THE HOUSING QUESTION

Otago Witness, Issue 3115, 26 November 1913, Page 27

THE HOUSING QUESTION

SLUMS OF DUBLIN. LONDON, November 18. A searching inquiry by the local government authorities into the slums and housing question has been opened in Dublin. The Lord Mayor gave evidence that the tramway fares were a vital factor in connection with dwellings in the snbui'hs. Fares ought to be fixed at gd per mile. - If 10,000 cottages were provided it would bo possible to squeeze out the owners nl the worst tenements. In Mountjoy Ward there were 2600 families, each of whom lived in one room, while 1145 families resided in two rooms each. November 21. At the Local Government Board of Inquiry into the housing conditions of Dublin, Sir Charles Cameron, chief of the Medical Office, stated that he would destroy 1000 of the existing tenement houses. Twenty-one thousand families lived in oneroomed dwellings in Dublin. Canon Mabaffy mentioned that some cf the tenement people were unable to go to bed until the last person arrived, as so many beds had to be spread on the floor. INSANITARY AND ROTTING BUILDINGS. MELBOURNE, November 21. The evidence being tendered before the Housing Commission shows the existence of many hovels. In some suburbs families are herded together, some thrcc-roomed . places being occupied by nine persons. Many of the houses are in an insanitary and rotting condition, and unprovided with baths. In one street containing 16 houses only one possessed a bath. Yet for these exorbitant rents arc being charged.