Letter: Accommodation

There has been a lot of talk about the shortage of flats for students! Radio, T.V., Newsview, Newspapers, and Salient.

If there's this so-called problem, why did the Accommodation Officer advise the people who were renting a house in Aro Street, that it was unsuitable. They of course only looked at the outside of the house, and would of course, turn their noses up at Aro Street. It is not a Tudor or Elizabethan style house, but it is functional and practical. But they in all their bureaucratic splendor did not bother to contact my friends. In fact I'm doubtful if they even had a look at the place; after all the Accommodation Officer most probably gets hundreds of calls like ours a day.

The house in Aro Street, is liveable, for any number of guys up to about 6 or 7. The boys don't pay for electricity. It's 2 storied with plenty of rooms, plus dining, kitchen. And the price is only S20. So why was it not suitable? As I said it's not a mansion, but it's handy to varsity. This is not an ad for flats, but a complaint lodged at your able-bodied officers. I explained the flat so that you would have an idea of the size in relation to the rental price. There are flats, houses where students, as you are well aware, are paying up to $35.00 a week, for rotting floor boards, filthy walls, ceilings, etc., toilets that won't flush, broken abd blocked drains, broken windows, gas main leaks, over grown rubbish-strewn back-yards. Yet our place which is free of all this is unsuitable. So what I would like to know is what the bloody hell goes on up there?

Isn't it about time you got off your able-bodied arses and did something? Investigate the conditions that the students have to live with and the high cost of flats and do something about it; students pay $19.00 a year - how about putting something aside for improving the more derelict of student flats, which because of lack of finance, or assistance, a lot of students have to live in. There are literally hundreds of students, who could write to this Committee and explain the conditions of their flat and why they need help. You push for a subsidy from Government towards this aim. But Christ almighty don't sit there on your fat chuffs, talking, which I seem to know from experience is what you all do. You cannot let these humans (maybe they are only animals to you) live in these conditions any longer. You must do something about it Now!! For so long you have said tich, tich, tich, now bitch bitch, bitch to the landlords they wouldn't like to see their children living in these conditions.

I hope that something will be done, as I think it about the most desperate and important item. I hope, lengthy as this letter is, you will get enquiries from people, who have something decent to offer.

Irene Kennedy