A HOUSING CASE

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 36, 11 August 1922, Page 11

A HOUSING CASE

'.■it ■'■■ .•"-/.'■•■" '■•". '■. *. ' ".;:>'■'■'■ *■'<■.:; ■:■:■:' ;AGBEEp ANDJFIXED VALUES.:/;-1 ; A point' as to the application of - the hoasmg legislation of general "importance to those who let orrent houses lias been dealt by ;the Chief ■ Justice/; Sir' Robert Stoat, in a judgment in regard :to' a motion>'f6r.certioriri^ to quaeh "'>'aa order made by J^r.F.K. Hunt, 8.M., in 8 recent 'tenement'-caae, Peterson' v. Gigg.;;-The;facts; were'that Mrs., Gigg ■had.apphed to Peterson for the teritacy of .'a five-roomed house iri; Holldway load at a Weekly, rent of 30fe- and: $iai in the agreement signed by the: parties in x<&. land agent's offlAs .was » clause '>nd it is -hereby, agreedl between' iis'.that-.the caipitaLiyaluejOf f thi' property^ for >the: purpose of this tenancy is; the' sum of £apo:'V'-:^e';itogfeait»;'hß4-:::»fn«edi-to; take any account faf the facf. '-that ' the agreement.; contained kthat'-obnw^^con^ tinued" the. Judge;: but had, upon the,evidence of an inspector of the'Labour^Department,; fixed the capiial value >of the ■firoperty;^at; l '£3s6.j;p- ;.-.vy 'if'.^y'tJO'tf:- "■:<.■ ;'.'"Here is a signed agreement in which ■tne;-tentot;;Ms«nte:'io-\fißop;;taing-;^the': ; - --capital:value; and in. the face Of sudi an, agreement the Magistrate Jiad not juris--' diction, to ; fix it; as? £356 ;6r, : ; any ■ pother. sum;" his Honour .continued;1 ''■-'■":■■ r.'H J. :;v.y It the'i defendant,' ; Mrs,; Gigg, Shinto: she. can, get her 'agreement reformed,' r :thei Supreme Court is \ open to .her, .but «h« has signed an and" she1 knowg. it was art,offer for a'tenancy" To'allow' her after offering thirty.; shillings", per': jreelc and;the landlord Riving her .posses-: «on' "at; twenty-seven ■shillings; and i&ix~: pencei to: repudiate thevagreemerit:';«h»■ sighed on the ground thiit she■ didt"not' readit- and did ,'nbt see; the figures,£Boo imlnediately undei her sijfnature Would be "contrary to'law. I am, -therefore, of opinion that the.- Magistrate 'acted:with- ;- out.jurisdiction in" treating an agreement'•; signedlin. a land; agent's „olfic«:; as A hot bißdin'g^,^;The'"4^eem'ent'A:dU^Misfc l ;'a^'d? he did not: deny its' existence,'but treat-ied-if as if if were,:of ho moment/'f:^^;:*?: .': During the Jhearinjt of argument;as to the motion, Mr; !G.G: Watson/appeared, for plaintiffand; Mr. J. S.Hanaa for; the defendant. ;: '■)■■■:'■'■,' ■^:-/\--:i':':'.:':)<? "■::}. ,■-■■/.'■ ::■-.