CAMP FOR UNEMPLOYED

Hawera Star, Volume L, 7 February 1931, Page 7

CAMP FOR UNEMPLOYED

OHAWE BEACH PROPOSAL. A scheme for the establishment, of an unemployment camp at Ohawe was •submitted to the Hawera Unemployment Committee last evening by Mrs M. E. Page. The meeting fully discussed the proposal, but regretted that, in view of the fact that many of the beach houses had been placed at the disposal of earthquake refugees, its adoption was not practicable at present. Mrs Page was complimented upon the thought put into a valuable and constructive suggestion. Mrs Page was of opinion that- there was a great deal of land in Ohawe township that was simply lying idle and houses that were empty nearly all the year. Would it not lie possible to make an unemployment camp down there under the following scheme: 1. Utilise what houses are available supplemented by, .say, a loan off huts or tents front the Defence Department.

2. Put men on at once digging ground for putting in a supply of winter vegetables. 3. Put a cooking range or ranges into one building capable of cooking for them all. 4. Arrange that the women take it in shifts to cook. 5. Buy enough cows to supply the camp with milk ajul butter. 6. Pool what poultry tlie people already possess and perhaps supplement them. V. Arrange to buy meat amt groe eries in bulk. There would be men among the unemloyed who could what carpentry was required and also do milking, butter making, etc. The whole place or business of it could be controlled by the Unemployment Board.

“It- seems«to me by pooling their resources people would live more cheaply, and nearly all of them would find something to do,” added Mrs Page. “IF there is not enough grazing for cows available in the village it would. I should think, he possible to arrange it with Mr Livingston or one of the farmers nearby. I feel sure the public would offer plants and seeds for vegetables and perhaps cows, pigs or poultry, even sheen for killing." Tt is healthy down there, there is a telephone a lid store, fish for the fishing, and a school handy. There would be n°ed for a good deal of organising and there are obvious difficulties in getting everyone to pull their weight and in getting on together, but these fade into insignificance beside the question g'l whether they are to live or starve. Though the position may pot be ns ectoc as that at the present moment, it may he so as the winter comes on. People would ho sheltered and fed at least during the winter, and orobnhlv rest, the counter less than it might otherwise do. If vegetables are to be out: in now >s tlie time to move. I hone this will commend itself to von ns being at least- constructive and that something will develop from it that will help solve our present difficulties.”