CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1821, 2 May 1918, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

• (To the Editor.) Six'. —In a recent issue of the “Herald” I noticed a complaint voiced by a landlord in regard to letting houses, and I take exception to one remark in particular,’ that people want mansions to live in. Well, why shouldn’t they, if they can pay the rent, and why. does not .this poor landlord live in one of the cottages I presume he mentions? Does he think he is a cut above a working man? He should remember, that a tenant requires just as much comfort and convenience as a. .landlord. What’s the use of putting up six little four-roomed cottages, without conveniences of any kind — not a bathroom, a porch over the back door, or copper for washing:— on a section wdiere the tenants hav6 to use a .vacant paddock to stretch a clothes line.. Some of the houses — so-called—-about Foxton, that I know of, the landlord should be ashamed to take,the rent; They aro such that he should pay a tenant to occupy them. Instead of adopting a high and mighty attitude, and growling when a rotten picket falls off the fence, or an old tank adopts a concertina a(titude*hecause of a rotten ■ understanding, and when asked to repair saihe, threaten to raise the rent. When the landlord adopts such tactics, and gets “slipped” for the rent, well, he is only to blame. And when a landlord with good tenants rushes a statement like his into print, in which he talks in a wild and woolly way, forgets that he does himself more harm than good. As to the sixth house, that I understand lias been occupied by “undesirable” tenants, that’s -why it’s vacant. No, -Mr Landlord, cut out the agent, give the tenants his commission offLthe' rent, make the houses comfortable, and then, when you are walking down your gilded and carpeted passage, or resting your weary frame in a gorgeous ’ drawing-room, or enjoying a hot bath in a bathroom, that your are indulging in luxuries that your poorer, litit social equals —your tenants —are denied, .though perhaps their weekly rents have helped you to enjoy the above luxuries that you are denying them. Why not let them purchase on the time-payment system if you are such a benefactor? Thanking you, sir,— l am, etc., HYGIENIC.