Sarah
Hawkins Genealogy Site
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Taunton Courier. Bristol and Exeter Journal, and Western Advertiser. Wednesday 13 May 1936
Page 4 Column 6
TENANT TO REMAIN
OWNER'S AGENT WHO REFUSED RENT.
JUDGE'S COMMENTS IN TAUNTON CASE.
In a house possession case at Taunton County Court on Monday, Judge E. H. C. WETHERED told the owner's agent and the tenant that they had both acted “stupidly.”
Mrs. Elizabeth SLADE, of Gasworks Cottage, Tangier, Taunton, who was represented by Mr. C. M. B. KITE, applied for possession of “Hazeldean,” Norton Fitzwarren, let at a rental of 14s a week to Mr. R. A. HEWITT, who has been the tenant since January 6th, 1936.
Applicant stated she had received no rent at all from HEWITT. The agreement was that he should pay the rates as well as the rent.
“ALL OR NOTHING.”
HEWITT said he was out of work when he entered the house. He got into arrears and afterwards he offered £1 a week until the arrears were paid, but the agent, Mr. CORNISH, refused to accept the first £1. If he had taken the money there would have been no arrears now,” said HEWITT. “He told me he would accept the whole of the rent which was owing or nothing at all.”
The agent agreed that because six weeks' rent was owing he refused, on the instructions of Mrs. SLADE, to accept £1.
His Honour: What ridiculous nonsense! It is sheer stupidity, if you cannot get everything due to you, to say you will not take £1.
HEWITT: I was prepared to continue paying £1 a week and the whole thing would have been wiped out by now. Unfortunately, my offer was not accepted, and now I am hopelessly in arrears.
His Honour: Why? Haven't you put the rent by each week so that you could pay it in a lump sum?
HEWITT: That would have been a better proposition.
JUDGE'S COMMENTS TO TENANT.
His Honour, remarking that £12 12s was now owing, asked the tenant, “Haven't you put any of it by at all?”
HEWITT: No, I haven't.
“That is equally stupid, you know,” the Judge commented. “Why haven't you done so? You couldn't go on occupying this house for ever without paying any rent.”
HEWITT, in reply to questions, said he had no occupation at present, but he had done work recently on a commission basis. He had been gassed and had a small pension; he was not able to follow any heavy work. Since the summons was issued in April he had been searching for another house, but had not found one to suit him, as the rents were exorbitant. He offered to pay the current rent regularly and 6s a week towards the arrears if he remained in the house.
Mr. KITE, after consulting Mrs. SLADE, stated she was willing for the case to be adjourned indefinitely, provided that it was restored to the list if the weekly payments of £1 were not maintained.
His Honour agreed to this course and directed HEWITT to pay the costs of the hearing that day.
<NOTES: Mrs Elizabeth SLADE is Elizabeth or Lizzie JONES daughter of Abel JONES and Harriet BRAG, married Frank AVERY and George Edwin SLADE>