REAL ESTATE AGENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18440, 22 September 1931, Page 2

REAL ESTATE AGENTS.

THE WAIKATO BRANCH. ANNUAL MEETING AND DINNER. NEW CONSTITUTION. There was a fair attendance at the annual meeting and dinner at the Haeremai Tearooms last evening of the Waikato branch of the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand. The president (Mr G. H. Chesterman) presided. In ills annual report the president staled, inter alia:—"At the meeting held in April, 1930, I mentioned that a subject that had been before the Conference held during the previous October, was the question of whether an alteration should be made, whereby there should be one institute for the whole of the Dominion, with branches administering the purely local affairs of their own particular districts. The proposal had been referred to the 1930 Conference, with the result that it has since been carried into effect; we meet to-night in the first annual meeting of the Waikato branch. It is anticipated that the change will be to the benellt of members of the profession generally, and will lead to estate agents being in a position to exercise more Influence In matters affecting the profession.

Effects of Depression. “The accounts submitted herewith cover a period of seventeen months, terminating August 31, 1931; in future each financial year will commence on September 1. The accounts show a revenue smaller than usual owing chiefly to several agents dropping out through non-renewal of licenses, with the result that the cash balance at the end of the period is small, although after allowing for subscriptions which it has been considered necessary to ‘write off,’ the financial position of the branch is almost the same as it was at end of March, 1930, During the period under review, Waikato, In common with all parts of the Dominion, has passed through a strenuous time, and to a large extent, estate agents have experienced a ‘lean 1 time. The difficulty, unfortunately, -Is world wide, and a solution Is taxing the best brains in all lands; sooner or later this solution will be found, and business will once again be established on a firm footing. In the meantime, everyone must endeavour to ’hang on’ in anticipation o- better times. Strong Membership Urged. “There are in our district, a number of agents who arc outside our organisation, and remembering that union is strength, members are urged to encourage these to join up, and also to encourage employees to study the principles of land agency with a view to increasing their capacity, and also to sit for the examinations arranged for each year. The district was represented at the annual conference held in Napier on October 8 and 9 last by. Messrs Boxes, Sorby and Willis and at this conference there were discussed many Items of interest, inoludlng the change over from affiliated institutes to the one society. “It is to be regretted that the outgoing president of the institute at that conference, was one of those who were subsequently overwhelmed in the earthquake disaster which in February last destroyed such a large part of Napier, Hastings and the adjacent districts. To all those who suffered through the earthquake, the sympathy of members of the institute, in common with all sections of the community, was extended.’ ’ Financial Position. The balance sheet showed a credit of £3 18s 6d. The sum of £2O 10s was shown as a donation lo the Napier earthquake fund. Receipts totalled £IOO 16s 7d, and payments were set at £96 18s Id. Outstanding subocriptions amounted’ to £-19 19s 3d. The report and balance sheet were adopted. Group Settlement. Replying to Mr F. ff. Pemberton (Cambridge) Mr G. Boyes said the group settlement system was discussed at the last annual conference at Napier and the matter was referred to a special committee which would report at the coming Auckland conference. Mr Pemberton expressed the opinion that the Institute should continue pressing for amended legislation to allow the group settlement scheme to be proceeded with. Now Officers, The electron of officers resulted:— President, Mr A. Sorby; committee, Messrs H. L. Hawke, H. D. Matthews, G. H. Chesterman, A. N. Willis, F. J. Marfeli, G. Boyes, E. 0. Mackay, H. F. Saunders, S. T. Cooper, H. Andrew and J . Gilbert; trustees, Messrs Sorby, Davey, Marfeli and Boyes; solicitor. Mr N. S. Johnson. Mr Johnson saicl he considered the new constitution in which all the various institutes were combined under one head and in one ‘‘parliament’’ would be a decided advantage. He commended the examination system in creating a higher standard in the profession and 'cleaning up’ the ranks, lie believed legislation should be introduced to prevent any man from obtaining a land agent’s license unless he had passed Ills examination and was a member of the institute. (Applause). The' subscription for the current year was fixed at £2- 2s. Tiie meeting closed with the usual votes of thanks.