FAMILY'S PLIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22172, 27 July 1935, Page 14

FAMILY'S PLIGHT

BAGS USED FOR SHELTER LIVING ON ALBANY ROADSIDE For the past three years, a family has been living at Albany in the distressing circumstances of having only bags for shelter. The matter was raised at yesterday's meeting of the Waitemata County Council in a letter received from a member of the council, Mr. J. Littlejohn. " I wish to draw your attention to | the case of a man, who, with his wife | and eight children, one a cripple suffer- ; ing from infantile paralysis, is living i under a shelter made of manure bags on the side of a road near Albany," stated Mr. Littlejohn. '' He is an ujv naturalised Austrian, and has lived in New Zealand since the age of 15. His wife and children are New Zealandborn. *' Being unnaturalized, he cannot; claim a family allowance, and as j naturalisation would cost £5 that is out : of the question. He is in receipt of 38s j a week from the Unemployment- Board, and when interviewed he pointed out ! the obvious fact that the amount did ' not allow any margin for rent." Mr. ] Littkjohn said the Hospital Board had } been approached, but it bad stated it I was not empowered to do anything in the matter. He considered that some action would have to be taken immediately. Mr. W. A. Bishop, chairman of the County Council, said it was undoubtedly a distressing case, and he would look into the maitfer of paying the naturalisation fee.