POOLBURN DRAINAGE SCHEME CAMP.

Evening Star, Issue 21742, 9 June 1934, Page 19

POOLBURN DRAINAGE SCHEME CAMP.

TO THE EDITOR. ’ Sir, —I have received the following information regarding the above camp, and also seen photographs of the conditions and men working there at present. There are sixty-five men and seven women in the camp at present. The camps are built on swamp ground. One man who took his wife with him was told at the Labour Bureau and at the Town Hall that accommodation would be made for her. On arrival there was no place ■ vacant, and the engineer was approached for a tent and stated it was no place to bring his wife. Finally a tent was erected next day for them. They were' charged 2s fid for the tent and £3 15s for a stove and 10s for building a stove in the tent, 5s a week to be deducted until the amount was paid. The average pay amounts to £2,17s 6d, but there are some gangs only getting 8s fid a day. The men have to walk about two miles to the job through the, swamp. Men are working in gum boots above the knees in water (I can produce photos of them). One man wore out seven pairs of socks in a week. Up till last Saturday the men have been drinking swamp water for fourteen weeks. Now there is a well sunk about 7yds from the cookhouse garbage hole, AH men must report on the job at 7.30 a.m. and finish at 4.30 p.m.—eight and a-half hours a day. If wet men are drenched before they get to the job, and perhaps sent back, but must make up time on Saturday afternoon. No travelling time is allowed. There are two cookhouses run by local firms. One charges 15s and the other 16s a week ordinary meals with bread, jam, and two scones for lunch. If you want supper you must pay extra. The tents are boarded up about 3ft wooden floor, and the rest is all canvas. There are a fireplace, two bunks, and a table in the tent—no seats. Wood costs 2s fid for nine sticks, bought from a runholder. Coal is 2s fid a bag, candles lid a packet, and kerosene Is a bottle. All men have to pay Is a week for medical expensed. Last week there were eight men laid up noth rheumatism through using wet gum_ boots and owing to the weather conditions. Another man has only worked eight and a-half days through illness since going to the camp. There is a place erected to dry gum boots; men put them in on Saturday at 1.30 p.m., and when they get them out they are just ns they put them in. The doctor in charge has stated that in two or three weeks’ time nil the men in the camp will be under his care owing to the conditions existing He is of the opinion that no man should be sent to any of the camps in winter, especially Poolburn, which is quite dry in the summer time.—l am. etc., F; O’Rorke. June 8, [A Public Works Department official states that when the Poolburn job was commenced no provision was made for the wives of men going to the camp, but following Mr Bromley’s visit to Dunedin a few months ago arrangements were made for the hire of tents for married men and their wives at a rental of 2s fid a week. The man in question, accompanied by his wife, proceeded to the camp before the tent arrangement was made. There was no provision made for the supply of stoves, but it was arranged that this man should have one at cost price, plus_ the cost of its installation.—Ed. E.S.]