CLAIM FOR POSSESSION.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 March 1921, Page 7

CLAIM FOR POSSESSION.

HOUSING TROUBLES. THIRTY SHILLINGS FOR A ROOM, A four-roomed house at the corner of Barrett and Mt. Edgecombe Streets was the subject of a claim for possession brought by Eliza A. Moody (Mr. A. Bewley) against J. Sutherland (Mr. A. A. Bennett), at the New Plymouth Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr. T. A. B. Bailey, SM According to the statement of counsel for plaintiff, Mrs. Moody bought the house in August last, and at that time it was contemplated that eventually she was to occupy two rooms in the house. Owing to Mrs. Sutherland’s state of health Sutherland was given a further two months, with the understanding that if he did not go out then he would , give plaintiff the back portion of the house. Defendant, howeVer, had not gone out. In the course of the hearing plaintiff said she was living in one room and paying 30s a week rent for it. She had tried to get a house, but was unsuccessful “If you can’t get one for yourself and husband,” said His Worship, “it is certainly more difficult for a man with four young children. Landlords, for some reason best known to themselves, will not let houses to people with families, although it is not fair.” Defendant said he was a plasterer’s laborer. He had a wife and four children, the latter ranging in age from four months to seven years. Defendant recounted various efforts he had made to get a house, stating that Mrs. Sutherland and himself had made many enquiries concerning fifteen different houses, but in all cases the owners either wanted to sell or objected to the family of young children. They had also advertised three times, offering a bonus, but with no result. There were three vacant houses in the block in which they were living, but thSse were all for sale There was only one house he really had a chance of getting, and the rent was £2 ss, there being five acres of land with the house. His Worship said he could not make an order.