IN RELIEF CAMP

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 543, 29 May 1933, Page 4

IN RELIEF CAMP

KAINGAROA PtA\ NS WORKER DESCRIBES THp PRESEI^f WORKI^G CONDITIONS FORESTRY PLANTlk(j The following interestin? A,-. ' tion -of conditions and life afT • 6Q/8( State Forest. Service fo/J* worlters camp at Kaingaroa hasW forwarded to, the "Post" bv ' the workers : — y 0n^ The camp is sifuated 16 miles^a east .of Taupo on the Plains and the Taupo-Napier with Mount Tauhara "usuallyfn^ i The. plains hqve. many washout St whieh give ,-good camp shelter ^ 'usually good .spring water. gj^0 g in mist the plains, . covered '.sub-alpirie vegetation of large Av inanuka, heathlike and stunted shnV jilfiine members of the daisy yellow-brown tussocks, lichens. jy an abundance of mosses andfaL^ once suggest dampness, QM 'winds, frost and snow in a meaiZ calling f or warm and strong clo%

; Welcome Protection j ! To the uninitiated and in particJ ; to thq. poorly-clad, it is a pleasured descend from the .main road intoy protective. washout of 60/18. y corrugated irori cookliouse; niissnJ and sAore sheds of the permanent J ' vice make one realise at once tbere J more than a tent and ridge yj awaiting ; relief tents are a little apaal in rows and running parallel with J small stream. They number moill tharr fifty., EaTch tent has a fly J strong wooderi framework, boara floors and walls, a corrugated ii0;| 'apd capacious flreplace and one oJ two sack stretcher beds. There a evident at orice an atmosphere o{ d-l ficent cleanliriess. Each relief worll er is provided with culinary utenslH tyro candles and soap, and a strail filled palliases. There is an aW| dance of firewood. 1 Other similar, but as yet unoce J pied camps are in the vicinity. lief men are paid ten shillings pn| .week, work .or not, as mist is solfl cient to curtail work; this isanecejl sary law. They receive the sa3 meals as the permanent staff andfiS cooking is excellent. Blankets arfl charged for at 12s pair and thesearj not returnable; sacks cost Is.tokS co and writing materfals may H bought from the service office. It9 •obvious ■ that the upkeep of dnf J and the buying of new clothing3 gether with additiopal hA.il the worst of the winter is a

Early Rising Breakfast is at 6.15 a.m., limclt 11.30 a.m. and tea at 5 p.m. No oilsi meals are provided. There provided at all, Reading and caj playing and indulgence 'in pil cences are the recreations. OneS made a creditable and very usefula tempt to make an interwoven maia j bark bedspread. The work, howel . remains unfinished until more Wood arrives. The warmth of pJ is known. The camp library is mea3 and consists of various periodrJ ; and the lesser novels. The tempeil the men is good. 1 On-mornings of work, the men J called out at 7 a.m. and providfl with spades and canvas bags . il carrying young trees. There I a ually a considerable walk to iil . scene of the day's planting. Thewl is not heavy, but is performedonw wet, uncleared tussocks and shfl plain. The neeessity for good botn and oiled canvas trouser-overalls j theji apparent. Worn-o.ut boots afl well patched clothing are seen m quently. Too often also one sees slcl ■and navy suits being ill-treated 1 this work. Every consideration 1 given to newcomers by the staff oi cers. 1