ARMY HARVEST WORKERS

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22493, 30 January 1943, Page 3

ARMY HARVEST WORKERS

Steady Demand For Services Men Satisfied With Conditions Since the establishment of the camp tor Army harvesters at the Temuka Domain, there has been a steady demand for the services of the men. Platoon headquarters have been set up in the tennis club pavilion, and the men are quartered in the hostel at the motor camp and in Army tents. The 30 men now in camp have been kept fully employed, and it is expected that as soon as harvest work Is In full swing the number will be considerably increased.

The day at the camp commences at 5 a.m. when the cooks begin the preparation of breakfast, which consists of stewed fruit, sausages or eggs and bacon, toast and tea. The sitting room at the hostel makes a sufficiently large dining room for all the men at present in camp and full justice is done to the plentiful meal provided. After breakfast, the truck drivers assemble at headquarters, where their route and the position of the various farms at which men have to be placed is plotted on a full scale map of the district. Each of the drivers has a small copy of the map on which he marks the different stopping places. At 7.30 the men board the trucks and are taken to their work. Most of the demands for men so far received have been for small parties of two or three and the task of plotting out the most economical toute is one that takes some time and thought. The trucks leave camp at 5.30 to collect the men and there is a hot dinner ready for them when tmy arrive back at 6.30. Those who h~ve leave attend the pictures or visit friends, while those remaining at the camp find their blankets have an added attraction after a hard day’s work In the fields. Men Appreciate Change "The men are appreciating the change from the routine of camp life,’ said the officer in charge yesterday. "They realise that the saving of the harvest is a most essential work. It is a job to be done and they are putting their shoulders to the wheel. The men seem to be giving satisfaction to the farmers, and reports received of their work have been very favourable. In one case, it was reported that two men stocking oats were continually catching up on the binder.” Although only a proportion of the men are experienced farm workers, their Army training has made them reasonably fit and they are standing up to the work well. The conditions under which tire scheme is being worked appear to be quite satisfactory to the men. Ordinary Army training is carred out by the men when conditions are not suitable for harvesting operations and a syllabus has been worked out so that no time is wasted.

Reports from a number of fanners who have employed the men indicate that the scheme has been much appreciated and is working well. “I don't know how we would have managed to save our oat crop without it,” said i Waitohi farmer yesterday. "The lads who came to me were of a very fine type. They were no trouble at all and performed their work most satisfactorily.”