AUSTRALIAN SLUMS

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4326, 10 August 1937, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN SLUMS

Not so many years ago, when someone suggested that Sydney—that, of course, means more than the city—• should get rid of its slums, defenders of Sydney's housing conditions declared that there were no such things as slums in Sydney. Since that time (writes a correspondent of the Melbourne ‘ Age ’) people have been found living in stables adjoining houses where people were living 10 in a room. Dog kennels were considered superior to some of the places where people were compelled to live, and to crowd a pianola and a wireless into the kitchen. Now the Housing Improvement Board has arrived at the gates of Rcdfern, where 100 years ago the gentlefolk wended their way down the sweetsmelling bush tracks leading from the Strawberry Hills—where occasional 1 hush rangers used to lurk—to the love- j liness of stately homes. It is true that the people do not Jive far from the surf, but that is no reason why whole streets of houses should be left with- ! out baths.

In one street neighbours have clubbed together and bought a lub, which they use for bathing purposes, and pass round. When a whistle is sounded it is an indication that the tub is required, and it is sent over to the house wanting it. Three whistles indicate that the bath has been returned. Two whistles say very distinctly, “ I’m in the tub, so please wait until I’ve had a good wash.” In some of the houses they take a hot bath in the washhouse copper after the manner of the Japanese It looks as thungli lledfern requires the services of a Catherine Wilkinson, who cleaned up Liverpool, England, in the early thirties of last century by lending her room and appliances to poor people to enable them to wash. She succeeded ultimately in breaking down the death rate in the neighbourhood by improved conditions of health through cleanliness. And she was just a poor woman.