RESTRICTION OF EVICTIONS NO APPLICATION TO NEW HOUSES

Southland Times, Issue 23379, 10 December 1937, Page 9

RESTRICTION OF EVICTIONS

NO APPLICATION TO NEW HOUSES

DWELLINGS BUILT AFTER JUNE 11, 1936 (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, December 9. A suggestion that the restrictions imposed on property owners by the amendment of the Fair Rents Act to protect occupiers of houses was causing persons who intended building houses to lose confidence was made by the president (Mr W. R. Free) at a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce this morning. “When the Fair Rents Act was introduced it was thought that any owner requiring possession for his own reasonable use could get it,” he said, “but this has proved to be mistaken confidence. People building houses must always have before them the thought that this legislation may be extended to cover them.” The chamber expressed appreciation of a reply received from the Minister ot Finance (the Hon, W. Nash) to criticism of the proposed legislation sent by the chamber. “The Government did not move in the direction of this legislation without being convinced that the hardship it intended to meet is so desperate and urgent that it cannot be ignored,” wrote Mr Nash. “I agree that there has been a stimulus in house building and the Government will do all in its power to increase progress in this direction. This, however, cannot proceed fast enough to deal with the urgent cases of eviction that are occurring. You will note, however, that the Fair Rents Act does not apply to houses built after June 11, 1936, and the amendment in this year’s Act does not carry the restrictions to any new class of house. From this point of view there should be no discouragement of new building.”