GOOD CONDITIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 809, 8 July 1933, Page 13

GOOD CONDITIONS.

Men Contented at Lewis Pass Camp. ADVERSE STORIES DENIED. Tales of hardship, poor food, sickness, and work under inhuman conditions at the Lewis Pass ringle men's camp were found to be baseless when investigations were made by a “ reporter who was at the • amp on Thursday and Friday. It was apparent that these stories had been spread by an undesirable element that was not tolerated by' the other men. In spending the greater part of the two days and a night at the camp the " Star ” reporter heard only one wish expressed. It was to the effect that no men of an undesirable type should be drafted to the camp. The view is taken by the men in the camp that undesirable characters hamper the work, cause trouble, and, after a short term with the pick and shovel, return to the city, to cause further trouble by spreading reports of conditions at Lewis Pass. Two Camps. The stories that are heard in Christchurch all refer to the Lewis Pass camp. In point of fact there are two camps. The lower camp, which was formerly located at the Glen Wye Station, has been moved to a new site on the south side of the Waiau River three miles inland from the Hanmer ferry. Seventy men are living in this camp. Most of them have been there since last August. All are content, and there have been no complaints of any sort regarding the camp or the conditions of work. No man has left the camp discontented. Eighteen miles further inland is No. 2 camp. It is located on a terrace on the north bank of the Hope River, which joins the Waiau some miles nearer the sea. A mountain towers overhead. Life here has not always been smooth, and the history of this camp is not as peaceful as that of its companion. Some time ago, it is said, a number of men did their best to wreck the camp before walking out one night. Some of the tents were damaged and thrown down, and tools and implements thrown about to the accompaniment of a great deal of noise. The men responsible had been in the camp only a little over a month and during that time, it is said, had gone out of their way to cause trouble. It was their custom to make as much noise as possible during the night and early morning, beating on kerosene tins and yelling and shouting in an attempt to disturb other members of the camp who were trying to sleep. The malcontents would not join in the recreative sports sessions organised in the evenings and comment on the amount of work they did is not favourable-

"Nearly a Riot.” In the words of the overseer, Mr J. T\ ilson. the camp was “about due for a riot when these fellows made up their minds to get out. The other men suffered them on the final night only because they knew that they would be rid of them the next day. Had it been otherwise some of the disturbing mob would have been manhandled.” When these men walked out twentvseven men were left in the camp. Half t this number arrived in March, when the camp was opened, and all of those at present in the camp are willing to stav there until a better job is offering. Old and young men live in the camp. Some of them are tradesmen, but the majority are labourers.

Severe Frosts. It is rugged country where they are working and frosts exceeding 27 degrees are by no means rare during the winter months. But the atmosphere is dry and the days are not raw after the frost. The men who live in these conditions say that they prefer the camp to Christchurch, with its bleak days and its moisture-laden atmosphere. The mountain that towers above the camp casts its shadow over the terrace where the road is' being formed, and the earth here is frostbound. At mid-day it is white and crackling underfoot, but the men do not find the cold severe when they are working. They put in eight hours a day on the job, leaving camp at 7.30 in the morning and returning in the evening. Their quarters are comfortable tents built on wooden frames with boarded floors. Each tent has a fireplace and a supply of firewood sufficient for three days. Sacks form their bunks and a straw mattress goes with each bunk. The men provide their own blankets. Any man finding that he has not enough to keep out the cold may buy more blankets at the camp. These are sold at 14s a pair and are of a heavy serviceable type. The mess-room is a spacious galvanisediron structure with a wooden lining. It also has a large fireplace. After dinner has been cleared away the room serves as a recreation centre where table tennis, quoits and other games are played A gramophone is included in the furnishings, along with a stock of books.

Food Supplies. The food supplied to the men in the camp has often been discussed in Christchurch. At the camp it is eaten. A fully-qualified cook presides in the kitchen. He provides a hot breakfast and a hot dinner at night for all hands. The mid-dav lunch the men take with them on to the job. Breakfast consists of porridge, followed by • hops, steak or sausages. There is no limit on the amount any man may have. Dinner usually consists of two courses, one of meat and vegetables and one of pudding, which may be prunes and rice, sago and rice or plum duff. Bread, cheese and jam are also provided. The cook sees to it that the menu is well varied and his meat supplies are kept fresh in a large safe which stands well away from the camp in the shade of the mountain. The wunter has not been severe at the camp. There has been only one slight fall of snow on the flat and this thawed in a few hours. The sharp frosts of the morning are followed by tine days and work has not been held up. The average earnings of the men since the camp opened amount to 11s 4d a week. They are on contract and are paid at rates varying from 2£d a vard to 6d a yard on the formation of the road. Summed up the camp is the temporary home of twenty-seven men, who. in their own words “have got something to do, three good meals a dav, a warm bed. no board to pay, and • few ‘bob’ in their pockets.”