REDUCTIONS IN RENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21163, 21 April 1932, Page 11

REDUCTIONS IN RENT.

BILL TO BE MODIFIED. RETURN TO THE LANDLORD. COURT TO CONSIDER QUESTION. [by telegraph.-—press association.] WELLING TON, Wednesday. Tho section of the National Expenditure Adjustment Bill relating to rent reductions was referred to in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr. J. McCombs (Labour —Lyttelton) stated tint the reduction would not operate unless the property owner received 7 por cent, interest on tho valuation of the property, over and above the amount expended on rates, maintenance, etc. lie considered this would mean that in many cases there would be no reduction at all.

The Hon. W. Downie Stewart, Minister of Finance: That part of the bill is being modified.

I'll© Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, explained that an amendment would be introduced later to deal with this aspect. While it was considered reasonable that the property owner should obtain a fair return for his invostment, it was realised that there were special circumstances at present, and tha amendment would leave it for the Court to docide whether the question of return on investment should be taken into consideration.

Mr. McCombs said this treatment was still in striking contrast to tho manner in which the Government was dealing with workers who were not being given the right to appeal to the Court. Definite reductions in rent and interest constituted a logical corollary to definite reductions in wages, becauso although such a course was perhaps not quite moral, it was justified on the principle that two wrongs went some way toward making a right. REBUKE FOR LABOUR. CRITICISM WITHOUT REASON. MR. SEMPLE SILENCED. [BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday. The tendency of Labour members to criticise the Government on any pretext was neatly exposed by tho Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister in charge of LTneniplovment, in the House of Representatives this evening. Led by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. H. E. Holland, Labour speakers set up a demand to know the full details of the amendments proposed to the first part of tho National Expenditure Adjustment Bill as soon as tho GovernorGeneral's Message intimating the variations was introduced. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, gave a brief outline of the provisions and was immediately accused by Mr. J. McCombs (Labour —Lyttelton) of discourtesy in not giving all the details.

Mr. Forbes interjected that fuller information was usually given when the House was in Committee. Mr. McCombs: But wo are now in Committee.

Mr. Forbes: We are now in Committee on the Message. Wait until we aro in Committee on the bill.

Other Labour speakers took up the cry for more information, among thorn being Mr. R. Semple (Wellington East), who complained that Mr. Forbes' reply was quite inadequate and was not an intelligent explanation. Mr. Coates then rose to state that Mr. Semple was not in tho House when Mr. Forbes spoko and was thus not in a position to pass judgment on Mr. Forbes' explanation. " I actually saw Mr. Semple como in the House after the Prime Miniser had finished," said Mr. Coates.

Mr. Semple could not deny tho statement, and it was significant that the Labour hold-up at that juncture was not continued.