LAND AGENTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2197, 9 July 1914, Page 9

LAND AGENTS.

AMENDMENTS IN THE LAW

BETTER DEFINITION REQUIRED,

Thp .views of the land agents of the Dominion as to tho necessary amendments to tho Land Agents Bill of 1912 were placed beforo the Hon. H. D. Bell yesterday by a deputation of land agents headed; by Mr. ;W. Garrett, president of the Auckland Land Agents' Asso.'ciatibn;:■*':' ■' .''..'■;. ■,'. V;: -.■■'..•>•■''' ':'

Mri Garrett, said that in the amending Bill certain - defects; of the .Act ; of 1912 were, proposed to;bo redressed, but other: provisions:' '.required''.:' further imending/ They: wanted the definition of land agent to bo altered; as follows.: "Land" agent means a person 'who sells or otherwise..deals.with'land/ or whoso business',.'-'either...'alone or in connection with, any other .business; .is to sell, 'offer to sell, or otherwise dispose of land, or any.interest in-;land, on commis- ; sion; ptherwise than - by auction.. Any person' who sells, offer's tb '-'sell; exJianges,: or otherwise disposes of ;landwith 'iair .' without; commission otherwise tlunnatauction, shall be.deemed to be' j.- land - agent,'.subject tb of tlio' Act.'.': ■;..'': '..:'■ .. : ".'-. : ; ..

r;Mi"i : Bell: ■ I cannot agree with ; that' as it;\yould);interfere:with rpeople ;:who dp not;-sell on.-commission—those .who 1 let houses, fbrlinstarice.. v ; -:;' "; ''i; ; '-•!'.. 'Mr.;,Garrett said that'. they- : did not want! to.-.do tlint .of. to stop legitimate' exchang.ing..;-'Tliev.-hbwev'er;: desired..' to stbnVwild-cat, exchanges. , j ;. , i . •';'"•""'•':'.'■'-,.

'v;Jlr. ; .'Bell;:'.T\'e have already ; stopped wild-pat:,'exchanges,', .have we- hot, ;by demandihg.fstamp,' duty .on; both pro-, ■perties'? V.';,?,',':'■; £y y -,''".'•.■', ; , -;' ■~ ;';;■■'';■'■ : ■",'■;.; V::

■:V;Mr.; ; 6arVstt;'sai^t'hat , 'it T 'Wns."';deßired. that • a, ]istr,:qf the names, of.'^licensed• land 'agent.s ; !,%ould ;He; piiblished 'twice: a: : year. -!$i • was!-.;also ' asKed that-, land .aßents; : sli6uld;be required'.to..place/their names ;' \;.' f '■;{'/;'■:, V;-; ;■:;'Mr.; -Bell:'\ T;/'cannot ;«ee : my;way to! :'afire^fov.vbm\^^ rebuired of 'pjlibr professions exceot, for ;siifficient 'reasons',:'• in '.the .case ; of ~.com■- ■ pa'nies.,'.■■■V-'. : .\-";■'■■■'.-;! : ■'''•'.-...- : -;i7o///

. : ;;'A'' member.;, of 'the: deputation^-.. said '..that.;there;.were'the'"perambulating landagents' -'vyho';?ometimes."did;not:' wish'.to .';Mr.';.!BeH:|l.:.seb., : .ybp .'ldok'jnp'onvOTcin' ".a.yshbp-. . keener.:vibws ;the hawkerV;;.:;-|;r,:,;;;v ;■:■/

-''-'Mr; Garrett,said that-these nebbio.did, ibnsmessvinHlie/str'efc ,these:'pepp]p|;;had;.:np"' -bflices, VbutVfthey, ■'did-:;businesk r ;iit;itneV':expen ! wlib^had^officesi•'V. V y <y■'}..')>■<£ '•: '';■:", ;';;;■

;Mr|; ; G ; was;.;desiVed,;'to- ; made :it; necessary/ for nut^iip.'their officei even; if ;it;wasVat -their; residences.''; VVVV;..-,

V.:. Tlipj deputatibn also .asked that; if ah'; Unregistered' person effected.-'a.sale'.}not. fprily ;a;fine' shbuld-beiimDosediVbutthe ivyhple-: cpmmissibh^should;'be. Vforfeited.. ■This' was .to prevent 6alcs'being;iinder-f. taken;, illegally ~; w hero.. the; fcommission 'vvbiild' : much:excned.tlie - .'VO; ;^-''-The/denntatipn'-y.an , that,_wo.ujd' enable the recovery of 'comr ,missiori ; if-'iristructions"'-: to--..act '■•< were, : proycd •j'^to"- the Vsatisf action." ;-;.;of f.!, ; the! ■'Cpurt." v y:Th'e.Act;makes it necessary to, hiivo) instructions 'in ; writing;;::''■ ;■ ■;■'> ■ ;V;.:' ( .:;'• Aft6r.,lengtliy discussion -thei Minister.' ' gaid^he:;rwoiild :go,' 'the rprbvisiohii biit tb..him : ,it\seemed^only: ; tp:make, ! .the •.vW.ible,clauso'.irieffectivo. : ':.'','! ; V:;V

:? ; The,-. Minister'.; asked - the; .'deputation !'.if- ; therb:Was;hpt■■ alsb;,sbme; provision !desired'that ;offices., should',pay,-.'.registra.- ; ■tioriVfees-.iirtlie.'.district Jii.which'they' ,vyere" situated;;, -V; : \;-V;;'.,;,."'-';; ;

ip-Mr., Garrett {said;';thev!'..vyorb :-v,otVtisk=fiifr that'■ as.an 1 association. ■'■-' ■•;:■;.V-,■ .

■^•\^e:;'Mims^'-;>aid.;lib\VHa;.bii)iected l !last;: year'-'to/the.'provision it iwtiuld.inean';that; large gety !and.'Co.;i witlr'branchesfin : /every centre,- would - experience .•unfair/.hardship/-' - : He .sugges^ed/.the:;.!association should, go .into the ■: matter and -try and finda ;solutioh v and..6ubmit : 'it;to;'-liim'.. In-; conclusion lie. ;expressedvhjsS desire, to; help./the' land - agents, in'every l! way i 'ab/tlie same, .time'.':conserving the,■'inter-' eats'.' of ; ;ihe';;.p'ublic../ association:,to /give ,;theni/ an--invitation 'to. : appeaVi before ;thej. Statutes-Revision .///> ;t'y!" v '-'V,