SICKNESS AND PRIVATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3877, 3 July 1928, Page 80

SICKNESS AND PRIVATION.

FAMILY EVICTED FROM HOME. HOUSE STRIPPED OF EVERYTHING. AUCKLAND, June 28. Attention was drawn yesterday to the pitiful circumstances of a family at St. Paul street, where a man who is a returned soldier, his wife, and three children, are awaiting eviction because the rent of the house is in arrears. The house has been stripped of bedding and furniture by the bailiffs. The husband is out of work, and the rent is £6 15s in arrears.

“ One would hardly believe that we are living in the twentieth century, when such things as this can happen,” said the Rev. G. C. Scrimgeour, of the Methodist Church, who is, interested in social work. He was speaking of the foregoing case, and he invited a Star representative to visit the house. The visitors were ushered into a small front room totally bare of furniture. On the floor a sickly man was lying on some sacks covered with an old coloured blanket. Whatever warmth the room contained came from a small fire that was burning in the grate. The man is suffering from, a poisoned arm, and medical assistance is being secured to-day. Last Wednesday week the bailiffs removed every stick of furniture, and all the bedding, and since then the man and his wife and three children, aged two, four and six years respectively, have existed with what help has been forthcoming from the efforts of the social workers,