CO537-(36-37) — Page 388

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference:-

CO. 537

37

RECORD OFFICE, LONDON OUT PERMISSION OF THE PUBLIC REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHICALLY WITH- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH - NOT TO BE

1.

J4: 5.1 trzu

180.9690

The Chairman:-

A.

989.

A.

Mr Shelton Яooper:-

2235

me estoy 13

18096

Today the tenant says I gather "I dont care one copper.

I pay so much a floor. I can go and chop my "ood here, and break up the floor, and the Government comes against the owner." It would lessen the damage to property if the tenant was liable to go to gaol, if he himself did not make good that damage,

For instance, I was once threatened with prosecution as landlord, because the floors of our houses ware not

in a clean state. I said "I cant help it. I cant go in there, and do housemaids work, and brush up those floors. It is the tenant who is causing all this trouble, get at him".

Structural damages, or in casse where houses dont 18097 comply with the requirements of the ordinance, it would be all right to go against the landlord, but I cannot see how the Government can very well divide the responsibility between the tenants and the landlord.

You see, the tenant is free

likes.

to do absolutely as he

18098

It is a very important point, I think, for it would

put the Government in a very responsible position If

they had to split hairs as between the landlord and the

tenant,

- if it is reasonable damage, to go for the landlord, and if it not reasonable, you go for the tenant. If the Government had to do that, I think it would lead to a great deal of trouble.

I dont know. I have contended for years, and I have got the Sanitary Board to alter it. Originally, if

- I am speaking now there was a nuisance in a house, of cleanliness, and I laid it before the authorities the person who commits the nuisance is the person who should suffer, and that was altered so far as cleanli- nees was concerned. Te shew another case, I know of a block of houses owned by a man who leased then,

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