INADEQUATE GROUND RENTALS.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13426, 25 March 1914, Page 5

INADEQUATE GROUND RENTALS.

WELLINGTON SUIT. Wellington, March 24. That ground rentals of certain corporation properties in the lower part of Lambton Quay were assessed too low was the basis of an action heard before the Chief Justice (Sir Robert .Stout)-at the Supreme Court to-day, when a motion, was moved on behalf of the City Council that an award fixr ing the leases in dispute made by William Mouat Hannay, Joseph Prime Maxwell, and Alexander Macintosh (arbitrators), dated 31st October, 1913, 'be set aside on the ground that;— "William Mouat Hannay and Alexander Macintosh had misconducted themselves in that they did not act judicial-ly,-and were biassed in favour of the lessees." - The motion further set out ;that thd rentals for the renewed term of fourteen-years. were grossly under what a prudent v lessee would give. The ground * sections affected are in Custom House Quay, Brandon and I*anama streets, and Lambton Quay, and are occupied by several lessees— Aitken, Wilson and Co., Kirkcaldie and Stains, Hall and Knight, and George and Kersley. In opening in support of the motion Mr. T. F. Martin said that the awards were deemed to be so low, compared with rentals paid by other lessees for similar teases, that the City Council had thought it was its duty to bring the matter before the Court, particularly as a considerable number of valuations had yet to be made. The case was unfinished when the Court rose. :;