CONTENTED CAMPERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19052, 16 September 1933, Page 9

CONTENTED CAMPERS.

FAMILIES AT GORDONTON. . [ TAUPIRI DRAINAGE WORKERS. ' EXCELLENT LIVING CONDITIONS. 1 From time to time there has been ’ adverse criticism among the unemployed ’ of married men’s camps, hut if the ! camps established by the Public Works 1 Department in connection with the ! Taupiri Swamp drainage scheme aro • any criterion, these complaints are unfounded. Three big camps have been 1 set up, at Orini, Te Hoe and Gordonton, and nearly a hundred married men are ’ engaged on work associated with the 1 scheme. The headquarters are at Gordonton, ! and It Is here that the camp huts are , cut out to a standard size for dis- ' tribution to the various camp sites and 1 the drainage scheme is administered. A small village has sprung up near 1 Gordonton, and about half a mile away ' a big camp Is partly flnlshod. Several 1 of the huts are occupied by families, ' Q nd all are completely satisfied with life there. An ideal spot on the flat crown of a hill, sheltered on three sides by trees, has been selected for the camp, and, as in the other camps, the fa/fllles are very comfortable and contented. ' Wall-Built Huts. ) The huts are stoutly built, with • wooden floors, wood and canvas walls, and\ corrugated iron roof. Each has • three rooms, the centre room being the • kitchen. While there are no ranges, tile i cooking facilities are good, and a , plentiful supply of firewood is avall- ■ j able. The families at present in camp ; > at Gordonton have settled down to the ! life and several vegetable gardens have ! been started, while it Is the ambition of one man to lay down a tennis court. There is a keen social spirit in the camp, and in the evenings the adults come together for a game of cards or some similar recreation. There is a number of small children at the camp, and to see them playing around the huts gives a homely touch to the camp. , , , Supplies are delivered regularly by grocer, baker, butcher, and othei tradesmen, and a service car passes the gate. No difficulty is experienced in obtaining all requirements and potatoes and milk are bought at a very reasonable price from local farmers, so that the cost of living is not very high. Two good springs provide an unfailing supply of water. Handy to Schools. The men in the camps are earning sufficient to live comfortably, and everyone appears to be entirely satisfied ' with the conditions. All the camps are within easy reach of schools, and a number of children from the camps is attending. The biggest camp is In the Orini district, where about 40 men are engaged on the Tauliel Stream. The men at Gordoiiton arc working on the central drain, while those at Te -Hoc are on ■ the Paranul drain. There are 17 families in the killer ramp. Willi Ike . advent of fine weather greater progress will he made with Hie work, and it. is anticipated that more men will : he engaged in the next few months.