Houses, Iceboxes, Leaks

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 306, 25 September 1945, Page 6

Houses, Iceboxes, Leaks

Sir, —Mr. Semple’s ridiculous promise to instal refrigerators and electric washing machines for State housewives has come as a surprise to many tenants of my acquaintance, who would have preferred to hear a statement on the remedy for leaking windows, draughty cracks, illfitting doors and lack of transport. Also how soon they can expect fences and handrails round the houses they occupy, particularly those on bill suburbs where Ihe winds blow, aud there is no protection whatever. If the State will build on alpine slopes surely it is ineunibent on the State also to see to the simple requirements of the normal housewife before promising the sublimest and jnost unnecessary perquisites. First things first, for 'goodness sake. None of them have fur coats, as yet, aud they are wondering if, possibly before next winter, the furrier could be induced by the benign State to call and fit them out so that they could, be at least warm when they go outside for any purpose, even for creeping up aud down elevated paths without support of any kind. Some have absolutely '“no protection from wind and rain between their houses and their nearest stores, in some cases nearly a mile away! The same fur coat could also be used as an extra bedrug when the water pours down windows—inside —and draughts seep in, forcing inmates to change positions several times in an effort to dodge them. If the Minister could get the practical views of the practical housewife he would find it was not refrigerators. or washing machines she would plump for. But I forget; there is an election next year and politicians have been voted into power on peculiar promises.—I am, etc., SENSIBLE ANGLE. September 23.