More Flats Wanted

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 1, 24 September 1937, Page 6

More Flats Wanted

Sir, — I was much interested in a let ter in last night 's issue on the shortage of flats. A short time ago I wai needing a room. I walked from one ' end of Hastings to the other in* quesi of a room. After a deal of trouble I was successful in getting a room," The house was a ten-roomed one ano / there were twenty-six people living on , this property. In what should have been a backyard there had just beCnJ erected fifteen flats. Some of these liad two rooms, most only one. Tho flats wero so .congested that one had only to stand at one 's widow to watch neighbours dress. Another house I made inquiries at contained seven rooms. There were fifteen people living in it (all tenantsj) and one room was kept as a bed-sitting-room for a married couple. Everywhere possible a bed had been put, so everv available space on tho veranclah was occupied. On another occasion I was informed of a flat being vacant in Karamu road and went to see this flat. It was not fit to live in and tho rent asked was 15/-. Now, Sir, what are our borough couneillors thinking of that they per-. mit fifteen flats to be built in a baekj yard within the sound of our town clock. We are all entitled to a nest of our own. Surely there should be no need to live in each other 's back yard or out-houses. A person I know leta rooms. She had a woodshed, toolshed, also coalshed let oif as single bedrooms* The rent she asked was six shillings. — Yours, etc., HOUSE NEEDED, Hastings, Sept. 23/37.