LARGE FAMILY

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 245, 17 October 1942, Page 3

LARGE FAMILY

IN SMALL HOUSE. DISCLOSURES AT INQUEST. The regrettable conditions under which a man and his wife and eight children were living in a small house in Grey Lynn, Auckland, were disclosed at an inquest held recently by Mr F. K. Hunt touching the death of one of the children, Ernest Joseph Lawson, a boy of 11 months After returning a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence that the infant died of bronchial

pneumonia, the coroner said that the parents appeared to have done everything possible for the baby and had looked after their large family well under adverse circumstances. "The father has been trying without success to get another house," said Mr Hunt "The matter should be attended to by the authorities. The Housing Department should stretch a point in this case and see what can be done for him and his family."

FIVE CHILDREN IN ONE BED. Sergeant J. Greenlees said Mr and Mrs Lawson and eight other children whose ages ranged from two years to 12 years, lived in a small three-roomed house. "The accommodation was totally inadequate for so iarge a family. The front room, used as a bedroom, is approximately 9ft by 12ft, contains only one three-quarter-size bed and a single bed. Mr and Mrs Lawson sleep in the threequarter bed, while three of the children sleep in the single bed. "The second room is used as a living-room, dining-room and bedroom, and it contains an old coal range which is practically useless, a kitchen table, two or three chairs, a couple of old cupboards, and a double bed. In this bed the other five children sleep at night. At the rear of the house is another small room, 6ft by 12ft, containing a gas-cooker and kitchen sink. There are no wash tubs, copper, bath or open fireplace in the house. The children have to be bathed in a large galvanised tub, which is also used for doing all the washing." Sergeant Greenlees said the path round the house was practically all clay, with the result that it was always in a muddy state in wet weather. All the water used for baths and washing of clothes had to be heated on the gas stove. "The children all appeared to be healthy and well cared for, but the overcrowded conditions in which they are at present living will no doubt be detrimental to their well-being," he added. "I understand the house was inspected six months ago by a sanitary inspector, but nothing appears to have been done since then. The father, Arthur Lawson, is employed at Takapuna at a wage of £5 5s per week. For the past two months he has been receiving £11 14s per month child allowance. There are four boys and four girls. The rental of the house is 12s 6d per week."