LAND AGENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 June 1920, Page 2

LAND AGENTS.

To the Editor. Sir,—The "profession of land agents lias been slightingly referred to on several public occasions recently. Even magistrates, upon the Bench, have with assumed words of wisdom, spoken disparagingly of our calling. One even went so far as to say .that the profession was the last refuge of men who had been unsuccessful in every other walk in life. This is a boomerang assertion for were we a vindictive class we might retort that a magistracy is the asylum of many an unsuccessful lawyer. There is a consensus of opinion amongst our wise mien, In which I concur, that the high cost of living is caused chiefly by n universal shortage of commodities, and that the best solution is not to be found jn higher charges, or wages, but through greater production. Now, in this matter of increased charges land agents stand unique. In that they have not Increased tbelr fees. Doctors, lumpers, jockeys, lawyers, factory hands, sailors, in fact all classes, even money lenders, save and except land agents, whose charges remain the same as twenty years ago. Yet, paradoxical as .it may appear, the profession was never so prosperous as now, the reason being that they have followed the Prime Minister's advice, viz.', increased their turnover, their output' and hundreds of farmers, who spent the best part of their lives in arduous toll, with long hours, are now quietly spending their last days in peace and comfotctl and "Blessed are the land agents." Wlillsf the purchasers, through the aid of land agents, luive acquired improved farms tiiat arc immediately productive, with comfortable houses, and good roads, and yet there are some silly wags who insinuate that the agent does nothing for his money. Let. me enlighten by an illustration. Some years ago on the Walmate Plains a settler had a good crop of cocksfoot seed EOlng to waste. An agent passing by saw possibilities He interviewed the farmer who said he was about to graze oattl* Id th« paddocU. Attn* cov

fab he agreed to allow the- agent Wo'-thirds for saving the seed. The agent then had a ltorero with some Maoris, who agreed to harvest it ' for one-third of the proceeds. The agent found a market, and, the farmer received £lOl for his land, the Maoris £\ol for their labor, and the agent £lOl for his brains, and many a settler on new land rejoiced to secure, the best of seed which but for the agent would have been lost to the State. We have here an illuminating illustration of mutual help and division of profits for land, labor and business sagacity. I am, etc., • MAX. D. KING.