Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 36, Number 2. 7th March 1973
Blood Money
Blood Money
TPA were told by one Newtown tenant how Rama would call late at night for his $45 per week He would start by banging on the door and if it wasn't answered immediately he moved to the side of the house and shone a torch through the window. The search light treatment was combined with a tattoo on the window and rasping demands for money. That the family had nine children, many of them young and one an invalid did not temper the weekly performance.
The plight of the tenants was clear. The meeting drew up a list of demands which included negotiation on rents, tenancy agreements fair to both tenant and landlord, assurance that bonds would be returned and an end to administration fees. Rama refused to discuss the matter. It was clear that money was the only thing he understood. All but five flats agreed to withhold half their rent until negotiations began. That was in October last year.