CONGESTION IN AUCKLAND.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3023, 21 October 1908, Page 4

CONGESTION IN AUCKLAND.

Some rather startling facts were conveyed in a letter forwarded to the Auckland Hospital Board, by Dr. Purdy, District Health Officer. He stated that a married woman, resident of a board-ing-house in Auckland, had contracted phthisis, and he had recommended her for admission to the Waikato Sanatorium. She and her husband and tw& children were occupy-

ing one room, the rent of which, with the use of the kitchen, was 10s a week, whilst 2s was paid for firewood, and coal, and 6d for lighting. "This," added Dr. Purdy, "is only one instance of many where one house is sub-let to three or more parties. In one house there were fifteen in five sleeping rooms. I have at various times drawn the attention of the City Council to the advisableness of having regulations for boarding-huuses, as most lodging-houses in Auckland, by taking weekly tenants, evade the Common Lodging-house Act. At the same time, owing to the lack of ot?her suitable accommodation in Auckland, I have refrained from condemning some places, as I found that the removal of some of the worst equipped houses had caused an increase in the sub-letting of similar houses, as many who receive charitable aid must spend much, if not all, their relief money in rent."