1938-05-06 — Page 10

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THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 6, 1938.

The China Mail

Ninety-Third: Year of Publication-

BA Wyndham Street, Hong Kong.

Telephone 20022.

London Office:

·

day, there is scarcely a resident occupying premises on a month- to-month basis who does not exist in fear that he may be the next victim. It follows that any suspicion that presentation of his grievance will get back to his landlord will at once pre- judice the value of the Govern- ment's latest offer. It needs more than average courage to fight the most glaring instances of `profit-.

7, Garrick Street, London, W.C.2eering if the only result is to be

Notice To Contributora.

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the Editor, and be accompanied by

the Writer's Name and Address,

not necessarily for insertion

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the property-owner's dictum: If you don't like it, get out.

Mr. Braga, în his latest letter on this vital matter, again chal-

|publication should be addressed to lenges the Unofficial members of Council to debate the question in public, suggesting the method of the pro-forma motion to furnish the occasion. The state of public it would opinion is such that

on whose. dearly like to know side its Unofficial "representa- but tives" are to be found and would. also like to be taken into Gov- ernment confidence in the matter of what action, if any, is contem- plated if a case is presented pow- erful enough to compel action. Mr. Braga is himself a landlord and the manager of extensive properties. That he should range himself against the Rents Com- mission and the rent racketeers is both an earnest of his disin- terestedness and of the cooked- up case to which the Rents Com- mission, in deference to "witnes- of importance" permitted themselves to subscribe.

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Hong Kong, Friday, May 6, 1938.

RENTS COMPLAINTS

ses

The most satisfactory solution, we still insist, is that which the

Commission blandly overlooked

no

We mean the establishment of a Government's recognition that Fair Rents Court, which would things, in the housing-rents-evic- deal with all eviction applica- tion in addition. Responsibility tions situation, are not altogether given to competent officials,

of flagrant as they seem to be in the judg- landlord not guilty ment of the Rents Commission, is exploitation of the present hous- ing scarcity would be afraid to tardy, but not ill-timed.

face its scrutiny. official notification gives oppor- tunity_for_aggrieved tenants present their cases

to Govern Justice for the Tourist ment, provided the landlord has

The

to

* ** *

acted since March 23, and it is The suggestion has lately been incumbent upon those members made in an English newspaper of the public who are affected that a "Complaints Office" should (even where they have accepted be set up in Britain, to which the foreign tourist with a legitimate increases with resignation) to grievance might fare with the lodge their protests. There can hope of obtaining redress. The în operation be no complaint against Govern-idea is already

among the French, and in the ment if tenants meet what they result it appears

once again regard as official tardiness in that "They order this matter action with an equally blushing better in France." reluctance to face up to the

It is when the tongue refuses facts, although Government must its office that the "office" would continue to bear constantly in be so invaluable; for the visitor mind the ever-present fear of with little more than a nodding, or perhaps a miming, acquaint- landlord retaliation. To-day, it is

ance with English, struggling the threat of eviction, far more at once with a feeling of injus- than rent extortion, that is crying tice, "The Hundred Most Useful

Phrases," and a totally incom out for most urgent remedy.prehensible native, is apt to feel But for that, hope raised in the from the beginning that "all is public mind by signs that the lost save Honour." He can, of issue is not forgotten in high course, write to "The Times"; but suppose he does not share the quarters, would probably have

Englishman's conviction that he salutary psychological effect and has thus struck a great blow for curb the cupidity of those land freedom- ords who have, if accusations

One feels that an institution of are to be believed, accepted the this nature, besides conducing to Rents. Commission Report as the enjoyment of the individual their magna charts, giving them tourist, would act, in a small carte blanche in the treatment way, as a clearing-house for in- ternational prejudices; and any- of tenants. With the eviction evil thing of the kind is always de- becoming more aggravated every voutly to be wished.