BUSHFELLING FOR THE UNEMPLOYED.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12242, 16 June 1909, Page 5

BUSHFELLING FOR THE UNEMPLOYED.

LARGE BLOCK AT WAITOTARA

SELECTED

WORK .TO START IMMEDIATELY.

(Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, June 15. Ihe Lands-Department, acting under instructions from the Prime Minister, to-select a block of Crown land on. which unemployed could be put at bushfelling work, has been busy inquiring into the ■areas most suitable for this purpose. Questioned to-day Jby a "Times" 'reporter on. the matter, the Under Secretary of Lands (Mr Kensington) said the Department had finally selected the Rangitatau block, comprising between 10,000 and 15,000 atres, about 10 miles from the Waitotara railway station.' Tho block is very easy of access, as goods,, stores, and camp equipage can bo taken ud the river by canoe right to the scene of labour from Waitotara township. Two survey parties from Wellington leave for Waitotara this morning to lay out suitable lots for the bush felling extracts and it is hoped that everything will bo ready for the reception of tho men in a fortnight. It is estimated that good men can average from 8s 6d to 9s 6d a day at this work, though of course men not experienced in tho use of the axe will have to be content with.less. Officers.of the Lands Department will supervise tho work to pee- that the bush is properly felled, as from bush badly felled no proper burn is obtained to prepare for grass sowing. The timber to be cut is -not milling timber, -which is one of the principal j reasons why this block has been select- 1 od, and therefore there is no loss to j the State by cutting down for grassing. I Asked whether the timber could not be used as firewood and shipped-to some centre, Mr Kensington explained that no cart road existed between the block and the Waitotara railway station except for a portion of the way, and the timber woud cost more to bring it out than it was worMi. Besides, the ashes from the burned trees were really required to enrich the coil for subsequent cultivation-

Mr Collins, of thoiliabnur Department, will leave Wellington on Monday for..Waitotara io personally make ail the necessary ari'|ingements for the men's acoommodation and provisions. The,.names of forty skilled bushfellers are already on the books of the Department "inWellington .arid the Department is now aicertaining how many deserving capable ■, men in the' country districts have registered for this work,,. The' Department .expects to be able to seriji the ftrst batbn of nien away by Monday, the 28th inst. All those who have not tents and axes of their own will be supplied by the Labour Departmentj these,, with the cost of stores, being a charge on their earnings. r ;The Department will also . - endeavour to -mako satisfactory arrangements for^the food supplies. n; Married men are t(> be given preference and then single men who are considered most suitable for the work. •