AUCTIONEERS' GRIEVANCES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 100, 5 August 1910, Page 5

AUCTIONEERS' GRIEVANCES

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Hon. D. Buddo, Minister of Internal replying to a deputation of auctioneers, said there would be a good deal of opposition to the proposal that every license should be for twelve months, and that the fee should be £4O. The hard: and fast rule that every license should■■•be for a whole year might cause considerable hardship to a firm trying a new place. In regard to special districts, no license had 'been issued for several years, but he knew Of at least one place where a special license was in existence, and the district could not in any way be called sparsely populated. The deputation .bad made out a very strong case in regard to the transference of a license during the illness or absence of a firm's regular auctioneer. The licensing of land agents was a very debatable question, on which no unanimity had been arrived at. He had been considering the matter for the last | twelve months, and before it was disposed of some evidence would be taken with a view to finding out what effect such amendment would have. No doubt land agents would welcome such a change. In many cases the registration of land agents would be of benefit to the public as well as.to the auctioneers. If it was; found necessary to have an amendment, he would do his best to get it through. It was a reasonable thing to ask that a firm should be licensed instead of an individual. A firm was al- ! ways responsible for money received. Probably auctioneers themselves would be very pleased if "trotting" was abolished. There were trig difficulties in tile way. Owners were pretty well protected. However, some modifications might be introduced. As to auctioneers being obliged to take every bid tendered, there would be difficulties here also. 'He would consider the point. He had a Bill before him, submitted by Welington and Canterbury auctioneers. He I would endeavour to put it into form for submittal to the Government.