HOUSING IN PALMERSTON NORTH

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 266, 4 August 1921, Page 5

HOUSING IN PALMERSTON NORTH

Sir,—l suppose it is impossible for the Government until tho money market gets easier to build houses in this town, but there is one thing, in my judgment, tho Government can do, and. that is to prevent any man letting his house for more than, say, 10 per cent, on tho cost either of building or purchase. Take a few* samplce that havs come under my notice: House cost £B5O. It is now being let tor £2 a week. Th* former rent of the same house was 18s. Gd. Another cost £7OO four years ags to present owner; let for 355. a week. There are hundreds of people wanting houses, and in the latter case three people came and offered £2 a week to get in. Now, Sir, the amazing thing is that the Government has interfered with landlords who were raising rents on tenants already in possession, but they will not, or dare not is it, compel landlords to let their houses, nor will they compel them to let them at a reasonable and fair rental. Within a few hundred yards of where I write there is a case of a man whose house was sold over him, and lie received notice to quit. He could not get a house in the time given, and tho landlord’s agent came down and spoke to him in a shameful uny. So upset was he that rather than stand anv more of tho same treatment lie took a place of four rooms at a rent of 365. a week. Landlords and tenants t»-day tire shamefully plundering the man whose business does not allow him to reside many years in each. As one who is safe for somo time, I appeal to the Government to do something tor THE OTHER FELLOW.