GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AS EXECUTORS.

Evening Star, Issue 12162, 5 April 1904, Page 7

GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AS EXECUTORS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Do you think it fair that a Government official should act as executor in a large estate, occupying time which belongs |to his employer (the State), and thus be entitled to receive a, commission as executor in addition to his salary in the Civil Service? Here we have a Public Trust Office Act and a Public Trustee, who is paid by the State, and is authorised by law to charge certain commissions for his services. Thus the State is benefited by his actions. In the case which has come under my notice a Government official (in no way connected with the Public Trust Office) has obtained probate to him as executor of the will, and whilst discharging his duties to Government also acts as such executor, to his pergonal advantage and profit. I maintain that, a-= no man can serve two masters," it was and is the duty of that executor to appoint ihe Public Trustee as executor in his stead (vide section 13 cf No. 50, 1894), and thereby let the State, not the individual, reap the benefit by commission or otherwise resulting therefrom., which in ibis particular instance would be, on as low a commission as £1 per cent, not.iess than £3OO. I am, etc., Dito March 31.