TENANTS’ PROTECTION UNION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2721, 28 January 1910, Page 7

TENANTS’ PROTECTION UNION.

GENERAL MEETING. A meeting of the recently-formed Tenants’ Protection Union was held in the Farmers’ Union Club rooms .last night. Mr. W. F. Crawford presided, and 21 members were present. The Chairman, read the notice convening the meeting, and said that he regretted that there was not a larger attendance. He explained that the object of the meeting was to further ventilate the dispute between the Hon. Captain Tucker and his Waikanae tenants, arising from the former’s action in raising the rents of the Waikanae tenements,, when the buildings were not worth the money. The following report of the executive committee was read by the chairman, who, prior to doing so, remarked that the reason given by Captain Tucker for raising the rent was a childish one. They had been treated as children in the matter, and had Captain Tucker treated them as reasonable men and given them a valid and sound reason for his action, they would undoubtedly have agreed to it. “Your executive meet weekly to consider the best interests of the tenants, arid strengthen the Union in their united endeavors to'resist undue demands by property owners for tenements of an inferior description as dwellings. It may be said, and it is granted, that those tenements acquire additional value by reason of their proximity to the wharf and Sheepfarmers’ freezing works, but it is fairly claimed that the present occupiers are now paying a very high rent for these advantages, and are justly entitled to resist any attempt to materially increase such rent without valid business reasons for so doing. Your executive admit that the landlord has under our laws unbounded and unrestricted power over his tenants, but they are also firmly convinced that the (public voice and the British love of lair play in this land of liberal ideas will shield them from any unjust levies made on helpless workers if the law is enforced without equity and good conscience at its back. Having no other power of resistance, they throw themselves upon the public for sympathy and support in their attempt to free them from a heartless and unreasonable -levy on an already over-taxed rental. Your executive recommend the Union to agitate for a better framing of the law to enable the ‘workmen of every community in New Zealand to be able to acquire accommodation in the vicinity of their labors, with healthy sanitation, at reasonable' rentals, and b} r creating a fair competition prevent monopolies in areas adjacent to their work. Your executive decided to hold a meeting tonight for general >. business of the Union, and to invite Captain Tucker to meet his tenants and give them a valid business reason for the 10 (per cent, increase of rents, for the one set out on his written notices only ' specifies ‘the rating necessitates this increase.’ Your executive have to report that they have the great majority of the Waikanae tenants as members, and a very strongly-expressed sympathy, from the general public, and recommend the Union to hold a mass meeting at an early date if they are not permitted.to remain in their tenements at the 1909 rate of rent. Your executive have carefully considered the resolutions to be laid before this meeting, and would ask for a fair and reasonable discussion of "the same. Permission may be given by the chair to any person not enrolled in the Union to speak on any of the resolutions for five minutes, or, if he wishes to become a member, and sign as a member, can have full power to vote. The chairman to have discretionary power to stop irregularities or obstruction. Your executive have made a canvass, and re. port that the whole of the tenants waited on have signed on as members.” Continuing, the Chairman said that every care and advice had been taken in framing the report and resolutions. He then moved as fallows —“That a deputation from the Union lay the case fairly before the Hon. Mr. McKenzie on his visit to Gisborne, with a view to an appeal to the Parliament next session on the equities of the case.” The Chairman said that the Minister was a broad-minded reasonable man, who would not see people badly treated, and although he, perhaps, in his capacity of Minister might not be able to deal with the matter, the Union by bringing the matter before hini would at least get sound advice. The resolution was seconded by Mr. J. Williams and carried. The following resolution was moved by Mr. Ahlin, seconded by Mr. McNamara, and carried unanimously—- “ That the Borough Council be respectfully asked to investigate the case of overcrowding and insanitary condition of some of the dwellings, and especially if tw<n houses, one behind the other, is not a breach of their by-laws, in not providing the necessary space and isolation of the buildings.” Mr. Aluncey then moved—“ That this meeting endorses the combined action of the Waikanae tenants in claiming to have a voice in the equitable adjustment of their rents, based on the accommodation afforded, and the sanitary condition of the houses.” The resolution was seconded by Mr. Ahlin, and carried. The mover advocated the passing of a Fair Rent Bill, and commented on the fact that no reply had been received to the Union’s letter on the subject to the Hon. J. Carroll. He was sure the tenants had right on their side, and if they went to work (properly they should win in the end.

A further resolution, proposed by Air. J. AVilliams, and seconded by Mr. Aluncey, was as follows, and was carried—“ That the members of the Union wish to pay their present rates, although they deem them excessive, but resist strenuously a one-sided bargain of a surcharge being made without their being consulted or provided with adequate and valid reasons for the increase. The rent will be paid on the 1909 basis, on demand.” It whs pointed out by the Chairman that according to law tenants were obliged to pay the rent at the agent’s office. Air. Muncey urged tenants when paying their rent on the 1909 basis to see that they got a clean receipt. The sixth resolution was moved by Afr. Andt, who gave a description of the condition of the tenements, and the ground in the vicinity of the houses —“That an application be made to the Borough Council for a copy of the last sanitary report made under Dr. Mason on the AVaikanae tenements at present levied on for increased, rents.”.

After having been seconded by Mr. Dalton, the motion was carried, unanimously. A further resolution was as follows—- " That the -Union hinds itself to agitate for the construction of workmen’s dwellings in proximity to wharves or works engaging numbers of men; suitable cottages at a moderate rent.” It was moved -by Mr. J. Hall, and seconded by Mr. J. Williams. The mover said that with superior environ-

ments the workers would surely turn out better and more intelligent citizens. He was not a victim of the increased rent proposal, hut merely came to the meeting to see if the Union was,going to try and alter the conditions which allowed a landlord to treat his tenants as some were being treated in Gisborne. If they' were going to do so he would heartily support them, but if they were going to .go cap in hand to the landlord to plead with him, he had no sympathy with them. Mr. Wm. Porter' said that the Trades and Labor Council, realising the position of the tenants, would give them every support in its power. " The Chairman then moved as follows —“That’ the Union will sanction a- compact on their part to advise the tenants to pay any increase over the two shilling borough rate if the owner guarantees on his part to grant them a rebate in rent, based on the increased value accuring from the improvements in the properties about to be made under the loan proposals.” Mr. J. Croskery seconded the motion, which was carried. The final resolution was moved bv Mr. Win. Porter, as follows, seconded by Mr. Ahlin, and carried —“That in all matters of settlement of the points in dispute the members of the Union bind themselves to act only through their Union as a body, and that such Union binds itself to make no written or unwritten contracts or compromises Avithout the authority of a majority vote at a representative meeting of the same.”

The mover strongly urged the need for united action as a Union in the matter, and asked all the members to stick loyally together. The Chairman raid that he was grieved that Hon. Captain Tucker had seen fit to treat the meeting -with contempt, after having been asked in a manly, straightforward way. He might have a reason, but he (the speaker) did not think so, except it was power given to him as a landlord to charge what he liked without referring to his tenants. At present, taking an average, a tenant had to work two days to provide a roof for himself and family. The meeting terminated after votes of thanks to Messrs Hall and Porter for the interest they were showing in the matter, and to" Mr. Crawford for presiding.