THE PUBLIC TRUST

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 45, 2 December 1939, Page 3

THE PUBLIC TRUST

EXTENSIONS IN ASHBURTON. BETTER ACCOMMODATION PROVIDED, The growth of the Public Trust Office business in the Ashburton district and the confidence that the progress will be continued are evidenced by the recent purchase by the Public Trustee of the property adjoining the office premises in Burnett Street. Both buildings have been converted into one, altered and renovated to meet the requirements for additional accommodation for the staff and improved facilities for the public. The cost of the- new premises and alterations is borne by the Public Trust Office and is not a charge on the general Government funds. Prior to the establishment of a branch under the control of a permanent officer of the Department, the Public Trustee was represented in Ashburton by the late Mr A. A. Fooks, who was much respected in the position of Public Trust Agent. On December 11, 1919, the full-time branch was opened in the National Mortgage and Agency Company’s building, with Air E. J. O’Brien as District Manager. Mr O’Brien remained in this position until August, 1937, when he was succeeded by Mr A. C. Robinson, the present holder of the position, In 1926 freehold premises were acquired in Burnett Street, and these have been extended to make the office very up-to-date. The whole front has been modernised and the main door opens on to a spacious main office, with a special interviewing room on the right. Further on from this room is the manager’s room, much more businesslike than the one formerly in use. Just off this is the room where confidential papers are filed under lock and key and screened from the main office by steel doors.

The manager’s room in the old building is now a rest room for the women members of the staff, with a wash room alongside. The main office is in two parts, one a step above the other, and behind this is the estate, filing room and men's wash room.

All the walls of the two joined buildings have been replastered and new flooring has been put down, covered witli attractive linoleums and carpets. The colour scheme of the interior is bright and the furnishings are new. A large wooden building which formerly joined the offices at the hack has been demolished and a wood shed and C3 7 ele shed fox" members of the staff have been put in its place. The contractors for the building were Messrs Smitheram and Reddecliffe and the architect was Mr E. M. Gabites.

The present year marks the completion of a term of 67 years since the office of Public Trustee was constituted in New' Zealand, and during that period the growth in the business transacted has been very marked, as the following statement showing the volume of business indicates:—

1889, £1,240,098; 1898, £1,950,314; 1908, £5,531,658; 1918, £17,153,031; 1928, £44,155,548; 1938, £60,815,306; 1939, £61,715,713. For the year ended March 31, 1939, the new business amounted to £6,314,532, which exceeded by over £1,300,000 the total value of estates under administration in 1.907 when the Office had been in existence for 35 years.

The future prospects of the Office are assured by the holding on deposit at the present time of more than 93,000 wills on behalf of living testators. The extraordinary growth of this branch is revealed by the following figures:— 1914, 6,427; 1928, 58,065; 1938, 90,474; 1939, 93,152. New wills continue to be received at the rate of approximately 5000 a year. In addition to these, it is known that numbers of wills appointing the Public Trustee executor are held by solicitors, banks and other institutions. There are 23 District Public Trustee branches, 21 District Manager branches, 38 agents, and a number of part-time offices at which responsible Public Trust officers are in attendance at regular intervals.