LANDLORDS' PLIGHT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 493, 30 June 1932, Page 1

LANDLORDS' PLIGHT.

“ Many are Worse Off than Relief Workers.” ACTION IMPERATIVE. (Special to the *' Star?*’) WELLINGTON, June 30. That landlords are in many case# worse of¥ than relief workers, in that by getting no rent for their properties they are unable to pay rates and in* terest, was emphasised by Mr W. Apple, ton, when a deputation from the Relief Workers’ Section of the Labour Movement waited upon the Property Owners’ Association with a view to arranging a deputation to the ActingMinister of Employment. Speaking on behalf of the deputation, Mr S. Vella said that relief workers could not under the present circumstances maintain their families and pay rent. They could, and in the great majority of cases wanted to, pay some* thing, but they were quite unable to pay the full rents demanded. He suggested that the Government should bs approached to formulate some scheme of rent limitation, and said they would like to have the support of the Property Owners’ Association. Mr Appleton, in replying, said that the landlord was worse off than the relief worker. They had reached breaking point. What they desired to be sure of was sufficient to pay theif interest and rates, but they were not even getting that. In many instances the landlords were not getting sufficient to enable them to pay the rates, and this would make the city services suffer. “In my opinion,’’ said Mr Appleton, “ it is the duty of the Government to provide shelter. The provision of this, especially in winter, is of paramount importance. The Government could rent cottages in bulk cheaper than it would cost the individual, and the landlord would be sure of his interest on capital, rates, taxes, and outgoings. The landlords would then be sure of receiving something, which now they are not, and the married man would be sure of a home.” A joint deputation to the Minister was agreed upon with a view to urging the subsidisation of landlords. “We are quite sympathetic with your views,” said Mr Appleton to the deputation. “We are worse off than relief workers, and, unless something is done, there will be a complete breakdown.” Deputation Will Wait on Minister. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 30 A Government subsidy paid direct to landlords in order to lift part of the rent burden from the shoulders of married relief workers will be advocated by a deputation to the ActingMinister of Employment (the Hon A. Hamilton). The deputation will represent the re- ! lief workers’ section of the Labour movement and will be supported by the Property Owners’ Association. Speaking at a meeting of representatives of both bodies, Mr Will Appleton said that the idea of Mr Coates putting cottages all over the country when thousands of houses were empty in the cities was an absurd one. It was an absolute squandering of public money. In a year or two it would be possible I to buy these cottages for from £lO to £l2 apiece. The Government should subsidise landlords and use existing facilities. The present position of landlords could not go on He knew a man, wealthy on paper, who was being threatened with being turned out of his own house. Because he could not collect his rents, he could not pay his mortgagee. There was on doubt in his mind that “ before we know where we are the wages tax will be up to 2s in the pound.”