RIGHTS OF LANDLORD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21247, 29 July 1932, Page 12

RIGHTS OF LANDLORD

CLAIM UNDER OLD ACT DOUBLE VALUE OF FURNITURE [l?r TEJ-EGRAril —PRESS association] WELLINGTON, Thursday On a claim based on the provisions of the Distress For Rent Act, of 1737, passed in the veign of George 11., under a section described by Mr. T. B. McNeil, S.M., as "a relic of the past," James Dean Davidson, a landlord, succeeded in the Magistrate's Court in establishing tho right to obtain from a tenant, W. A. Hamilton, double tho value of his furniture, owing to the fact that Hamilton was held to have removed it from Davidson's house when he knew Davidson intended to seize it by way of distress for arrears of rent. Tho magistrate also held that, in addition to tho sum of £lB5, which was Davidson's estimate of double tho value of the furniture, Hamilton was apparently liable for arrears of rent amounting to £62. Although the magistrate held that llie plaintiff, Davidson, must succeed in his action, ho reserved tho mat! or of fixing the amount actually to bo paid by tho defendant until tho position had been discussed by the solicitors for each side and defendant had had an opportunity of giving his estimate of the value of the furniture. Mr. McNeil said ho would like to hear argument as to whether or not bo!h rent and double value could, under the circumstances, bo claimed.