Censure Motion Over Rent Act

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30190, 23 July 1963, Page 18

Censure Motion Over Rent Act

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON. July 19. In the House of Commons last night, the Labour Opposition tabled a censure motion on the Government over the consequences of the 1957 Rent Act and property profiteering. It will be debated next Monday.

The motion says that the 1957 Rent Act had resulted in “intolerable extortion, evictions and property profiteering” and demands immediate, drastic action to restore security for threatened tenants. The 1957 act gave greater control to many landlords over their properties. It abolished a war-time ceiling on rents of thousands of homes. Political quarters Last rnjght thought Labour would contend that the activities 'of Peter Rachman and others would not have been possible but for the 1957 act. Named In House Earlier, a former Army officer was named as the man wiho ordered the sale of four slum houses once bwned by Rachman. The officer is Captain Anthony Sykes, a 27-year-odd bachelor, the “Daily Sketch” reported. A Labour member, Mr Ben Parkin, named Captain Sykes during question time in the House. His statement caused an uproar, the “Daily Sketch” said.

Mr Parkin asked the Housing Minister (Sir Keith Joseph) to follow up the course of funds from the Rachman empire. He cited the sale of the four houses in Paddington, London.

These had been put on the market on the instruction of Captain Sykes, he said. Captain Sykes was one of the “rich Charlies,” as Rachman called them when he sold properties to them, Mr Parkin said.

Captain Sykes was a business partner of a 28-year-old property magnate, Mr Raymond Nash, a director of R. Nash (Exports) Ltd., the newspaper said. Mr Nash is named in the Paddington Council rating office as the man responsible for paying the rates of one of the four houses. This house was owned by P. Rachman, Ltd. A coloured tenant was evicted from it less than two weeks ago with typical Rachman technique, the “Daily Sketch” said.

Rachman, reputed to be a millionaire, bought slum properties and let out rooms in them to desperate West Indians at high rents, Reuter reported. Known as “Palish Peter,” he was a friend of the models, Christine Keeler and Marilyn Rice-Davies. He died last November. His name has been mentioned in the Stephen Ward trial. In the House of Commons recently, the question of Rachman’s death was raised. Members of Parliament said there were reports circulat-

ing that he had been seen alive. Mr Parkin told the House of Commons of “evidence of fraud” in a deal put through eight days liefore Rachman’s death. He held up a document which he said was a mortgage note signed by Rachman between a company of his and the Eagle Star Insurance Company for £lOO,OOO. This, he said, was evidence of fraud which needed investigating by the income authorities and perhaps the Law Society. Commenting on Mr Parkin’s statement, the Eagle Star Insurance Cbmpany last night said that it had granted a £1OO,(XJO mortgage on one of Rachman’s companies. But it had been given “in the ordinary course of our business.” There was adequate security, the company said.