LANDLORDS CHASED BY WOMEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12786, 1 November 1919, Page 15

LANDLORDS CHASED BY WOMEN.

—♦ tenants m revoi/t. New York is developing a very short way with rent profiteers, says a correBpondcui) of tho il Weekly Dispatch. M The housing situation In the city has been growing steadily worse as a resulo ,{? orf k taking advantage of the shortage of houses and apartments to force up rents. In hundreds of oases tho tenants have been turned out at short notice following ultimatums from landlords on tho expiry of leases, to quit or pay increased rents. . It has become quite common to see in the windows of apartment houses cards bearing the words “This house is on rent strike,” meaning that the i tenant is one of those who have banded together to refuse to pay the increased rents and to meet with force any bailiffs who oome to evict them. Not long ago tvo landlords were chased through the streets. Several have been man-handled by the crowds of women. Recently a fresh method of dealing with I spacious owners was tried with great effect. A few weeks ago the Mayer appointed a committee to inquire into rent profiteering. At tho sittings a landlord named Joachim and his son appeared to give evidence in their own defence against allegations brought bv the tenants of several blocks of flats of which they are the owners. The elder Joachim, after several times being called to order for tho violent speeches directed against tenants, fired off a tirade against children. After declaring that all tenants were liars Joachim wound up with persona] references to one tenant. Tho latter, a large man, rose in his wrath and landed a right hook on tho landlord’s left ear, knocking him over two chairs aind a table into a far corner of the room. This was tho signal for a. general attack. The audience, which was principally composed of women, advanced in mass formation on the landlord and his son, crying “Kill them both!” For several minutes a wild scrinwunge raged in the committee room. Finally tho police had to ho called in to rescue the two Joachims, who by that time had been considerably damaged, and to restore order.