THE RENT OF HOUSES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18276, 18 December 1922, Page 5

THE RENT OF HOUSES.

ALLOWANCE BY COURT.

CONSIDERED TOO LITTLE.

Criticism made by the Mayor of Wellington, Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., of the allowance of 15s per week made by the Arbitration Court to cover rent appears to bo fairly generally endorsed in the city, says a Wellington paper. His statement that it is impossible to obtain a. house for such a rent is supported by business men and officials who are very closely connected with the housing question, and the opinion was expressed by several gentlemen that there is an obvious need for the Court to take a closer view of the situation in making its calculations. The allowance of 15s per week* is regarded as absurd. Men of wide experience whose everyday duties put them in close touch with the rental problem declare that it is impossible to obtain a house at £1 per week, much less 15s. One* gentleman said he had certainly come across a, case of a so-called house offering at 15s per week, but it turned out to bo a stable at Petone, which was not fit for occupation by human beings. There were some places offering at £1, but they were nothing but hovels. A house was recently offered privately at 30a, and the person "who was negotiating for its disposal received a heavy shoal of applications from people who were surprised to learn of a house being available on such reasonable terms.