FAIR RENTS BILL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20919, 20 October 1942, Page 2

FAIR RENTS BILL

IMPORTANT CHANGES ALL PREMISES COVERED BASIS OF COMPUTATION (P.R.) , WELLINGTON, this day. All premises used for living purposes, - except licensed hotels, are brought within the scope of the Fair Rents legislation by an amendment bill ■introduced in the House of Representatives last night. The measure will operate for the duration of the wav and a year afterwards. The bill also contains a number of other important clauses, including one making it an offence for a person to refuse to let a dwelling if it is intended that a child shall live there. -In explaining the measure,' the Attorney-General, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, said that rooms had been -'Mjerf'd from the beginning of legisla- „ tiori, but where attendance was pro : vided the room was outside the scope of the legislation. Under the present hill mere was no reservation whatever as all dwellings were covered. The former rent limitation of £3 weekly disappeared^ Referring to business premises, the Minister said that where they included living. accommodation, the legislation wquld operate. The bill alsb corrected the. position which arose when, through the letting of the major part of the house, the premises became legally business premises. The basis ( of the fair rent was that existing on September 1 of this year. This would operate unless altered by substituting a rent agreed upon between the parties or with the concurrence of the inspector of factories, or as settled by a magistrate. An agreement between the parties could be, reopened unless the inspector of factories had approved of it, this precaution being necessary to protect people who could not look after themselves. Provision was being made, said the. Minister, for the protection of subtenants where the landlord must- have expected the premises to be sub-let. The bill stipulates that where the original tenancy is determined, the sub-tenant shall be deemed to become the tenant on the same terms as he would have had from the original- , tenant. ■