FORESTRY CAMP

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 128, 26 November 1940, Page 4

FORESTRY CAMP

NEW ZEALAND MEN

WORK IN GLOUCESTER

(By Air Mall—From "The Post's" London Representative.)

LONDON, November 1

A detachment of 150 New Zealanders paraded at Cirencester recently. Standing on a paved road where centuries ago men of Caesar's legions ha<l tramped, they were inspected by Brigadier J. Hargest. Later they took part in a parish church service conducted by Captain Lr D. C. Groves, Chaplain to the Forces. They were men of the New Zealand Forestry Company, which has been cutting timber in that part of England for several weeks. As Brigadier Hargest read the Lesson with the quotation, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's." the minds of many reflected on the history of Cirencester. In Roman days it was the second town of Britain,.Londinium being the first It was known as Coriniuxn, and its associations are mingled with the j roots of English history. The parish church is built on a section of the old Roman road. "NEW ZEALAND SPORTS." Brigadier Hargest, who was accompanied by Lieut-Colonel F. Waite, visited the New Zealanders to see them take part in an "exhibition of New Zealand sports." The New Zea- I landers competed with Australian axemen in underhand and upright chopping competitions, and. later gave an exhibition Rugby match, which was billed as "New Zealand's winter sport." There was also a demonstration of cross-cut sawing. With the axes ringing and chips flying wildly, New Zealanders imagined for the moment that they were back in their own country. Among the onlookers were Earl Bathurst, Major Dugdale, and other people well known in the county of Gloucestershire. Townspeople and farmers gathered to watch the sports, which were in aid of the local Spitfire fund. Sergeant J. Lockett (Catlins Bush, Otago) announced events with a microphone. The Forestry Company has earned an excellent reputation for itself in the county. When it arrived the suggestion was made that the men should work a six-day week of 60 hours. The New Zealand officers suggested that a better plan would be for them to be told how much wood was required weekly and to let the New Zealanders arrange their own hours. They were asked to produce 1500 cubic feet a week. Using their own methods and working 44 hours a week on spruce and larch trees averaging about 30in diameter at breast height, they produced a weekly average of 3400 cubic feet, or over double the amount requested. FINE REPUTATION. Brigadier Hargest told the company that their record at work and their high standard of conduct on leave, had earned them a fine reputation throughout Gloucestershire. They were regarded not only- as efficient tradesmen but soldiers whose gentlemanly conduct had made the name of New Zealand respected throughout the district.