This was done at the request of the tenants, who had formerly been getting waler from hydrants outside the Japanese Naval Landing Party Barracks. The company stipulated that if the water was turned on the tenants would have to pay halt of the new rent, or $1150 per month, At the time the company did 1. feel Justified in charging full rent because there was no light provided for the Janes and alleyways, Last month, however, the company was able to supply water freely 24 hours a day, had turned on the lights inthe lanes and alleyways and provided a Russian watchman for the property. They then sent a circular fetter around to all tenants stating that as conditions had more or less returned to normal and that as the company was supplying water with no restrictions the tenants would be Fequested to pay full rent, or $23 per month for their houses or shops.
Immediately the tenants construed this move as a demand for an increase of 100 per cent. over the rent they had been paying and refused to accede to the company's request. In reality, however, it was merely an addition of $0 per cent. to the half they had "been paying, thus making the rent 100 per cent. or $23 per month. Even this Presents an increase of only 25 per Cent. over the rent -they had been Paying before the war. igher In Settlement To rent the same house in the International Settlement, an official f the company revealed to the "North-China Daily News," would cost about $00 or $65 per month. Considering this fact, the increase in rent asked by the company for their Droperty in "Tongshan Road isnot exorbitant. The tenants remain steadfast in their determination not Pay, however, and have paid no heed whatsoever fo rent collectors who have pald visite to the premises in order to collect the rent.
These tenants are all Chinese and cannot be sued in the First Special District Court as they are beyond the jurisdiction of that Court when they are living in occupied territory. Certainly, they will not come into the "Settlement to stand trial for falling to pay their rent. This, in turn, brings up the question of who really is responsible for the interests of third party property holders on the other side of the Creek it they are beyond the jurisdiction of the Settlement authorities. For instance, Tenants Organize Japanese Protest Over Association Rent Increase Shanghai, Aug. 20, The Shanghai Tenants) Assoclation was successfully launched on the evening of Aug. 18, when representatives of Brookside, Garden, Medfnurst, Bubbling Well, Foncim, LSS. Apariments, Grosvenor House, and Embankment Buildings met to discuss the advisability of forming such an association. The decision that an association was necessary al ithe present time was unanimous. was rosel) This Asso-Jctation is being formed in the interests of all tenants of every nationality' to protect them from the Jaction of those Iandlords who are faking advantage of the present abnormal conditions to demand excessive and unwarranted increases lin rentals, which action is putting Jan unbearable load on the" rosl= Jdents of Shanghai and thereby {jeopardizing the economic structure Jot this city. (b) To act as a liaison, [between tenant and landlord.
Shanghai, Aug. 19.
The Shanghai Japanese Press Club, which has its headquarters in the [Pearce Apartments in Hongkew, on August 17 field a protest with Mr. A. W. Buck, manager of the JShanghai Land Investment Ca,, Ltd, against a 50 per cent. increase in rent.
The protest stated that the club would not pay the rent until the company had come to an understand. Ing. Other tenants of the apartment [building had joined them in Sighting the rent increase, the protest said.
This action of the company, the protest declared, would lead to a Wholesale rise of rents in Hongkew fand thus work a. serious hardship fon Sapanese residents.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.