THE "ROOMING" PROBLEM

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 77, 31 March 1920, Page 13

THE "ROOMING" PROBLEM

I TO THE EDITOR. i Sir, —The example of Catholics in establishing hostels for the benefit of girls of that faith might be followed with advantage by Protestants also. Hundreds of people, young and old, are compelled to live in room, or board, and at the present time high charges arc being made for rooms. The unfortunate tenants are practically being compelled .to help buy houses for the proprietors of houses in which they (the tenants) occupy one or two rooms. The trouble is not caused by reasonable people who are forced to let rooms in order to meet the demands of some landlords. There are people with money who rent or buy j houses, 1 fill them with second-hand furniture, and then demand a price far in excess of the actual value of either rooms or appointments. Now here is a chance for the Welfare League to step in and prevent exploitation of a hard-working people. If there is profit in rooms it should be a national profit, for the extension of a, much-needed system of reasonable provision for those who must live in rooms or hostels. Sta-te kitchens and restaurants should be also a feature of city and suburban life. Instead of putting money into the pockets of people bent only on acquiring property without " the trouble of working for it, tho "roomer" would feel that be was getting full value for the money which he paid into the communal homes or hostels. Our scldiere, of whom we are co justly proud, owed their fine physique to good wholesome food and cleanly surroundings. If tho rising generation is to be as capable, and as well set up, as the thousands 'who marched away to fight for King and country, they, too, must have proper food and homes. The war has proved that it is possible to provide comfortable accommodation on a huge scale. Will some organisation go ahead and organise a system, Which would be of lasting benefit to the "ro.oraars" of this country? The "Welfarers" would have the satisfaction of knowing that they had accomplished a great work in conserving the health of tho people, and in ruthlessly crushing any attempt at slum-building in our