HIGH RENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2771, 15 May 1916, Page 6

HIGH RENTS

PROTEST MEETING HELD. "That this meeting of workers protest against the exploitation of rent-payers by 'the unwarranted increase in rents. since the commencement of the war; it tails upon Parliament to effectively remedy tbe injustice by passing a ]sill fixing rents at pre-war rates. It also points out that the supply of houses' in Wellington at present is entirely inadequate, whole families being housed in one and two rooms, through lack of suitable dwellings. This meeting urges the City Council, or, failing that body, the Gov-, eminent, to immediately proceed with an adequate building scheme to meet the urgent demand. This meeting is further of the opinion that to secure fair treatlnen for occupiers, a rent-payers association should be formed." :

The above resolution was carried unanimously at a largely-attended meeting in the' Alexandra Hall last evening to protest against the rise in rents in Wellington. ~-'.■■

In moving tho resolution) Mr. ,T. Mackenzie said that to a certain extent he sympathised with the landlords in having to raise their rents because other people in New Zcalarfd had risen tho price of foodstuffs. The Prime Minister had stated that out of 81 workers' homes erected in New Zealand last year 30 had been built in Wellington. The number, Mr. Mackenzie contended, should have been 1100. He referred to'the City Council allowing sports bodies to lease certain parts of the Town Belt; If these bodies could bo assisted surely the council could tackle the problem of housing the workers.

In seconding the resolution, Mrs. Donaldson said that she recognised the terrible burden placed on the people by high rents. The housing problem in Wellington was abominable, and the increased rents had a tendency to increase tho disability under which the working classes lived. Sho, too. had sympathy with the landlords. They saw other people making money and followed suit. Everything was being increased in price for no reason whatever. Instead of the workers using their power to help they had used it to crush themselves.

Mr. T; Brindle. said that if the City Council could find money to build a Town Hall they could find it to build houses ft>r the poorer classes.

Mr. J. Hutcheson urged that houses in certain dilapidated quarters of tho City should be burned down nnd replaced by suitable dwellings. lie added that ho knew of one case where a house oeent had raised tho Tents without consulting the landlord, so thnt he could obtain a larger commission. If a rent-payers' Association was formed if- should back up the rent-payer when his rent was raised.