DIRTY PREMISES. TO THE EDITOR.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 35, 11 February 1908, Page 8

DIRTY PREMISES. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — In your repot t of the City Council proceedings receutly T noticed that "an officer wrs to be appointed by the council to carry out the work of disinfection of promises in the cit}-." Notbefore it was required ; bijt some honees" belonging, 1 am sorrj: to say, to moneyed landlords, need somothina; more than disinfection. 1 recently looked over a throe-roomed cottage in the vicinity of Majorbanks-street. The placo was filthy inside and ouf and required to be newly rigged from, front to back. And yet this place — three so-called looms — with few if any, conveniences, was to let at 12s ppr week. As Dr. M'Arthur said in speaking of another place, "it xvas a menace to public health and a fit case for the Health Department to take up." Such places should bo inspected as well as disinfected before new tenants enter them, and the landlords compelled to either make them habitable or rebuild. I think a proper and unbiased borough inspector, accompanied by a health officer, should inspect all nouses and premises, when tenants change and at other times, and if I mistake not they would havo a long and not very favourable report to make— l am, etc., Wellington, Bth February, 1908.