ACUTE SHORTAGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 114, 10 November 1943, Page 6

ACUTE SHORTAGE

HOSTELS FOR GIRLS

OLDER WOMEN ASKED TO LEAVE

Further evidence of the acute shortage of hostel or other accommodation for girls and younger women in Wellington is given by the action of the Women's Social Department or the Salvation Army in giving notice to 23 women who' have-for some time been living in "Fairview," a Salvation Army hostel in Church Street, so x that room may be found for young girls earning lower wages and in the opinion of the Army authorities less able to take care of themselves in the city than older women. ;

In her notification1 to the hostel residents concerned, the secretary of the Women's Social Department states: —

"We-have been greatly disturbed regarding the lack of suitable places to board for young girls who leave sheltered homes for city life, many of them not coming to the city by choice. After giving much consideration to the question, we feel that the time has arrived when we should do something definite to. help relieve the situation. As this can only be accomplished by our making 'Fairview' available for such girls, we have no alternative but to ask you to find board elsewhere. "We regret that it has become necessary for us to take such a step while the situation is so difficult. However, we feel your sense of justice will agree that the young women should have first claim on a young women's hostel. We will be grateful, therefore, if you will make other arrangements for board at an early date, as we have applicants waiting we wish to place by the end of November. This will give you a few weeks in which to make other arrangements. God. bless you." As is natural, those who have received' the request to vacate their rooms, in which some have lived since the outbreak of war, are much* distressed, for from their own experience and.the experience of others they see little likelihood of obtaining acceptable alternative "accommodation anywhere in Wellington. The Salvation Army authorities state that the hostel was primarily intended for younger girls, from and on behalf of whom 'numerous applications for lodging, at the hostel had been received. It was considered that the older women were better fitted to fend for themselves in present circumstances. Every means of overcoming the situation without the necessity for the present action had been explored, but another hostel could not be staffed, and it was with reluctance that the decision was made. Provision had to be made for girls who were without parents, • who were receiving small salaries.and who were not coming to Wellington of their own accord.