This is a tribute to Lester Roy Dempster who passed away on the 5th June 2009. Lester was the President of the New Zealand Society of Conveyancers. It is through Lester’s efforts we are privileged to have the new Profession of the Conveyancing in New Zealand.
Lester commenced his work in the profession first with 10 years at the former Lands and Survey Dept as a Survey Draftsman and a further 10 years with the Lands and Deeds Registry as an Assistant Land Registrar. Lester was aware under the Land Transfer Act 1952 there was a provision for Land Brokers to provide conveyancing services in New Zealand to consumers as an alternative to traditional Legal Practitioners and Solicitors.
The practice of Land Brokers ceased just before the second world war when the then Minister of Justice and former Lawyer stopped issuing any more Licenses to non-Lawyer Land Brokers as they took away the remunerative work from Lawyers. A series of Court cases ensued and including a challenge to the Registrar-General of Land for the re-introduction of Licensed Land Brokers which was still statute.
Lester obtained his License in South Australia and under the Trans Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 was licensed to operate in New Zealand as a Land Broker. The Law Society took the RGL to court and Lester intervened and the case went to the Court of Appeal, and was won by Lester who was allowed to practice.
Conveyancing was his passion, and through some very trying times over many years he rose to the challenges of the Legal Fraternity. They could do nothing to stop him from his endeavors. Lester was backed all the way by his very close friends and associates Vicki Dempster and Robyn Renouf. I had the pleasure of meeting a very jovial Lester in April 2002 whilst undertaking a business assessment at the time for LJ Hooker. Conveyancing that were operating in Auckland. It was at this time I obtained my Land Brokers License.
Upon my return to Perth I stayed in close contact with Lester and followed legislation being formed. I was able to provide Lester with some great insight as Conveyancers had been licensed in Western Australia since 1982, and I had worked in a Regulated Industry.