The squatters’ first week

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33739, 11 January 1975, Page 1

The squatters’ first week

(From

CHARLES COOPER,

London correspondent of "The Press”)

LONDON, January 10. After seven days of occupation by squatters, New Zealand’s onceelegant High Commissioner’s residence near Regents Park is aquiring the role of an international doss-house and menagerie. On a visit to the 19-room town mansion, I met two Italians, three Spaniards, a Scot, a cockney, one terrier, one cat, one Alsatian dog, and two goldfish. An Argentinian, two Brazilians, and somebody called Jose were out. It would be a long stretch of tolerance to accept that New Zealand is playing host, albeit reluctantly, to desperate unfortunates with no other roof over their heads.

Louis, a Spaniard, does not work. He considers Spain repressive and has been a voluntary exile for three years. His parents send him the money he lives on. His roomsharing compatriots, Antonio and Kiko, do not work, either. They are in London “studying English.”

With their heater and record-player plugged into an outlet, their kettle on the open fire, their knick-knacks on the walls, and their mattresses in cosy comers, they have here a comfortable little Iberian enclave. The Italians, Francesco and Allesandro, protected by a new Yale lock, do work, probably quite rewardingly—one at a brewery and one at a jewellery shop. But they do have the Alsatian to feed. It eats 41b of meat a day. Mike Riddell, the Scot, and a most amiable guide over the premises, is delighted with what New Zealand is providing for him. So are his terrier, his cat, and his two goldfish. Mike needed a rental van to bring in his big table, his chairs, and the rugs he has nailed to the walls for that no-place-like-home look. He is entrenched for a long stay. “It will be months before they get an eviction order,”

A prospective “tenant” of the New Zealand High Commissioner’s residence in London (below), at No. 1 Cornwall Terrace, looks dubiously at the supported ceiling in the main reception room. The residence has been taken over by more than 20 squatters.

he says. “They’d be better toi do a deal and leave us here until they really want to renovate the place.” The Crown Estate Commis- i sioners, agents for the house.’ one of a row of fashionable, terraced houses owned by the i Queen, yesterday ruled out any immediate action against the squatters who have moved into the properties.

11 The commissioners discussed the situation at their meeting, but declined tointake any statement. A press [conference might be called on (Monday, a spokesman said. | The house leased by the New Zealand Government as the High Commissioner’s official residence, the largest in the row, has been empty since!

the previous High Commis.turned' to New Zealand to be Governor-General more than His successor, Mr T. H. .McCombs, moved into another leased propertv while !the Government decides whether to spend un to £500,000 ■ renovating the Cornwall Terirace house.