MR. MCDOUGALL'S MEMORIES

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 103, 28 October 1932, Page 6

MR. MCDOUGALL'S MEMORIES

. (To the Editor.) Sir, —I would like to check the remarks passed by Mr. McDougall in the House of Representatives in reference to the slums, as he calls them, in the city of Glasgow. The impression likely to be left on the minds of readers "who have never visited ■that great city by the remarks of- Mr. McDougall is entirely wrong. The population of Glasgow is almost equal to that of the whole of New Zealand-; it is essentially an industrial centre. Therefore,-the bulk of them are of the working class. Many of these working people have spent the days ot then1 childhood in the very "slums" that are spoken of by Mr. McDougall. These people have-not got away from the degrading environment referred to. and yet they^have oveucome it, and are today useful and respectable citizens. . .- ..-';. ' . *"-'.■'. The statement made by Mr. McDougall that if he had not come away from Glasgow he would have been hanging at the end _of a rope now, is> in my opinion, an admissionyof weakness "on his part. I wonder if he has revisited Glasgow since he came to New Zealand; I wonder if he has had the pleasure of. a train ride through the miles of broad, well-paved street's, or a walk through the many public parks? Has he visited the great hospitals and infirmaries? '■Has he seen the great public schools and the University? "Does he know that a large number of the students at the latter are the sons and daughters of the, working class? Has he observed the_ annual report of the death percentage which is one of the smallest in the world? Has he observed the sanitation conditions? Does he know Glasgow? In my opinion, he does not. His memory vision of the home, of engineering and shipbuilding is sadly contorted.1

■ Regarding the slum districts, which, by the way, exist in every city in the world— yes. even in Wellington—there is without doubt room for improvement, but this is being done. The last time I was there the shim areas were being gradually eliminated; new brick semi-detached house? were being built, and the old ones cleared

away, the whole idea being to elevate the lives of the people, to (rive the rising generation a new and a belter environment Ihe housing <*.:>. Jitions in New. Zealand may be all that c. v be desired if properly used but are they? Row many of 6ur ordinary bungalows are teuanted by two aye and sometimes three families? The city of Glasgow may deserve criticism, but before any persons can afford to wax critical they should get to truly know the object they criticise, and also should be careful that the very remarks they pass do not bear on the land of their adoption.—l am etc., ' ■-.-.. • JAMES W. ROY.