A COMPLAINT.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17880, 28 September 1923, Page 8

A COMPLAINT.

RENT RESTRICTION ACT.

administration questioned.

(PBBSS ASSOCIATION TM.B&&AH.) WELLINGTON, September 27. A deputation consisting of Mr A. L. Monteith, M.P., and Mr H. Dysiw, secretary of the Storcmen's Federation, waited upon the Hon. G. J. Anderson, Minister of Labour, with a complaint that the Labour Department was not impartially adminstering the Kent Restriction Act. Mr Dyson said they wished to know whether the Department was taking up the attitude complained Pf or whether it was being done at the suggestion of the Minister or his officers. In a few weeks he would be a tour through the Dominion in re gard to the housing question. He was going to Picton, Blenheim and kelson for four'days next week to deal with the problem, and he did not want to say anything about the Department in his speeches v.'hicli was not correct. The Minister: You are getting on to politics now. Mr Dvson: Well, it is a political matter. . . Mr Monteith: An economic one also. The Minister : I am very sorry you are bringing politics into it-. I tlioA&n'fc (it was a social question you were bringing before me. I understood you were here in the interests of the Rentpayers' Association, but apparently you are here in the interests of politics. 1 am not prepared to discuss the poli tical aspect if it is simply and solely a question of making political use of it. Mr Monteith: Oh, no, sir, there is no suggestion of that. The Minister: I am not going to be an ammunition factory for anyone who wants to criticise tno administration of the Department. Mr Monteith said it was not proposed to make capital tmfc of the Minister's reply. Mr Snderson: You hare put quite a different aspect on the matter in the last three or four minutes. I will enquire into rfc. That is all I can say. The Department has had instructions to carry out the law according to the Act. They must do what is their duty, and they always do it. Mr Monteith: Not in this case. The Minister: I soy they carry otrfc their work strictly in accordance witK the law and that is all I can say, because I am satisfied about that, I know the officers so well that I am quite sure I shall have some satisfactory explanation to make to you. If anyone has blunderedy I can account lor it. Everything is carried out and impartially. You can make whatever use you like pf this oa the platform. I will look into the matter and make a full explanation.