LAND AGENTS BILL

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14777, 17 October 1921, Page 2

LAND AGENTS BILL

MEASURE BEFORE PARLIAMENT. FIDELITY BUNDS AND LICENSES. In the Land Agents Bill, introduced in lhe House of Representatives by Governor-General's message, provision is made for the annual licensing of land agents practising in ihe Dominion, and Willi the exception of three sections dealing Willi the remaining in force '.under certain circumstances) of existing licenses and regulations prescribing forms of application, which come into force at the passing of the bill, the measure 'is lo come into operation on April Ist, 1922. Provision is made for an approved fidelity bom! and lor Ibe hearing of applications and objections in Magistrate's Courts. No license is to be issued to a bankrupt, who had nol obtained his order of discharge. Another section defines the duty of a land agent in respeel to money:, received in the course of his business, and certain offences are mail J indictable, lhe penally for fraud being fixed al liability lo live years' imprisonment or a line of £~OU. Un uonv.clion for offences, which are enumerate I, provision is made lhat the court, betoto whom any agent is convicted of any offence, may, of its own motion, cancel his license in any case w lore such r.oiiviubion is a ground for cancellation. The Minister is required lo gazette, in May of each year, lhe list i f licensed laud agents, having previously had removed lhe names of those win have died, or been adjudged bankrupt, or who have failed lo obtain a renewal of license before May Ist m each year.

Signed evidence of conlrael to art, as agent is required before a ian I agent, may sue for lhe recovery of commission, and a line of £SO is lite penalty prescribed for any unlicensed person who "describes himself in writing, or holds himself out as a laud agent."