FAIR RENTS ACT.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 386, 18 March 1937, Page 2

FAIR RENTS ACT.

Owner of House Fined. Press Association—Copyright. Wellington, March 17. A prosecution under the Fair Rents ict, 1936,' was made in the Magistrate’s Court to-day against L on W. Kilkent, owner of a dwelling house at Arawa Road, Wellington. The charge was that, having obtained possession by representing he required the house for his own occupation, he relet it within six months without having obtained an authorising order from a magistrate. The defendant, who pleaded guilty through ignorance of the law was fined £lO. The Magistrate said Wilkens had obtained possession by false representation. It was clear he had no intention of going into the house. T(he case was therefore a grave one under the Act, which was designed to protect persons in occupation of houses. There was a specific provision with respect to the obtaining of orders by false pretences. If possession was obtained'on one of. .the grounds mentioned in section 13 and the ground was false, or if a house landlord had obtained possession lie was liable to a fine of £5O. The case v"s not a technical breach, but one where a statement was made fraudulently.