FAIR RENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22424, 21 May 1936, Page 10

FAIR RENTS

TEMPORARY MEASURE MAIN LEGISLATION LATER MAGISTRATES' WIDER POWERS [BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday The Rent Restriction Bill, which the Government proposes to introduce before the midwinter recess, will be only a temporary measure, according to a statement made by the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, in an interview tonight. The main provisio_n of the bill will be the safeguarding of tenants against summary eviction, and will give magistrates wider powers in dealing with such cases. Mr. Savage said it would be difficult to deal with the matter in a comprehensive way, as urgent action was required. The proposed measure would have ample elasticity, so that the present position could be met temporarily. The bill had been considered at a Gov-, ernment caucus this morning, and had been unanimously approved. It was not put forward as a solution of the rent and housing problem, but it would serve io alleviate the conditions of working people during the winter months and until the question could bo placed on a proper basis. Avoiding Acute Distress "Our main objective is to avoid, as far as possible, acute distress among the poorer people," Mr. Savage said. "We also aim at checking the exploitation of tenants by landlords seeking to take advantage of the higher wages which the worker will shortly enjoy. We do not say that all landlords would do this; in fact, the majority of them treat their tenants fairly, but there are some who have proved themselves to be unscrupulous, and it is that type that we desire to restrain." Mr. Savage emphasised that under the proposed legislation there could be no evictions without thorough consideration by a magistrate. It,would be left to the sense of fairness of magistrates to decide how much a tenant could pay. It was recognised, of course, that landlords had their rights as well as tenants. Permanent Objective "When we come, later on in the session, to deal with the problem in a permanent way, we will have to see that our people are decently housed at fair rents and in houses fit to live in." the Prime Minister added. "That, of course, means more employment and better wages. The whole scheme, including housing, will be gone thoroughly into in the second part of this session, when legislation embodying tht> Government's proposals will be introduced."