Page 20 - KBHA Bulletin 10

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“Gentlemen, I may ask you why not, in the name of humanity, exterminate the
whole surrounding here, get the pest and the wet out of it. Infested with rats, bugs, and all
kinds of vermin. I am sure there is money for that handful of fishermen, to take it out of
those blood suckers hands and build houses for them under the control of the Council. I am
sure that would not be a white elephant, so we read in the papers in other places such a
landlord has no right to rule such people and property.

“Gentlemen, on the Harbour Road is a common passage between Mrs. Harris’
property and Mr. A. L. Wolfsohn’s property, there is what we call a 20’ wood and iron
location/shanty that has been built 33 years ago, cost of building £50, rent was £1 per
month, with patent sewage drain now rent £4 per month.
“That shanty has been built 12” from the surface of the ground, now 3’ below the
surface. Gentlemen, please stop and think it over again. Wood and iron shanty overcrowded
with people, and below the earth, infested with rats, bugs, etc. What a breeding of the most
terrible diseases. Not one pane of glass in the window, covered with cardboard to prevent
the sun coming in. That house (wood and iron shanty) is occupied by Mr. Koolenberg, a
fisherman.
“Gentlemen, on the corner of Barton Road and Hare Road a woman still stands
washing on the road the whole week round, and all the washing water goes in to the
ground. Can you not compel that owner to build a gully trap? as we all have to do. Wash-
water, fish-water, night soil water all goes into the ground over public road, for which I
made complaints a year ago, about the horrible smell when you enter the Harbour Road, for
which your Health Inspector told me, you only guess, but at the same time when he went
round the woman nearly threw a night soil bucket in his face, and he shouted out “Oh! you
must not throw it here,” and she replied that there was not another place to put it in, and yet
your Inspector told me you only guess, and that going on here ever since. Gentlemen, is
that not breeding consumption?

“Gentlemen, on Hare Road is a house not connected with sewage drain ever since
32 years long the night soil water still runs along Hare Road in the street gully to Clair
Vaux Road. 40 feet opposite the gully is a public school and a dairy, that is all breeding
consumption. Please exterminate the whole surroundings; build modern houses for them
under the control of the Council, and take it out of the hand of the blood suckers, the money
makers. …………….. “

“Please Gentlemen let me know what is going to be done.

Yours faithfully,
(Sgd.) G. L. Ladan.