the hands of the County Councils and that he proposes to appoint the present Assistant Overseers. Believes that the two offices should be held as separate appointments. Many Assistant Overseers are Conservatives, and it would be to the advantage of the Liberal Party to appoint persons sympathetic to the Liberal viewpoint.

They wish to draw recipient's attention to the potential dangers of appointing the present Assistant Overseers as District Registrars under the provisions of the 1893 Registration Act. The majority of Assistant Overseers in the Southern Division of the county of Monmouth are Conservatives; only about six out of fifty are sympathetic to the Liberal cause. They urge recipient to oppose the clause in the 1893 Bill which appoints the Assistant Overseers as District Registrars.

Encloses the petition adopted by the Board relating to the 1891 Elementary Education Bill. Discusses the current school fees and poundage received and the proposed abolition of the 17s.6 limit. Hopes for D. A. Thomas's support.

He is writing in connection with the introduction of the Liquor Traffic (Local Control) Bill as it affects many hundreds of D. A. Thomas's constituents. The measure would be unjust to traders like the writer and to thousands of D. A. Thomas's supporters. The bill seeks to close public houses completely - a great blow to the working classes in the constituency. Private drinking would inevitably result from the passage of the measure, and both the trader and investing capitalist would suffer. Discusses the weaknesses in the bill and the conduct of the elections. Believes that the provisions of the 1881 Sunday Closing Act should be re-considered. 'A more odious piece of class legislation, & one more dishonest in its consequences there has never been introduced.' Implores D. A. Thomas to oppose the measure.

Encloses the resolution passed unanimously by the Society in connection with the proposed Government Liquor Traffic (Local Control) Bill (A1/20). Hopes that D. A. Thomas will oppose the measure.

Two members of the Association have been sued by the Pharmaceutical Society for selling a patent medicine known as 'Porrells Balsam of Aniseed'. Has discovered that they had both been properly licensed by the government. The two gentlemen are Mr D. Davies JP and F. W. Mander, the High Constable of Aberdare.

He has been requested by the Executive of the Aberdare District Grocers' Association to ask D. A. Thomas to support the second reading of the amendment bill to the Sale of Food and Drugs Act (1875) on the following Tuesday. The Foreign and Colonial Meat Bill has also been introduced; discusses the provisions of the measure. Hopes that D. A. Thomas will exert himself to ensure the defeat of the measure on its second reading. Will send D. A. Thomas a formal resolution on both subjects after the Association meets on Monday night.