HAPPY COMMUNITY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 237, 6 October 1928, Page 9

HAPPY COMMUNITY.

RAILWAY WORKERS' CAMP. LIFE AT KOHIMARAMA^ WHAT OF MORNINGSIDE TUNNEL? lii Parliament a few', days ' ago the spotlight of public interest was fbcussed on the Public Works camp, which: lies on the healthful slopes above Kohiniarama. Mr. 1\ N. Bartram, M.P., asked a question with a view to ascertaining the intentions of the Government with regard to the carrying out of the proposed deviation on tlie northern. lailn'liy line- IJucween ..Uoniingside and .the city. The reply-was -indeuuite, but the Priiue Minister indicated that men were still being employed by the "Public \Vorks Department.

; A question of-great" concern-to -the" 200' men, women and children"who com-•■•. prise the camp community, is whether. , . the; camp will, remain as the base. 0f,,., operations for the Morniiigside, scheme, or be broken up on the completion of i the new'railway outlet to Westfield, aiid of the roadway to the eastern suburbs '.;'•■ along" the harbour-front. I,' ' ".*' ". It is an open "secret that, when the" [', camp was established three years ago ' ' the. nien who laid it out had in niiud'' ~ the J thought that it .would probably!be"','".'': required for the more ,', undertaking. This "is probably why the "•": settlement was given various touches of stability such as are not found in-Puti-lic Works camps, which are more remote from centres of population. ~,' ~,...,.,: By the Side of the Roaa." The cluster of grey buildings by the side of the main road where it swings round for the descent to Kohiinarania ds > r more than a It .'is' a sel^cqri-, , '" < tained community, with ,a diversity',of ,',\\>,,- interests, which come as a surprise •■ to::■ /.-. • the visitor. The dwellings vary in sizo from huts, which are used by. unmarried -workers, to houses .of four and''five, .rooms, which are occupied by the -, . with families. In some eases the families comprise-six or. seven children,, and •. extra accommodation, is provided accords ,;,- ingly. .. •■".■.,:: •■; . '.' :'■: JS!o healthier site could have beea . selected for tho men who have been... .. engaged for the past three years on the " railway and road works eastwai'd of the city. "It is out on its own as a place to live," said one of the enthusiastic residents, as he pointed from .the crest of the hill to the sweeping' view of the \Vaitemata, with Eangitoto in the foreground, and the Little Barrier, ving into the haze of the horizon. ■Other ■' reasons which make for the well-being ... of the community are concerned witli an. excellent, drainage scheme and a f carer ~, ful adherence to rules of health. "Up here we get every wind that- blows,"added the enthusiast, "but the breezes' keep us fresh." \ '." •. . .. : , . ■"..:

These workers and their families. are e a happy community. While they appreciate living sufficiently, close to the city .:< to take occasional advantage of attractions which do not come to those who"' dwell in bush enrps, yet they find- their ■ main interests within the' camp itself; They have their own shops, as well as '■'■" numbers' of visiting tradesmen; their social hall, library, and • other attrac-''-' I tfons for their hours of recreation: ....

: Community Welfare." ■ • "-■ y>:'■*■;". "We .owe a lot to the .overseer in charge of the camp (Mr. G. Weaver)/' said one.of the senior men, "for. the way. in which he organises the life out liere. We are also fortunate in having as our . Y;M.C.A. secretary, Mr. S. P. Paul, to look;after the social life of the camp.v Assisting Mi\ Weaver in his administration is a strong committee the workers, arid with them Mr. Paul co-operates. The Y.M.C.A. hall,'reniini-" ,, scent of the war-time, huts, is the' centre ■' of the social life.' Its''library MJ books and billiard room with. tSvo tables . are popular. On Monday and Thursday evenings there are moving pictures, and,; - frequently these are supplemented by/ socials and dances, and occasionally;,.-.t visiting concert parties provide entertaininents.; ■■• ;i ■ .n -. ■.. :-..-•<:-«>'■.■!>•

In the.field of sport the canip hasits__ football and cricket teams, Svhich 'in,' the.past.two or. three seasons have.TVcll upheld the niana of the Public Works"'' Department. •' * All of these activities, , s make for that spirit of neighbourliriess which means so much to the happiness —- of such a community. Young life is everywhere prominent. In all therer/are , ." about 100 children.' They attend school at Kohimarairia, St. Helper's and Meadow-y----bank, and some of/the older boys are at' the Auckland Grammar School.' "- ' day school is conducted by _ ( from St. John's College, with ah average; ' attendance of about thirty. : The yourigr!, . sters are enthusiastic in all that they',<l.o^' ' Each morning the camp is early astir. The men are first away in motor lorries to the jobs on which they are"6mploycdj"~". and later the children go off in various directions to their schools. A daily sick. • ■ parade is. conducted by Dr. Horton, "of Kohimarama, though the standard' /of health is high. "We have no means of knowing officially," said one of the campers in reply to a question,- "but there is a general feeling that when the work- on;>the eastern side of the city is completed, probably soon after Christmas, this camp., , will,continue to be used for the Morning- '■" side work. We may be wrong, but-it looks to us as though in five or six years Auckland may have a',fine service of electrified suburban trains betweeir Swanson on the north and Papatoetoe on the east. We'. hope the work ••is', pushed on with because we are all,very happy on this big job" , , - '....... . '..,.