FAIR RENTS ACT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22971, 24 February 1938, Page 14

FAIR RENTS ACT

MINISTER'S DEFENCE PROTECTING GOOD TENANT PURPOSE OF LEGISLATION [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Wednesday Emphasising that, throughout tho legislation, protection had been restricted to the good tenant who needed his house as a home, the Minister of Finance, Hon. W. Nash, to-day commented on certain statements in newspapers. These were that tho clause in the Finance Act, 1937, which protected from eviction the tenant of a dwelling to which tho Fair Rents Act applied, unless suitable alternative accommodation was available, was not warranted on tho ground that adequate protection already existed. "No ono is more awaro of the true position," said the Ministor, "than members of Parliament and Ministers, who are confronted almost daily with representations and requests from those threatened with eviction. "Instances have occurred where owners have taken advantage of their legal right to obtain possession of houses, stating that they required them for their own personal occupation, or for that of an employee, meroly for tho ulterior purposo of getting rid of a tenant or of putting up the rent. "There has been a great deal of misstatement and misunderstanding as to tho operation of the Fair Rents Act. Throughout tho legislation, protection has been restricted to tho good tenant who needs the house as a home. The sole purposo of the legislation was to prevent the kind of hardship that should never be permitted in a civilised community—danger to health and tho welfare of men, women and young children. "The Fair Rents Act did not go one step beyond what was essential to stop such hardship, and, where there is any doubt, ample power is given to magistrates to relieve the party who is really suffering." . , After outlining the provisions of the Act, Mr. Nash said the Government recognised the difficulties of young people in particular who desired to purchase existing properties, but none of them would desire to start their married life by turning some other family adrift. That was the alternative untirnew houses were available.