RENT REDUCTION ACT

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 23, 19 August 1932, Page 5

RENT REDUCTION ACT

NATIVE LAND LEASES EXEMPT PROTEST AT GISBORNE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Special Service GISBORNE, Thursday.—According to a letter received by the Chamber of Commerce yesterday the recent rent reduction legislation does not apply to Native leasehold lands. In this connection it is felt that an injustice has been done and the chamber agreed to support any action taken to secure a reduction and to ease the burdens of lessees. The matter cropped up from a letter which was written by the secretary of the Gisborne Law Society. "It has been brought to the knowledge of my council," the letter proceeded, "that in applications for reduction of ; rent, .counsel for, the Jilast Commissioner has .stated.,it to be ~lher commissioner's opinion that tire provisions of the Act do not apply to Native lands Further than this, it has been stat ed unofficially by officers of that, department that even if native lands are not at present so exempt legisla. lion will quickly be passed giving native land such immunity. This is a matter of considerable importance to this district, and my council is of the opinion that it would be most unjust and inequitable to- prevent occupiers of native lands obtaining relief by application to the Mortgagors' Relief Commission and the court. Such an interpretation of the Act would undoubtedly cause hardship amongst many cccupiers of native lands."