A FILTHY DEN.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LI, Issue 16871, 28 October 1925, Page 9

A FILTHY DEN.

NOXIOUS SLUM AT TIMARU. “I have been in the slums of Glasgow, in the slums of my home town. Ncwcastie-oii-Tyne, and in the. slums of London, but I have never seen anything so appalling or disgraceful as I saw in Timaru recently,” said the Rev. 1. Wilson Potts at a meeting of the South Canterbury Hospital Board, when referring to social service matters. The story as related by Mr. I’otts was that as a result of information lie had received concerning young men visiting a den for the purpose of drinking methylated spirits lie had visited the spot. There he saw a dug-out covered with old sacks and old iron, .which was the habitation of an old man who was down and out. One ol the n'd man s victims was a young man whose winhad been refused assistance by the Social Service Committee. He wondered vvliat the authorities were doing to permit such a place to exist within sight and hearing of everyone. Ihe whereabouts of the young man could not ba traced and the board could not grant assistance where’ two apartments were being run. It. now transpired that the man was visiting the dug-out. He protested against conditions which permitted of an old man ’ tempting and polluting young men who were easily led being permitted to exist in a community like Timaru. Her hoped that whatever was said would stir the authorities to take action to' wipe out the den. On the motion of’Mr. (1. Dash, the Social Service Committee were, instructoil 1 10 act with the police'and otlid - authorities concerned.