Our correspondent "V. J. S. R." certainly appears to have mentioned the only apparent solution of the question which has arisen over the alarming increases in rent of recent years, but it is a doubtful question whether it is one which the community would care to adopt. It would necessitate embarking on another; branch of municipal trading and a further pledging of the community's property in order to raise the low, for it is perfectly certain that the land and houses so acquired and erected would not be sufficient security for the loan. Then it is a question whether even 300 odd Tls. 12,000 houses would be sufficient, to break the market—for that is what is wanted—and if it were it would have the disastrous effect of further reducing the value of the part security which this municipal property would offer against the loan. Certainly it seems the only solution capable of doing what is required, but might it not prove too costly for the community? The suggestion one which deserves consideration, possibly should not be dismissed off hand as so many suggestions ale, but the whole project would take so much elaboration and so great a. time before the houses were actually in being that the remedy might v well lose much of the efficacy it is thought to possess.
The Little Wooden Hut Advocates of Nissen huts as a cure for high rents are coming round to the-scheme explored in these columns some months ago, under the title used above. The plain fact is that, if cheaper houses are to be got, cheaper building' materials must be used. It is an interesting though disheartening experiment to work out the rough cost of buying a bit of land and building on it, anywhere this side of Siccawei. Anyone with a little general knowledge can do this with sufficient accuracy to get some light' made than substantiated. As regards old houses, rents often appear to have been put up far beyond what the municipal assessment justifies. Some landlords make a rule of not raising the rent of an old tenant—all honour to them. If a new one comes in he has to pay the market price, which is at least to some extent regulated by the prevailing demand. But the! worst of the trouble, we believe, is; caused by house agents who secure a whole block or terrace, to make what they can, and tenants subletting, with furniture that must be taken over. In such cases an appea! to the original Iandlord might help: he could at least refuse to sanction the sublet. which there is usually a clause in the lease to put at his control, if extortionate prices are being charged. But to talk of the Municipal Council preventing more than a certain rent being charged is, with all respect to some of our correspondents, nonsense. Because the Council simply has! no power to do such a thing.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.