SYDNEY HOVELS

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 June 1925, Page 8

SYDNEY HOVELS

“ALIVE WITH VERMIN.” L' ’ Another startling report about hovels at Waterloo was made to the ’ Sydney City Council, by the Health Inspector (Air Colhoun). * lie said the report made the other hovels look like mansions by comparison. His report was supported by the Health Officer (Dr lardy , who paid a visit to Waterloo and inspected the premises. Two were in Gray’s Lane. They had no baths, and were in a very bad state of repair. The condition of one hovel at the corner of Queen Street and Dunning Avenue was indescribable. Two of the hovels belonged to a doctor, he alleged. Aiderman Connolly; Fancy these premises without even baths, being owned by a doctor. They are a •scandal and a disgrace to a man occupying. such a- position. About 27s 6d a week is charged for these hovels. The first night the tenants went into one, they could get no sleep at all for the vermin. They got to the furniture and it nearly walked out of the house. It is an absolute disgrace. We should put a firestick to them. I’ve never in my life seen anything like it before. Alderman Mulcahy : That hovel in Queen Street is absolutely shocking. It is an awful place and is filthy with vermin, which crawl all over it. I visited it the other day, but I got • out quick and lively. It should be condemned and destroyed. The Town Clerk (Mr Pretyman) said that Dr Purdy had visited the place, and had said that the council should demolish it, and charge the cost to the owners. Aiderman Mulcahy: Can the Council do that? The Town Clerk: We’re going to do it. The Health Inspector’s report was adopted.