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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 10, No. 10. July 16, 1947
[Introduction]
On the north-west frontier of Bohemia, standing like a guardian against the outside world, runs a range of fog-covered mountains. On the eastern slopes, looking towards the centre, lies the Bohemian mining district—the black country—which provides brown coal for Czech industry. Like the mountains which divide it from Germany, the whole country-side is grim and bleak, covered with smoke and yellowish fog. Beside it you will find a sunny, wavy plain with small hills shaped like volcanoes—the cheerful, pleasant district of fruit trees and hops.
Not only in outward appearances but in the whole pattern of life there has always existed a great difference between the two districts. Living conditions of the brown-coal miners have always been bad—partly because of the general situation in the mining industry and partly because the mines were mainly owned by Germans.
The liberation brought at least partial relief to this district, great changes began, mines were nationalised and the social and living conditions of the miners were changed.
But not everything could be done at once and it takes time to improve the housing situation, which is acute in the whole of Czechoslovakia. This was the main reason which made the Czech youth choose this particular section of the Two Year Plan for their own efforts. They decided that they would build 2,000 housing units—each unit is a three-roomed flat with kitchen, bath, etc.—for the miners of the Most.
Disregarding all difficulties and obstacles, the young people set to work while the hard-frozen ground was still covered with several feel of snow. The first thawing saw them testing the ground to see whether it was soft enough for foundation digging. A group of technicians and competent youth leaders is in charge of the camp.