LAND AGENTS’ FEES.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1921, Page 5

LAND AGENTS’ FEES.

QUESTION OF REGULATION. POSITION OF SOLICITORS. By Telegraph.—Press Association Wellington, Last Night. The House to-night went into committee on the Land Agents Bill. Mr. G. Witty (Riccarton) objected that the Bill did not contain any scale of charges. He thought some limit should be placed on agents, otherwise the public would be fleeced. The Minister said the fees had not been fixed, but power would be taken to regulate them from time to time, and so the public would be protected. Mr. W. A. Veitch (Wanganui) criticised the position of solicitors under the Bill,, who were land agents without paying a fee. The Minister said solicitors often had to dispose of property in the ordinary course of business, and it was only in this capacity that a solicitor was entitled to act as an agent. Mr. J. R. Hamilton (Awarua) said thi? provision was put in by a committee bi Lawyers. It looked,-fo him as if they could dispose of property and charge commission for doing so. Mr. T. W. Rlmdes (Thames) urged that a separate license should be taken out and a separate fee paid for every branch of business. After further discussion as to the position of solicitors under clause 2 the Premier gave an assurance that he would submit the position, the At-torney-General, and if it was held that a solicitor could charge commission he would have the clause amended in the Legislative CouncilThe Bill was read a third time and passed. \