House v Jones - [1985] 2 NZLR 288

Contract — Sale of farm land — "Contract or agreement" — Whether the word "agreement" in s 24 of the Land Settlement Promotion and Land Acquisition Act 1952 referred to a situation where parties had reached a consensus but had not yet entered into an enforceable contract — Purchasers signed, and deposited with District Land Registrar, a declaration under s 24 before vendors had signed the agreement — Agreement later signed by vendors — Whether the declaration complied with s 24 — Whether agreement should be validated under s 7 of the Illegal Contracts Act 1970 - Exercise of discretion under s 7.