FAIR RENTS ACT

Hokitika Guardian, 15 September 1937, Page 7

FAIR RENTS ACT

UHIAIE MINISTER’S ASSURANCE WELLINGTON, sept. 13. The Fair Rents Act, restricting the rentals on dwelling houses, will definitely be re-enacted before the end of the present month. This was made clear by the Prime Minister (tire Rt. Won M". ,]. Savage) in an interview this evening, when he sanl that a hill providing ior the continuation of the existing provisions would be introduced in the House of Representatives and passed before September 30, when the present act expires.

“There tip pea rs to he a real need for this legislation,” Mr Savage said, “ and it is the duty of the Government to recognise that position. It is possible, of course, that the Address-in-Reply debate may drag on for a fairly •considerable time There seems to be a suggestion that Opposition members will have .1 wood deal to say, and in that case I do not think our own members will be altogether silent. i

“If the debate shows signs of stretching over three weeks, however, we will not hesitate to introduce a measure re-enacting the Fair ’Rents Act before the 'Address-in-Reuly is completed.” The Prime Minister added that it was still the Government’s intention to proceed with the Budget wlicn the Address-in-Reply debate was out of the way, and until both these items had been disposed of little in the way of new legislation would appear in the 'House.

The industrial status of clerical workers, as defined in a recent decision by the Court of Appeal, would certainly require action by the Government, and a bill dealing with that position would lv introduced at the earliest possible moment.