TELEGRAMS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1921, Page 1

TELEGRAMS

BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. HOUSING ACT. WELLINGTON, This Day. The first cases under the new Housing Act, allowing a landlord seven per cent on the value of the premises came before Magistrate Hunt yesterday, when the owner of several bouses asked that tenants’ rents bo raised. The tenants’ counsel contended that no.repairs had been made, but plaintiff contended that there bad been a nexpenditure on repairs entitling her to increased rentals. In one ease defendant had occupied the bouse for twenty-four «years, and the premises were still without gas or electric light. The rent for this was fixed at the rate now paid. Decision in the other cases were deferred pending the Magistrate’s personal examination of the houses. \

M.P.S AT ROTORUA. ROTORUA, Feh. 15. The Parliamentary party this morning visited the Electric Power Station ;it Okere. and this afternoon had a conference with delegates ot the Chamber of Commerce, County Council, and Farmers’ Union. Mr Hockley presided. Local speakers urged the necessity of a workable system of local government for the town of Rotorua whereby the residents might control the town affairs. They also stressed the need for the settlement of Crown and Native lands, for ,1 railway from Rotorua to Taupo, and improvements of roads, also the dealing witli noxious weeds, especially on ( roan and Native lands, and more effective methods of collecting rates 011 Native lands.

It was stated that on a block of 100,090 acres of Maori lands the rates on the unimproved value amounted to L 520, but only L'3 was collected. It was useless attempting t oobtain a lien against this land, as there was no registered title to which to attach a lien. The need for additional electric work at Okere was urged. The M.P.’s were evidently impressed by the representations and made sympathetic replies. This evening the party attended an open-air conceit in their honour in the Government Gardens. 'I hey leave eailv on Wednesday morning for Whakatane. N.Z. PARLIAMENTARY TOUR. WELLINGTON, Feb. 15. A fleet of motor cars is waiting to .fick up the Parliamentary louring n.uty at Rotorua at " "’dock in the morning. If the weather is line the nartv will have a unique trip acress the Rangitikei Plains. Seven years ago they\vere a swamp, hut are now a huge cultivated area, swarming with cattle.