LAND AGENTS' ASSOCIATION

Waikato Times, Volume 87, Issue 13273, 31 August 1916, Page 4

LAND AGENTS' ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETING.

There was a fair attendance at the annual meeting ol the Waikato Land Agents' Association, held yesterday. Mi lancred Cooper, president, occupied the chair.

In his annual report, the president staled that, unfortunately, the year had not been marked by the progress they had hoped for. The year had been a quiet one, and the Association finished with approximately the same number of members as they started with. Unfortunately in one case penalties under the rules had to be enforced, and a member fined and expelled. The "Land Agents' Act," and uncertainty arising from it were still tho bug-bear ol the protession, and the year has been prolific, with unfortunate litigation. In one particular case evidence given as to the practice of the Association saved a considerable amount to a member, thus proving the usefulness of co-operation and associations generally. Several members had applied for permission to sue, and in all cases this had been granted.

Speaking in regard to the Dominion Association, the speaker said that unfortunately lie was not able to report that progress in this direction which lie had hoped fur. At the last conference, the speaker, a,s the Association's representative ,again brought up the question of a uniform tariff. Unfortunately neither Wellington nor Auckland was prepared at this juncture to agree, and the matter had now been lett in abeyance till the next annual meeting in al>out twelve months' time, lne question of vital importance to the whole of the profession came before the Conference—the question of insurance under the Act. In two tases mentioned, minor defalcations of collectively less than £IOO, carried a penalty on the insurance companies of the full amounts of the two bond>, i.e., £1000; such an anomaly should have been corrected at once, but unlortunately they were informed that the Legislature could give no heed to their representations during war-time.

Owing to his leaving Hamilton, the speaker said he would not seek re-elec-tion. and took that opportunity of thanking his executive for their cooperation and courtesy. He could not, in justice to tlie few exceptions, commend the executive as a whole lor their regular attendance at the meetings, and in accepting office in such an imjwrtant corporation as the J-and Agents' Association he would ask members to consider well, and heartily support their piCM'dent and vice-presidents. The following officers were appointed: President, Mr N. (j. dribble: vicepresident, Messrs K. ('. Stanley (Hamilton). Barclay (Cambridge): executive, Me.-srs Sorby, Anderson, Williams, flurrel!, J. B. Scott, Snow and Het herington ( Ngaruawahia). At the conclusion of the meeting, a hearty vote of thanks wa.s accorded Mr Cooper, the retiring president, members ail expressing their appreciation of the services he had rendered the Association.