Evening star., 1941-06-09
Wartime Halifax
Holds Rents Down,
Despite Crowding
Sailors Can Get Clean
Bed and Breakfast
For Only Is Cents
Last OF three articleS.)
BY MORGAN Nj. BEATTY,

Associated Press Stan Writer
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia-"One
blast of the siren will denote that
a blackout period is in progress!"
That's the first warning of war
you get in Halifax and you read it
on card on your hotel bedside
table
Halifax is prepared for air raids,
even though the raids have never
come, and are not expected. The
citizens, especially the last wars
veterans, are organized into air
raid precaution squads. They have
divided the city carefully into dis
tricts. The doctors and nurses are
trained. The people know what to
do in an air raid.
But Halifax does not hold a prac-
tlce blaCkout more than once every
two months. The air raid Wardens
are not too strict about little strips
Of light around windows during
tests. But all street lights are
blacked on top. Big electric display
signs are taboo. Otherwise the town
is as light as the average American
city. Tourists get all the thrill,
none of the dangers in these black
outs.
Rents Frozen Year Ago.
Housing is a problem. Hundreds
OF workers have been imported from
other parts of Canada to cope with
shortage. The government froze
rents year ago to avoid profiteer-
Ing. When big ships of war turn
loose their crews for weekend leave.
Halifax is around 1000 beds short.
Sailors and soldiers jam accom-
modations, overflow into corridors
and parlors. But they aren't stuck
Tor high prices. HouSeholders of
Halifax see that they get a clean
bed and good breakfast for 25 cents.
another problem is liquor, tough
nut for any town in wartime. 1t is
especially difficult for Halifax. with
nquor laws unadapted to war condi-
uons. The law says you must buy
your liquor and take it home. You
may not drink except in your home
or your club. Restaurants and
hotels cannot serve alcoholic bev-
erages.
More or less fake clubs. devoted
primarily TO serving beer to mem
bers. have opened. ANYBODY who
Knew his way about town could be
a member of club-like that. One
the Order of Interior Decorators
recently burned.
Sailors Evade Beer Law.
Sailors have their own wav of
getting around the Law. They buv
a dozen quarts of beer at a gov
eminent store. Then they walk
ooWn Water street, not exactly the
pest nelghborhood in town, and
stop at the first door they come to
Give you dollar to let me drink
my beer here" they say. And that's
headquarters until they get a call
back to their ship.
Service men have mononolized
the company of the vivacious Hal
lax girls, pushed the local beau
prummels out in the cold. Most
desired of all escorts are the officers
OF the Royal Navy. 1t has ALWAYS
been so. Next come the airmen
Inc tavorite spot for an evening
stroll is Citadel Hill, an ancient fort
Every auto headlight shows the
Youngsters pitching WOO, as they call
1t IN good Americanese.
Labor Trouble Infreouent.
Unlike in 1918. brawls and riots
are almost unheard OF. Partly re-
sponslble is the speed with which
the radio-equipped shore patrol of
the Royal Navy shows up at the
scene of any trouble.
Labor trouble is not frequent
neither has it interfered with load
ing cargoes. Non-union stevedores
can work only when union men re-
fuse the jobs. This often happens,
for a union stevedore can earn
enough in double time money over a
week end to keep him comfortably
the next week.
Along the northwest arm, Hall
fax's exclusive social district. many
new homes are building. But the
Haligonian with an income of S20,-
900 isn't exactly in clover.
Taxes are higher" one of them
explained to me. My income taxes
are over $4,000. I'm going to be
assessed $25, 900 for the next Victory
bond issue. I don't have to sub
scribe But I shall"
Haligonians take to their hearts
as many refugees from bombed Eng
land as they can get. They knit,
save tinfoil, put up flags.
In the restaurants. American juke
boxes (still called nickelodeonsJ are
favorite diversion. More Cana
dian nickels go down the slot for
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" than
any other popular song. But Hall
fax loves "There1l Always Be an
England