AUCTIONEERS' DISABILITIES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 156, 23 June 1908, Page 2

AUCTIONEERS' DISABILITIES.

AMENDMENT OF THE LAW UKttEB. '. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. A number of city auctioneers met today to discuss what was considered to be an anomaly of the .Auctioneers' Act. It was explained that if a firm took out a license, it became the pcraonal proper-. ty of the auctioneer, who was to.use it for the time being. If ho left, he eoulu! take the license with him. .. It was contended that, this was contrary to the intention of the legislature. A linn which, \ went to the expense of taking out, a license should have the power of noiniii- • siting /from time to time the person ' ,; who was to use it. Mr. A. Leigh Huit submitted that the Act had become obsolete. It seeniad to imply that an - auctioneer was necessarily proprietor of the business in which he was engaged. An auctioneer leaving the servjeo of a firm, even if lie were willing to transfer the license to another nominee, cOuid not do so unless the holder was ill orwas leaving the district. About eighteen firms had written expressing themselves in favor of an, amendment of the Act. The chairman (the Hon, T. K. MaeDon-' aid), remarked that in the case of partners oue.conld sever his connection with; the firm and go away with the license-,,. That was an improper state of affairs.. Another important question was tche--ther land agents should be licensed. Hesuggested that a committee should boappointed to formulate a case for the Minister. Mr., Townscnd contended that largo firms were not placed in a fair no- ' sition compared with persons who were allowed to take out licenses for three months or even the six months preceding 31st December, the date when all license expired. The Hon. T. K. Mac Donald, Messrs. Leigh Hunt (secretary), H. Baker, ,T. B. Hareourt, Townsend, Morra/i, and Herdman, were appointed a committee to examine the Act and report to a, further meeting next Monday if »os--3,bl - : ■•"•-TnSfirt