A LONG NIGHT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26848, 12 August 1948, Page 4

A LONG NIGHT

NO BEDS OR BEDDING PLIGHT Of LODGERS FURNITURE TAKEN AWAY Yesterday morning brought embarrassment to the people who live at Egmont House, 30 Stuart street, Dunedin. Shortly after 8 o'clock a van and men arrived, and they took from the house most of the furniture and effects, including beds and bedding. They were acting under instructions from a city solicitor who held a bill of sale over these things. Late last night only the children were asleep. The others were sitting about in empty rooms, discussing who would share on the floor the odd mattress and blankets that remained. Those in the house are Mrs Dorothea McNeil, her two pre-school-age children and a young boy; a woman, and her baby; a returned serviceman and his wife and child; another returned serviceman and his wife; two single men; and two working girls Mrs McNeil’s husband, who is working in the country, is also a returned serviceman. Mrs McNeil bought the house about four or five years ago, and the others living on the premises are lodgers. Police officers were present when the furniture was 'removed, ’their presence being solely to ensure thal no breach of the peace occurred. A Daily Times reporter called soon after the furniture had been removed. Mrs McNeil said that she had the money to pay the solicitor. 1 - She said that she had made considerable payments during the past four years and was uncertain about what equity she had in the property. Reluctant Decision The solicitor told the Daily Times that the house carried a number of mortgages. When the owner experienced financial difficulty, the solicitor said, he had advanced her some money, receiving in return a bill of sale on the furniture and effects—including blankets, mattresses, sheets, pillow cases, a washing machine, and a sewing machine. Repayments of the mortgages had been irregular, but legal action was discontinued on an understanding that regular, payments were made. As no repayment of the money advanced had been made for some months, the solicitor said, he had written to the owner on two occasions, reminding her that the furniture and effects would be taken if repayments were not made. As no money had been received by him since, he had reluctantly exercised the bill of sale and had the furniture and effects taken from the house.

Major J. M. Hannaford, of t the Salvation Army, told the Daily Times that she had called at Egmont House yesterday afternoon to ascertain if Mrs McNeil and her children had adequate food and clothing. She-said that she was assured they had. Major Hannaford added that she had given Mrs McNeil her telephone number so that any immediate wants could be willingly supplied by the Salvation Army. Major Hannaford said that she had been assured there would be enough bedclothes for all the, children and babies in the house.

Indignation and Anger

The lodgers, who earlier had been indignant, were in an angry frame of mind last night. When the Daily Times again called at Egmont House, they admitted ruefully that- they had not yet found a solution to their problem. , * Mrs McNeil was concerned about her lodgers. She said that as the babies’ cots and' bedclothes had not been taken, they were put to bed without much difficulty. The others had only the floor to sleep on, had only one mattress, a chesterfield, an armchair and a few blankets owned by one of the girls. ,

Some of the lodgers said that.they had to rise at 6 o’clock in the morning and, as the hours passed last night, their hopes of getting any sleep faded. One of the men has an appointment at the Public Hospital early this morning.

One of the girls said that she had only just recently recovered from pleurisy. Her bottles of medicine, pills, and private possessions were in the drawers of one of the dressing tables that had been taken. She added that she had the day off from work yesterday and was in bed when the men called for the furniture. She got up and dressed hurriedly when she heard the noise of everything being moved, and had only been in time to escape the bed being taken away from under her.

The girls complained about the way Their clothes were left in the room. s Where the furniture went, no one at Egmont House knows, but one of the girls said that she would approach the solicitor to-day to recover her personal belongings;