OLD AGE PENSIONER'S PLIGHT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2144, 26 June 1920, Page 2

OLD AGE PENSIONER'S PLIGHT.

An old-age pensioner writes to The Post, relating a pitiful story of the plight he has been placed in in endeavouring to keep a roof over Ids head. Enjoying now a pension of 15s per week as his sole means of subsistence, he has been paying 5s rental for use of an unfurnished room for the past two years, and has paid it regularly in advance. About four months ago, when the tenant of the l house gave him a week’s notice to leave, he advertised in The Post for an unfurnished room, and of (he. replies received two asked 15s a week, one or two 12s (id, and the balance 10s. “! could not," he proceeds, afford to pay any such rent out of a total income of 15s per week. The tenant (the occupier of the house), became impatient. When 1 tendered my rent, a week ago, his wife refused to accept it, and on returning later I found the key turned against me.” On seeing the mistress of the house, he was told that he would not get the key until he “fetched an express to take my things away.” He interviewed the police, who said they could do nothing for him —they could only take cognisance of criminal affairs. “1 was hungry and exhausted, and in need of my dinner; the shades of evening were approaching, and 1 was rendered homeless. So I went to the mistress of the house, and told her 1 wanted to get into my room, that I wanted my dinner, and that she was not going to let me starve (it was a cold, bleak evening). She said she would only let me have the key if I would promise to take the things away on the following day. 1 replied: How can 1 take them away whem I have nowhere to lake them to? . She handed the kev to me. . . . On Mon-,

day at noon the husband aa mo fo my door and said: I shall clear Ihj things out of this room (.his afternoon; you shall n<U sleep here tonight. 1 came to town to consult a lawyer. He wrote me a letter to give to the tenant. I went hack home; the door was locked against me again, but my room had not been broken open, as he had threatened. The mistress refused to give me the key. I h rinded her the lawyer’s letter, and went away. I returned after six o’clock, and found (he key in the door for me to enter. Before seven o’clock she brought a written letter to me, ordering me to leave or pay Ids rent. The house is a two-storied one containing six rooms. The rent is 23s a week. Two rooms were sub-let at 5s each a week, until recently, when they exacted from the Charitable Aid Board 10s a week, and now they want 10s for my room, which would leave the tenant 3s to pay for four rooms, wash-house, and bath-room!” •