AUCTIONEERS’ LICENSES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2224, 23 June 1908, Page 3

AUCTIONEERS’ LICENSES.

A STRANGE ANOMALY. SHOULD LAND AGENTS BE LICENSED? [Press Association.] WELLINGTON, June 22. A number of city auctioneers met to-day to discus# what was considered to be ail anomaly in the Auctioneers Act. It was explained that if a firm took out a license it became the personal property )f the auctioneer who was to use it for the time being. If he left be could take the licence with him. It was contended that this was contrary to tlie intention of the Legislature. A firm which went to the expense of taking a license should have the power of nominating from time to .time tlie. person who was to use it. Air. A. Leigh Hunt submitted that the Act. had become obsolete. It seethed to imply that ail auctioneer was necessarily proprietor of the business in which he was engaged. An auctioneer leaving the service of a firm, even if lie was willing to transfer bis license to another nominee, could not do-no unless the holder was ill or was leaving the district. About, eighteen firms had written expressing themselves in favor of an amendment of- the Act.

The chairman (tlio lion. T. K. Mac* Donald) remarked that in the ca-o if partners one. could sever liis connection with the firm and go away, with tlie license. That was an improper state of affairs. Another important question was whether land agents should be licensed. He suggested that a committee be. appointed to formulate i Case for the Alinister. Air. Townsend contended that large firms were not pt-'-cd in a fair )>os'tion compared with person?-who were allowed to take out licenses Tor three months or even tho six months preceding 31st December, the date when all licenses expired.

The lion. I,'. K .AlacDonald. .Messrs Leigh Hunt (secretary). H. Baker, J. B. Harcourt. Townsend. Aforab. and Herdman were appointed a committee to exani'iuo tlie Act and report to a further meeting next Monday, if possible.