[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sur„—As the Spectator has
so whole-heartedly championed the cause of slum dwellers it may net be without interest to some of its readers to hear of a small effort that has been made in Dublin to grapple with the problem; and if it cannot claim to have bridged the gulf between the slums and their more prosperous neighbours, it has at least made the chasm seem less impassable.
The Alexandra Guild Tenements Company is an organization in connexion with the Alexandra College Guild, which is an association of past and present students of the College. The Tenements Company is the outcome of a paper read at a Guild Conference by a lady doctor, in which she described the deplorable housing conditions in the Dublin slums, and appealed for funds to enable the Guild- to purchase some tenement houses to be managed on the same lines as those followed by Miss Octavia Hill.
• In July; 1898, the Alexandra College Tenetnents Company was registered with a capital of £1,375. It was at that time the only ,registered company in the then United Kingdom in which all the directors were women. „ Six houses. and a cottage were purchased in two different streets ; one set is occupied by the very poorest class of.tenant. These honks; when first taken over, were in an almost indescribable state of dirt and neglect. The sanitary accom-
modation in all was of the very worst description, and quite inadequate, while roofs were dilapidated and everything sorely in need of repair. It was said that an outbreak of smallpox had originated in these houses. So down-trodden had- been the state of the tenants that, when first the houses came into our possession, every possible opposition was made to our rent collectors, who were regarded as a new set of • inquisitors, sent down to give a fresh turn to the rack. Wilful damage of every sort was done, the new drains were stopped with bricks and old clothes, and banister rails were pulled down to be used as firewood. Now the tenants pay their rents with such regularity that most of them gain each yeari a bonus of one week's rent allowed to every tenant who has never missed a weekly payment. They now co-operate' with all schemes for the preservation and improvement of the property, and serious difficulties about the cleanliness. of the property are things of the past. Each Monday morning • the rent collectors go from 'room to room in• the tenements, receiving- rents, chatting to each tenant for a few• •minutes, listening to the complaints, hearing of the joys and. sorrows of each, and giving the sympathy, advice, and help that, is needed.
The rents of the rooms range from ls. 4d..to 4s, 2d.. per ' week. 'A great advance was made when in 1914 it was t decided to convert three of the better houses into two-roomed , self-contained flats, with separate sanitary accommodation and water supply for each. These flats are now let at a weekly rent of 8s. 6d. per flat. The .experiinent has been attended with marked success, and it is- a matter of great regret that similar little homes are not to be found in other tenement houses. An outlay of £700 was requisite to ,carry out this work, and in order to help to meet this charge three rnembgis of the Guild, lent £100 each, without interest, which debt haS now been entirelyyepaid. Though, the drawbacks to tenemcut houses are obvious, still the fine, large airy rooms contrast favourably with ,the accommodation given in some of the very diminutive cottages which have been built, in which the rooms are hardly more than closets.
An emergency fund has been established which enables , the rent collectors to give help in times of sickness, distress, or unemployment. This fund is supplied ,hy subscriptions from Guild members, and from the-proceeds of entertainments organized by students of the College. Many schemes have come into being, which bring the tenement people and the girls into touch : an old clothes shop to which Guild members send garments, which students mend or make down undCr the guidance of a member of the staff there are the coal, funds and 'libraries. A Flower Guild was established by the, College, and students were asked to bring contributions of flowers on Monday mornings in spring and summer, and enough flowers are always brought to give an attractive bunch to every room. These are arranged and taken, down to the houses by younger members of the Guild.
By means of a holiday fund every child in the tenement houses, whose parents desire it, is sent for a fortnight to the country, and the emergency funds provide a visit to a Home of Rest for the women who are delicate and need a change. Each set of houses has a warm, attractive playroom, in-Which all kinds of games, drill, singing, and various classes are arranged for the children. These playrooms' arc also • •the:- scene of many attractive entertainments, when tea is provided by Guild members and a musical or dramatic programme is supplied by the children themselves. I may conclude by: stating that although the houses are very old and .demand' constant repairs, still the company is at present paying a• dividend of 4 per cent.—I am, Sir, &c.,
St. Anne's, Clontarf; Dublin.
DOROTHEA II. PLUNKET.
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