INDIA.

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, 1 December 1900, Page 251

INDIA.

Some interesting letters by a famine officer recently appeared in the Times Weekly. Iv one of these he suggests that " the best way of employing famine labour would be upon water storage and irrigation, which would serve as a means of insurance against future famine." This is one of those common-sense suggestions which one would suppose should be the first thing thought of, but which the Government nevt.-r does think of. It appears that in the present case the Government had no irrigation scheme prepared, and that much of the famine labour was employed on preliminary earth

works for road making where tho first rains would wash away tho greater part of tho work done, and in loealtios where tho nativoH did not really require roads Tho camps aioug these lines of roads each hold somo 5,000 people, and have each an officer in charge, generally a native. Ho oxamiues applicants, and sots them to work, and pays them daily, as it is found when paid weekly they eat up their earning in a few days and starve afterwards. Private shops supply the food, although there is a Government kitchen in each camp whore tho children are fed gratis. Shelter huts woro not provided, which the famiuo officer considers a defect in the system pursued. Tho workers arranged the most temporary sholtor for themselves and families by hanging mats on poles, or using a few branchos of trees, thus the suffering from exposure entailed in tho weak, especially the childron, was naturally great. The men do the digging, and till tho baskets which the women carry, and deposit where required. Thore is a hospital in each camp, but these are not crowded, as tho desire with all appears to be to earn money, which they cannot do in hospital, therefore they will not give in till obliged to do so,