COST OF LIVING

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2819, 10 July 1916, Page 6

COST OF LIVING

Sir,—l notice Mr. Wilford lias recently been reported to have expressed a desire that unearned incomes should be specially taxed. Sir Joseph Ward rigluly declined to consider such a proposal as ivholly unwarranted in this part of the Empire. Mr. Wilford wishes to discuss the cost of living, and it is to be hoped the opportunity will shortly arise.

I think the time is ripe for some revision of the scale of legal charges now in force, more particularly in regard to dealings in land. lam well aware— though the public generally is not—that licensed land brokers can put through transfers or mortgages under the Land Transfer Act only, at nominal fees, as against solicitors' scale fees, which are out of all proportion. , I have to do with a good deal of mortgage business, and my indignation increases - with every transaction at the monstrous charges levied by solicitors, under their precious legalised scale of fees. The Government of West Australia,. I understand, have created a Department to deal- with this class,of business, much to the relief of borrowers. It is high timo steps were taken in this country to reduce charges to something relatively adequate to the brain power involved. Why the matter has never been brought up by the Farmers' Union, whose members are so largely interested, is beyond my comprehension. The cost of living could be materially lightened for some taxpayers by a reform in the direction indicated, though whilst the country is, as at present, so largely dominated by lawyers, it is evident a strenuous effort will be necessary to bring about any reform. —I am, etc., MORTGAGEE.