Gum Digging looks like a seriously miserable profession

... I reflect while reading a file about gum digging and finding a set of tiny little 1930s photos.

This photo is captioned (on the back):

Also, have been reading some letters from the early part of the 1930s between a soldier-farmer and the Government. These are calumnious to say the least... Either the farmer is a nutter, or the government inspector is an asshole. It gave me hours of entertainment yesterday and I've been saving it for something fun to read this morning. Choice quote:

Perhaps if I had a rare house or motor car or a good police Court record I would be considered. Here is the true position, we have not a dwelling, food, clothes or money, as the Commissioner knows, but looks upon it as a joke. Remember there are six little children. Who won the war?

Indeed.