“SEND IT TO PUNCH”

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11836, 18 January 1933, Page 5

“SEND IT TO PUNCH”

UNAWARE OF TENANT FOR TEN YEARS. „ ’i HOW OWNER FOUND OUT. (Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, Jan. 17. That the owner of a' farm property should remain unaware of the presence in the cottage thereon of a tenant for a period of ten years seems almost irjcrecSibfe. Yet sutefi was the amazing story unfolded to the Southland Electric Power Board at its meeting to-day. The owner concerned is a well-known Southland farmer, whose first advice of the fact that there was a tenant on his property and that the installation of electricity had been carried out was when he recently received notice of steps taken by the board to recover the balance due on the installation. During the last ten years, the owner, who was not in the habit of visiting the property, had no knowledge of the occupant, had never collected any rent and the time had paid the rates. He had no idea that electricity had been installed until he had received the recent notification from the Power Board. Members of the board were plainly amazed at the man’s story and when, after the owner had retired, the chairman (Mr. W. Hinchey) asked for an expression of opinion, Mr. A. H. Hoyles aptly replied “Send the whole thing to Punch.”