RELIEF CAMPS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 123, 27 May 1933, Page 5

RELIEF CAMPS

THE NELSON DISTRICT.

SPECIAL CHURCH MISSION

(Special to the "Evening Post") NELSON, May 20. The associated church ministers of tho Nelson Province recently decided to establish a special parish of the unemployment camps in the district, and Mr. A. C. Harris was appointed missioncr to the camps. From the point of view of the churches unemployment has many real problems, not the least of which is the difficulty of ministering to the spiritual and physical welfare of the men assembled in camps scattered over the country districts. The ministers of the district found it difficult to give regular attention to the camps, mainly on account of the places in which they are situated, access being anything but easy. The missioner's task in covering the camps is no easy one, but he reports encouraging results from his first month's work. In the Nelson district there are already 20 camps with a total population of over 1000 men, and this figure will probably be increased as more men are sent from the centres to undertake seasonal operations such as tree planting, and as greater numbers join those who are seeking for gold under the subsidised system by the Unemployment Board. The camps are spread over the wide area between Collingwood in G.ildcn Bay and the Shenandoah, a lonely spot 20 miles beyond Murchison on the Maruia side. il'r. Harris reports that men of all kinds and types are found engaged in gold mining, track making, tree planting, hawthorn hedge cutting (in connection with the prevention of the spread of fireblight if it should make its appearance), and many other occupations. Some are "tough customers," but most find themselves in their present position through no fault of their own. Thrown on their own resources the men have anything but a bright existence, and a mission to them has been warmly welcomed. In addition to conducting religious services, Mr. Harris has organised an exchange library, endeavours to supply games, and arranges for concert parties to go out from Nelson-and, other towns to entertain" the men. Some idea of the need for such a mission may be gained from the fact that at most camps the only recreation the men had was cards. In one camp there are 20 keen chess players, but only one set of chessmen, with the result that some of tho enthusiasts rarely get- a

game for weeks. Some of . the. campd have messrooms that are available for services and concerts, but in othei; ' cases such a building is not available* rendering the work of the missioner all the more difficult. However, the spirit j of self-help is not dead in tho men, and i in the case of the gold miners on the- j Golden Hope field at the Maggie and I Maud creeks, near Tophouse, a move- j ment is on foot to erect a social hall j by a sort of community effort. Mr. i Harris discovered that there was an | expert pit-sawyer in the camp, while | other men were carpenters and plumbers by trade, and he is arranging for ; the cutting of the necessary timber and the erection of tho hall by the men. I The greatest need in this instance is . roofing iron, and he is hoping that sufficient second-hand material will b8 donated for the job. Thero are about 120 men on this field, many of whom have been brought over from the North," Island.