GARDEN AREAS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 111, 12 May 1936, Page 8

GARDEN AREAS

ASSISTING UNEMPLOYED ACTIVITY IN ENGLAND ENGLISH VISITOR'S OUTLINE ADDRESS TO ROTARY CLUB An interesting review of lhe wojk of lhe Friends’ Allotment Committees in England in providing unemployed workers with small gardens in order to find them a means of preserving their self respect during their enlOTeed idleness and a means of assisting in lhe maintenance of their wives and families was given to the Wanganui Rotary Club yesterday by Mr Herbert Crosland, of Manchester, England. Mr Crosland said that many areas in England were severely affected by the depression and in the colliery, textile and shipping districts unemployment became very rife. .. number of people became eonVerncd that the workers would be demora! : .=ed during the time they were subsisting on their dole payments and consequently efforts were made to provide the.a with some outlet for their enthusiasm. The allotments, he said, were of approximately 300 square yards each and were detached from the houses of the workers, only the large homes having garden areas attached. In these allotments the workers grew vegetables and were provided with an interest while awaiting positions from the labour exchanges, Furthermore, the vegetables which they cultivated assisted considerably in the family income and one school teacher had told a.in that he could pick out from his‘classes the children who were securing adequate supplies of green vegetables. The men formed their own committees to manage the allotment areas, and it was wonderful the amount of organising talent that bad been discovered. The usual rent for these allotment areas, said Mr Crosland, was from 2us to 30s and was collected by the secretary of the areas from week to week. Many of the workers were unable to provide themselves with the necessary tools and seeds and these had been provided by the organisation in charge of the allotments ami distributed to the men. The results of this work were wonderful when it was considered that many of them had never done spade work in their lives. The plot holders had been successful nt exhibitions and special shows which had been arranged and all took a keen interest in the progress of their gardens. Mr Crosland said tha* the year before last t'nere were 110,009 men in England working on allotments and the Government was making a grant of £i for every £1 raised by the Friends’ Allotment Committees. The men were making repayments for the assistance that was given to them and consequently the plots were not looked on as charity. Everv year, said Mr Crosland, the i Royal Agricultural Show was held in Lome part of England. As soon as the [site chosen for the show was decided on. the committees aecurec. allotments and here the men grew potatoes and cabbages to demonstrate to show patrons the work that the/ had been doing. In addition the jMnmittoes also arranged exhibitions of produce at the shows and those had Hcc.t viewed by the late King George V. Mr Crosland said that there was a good fellowship and keen rivalry among the workers but this was a good tiling for their welfare. Much of the land which was taken up was considered to be praetieallv useless and other areas were " ripening” for building purposes. The money for this big undertaking had not been found by toe Society ot Friends; really only a small port.on ot it had. a new spirit wa.'. being put into the hearts of the men and it was more the spirit, than the. work that counted. The plots had meant from £a to £" or £S to many families, each year. On the motion of Mr F IT- Bethwaite, Mr Crosland was accorded a hcartv vote of thanks for_im address.