PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 13979, 12 May 1913, Page 6

PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE.

THE COMMISSION’S FINDINGS. STATEMENTS BY HON; ; HERDMAN AND PUBLIC TRUSTEE. AUCKLAND, May 9. Speaking at the opening of the Public Trust Office to-day, the -Hon. Herdman said the Public Trust had existed 41 yeans for the safe and economical administration of estates, and its work stood for it. The fundamental principles! upon which it had keen founded had beam maintained, and were as strong as when the office came into existence. -7,301t estates at present under the administration of the office were valued at £ll,o(3UioUo, and it'pvas known'that the State guarantee was behind it. It was beco'huug'a very important institution in the country, and ho was glad to say that. it had dome out of the recent investigation with flying colours, and it had-’been that the staff was capable and a loyal one. The lion. Herdman said ; the: findings of tiic Commission were satisfactory. Some reflection had been made concerning the personnel of ■ the Commission which came lirst from supporters of the late Government. The Government selected two of the most honourable-men-in, the-Dominion —Messrs Mclntosh and J. Hi Hosking. It had been suggested that the Commission furnished, a report at the instigation of the Government of the day. Such a suggestion was absolutely unfounded, anil rf such suggestions were made it would bo impossible to get such capable men to come forward for public service. Dealing witli the recommendations of the Commission, the Hon, Hetdman commended the proposal To separate Native trusts from European trusts. Several minor suggestions had also been made, and if carried out would make tlie working of the Department oveii more perfect than it was. The investigation was conducted with fairness and 'fthorbnghhcsa, and with as high a standard ,of conduct as characterised any investigation -ever made in New Zealand.

The Public Trust Office did not need much advertising. The.- good' work it did was sufficient advertisement. The institution should be as strong asla bank-,, dnd as sure as the. State, and lie predicted a prosperous future for the Department over w.nieii Dr. Htehett presided. The . public confidence would increase in -it, and its future was assurred. Regarding the Legal work, he was of opinion that the staff would confine its attentions to the work of the office alone. When work of decentralisation took place, it would necessarily fohow that the chief .officers would ■ be considerably relieved; and bo able to give their more direct attention to the more important work of the Department. , The Public Trustee (Dr, pitollett), speaking on the recommendations-,mado by the (.'ummission referred 'to, said some were made at bis own instance, and all of them were cordially endorsed, by him and also by the staff. The Public; Trust Office ha,d been attached by a member -of the legal profession, and .country hfembors. He "’as... exceedingly sorry some legal gentlemen had an.-idea Unit .tlie Public Trust Office was a, sort of legal bureau, and would cut ground l from beneath their feet. Such was very far from the truth. At the end of the conference with the imirabers of tlie legal, jnofession, Mr Dell had declared that the office,had. treated the profession more than fairly, and a letter;'has been- since sent from, the Now Zealand law Society, entirely vindicating ■it from the diiiputation'. made against' it by country members of tlie profession. Thu office, he declaimed, had done no legal work whatever, excepting in respect to estates he administered. ■ •