FAIR RENTS BILL

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 216, 9 June 1936, Page 10

FAIR RENTS BILL

Second Reading Debate In Council / COMMITTEE STAGE TO-DAY “The Government was most reluctant to introduce this legislation, but circumstances compelled it to do so,’’ said the Leader of the Legislative Council, Hon. M. Fagan, when moving the second reading of the Fair Rents Bill in the Council yesterday. Mr. Fagan said that almost from the day of the general election rents began to go up. The increase, which was fairly slow at first, had become very rapid during the last month or six weeks. In many cases the higher rates had completely absorbed the extra money given to the relief workers. The Bill would operate for one year only, and, personally, he was very glad it was not to remain longer. It was imperative, however, to bridge the gap until the Government’s housing scheme was well under way, and the Bill fulfilled that function. The Hon. R. Masters (Taranaki) said that the first objection he had to the Bill was the title. It would be more appropriate to call it the Tenants’ Relief Bill. “I don’t think I have ever seen the Leader of the Council so unhappy as he was when introducing this legislation,” said Mr. Masters. "I think he realises in his heart of hearts that this is not a fair Bill; that it is toe one-sided.” Mr. Masters said that if he thought for a moment that the Bill would go off the Statute Book at the end of 12 months he would be inclined to say, ■•well, let it go,” but he ventured the opinion that it would not be repealed in toto. The Council had a duty to see that justice was done to all sections. ••Nothing to Hurt the Fair Landlord.” The Hon. F. E. Lark (Auckland) said that the Government was not out to harass anybody.- All it desired to do was to protect the poorer section of the community. The people must be housed, in any case, and if the Government did not provide homes, then it would be faced with the problem of building more hospitals. There was nothing in the Bill that would hurt the fair landlord. The Hon. V. Ward (Wellington) said that he was sure the Council was just as earnest as the Government was to improve the conditions of the poor. In giving effect to that ideal, care should be taken to see that an injustice was not done to people who had invested their hard-earned savings in property. The Hon. W. Perry (Wellington) said it. seemed that during the transition period property-owners were to be called upon to bear more than their fair share. His experience was that the Shylock landlord was not very numerous, the malingering tenant was not very numerous, but he was just as numerous as the Shylock landlord. The Bill was very technical, and should have beerf 1 referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Hon. Sir James Allen (Otago) said that he was afraid the Bill would seriously curb the desire of private companies and individuals to invest money in cwellings. It was another indication of the tendency of the State to enter into the field of private enterprise, and it was just as well for the people to recognise that. Personally, he believed in private enterprise, because he thought it was desirable that the individual should take an interest in his own problems. Avoiding Evictions. Mr. Fagan, in replying to the debate, said that If the Bill had not been brought down some of the relief workers would probably have found themselves worse off this winter than they were last winter. “We want to prevent the spectacle of evictions, and we are going to do it.” said Mr. Fagan. “There will be fewer evictions this winter. We are hoping that by the end of the winter the reason for ejectments will have been removed.” Mr. Fagan said that flats had been left immune from the Bill because the Government did not want to discourage that type of building which was very popular at the moment, and because the Government took it. for granted that the people who occupied fiats were not. in need of protection. The Bill was read a second lime. The committee stage will be taken this morning. The Council adjourned until 11 a.m. to-day.