THE DEEDS OFFICE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 45, 12 February 1908, Page 4

THE DEEDS OFFICE.

A LMSI.KAa: Co THE COJIiII'SITY;' " BAD AXD I'XiiEALTH Y.'' Yesterday morning Mr. Ukey, M.P., showed the Hon. Mr. McUowan, Minister of Justice, over the Stamp 9 and Deeds i'flicc in New Plymouth, with a view of impressing upon him the need for the em-lion of a more roomy and convenient building. Later on the Minister received a strong deputation from the Taranaki Law Society upon £he same subject. Mr. Okey introduced the deputation, and explained that the Minister had seen the building. Mr. H. S. Fitzherbfrt, S.M., Registrar of Deeds and ot Lands for Taranaki, was the first apeaker. He complained that there was ao registrar's room, not ! even .1 chair, for his convenience. And the .Minister had seen just now that the oflice was not nearly as well ventilated nr lighted as the prison cells lie had inspected earlier m the morning. Hon. McGowan: Oh, not as bad as the cells! Mr. Fitzherbert: ha a little worse. Mr. Fitzherbert continued that it was not as great an inconvenience to him as to the members of the legal profession and their clerks who were engaged ill searching deeds. But he must coinplain about having no chair, much less a room. He nad to stand up, halfstifled, pushed about by those who were examining the records. The place was not fit ior any persons who set any upon their health, and particularly for the clerks who had to Iw thue ail day. In this weather it wa« decidedly unhealthy where electric light had to be kept burning all day. The Minister: 7t's healthier than g,i«. Mr. Fitzherbert said that the place was a disgrace to the community. Xo doubt it must have been fitted only as temporary accommodation, for the (iovernment could never have intended such a place to l>e permanent. He asked the Minister to give proper accommodation to assist the Registrar of Deeds, the solicitors. and tlieir clerks, who had to go to the office on business.

Mr. \V. Kerr, president of the Law Society, said the building had been in use for from 3o to 40 years. It had been provided wTfen Sew Plymouth had a 50. pulation of only a few hundreds, and there was no question of inadequacy 01 the accommodation or the inconvenience caused to the general public. There wns no room Tor more than two or three clerks' to make'iearcbes at one and ue same time, yet there were sometimes sisteen or seventeen there searching or awaiting their turn. The accommodation for the clerks was bad and unhealthy. In fact, for "years it had been a menace to their health. The Hon. Mr. McGowan said he had seen that the accommodation for those searching titles was not adequate. But people had to put up with certain inconveniences under certain conditions, because it was impossible fo make everything up-to-date all at ouee, Unfortunately, or fortunately, other places were growing as well as New Plymouth. There was a demand all over the country for new buildings where at present there were none. Tie Government had to accede to the demands as circumstances allowed, and this absorbed a big sum annually. He admitted that better a.eommodation was required here. The Deed.* Office was not really under his control, but under that of the Hon. Ja=. Carroll. Nevertheless he understood that something would have to be done, and wonld try to have some improvement made. These were needed, and very much needed. Mr. Okejr, M.P., said the matter had been placed before the Hon. Mr. Carroll, together with a report condemning the buildings as insanitary. A sum of £200(1 or C3OOO had been placed on the Estimates. and this deputation was waiting upon Mr. McOowan an Minister for Publie Works to ask him to have the vote expended. The Minister Raid that liis part of the Public Works administration lvas onlv in regard to road". Hon. Mr. lUlUlones wa- in charge of the railways and buildings. But he would see that the representation* reached the proper quarters. Mr R. C. Hughes, as one who frequently conducted his own searches, complained of eereral inconveniences. •Mr. Fitzberlkrt complained that often the scant accommodation was so overtaxed that he had to postpone his lm-i----ness.