LIVING IN GARAGE

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20334, 26 October 1937, Page 8

LIVING IN GARAGE

SHORTAGE OF HpUSES WIDOW'S PREDIOAMENT COURT REFUSES ORDER The fact that a woman of 73 years of age was living in a small garage In Hamilton because she could not obtain possession of a house which she had purchased was revealed in the Magistrate’s Court, Hamilton, to-day, when Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M., heard an application for an order for possession under the Fair Rents Act. The woman had entered into an agreement for sale and purchase of a house in Frankton and possession under the agreement was to be given within one month. The previous owner, A. L. Hunt, of Mangapeehi (Mr W. J. King), sought an order for possession against the tenant, J. Petersen (Mr J. G. Taylor). The woman who purchased the house from plaintiff stated in evidence that she was a widow and desired the house for her own occupation. For some time she had been endeavouring to secure a house in Hamilton, but for three months her efforts had been without success. Being unable to rent a house she had been obliged to live in a small garage which she was still occupying. 44 The garage is most uncomfortable,” she said, and when asked by Mr Taylor if she could possibly continue living in the garage until a •house was found for her she replied: 44 1 think I have waited long enough.” Acute Shortage The acute shortage of houses in Hamilton was made apparent by a land agent, who stated in evidence that these days people were glad to take any sort of accommodation and they were content to put up with inconveniences which were not usually associated with living conditions. Houses were drastically short In Hamilton. Witness said defendant had been offered two different flats by his firm and both had been refused. He said in the case of one it would have been necessary to share a kitchen. Defendant said he had occupied the house for three and a-half years. Recently he had tried everywhere in Hamilton to obtain another dwelling, but had been unsuccessful. He gave several instances where he had 44 just missed ” a house. He had made application for a railway house but had received no reply from the department yet. He understood, however, that there was a long waiting list of Frankton railway employees who desired to obtain one of the houses at the settlement. He stated his willingness to quit the house concerned in the court proceedings as soon as he could obtain another place. Provisions of Act. “ This business is particularly difficult,” said Mr Paterson, who added that if a person purchased a house he was entitled to live in It, but at present the position was abnormal and under the Fair Rents Act the court had to try and determine cases in the true spirit of the legislation. “ In this case I have to consider the hardships to the tenant, which would be great if he were turned out of the house. The position of the purchaser has also to be considered. She appears to be in comfortable circumstances. She could board or go into rooms. I will exercise the discretion given to me by the Act and refuse the application. I would adjourn the case if the parties thought some sort of agreement could be reached," said Mr Paterson. The magistrate decided to adjourn the case for a month, and no order was made. COURT INCREABEB RATE ALLEGATIONS OF TENANT I Allegations that the house he occupied in Ngaruawahia was in a poor state of repair and that six panes of glass were missing from windows in one room, windows were out in another, holes were in many of the floors, and windows would not close were made in the Magistrate’s Court, Hamilton, to-day by \. M. Schultz, who sought a decision regarding Ihe fair rent of a house he rented at Ngaruawahia, owned by Matilda James, married, of Ngaruawahia. The case for Schultz was,conducted by Mr R. J. Powell, of the Labour Department, while Mr R. Eyre, land agent, of Ngaruawahia, represented the owner. Schultz stated in evidence that he had been asked to pay 18s a week rent and agreed to pay £1 a week if repairs were made. At present, however, he was paying only 15s a week. The owner claimed that the repairs had been completed. The magistrate, Mr S. L. Paterson, fixed the fair rent of the dwelling at £1 per work.