DISTRESS FOR RENT

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 149, 26 June 1931, Page 11

DISTRESS FOR RENT

QUESTIONS BY MR. FRASER

Two questions regarding relief, of persona who are unable to pay their rent were given notice of by Mr. P. Frascr (Labour, Wellington Central) in the Uou«i of Representatives yesterday. Mr. Fraser gave notice to ask the Prime Minister -whether he proposes to introduce legislation this session amend-ing-the Distress and Beplevia Act, ISOB, to provide: that, in future no' person -shall "distraint or levy for :rent due in respect of a house, part-of-a -house;: or other premises used as a dwellinghouse; and, further, to provide that, in lieu of the right of distraint or.levy, the person to whom rent of a dwellinghouso is .due must apply for the recovery of same in a Magistrate's Court; and that the Magistrate be-empowered-to. take into considerationthe full circumstances of the' case;' including the.rrelative.;ie- ;- spoctivo hardship' to' both -tenant and owner. ■-.••• . ■ _ • Mr. Fraser, on, behalf of himself "and Messrs: Sernple,' M'Keen, Chapman, Parry, Nash, and Jordan,; also gave notice to ask the Minister of Health— (1) Whether- he- is ■ aware .that Jnany hundreds' of -families, are under'notice of. eviction.at the"presenttime:because of inability to pay •renty-due'-to unemployment (2) Whether- he realises that it is-impossible for families, the breadwinners of which are employed, under the No. 5 relief scheme, to both, pay rent and purchase sufficient food ; (3) Whether ho will request the hospital boards to'guarantee adequate'food, fuel, and other-necessaries' to such families, so that they- can be-enabled to pay rent and retain-their-homes. "The wage for a married man with two children, who gets three days a week for three' weeks and then has to stand down for a week, is £1 8s ljd per week for a four-weeks period;' the', .wage for a married: man with three or more children,' who gets four days a week" for three weeks and then -has to stand, down for- a week, 'is £1 17s 6d-per week for, the period of four woeks," said Mr. Fraser.