TENEMENT POINT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 March 1939, Page 3

TENEMENT POINT

LANDLORD SEEKS POSSESSION. ACTION AGAINST SUB-TENANTS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, February 28. Some time ago, Joshua Crombie Mewhinriey. and his sister, Letitia Mary Mewhiiiney, let a tenement at 154 Gladstone Road, Dalmore, to Lancelot Robert Jordan, who in August of last year sub-let rooms. On January 4 last Jordan vacated the tenement and the owners made arrangements for other tenants to take over the premises, but the sub-tenants were still in possession of their part of the house and still occupy it. Can the landlord regain posssession of the whole tenement or do the provisions of the Fair Rents Act, which cover the house as a whole cover the part occupied by the subtenants? . . It was this question that the joint owners wanted settled when they proceeded against Alexander MacDonald and his wife, Nancy MacDonald, in the Magistrates’ Court this morning, before. Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., claiming to recover possession of the tenement. Mr R. H. Simpson appeared for plaintiffs and Mr G. T„ Baylee for defendants.

Counsel pointed out that the case was an unusual one and was of vital interest to sub-tenants and landlords throughout the Dominion. After lengthy and involved -legal argument the magistrate reserved his decision.