LAND AGENTS REGISTRATION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1265, 21 October 1911, Page 14

LAND AGENTS REGISTRATION.

Mlt. WITTY'S BILL. Sir,—l notice that the deputation of influential personages, styling themselves land agents, which waited upon the Minister for Lands the other day, in support of Mr. Wittys Land Agents' Registration Bill, urged, amongst other things, that overy individual trafiicking in land should bo required to have a registered office. Now, sir, Mr. Witty and his iriends say that the Bill is to safeguard tho interests ox tho public. "Sateguard the interests of the public" is delicious! Who cares two straws about tho public! The land agents ai tin present time are getting fortunes'out of the public, and the deputation which recently waited upon tho Minister knows the vast pecuniary possibilities that are attached to the business, and they are making a strenuous effort to "safeguard the interests of the public" by creating a monopoly for themselves. One land agent told the writer the other day that within the last twelve months he bad made in .commissions over JMOOO, while I know personally ot another agent who, within the past fortnight, has clcaicd about XllOO in the disposal of properties. I think it is about timo that the larmers awoke to the tact that they have been systematically exploited by a class of individual, many of whom would be moro usefully employed in making roads to some of the properties they are so anxious to foist upon the unwary and unsuspecting buyer. Talk about confidence men! Some of the land agonts the present writer has encountered would knock any confidence man into a cocked hat. The qualifications of a successful land agent seem to require consummate cheek and unbridled mendacity. AVho was responsible for the financial depression which prevailed in this country some three years ago? The land a»ent. Why? Because lie boomed the land by his misrepresentations to a value far in excess of its producing capacity, with a result that many farmers arc to-day practically penniless. The outstanding feature of tho land agents' business, which no one can conscientiously deny, is to exaggerate. He must do so to make a success of his occupation. In a nutshell, the agent farms tho farmer. Has it never struck the farmer in this country that by means of their own union a vast land and estato agency business could be established in tho Dominion, and conducted" by the officials of the various branches operating in both islands? Has it neveT struck the farmers in this country what an immense saving would bo effected in commisions by taking charge of their own affairs instead of entrusting them to others? Has it never struck tho man on the land that instead of having to pay, say, 2} per cent, in commission on. the sole of his propnr.ty, such sale could bo accomplished through tho instrumentality of the Farmers' Union at about 1 per cent., or even less? I would suggest that the Farmers' Union move in this matter at once, as it is of vital importanco to every settlor in the country, and would like to seo that stolwart champion of tho farmers, Mr. J. G. Wilson, draft some workable, scheme for the consideration of the various branches of the union. If the amounts naid in commissions by farmers to land agents during the last 20 years could be only totalled up they would provo absolutely astounding, and be abundant evidence of, tho necessity for farmers administrating tho sale or exchange of their own lands through their own agencies. Bv adopting such a sysi tem the benefits that would accrue to tho ■ would-be land purchaser would bo ' in- , valuable. Firstly, each branoh secretary ■ of the Farmers' Union would havo a list ! of all th» available properties for sale ; n ) his district, with the fullest information ; in connection therewith. Secondly, a land I expert would be attached to each branch,

whoso duty it would be to show the :intending purchaser over tho property. Thirdly, the information thus gained by tho prospective buyer would bo absolutely sound and reliable, as it would bo of 110 pecuniary benefit to tho officials of tho union to mislead tho intending purchaser by misrepresentation. If, for instance, a farmer in ono district was desirous of purchasing a property in another district, he would bo supplied by the secretary of his own brancu with a letter of introduction to tho tocretary of tlie branch in whoso district ho contemplated settling. And on his arrival would lx> furnished with a list of properties euitablo for his requirements, with the most roliablo information attaclicd thereto. After the branch expenses had been defrayed tho balance -received in commissions' from tho solo of linds could bo utilised for tho support, say, of tho Farmers' Union Insurance Fund. Now, farmers, wako up, and conserve your own interests by controlling tho Kile and exchange of your own properties. You have fed the land agent long enough —some of you to vour sorrow—its about timo you nourished yourselves.—l am, otc., A SETTLEK.