Borough Employees' Social

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1208, 24 December 1904, Page 2

Borough Employees' Social

The Annual Gathering

In the Miners' Union Hull last night tho Borough omployees held thoir annual stuoko conceit in celebration of tho tormination of tho year's work. There was a large attendance, and from the opening lonst right on to tho conclusion of th pro, gramme- ilie proceedings were animated and ini Greeting. Mr Ling, who presided, read apologies from Mr Morpeth (Town l lerk) Councillors Saunders and Hondorson for their uu» voidable absenco, The Chairman, in proponing tho toast of iho Mayor and councillors, briefly referred to the mutual relations between the em* ployies and members of the Council, which wero of a most cordial chaiacter. He called upon Or. Foster to respond. Cr, Foster prefaced his remarks by expressing regret that other members of the Council were r.ot present, Ho thanked them for the cordial and hearty manner they had received (he toast. Gatherings such as was being held that night wbre good for the promotion of good feeling between employer and employee, and was often the moans of dissipating troubles imaginary or otherwise. Jn referring to borough matters he said he was a firm believer in municipal ownership of all monopolies, The Waihi Borough had in this mutter set an example to manv larger boroughs in New Zealand. He referred lo tho advancement England and Scotland were making in bringing institutions under municipal control, The iMulincs formerly in the hands of private enterprise in tho largest boroughs in both England and Scotland wore" now owned or being owned by municipal bodies. In speaking on tho subject of municipal ownership ho referred to tho tact of tho Auckland electrical tram linos boing owned by a private company, Ho considered tho action of the City Council in bartering away such an important privilege was a disgrace to that body, They wero dcUuiined that nono of tho privileges would go otii of the hands of the local Council. Ho hud hopod that tho gas works would havo been commenced before this. In this connection a word of pruise was duo toCr, Donaldson. That gentleman, when it was fonnd that there would-bo delav in accepting the tondor for the major portion of tho plant, advocated that the Council should accept the tender for the pipes, so that the work of laying them might bo undertaken, and the work completed and in readiness when tho other plant came to hand. It was a good thing for any borough to have works that wero reproductive completed as soon as possible. He considered that Waihi had a solid foundation under it, and that there was overy promise of it being the best inland township in Now Zealand, In bringing his remarks to a conclusion Cr Foster wished the gathering a happy Christmas and prosperous Now Year, Ho regretted that some of the men, and no doubt somo

of those wero present, wero put out of the borough employment, but ho hoped that this would be remedied in the early part of next year. _ JustbcforoCr. Foster had finished speaking Cr Donaldson put in an appearanoe, and was invito! by tho Chairman to address the meeting, Cr Donaldson, upon rising to his feet, made somo jocular roforence to tho previous spoakcr's ability as an orator, and to n remark ho had hoard as he, the speaker, oame into tho room, about a "gfis pipe." Ho was puzzled to know what Or Foster meant by tho term " gas pipe," Thoy wero awaro of course, that he, himself, was not accustomed to uiako long spoechos. (Laughter.) Ho ivas very pleased to soo so many proaunt, and it wns specially pleasing to soa i hem all looking so thoroughly happy. It was opportunities, such as these, that had a good influence on the workmon, Councillors, engineer and sho bossos, Ho was happy to think that tho relationship botween tho men and tho bossos

whs of the best possible condition. Apart from tlio borough, Waihi wag making vnst strides in (ho mining industry, a circumstance which would

be wolcomed by nil. Progress in local I mining meant providing more employ I mtnt, and enriching iho plaeo generally. In referring to the Council and omployoos | he said thai the Conned had boon fair and just to the employers, and that the employees hud been fair and just to their employers. Ho Imped that tho sumo condiiion of things would continuo to exist in the to: urn In conclusion liDWislicd Ihcw all a very morry Christinas and a happy ind prosperous Now Yoar, expressing a hope that.during tho forthcoming year ch ro would be very li tie broken time for the men,

Tho toast lo the ''Mining Industry" was responded to by Mr Dundas. Flo had been mining nearly all his hfo, and had seen Waihi advanced from a very suiull affair to the proud position it held that day, It was continuing to progress and advance, so to speak, every hour. Mr Scobio, whose name had been coupled with tho toast, said ho was surprised thoy should call upon him, as he was not a rriuer, He was a borough employee, lii responding to Iho toast to the Born ough Euiploye»s Mr Heaps said he ms sorry thai mora members of the Council were not prosont. Tiny had boon invited and bad aocoptcd theinvitation. He thought it was strango that tiny should be drink in?; their own heaMi, Songs wero contributed during the evening by Mes rs J. Book, J?, Clarkin, T, E, Palmer, E. Toomey, \V. Walker and Butler, and reciiatious wero giyer. by Messrs, Dundas and Batson, The enjoyable evening broke up about half past elevon.