PUBLIC TRUSTEE

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 52, 2 March 1921, Page 7

PUBLIC TRUSTEE

NEW APPOINTMENT ANNOUNCED

MR. J. W. MACDONALD

PROMOTED,

Cabinet has approved the appointment of Mr. J. W. Ma,cdonald, for several years Assistant-Public Trustee, as Public Trustee. The position was rendered vacant by the death of Mr. R. Triggs. Mr. Macdonald was born in Christchurch on 28th June, 1882, and was educated at Timaru, where his father, the late Sir. James Macdouald, resided. After leaving school he entered the service of the Lyttelton Times. Whilst there he continued his educational studies, and, passing the Senior Civji Service Ex?jninafcian, he entered the Department of Justice. From 1901 to early m 1906 he was on the staff of the Magistrate's Court in Wellington, improving his knowledge of office routine and documentary law. On passing his final solicitor's examination he entered the legal branch of the Public Trust Office, and, quickly adapting himtrif to the require. ments of his new work, Ji-e was a,ppointed assistant-solicitor to the office in 1807. Two years later, on the retirement of Mr. F. J. Wilson, he was appointed solicitor to tho office. The steady expansion of the office resulted in 1917 in the single head of the Office being replaced by a triumvirate—a Public Trustee antl two Assistant-Public Trustees—and Mr. Macdonald's work in tha office reJeived due recognition by his appointment to one of the two latter positions. Now has come promotion to the position of Public Trustee. Since 1917 Mr. Macdonald has had charge of Ihe Legal, Wills, Tru»t, and Agenay Division, the Native Pivisioc, tho Moutgage and Investment Division, th« War Regulations Division (enemy firms and property), ?nd has also been a member of the Fina-ipe, Legal, and Comnnttess o{ the Board of AdjnvnUtvatiyi, and a,, member of the Lending Board of the State Advances and Public Trust Departments. He was also ft, member of tha board which was concerned (in the interests of New Zealand) in matters embodied in the Treaties of Versailles and St. Qermain-le-H»y«i Mr. Macdonald was three times- returned a* a member of the Public Service Superannuation Fund Board by contributors to the fund. He is the author of a text book on the Workers' Compensation Act, 1908, and a number of articles on legal subjects.