PUBLIC WORKS CAMP

Hokitika Guardian, 12 May 1926, Page 3

PUBLIC WORKS CAMP

THE NEW AND THE OLD. WELLINGTON, May 10. 1 Under Mr Coates’ regime in the Public Works Depatrment. not only have better results been obtained for the amount of money spent, but the officers and men employed are happier and more contented than they have been for many a long day. An indication of this one of many, is to he found in a letter received-.by a relative in Wellington from a workman engaged for some years now on one of the big hydro-electric development schemes.

The writer states; “Mr , our Engineer-in-Charge, is a real white man, who takes a keen interest in all our pastimes, in which bo participates ns one of ns. He is the right man for tliis job, and is particularly wellliked.' The camp is a very good one from every point of view, and is a huge advance upon things as they were some years ago. Indeed it could not he bettered or even equalled as a labour settlement. The reflection is contentment and efficiency, and even economy. One can easily see that the moil put more energy into this work, and take more interest in it. Furthermore, the good men stay on, whereas it. used to be the good men who left, and the inefficient who stayed on at such jolts as wo are engaged

“As a result, Mr Contes is recognised as the host organiser for peace that New Zealand has ever had. One never hears a word of discontentment uttered here. A Vo have a lot of seeds and plants stuck in, and later on we shall lie quite picturesque in our hush home. In connection with the Y.M.C.A. wc have the nucleus of a fair library, and one can spend spare time in reading and studying. Ofn the wireless we hoar Sydney, Melbourne. Brisbane. Dunedin etc. Our operator is a Maori. We have our own picture show, and tho wife of o'ne of the men plays-the music, sometimes to tho beat of two hundred feet, and often to the accompaniment of singing and whistling.”