SHYLOCKS?

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 62, 14 March 1930, Page 3

SHYLOCKS?

OR RATEPAYERS.' BULLDOGS ? ATTACK OH CITY COUNCIL. OVER GREY LYXX HOUSES. One of Mr. J. E. Lundon's eharacteris- ■ tically scathing .attacks on his fellowmembers of the Auckland City Council , was heard last night when he protested " in. the strongest terms against the prosecution of the mortgagor of one of the council's 65 workers' cottages in G-rey Lynn, close to the Zoo. The council • eventually agreed to defer action until after the Finance Committee had brought down a report on the whole question of these much-debated cottages. In the report of the Finance Committee there was a clause recommending that legal action be taken against the occupier of one of the cottages in order to recover moneys due under the mortgage, the man being something like £100 in arrears. In answer to a question, Mr. Lundon was informed that the case had actually been set down for hearing yesterday '. (Thursday) morning, but had been' adjourned. Mr. Lundon protested against what he called the surreptitious attempt to get the committee's action confirmed . by the council adopting the report. Ho *' also alleged that letters from other occupiers of the cottages had been suppressed and the council had never had a, chance' of considering them. The average mortgage on the cottages was £1100.. and the ; council's own valuer had stated in the Assessment Court that the fair value today would be about £S4O. It did not seem decent for the council to be thus claiming "its pound of flesh." Condition of Houses. Mr. Lundon said he was informed that the walls of the houses were one brick _ thick, the brick being on its edge, which, he believed was against the by-laws. One of the occupiers had complained of fleas, j bugs, and other vermin, and stated that ■ the house was the cause of a great deal of sickness, which had cost him a good ~ deal of money in doctors' bills. Mr. ■ Lundon understood that the whole mat- ; ter of prosecuting any of the occupiers » was to be held over until the Finance Committee had brought down' a report on the whole question, and he demanded ; to know why one occupier was to be prosecuted in that surreptitious manner. Mr. W. H. Murray also called for the ■ promised report, saying there were many matters that required going into. He mentioned that when the committee visited the cottages the other day it was found that at one, that had been empty for a long while, the front garden was full of weeds, and a creeper had grown in front of the door to such a size that it had to be cut before the key could be put in the lock. Duty to Ratepayers. Mr. A. J. Entrican, chairman of the Finance Committee, said the council had _ a duty to the ratepayers. The commit- ■ tee had given every consideration to the people in the cottages, and had made . several concessions, but the council could not do more than was fair. Prices of property had been deflated all round i and the people in the council's cottages ", : were not the only ones that had suffered; ■ they must take their share. Mr. Lundon had talked a lot of ; 'hot air" about the matter and many ■ .' his statements . about the cottages wore gross exaggerations. Mr. E. J. Phelan said it was distinctly ■ understood that no action was to he taken against any of the occupiers in arrears until the council had received a . report from the Finance Committee on the whole matter of the present position of the houses and the mortgages. There was a resolution to that effect on. the minutes in his name. After further discussion the council adopted Mr. Phelan's amendment and postponed legal action pending the pro- 1 duction of a comprehensive report from ' the Finance Committee.