LAND AGENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2040, 11 October 1919, Page 1

LAND AGENTS.

DUTIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

What are the duties and qualifications of a land agent 1 The question was argued in the Full Court at Wellington on Wednesday, in respect of an agent's liability under the complaint of a parly to I lie familiar process of “swappiug" farms. “It used to be said,” remarked his Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout), “that all that was wanted for a land agent was a small office, chair, table, pen and ink, and ruler.” “There seems to be a popular opinion in Now Zealand,” added .Mr SkciTcll, K.C., “that every practising lawyer is a robber and a barpy. Perhaps, after all, wc arc not so black as we are painted.” Counsel’s opinion was that a land agent’s sole interest, and , indeed, duty, to bis principal was to gel rid of the properly at the host prices. It was not the duty of an agent to advise his principal as to the expediency of the transaction. It wti' the duty of a valuer to advise as to prices. If a man wanted a valuation, lie should employ a valuer. \Mierc an agent acted for two principals in the same transaction, he had no duty or obligation to either parly, the Chief Justice: “There you have a case of Box and Cox. I cannot understand why our laws should allow a man to act for two masters a land agent to act for two contending parties.” Air Skerrett said there was no doubt quite Tepntable firms seemed to entertain loose views as to the responsibilities of agents.