EX-SOLDIERS’ CAMP

Grey River Argus, 9 June 1933, Page 2

EX-SOLDIERS’ CAMP

There are about 18<l returned soldiers in two relief camps at Paraparaumu. all of whom are learning the lesson (hat when the war is over “ the soldier is forgotten.’’ Most of these men are rapidly ageing, a fart that reimimls one that the war is rapidly fading into the distance. These men are working in dirty drains, stumping heavy timber out of swampy paddocks, cutting scrub ami so on. Their “remuneration” consists of their board worth about 8/or 9/- a week, plus 1/8 a day of eight hours. The wage the men are supposed to get is 10/- a week, but they lose wet days. Two men live in a tent without a proper frame. The only flooring consists of two or three boards between the beds. There is no flooring under the beds. There is no drying room for wet clothes. These are dried in the tents, and very few have a change of dry working clothes, boots and socks. Although the men use as many candles (not enough are supplied), soap, razor blades, ami every other necessary article as did men earning £4 a week at similar work before the depression, the mon at Paraparaumu can only earn at best oneeighth of this wage.