Untitled

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12406, 26 August 1918, Page 6

The Mayor is gratified at references to the slumless condition of Christchurch at the Hon G. W. Russell’s address in the Trades Hall on Saturday j evening. -Mr Holland stated to-day that the municipal authorities here r strictly kept down the slum evil. They’ gave owners of slums twenty-eight hours’ notice to pull down the buildings, and if steps were not taken then,' the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act were enforced. A member of the Christchurch detective force, who has _ seen the seamiest side of life in Christchurch for many years, laughed at the idea, of a slum area in the city. Ho said that so far from there being anything' of that character, it would be difficult for a stranger to find even clusters of houses with slum appearance. Ho mentioned very small streets, one east and one towards the south, in which the houses are small, dirty and somewhat disreputable-look-ing. but said that they were merely individuals, not communities. The civic authorities in Christchurch had been vigilant in stopping the growth of anything approaching a slum area, and there was no chance whatever of one being established here.