Service Section

Do You Want A Flat In

Sydney?

IN June issue of “PIM” we had some thing to say about Sydney letters of flats. Now a word in season to those Islands people who would rent fiats.

From our experiences over the last few months, it appears that Islands people have no adequate idea of the fiat position.

They know, in a general way, that it is bad. They have little idea of the degree of badness.

If you have not been in Sydney for a year, or two or three, and think that the position now could not be as bad as then, then you are deluding yourself. If Sydney was as tough as old boots during the war years, it now can be likened to chromium-plated steel.

In addition, there is much more com petition for the sort of accommodation you require. First there are migrants.

These people are guaranteed accommoda tion by someone, but that very fact puts an additional strain on the whole hous ing position. Then there are people from Ceylon and India, Malaya and Hongkong and Burma —people who are coming to Australia for holidays as they once went to the United Kingdom; or, who, having found their particular piece of the British Empire folding up around them, come here as semi- or prospective resi dents. Lastly, there are the Australians who have made a great deal of money out of wool and wheat in the last few years, and who come to the city to spend it.

That is the set-up you are up against when you look for a fiat. And that is the set-up we are up against when we look for one for you. It is, at times, necessary for us to go to extraordinary lengths to achieve your ends; but we have found that in at least 75 per cent, of cases, Islands folk who have asked us to help them fall down on their part of the bargain—either because they have decided to go somewhere else, or have made other arrangements, or because they fade off somewhere into the Pacific and cannot be communicated with. It is their privilege, of course, to change their minds; and, if they do so early in the piece and advise us very promptly, no great inconvenience may be experienced by anyone. But when, after asking us to look for a flat for them, they leave it until the last moment to cancel, after the deal is completed, it puts us “in a spot” and makes it more difficult for those others who genuinely need this kind of accommodation. Although it is very easy to let flats and houses, landlords re sent people who back and fill.

Unless otherwise instructed, we give you a chance, to say “yes” or “no” before we finalise any arrangements. Once we have your OK it seems to us that it is strictly up to you to honour any financial obligations we have entered into in the matter, should you be forced to change your mind.

Finally, you should remember that there is a special difficulty if you happen to have young children. Landlords are not naturally cross-grained and preju diced on this subject—most of them have learned by hard experience, and are re luctant to let to people with small children. Young children can be delight ful; but, if uncontrolled, they are a menace to society. Half a dozen children, if given a free hand, can take a block of flats to pieces in a couple of months. Yet it is precisely the people with children who need this kind of holiday accommo dation. It is no criminal offence to have children; and it is actually a breach of the law if landlords refuse to let premises to tenants with children. Nonetheless, if

you have them the difficult problem of getting a fiat at all is made more difficult.

Of all the numerous tasks which our Service Section carries out for “PIM" readers, none takes more time, or is filled with more exasperation, than the weary business of looking for accommodation.

For that reason, we ask for the co-opera tion and tolerance of Islanders.

Around Sydney Shops

THIS should be good news for women residents of the Pacific outposts— you now no longer need to suffer from straight locks once your leave-time permanent-wave has grown out. Selling on the Sydney market now, and priced from 12/6 to 15/-, according to brand, are home permanent-waving sets. They are sealed up in small packets, therefore this writer cannot tell you of what they con sist; nor, not knowing any one who has tried them, what the results may be.

However, judging by the fluttering in professional circles the process appears to be simple and the results good. According to one apprehensive young hairdresser, all my lady has to do is to set her own hair in the normal way, saturate it in the lotion provided, tie her head up in

a scarf for an hour, wash her hair and presto—a beautiful head of curls.

If true it sounds very good, particularly for those out of the reach of hairdressing facilities.