'Atrocious' conditions

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33433, 15 January 1974, Page 1

'Atrocious' conditions

The condition of some of the buildings at the Kingslea Girls Centre was atrocious, the Minister of Social Welfare (Mr King) said when he visited the home yesterday. Mr King said that he Would start immediately a positive plan of redevelopment at the centre to replace 80-year-old buildings being used to accommodate girls.

“We must get rid of the prison-like cells in some parts of these buildings; get away from this prison concept altogether,” Mr King said. During his tour of the centre, Mr King listened to criticism from staff about inadequate, outdated and cramped facilities.

When he was shown through the ancient laundry, Mr King was cheerfully berated by the super-

visor there (Mrs L. Kid' well).

“Maybe you are wondering why it’s so hot in here,” Mrs Kidwell said. “It’s because if we open the windows, they fall out. And those newspapers on the floor are where you’ll fall through if you put your feet”

Shortly to be installed in this laundry is several hundred dollars worth of new laundry equipment. Mr King was taken through the centre by the newly-appointed principal (Mr O. T. Ryan) and the assistant principal (Mrs C. M. Hart). Earlier in the day he had visited the new sheltered workshops complex at Riccarton.

The photograph shows two girls from the home watching Mr King sampling icing from a rainbow cake they baked for his visit.