“Mabon, M.P.”

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4, 24 July 1912, Page 2

“Mabon, M.P.”

The Miner who Sang Himself to Parliament.

©'R ig e'.~ i< an un:rae~lat«abie wodfm WeJ-h rateh-w.-r-l. -sv* a ariler :■ th* “Dt»3» Nevrs." You «nuM hear -it eve? - v rv- —at political -ingisg festival*, asj the EsteddSxl. I: marke! thr eri-wd’* appreciation of a va ia a circus or aa orator at a ”<iens- n-tratioß. - of a juggirr in a fair, or a singer on the platform. It expressed tie tWi-h collier's deepest admiratiou at any feat - f *kiii or art. iy comparing the performer to “ Mabon.~ his Adniirit - ’- ' e love and effection ia watch Mr William Abraham, M-P.—who. after eeiag ieader of t ?e S>ata Wale* miners for 3a years; has a-;--, resigned hi* presidency of the Federation—was held by all das*es of his countrymen. For “Maison- has teen a national institution. ta -'hom a:I took a personal pride. No Eisteddfod was complete ... ‘.tl.c-ft hist as thief letl.'.t.:. He kne’-v the crowd, and the cro-ard knev him. “Who is he, Mabont~ was the greeting which met every stranser that strutted upon the stage. Onte upon a :.y Fst?~--t ?ar..tt;.;-. eow: and g-.-cn.

apfeared <-n the-platform. “What denomination is he. Mabonf" wx< the naive inquiry of the hilarious crowd. - - - answer. A Fine Singer. if Ihba had been bora3*year*later than ISC2. be would hate earned fante ami fxtune a* a * n»sr. Nature H»-.-e-l him with an ev. ( ai*ite tex -r vtdse. -n -et, me'doar. and pouerfai. Bcf. before I* was ten years old he aa* seat so V*»ri nndersr.-nad. ami for ’he neat 15 years hi* rar* were not «a*l .n pleasant plaem. ttftes he had to drudge f»r Id >r.d more hour* a day for a — auty pittance. Rax natural gift* and force of character gradoady drove him to the iron: la h<s leisure naomenta, a ben men of a one

pby*zqate wciuki be ;o idZeHc** ©g gr©** pbM*ure?. be cukiiatei his bsa:utji! :x*te tor *<-ag and ie::crs. He came knows a* a cheir condaj.zer. a* x v orator anl »< a bird. He wa* a welFknown public mm before he *■»* aj-«|MEnxed miner*' agens for the We*:era District of Glamorganshire. He *eon became she mo*: powerful of :he uiii»er*' leailer* in Wale*. He !:teraJly *aisg him*elf in;© she bean* •.-! the kindly coliaer*. who, il i* *ai*l. will walk file anises to bear a *eiw-.«n. *even mile* :o *ee a figat. ami :en :oi§e* to hear a. i 1385 « nseznber was •jMired ror the newly-earved-out of the Rhoksa Vaaaey. '“Mabon~ was triumpl»antH~ n-ZiiraeJ. ami from ?hat Jay si* sever waned. A Typical Welsh Miner It i* sot diflieui: :<• understand Mat--- * uuh.c.e He wa.* a txy-i \Ve?*?« collier ©5 :W better sortlie the same thiiag* a* the mining ria**- He deiighted in a gx-o.i *eruMHi — he e*ei preached hint*e!f. He Hiked V 3 Hsix whh \L* fellow*, t-■ 3-.>TegATheT ai yw*L:-z.."^ B . aiseeting* *ingiißg festival*, be ?©T«?J .q d'.*pucaticss.'' ia>«k. yoz:—poditib

cal vr thefrlogiral. —a* weil a- >ir Hugh genial, get-at-able, zhorotighlv bunas* • j - g. a good *tory, no: ai*-r*tf- t- .r.:ag in *«»-iable frivolity. I have card hiim rvJtKe a ra*t a**» ms lage «»f rough miner* :•> traro 1-;. a taU- t<4d with art»*tie *im|diri«y. WUn a -roar strike a* on in 'MMith V» utfe- Maiw>n Jrew a picture of Che >»<*! that were e»t_s to J bi »: a hiu-h fir*T «tarttod asd ?!**•« nch«3 a evw ai ami pjivTi**n Hou«e of Uomnook A Great Per tonality. \\ Bier* «•- MfcL-’tt he i* binoelf a*>»l bu vfher. Hr no aflevtatxos*. no •n«*bbi* ; 4Ur **. no preten.ew. ||e never wore a top-bat w dmwoal. but hftf

rerj an-i Er.-k of seSf-con- ' •'A ' ' - ' ' g**?Kk®iesi._ H-* ufce X-tt»■•««! Arnhem a: th- Iftre *r. in !**'» : i-.■«-* Jiseat dbeZighi of nW wji- Dever hap|»ier than ¥Ht-*n n: tine We'-h “Mahwii.'* '*ki ci- grea’r prnna dftn- “*. .< UeiHtif ■ v-k-'f yon have-” ~ A j hjive y®li. nuddmir.’" *aid th* msiser** lend, while Patti rip|>le»l with In t<r unaH oi U?4e dispute* mailer’ and Burn. XfalMm -j»* e.|-.*_ilh himsels. He wocild not be eo- n »e*l any fak ciains on the jurs of the mes*. bat he w>»ukl net er a claim whkh he luyiMwi. He wa« frank with the warn « he wa- firm wish she He wa* the ehief meaitw <»f keepZns; the industrial e <••! •* vuth Wale 4 for over a quarter of a registry. It aa*-» «rea* anil o«»e that fwl!ji evplaiw* why he iw jiw imieh r«>pe> -M by the ®av**r* •« h* h Wlovc-I ie

Wlat Bray te regarded as rhe pamta( a gnat Imfcear lea t. • . . , re.»Mly at • 'ard’f. w ten tfee Rrrl-t H.e Wrßsaass A rafeam. M.P. reiii.;n!*t~d tie s-rv*;«:eocs- of ■fc. s. • •£» Wales Miners' after tt-e ,«»stta--. ®f 33