OVERCROWDING, THE EFFECT OF BIG RENTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 290, 7 December 1928, Page 6

OVERCROWDING, THE EFFECT OF BIG RENTS

MOVE FOR EXTENSION OF RESTRICTION LAW (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 6. When the House of Representatives met this afternoon, Air P. Fraser (Wellington Ccntr-.l) moved for leave to introduce the Rent Restriction Continuance Bill. He expressed the opinion that unless something was done immediately the rent restriction legislation now on the Statute Book would, at the end of the year, become permanently repealed. This would be disastrous, for a most serious position had arisen, especially in Wellington. He reviewed the history of this legislation up to the point where the Hon. G. J. Anderson, when Minister of Labour, had promised personally to investigate the position. He fount! the evidence so convincing in Auckland and Christchurch that he felt there was no need to go further, nnd re-introduced a Bill, but it was passed with the reservation that it would expire on January 1, 1929. The position so serious that, pending the opportunity for further inquiries, the legislation now on the Statute Book should bo extended till January, 1930, or at least till Parliament met again in June next. Air Eraser stressed the seriousness of the position in Wellington, where rents were exorbunt, with the result that dangerous overcrowding was taking place. He hoped all sides of the House would be impressed with the seriousness of the position, and appealed to the Government to do what, under the present circumstances, no private member could do —pass his Bill, even if it was only a temporary jpeasure. The motion was supported by Air H. Armstrong (Christchurch East) and Air W. E. Parry (Auckland Central), and the House agreed to the Bill being set down for its second reading on Wednesday next.