"OF IMMENSE IMPORTANCE."

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1280, 8 November 1911, Page 6

"OF IMMENSE IMPORTANCE."

STRANGER, DAUGHTER, AXD TUUSTEU. (By Telegraph-Profs Association.) Auckland, .November 7. A local resident died, leaving a grownup family of live. Failing an agreement as to one of the number being appointed administrator of the estate, a stranger was selected. Tho Public Trustee interceded, and claimed to bo appointed administrator )x?i'oro tho stranger. Tho family then agreed to select a daughter to be appointed to tho position, but the Public Trustee insisted that his right exceeded that of any of tho children. Judge Edwards was to-day asked to deal with the applications lodged on behalf of the eldest daughter and the Public Trustee. The Judge, after hearing counsel, said he would give a written decision, not because he had any doubt on the point, but for the reason that tho claim of the Public Trustee to interfere in tho prirato affairs of every family concerned in an intestate estate was of unmenso importance to the public generally. Ho stated he was prepared to give an order appointing the daughter named as administratrix.' Adult people had a right to manage their own affairs; the Department had no right to meddlo in the affairs of adult people.