LANDLORD CHARGED

Grey River Argus, 3 April 1943, Page 3

LANDLORD CHARGED

Refusal to Let Flat P.A. AUCKLAND, April 2. A woman landlord, Miss A. F. Moore-Jones, was this morning fined £4 by the Magistrate (Mr Levien) on a charge of "refusing to let a flat on the ground that it was intended a child should live in it. The case was stated to be the first of its kind in New Zealand. Mr H. J. Meikle, Inspector of Factories, said that a naval officer’s wife applied to a land agency for a fiat and was referred to the defendant. After inspecting the flat she agreed to take it. but when she stated later that she had a girl aged three years defendant refused to allow her to occupy the flat. j . ; Mr R. P. Towle, defendant s counsel, said she was not aware of the provisions of the Act until the Inspector informed her. She pleaded guilty reluctantly because the Act allowed no discretion. Defendant had four other flats frequentlj' let to people with children, but did not think the flat involved in the case was suitable for children. She was in ill health and a lady in a flat immediately below had a bad heart and did not like children running about above her head. The Magistrate said the fine in this case must not be regarded as an indication of the amount in subsequent offences.