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RENT BILL DEFEAT
"SAD READING"
"Sad reading for many ex-servicemen and
their dependants," was the comment of the
president of the Returned Servicemen's League
(Mr. T. Sten) yesterday on the defeat of the Rent
Bill in the Legislative Council on Tuesday night.
It was the opinion of the
R.S.L., Mr. Sten said, that
the Bill was a means to
mitigate the hardships of
ex-servicemen tenants, at
the same time having regard
to the interests of landlords,
many of whom were "also
ex-servicemen.
"It came as a- great surprise
to discover so many ex-setice
members helping the death
blow to the Bill," said Mr.
Sten.
"The action of Sir Charles
Latham, the Deputy Director
of Recruiting, in voting in
favour of the killing of this
necessary piece of* legislation,
must have dealt a blow to re
cruiting.
"It is inconsistent with the
excellent efforts which he has
put into recruiting."
The league, Mr. Sten con
tinued, regretted that the
Legislative Council had seen
fit to lose step. with the other
States who had not dropped
controls and that the Bill had
been "killed" by the Council
without debate.
"The method of dealing with
the Bill by the Council cannot
fail to raise resentment and
disappointment." said Mr.
Sten.
Hardship
"The R.S.L. is in a position
to know perhaps more than
any other organisation the
cases of hardship which the
housing position imposes on
ex-servicemen and their de
pendants," Mr. Sten continu
ed.
When the control of rents
and evictions expired on De
cember 31, there would be the
inevitable result of rents "sky
rocketing." This would be a
major inflationary factor in
view of the fact that rent was
a 'basic factor in assessing of
basic wage adjustments.
"Already, there have been
500 notices to quit to tenants
whose applications have been
lodged with the State Hous
ing Commission," said Mr.
Sten.
The league was satisfied with
the arrangements whereby
each case was decided on its
merits by a magistrate.
"It is to be hoped that even
at this late hour, steps will be
taken to rescind the resolu
tion of the Council so that
the Bill may be reconsidered
on its merits." said Mr. Sten. I
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