HARBOUR BOARD COTTAGES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16795, 20 July 1920, Page 4

HARBOUR BOARD COTTAGES.

TO THE KDIIOR. Sir, —As ono interested in the conditions pertaining to the housing of the' Harbour Board’s workmen employed on tho quarry, will ycm please allow mo to say that tho report of tho council’s inspector is perfectly correct in every detail. In tact, tho report does not go far enough. And tho council is to be congratulated on haying an inspector who is courageous eiiough to do hia duty. Firstly, tho comment that the tenants signed tho statement that they were satisfied goes for what it is worth. If they did not sign they had tho alternative of getting out. Secondly, the chairman states tho buildings were erected for single men. 1 would like to ask the chairman why single men prefer to put up at tho hotel in preference to occupying these huts; the reason is obvious. 'then, as for the healthy situation, the huts are so situated that it is impossible to open tho front door (and some possess a front door) when tho wind is blowing from any point between north-west and east. In this connection tho huts are exposed to tho most severe .weather conditions. Now as to tho sanitary conditions contained in tho report. The single men had to shift as best they could. All refuse poured down tho surface drains ran down past tho married people’s door, and so on past tho last hut, which contained a larger young family than the other huts. I would liko to ask Mr. Wilkinson if ho thinks that single-men do not require • sanitary conveniences just as much ns a horso needs * good stable. I would liko to tel! Mr. Maxwell that if the board, of which he is a member, wants single men only, that better accommodation must be provided for both single and married men. His remarks are simply ridiculous. Have not married couples a right to proper housing? Mr. Blair Mason says he visited tho places and saw nothing objectionable in the sanitary arrangements. I would like to remind him that the day ho visited the place that ho.must have had his eyes shut, as everything was on tlie surface. Mr. Mason says ho does not expect such a report from a public officer. Well, the city should bo proud that it has a public officer who is. willing to do his duty fearlessly. I would like to ask Mr. Mason would he, or any, members of the board, b© willing to put a winter in under similar'conditions. If the report is a gross exaggeration, then why did a board official go round to'the ten ante of the huts and ask them to sign the document they did under fear of being told to get out? And why did they put in old second-hand timber as drams, thereby making conftrsion worse confounded by so doing? Tho drains now exude the foul material, which eoaks into the sandy- soil, and in tho summer will be sure to be a hotbed of disease, and God help those who are compelled to endure it. I would like to say. in conclusion, that the* board has a duty to perform to both the public and their workmen—so wake up and do it, Harbour Board!—Yours, etc., F. J. LYONS.