PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3828, 10 May 1913, Page 7

PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE.

“A COVERT ATTACK.”

Cphess association telegram.] WELLINGTON- May 9. The Wellington Trades and Labor Council passed a series of resolutions, expressing the opinion that the setting up of a commission of inquiry was in itself a covert attack on the Public Trust Office, and deprecating the action of the legal profession in attacking the office for,the purpose of withdrawing from the office the legal work now done for clients of the Public Trust Office by the legal.staff.

SPEECH BY MR HER,OMAN

[PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.] • AUCKLAND, May 9. Speaking at the opening of the Public Trust Office to-day Hon. A. L. Herdman said the Public Trust Office had existed for 41 years for tjie safe and economical administration of estates and its work stood for it. The fundamental principles upon which it had been founded had been maintained and were as strong as when the officp came into existence. Seventythree hundred estates at present under the administration of the office were valued at £11,000,000, and it was known that the State guarantee was behind it. It was becoming a very important institution in the country and he was glad to say that it had come out of the recent investigating with flying colors, and it' had been established that the staff was a capable and loyal one. Mr Herdman said the findings of the Commission were .satisfactory. Some reflection had been made concerning the personnel of the Commission, The commission came, first from the supporters of the late Gdv=~ eminent. The Government selected two of the most honorable men in the Dominion —Messrs Mclntosh and J. H.’ Hoskings. It had been suggested that the C’ommision furnished its report at the instigation of .the Government of the day. Such a suggestion was absolutely unfounded, aud if such suggestions were made it would be impossible to get such capable men to oomo forward for public service. Dealing with the recommendations of the Commission, Mr Herdman commended the proposal to separate Native trusts from European trusts. Several minor suggestions had also been made, and, if carried out, would make the working of the Department even more perfect than it- was. The investigation was conducted with fairness and thoroughness, and as high a standard of conduct as characterised any investigation ever made in New Zealand. The Public Trust- Office did not need advertising. The good work it did was sufficient advertisement. The institution should be as strong as a bank and as sure as the State, amt he predicted a prosperous future for the Department over which Mr Fitchett- presided. Public confidence would increase in it and its future was assured. Regarding legal work, he was of the opinion that the staff would confine its attentions to the work of the office alone. When the work of decentralisation took place it would necessarily follow that the chief officers would be considerably relieved and able to give tlisir more direct attention to the more important work of the Department. „ The Public Trustee (Mr lutchetc), speaking as to the recommendations bv the "Commission referred to, said some were made at Ins own instance and all of them were cordially endorsed by him and also by the staff. The Public Trust Office had boon attacked by members of the legal profession and country members. He was exceedingly sorry some legal gentlemen had an idea that the Public Trust Office was a sort, of legal bureau ana would cut the ground from beneath their feet. Such was very far from the truth. At the end of a conference with the members of the legal profession Mr Bell had declared that the Office had treated" the profession, more than fairly - a nd a letter had been since sent from the New Zealand Law Society entirely vindicating it from the imputation made against it by country members of the. profession. The Office, he declared, had done no legal work whatever, except in respect to- the estates it administered.