FAIR RENTS ACT EXTENDED

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23444, 26 September 1941, Page 4

FAIR RENTS ACT EXTENDED

RAPID PASSAGE THROUGH THE HOUSE (P.R.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 25. The Fair Rents Act, 1936, is extended to October 31, 1942, by the Fair Rents Amendment Bill, which was introduced, put through all stages, and passed with a minimum of delay in the House of Representatives to-day. The bill contains only two clauses. In reply to questions by Opposition members and Mr J. A. Lee (Democratic Labour, Grey Lynn), the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) said that if any other amendments to the principal act were sought, with a view, for example, to extending its application to rooms, he would be pleased to consider their inclusion in the Statutes Amendment Bill. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland) said that the Opposition, by agreeing to a rapid passage of the measure, did not necessarily agree with all the provisions of the main bill. It was helping to pass the Amendment Bill with a view to facilitating the business of the House. Mr Lee asked if it would be pssible to appoint some judicial referee to whom parties could refer a case, without having to pay substantial legal costs. He suggested that a new type of magistrate should be appointed. He also referred to rising shop rents, and said that at the same time turnover was declining. Mr Lee sought some protection for shopkeepers in this position. The Attorney-General (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason) said that.every effort had been made to ensure that the burden of costs should be as little as possible. Court fees were not paid on applications under the Fair Rents Act. The Government had done its best to recognise the difficulties mentioned and to adapt the proceedings as much as possible to the circumstances of the parties. He did not know if the introduction of a fresh kind of arbitrator would help much. The Minister added that shops were included already under the act. where they were used also as dwellings. Other provision would be made under another heading in connexion with shops.