EVICTION OPPOSED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 143, 19 June 1931, Page 8

EVICTION OPPOSED.

UNEMPLOYED DEMONSTRATE. MEN CROWD INTO HOUSE. M.P. AGREES TO PAY RENT. The committee of , the Unemployed Workers' Organisation, of Auckland today defended a house in Riordans Lane from a threatened invasion by a bailiff, who had given due notice of his intention of executing an order' to recover a sum of approximately £5. Armed with banners announcing that the anti-eviction committee was in possession, they thronged the lane several hundred strong, and crowded into the house until it could hold no , more, while their leaders debated the situation with a police sergeant and half a dozen constables. The upshot of the demonstration was that Mr. W. E. Parry, M.P. for Auckland Central, who was attracted to the scene, gave an assurance that he would accept responsibility for the rent that was owing. ■ Owner Wipes Off Arrears. made'before noon, was not completely satisfactory to the committee, and they and their "bodyguard" remained in possession awaiting an assurance from the owners ■ of the property that the occupiers.of the home would not be turned out on to the streets for not paying current rent. It was not until 2 p.m. that the crowd dispersed. It was then announced that the owner of the house had been approached and he had stated that he had not been aware of the attempted eviction. The property was in the hands of agents. He agreed to wipe off the arrears and to give the tenants two weeks in which to find another place. Case of Relief Worker. The case concerns a man, his wife and two children, who have been existing on the man's earnings on relief works. Despite his efforts, his rent has steadily accumulated by amounts of 15/ a week. An advance guard of the committee was on the .spot from early morning, and cheerfully set themselves the task of awaiting the arrival of the bailiff. They smoked, talked the situation over, and played games of cards. Their ranks were swelled about 11 o'clock, and a number of police arrived. There was no suggestion of disorder. The men said they were there, not to create a disturbance, but to shield a fellow unemployed man from being deprived of a roof over his head. Property Owners' Difficulty. Discussing the position of people who could not pay rent, Mr. Parry said that so far as an owner of a home was concerned, he recognised that- he had a liability to meet with respect to a mortgage. In view of the fact that, the Mortgagors' Relief Bill was passed last session, however; he was afforded a certain amount of protection. His caee could be taken to the Court. In a case of the Riordan Lane type there was scope for an application being made to the Court. No better ease could- be put. up than the argument that the occupier of a property could not pay the owner his rent. It was the intention of the Legislature that it should' be so.' If a man received relief under these circumstances, however, the tenant must certainly receive some of it.

After the result of the conference with the owner of the property had been announced, cheers were given for the eviction committee and' for Mr. Parry. The latter, in addressing the gathering, said that in assisting in the negotiations that had been carried on lie had endeavoured to prevent anything in the nature of a clash between the unemployed and the police. The owner of the property had received the representations made to him in a straightforward manner and had not hesitated in arriving at his decision. The manner in which the negotiations had been carried out reflected credit on the unemployed.