SERVICEMAN’S HOUSE

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24869, 8 May 1946, Page 5

SERVICEMAN’S HOUSE

ATTITUDE OF TENANT CONDEMNED BY R.S.A. The predicament of a returned serviceman who let his house before leaving for overseas service under a signed contract that the tenant would vacate it when he returned, and who now found that the tenant had no thought of honouring his contract, was referred to by Mr A. W. White at an executive meeting of the Ashburton Returned Services’ Association on Monday night. “The tenant, a civilian with no military service, signed the contract, and now he refuses to get out,” said Mr White. Unfortunately the law was prepared to back up the tenant, who took the house under false pretences, and now went back on his word even after he had made a solemn written promise, he added. The serviceman had been to see a lawyer, who had told him that he “hadn’t a leg to stand on,” continued Mr White. What was wanted was an amendment to the Fair Rents Act whereby a returned serviceman could get his home back. He was entitled to it, even if no contract had been made. In an endeavour to find alternative housing, the serviceman had been going “in circles” round the various Government departments at Christchurch without being able to get any satisfaction, said Mr White.

The Rehabilitation Officer (Mr L. W. Baxter) said the serviceman could have the tenant placed on the priority list for State houses by making application through his department. Members condemned in strong terms the attitude adopted by the tenant in the casd. The matter will be taken up at the annual conference of the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association or with the Dominion executive.