EXORBITANT RENTALS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 295, 14 December 1938, Page 10

EXORBITANT RENTALS.

Whilst by no means approving of many of the financial schemes of the present Government. I am in accord with the social security innovations. At the present juncture the rentals demanded —I may even say exacted — for flat* and rooms, some described as "furnished,'' is (to use a mild expression) outrageous. I occupied a flat three years ago at ■2.'{/: the present tenant pays .'*7 '(>. I now pay :j.l/ fur a flat in a poor neighbourhood, that was let a short time ago for 22/(>. The Government should restrict the interest on capital invested in flats to a moderate figure, every owner or owners of flats being required to produce documentary evidence as follows: (a) Cost of section; (b) cost of building: (e) cost of maintenance: (d) the amount paid for rates awl water. With interest fixed at. say, the remunerative figure of S per cent, renta's would come down with a big flop, and all present, tenants should he permitted to remain in occupation at the rental then allocated by the Government. There are cases, here in Auckland where the profit rental amounts to the highly remunerative amount of 18 per cent on capital invested! Surely this is exploitation of liard-working people in the cruellest form and far worse than profiteering in "trade." since one ean refuse to purcliasa too highly priced goods, but must have a roof to cover themselves with, no matter how exorbitant the rental demanded. A member of my own family has been paying since Jul.v 27/fl. 30/ and 3.1/ for a single "furnished" room. I am far too old to take an a<4ive part in endeavouring to ameliorate tiiese harsh conditions under which dwellers in towns exist, but right here in Auckland there are countless influential men who could enforce a Government inquiry. Finally, I seriously hope that this cx|«isure will prove of some benefit to mv fellow citizens. AUDI ALTERAM PARTEM.