LIFE IN BORNEO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21469, 18 April 1933, Page 14

LIFE IN BORNEO

REDUCED SURVEY WORK NEW ZEALANDER'S EXPERIENCE After three and a-half years of surveying work in Borneo and a further 12 months of town-planning experience in Great Britain, Mr. C. O. Barnett returned to New Zealand last week by the Rangitata. At one time many young New Zealand surveyors secured engagements with the survey department in the Federated Malay States, but Mr. Barnett states that as a result of the depression the opportunities for employment in that service to-day are few and far between. Mr. Barnett, in an interview, said that immediately prior to the depression there were eight New Zealand surveyors in Borneo, but the number was now down to three. His own engagement had been for four years, but it had been reduced to three and ahalf years, and if things went on the way thoy wero at present it seemed that some of the terms of the remaining employees would be reduced to three years. Ilubbor was the main industry of Borneo, and as a result of the fall in revenue following the drop in price it had been necessary to curtail the survey service. Most of the survey bosses were Asiatics. The staffs consisted chiefly of Indians and Filipinos, who were the technical people. The labouring work was done by Chinese and Malayans. The European side was confined to. supervision, control and specialised work. The headquarters wore Jesselfcon. The survey department in the Federated Malay States was practically controlled by Australians and New Zealanders. At one time there was a staff of 80, of whom 50 were New Zealanders. The staff had been reduced very considerably, and he considered the opportunities for new men were very, very few. "The life in the Federated Malay States," said Mr. Barnett, "is quite a good one for a single man. Ho can have a good time and save money, but for a married man it is a dog's life. It might be all right for a married man with a station, but one has to be out there some years to bo given the charge of one. It is quite possible for a single man to be stationed out there for four years, have a good time, and oomo out at the end of his time with £IOOO in his pocket; not that i was able to do that."