SEARCH FOR WORK

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 14 November 1927, Page 8

SEARCH FOR WORK

TRAMP OF 1100 MILES ENGLISHMAN AND HIS WIFE f JOB AT ADELAIDE. Adelaide, October 23. As a result of the publicity given yesterday to his trials, Alfred McNeill. aged 27. who. with his frail young wife, walked 1100 miles through New South Wales and Victoria in search of work, received offers of food, money and work. He has accepted a job on an orchard in the country. The couple had nothing but the clothes they stood in. After months of unemployment in Sydney the young couple found their position precarious. Their slender reserve of means was dwindling, and they decided to try their luck in the country. They started on May 11. and on reaching Goulburn Mrs McNeil found employment for a week and her husband for three days. Then they were compelled to try new fields. Breadlabane provided a week’s employment for Mr McNeill in a board-ing-house kitchen, after which Yass and Cootamundra were passed. From the latter town they made an unfortunate trip to Begg, where thev secured a clearing contract. The couple worked there for about a month, living on damper, onions, a few potatoes and an occasinal rabbit. BAD LUCK ALL THE WAY. At the end of that time their employer said that he had no monev to pay them. Having no means of ledrefls, they had no option but to continue on the way to Gundagai. This trip brought no results, and Adelong crossing had 1 been lefft 30 miles behind before 20/- was obtained from a stranded motorist, whom Mr McNeill assisted. At Wagga a taxi proprietor gave him employment for a couple of days. A run of ill-luck followed, and the couple had left Benaila before a iob to mend a gate was obtained. They pushed on to Melbourne, hut condtions were as bad as in Sydney. They took to the road again. Passing through Geelong and Colac. they reached the small town of Buckley, where the postmistress gave them much appreciated assistance. At Camperdown further assistance was obtained from a local contsable; but what was most needed, work, continued to be denied to them. By way of Hamilton and Casterton they reached South Australia. Through the long stretches of Coorong they were given a lift by a passing motorist. From Meningle thev walked Wellington and Stratsalbyn, to Adelaide. r eaching here toward the end of Sepbhnber. yalcmNi.vpmfwyp mfwyp mfwyp mfn