CONVERSATION PIECE

New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 82, 17 January 1941, Page 11

CONVERSATION PIECE

A Brief Disquisition On The High Cost Of Owning Wellington Property (By "$4*)

Time: 9 a.m. The telephone rings. The victim lifts the receiver. "Are you the person in charge of what goes in the: paper?" "Of certain pages." "What pages? Are you in charge of the writer who signs himself as ‘ Thid’ because if so he has written a most pernicious end misleading report about house rents in Wellington which is all wrong and there is another side to the question which should be published in your journal because it is read by so many people and it is not right that misleading and mischievous: statements like that should be published without the other side being stated." Pause for breath. Mildly I explain that I am not responsible for " Thid’s" writings. "Well, who is?" , "The Editor." } "Well, I must speak to him." } "I am sorry he is busy." _ "Well, then, who are you?" "I’m one of the sub-editors." "Well, I can tell you that holding property in Wellington to-day is no joke. Do you know that I actually lose monev on some of my flats because it is im-. possible to get tenants out and the way they knock the place about is something shocking. Why just last week I had to buy a new gas stove which cost me £22 10s; the other stove just rotted away because the people didn’t clean it, and if you think I am exaggerating just ring up the gas company. But that’s nothing. Only last year I was in a private hospital for weeks and it cost me over £150 all because of the silly actions of some of my tenants, and if *‘Thid’ comes up here to get the other side of the story I will show him the receipts." "T’m sorry to hear that." "T can tell you right now of six flats that are empty in Wellington because landlords daren’t let them to people they can’t get out and will only abuse them. Modern. housewives don’t know how to keep a place clean because the man I let my garage to now that I S CENE: The Listener office.

can’t afford a car through holding property in Wellington, keeps the garage cleaner than most of these people keep their kitchens . .. 00 Da Wits 4s "... the other side of the story should be told by a journal of your reputation, because there is another side, as the holder of property in Wellington gets the worst spin in the world. If you only knew the cost and trouble there is in

trying to get money out of tenants and get them to keep the place clean. And the waste of it. All this waste will have to be paid for some day by you young men and your children as I’ll soon explain to ‘Thid’ when he comes to hear the other side." "I’m sorry, but I am afraid The Listener is so short-handed because of men going into military camp that we will not be able to send anyone up." "And that’s another thing that a journal of your reputation should tackle -the wickedness of young married men with no children being allowed off military duty. Take the case of young Dr. who has a good income and no children though he’s been married for years, yet he gets let off while another young fellow has to go to camp, and it’s not right." "Perhaps their turn will come." "Well, anyway, it’s not fair to young men like you. I can tell you are ua young man by your voice." "But I have two children." "Oh, well, that’s fine." The atmosphere is now much friendlier. There are one or two further remarks on the general question of the lack of profits in Wellington property, a further request for "Thid," and a further explanation that we are shorthanded. Finally it is all settled quietly by her leaving her telephone number for "Thid" to ring and get the other side of the story. Time: 10 a.m