The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, August 6, 1912 NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1079, 6 August 1912, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, August 6, 1912 NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Tut; Borough Council has forwarded the following circular to owners of properly in Main Street in respect to a temporary tire prevention scheme ;

It is proposed to raise a loan to install a water supply for fire prevention for the Main Street only, and it is also proposed to rate only Main Street sections to provide the interest and sinking fund tor the repayment of such loan, and I am instructed to ask if you are willing to be so rated. Kindly reply at once, as the matter will come before the Council for decision in the course of a few days. I enclose a stamped envelope for reply. We do not think those circularised will agree to the proposal, because it is altogether too expensive tor a temporary scheme and, furthermore, the new buildings in course of construction in the main thoroughfare, and those to be

erected, will be practically fireproof—externally. The suggestion we made some time ago, i.e., fire wells, or sumps, a few chains apart in the main thoroughfare and in other congested areas, and a manual engine, hose and reel, would be just as effective, and far more economical. The manual could be used in any part of the town where required, and the whole equipment furnished lor about It is useless tinkering with any other scheme at present. It is only a matter of. say, two years, when the gas works will be self-supporting, and then a comprehensive high-pressure water supply scheme can be submitted with confidence to the ratepayers. At present the burden of rates is just about as much as the people can bear, and the appeal now being submitted to the Main street property owners will, we are sure, receive little or no support.

A SPECIAL meeting of the Borough Council will be held this evening for the purpose of electing a Mayor for the remainder of the term, rendered necessary by the retirement of Mr Stiles, it is matter for regret that Mi Stiles could not remain in office for the full term, but circumstances, over which he had no control, left him no option but to resign. Mr Stiles was returned unopposed on four occasions for the Mayoralty. This is something of an unique record, and while a bloodless victory is not equivalent to winning one’s spurs, it is, nevertheless, strong evidence of the high esteem in which the ex-Mayor is held. During his term of office the ex-Mayor has displayed capable administrative ability, diplomacy and tact, and, as a result, the Council has pulled well together and Foxton has moved forward. The meetings have been conducted with decorum and there has been an absence of bitterness in debate. It is unfortunate at this time that Mr Stiles’ services should be lost to the borough because there are many important matters which require immediate and careful consideration by men possessing a knowledge of local conditions and requirements. However, Mr Stiles is entitled to the best thanks of the burgesses for the sacrifices he has made on behalf of the town. He has set an example of citizenship which should inspire other busy business men to go and do likewise. We hope that at some future date Mr Stiles will again enter the Council and assist in shaping the destiny of Foxton. The Council should not have much difficulty in appointing a successor. Cr Speirs has very capably filled the civic chair in times past during the temporary absence of the Mayor. Next to Cr Geo. Coley he has served the ratepayers faithfully for many terras. He has a thorough knowledge of the town’s requirements and has large interests in the borough. He is a dour Scotsman aud possesses the characteristic bump of caution. He is not glib of tongue neither does he lay much value on diplomacy, but once his hand is at the plough he does not look back. From what we know of Cr Speirs he should fill the bill to the satisfaction of ratepayers. His excuse may be that he is a busy man. Experience has taught us that the best results are obtainable from busy men. Then there is Cr Greig, a man of experience in local government affairs, and although a comparative newcomer, has taken the keenest interest in Foxton’s welfare and possesses a thorough grip of our requirements • As a Councillor he has won th e confidence aud esteem of his confreres and we know of no citizen whose elevation to the civic chair would meet with such general satisfaction. We hope one of the two gentlemen mentioned will see their way to make a further sacrifice for the remainder of the term. In putting the names of Crs. Speirs aud Greig forward, we have no desire to reflect upon the administrative capabilities of the other gentlemen “of the horseshoe table” —they are all good men aud true —but we believe we are voicing the general feeling of the ratepayers in giving them pride of place. The final choice, of course, rests with the Council and whoever is appointed will, we are sure, have the welfare of the town in view rather than a desire to gratify personal ambition.

“The r\postles of Bouuce’’ is the title which the New Zealand Railway Review, the organ of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, applies to the Federation of Labour. It says: “The New Zealand Labour movement is inflicted with the curse of an extreme section always on the lookout for a fight, always bouncing and boasting about the industrial millenium which is to be ushered in by the triumph of the general strike. Society is to be saved by violence—we are all to become happy and contented under a regime imposed by dictators of the type who forced a strike at Timaru because two members of the A.S.R.S. had not considered it necessary to belong to the Federation of Labour. They were, according to their elegant language, affected by these violent reformers, ‘scabs,’ The fact that they belonged to a trade union registered by law, and that they were thus to be bullied into joining an organisation not possessing that legal standing, did not appear to have a bearing on the use of the objectionable word—the Federation of Labour plays fast and loose with words as well as more serious things. This is the first time railway men have been brought face to face with the militant methods of the F'ederation of Labour. They discover that its

plans are to attack first, then consider the justice and equity of the position afterwards. The Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants is not going to quietly tolerate impudent innovations of this kind.”