SIR,—If Mr. Carter is as inaccurate with the affairs of
'clients' who entrust themselves to his House Owners' Society as he is with the figures he quotes in his letter last week, then they are in for pretty poor service.
Solicitors do not get '£85 in cash' on a £4,000 house. The scale fee is £40 if the title is registered or £60 if unregistered. 'Nor is only 'a morning's work' involved. A properly conducted conveyance may take a number of weeks. Nor, I suggest, is it usual that 'a £4,000 house [purchased will be an ,artisan.'
Furthermore, it is probable that Mr. ,Carter's knowledge of the law does not extend to compre- hending the meaning of the word 'extortion' that he uses so recklessly. The definition is: an offence committed by a public officer who, under colour of his office, wrongfully takes from any person any money or valuable thing. May I now ask Mr. Carter to justify his accusations or withdraw it?
Finally, let nie emphasise that there is no obli- gation upon anyone to incur any solicitor's costs on a house purchase—either to Mr. Carter's organi-
sation or anyone else. One can always 'do it oneself.'
Templemead,Pulborough, Sussex
A. R. JACKSON
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