THE HOUSING SHORTAGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 November 1921, Page 6

THE HOUSING SHORTAGE.

A TENEMENT CASE. In the New Plymouth Magistrate’s Court yesterday, an application was made by Mrs. Minnie Amoore for possession of a tenement occupied by Mrs. Sarah E. Hogg. Mr. A. A. Bennett appeared for plaintiff and Mr. H. R. Billing for defendant. According to the statement for the plaintiff the house, which was built about GO years ago, was let at 17s 6d pei* week. It was really insanitary and required pulling down, and but for the plaintiff’s intimated intention of rebuilding there was no doubt the house would have been condemned. Plaintiff required possession in order to commence the projected new work. Counsel contended that the attitude adopted by defendant from the start had not entitled her to much consideration. It had been proposed that she should give up the two front rooms for the storage of furniture, but this was not accepted. 14 had'also been proposed that Mrs. Hogg should use the four front rooms and give plaintiff the possession of the lean-to, which would enable the new house to be started, but no agreement was come to. It was also asserted that there had been no honest attempt on the part of defendant to secure rooms.

According to the evidence of Inspector Day the house was net in a good sanitary condition. He would not recommend that it be. demolished, however, but 'it would need, about £2OO expenditure. to put it in repair. In most eases such as this, the owners chose to pull down the building rather than spend big sums on renovation. Mr. Billing said the defence was undue hardship, as defined by war legislation. He did not think it could really be said that Mrs. Amoore required the hoifse for her own use, as the evidence show ed that she wanted it for re-building. Mrs. Hogg, who had a family of four to maintain, had had three shifts during the last two years and three months. She could not afford an expensive house and was willing to vacate if a suitable dwelling could be found. She had been a maternity nurse up till June and since then had been keeping’ boarders to augment her income. Evidence was given by defendant to the effect that she had made numerous efforts to secure another house; ’but without result.

An adjournment till next Thursday was made in order to give the,parties an opportunity of coming to an arrangement. His Worship intimated to defendant that while he appreciated her position and her obligations to her family, if it were not for the war legislation she would not have a right to stay in the house. He did not think that the defendant, could urge in support of her ease that she should be allowed to Remain in the house because it was the one place where she could keep a boarder.