LAND AGENTS' LICENSES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 111, 13 May 1925, Page 6

LAND AGENTS' LICENSES.

THE EXAMINATIONS ISSUE. A LEAD FROM. LONDON. The suggestion that all applicants for a land agent's license should in future be compelled to pass an examination before the license was granted them is not a new one, but is rather a hardy annual. All arguments in favour of the proposal were exploited when the matter was before Parliament, ami there is really nothing new either for or against. Tliere is established a Real Estate Institution of New Zealand which has for its objects all matters which are in the interests of tlie land and estate agents and land auctioneers throughout the Dominion. The Institute which acts as a Dominion Federation or Associarion also considers and suggests, when necessary, amendments to the law in so far as it relates to the business of members of the Institute. But while the Institute is supported and has proved valuable it is considered by some that it does not go far enough anil that one mutter not insisted upon, and which is essential in the interests of land agents, auctioneers, and the public, is an examination which all applicants should have to pass before beiug admitted members of the Institute. 11l England there is a National Association of Auctioneers, House Agents, Rating Surveyors, and Valuers, and Offshoots of tlie Association are colleges conducted under the auspices of the Association. These colleges, one of which is the London College of Incorporated Estate Practitioners have as their cbiei objects the encouraging of mutual cooperation, assistance, and protection, increasing the status and promoting the interests of its members, to secure that no legislation shall be passed detrimental to the existing rights of members, etc. Libraries are established, a system ot free lectures to members is arranged, and in the case of tlie London College of Incorporated Estate Practitioners the examinations are the entrance examination, the intermediate, the final, and special subjects. Legal, technical, and general subjects arc covered, and amongst the long list of items may he mentioned in the group dealing with legal subjects, auction law, landlord and tenant, land laws, including settled estates, arbitrations and compulsory purchase and valuations. Technical subjects take in sanitation, rating, income tax, building, auction practice, while in general subjects items dealt with are conveyancing, commercial law, company law and practice, receiverships, mortgages, trusts, etc. Mr. H- E. Vaile, a leading Auckland land agent and valuer, speaking on the subject this morning was emphatic that there should be an examination on similar lines in New Zealand. There could not honestly be any argument against such examinations, but for some reason whenever the matter was brought up iv Parliament the support expected was not forthcoming. The position at present was that it was hardly necessary to know anything about the business of an auctioneer, or property salesman to secure a license. All men of long standing were in favour of compulsory examinations, and to them it was surprising indeed that the Government did not insist upon such examinations.