§ Mr. R. Gibsonasked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that, in cases where tenants of hotel premises let on long leases at high rentals before the war have been unable to pay their rent by reason of the war and against whom the landlords have taken proceedings for forfeiture of the leases, the protection provided for under the Courts (Emergency Powers) Act, 1939, has been given only on condition that, in future, the full rent will be paid plus the arrears by instalments; that such conditions defeat the protection intended to be given; and whether he will forthwith institute legislative measures that will secure adequate protection to such tenants during the period of war emergency?
§ The Attorney-GeneralMy attention was drawn to an Order which imposed as a condition of non-forfeiture the payment of the rent in future. An appeal was taken to the judge, who struck out that part of the Order as outside the conditions imposable by the Act, as well as making certain other alterations. I have no knowledge of any other Order in this form, but the question whether the Courts (Emergency Powers) Act requires any amendment is receiving consideration, and a decision on the subject will be made shortly.