WELLINGTON’S CHINATOWN

Evening Star, Issue 17920, 16 March 1922, Page 6

WELLINGTON’S CHINATOWN

CIVIC LEAGUE DEMANDS A

CLEAN-UP,

A remarkable report ou the alleged dirty state of Wellington’s “ Chinatown ” was laid before the executive of the Civio League on Monday evening. The officer who tendered tho report said that ho had been acquainted with Hauling, Frederick, Taranaki, and Tory streets for many_ years, and he alleged that that portion of tho city was tho most insanitary, squalid, and unsightly in Wellington, ‘‘if not in tho "Dominion.” Main in g stroot_ was, in Jiis opinion, the worst, for it included ill-ventilated tenanted by Chinese, Hindoos, and also whites. In five of sovoii houses in Raining street visited by him on 18th February lotteries, he asserts, wore being conducted by Chinese, and the air in tho shuttered houses was stifling and unfit to breathe. Certain of tho occupants of tho houses, ho stated, wore suffering from disease, and ho considered that that portion of tho city was a monaco to tho health and morals of tho general community. The officer also complained that police raids were too infrequent, and suggested that regular inspections should bo made by officers of the Health Department. Frederick street, ho said, was comarativoly clean, but certain buildings and vacant sections in that street and in Tory, Taranaki, and Vivian streets wore sadly in need of a donning up. Another matter referred to in the report was the alleged purchase of clothing from the relatives of deceased persons, and its sale before any fumigation had been Carried out.

A committee has boon set up to investigate the charges made, and will carry out an inspection.