FAIR RENTS BILL

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 134, 8 June 1936, Page 11

FAIR RENTS BILL

i-*. ■ IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Fair Rents Bill and the Distress and Replevin Amendment Bill were received from the House of Representatives. Moving the second reading of the Fair Rents Bill, the Leader of the Council (the Hon. M. Fagan) said that c the Government was most reluctant to '. introduce the legislation, but were ; compelled to do so because of certain circumstances. He did not believe ! that people had starved, but progressive poverty hid developed. After the » election rents had started to-increase, and increased rates for the unemployed had been almost wholly absorbed < by the increased rents demanded. In some cases rents had been ; doubled. The Bill was only for one year, and, quite frankly, i he was glad that it was for that > period only. If it were for longer, ' one would have difficulty in defending > it There was a difficult transition period taking place, and the measure was intended to meet the position till the Government's plans for the unemployed were in full operation. The Government was faced with two evils. It could be said that it was "rough on the landlords, but on the other hand failure to legislate would leave the unemployed worker in no better position Those who had suffered should have some breathing space. The Government had taken the lesser of the two evils. ~ "The first objection I have to the Bill is the title," said the Hon. R. Masters, who added that he would sooner call it the Tenants Relief Bill. Mi. Masters said that in the projected housing scheme the Government was only following out the intentions of the previous Government had it been returned. (Proceeding.)