RENT REDUCTIONS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 32, 1 November 1932, Page 3

RENT REDUCTIONS

Exemption of Local Bodies The partial exemption from the rentreducing provisions of the National Expenditure Adjustment Act, which local body lessors were granted by the Government, is to be removed by legislation to be introduced during the present session of Parliament. Accord ing to. a statement made in the House on Friday by the Prime Minister, Rt. I-Ibn. G. W. Forbes, the reason for this decision by the Government is that hardship has been caused lessees as a result of the operation of the exemption; The Prime Minister’s statement was made in reply to an urgent question asked by Mr. F. Jones (Lab., Dunedin .South),. who sought an assurance that the section of the Act allowing the exemption would not be repealed. “When the clause was inserted in the Bill originally,” said Mr. Forbes, “it was incorporated on the representations of some of the local bodies likely to be affected by the provisions of the legislation. Since the passing of the legislation, however, a number of representations have been received from tbe other side, the lessees, who claim that hardship has been imposed on them. It is therefore proposed to introduce an amendment to the Act and refer the Bill to a Select Committee to enable evidence to be heard both for and against the proposed alteration of the law.” . . . -