BOROUGH WORKS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9225, 24 June 1909, Page 3

BOROUGH WORKS.

REPORT BY THE BOROUGH ENGINEER. At the meeting of the Works Committee last week, a report from the Borough Engineer in the following terms was received and adopted:— "The consolidation of the road surfaces and the regulations of the footpaths in Pownall street between Renall and Villa streets and the whole of Cole and Essex streets has been effected. The work of setting back the fence lines along Mr J. Cavanagh's property inMichael Dixon street, together with the erection of a new close buarded fence has been carried to completion. The fencing of the extension of Herbert street into Makora street has been effected and the'road is now oper. to the public. Similar observations apply to the Columba road extension acruss Kuripuni street as far as the borough boundary. In connection with this object the Masterton County Clerk advises me that his Council has arranged to purchase the land to connect with Cockburn street from the Borough boundary, and I have asked the County Council to proceed with the fencing and the work of such road construction as is considered necessary with as little delay as possible in order that driven animals which now seriously damage the footpaths in Kuripuni street may be diverted into Cockburn street within the County. I have been in communication with the several owners on the widened side of J Kuripuni street requesting them to make their claims for compensation, if any, in respect of lands taken for the widening. At present lam not inpossession of a complete set of replies. It is necessary, however, that the Borough should deal with such of the claims as have been received owing to the statutory limitations of the Public Works ' Act. I have looked into the reference to me on the subject of the Hosking Bath. The Committee have of course acknowledged that Dr. H. Hosking has undertaken to provide the sum of £SOO towards the construction of a swimming bath for women and girls to be named the "Christiana and Alice Memorial Baths." As requested, I EUbmit herewith a drawing showing the bath in plar, and sections 90ft by 40ft in the clear, placed on the line of the water race from the Waipoua feeding the Park lake. My estimate of coat I propose to report verbally. In connection with that estimate it may interest the Council to know that their Dixon street baths, 80ft x 40ft in the clear, which are fitted with a few dressing boxes and a shed of a light character only, has cost the.Boroughover ££oo, and this, with the bath placed upon a site to a very large extent, already excavated for its reception, as is not the case with the proposed bath. The contract price was £409, and the extras bring the total cost to £512."

The Committee commend that the Engineer be instructed to add to the plans suitable dressing rooms and to provide a suitable frontage with a close board fence eurrouding the bath, and to call for tenders for the whole work alternately for a bath 90ft x 40ft, and one 75ft j,x 40ft tor submission to the Committee and Dr. W. H. Hosking.

WORKERS AKD SOCIALISM.

EMPLOYERS' VIEWS.

Reference to socialism is made in the annual report of the Wellington Employers' Association, and attention is directed to the spread of current socialistic ideas amongst the workers and other residents of the Dominion. In order to emphasise the opinion of the employers of the Dominion that the nationalisation of means of production aa suggested by the socialists would mean the removal of incentives to personal effort and enterprise, and would prove fatal to the best interests of the country and people, the association, in conjunction with kindred associatons, throughout the Dominion, passed resolutions urging upon a non-socialistic political parlies the need for the sinking of minor difference?, and for their combining to combat the propaganda of the political socialists. "The committee believe the socialists have received a salutory check by reason of the employers openly opposing a>id combating them (says the report,) and there have been marked indications that the good sense of the workers has been awakened to the fact that socialist leaders in their trade unions are productive of strife rather than of industrial peac?."

The committee, while recognising that socialistic ideas are held and ! advooated by only a very small | portion of the people, desires to express the opinion that it "will be well for employers, and all wellwithersof the Dominion to -view the actions and proposals of the socialist party critically, and watch the trend of legislation closely, in order that any attempt to further the revolutionary schemts of that party may be promptly and strenuously opposed." Conciliation councils are approved by the committee, who state that so far the working and results of this new machine have proved eminently satisfactory, and give promise of doing away with the bitter feeling that was apt to be displayed in disputes before conciliation boards a.id the Arbitration Court. There is an encouraging tendancy on the part of workers to recognise the community of interest . that exists between worker and em- ( ployer. The comprehensive definition of a strike and of striking, and the penalties provided in the Act, should, the report scates, induce workers to i realise that awards of the Court i must be observed, and that they cannot with impunity interfere with, or prevent the supply of, the necesI saries of lif';, or the use of public ] means of conveyance.