"A BAD BARGAIN"

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2393, 24 February 1915, Page 9

"A BAD BARGAIN"

CITY LEASEHOLDS. AND RENTS. Since the finding of the recent Arbitration Court on tie rents to be paid by certain holders of certain city properties known as the Lambtoii leases, there has been manifest a growing opinion that the city had not. fared so well as councillors and corporation officials had figured out, - and some have gone as far as. to suggest that the form 6f tribunal set up to fix the rents should be reviewed. Taiigible expression was given that view at yesterday's special meeting of the City Council, when . Councillor .L. M'Kenzio moved: "That, this council take the necessary steps to urge Upton the ©ovoi'nment the desirability of having the Arbitration Act amended so that cases a Supreme C-curt Judge, shall be the third arbitrator in arbitrations held to fix rentals under Corporation "leases."

In moving the above motion) Councillor M'Kenzie pointed oat the anomalies that existed in connection with the findings of the recant Arbitration Court sat up in connection with the fixing of routals for city leaseholds. Iu some •cases it was' shown whore the values had been increased as much as 40 per cent., and yet the rants had been reduced. There were anomalies that should not be, and he thought that the only remedy waß to have a Judge of the Supreme Court as arbitrator. Councillor A. H. Hindmarsh said as the question was a most important one he thought it should bo adjourned until the next meeting of the council, to take priority of all other motions. Councillor M'Kenzie objected ,to the adjournment. It had boon set aside over and over again, until the principal leases had all been dealt with, and as the result the council had mado a bad bargain. The Mayor intimated his desiro to have the discussion of the motion ad•jcurned, and as other councillors did not seem disposed to debate tho question; Councillor Hindmarsh's .motion y/as put, and carried on tie voices.