THE LAW AND THE PROFITS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81889, 16 November 1906, Page 3

THE LAW AND THE PROFITS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Your leader under this heading aims at the right objective: to break down, in some measure, at .east, a close corporation. Wc want no close corporations. They always mean taxing the general public for the benefit of the few. This applies 10 all such trade unions: whether lawyers or doctors or plumbers. The plea, not argument, is always the same, "Protect the public against inefficient workmen." If the close corporation stamp was a real guarantee of efficiency, it would be something,

but it is not even that; there are bungling, stupid lawyers, doctors and plumbers still at work. But then what the public want is not only that these professional men, or tradesmen, should be capable to do the work en-

trusted to them, but also that they are willing to do it; that is honest enough. One does not need to go very far to find out how this last- ! named quality is lacking; just as much among these close corporations as among the unprotected callings; not a bit of difference. The reference to lawyers, doctors and plumbers is not to be confined to them. There are many other callings similarly protected; only the journalist is not in it this time. There is, however, one point in the leading article referred to which needs explanation, perhaps correction. The article deals mainly with the transfer of lands and says, "It doesn't matter that the parties to a conveyance desire to save money. It can't be done." But. Sir, it can be done. Under the Lands Transfer Act any person can lease, transfer, mortgage or otherwise convey land on his own account, but cannot do so for a fee. If any per- )n wishes to do this let him send to the Government Printer, and for half acrown he will get a little compilation,

''Handy Book on Land Transfer" (1 think I haye the right title, 1 have lost my copy), which will give all the needed instruction. I have done this work on different occasions, not always on my own account, but gratuitously just to help a friend, and it is as simple as writing a letter. Only let anyone know that if he should propose to make the attempt he must not consult any lawyer, land agent or official, because they are all sure to tell him that the difficulties are very great and the saving in cost very trifling. The law is right, and if those who deal in land availed themselves of its' provisions tjVy could do as I say, and in this matter be their own lawyers (I know what a

lawyer would say of the client). There is, however, another matter. Lawyers do charge high fees for transfers out landbrokers do not; the 'atter can only charge the fees as shown in the schedule of the Act, and given at the end of the little book above mentioned. Why is this ? A broker has to give a bond for a large amount (£IOOO, I think) before he can practice; a lawyer gives no bond. A broker can only charge as above; a lawyer can charge what he likes, almost. All this for the protection of the public, or is it not for the protection of the legal profession ? It is quite true that sometimes lawyers do late instructions from "respectable land agents," as you say. Your conclusions on this point are quite correct: the lawyer gets the fee though someone else does the work. On the whole question much is to be said in favor jf employing lawyers. I say nothing against them: they are as good as other men and I have good friend) ami(ng them.

The close corporation is no benefit to good men, capable men, and men in whom ihc public have confidence; it is only needed by the inefficient men who are only employed when other men are scarce. One docs not have land transfers to do every day, or every year, even, and it is well to have the help of someone who is doing these things frequently and would not be so likely to make a mistake. On one occasion I took a document, prepared by myself, to the registration office in Auckland, and then a>ked the clerk who took it from me why they in that office objected 10, or rather disliked, non transfers, etc, a* 1 knew they did, when he replied; ''Oh, this is all alright, and if all private work were like this it would do; but =o often it is not, and then wo have to return it, which means more troub.e to w-' ! Then you have it all ,if you will onlywork it out. The conclusion of the whole matter is "Free-!trade : — even in law. —I am, etc., NON-PROFESSIONAL.

COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Mr H. Okey in reply to my letter treats the questions he cannot answer in a very off-hand way, calling them mis-statements. I presume he thinks it was not a misleading statement on Ins part to write, "I find there is still between ,£.IOO and ,£SOO of Tapuae and Oakura loan* stil laying 111 the Bank,''' when the balance of the-e loans unspent at that tune only amounted to £l2l OJ2. Anotiie" °f u ' s statements is as to inscribing the;;:■»» bo y« the , amo1 "" received, which he ca..'" u ' a .'„ ni j he is sj wise as to sec a way to «.'.'" this, how is it that the bridge loans he had to do with all have inscribed amounts above the actual loan money received. 1 see he has wisely not attempted to work out the loss on the Njtoronui bridge by his mode of finance the difference of interest between loan and overdraft. With all hi- experience as chairman for twelve years, why d.d he not get the loan 'money as soon as possible and place it to the general account until required, thereby saving interest and making a profit? Mr Okcy's statement about the Snake bridge is very misleading in th* way he puts it. The bridge loan was started for the express purpose of rebuilding bridges ju County roads (not di-trict roads), and to be of sufficient strength D carrytraction engines,and the expenditure' of the money is eonhncd to Cjunty roads alone, as per our special order and the Loans Act. Mr Okey dare not attempt to contradict this and never has to my knowledge. When the matter of this bridge was hist brought up, 1 voted for its being built, but as sjon as I found it was riot or. a County road I opposed it, and the chairman in one way and another put off my getting a discussion on it far three meetings and until the proposition for applying to the Treasury for the money. He states oj this that 1 was out voted, but he "mils to Miy that when the proposal nas niitc'ie in the morning, the majority of members spoke so strong ly against it that it was withdrawn, and on my asking for the reason was told

"because we should lose it. ;: After luncheon it was brought up again, wlieni behold, one of the strongest opponents, who tolcl me on several occasions he would" not vote for a district road bridge until all the bridges in the County roads were done, veered round and the measure was carried, to the intense delight of the chaiiman. In conclusion 1 would stale- that to mv mind ex Chairman Okey should be one of ihe la-t to find

fault with the management of the present Council, after the lamentable siaic of affairs the cn|lcdi»o, or, ra ilirr. non collection of special and 1dinary rate-., got into under his management, when such a considerabe amount was lost as would most certainly have been suflicont to build .1 substantial bridge and a little over. I am -oiry to trespass again on your va'uablo spate, and thanking you in anticipation.—l am. el ( ., MARK lIOPSON. high-wood. November 14th. THE PETROLEUM SECRETARIAL JOB.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—When the chairman of Wi-d nesdav's meeting was a-k'tl what re numeration had been arranged to be paid to the acting secretary he replied ,£l2 a week, with extra expenses fir occasions of extra work, or words io that effect. Upon being a-ked a further question the explanation was given that the acting secretary had power to engage cxira assistance up to £li a week. Hut these are scarcely the true facts of the- case. On Mr Laing's retirement. Mr liaily was i-kcd for what sum he would carry on the secretarial duties for a month and asked the "mjdest" figure <-f A comp.iomise ivas effeeted

by which ho was appointed interim secretary for ,£l2 per week, 'and this was duly minuted and confirmed. When the directors found that public 'indignation was expressed at this waste of the company's funds they pioceeded to vary their procedure. Mr Baily would not, of course, permit a cancellation of Mucji a favorable bargain, so it was arranged that his nominal salary should be £$ and the balance available for office expenses and staff. But there was no staff necessary. The whole work at this [juncture could have been done by any man in town for .£4 a week to cover all office expense-. ft has to be remembered the work was in every

sense fully up to the date .if the meet ing. Tho auditors had certified to this effect. There \vr:e no arrears. Something has been said about a few share transfers to put through, which one day of any practical man's time would accompli-h, of 2000 circulars to send out, but as to these it was quite beside ordinary oflice work and ,two juniors at a wage of 15/ a week would have got through them in'ess

than two days. As a point of fact, these circulars were simply canvassing advertisements for the directors, and should never have been sent out from the office of the company and bv an expenditure of the company's funds. Then the third matter was the issue of scrip to tho shareholders. The paid up shareholder- had al ready received their scrip so there was on'y the contributing sharchold c* to issue to and a certain number of fresh certificates to those who had become transferees. Even if there had been 2000 to issue a clerk at 15/ a week would have written these out easily in a month. So there was no ived' for any highly-paid staff. A secretary and a junior at 15/ are ail that are required under any cmerRTrfcy, and yet we have to pay forsooth £l2 a week for these services. AH the heavy initial work of the company has been put through Mr Laing's office and finished; the work henceforth is purely routine. There are 110 monthly calls to attend to a* in" other companies, and one local oi! company which issues monthly calls with over 1000 shareholders pay their secretarial staff ,£5 per week and find this amp>. It is best the full facts of this should be made public, and it is strongly to be hoped that the incoming directors will call for app.ications for tho position from capable men to devote their whole time tj the work of the company, when it will be discovered how freely the company's money is being wasted by the presmt arrangement.—l am, etc., ANOTHER SHAREHOLDER