Post by NZBC on May 13, 2007 14:51:16 GMT 12
The Gumdigging Industry
At the peak of the industry there were 20,000 gumdiggers in the north - Maori, Chinese, Malaysian and Yugoslav. However, the ethnic group with the greatest presence were the Yugoslavs. Some came on from Australian goldfields or Sydney, but many came direct from the harsh conditions prevailing at home. They saved their money to bring out wives and families, or sent money home, but in a country where money was in short supply this was not always met with approval. They were hard workers in sometimes appalling conditions, and kept to themselves it seems.
Local stores ¡®grubstaked¡¯ many diggers, who in turn sold their gum to that store, paid their debt and bought the next month¡¯s supplies. In 1893 average earnings for diggers was found to be about 27 shillings per week.The ¡®gatherers¡¯ had collected the gum on or near the surface of the ground or on the trees themselves (kauri trees ¡®bleed¡¯ when damaged).
At the peak of the industry there were 20,000 gumdiggers in the north - Maori, Chinese, Malaysian and Yugoslav. However, the ethnic group with the greatest presence were the Yugoslavs. Some came on from Australian goldfields or Sydney, but many came direct from the harsh conditions prevailing at home. They saved their money to bring out wives and families, or sent money home, but in a country where money was in short supply this was not always met with approval. They were hard workers in sometimes appalling conditions, and kept to themselves it seems.
Local stores ¡®grubstaked¡¯ many diggers, who in turn sold their gum to that store, paid their debt and bought the next month¡¯s supplies. In 1893 average earnings for diggers was found to be about 27 shillings per week.The ¡®gatherers¡¯ had collected the gum on or near the surface of the ground or on the trees themselves (kauri trees ¡®bleed¡¯ when damaged).