BUSHFELLING FOR THE UNEMPLOYED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7823, 16 June 1909, Page 1

BUSHFELLING FOR THE UNEMPLOYED.

Per Press Association. ■ i'/WELfiINGT^N/'jiinß 15. • ' The Lands. Department, acting under instructions from thp^JjremieK' to' select 1 a block of Cro\vn land on 'wKfeh .peniT', ployed could be'"put atvbushfellirig work, has been! busy • enquiring into the areas most suitable'for this purpose: Questioned'on the 1 matter to-day, by a Times reporter, the Under-Secretary, of Lands (Mr Kensington) said the department had ■, finally selected the Rangitatau block,- comprising between 10,000 and 15,000; acres, about ten miles front the Waitotara railway station. The block is very easy of access, as goods, stores and'l camp equipage can be taken up the river by canoe right to the scene of labour from Waitotara township. '•'■■■•. - j Mr Golhns, of the Labour Department, will leave Wellington on Monday for Waitotara to personally make all the necessary .arrangements for the men's accommodation and provisions. The names of fifty skilled bushfellers are already b'n the books'of the department iri Wellington, and the department' is now ascertaining how many deserving capable men m the country districts have registered for this work. The department expects to be able to send the first batch of'riien away by Monday, June 28. All those who have not tents and axes of their own will be supplied by the Labour Department, these, with, cost of stores, being a charge on their earnings. Tke department will also endeavour to make satisfactory arrangements for tke food supplies. Married men 1 are ■to be given preference arid tfren single men who are considered most' suitable for the work.