REAL WILD WEST

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 16 April 1932, Page 5

REAL WILD WEST

RIG UNEMPLOYED CAMP SOLE AM USEMEN T— GA M RUN G WEST AUSTRALIA'S EXPERIMENT SYDNEY, Bth April. A remarkable experiment .in unemployment relief work Is being carried out in Wi'sl Australia bv the (idling of a lingo drain across the (lay plain of Stonelioiise and Mvalup. m> that tiinusauds of acres mav be available for winter cultivation There are 22, r io ir.oti engaged in (he work. .Mostly sinlgle men from the city, they are living in tents and other makeshift habitations. The miniature city which is thus brought into being has already become a gambling resort equal to the cities of the Klondike at their worst. The men represent every possible type of race, physical and intellectual standards. Aborigines and half-aborigines work and live with men used to every refinement, and some ol classical attainments. The camps make a collection not previously seen in Australia. It is remarkable that no crimes oi disovderliiioss have been recorded. Gam filing is the chief recreation. The fortnightly pay represents a £3700 lure. Two-tip- rings and hazard schools are always packed. Poke schools are everywhere, and “iiousey liousey,” wheels and the like do a booming business.

Betting shops rival any city establishment. In the chief two-up ring bets of £5 and £4 were common.

When an ex-cliamiiion pugilist blatantly paraded a roll of notes and challenged for any "takers” lie got several responses, and luckily won, for bis roll was a genuine note covering a bundle of stage paper. Scenting easy money, a “smarthead visited the camp and boasted of winning - . in an afternoon. lie woke up when be found bis kit bad been ransacked. The hazard school i,s a fearsome place about 10ft by 12ft, and open day and night. “Bookies” are available in any portion of the camp..

Residents of the district arc* becoming alarmed at the growing lawlessness, and an appeal lias been made to the Government for the drafting of a strong force of police to the mushroom towns to check the open breaches of the law.