THE STAMPS DEPARTMENT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 571, 28 July 1909, Page 3

THE STAMPS DEPARTMENT.

' . -—i ——« . ' 'RETRENCHMENT GONE STARK, STAR;ng MAD." ■"', (By Toleßraph.-Spcolal Correspondent.) i Napier, July 26. A "Daily Telegraph" reporter interviewed' tire legal profession tore to-day on the proposed changes in the Stamps Department, and the intention to dispense with the Napier office. The solicitors were unanimous in the opinion that the assessing of duty on deeds at Wellington would lead to great inconvenience and deJay, and the introduction would incur additional costs to clients. Mr. A. B. president ,of the Hawke's Bay Law Society, said:— '"The objectof retrenchment, I take it.'.is, to benefit tho whole country by lessening the cost of government; but to save tho salaries of a. few officials in the Stamps Department a large.;part'of the community is'really being a'dditicnaUy taxed. : I consider tiat such .okase-gating ia itcjmaa^^

described as "retrenchment gone stark,'staring mad.-'' ''rl, should. hare- that/the Attorney-Genefar (the Hon. Dri Findlay), from his practical experience as a solicitor of a large firm in Dunedin, -.. would- have known the inconvenience and delay that, result from having .to': transact legal business "at a considerable distance from Wellington." ,- ■'".' '.-. ■ '-.' ■'■,; - Mr. P. S. M'Lcanj another leading; solicitor, said that Mr. P..He-yes, who had been placed at the head of the Stamps Department, had already: too much',to do in connection with other Departments under- his control, and. there;were more- complaints in regard to delays in thoso Departments than in any .other. ■ . ' ' - .'(By Telezraph.-Presß'Association.) ' : /' ■ '■' ' Auckland, July 26. The council of the Auckland Law Society held a meeting to-night to consider the proposed changes' in the Stamps Department, when'the following-resolution was carried:— "That we;respectfully request /the -Govern- ' ment' to reconsider the proposed changes- in the-Stamps • Department. ;.The'V council' is satisfied that-the inconvenience and increased cost to , the.' general., public, andso.far as inconvenience is concerned to the legal'profession, will far outweigh. t/.j'pecuniary sav-, ing - the ; Government- may, anticipate to -make. " -.'•''v. .-.-■ : '