THE RENT QUESTION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2835, 28 July 1916, Page 6

THE RENT QUESTION

DEPUTATION. TG THE PREMIER, Mr. A. L. Wilson said'that if the Bill passed in its present form it -would liit several people very hardly. Anyone who had anything to do with cottage property must know that it was not a paying concern. At the most thoy £ot only 3 or 1 per cent, on the capital invested. The Prime Minister, in reply to the deputation,- snid that the Government, in introducing legislation in regard, to rents, had no desire to cause any hardship to landlords. Then, however, were cases in Wellington, and possibly also in other towns, in which landlords had taken advantage of the warperiod, and the strong demand for liouse property to increase rents to a figure out of all proportion to the value of liousos. There was no question about that. This was especially so in cases in which the tenants were poor people who had a difficulty in making ends meet. Ho had an amendment to -jthe Bill drafted which he hoped would afford the necessary protection to fair landlords. There was no desire to do any injustice, but there was an undoubted need for legislation In one case' that he knew of 255. a week was now charged for a house that was let at £1 a week before the war. At a further meeting of property-own-ers, held last evening, it was considered if legislation curbing the law of supply and demand were insisted on, that, for the period of the war, tho ordinary return of six per cent, net on Government valuation should fairly bo allowed, and, further, that, iu tho case of properties bought at a- higher prico than tho Government valuation, it was held that six per cent, net on the capital invested should be eonsidorod a fair return.