TENANCY ACT PROPOSALS

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28435, 15 November 1957, Page 16

TENANCY ACT PROPOSALS

Discussion By Mr Algie

Persons would be glad to let houses, and rooms in their houses, if they dared—if they knew that tenants would 4 keep their word; and persons would be able so to let houses and rooms on a simple contract between landlord and tenant, if a bill amending the tenancy law proposed by the National Party was passed, said the Minister of Education (Mr R. M. Algic) in an election address at the Scottish Society Hall in the St. Albans electorate last evening. if the amendment to the tenancy law was made, it would mean that landlord and tenant would have to keep their bargain, Mr Algie said. They would keep it, and that would make for a better moral tone in the community in landlord-tenant relationships. Discussing the proposed amendment, which he thought was “a good one.” Mr Algie said if it were passed. all new fwnHns would be outside the Tenancy Act, Existing tenancies uuu.« tinue under the present law until they became vacant, whereupon new lettings of properties would also be outside the act Persistent Interjector The meeting, at which Mr Algie was speaking in support of the National Party candidate for St. Albans, Mr E. P. Wills, was considerably enlivened by exchanges between Mr Algie and a persistent interjector, who at one stage leapt to his feet as he clashed with the Minister over remarks on the leadership of the Labour Party The "big issue” for electors, said Mr Algic, was ”‘do we want to go on in the steady, happy, and nice harmonious prosperity that we are living in, or do we want to swap horse in midstream for someone who is making his last bid for office?” Was that good enough? Mr Algie asked. "How old are you. Mr Algie: you are crying down Mr Nash tonight.” cried the interjector, a statement he repeated when Mr Algie attempted to continue speaking. “Mr Nash is a great man, too,” he said. "Have you cooled down yet?" inquired Mr Algie, as the interjector persisted. "I am a New Zealander, and a member of the Labour Party,” cried the interjector, jumping up. "You just stick to your seat,” advised Mr Algie. Mr Axgie went on to explain that on the average, the National Party cabinet was a young cabinet. “And I am 69. I am six years younger than Mr Nash,” said Mr Algie. “I think I am more than 12 years fitter; and there you are,” he added, amid laughter and applause. The National Party intended to lift the universal superannuation up to a point the same as the age benefit, at 65, Mr Algie said. “As soon as the two are together, il will be one payment, but there will be no means test.” "Where is the money coming from,” inquired the interjector. £25 Grant The National Party would give a grant of £25 to assist mothers sending children to post-primary schools for the first time, Mr Algie said. "Mortgaging the child again,” cried the interjector. Mr Algie: You could have mortgaged yourself years ago if it would have brought anything. It was proposed by his party that loans should be made readily available to social security beneficiaries living in their own homes who wanted "a bit of capital” for repairs and maintenance to them, said Mr Algie. Such elderly persons should be free from the worry of living in homes possibly “falling about their cars.” There would be ready access of such loan money from the State Advances Corporation, but the rate of interest had yet to be fixed. "Where are you going to get the money from?” asked the interjector. “We propose to charge the loan against their estates, and when the last survivor has died, we propose the loan will be repaid out of the estate,” said Mr Algie. At the end of his address, which he announced would be for half an hour, but was continued when the audience of about 60 persons signified they would like to hear more, Mr Algie was accorded a vote of thanks by acclamation.