65. Colonel NEWMANasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the evasion of the Rent Restriction Act, whereby landlords or lessors of flats charge a premium for possession by placing a fictitious value on fixtures and fittings in the premises, and making the purchase of the fixtures and fittings a necessary condition of the bargain; and whether he will take power to deal with such cases?
§ Sir A. MONDI have no information as to the first part of the question, but I am advised that if a premium forbidden by Section 8 of the Act is demanded and paid it can be recovered by the person paying it, who can also, if he wishes, institute a prosecution of the person by whom it is received.