STARVING.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 293, 11 December 1929, Page 8

STARVING.

FAMILY OF TEN.

MOTHER'S AWFUL ORDEAL

« MOST SHOCKING CASE."

"DAMNABLE," SAYS VISITOR

HOUSE BAKE;: FATHER ,IX GAOL,

(By Telegraph.—Press' Association.) r y . . WELLINGTON, this day.

"It's the most shocking case I have ever come in contact with .in ail my 30 years' experience, and I have seen a few bad ones," said Inspector Fletcher.

"Yes,", remarked the borough engineer (Mr. Bush), '"it's damnable that such a thing should, happen in a country such as this. .Just think of a man being gaoled for three months because he committed a crime to provide food for these bonny children." ' '

Such were the comments of officers of tho Lower Hutt Borough Council upon entering a house in Randwick yesterday afternoon. Their tour of the premises showed a series of absolutely bare rooms, except the kitchen, where there was a table, some 3ft by 2ft, and a pot. There was not so much as a box to sit upon. It is the home of a mother and nine children, the eldest,'aged 12, a'girl,' who" was tending her mother, 'who only last Sunday 'gave 'birth to a child, •with never a soul in the world to welcome it except' the'woman herself and the other children. --...'....

There was not a bed among them al!, not'a-plate, a dish, nor so much as-a knife -or a fork. * - . -.. . j The father, a T.B. case, is said to be not mentally strong.' After he had been-months out of employment he was six weeks' ago convicted on a charge of false pretences and sentenced £o three months' gaol. , . . , Everything Sold For Food. The woman struggled on, too proud to let'her case be known, and bit by bit 'everything in the. home went to provide food. Some weeks ago attention was drawn to the case, and Inspector Fletcher went to the house, but the woman was too proud' to j: let- him in. She. assured him that she .was all right." .However, dire necessity made application' for charitable akl'necessary, and Assistance to the extent of £1 19/2 a week was given. But this was quite insufficient to make up leeway and provide for the expectant mother and eight children living in a bare house: ; ' ■ Yesterday morning the true state of affairs became known, and resulted in other houses being ransacked and beds, bedding, -food, etc., being provided. One woman*, Working in an office, got a day off, and, armed with a scrubbing brush, soap -arid' disinfectant, went round, cleaned and ' sweetened up the whole house; and bathed-and tidied up the children; Naturally they think her "just Christmas." Still there is the problem of the' ; future. v .. I.', Electricity Cut Off. At Ilast sitting'of the Lower Hutt Magistrate's, -Court the- State Advances Office'.obtained an order, for . possession of the- premises, because, instalments had not been'paid. Through all the.days of the woman's trouble the house was urilighted; because; the Power Board had cut off the. -power . supply/} .accounts being overdue,. , •. • , • It will,be ten w.eeks before the father is free to work, even if he can get work.