CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 269, 12 November 1943, Page 2

CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS

FAIR RENTS AND WAGES To the Editor.

"No Moanu" says the Fair Rente. Act was a sheer necessity because of higher rents demanded when thHigher Wages Act came into bein» There was no Higher Wages Apt that I know of, but there was a 4n hour week Act, which did not work out in practice that it mafo anvone materially better off who was in constant employment—in some cases less so. He also says the Art did not prevent anyone building if would be a pity if it did, becausp there are enough intolerable prohibitions now connected with housing and almost everything else. Some people profess to like this everlast ing form filling and application making. The real reason for this housing humbug is shortage of supplies, of labour, import control that was too drastically imposed, and, o£ course, the war. The Savage Memorial, the radio station and the Parliamentary improvements could have waited. Mr. Savage himself may be looking down with mixed feelings on it all. What was the hurry for them anyway? There are the inevitable exploiters, but is this not the spirit of the age, particularly amongst our own working mates? And are there not some tenants a little bit destructive on other people's property? If the war is still on when the next election comes round and only returned servicemen and their relatives are allowed to vote, including, I presume, those who served in the last war, then there will be few eliminated, mighty few. Perhaps those who help at home to keep them fed, clothed and equipped may at a pinch be entitled to a vote also. The Fair Rents Act cannot be claimed as original by this Government. They had it in New South Wales years ago. J. ORR.