THE GARDENER'S COTTAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17696, 3 February 1921, Page 5

THE GARDENER'S COTTAGE.

TENANTS RIGHTS CLAIMED.

An unusual tenement case came before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in Wellington, the plaintiff being a resident of Karori who was desirous of having a gardener, who had ceased to work for liim > evicted from a cottage on his property. The gardener was engaged in 1918 at a wage of. £2 5s per week, but in January, 1919, his wages were increased to £3 10s, and in April of that year t when the cottage became vacant, he was paid £3 weekly and was given the use of the cottage. Last month the gardener was given notice and was told to vacate the cottage to make room for the new gardener engaged, a married man with a considerable family. "He did not go," remarked the magistrate." " Why did you not throw him out? The case is plain enoughj the occupancy is part of the contract of service. Do yon mean to say that if J let a servant have a back room she becomes my tenant, or if I let my gardener have a cottage in my garden he becomes my tenant?"

Counsel for the defence maintained that the gardener had paid 10s rental since his wages had been reduced by that amount in April, 1919. The magistrate held that the gardener had occupied the cottage contingent on his service, and ordered that he should go out in a fortnight. "It would be only fair if he paid the new gardener a pound or so for the inconvenience he is causing him,' added Mx. Hunt.