In the Legislative Council

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7297, 26 October 1933, Page 7

In the Legislative Council

LIMIT TO LAND AGENTS’ COMMISSION SOUGHT Per Press Association. WELINGTON, Last Night. The Lcgisaltive Council met at 2.30 p.m. In answer to Hon. D. Buddo, who asked tho Government whether it would make provision for speed limits for motor vehicles on streets and highways that would ensure greater safety to the public, Sir James Parr .said the existing provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act and Regulations afforded adequate safety to the public if enforced by the police and road control authorities. In moving tho second reading of tho Land Agents’ Amendment Bill, which seeks to limit land agents’ commission to a percentage of the purchase money abovo mortgages, Hon. R. McCallum, said the limitation was most desirable. He knew of cases in his district in which charges for commissions had been made on mortgages as well as on the equity, and the fees collected had been out of all proportion to the value of the services. All he wanted to see was that land agents received a fair remuneration and nothing more. Hon. C. J. Carrington said that land agents had a good record, which compared favourably with other professions.

Hon. Mr McCallum: They are not a profession. Hon. Mr Carrington said that, under the Bill, thero would be little inducement for land agents to carry on business. Hon. Mr Buddo said the vendor had little difficulty in coming to an arrangement over the commission before tho sale took place. Sir James Parr said that, if the commission was restricted to the amount of the equity, there would be a reaction to tho disadvantage of the vendor. Ho asked what would happen if there was no equity. In reply, Hon. Mr McCallum said that if there was no equity in tie property no one would want to buy it. In fact, if the property had no equity.it had alrcad been bought and paid for by tho mortgagee. The Bill was read a second time and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee.

The Arbitration Clauses (Protocol) and Arbitration (Foreign Awards) Bill was put through tho remaining stages and passed. In tho committee stages of tho Marriage Amendment Bill, Hon. Mr McCallum called for a division on tho clause empowering women to officiate as ministers at marriages on the ground that many women would regard themselves as not being married if a woman officiated. The clause was upheld by ten votes to three. On the third reading, Hon. Mr McCallum said ho was opposed to the raising of the marriage ago, as it would inereaso the number of illegitimates. The Bill was passed unamended. Tho Council rose at 4.30 p.m. until to-morrow.