Distress for Rent.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5068, 29 September 1894, Page 4

Distress for Rent.

TO THE EDITOK. Sib.— The letter and spirit of our laws do not always agree. Under the Distress Act, 1885, family clothing, bedding and tools of trade to the value of £25 are absolutely exempt from distress. There are somewhat similar exemptions in the Bankruptcy Act and in the Magistrates' Court Act. The following inventory, left by a landlord in person thiß week when seizing for his rent, showe what things are not exempt :— Fowls 4a 6d, timber £1, table 29, bedstead ss, utensils and china 10s, cradle 2s 6d, cheffonier, toilet glass and toilet table 10s, total £2 14>s, The inventory does not state, as it should have done, the amount of rent due, but I am informed the sum is £1 14s. The husband of the tenant is in the hospital, and the wife has in the honse six ohildren, one being in the cradle. The mother went to the Charitable Aid Board offioe to see if that body would guarantee the rent. What the reply tb her was I have not heard, She left the landlord in the house while on her message, and also left the child in the cradle. When sho returned the child was on the floor and the cradle in a carrier's van preparatory to being removed to the auction rooms, where it and the other articles in the above list are awaiting the' expiration of five days to be Bold. The law allows the landlord to take a cradle value 2s <5d for his rent, and in these dull times the very crumbs of landlords' profits must be attended to. As to the fowls, they will have eaten their heads off before the sale on Monday next, for they cannot live on air five days in an auction room. Often, in such capes as the above, the distress when sold doeß not pay bailiff's, carrier's and auctioneer's expenses. The state of the depleted homes may easily be imagined. My name is at the disposal of anyone interested.— l am, Ac, __ O^ABITY.