FAIR RENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9117, 16 May 1891, Page 6 (Supplement)

FAIR RENT.

TO THE EDITOB. Slß,—The fair rent movement is already telling. The members of the City Counoil have taken heart of grace and are about to consider the position of their leaseholders. Beyond discussion, which is always more or less useful, there is not much to be expeoted from our city fathers. The majority of them are slow, stolid Conservatives, firm in the belief that one bird in the hand, no matter how sick it has become, is worth half a dozen free healthy birds in the bnsh. Even hope can extract little consolation from a City Council discussion.

The mayor is perfeotly right in urging councillors, if, they will agree to any rearrangement and reduction of their rent roll, to have tbo change carried out by a judicial process, which is simply the mode proposed by the Fair Rent Bill that leaseholders generally are seeking. The councillors might try to do fairly by their tenants, but knowing the thousand and one influences that would be at work, they assuredly could not reckon on getting the community to believe it.

A fair rent court is absolutely necessary. It would command public confidence, and these (and this is essential) leaseholders could get their rents adjusted whether the owners or trustees of the land were willing or unwilling to consider the matter. I may mention that the question of fair rents has been brought under the notice of the Government, and the Premier intimates that he has no doubt of the strong case made out for some effective legislative remedy. He adds, " the subject will receive the earnest attention of the Government; but he fears, in consequence of the large reforms promised on other subjects, that they will not be able to do anything in the coming session." We have heard this excuse given in a good many cases and on a good many occasions, and it may be that a little judicious pressure might be able to overcome it. For my own part lam unable to understand the reasoning which tells us that, although a thing is wise enough and imperiously needed, it must be deferred till a more convenient season. The season is or ought to be always convenient to do the thing that is right.— I am, &0., May 14. William Hutchison.