BRADFORD BUILDINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13482, 5 July 1907, Page 6

BRADFORD BUILDINGS.

1 ; 0 j I TENANTS CLAIM COMPENSATION, j ! iTiiK leaseholders and tenants who were ejected from the Bradford Buildings during the recent renovation of those premises are; i ! now seeking compensation for the trouble; and expense which they were put to. At the meeting of the City Council last night a joint letter was received from eight tenants and leaseholders, claiming £475. They stated that their various businesses were in consequence disorganised, and they were put to considerable expense in removing their stock and fixtures, paying rent elsewhere and also under their leases, as the landlord refused to release tihem from their obligation. In these circumstances they begged to apply for relief, as they contended that if the premises were insanitary the Council's inspectors should not have allowed such a state of affairs to continue, and the Council was therefore liable for the unfortunate position they got into. At any rate, they submitted, ; the few should not suffer for the many, and if they were ordered out for the good of the public, then the public should pay them a reasonable amount by way of compensation for the trouble, loss of time, and .expense whiclh they had been put to. The respective claims were given, as follows: — j Fredk. Moore and Co., £100; Jacob Barripp and Son, £50; E. A. Waters, £40; H. Wright, £100; R. R. Hunt, £40; Percy H. Baslev, £20; Frank W. Whyte, £100; A. H. Shroff, £25. The Mayor (Mr. A. M. Myers) moved that a reply be sent treclining liability. He thought that the proper authority to approach was the Health Department. As regarded the obligation to see that their premises were sanitary ' this, said the Mayor, rested with the tenants themselves. The motion was carried. A letter was also received from Dr. Purdy, district health officer, stating that, in view of the fact that the owner of the j buildings was complying with instructions as to til 1 sanitary condition of the building, and that the repairs were being satisfactorily carried out, he considered that [the restrictions as to re-occupying could be ! withdrawn.