OVERCROWDED SYDNEY

Hokitika Guardian, 27 May 1920, Page 1

OVERCROWDED SYDNEY

WHAT 750,000 PEOPLE PUT UP WITH.

SYDNEY, May UOne sees paragraphs occasionally "l New Zealand newspapers which suggest that the citizens of some of the big Non Zealand towns find grievous fault with their municipal .governmen. If they want to realise liow well off they are they should live in 'Sydney for throe months. If life in the gay harbour city has its attractions its fright 1 - y overcrowded condition is attended L>

oravc disadvantages. " The population was rushing ahead ,oi public, services in 1914. Since then there has been no money for even urgent public works, but the population has gone on increasing. 'The lack of housing is notorious and need not be enlarged upon. Tiiecr is a'wild stampede when even the meanest shack becomes vacant. The rentals of good 'houses average from 35s per week upwards, and one gives anything up to £.% “lor the ] ie y”—which is practically a bribe ui

the a cent, or some interested paity. The dty reeks with questionable commissions of that 1 chaareter. The citv 11 being ringed-in with great blocks of I self-contained flat. An average flat-dining-room, two bedrooms, kitchen an bathroom, unfurnished, two or t iree storeys up—cannot be had for *css than £2 10s per week, plus gas ni ' a electric power, and they range «o to £4 4s. If the flat is furnished, the rental is higher by £1 or 30s, '■ ■ An elaborate system of underground railways was being constructed, but the work ceased in 1916, owing to the .aok of money. Result, the transport food--ties are terribly congested The train

trains, and ferries perform nvaivels those who see the dense masses of people they shift declare that they - • ■ efficient as any in the world-yet tia.d in the “rush” hours is a. horror, city is surrounded with holiday '.esoms yet thousands stay iu the city, mo’U after month, rather than endure the frightful crowding on the trams an Tim telephone and post-office facilities have not been kept up with the growinc population, with the result that, th ■ ’phone service cannot cope with the . - mauds upon it, and ,is in a deplorable condition; and the post office much better. It w pract.caHy nupos siblo now to get a new phone in , - . people in the suburbs who lodgedapi ~ cations eight months ago are still «-it-

in jt i s the same with the main arterial roads in and out of the city. The strain of their maintenance, years ago »c----mo »« *« *** and they abandoned them H ey• - the State authorities have been fight.n. about the matter ever since, and the roads —well, they are simply incredible. There is nothing like them m iSew /ecland—even in Auckland, which enjoys some, notoriety .in that respect. Traffic avoids them as far as possible, dodg ng ninnsr the side-streets.