WORKERS’ SWELLINGS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5728, 25 October 1905, Page 2

WORKERS’ SWELLINGS.

, A COMMITTEE’S REPORT. Tho select committee to which the Workers’ Dwellings Bill was referred "by the Legislative Council handed in its reX>ort yesterday. Clause 8 (rent fixed at 5 per cent, on the capital value, including one per cent, for depreciation, in addition to insuring the dwelling irom fire) has been amended by striking out tho reference to deterioration. The deletion does not, however, affect tho rent, ami there lias been added a xirovisiou that the tenant must also pay the estimated amount of .rates under the 1831 Rating Act. Tho clause defining the modes of acquiring the freehold are recast, but not altered as to effect. Clause 11 (mode of acquiring the freehold by endowment assurance) is amended by toe insertion of a provision that the rent shall bo five per cent. (There was no rent provided in the bill as it came from the House.) A provision has been inserted to provide that with the consent of the Laud Board a lessee may at any time surrender his lease on terms agreed upon between him and the Land Board. A now danse gives the Minister power to erect buildings for occupancy on a weekly tenancy at a rent not exceeding fivo per cent., the tenant to pay rates under the 189! act. Every weekly tenant must be a worker and landless. Another new clause says:—Notwithstanding anything in the Eating Act ISM, the Land Board, in the case of weekly tenancies, under section 21 hereof, shall be liable for payment to the local authority of rates in the same manner as if such Board or Minisler were an occupier within the meaning of the Eating Act, 1894. provided that the Board and Minister respectively shall not be liable for any greater amount than has been received as rate from each-tenant. The bill will be taken in committee today. '