LAND AGENTS' REGISTRATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10402, 24 August 1911, Page 5

LAND AGENTS' REGISTRATION.

A BILL INTRODUCED.

INTERESTING DISCUSSION

By Telegraph—Fress Association.

WELMNGTON, Last Ndghit

In the House of Representatives, to-night, Mr Witty moved .the second reading of the Land Agents Registration Bill. , This measure, he (pointed 1 out, was not so much to safeguard the land agents as to .safeguard tlhe .public against unscrupulous land agents. The Bill was directed against street-corner land, agents, who had no properties on their books at the present time. There, was no fund into whioh agents were compelled to pay trust monies received-, and if they were not watched the money was gone, and so were the agents. The license fees, as provided by the Bill, were to be paid ffco the local authority that issued the' license. That authority, after deducting, any expenses incurred in respect of ithe license, ishall pay over (the balance to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board of the district. Every person desiring to take out a license shall enter into a fidelity (bond for £SOO. He hoped the Government I would take up the Bill after its second reading. Mr Guthrie welcomed the Bill, the main features of which were adinirable. - ■Mr Poole said a measure of this description was very necessary, and •should, be placed on the Statute Book without delay. tMr Okey applauded tihe principles of the but thought the license fees should go to.'the local Ibodiefl maintaining the roads',, which the I agents used.to a, great extent, j (Messrs Fonbesi, Luke and Newman I I isiuplparted the Bill. iMr Stall worthy held that the fact of registration .being effected did I not protect the public. He hoped the Government would take up the measure.

Mr Russell said the measure would severely affect simal'l land agenfe in the country. These agents would be ■handicapped if the Bill came into Operation. Ma- Buddo said that even if Mr Witty was unsuccessful with- the measure this session, there was. no reason why it should not eventually succeed, as l had been the case with la large number of other measures introduced by private members. The Government had for some time been considering the introduction of a Bill of this nature, and in fact it iwas intended to bring it down this

session. This would be done if Mr Witty'® Bill did not get further than' this reading. The Hon. G. Fowlds. wias x opposed ~to imposing license fees, as that ten-r ded to create a monopoly. If a fee was imposed, it (should be a very 'small one. Mr ,Wit<ty having replied, the second reading of the Bill was agreed to. The House rose at 11.20 p.m.