AUCTIONEERS AND LAND AGENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 133, 7 June 1910, Page 2

AUCTIONEERS AND LAND AGENTS.

DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER.

Captain Frater (convener of a recent meeting of land agents), Mr. 5". U: Ewington (chairman of that meeting) ,Mr W. F = Harrop (hon. sec-) : , Mr. J. Thornes (.president of the Auctioneers' Association) , Mt.'G.E. -Elliott (vice.presiderit), Mr. H. E. Vaile (boh. see.), itind Mr. L. Lewis (member of committee),were this mornino- introduced -as a deputation to Sir Joseph Ward by Mr. C. H. Pdolg, MIR. who briefly explained the matters that "the deputation wished to. bring forward.

Mr. F. G. Swingfcon said the land agents in Auckland had recently devoted some considerable attention to the question of registration as affecting" their profession, for it .was felt that in the interests of the public, as well as that of men carrying on the business, a Land Agents Bill ought, to be passed through" Parliament which shall provide for the registration of land agents throughout the Dominion. Brokers, interpreters, and other persons were licensed, and it was asked that similar treatment should be extended to land agents. It was now found that many..persons were resorting to the land agency- business after they had proved themselves to be failures in other walks of life. It was felt that the "time had come when the Government might pp asked to consider tie propriety and wisdom of introducing a, measure for the licensing of land agents: It vs*as not desired '-that a close corporation in the business should be created, and no suggestion was offered as to w.liat the fee should be, but it was desired that mere adventurers, who traded upon the pnWis, should be ostracised, and the legitrmaie land agents, as well as the public, might be protected.

Mr. J. Thornes; speaking for the auctioneers, said they desired that the Act should be remedied in respect of tlieclanse which provides that auctioneers' special district licenses may be obtained for £-10 per annum. It was asked that provision be made tnat these licenses shall not be used in the cities as against -tbe men who. have to pay £40 per aTiTnrm, and that they,may. only be ■aased in .the special districts for which ; they are granted. Further, it was desired that licenses should be issued not for individuals, but for the firms of auctioneers. The deputation pointed out.that at present all licenses, no matter ■when they were tafcen out, term-ma-ted on December 31. It was asked that tbe period of the duration of the license should commence at tHe beginning of any TftEiTterT ■ - —— j

Replying, the Premier expressed his pleasure at meeting the deputation, and his recognition of the fact that the point raised an important question, viz_, the protection of-the-puWic -as well as that of the land agent. That, he thought, was sufficient to warrant legisl-ation-being -placed -upon the .Statute Book concerning it, and he also thought .it could .be provided for in a reasonable -way. It was desirable that there should be a recognised system throughout the. country; and he wbiriaT to con-. siSer ihe form-in whicHtEey should legis-' larte. As to the question of-the auction-" eers' licenses, he would go into the mat-; ter, for it seemed to him thai the w3iole' matter xequired to be reviewed. The ■present system had been a long time in .eSisienee, anar±here~Ts-as no reason why it should npt be .rerconsid,ered. -i