gift imi Letters Below the Bread Line E. T. Brown,
Mrs. M. D. M. Stone
Police Courtesy Mrs. Charles Bryant Wheels Within Wheels Henry Awbry `Scrutiny' T. A. Edwards, Professor J. C. Maxwell,
Alan Donagan
Afterthought on Homosexuals W. H. F. Barklam Robbins John Vaizey Arrestees' Children S. Abdul Still British F. G. Watson The Split Society C. E. C. Woolley The Battle of the Nile John Gage BELOW THE BREAD LINE SIR,—Mr. F. O'Hanlon's letter (Spectator. Novem- ber 8) draws attention to a matter which has too long been a disgrace to this country and particularly to the Government which has had ten years to remedy it but has declined to do so.
The following personal experience illustrates the callous treatment accorded to the needy aged by the 'affluent society.'
On the death of her husband about twenty-five years ago his widow bought a house with the small estate he left her. The house was an old one in a poor district of London let into four flats at con- trolled rents. During the war the house became empty; after the war she decided to occupy one flat herself and to let the others, again of necessity at controlled rents. This brought her in a very modest income which was also her sole means of living, but the process of inflation reduced the value of this to below subsistence level and she was forced to apply' for public assistance, which was granted and continued until the early part of this year. Her age was then eighty-nine, when failing health made it necessary for her to leave her flat. and stay with relations. She informed the Public Assistance officer of this; immediately assistance was stopped and she was informed that she must sell the house and live on the proceeds.
.The house was put up for sale in April last with her flat vacant and the remainder still occupied by the controlled tenants. It has taken nine months to find a purchaser. In fact, the sale has yet to be com- pleted, and it has been necessary for her to spend an amount equal to several years' gross rent on repairs before the LCC will grant a mortgage to the purchaser, so that her net income has been wiped out and a deficit incurred.
All this has been explained to the Public Assist- ance officer without any effect or indeed any interest being shown. She is simply told that this is the
There is something rotten in the state of a country that will squander money on useless 'prestige' pro- ducts, grant family allowances and university grants to the children of wealthy people and refuse com- mon humanity to its needy aged. Small wonder that 'politician' is becoming a dirty word to sb many people.
E. T. BROWN
31 Ember Gardens. Thames Ditton, Storey
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