OVERCROWDING.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 June 1920, Page 4

OVERCROWDING.

CONDITIONS IN NEW PLYMOUTH. DISMAL PICTURES OP "HOMES." "Who is responsible for overcrowding in houses in this * town ?" asked t'.i'J Mayor at last night's meeting of the Borough Council. Mr. Clarke said many cases had come under his notice recently which showed d very serious condition of affairs. He recently came across a case where a father and four children were sleeping and living in one small room, but since then he had found a house which was crowded with families, and in one room .1 family of a wife and husband and six young children were living. This room served for sleeping quarters, living, and the children's playground. "I asked the woman why she did not rent another room in the house, and her reply was that the landlord wanted 25s a week for it," added Mr. Clarke. - A councillor: The Government shouli Interest jtself in that landlord rather lhan in the cost of alarm clocks. ■ "The Council must not shut'its I eyes to this matter," declared Mr. Clarke. "With people living in these conditions, where are we going to be if there is an epidemic ofUsickness in the town?" Other councillors gave similar instances of overcrowding, and referred to the acute shortage of houses. "New Plyi mouth is losing good settlers because there are no homes for them," declared one councillor. Cr. Hayden suggested that the erection of flats would overcome the. difficulty, but the Mayor pointed out that building was out of the question to 'inert the shortage before next summer. Tha position was, added Mr. Clarke, that there were too many people in almost every house in New Plymouth, and th'i demand for houses was far from being met. "I would sooner live in a tent than in the waV some pecple are living in New Plymouth," lie added. * It was generally agreed that the conditions required immediate attention, ami the Mayor expressed the hope that some scheme would"be brought forward at, the next meeting of the Council. •'|