RAT-RIDDEN HOUSE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 9, 10 July 1943, Page 6

RAT-RIDDEN HOUSE

MINISTER TAKES ACTION

"Undoubtedly the worst report that had come before me. Immediately on reading it I called v.^nn the housing branch of the State :<-cs Corporation for an 'inves1 ' stated the Minister of Interna. (Mr. Parry) today when referri. .Ie Auckland case in which it v. reported that because of the conditions in which they live in a house at Freeman's Bay, Auckland, little children had been bitten by rats.

The Minister said that the State Advances Corporation's report stated it was evident that the conditions of the house must have deteriorated materially since the Corporation's investigation. The Corporation was making an immediate investigation'and the application for a house had now been regraded as urgent. The Child Welfare Department had also been asked to make a report so that the case might be considered by the special committee set up to deal with the housing of needy families. The assurance was given that every endeavour would be made to find a suitable house at the earliest possible date. The report added that the occupiers of the house lodged an application for a State house on November 23, 1938. At that time the inspector's report showed that the family were reasonably well housed in comparison with many other applicants and the application was not considered one for urgent treatment. In view of the acute housing situation, it had not been the practice to further investigate applications so classified unless the Corporation was advised by the applicant that circumstances had altered or that' there had been a change of address. At the time the application was lodged there were three children, and from the Press report it now appeared there were six.

"It is cases like these," the Minister said, "that one will bring all the pressure possible to relieve. I am pleased that ventilation of it, even at this late hour, enables prompt action to be taken." .