A WORKER'S PARADISE.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3559, 6 May 1901, Page 3

A WORKER'S PARADISE.

" I have seen a smiling village of prosperity and content—a worker's paradise," was the commentary of a representative of the " Daily News," after visiting Messrs Cadbury's model village at Bournville, England. We have already given some particulars of this great experiment, nv itiated by Mr G. Cadbury with the object of ameliorating the condition of'the working classes in and around Birmingham and elsewhere in Great Britain. The idea is. to provide improved dwellings,-with gardens-, and open spaces, and to give the people facilities, where deemed' desirable, for purchasing or acquiring the necessaries of life. To this end Mr G. Cadbury has;made a gift valued at from £170,000 , to; £IBO,OOO. The estate given by the founder for the purpose of carrying out his wishes, consists of about 416 acres,. with 439 cottages erected upon it, and the description of the place, given by the visiting pressman, is thickly besprinkled with terms expressive of eulogistic appreciation. - The village is, <if course, near to the firm's factory, but the factory buildings are declared to be the least unpleasing group of factories the writer has ever seen.' Walking from these buildings vp the wide, winding road, planted with trees, towards the settlement, the pedestrian saw large red brick houses, with ample gardens. These, the guide explained, were the cottages of some of the workmen who lived near the factories in case of an outbreak of fire. "Cottages, I almost blushed at the word," writes the visitor. " In the suburbs of London such dwellings would be advertised as commodious, high-class, residences." Through a gateway to the left a heaiitiful copse was entered, yith winding paths and sheltered seats, with rooks cawing melodiously in the lofty elms, with primroses in bloom upon the mossy grass. This was the factory girls'

garden, and further on was a beautiful lawn, where the girls played tennis and croquet. In the near distance was the men's recreation ground—eleven acres of grass—while in another direction was an open-air swimming bath, and in yet another a pavilion and gymnasium under course of construction. Rambling on, the visitor came to a fine old mansion standing in extensive grounds that included an orchard, kitchen gardens, vineries, greenhouses, conservatories, etc. These gardens have a special use. They provide grapes and delicacies formally of the factory hands who may be ill; The house, itself is the home o$ a number of happy girls-—orphans who are employed at the works and who pay a small sum for their board and lodging, In another building bright faced boys were playing bagatelle, while companions were borrowing books, reading magazines, or otherwise profitably spending their time in other parts of the building. This was the Lads' Institute. Alms houses are also there, but very few of the firm's employees find places in them, fort the old hands are all pensioned off.