WELL EQUIPPED

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 127, 24 May 1932, Page 2

WELL EQUIPPED

SINGLE MEN’S CAMPS

REIJEF MAN’S OPINION

That life in camp can be not only tolerable but pleasant and comfortable for some of the unemployed single men is proved by a letter from one of the men who recently went into camp at Hautcre. With the wages, however, the writer is not satisfied.

“Just a note to let you know how the ‘slave camp’ here is progressing,” states the writer. "I think all the chaps have been pleasantly surprised. We are camped in a picturesque spot with a big clump of shelter bush hard up against the back of the tents, which number twenty-four, excluding the ‘bosses and cooks.’ The ground is of a very porous nature and even after a heavy rain dries up in a short while. There were about a dozen bound for here the day I came, and lorry was waiting at the station for us. As soon as we had put our gear in the tents we were called to the cookhouse, where we had great enamel plates full of

steaming hot curry, and plenty of bread, butter, cheese, jam, and hot tea. We were supplied with palliasses and plenty of straw. The beds are camp stretchers, and when levelled up are comfortable.

"Tea gave us a gimpse of the rest of our camp mates. What cosmopolitan crowd they were, all shapes and sizes, young and old, with but a single thought—eat. The cook is a jew'el, and I can honestly say that the most fastidious could not find fault with his cooking. The fireplaces warm up the tents in no time.

"Every morning there is porridge, with plenty of milk and sugar, hot meat such as sausages, steak, bacon, or stew, and bread, etc. Lunch consists of sandwiches, but tea consists of soup, hot roast or boiled meat, with potatoes and one or more other vegetables, and sweets for a third course.”