REDUCED RENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 164, 14 July 1939, Page 8

REDUCED RENT.

FOR THEATRE SITE. r.ODGE ASKS COURT FOR RELIEF. The rent for the Regent Theatre was the Riibjeet of un action before Mr. •Justice Ostler in the Supreme Court to-day in which the trustee* of the fountain of Friendship Lodge (Mr. North and Mr. L. O. Simpson) a*ked for an order under the National Expenditure Adjustment Act, 1932, granting them relief from reduction of the rent. The lessees were .T. H.. .F. ST.. and F. N. Talt, of Melbourne, and K. J. Tait, of Sydney, being J. C. Williamson (New Zealand), Ltd., represented by Mr. J. Stanton. Mr. North stated that the lease was for A period of 53 years from duly 2, 1921, with provision for revision every ten years. The lodge had had to consider reduction of the rent under the National Expenditure Adjustment Act, 1932, and had agreed to accept £4<i a week from the lessees, J. Williamson (New Zealand), Ltd., which company had sublet to Williamson Films, Ltd., at an increased rental of £.'>oo for a stated period ending three days before the lease expired. The lodge trustees now desired relief from the provisions of the National Expenditure Adjustment Act under which the rent had been restricted.

After luiving heard lepra! argument concerning tho effect of the Act's provisions and of the contract entered into between tho parties, if any, his Honor suld ho would reserve his decision as to whether the present application should bo entertained.