LIFE AT CANBERRA.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5129, 23 May 1927, Page 1

LIFE AT CANBERRA.

SHEDS AS COTTAGES. In Canberra, the new Australian Federal Capital, men drive to work in motor-cars yet live in shanties, which are practically devoid of furniture. Citizens are urging the demolition of many of the existing temporary settlements. ' Living-conditions in most of the Eastlake tenements are poor. The cottages are only sheds, and, while a few of the residents have made attempts to transform them into homes., others have made no attempt to improve their tenements, and have thus created a very undesirable area close to one of the most thickly populated aeras at the new capital. Floors without covering of any description, and furniture of the. roughest and poorest type, may be seen in some of the cottages. The rent for these cottages is 4s 6d a week.

Within a few weeks the. Federal Capital will have four hotels. Both tourists and residents say that while the Hotel Canberra is unique, the tariff of £7 7s a week is unreasonable. The additional charges for private rooms make the hotel impossible for tlie average tourist. The tariff for a man and his wife living at the Hotel Canberra and having a private sitting looom and bathroom would amount to £9lO a year.

At the Hotel Kurrajong the tariff is £5 5s per week. This hotel is occupied largely by Canberra business men, who, although they object to the charges, have no choice, as no other accommodation is available.