The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, June 30, 1914. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1265, 30 June 1914, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, June 30, 1914. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Some time ago the Plaxmills’ Employees' Union imposed a levy of 13s upon its members, contrary to the rules of the Union, and one of its members, upon refusing to pay, was hailed before a magistrate, who decided against the Union. The magistrate’s full judgment is set out iu Saturday’s issue of the Herald. The member who bad the moral courage to protest and expose the illegal procedure of the executive is to be commended, and he is entitled to the thanks ol his fellow members. It is hoped that his action will arouse a keener interest in the affairs of the union than hitherto. The objects ot the union as set out in its rules are: (1) To effect a proper understanding between employers and employees ; (2) To support workmen ot the calling in maintaining fair conditions ot employment; (3) To help in reforming any abuses that may exist in the calling. Members should not allow themselves to be used for purposes outside the legitimate objects of the union at the dictation of certain extremists. Members of the Union should remember that they are not “dumb-driven cattle,” to be talked down by hair-brained agitators, but they should think and act lor themselves. What is to hinder the union seriously considering the question of becoming producers on the co-operative principle ? They are in the main practical men, their evidence before the Arbitration Court sets out that flaxmilling is a profitable industry; the Government could be approached to purchase, for leasehold purposes, a flax area, thereby fixing an equitable flax royalty, and in view of the money that union members freely “part out” for purposes which bring them neither direct or indirect benefit, the financial aspect should not prove an insuperable barrier. We admit this is outside the objects of the union, but there is more sense iu it than emptying their pockets to keep a set of useless parasites going. We refuse to believe that a majority ot the C txmills employees cannot see further than their collective nose, and we recommend this suggestion for their consideration.

Foxtos has not in the past

publicly observed Arbor Day, but we believe an attempt will be made tliis year by the locul school committee to observe the day by further improving the school grounds. The Education Board draw up a scheme to be followed by schools in the distiict on Arbor Day, but beyond giving lessons and addresses appropriate to tree planting, practical work in the past has been carried out ou days other than that set apart for the purpose of tree planting. The Chairman of the School Committee and head teacher have a scheme in hand which, if approved, could add, at little cost, to the further beautifying of the school grounds and give pleasure to the school life of the pupils. The idea is to invite the male portion of the public to assemble at the grounds, armed with spades, and plant a row of suitable hedge trees from the shed to the horse enclosure, and erect a protective fence for same, and level a portion of the ground to the north of the proposed hedge to the extent of a full-sized tennis court, to hfe subsequently asphalted. A dozen able-bodied men, assisted by the pupils, could accomplish this work in two hours. Mr W. C. Nation, of Eevin, the founder of Arbor Day in New Zealand, has promised to come along and deliver an address ; the children could sing one or two songs, and the ladies provide afternoon tea ! Now, we believe the citizens and committee will fall in with this programme, and we feel sure, provided the fates send a fine day, a most enjoyable and profitable afternoon could be spent and Arbor Day celebrated in a fitting manner. We shall have more to say on this subject later on.