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39
advisable that old people should make their homes permanently
with young ones if it can be avoided. Old age is intolerant of the
noises and exuberances of a young family, and there is apt to be undue
repression of the children where these conditions exist. It is
neither good for the old folks, nor is it good for the children, nor
is it advisable for young folks starting out after marriage on their
journey through life to have the constant company of anybody
else whose ideas in life may not entirely coincide with theirs.
Anyone with any social experience knows that the presence of
the " in laws " is a fertile source of friction between young couples.
Personally, although it is not the ideal thing, I believe that the
present circumstances can best be met by the provision of small
flats in large blocks to deal with these particular classes. Old folks
it must be remembered do not want gardens, and these sort of
things, which make an undue call on their limited energies. If
they have a little place where they can keep their household goods
with as little labour as possible, they can be perfectly happy, and
these blocks of flats can be made, as has been shown, perfectly
satisfactory from the health point of view.
To give these old people the single cottage and garden which
is so often urged, is little good, unless the work of keeping them up
is done by someone else other than the old folk. All these sort of
things make extra expense which they cannot afford. They can be
quite happy in comparatively simple surroundings provided they
have their own little sanctum.
I. Fitness of Houses.
(1) (a)General standard of Housing in the district:
As already stated, the general standard is unsatisfactory.
(b) General character of defects found to exist in
unfit houses:
Dampness due to want of proper damp-proofing, inadequate
lighting and ventilation and general
dilapidation are the main defects found.