TENANTS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 154, 1 July 1944, Page 4

TENANTS

I note the comments by Mr. Simpson, of the Manpower Committee. The term again used, "Scrounger," was in reference to the landlord of an apartment house, a term, I presume, he has adopted through the remark of the president of the Real Estate Institute referring to certain tenants. The facts are that three girls living in. one room are each paying 15/. This charge includes gas, hot water and essential services. Essential services are, I presume, all necessary furnishings, cooking utensils, bedding and blankets, washing of linen, etc. The room rental charge is 10/ each, plus 5/ for gas and hot water. I fail to s ( ee where it would cost £4 17/6 for three girls' food, when they already state 5/ each is allowed for gas, which, I presume, is for cooking. Present-day wages for non-essential girl workers are mostly over £3 net, but by manpower direction one of the appellants receives £2 12/ per week net, another £2 net, and the third not mentioned. If all accommodation was as reasonable as this I do not think the Fair Rents Department would have any staff requirements. From experience I have noticed that tenants are above the average if they do not wilfully damage some of the property during their tenancy. I fail to see why the landlord m this case is deemed to be a scrounger. F. KAY-STRATTON.