To the Editor of the "Norra-Crgna Datty News."
Sir,—In your issue of a few days ago you had something to say about the increase of rents and profiteering landlords in Shanghai. You gave an instance of such, but there are many worse cases than the one you mentioned.
I will give you my own case.
More than a decade ago I entered into tenancy of the house I still occupy. It was then a fairly old house and the rent was Tls. 80 per month.: This continued for about seven years. Houses becoming scarce, the rent has been increased by stages till in this year of grace it is Tls. 175 per month.
There is of course the usual clause in the lease that all repairs will have to be done by the tenant. I regard this as extortion, but as T cannot find another house I have to pay it.
There is a corresponding increase too in the matter of taxes.
In the good old days I paid in rent Ts. 80 and in Municipal taxes Tls. 9.60. To-day for exactly the same house of which ™ have been a continuous tenant, I pay in rent Tls. 175, and in Municipal taxes Tls. 24.50. Is this profiteering? In my opinion it is gross profiteering on the part of both the landlord and the Municipal Council.
T am, etc., 7 An Unver Doo.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.