FAIR RENTS ACT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23203, 29 May 1937, Page 6

FAIR RENTS ACT

UTILE LIKELIHOOD OF EXPIRY LEGISLATION OVER TWENTY-ONE YEARS That the possibility of city rents being raised through the expiry of the Fajr Rents Act, 1936, suggested in a statement made this week by the officer in charge of the Department of Labour, Christchurch (Mr R. T.Bailey) was remote in the extreme was the opinion expressed by business men approached yesterday by a representative of the Otago Daily Times. The Act which was introduced in June of last vear expires on September 20 of this year, That is according to the wording ot the Act, but it was pointed out that there had been legislation providing for the regulation of rents since 1916, and that there was very little likelihood of this or any other Government allowing this legislation to lapse. The expiry of the Fair Kenls Act would mean that landlords could increase their rents nnd that tenants would have no protection against the increase or against ejection. Mr Bailey said, except in the case of agreements made during the term of the Act, which would remain effective according to their terms. That was provided for in section 25 of the Act. which read: "Notwithstanding the expiry of this Act. all proceedings pending on any application made under section 6 may be continued and completed as if the Act were still in force, and all orders . shall endure as if the Act were still in force . . ," The first legislation to be placed on the Statute Book providing for the regulation of rents was the War Legislation Amendment Act, 1916. and. it was said, that legislation had been in force in amended forms until the passins and enforcement of the Fair Rents Act. "This legislation has been reenacted in various forms for 21 years." one man said. "It will be a great surprise and a great mistake if this Act is allowed to expire'*