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Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3213, 31 May 1871, Page 2

It is positively irksome to be so often called upon in the interest of the public to guard them against believing the mis-statements, or being led away by the sinister insinuations of our evening contemporary. We have had during the recess so frequently to do this, that a Napier contemporary has fallen into (he delusion of supposing that we defend the Fox Ministry per fas aut nefas. We disdain any such imputation, and will be as ready whenever they deserve it to censure them as we have been to praise them. Our evening contemporary never loses an opportunity of attacking the Premier, sometimes in " leaders," sometimes in " locals," and occasionally by inserting letters imputing (o him words and actions of the most reprehensible character.

An amusing instance of the latter form of attack will be found in its issue of Saturday last. We reprint it in full :—

SIE, — Applications, I understand, have been made for licenses to brokers, under the Land Transfer Act, and refused.

The Registrar has granted licenses throughout the Middle Island, but, in consequence of a promise made by Mr Fox to the legal profession, no license will be granted for this island.

Can you tell me the reason of this fish-and-flesh, policy? It opens a question. — I am, &c, A. P.

27fcli May. We would not have referred to this absurd and malicious letter, did we not know that it has actually interfered with the administration of the Land Transfer Act, by the passing of which, in the words of the Hon. John Hall, " the Government has conferred a lasting benefit on the colony."

We beg to explain, once for all, that Mr Fox made no promise to the legal profession. What he did say was, that the Government would not create lay land brokers until it should receive evidence that the public wished it. The Government has received from every part of the colony unmistakable evidence of the desire of the owners of property that licenses should be issued to persons not lawyers, and in strict conformity with what was said by Mr Fox in parliament, it is being done. The result already is an immensely increased number of applications for registration. If A. P. applies today to the Registrar-General of Land, and finds the required securities, we undertake to say a license will be issued to him before the next publication of the " Evening Post." It is a reproach to Wellington that it should be the last town in the colony to take advantage of this most beneficial measure. Owners and vendors and sellers of property are actually robbing themselves by not insisting on their properties being passed under the Act. In Dunedin and Christchurch there are over twenty brokers in each, and since their appointment an immense amount of property has been registered. We understand that the Mutual Investment Society wish their Manager (Mr Allen) to be licensed. We feel sure that whenever Mr Allen complies with the requirements of the act a license will be issued forthwith. Every land agent in Wellington (and their name is legion) may, by taking the necessary steps, be licensed before the sun sets. There is no " lish and flesh policy" in the administration of this act.