FAIR RENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 134, 8 June 1936, Page 9

FAIR RENTS.

[BILL THROUGH HOUSE. AMENDMENTS CONSIDERED. DISTRESS AND REPLEVIN. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. Before the House of Representatives rose for the week-end adjournment on Saturday evening it had passed the Fair Rents Bill, which, except for minor modifications inserted by the Minister, Mr. Mason, was approved by the House in its original form. The Opposition attempted to have a number of amendments made during the committee stages and one or two suggestions the Minister promised to consider. The Distress and Replevin Bill was also put through committee, read a third time and passed without amendment, the whole procedure occupying little time of the House.

After the short title of the Fair Rents Bill had been passed on the voices, Mr. W. A. Bodkin (National, Central Otago) moved an amendment to clause live, which restricts the raising of the lent. He moved that if the landlord und the tenant agreed as to what, was a fair rent for a dwelling, or part of one, and such agreement was made ill writing in the presence of and witnessed by an inspector of factories, then agreement should be binding during the term of the tenancy, and should have all the effect of an order of the Court. The Minister of Justice (Mr. Mason) undertook to give the matter, which was not inconsistent with the spirit of the legislation, sympathetic consideration, and Mr. Bodkin withdrew the amendment. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Forbes) moved an amendment to clause seven, which prescribes the considerations to be taken into account when fixing the fair rents of a dwelling. His amendment was in the direction of fixing a rent which would be equitable . for the premises to produce instead of what the tenant paid. Mr. W. J. Poison' (National, Stratford) said it might happen that a tenant was in a house, the rent of which was far above his means to pay, and it | would now mean that the rent would | have to "be reduced to suit his circumI stances. Mr. W. E. Barnard (Government, Napier) pointed out that the clause provided that a magistrate, in fixing the rent, should take into consideration the relative circumstances of the landlord and tenant. The amendment was lost by 42 votes to 11. When the clause dealing with the recovery of possession of a dwelling was reached, the Minister moved an amendment. the effect of which was to negative the necessity of a notice in a case where a tenant was failing to take reasonable care of the premises, or where a tenant was guilty of conduct that was annoying or causing nuisance to neighbours. This was agreed to. Mr. Bodkin moved an amendment that grounds for possession of premises should be that they were required for occupation by an employee of the landlord. The Minister said he would consider this point favourably, and the amendment was withdrawn.

Mr. S. G. Holland (National, Christchurch North) moved an amendment in the direction of allowing an inspector of factories to make application on behalf of a landlord or tenant, and the Minister said he would pro into that matter with the Minister of Labour. This amendment was also withdrawn. A new clause providing that the Act should be administered •by the Labour Department was agreed to. The bill was reported back with amendments, read a third time, and passed. The House rose at 5.25 p.m., following the introduction of the Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill by the Minister of Transport, (Mr. Semple.)