GLANCING BACK

Northern Advocate, 28 October 1932, Page 3

GLANCING BACK

SLUMPS OP GLASGOW. MR McDOUGALL’S ANALYSIS. (From Our Parliamentary Special.) AYELLINGTON, Thursday. Endorsement of Mr J. A. Lee’s description of conditions in Scotland Avas given by Mr D. McDougall (Government, Mataura) in the House last night. “I listened to the member’s remarks,” said Sir McDougall, “and I say that they arc correct. He dealt ■with everything but the MeDougalls, and I want to say something about them.” (Laughter.) I want to say something of the slums of Glasgow. I am one of those who left the slums of Glasgow. I left there when I was a young man. I Avant to say that a boy born in an environment like that of the slums of GlasgOAA r , Avho shunned Avhat Avas evil and selected Avhat was good, deserves some credit. (Hear, hear.) I had a house from a man called McLean, and he Avas just about as bad as a landlord could be. I am glad I got aAvay from GlasgOAA', and I have praised my Maker morning, noon and night since I came to New Zealand. ’ ’

The voyage out to New Zealand 50 or 60 years ago, said' Air AlcDougall, was not like it was today. “We came out in one of Paddy Hamilton’s windjammers,” he added. “We had nothing to eat but fat pork and pea soup.” Mr AlcDougall said that evictions in those days were common, and hardships resulted. Anyone who read Burns’ poem “The Twa Dogs’’would realise the dreadful conditions that existed. “You could Jiot blame anyone for going away,’’ he said. “I went away, and it is a good job I did. If I had not gone I would have been dancing at the end of a rope before now r .’’