REAL ESTATE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 237, 7 October 1933, Page 11

REAL ESTATE.

AUCKLAND INSTITUTE MEETS

MR. H. E. VAILE'S ADDRESS,

"The public's attitude towards land agents to-day is entirely different from what it was before our institute was formed," said Mr. H. E. Vaile, president of the Auckland branch of the Real Estate Institute, at the annual meeting last evening. "The public have learned to respect the members of the institute, and are not willing to employ agents who are not members."

Mr. Vaile was pleased that during the last year the membership had increased, although a few had dropped out. They had been successful in enlisting the sympathy and patronage of the and the land agency business had been placed on a high plane, which had never been attained before the formation of the institute. The Land Agents' Guarantee Company, an offshoot of the main body, had always been a most valuable branch of their work. It was really a mutual benefit society, and was a vital part of the institute. "We have been doing what we can in the direction of eliminating some of the unfair competition with which we have had to contend," Mr. Vaile continued, referring more particularly to solicitors and the Government. "I do not think it is fair for solicitors to entrench on our line of business any more than it would be fair for us to encroach on theirs. The trust companies in the South have also proved to be unfair competitors. I am afraid there lias been a certain amount of piracy, which I think is not in accord with the best principles of business." He deplored the employment of casual salesmen. Hampered By Government. "I do not wish to say anything in regard to politics," he continued, "but ho*w can you review general business without discussing politics?" Mr. Vaile referred to the expensive trading departments which the Government had opened up, and deplored the spending of enormous sums of money, which had the elTect of squashing private enterprise, and in many cases such Government enterprises were run at a loss. In their attempt to divert the Islands trade southwards, for instance, the Government had succeeded in driving it to Sydney. . "Our business has been very seriously hampered by the attitude of the Government in.starting themselves up as a land agency," Mr. Vaile concluded. "We are not even paid commission most of the work wherein we have dealings with the Public Trust and other Departments. The Government of the country was surely never intended to compete in business with its own taxpayers. thermore, it is most unfair that kerbstone' land agents should be able, to compete with us, who have paid deal ly for the fruits of the rights and privileges ®f being members of the institute." 'Mr. Vaile was re-eTected to the presidency unopposed, Mr. S. W. Rickards and Mr. G. B. Osmond were re-elected vice-presidents, and Mr. C. P. Sanders auditor. The following committee was elected: Messrs. F. A. Jarrett, J. H. Jackson, P. Balgarnie, F. Wade, J. D. Campbell, R. L. Griffiths, L. L. Speedy, and G. R. Blflckcttt At aT dinner held later at the Star Hotel toasts were honoured and replied to by Mr. A. de L. Willis, president of the Waikato branch; Mr. T. B. Clay, a former president; Mr. Stace Bennett, president of the New Zealand Institute; the Hon. C. J. Carrington, M.L.C., Mr. T. Mclndoe and Mr. Rickards and Mr. Vaile. Entertaining items were given by Messrs. J. E. Snell, H. F. Saunders and R. Harris, and the accompaniments were played by Mr. T. Sparling. i