CHURCH PROPERTY RENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 303, 21 December 1921, Page 5

CHURCH PROPERTY RENT.

AN INCREASE ALLOWED. Mr. J. B. Wilson was callled upon today to fix the rent of a tenement in Federal Street. The applicant was the Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland (Mr. Conlan) and the tenant Mr. and Mrs. McKie (Sir. J. J. Sullivan). The present rental of the house is 25/. Evidence was given by the Rev. John Breiinan. administrator of the Diocese of i«t. Patrick's, that the land had a frontage to Cathedral Square of 84 feet. The area occupied by the house and passage was 30 feet 4 inches. He denied that Mrs. McKie was debarred from keeping boarders. She had told him not long ago she was getting £o 10/ per week from boarders. As far as the church was concerned, Mrs. McKie could keep boarders. In answer to Mr. Sullivan, witness said he did not know what was the arrangement when the place was let, as he wa . not here then. Mr. .Sullivan said he was instructed that the late Hon. P. J. 'Xeriieny and I some members of the Church Commitj tee measured the section and his client i was told there was a project to build a 1 hall. Since then Mrs. McKie hail not considered that portion of the section hers. Mr. Conland said it was beinj; used still as a sarderi. The unimproved value of the whole property in 1914, was £4200. Taking the 34 * feet frontage of the I house alone that gave a value of £lji>, add to that £310 for the building, it .made £IS3-"> valuation, whleS at T per cent, made the rent necessary £2 0/C. j even if the other 54 feet frontage was surrendered. His instructions were to ask that the rent should be increased to •'i-V, but he did not wish his Worship to fix the standard below what the owners were entitled to. The tenant I would be treated quite fairly. He was authorised by the church committed to 'tatc that the rent would r.'if. he rniscil beyond M-V so 10n , ,' as the other land was not. required. Mr. Sullivan submitted that the valuation was too high Tor residential i purposes. All round were foundries, but the Church could never let land so near the church for such purposes. His client offered 5/ per week advance, and the Church wanted 10/ per week. Mr. Conlan said , the rate? on tiie property had increased by £35 16/8 .-since 1914. Mr. Wilson fixed the value of the land occupied by the house at €1200 and rinbuildiug at £.'SOO. The rent was accord'lngry fixed at £2 '>.'. per week.