PUBLIC TRUST.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17926, 21 October 1918, Page 4

PUBLIC TRUST.

ADMINISTRATION OF SOLDIERS' , r ESTATES, [From Ora Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, October 19. A statement with regard to the administration of deceased soldiers’ estates by tho Public Trust Office was made to-day by Sir Joseph Ward (Minister in charge). In tho early stages of the war, he, said, soldiers’ estates wero not singled out for special attention, but were administered in tho ordinary way by tho existing organisation of the Department. Towards the end of 1915 special consideration was given to the commission which should be charged for administration of soldiers' estates. It will bo recognised that the remuneration of 1 per cent fixed for administration of soldiers’ estates is an extremely low one compared with tho charges made for other classes of estates. Subsequently it was decided, as a further concession, that all military pay, including that whicn had already been credited to Post Hfficc Savings Bank accounts should be exempted lrom any commission charges. This concession has resulted in ’he office administering many soldiers’ estates without any remuneration whatever, owing to the solo asset consisting of military pay. As soldiers’ estuteb rapidly increased in number special sections were established in the wills and intestacy divisions to deal with the estates, but early in 1916 it became apparent that some special organisation should be created to pTovide a staff for the exclusive purpose of dealing with soldiers’ estates. This action was taken and a special branch was created and placed under tho charge of Mr T. E. Roberts, Controller of the Intestacy Division. Officers of the division control the adminisifration of all soldiers’ estates throughout the Dominion, receive all necessary details, and in many cases requests to administer from tho officer in charge of the war expenses branen of the Defence Department. There has been rapid and continuous increases in the number of soldiers’ estates coming under administration by the office. In January of the present year the total number in active administration was. 2508, and the following table will in-’ dicate the growth of the worn of tho division since that date s January , , .250 February . . , 213 March .... 151 ■April s r . , .230 May a « ■ . .266 June . . , .219 July . . , > 167 August . w . 181 The total number of soldiers’ es« tates under administration at the end of August wus 3268. This number does_ not include any estate in whicn administration has been closed. Tho total number of closed estates is 2524, so that in all 5792 estates of deceased soldiers have either been administered by the office or are at present under administration. In addition the office acts as attorney for 638 absent soldiers. The fee fixed in each case is governed by tho nature of the duty imposed upon the office, but in every instance is practically a nominal one only. .Over and abovo these services >, the office has provided facilities at Trentham camp for the preparation of soldiers’wills, and has employed an officer whose sole duty is to attend at the camp and there receive instructions from soldiers for their wills, and subsequently prepare sugh wills for execution. He also prepares tho necessary powers of attorney in cases where soldiers desire to appoint the Public • Trusteo as agent durincr their absence. The cost of this work to the office is not less than £250 a year. In March last it became clear that satisfactory results could be obtained only by the severance of tho soldiers’ division from the the intestancy division, so that tho controller in charge might devote the whole of his timo to the administration of soldiers’ estates. . This course was adopted, a new con- • trollor being appointed for the intestacy division. For many months \ past tho soldiers’ division was being conducted at a loss to tho. Department, and as it was felt that the amount should be ascertained with reasonable accuracy it was arranged that a report should he prepared. As a result of investigation it is found that after crediting all commission and interest earned by the division a large de- • ficiency was recorded. The board has given careful consideration to the basis which should be adopted to determine the amount of loss, and it has conferred with the accounting officers of the De- ... partment. As a result of discussions which havo taken place it was decided that the fairest method would be to ascertain the difference between the amount earned in the administration of soldiers’ estate at the reduced rate of commission referred to _ above and tho amount of revenue which would have been derived by the office had the regular rates of commission been charged. The outcome of the whole of the investigations indicates that the average commission earned on each soldiers’ estate amounts to £llßs, as against an average of £5 17s _ which would have been earned if ordinary rates of commission had been charged. The total number of soldiers’ estates adminiHered and closed in September 30, 1918, was 2790. On such closed estates the commission, if ordinary had been charged, would have been £16.452. Tho commission earned was £5364, and tho loss through reduction in commission was. therefore, £ll,lOO. The facilities which the office has afforded for admin-» istration of soldiers’ estates at smallcost to tho beneficiaries and dependents have undoubtedly proved of the utmost value to many persons in straitened circumstances, whoso sons or other relatives havo lost their lives in the service of their country, and the hoard is extremely reluctant to consider the raising of the fees hitherto chavged. It must be borne in mind, however, that the office cannot be expected to continue this work at so largo an annual loss, and it feels that it would be a legitimate course to set aside an amount from the vote for war expenses to cover the deficiency incurred that is to say £11,1.00 to cover the estimated loss up to September 30, 1918.