IUYEESIDE HUTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9657, 14 July 1919, Page 5

IUYEESIDE HUTS.

NEED FOR ACTION

Mr E. W. Johnson, Health Inspector, submitted a special .report to the 1 Hospital Board to-day in regard to the old men's huts along the river., bank. He stated that in a recent inspection he had been accompanied by the Mayor and Cr. MeElrea. Two men had recently ; left the locality, and thenplaces are to be cleaned up_. '■ In another instance an occupier is to 'receive notice to vacate the hut, as the place is an eyesore from the public road. The old men were asked during the inspection, whether they would go to the Old Men's Home, and they stated that they were capable of looking after themselves, and would not go to the home. In all cases the men were given to understand that if their premises were not kept clean and tidy they would have to move on or go to the home. The ages of the men range from 70 to 76 years, and it may not be long before some provision would have to be made for them. One old man (Seemed less robust than his older neighbours. A great improvement had been made in the condition of t'l places since he last visited them. ..

The chairman (Mr. C. Reid) explained, that a -few days ago it had 'been deemed advisable to remove an old man from the locality to the hospital." When the driver of the taxi went to the hut he found the old man in such a deplorable and filthy condition that ho refused to convey him to the hospital. The work of removing the man then had to be undertaken by Mr E. N. Johnson in the board's motor-car. Mr Reid said he had every sympathy with the old men, but he did not think they sho\ild be allowed to remain in the .jhuts until they got into such a state as the case under review,, "Why. should they be allowed to Remain ?" asked Mr Reid. He went oil''to state that he considered' it was' iii the interests of the men themselves that they should be properly cared for, and not left until they became helpless. He also did not think that the.board's inspector should be asked to go in£o these insanitary huts and take risks with his- health and that of his family. He considered that something should be done to remedy this unsatisfactory state of affairs that was cropping up from time to time. The board'did not want to interfere, as the huts were under; the control of .another;-: public body. The old men were fairly well off when they were able to move about and do for themselves, but the day arrived for each one of. them' when they were no longer able to look after themselves, and then matters sanitary and otherwise became very unsatisfactory. Any of the huts that were insanitary and not. fit to live in should be removed. "

Mr F. W. Watt said he wanted to support the chairman in the stand he had taken. Some time ago this matter had been brought under the notice of the board by. Dr. Rendle, who submitted a report upon the filthy, condition of one of the huts. The matter was referred to the Borough Council. Dr. Rendk?s report directed attention to the filthy state of the hut and the occupant, and at the same time rendered a service to the community. The doctor had pointed out that the man's bed was covered with human excreta. The doctor was condemned by certain members of the council for having presented his report. The council then, took up the attitude of having the huts inspected by its inspector, and members knew the view he (the speaker) took of the; system 'of sanitary inspection 'in the Borough. He, bad endeavoured to get the inspection of these huts placed in.thejiands of Inspector Johnson, .but nothing final had,been done." *.

Mr Watt went on to refer to the roeent incident of prosecutions before the-Court as the result of drinking in some of the huts >in the locality. As a result of his recommendations, he had been instrumental in getting these men cleared out of the locality. He did not want to be continually harping' on this matter of sanitation at; the huts, as some- people would think-he had a " down "on the old men. He was certain that some people •in Ashburton did not understand the condition under .which these old people lived. Mr Watt pointed out that while the old men could niovo about and" do for themselves, the tion 'was not so bad; but the time came, when, through sickness or old age, "they were no longer able to do for themselves. Some of these days they would be hearing of an old man having been found dead in bed, with signs of a struggle, and no one near to care for him during, his passing away. He contended that the condition of the-se men was such that no reasonable' community should allow to exist.

Mr J. Cairns said there vrere sony very decpnt old men living"in" thes: huts, and they kept their" premises very clean. He thought it would be a great pity to interfere with their freedom, particularly with those who had the independent spirit and who kept themselves clean. '

Mr Watt said he wished to emphasise the point that the old men came to such nn age. when they could not look after themselves: '

Tho chairman said : his impression was that unless the individual could look after himself he should be properly looked after. When a man became feeble it was to his interest to bo removed. It was not the first time that old men had been found dead in the huts.

Mr Dickie said the board had power under the Health Act to deal with theße old men.

Mr 'Watt: "But not to interfere with j the sanitary inspection of the- borough." Mr Dickie went on to state that he was sorry to learn that such an unsatisfactory state of affairs existed. He did not want to make such a drastic; move to wipe the old men out of tho locality altogether, but he considered the old men were not able to look alter themselves; the board should make provision to ha>e them placed in a home. Mr H. J. Harrison said he agreed with what Mr Watt had .state:!, and then related an instance in his own dis- ' trict where an old man got into a deplorable- state through living- in a hut by himself and not having proper care Mr. Doherty said he would like to know, who had the most say in this matter—the borough or the board's inspector. The chairman replied that it was only when some matter came prominently before tbe board that the inspector took a hand in the borough. He had no right to interfere with the borough inspection. When Mr Johnson had occasion to inspect in the borough he sent a report to the council. Mr Dofcerty said tho inspector had a big district to attend to. He consider-