Land Agents’ Bill

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XI, Issue 241, 15 October 1921, Page 3

Land Agents’ Bill

DISCUSSION IN HOUSE. MEASURE REFERRED TO STATUTES REVISION COMMITTEE In the House of Representatives the Hon. \V. Downie Stewart moved the* second reading of the Land Agents’ Bill, which ho suggested should go to the Statutes Revision Committee, where evidence could be heard regarding its provisions. Air. G. Witty said the title of the bill should have been Land Agents’ Protection Bill. In previous years we had endeavoured to protect the public against unscrupulous land agents.- This bill protected land agents against the public, some of the necessary safeguards in former legislation being eliminated. He hoped the Statues Revision Committee would reject the measure and make a way for a proper Land Agents’ Bill. Sir John Luke said ho did not think land agents, “full and bye,” were a bad lot, but he thought they should be compelled to put all monies received by them from sales into a trust account. He further thought that no authority to sell should have any effect unless that authority was reduced to writing. Mr. Harris thought the foe paid by land agents was absurdly low. Mr. V. H. Potter gave general support to the bill. Mr. Hamilton (Wallace) thought the hill more remarkable for what it omitted than what it contained. The f ee to ho paid should bo £4O, and £lO for branch licenses. Land agents’ commission was much too large, and ought to be specified in the bill. Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Avon) said there were about 12,000 commission agents operating in New Zealand, and the effect of their operations was to force up the values of property to an unreasonable extent. Mr. H. E. Holland supported the view expressed by the member for Avon. The discussion was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. Replying to the debate, the Minister pointed out that the bill only aimed at removing anomalies in the present legislation. It provided that land agents’ accounts must bo audited for the protection of the public. Agents must prove thov were authorised to sell property before they could sue for commission on a sale. Referring to the suggestion that land agency operations must he conducted hv a Government Department, the Minister said he did not look forward to the time when all private services would he conducted in such a manner, and practically everyone became a Government servant. The Bill was road a second time on the voices and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee.