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Otago Witness, Issue 3961, 11 February 1930, Page 49

The value of going into the country in quest of work was mentioned by a Wanganui labourer who has just completed a three months’ spell out on broad acres (says the Herald). He stated that he could only obtain casual work in the city, so tied a swag to his bicycle intending to travel to New Plymouth, and possibly to the Auckland province in quest of a job. As a matter of fact he did not get further than Waverley. where he had been employed permanently ever since. “ I came to Wanganui to-day to do some business,” he remarked, “ and I am off to the country again this evening.” A man was gathering grass seed in vacant lots round the Fanshawe street timber offices, Auckland, the other afternoon (says the New Zealand Herald). There being only a few heads of cocksfoot here and there he did not carry a sickle, but pulled the stalks with his hand and put them into a sugar bag carried as a rucksack. Grown in this smoky atmosphere the seed may not produce the “ bright sample,” which commands best price, but nevertheless the gatherer was a refreshing example of the type of unemployed which does not despise the means of making a little to help along the finances.