Ways of Living.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 367, 21 May 1903, Page 2

Ways of Living.

IJITHE HOP-PICKEBsStiIS/VIP thousands jtMh. "leave the East-EaSof L«pdon and Q&>sS ' Other poor districts of the metro- § polis every September do so with the idea in their minds of having a cheap and profitable holiday. It is a mistaken notion to imagine whole families leavo London for the sole purpose of getting employment; for it is the life in the open air, the healthy surroundings, and the change that appeals to the minds of the. i geimnß;pM&eia;;i Hi •aiiivi&X-i This is proved by the simple fact that most of the hop-pickers-go-down to-Kenfc by train. When a man takes hia wife and children even the excursion fare is a considerable item, and the saving of thiß money tor th© journey weeks before hand gives it the stamp of a true holiday. .The .railway companies that go to Kent carry from fifteen to twenty-five fnil traiu-loads early in September, and though the return trains are more numerous owing? ! to the fact that some of those who tramped to the hopfields "possess the means to return by train, yet three 6ct ! of ,; every four journey both ways by the aid ef the railway. # •,<•< noif* •■! , • ••* ../Agpodjhop-pigker.can, earn, atymt five shilling? per day. The few who really make hard work ci it; and ■ are expert - pickers,' can realise from. Beven-and- sixpence to ten shillings But the average picker does not-work at such high pressure, and if three or foui shillings is realised at the'end of a day's work the worker is quite content. Payment is made by results, so much s .bushel, and the women, as a rule, ears quite as much as the men. f The work of three children is 4b6utequa to the l&bcur.ot one adult, and there are hundreds or families who get a total oi . ten shillings a day for the combined "'picking,' and th'iß is donVwiniduHi, undue •■exertion.ii'-'iiP'' r Ksisif sjalwrl | '" Is The;.,cost? of - A rlvrHtglM ddMMkVUo Tht growers provide, the sleeping acoomsnodi tiqn in, wooden ,huti or tents'; thi weather is bad the former dwellings arc mo3t preferred. tSUutfqj j lo ■-.•■, The many agencies which work: for th< moral good of the hopTpickers, establish grocery and other stores, retailing the goods almost at coßt .price, and thii enables them ;>,, 0 get 1 iidaf v touc& with th« people. It certainly has the result o* saying the pocket a. of the hop-pick era, ant at the close of the three of four .reeks work the families return to town witt sums varying from JBS to .£lO in theii pockets, after all the expenses of living nave been ipaid. i SfH.'? The work in the open air is a greai physical boon to the hop-pickers The* return to London much better in healtl than they were when they left home, and. after all, that is the chief thing to he expected from a holiday. * i' • : ;j3 The pickers are fortunate, inasmuch ae it is financially so profitable; and, given fine weather, the majority would like the -season to last two or three weeks* longer. *j,Ther,e;is,,one interesting side to the hop-pickets holiday Whiph is v rarely mentioned." - a full purse the majority: of. the pickers pay off all their deb,ts. For a, week ,or. two the pawnbrokers s a*e'" 'articles which have? been redeemed. For a few brief, weeks, at any rate-, thousands of homes are brighter, and ; thousands of lives, are happier, through the profitable Vhich has" been '*io 'thoroughly enioved in the honfields of Kent.

A FRENCH GUARD'S NEtjESSABIES. Our railway guards have a lot to do &E&haveibb fulfil many duties, but it is cfonbtfuT if they, have to provide them-, selves for a journey with so much bric1. A basket. .- - '; 2. A. box containing first aid for the wounded. a*. 31{4 %i k $ fe m*% ; d . 4 A bos of mat|gep p to € Uj PilMPl«»ternPwlbfl#lsJ of three colours. b®s. T*tfAniericß)i bu^-eyeSßfifter&ei 7. An extra lantern, handle. j &) 8. Twb . • pS 9. Two f /, 10. An iron box-of fog signals. hj% ) U. Twp.metalplatestur th.%numbßririg' "of'the train.. .. _-•" „, * »«••>*.<« 12. A'ticket »** •««*«• j,i 18. Small cashbook inri a f : leather case? containing tickets for delivery to travellers" getting 6n without tickets. v 14 A certain number of gummed labels, Ladies,' 'Smokers,' &e. j 15. Som? unpickable padlocks. 16. A master tap-key. j r -yi dor carriage key. ■ date-stamp with its P&ftwnea, , , .. "-* 1 ' & <- f upK» s other small a«sk turs tiSfrfcair of aV guard grepfiPfWek, And yet, one wondera how it is are more railwayrapeilentsfin FfalijMf Wj «n»™ MMtfflMMtm oMheiwarld put together. Tlio guard has,so many things to look after- that he has no time 'to take care or his train,, erg ■/. & -jr-;; | a j . ■■