LOWER POOLBURN CAMP.

Evening Star, Issue 21744, 12 June 1934, Page 3

LOWER POOLBURN CAMP.

7'o TH£ EDITOR.

Sir, —-I noticed in Saturday’s ‘ Star'’ Mr F. O’Rorke speaks about the conditions of this camp. As one who is' in the camp 1 can back him up in all he has said. The camp is not fit for coolies to live in; The conditions are awful. As I said in, a previous letter, it is the coldest spot in New Zealand. The then are poorly paid, poorly fed, and poorly housed., . Fahey, two men having; to cat t-leep, cook, and do their washing in an Bft- by JOft tent. There go to for a little recreation after-their hard day’s work. • Surely ; .these men could have a tent as a meeting, house. Even our prisons supply the inmates with a- stool to sif on. but in this cainp one cannot beg, borrow, or steal one, or even the timber to make one. 1 Then ab"ut the nine “ sticks ’’ at ‘2s 6d,. as the drainage is being done for a few wealthy fanners, the Public Works 'Department should see to it that these men are not exploited ,as they are being at present. A footnote to Mr O’Rorke’s letter stated that Mr Bropiley made provision for married quarters a few months ago. Well, it is only three weeks since T went up to the camp and was told there was no place for me. My husband was told in Dunedin that he cobid take me up and we could get a tent and a, pair of blankets for 2s 6d a- week. W r e are now living in a tent made of calico, size 8 by 10. That is what Mr Bromley calls married quarters. 1 do not know why_ the country needs a Minister of Public'Health. Even Uncle Tom’s cabin had two rooms in it. A m&n who was sent up to Omakou (Lauder) camp last Wednesday asked if he should take his blankets with him, and was told he would get them when he got on the job. That poor man had to sleep in his clothes that night, as he ivas told when he got on the job that there were no blankets for him. There is no cookshop at this camp, and this man did not bring his own cooking or eating utensils. Why not close the camps in winter and open them in summer, when,nien can rough it a little better?—l am, etc., L. Johnston (Mrs). June 11. '