OUR SLUMS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 48, 25 February 1910, Page 7

OUR SLUMS.

COUNCIL TO TAKE ACTION. STJB-COUMiTTEE SET UP. J Some tfrne ago, on the 26l'h of January it was, the erstwhile District Health Officer (Dr. Purdy) decided that there were areas in the city of Auckland which were alums, or rapidly becoming such. He- told the City Council so, and suggested'that the Council ought to acquire the areas, pull down tho buildings, and lay them out afroah, so that they ehould not' again approximate to slums in future. The Council referred the suggestion and the report to a committee, but the committee decided that the order was rather too large for the City to undertake. That was the end of the matter for the time being, and it appeared then as if it might be shelved for an indefinite period. Councillor Read, however, recognising that the work of improving the poor localities should not be too long postponed, gave notice of a motion which, if carried, would keep the object alive. This motion, which he moved at the meeting of the Council last night, was as follows:—'"That, in view of the report of Dr. Purdy, the late district health officer, submitting for consideration the advisability of dealing with the area comprising Duke, Dock, liarclinge, Cook, Morton, and Baker streetswhich areas ho stated are overcrowded, and may bo classed as insanitary, under the provisions "f the Municipal Corporations Act, 1U0&-- t> special committee be formed to investigate the whole question raised by Dr. Purdy's report, to see if something ca-nnot be done to improve the condition of those areas where the dwellings of the workers of this city are situate." The mover said that he was sure the time had arrived when tho Council should take some action to improve the dwellings of the workers of the city. Already in the city there were many people living under conditions wlricli were to be regretted, which were even deplorable, especially in a young country like New Zealand. But he would not advocate the line of action recommended by the health oiScer. It would be wicked to condemn all the dwellings in the area mentioned until something couM be done to provide housing for the people in them. He thought there were areas in the city which could be improved, by filling in and otherwise, to make them h't for workers' building sitss. In any case, a sub-committee should bo set up. The committee might not decide upon anything of the sort he had suggested, but they could at least do something for the amelioration of the conditions of the low-wage earner. Air. Read gave chapter and verse for his statements that there were slums, and the places he described were as near to big slums as it is safe, in the interests i of public health, to permit. Every councillor at the table spoke to the motion, which was eventually' carried unanimously. Not all of them | were quite sure that' a reform policy ' such as Mr. Read had outlined, or sug-; geeted, would be financially possible, 'but all thought a committee might do ueeful I work in collecting information as to j how reforms of the kind were effected ■ in the cities of the Old Land. This done, the Council could at least compel owners; to put their premises in a sanitary condition 'before letting them to tenants. The members elected to form the subcommittee were the Mayor, and Councillors Parr, Michaels, Tudehope, Mackay, Smeeton, Nerheny, and Read.