SACRIFICE ALL ROUND [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sm,—Will you allow me to use our paper to ventilate an idea or two which by that means may reach the heads of the professions who may be large minded enough to develop them ? There is no doubt Britain is in the throes of a first- class crisis, and it behoves the leaders to lead and not be pushed. The workmen will have to take less, and I feel convinced they will accede with better grace if all concerned participate in the reduction. The leaders should say : "We are going to submit to a 10 per cent. reduction—follow us ! " It is up to solicitors, surveyors, engineers and auctioneers to revert to the scale fees in vogue before the War, and that is the suggestion I wish to make. What a splendid example it would be It has always seemed to me that these powerful bodies of professional men have rather taken advantage of the public, for they have, so to speak, brought off a double event. Fees are charged on cost or rental value.. Both costs and rental values have increased and fees increased pro rata. Yet we were not satisfied. The scales of fees were increased as well. Professional people are necessary, and they have to be paid, but excessive fees add to the capital sums invested in any schemes what ever may be. Annual charges are thereby increased and the user is overburdened. Professional men as well as the workmen all have had a share in creating to-day's excessive overhead charges.
Try, Sir, to get some of the leaders of the professions to show an example in the way indicated.—! am, Sir, &c.,
A LIFE MEMBER.
Previous page
