POVERTY AND FILTH.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 200, 24 August 1928, Page 5

POVERTY AND FILTH.

OLD COUPLE SENT TO GAOL REFUSED TO ENTER HOME. (By Telegraph.—o\fn Correspondent.) WANGANUI, this day. Living in a shed at Putiki in a deplorable state of filth, an old couple, Archibald Nelson and his wife, were located by the police and brought before Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M., this morning. Sergeant Sivyer said the conditions in the shed almost beggared description. The shed had a tin chimney and no flooring. In one half there was an indescribably filthy bed, on the floor. There was practically no furniture, and the floor was littered with the excreta of fowls, cats and dogs, who also occupied the living premises. At the time the police arrived the woman was nursing a fowl. The place was draped with thousands of cobwebs, and not been "tidied" for months. The husband had a pension of 17/ a week, and on this the old couple lived. The wife was poorly clad in Court. A pair of felt slippers was almost falling off her feet, and 'there was a big rent in one stocking. Both refused to go to the Old People's Home, and the magistrate said he had no alternative but to remand them in custody for a few days for treatment and observation, in the hope that ultimately they would make up their minds to sro to the home.