TEN YEARS' ADVENTURES AMONG LANDLORDS AND TENANTS: THE STORY OF
THE RENT ACTS. By Dan Rider. (Methuen. 7s. 6d.)—The policy of rent restriction is, in principle, extremely dubious. When the State begins to interfere with contracts and to try to prevent prices from rising as demand overtakes supply, there is bound to be endless trouble. Yet, as Mr. Rider shows in this enter- taining account of his work as honorary secretary of the War Rents League, the unchristian behaviour of a few house- owners early in the War and the stupidity of a few officials provoked an outburst of popular indignation which forced Parliament to legislate hastily. Hard cases make bad law, as every lawyer knows, and the several Rent Restriction Acts, while benefiting many people, have inflicted most serious injustice on many others. Mr. Rider, who is an honest enthusiast, deserves full credit for his unselfish labours in the cause of the poor and ignorant who feared the loss of their homes. But he would be the first to admit that many tenants have abused the protection granted them by making large profits through subletting at very high rents. Moreover, the housing problem has been rendered more acute by the harsh treatment meted out to pre-War house-owners. Mr. Rider's book is none the less to be warmly commended as ex park account of the controversy.
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