FAIR RENTS

Evening Star, Issue 24333, 23 October 1942, Page 2

FAIR RENTS

ABSOLUTE PROTECTION FOR SOLDIERS AND DEPENDENTS (Special.) WELLINGTON, Oct, 23. An important amendment to the Fair Rents Amendment Bill made by the Legislative Council yesterday was subsequently approved by the House of Representatives. The amendment safeguards the rights of servicemen and their dependents whether they are the owners or tenants of dwelling houses, giving them preference of occupancy over people who are not servicemen or their dependents, Where both parties in such a dispute are servicemen or their dependents, the decision is left to a mag- ’ istrate. The amendment provides that a landlord who is not a serviceman cannot obtain possession of a dwelling house from a tenant who is a serviceman or the wife or widow of a serviceman so Jong as the tenant pays the rent, takes reasonable care of the promises, and is not a nuisance to the neighbours. When the landlord is a serviceman and a tenant is a serviceman or the wife or widow of a serviceman or the dependent of a serviceman, and the landlord wants to return to his own house, which he occupied before commencing his service, the court may refuse to make an order for possession after considering the relative hardship of the two parties. It will not be necessary, however, for the landlord to find alternative accommodation for the tenant or to prove, affirmatively that his hardship is greater than the tenant’s. When a serviceman wants possession of his own house to resume living in it and the tenant is not a serviceman or the wife or widow of a serviceman or a dependent of a serviceman, the landlord will have an absolute right to an order for possession.

Following an explanation of the amendment by the Attorney-General (Mr Mason), the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Holland) said he thought the new provisions were an improvement, but that they confirmed the view he had expressed previously that more time should be taken over Bills. The Prime Alinister, Air Fraser, replied that there was nothing unusual in the course events Lad taken. There had never been an Opposition that iiad not complained about lack of time for settling legislative problems.