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Otago Daily Times, Issue 186, 20 June 1862, Page 5

To the Editor of the Daily Times.

Sm,—A phase of the Building Act seems to me to be so important, that I cannot conceive how the persons to be affected ' can possibly overlook results which may entail ruin on persons now of independent means. _ . ■ Clauses 15 and 10 give arbitrary power to the " Inspector " to determine at the instance of the interested party alone, what compensation the lessee is entitled to from his lessor, and whether such compensation shall be "payment of money, reduction of rent, or both, or otherwise; and if by payment of money, when the same shall b3 paid. Whether by instalments or not." You will, perceive therefore that the rights of lessor,—true, legitimate vested interests—arc ignored I more completely than ever was the liberty of the veriest serf by the sternest aristocrat. I have no time to discuss the subject. I only ask the citizens of Dunedin, to answer for themselves, the following pertinent questions. . Suppose a lessor, in order to ensure a certain annuity, let ground, and his position is. such that he has just enough to live on according; to arrangements conducted by him with prudence, and every regard to the law'srequirements— ■presto, bis tenant, without his leave, has the power to reduce his rent, and until the expiration of the leaae the lessor may learn to live on a straw a day. . Suppose a lessor in these dull times just manages to pay his way, andsome fine morning a little bill forcorapensation is presented to him, to be " paid by cash or instalments," and he cannot, without de rauding his just creditors, answer the demand, is he to he in gaol, without bail, provided always that such imprisonment shall terminate at the end of six months from the time of such committal? What if the lessor will not acknowledge an obligation incurred without any consent of his own ? . Is he, against his wish, to be a debtor ? and is the fact of his having invested his hard earnings in land a renson that agreements epteredinto by him in perfect accordance with the laws of the land are to be interfered with and peremptorily set aside ? Many other incongruities strike me, but I desire to see, byrdiscussion evoked, if I have overstated the fact in this more prominent and most inconsiderate ' clause. ■■'.■■■ Youra truly, EcMOTio. Dunedin, 18tk June, 1852.