Villages For Bush Workers

Cue (NZERS), Issue 37, 15 December 1945, Page 35

Villages For Bush Workers

In the past it has been difficult to hold men for forestry work owing to the unattractive living conditions. According to information conveyed to a recent conference of rehabilitation officers by a Forestry Department official it is now proposed to provide men with better living quarters and to establish electrically-lit villages, from which they will be be transported every day. It was also stated that there was a considerable amount of forestry work to be done, and the Forestry Department estimated that it could employ another 2000 men, including more than 70 disabled men

for specialised jobs. Should these men at the end of their five year term wish to enter some other industry, they would be able to do so. Apart from the actual bush-felling and saw-milling there was a large amount of silvi—cultural work, such as thinning out in native forests and tree-pruning and planting.

The building programme for the workers will include 900 cottages for married men, 200 one-man huts, and 18 hostels for single men. The bulk of employees will be working in the Rotorua district.