Plight of Shearers.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 December 1921, Page 4

Plight of Shearers.

PRIVATIONS ON CAM I’liELI. ISLAND. DUNEDIN, Dee. 5. About 500 miles to the south of New Zealand, in 52dog. South latitude, and |67dcg. East longitude, lies the lonely Campbell Island, from which live young men who had been there lot varying lengths of time, returned to I’nrt Chalmers in the Knramu Two of the men luid been there tor two \ears, one tor 20 months, and two tor 1“ months. The last vessel seen by the men before the Knramu at lived was the Government steamer Tulanekai. which called It) months ago. Under their contract the men were supposed t, he taken off at the cud of March, and they were living in high expectation of a vessel arriving then, hut no vessel came, and as the months passed and the food supply dwindled they became anxious, llv May there was still no sign of relief, and necessity loreetl the men to raid the castaway depot, which is near the homestead where they lived. Out of this they .secured, among oilier things, vegetables that bad been there sinew 1907, and which were, consequently, not of much use. For over seven mouths they had no vegetables of any description, and no butter, jam, or milk. When the relief ship at rived they had left hut a Few pounds of tea. Dining those weary seven months they practically lived on mutton and Hour. They had some eggs, and with these the cook, who proved himself invaluable, helped them to ward utf starvation. Fur some months the rook was ill, ami tlie test helped him along as best they could. "I would not like to go through the experience again,” said one of the men to a reporter to-day.

On the island, which contains about 15,001) act»*s, there are 0000 sheep, which it was the duty of the men to lend mid shear. The shearing season lasted about five months, mustei ing and shearing going on at the same time. During the 1020-21 .season 75 bales ot wool were produced, and to date this season about 15 bad been produced I nun about 1000 sheep.