WORKMEN'S HOMES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8440, 14 May 1907, Page 4

WORKMEN'S HOMES.

The attendance at the meeting, held last Friday night, to consider the proposed establishment of workers' dwellings in Masterton was not so satisfactory as might have been anticipated in view cf the benefit that the workers would receive from such dwellings if erected upon proper lines. However, we should imagine that the attendance was hardly so poor'as to discourage the promoters of the movement. It was unfortunate that the Mayor was not present, as the meeting would have afforded him an opportunity of showing his sympathy with the workers in this town, and his ability as an organiser in the direction of securing what would be a great advantage not only to the workers of Masterton, but to the town itself, the welfare of which the Mayor is anxious to advance. However, there is no reason now why the Mayor should not become a member of the League, and occupy a prominent position in connection therewith. The suggestion made by Mr Ewington at the meeting that a league should be formed to promote land settlement generally is a good one, but those who are interested in the movement to secure workers' homes should take care that the smaller question is not "smothered" in the larger issue. A. perusal of various Arbitration Court awards, and a knowledge of unskilled and casual labour conditions, leads one to the conviction that there are a large number of workers in Masterton, who earn less than £3 a week each. It might, of course, be said that the workers themselves should show more interest in the proposal, but against that there is th 6 contention that those who have shown an interest in the,matter are possibly more aware of what might be accomplished than those for whose benefit the proposal has been made. Admitting that this latter contention is correct, it is obviously the duty of those putting forward the proposal ta make a decided effort to interest the workers affected m it.