HIGH RENTS.

Northern Advocate, 8 May 1916, Page 2

HIGH RENTS.

WELLINGTON WORKERS' COM

PLAINT,

MR MASSEY PROMISES INVES-

TIGATION.

WELLINGTON, May 6,

- "We in Wellington are suffering, and have suffered for years, by reason of the fact that our rents are higher by from 5s to 10s a week than those in any other part of New Zealand," said Mr M. J. Reardon (president of the Trades and Labour (Council), speaking to the Prime Minister, as the head of a deputation, this afternoon. The Government, •he said, had determined that certain people should not exploit the community, but there were cases where landlords were taking advantage of the misfortunes of the poor by raising rents without justification during the war period. The deputation, said Mr Reardon, suggested that the Government should bring in a measure providing that all rents should go back to those prevailing at August 1, 1914, j and that any increased rent charged since then should b e regarded as rent paid in advance. The Prime Minister said he considered it a very improper thing to increase rent on necessitous people during the war period. That was not foreseen when the war commenced. Th e experience of history was that during war periods rents in towns fell, and his information went to show that that happened in ahuost every centre in ;New Zealand, except Wellington. Rents had gone up in Wellington because of the adjacent camps, and the numbers of peop.-e visiting the city and the consequent demand for houses. Apparently some landlords had taken advantage of that demand. It had been suggested that more should be done in th e wayjof providing workers' home?. ' The- Government, had done a great deal in that direction, and more would have been done but for the fact that the financial outlook was not too promising at the commencement of the war. Even so, the Government had put up S2 houses to the end of the financial year, including about 30 in Wellington. He would consult with the Department and his colleagues with the object of finding some method of relieving the present difficulty.