LIVING IN ONE ROOM

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 212, 7 August 1945, Page 4

LIVING IN ONE ROOM

FAMILY OF SIX

(Press Assn.) AUCKLAND, Aug. 6. “This man, his wife and four young children all live in one room,” said Senior-Detective Trethewey in the Magistrate's Court, referring to one of two men charged with theft. Accused told Mr J. H. Luxford, S.M., that lie went with another man to a house to act as a witness because the other man had had some trouble with the occupier. They admitted taking an electric radiator, electric iron and clock and holding the articles till an argument concerning the sum of £8 had been settled. “But you sold the iron to a dealer for 10s,” interposed the Magistrate. “Yes, sir. But I was not working at the time,” explained the father of four. “1 thought things could be fixed up later.” Mr Luxford: How much do you pay for the room in which the six of you are living?—l pay £3 a week. Mr Luxford: Where is it?—ln an apartment house in Hobson Street. There are two beds and a duchesse in it. Mr Luxford: Do you all get your mcais for that?—Oh, no, sir. Wc just got a cup of tea and a couple of biscuits in the morning. “Just sufficient to put the place outside the Pair Itents Act,” remarked the Magistrate. “These arc conditions which should not bo tolerated in any civilised community.” The man said lie had put in an application for a State house. Mr'Luxford: You arc one of about 10,000 who have made similar applications. The Magistrate admitted both men to probation for 12 months.