ACTION AGAINST LANDLORD

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21334, 29 November 1934, Page 10

ACTION AGAINST LANDLORD

HUT IN BOTTLE LAKE ROAD ALLEGED BREACH OF HEALTH REGULATIONS Because he let a hut in Bottle Lake road after the Waimain County Council had ordered it to be closed and had ejected the previous tenants, the owner of the premises is to be prosecuted by the council lor an alleged breach of the health regulations. The council made this decision at a meeting last

evening. . , Cr J Liggins said he had received complain* from nearby resides that a hut in Bottle Lake road waagain occupied. It was one of th, shelters that had come from th«, ! Sanatorium. There was no sanitation and no water supply, bom.me ago the council had received complaints, and finally had had to order that the premises be close. 1. About a fortnight ago complaints were made to him that the hut was again inhabited. A man and hi, wife were living there. There w a, still no sanitation or water and tn=. residents objected to the hut being occupied. The owner was defym the council. The premises had beei closed by the council and the ownei knew all about it. Cr. W. G. Chapman: He is a law unto himself. Cr Liggins: The residents are complaining bitterly. The owner has been jumping on the council for years, and we must not put up with it any more.

Inspector's Report The inspector (Mr G. E. Stokes) said the building was only a shack, 12 feet by eight, although it was on piles. There was only one room, which a man and his wife occupied The man was a relief worker an-J was paying 5s a week rent. He toid tfte man that the council had closed the premises and that he would have to leave. He said the same to the owner, and added that he WdS liable to prosecution. The owner told him (Mr Stokes) that he had sold the hut to the lessee, but thr lc*see denied that.

In reply to Cr. C. E. Cross the inspector said the council had power to prosecute under the health act. The lessee had told him that hj? would move out to-day. The chairman (Cr. W. P. Spencer): Well, that's all right. Cr. Liggins: It is not all right. The place has been closed before and the owner will have some one else in there before we know wher<2 we are. I move that the owner be prosecuted. The residents are very sore about it. They say that if it was in Fendalton the council would not put up with it for five minutes. Cr. Chapman seconded the motion. Cr. T. O. Newnham: The owner has defied the council. It is time we brought things to a head. The motion was carried.