CORRESPONDENCE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 30, 5 February 1912, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

♦ WHO WILL BE THE CHIEF SUFFERERS? l'O TttE EDITOfi. Sir, — In discussing the tram strike afi fair with a portion of the community, I find that a number of peopl« (who, by the way, have a leaning towards the flock of men who have gone on strike) seem •to lay much stress on the great power of organised labour. Should the secretaries cnll out the members of tho various unions in sympathy with the tramway men, what an upheaval there will be ! They chuckle at the thought of the strength of organised labour. We'll havo no light, theie will be a great shortage of food, coal, etc., etc. But should tbes« unfortunate circumstances arise, v«> fellow-workers will be tn9 principal sufferers. The capitalists will suffer a bit, perhaps, but we ourselves, most assuredly, will be the chief j sufferers. Don't forget it. The only '■ gainexe are the paid agitators. In conclusion, I think tho thoughtful I public should compensate the two or ! three men who have remained true to the public, haying refused to break the law and be driven in the flock. They have stood as men; they are what heroes are made of. I, for one, would be pleased to give my mite, in order to show in a tangible way my appreciation, should a public subscription be started. — I am, etc., MANLY DISCIPLINE. Wellington, 2nd February, 1912. HUTT BOROUGH COUNCIL AND BIVERJ3OARD. XO TUX ZSITOS, Sir,— ln Tuesday's Post you have given a fairly full report of the discussion i on the question of the amalgamation''of the above local bodies, or rather the absorption by the council of the River Board, and although I ani no longer a member of the latter body, I would be glad of the opportunity of putting the other side of the question before the people, from the standpoint of a considerable ratepayer. The contention of the Mayor, who is still solicitor to tho board, is, that if the council had control of the river it would be worked more economically, and that £200 or £250 -would be saved yearly. Now, I question that statement, and do not Jbelieve it can be done if the present high standard of efficiency is to be maintained. The Mayor ha.? simply made a bald assertion that this saving can be effected, and so we are left to guess how. Well, the outdoor 6taff consists of four men, including a working overseer, who is paid £1 per week, and these men, or their equals, if obtainable at th» same wages, must be kept going. Then we have the clerk to the board at £180 per annum and office rent (£6o)— together £240— and if these are to be abolished and the work given to the borough council staff it will be observed that the Mayor is on the horns of a beautiful dilemma. Either the council's clerical staff is overpaid about £250 at present, or if they are to do the river board's work for extra pay, where does the saving | come in? There remains, then, the question of whether the portion of the river district outside the Hutt borough, namely Petone and the Hutt County, will be content to be left to the tender mercies of this borough council, even if legislative sanction can be obtained for same. I do not think they will, and believe that the new member of the board froin_the Taita ivill fail in his duty if he does not, at all hazards, insist on the board redeeming its promise to safeguard the new district from disastrous floods, which means an expenditure of 'a good many hundreds of pounds. I am strongly of opinion that amalgamation or absorption would not tend either to efficiency or economy, and that it would be wise to let well alone; also, that it would be safer to leave the control of the river in the hands of five men who would give it undivided attention, rather than to the present or any other council, who, more often than not, speak before they think, and resemble a flock of sheep jumping over a straw after a beli wether. In his speech the Mayor said "that ther» was no doubt the River Board had done good work," but in my view that is to damn it with faint praise, as no one knows better than he that the board haa really remade the Hutt Valley, because, before 1899, this beautiful and fertile valley was being Tendered desolate and being rapidly depopulated by the ravages of the river, and that all the expenditure of this and previous councils on street-making, drainage, etc., would have been needless and impossible unless the board had first mads the valley safe to live in. I speak feelingly, having contributed somewhat both towards the formation of the board and to the splendid work it has accomplished, and have come pity, -not unmixed with contempt, for those who join in a silly cry without knowing anything of th& merits of the case. — I am, etc., ROBERT STEVENS. Lower Hutt, Ist February, 1912.