AUCKLAND DEEDS OFFICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15169, 7 December 1912, Page 6

AUCKLAND DEEDS OFFICE.

The office and strong room accommodation for the Lands and Deeds Department in Auckland is notoriously inadequate. Not only is the work of the Department being greatly handicapped in consequence But grave risks are being run in connection with the titles to property. This has been the position for a long time, but although complaints have been frequent and protests urgent, no remedial action has yet been taken. So serious has the matter become that the Law Society recently appointed a sub-committee for the special purpose of bringing about a special state of affairs. This subcommittee waited yesterday upon the Minister for Justice and presented to him arguments which evidently convinced him of the, imperative need for prompt and vigorous action. All the business from the North Cape to i the Mokau River is transacted in this unsatisfactory High-street office, the insufficiency of accommodation not only, causing great inconvenience to the public but rendering fraud most undesirably easy by making proper supervision quite impossible. Mr. Herdman, who understands the meaning of this, may be. expected to give the matter the requisite administrative consideration. A plan has been proposed for bringing together in one building the Crown Lands and Survey Departraerit and the Lands and Deeds and Stamp Department. This reorganisation is really, essential, for the Departments mentioned have the closest relations with one another. They are placed together in every other city in the Dominion and an inadvisable exception should not be made in Auckland.