ROOM-HUNTING

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 124, 27 May 1937, Page 8

ROOM-HUNTING

(To the Editor.)

• sir,—May I give my humble opinion i about the Government rents? They 'are bad enough, but three months' room-hunting would make you thankful to live in a tent. One has only to look at the advertisements,in any of the papers and see. One Unfurnished room and use of kitchenette, 25s v Furnished bed-sitting-room and kit chenette, 355. Another example: Furnished bed-sitting and kitchenette. You couldn't change your mind ift the kitchenette, and to your questions, "No sink? Water not laid on?" you get the smiling reply, "Oh, there's a bucket here. I'll Show you where you empty it." In whimpering humbleness you say, "And ihe price?" ■ "Thirty shillings." The Bishop of Auckland is deploring the fact that the Government is not catering for the married people with families when it is building houses. The landlords want business people—-without children. ' It. will be quite interesting to see who -wins. Another aspect of the case:' Many people are letting rooms (out of sheer modesty I won't quote the prices) which have no cooking conveniences whatsoever. On inspecting these you are told that they are meant only for business girls as they do not bother about meals. What physically-fit mothers these girls will make in the near future if they are dependent en the available cooking conveniences in some of these "rooms!

The Government is also strongly itr favour of a. wireless in. every home, On ringing the bell when'you are look ing for an abode you have these 'questions fired at you: "Have you a wireless? "Would you be very quiet because the lady in the next room to you has to work so hard at the office, and the least sound disturbs her?" You can have all this fun and more from about £1 to £1 10s a week in quite a number of places in Wellington. Is it any wonder that many people are continually in a state of nervous tension? Still We have all heard these words before: "If you want to' be your own sweet self, be natural." I don't think the case is an incurable one. Let some of the men in the Labour Department inspect some of the places and name a fair rental. Now, where does the Five Million Club intend to house its population Whei it gets them? Have we ever heard this saying, "The sky is. the limit?"—'l am, etc., : . , KEJ2P BELIEVING.

(To the Editol1.) Sir,—After reading In your . paper some of the criticism of the ' State rentals to be charged for the Government houses at Miramar, 1 would like to voico' my views. I am at present living at Miramaf1 with my wife and three children, and occupying a house of five rooms and sunporch, for which I pay a little less than the rent asked by the Government for a same-sized house, yet lam one of the many applicants for a Government house and were

I to be one of the few lucky persons I would be very happy to accept same and pay.the 30s 6d asked. Any person who thought he was going to rent a new house direct from, the builder's hands for 15s or even £1 per week wants to wake up and think a little about builders' wages and cost of building materials, etc.—l am, etec., BE FAIR..