PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1746, 10 May 1913, Page 8

PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE.

MR. HERDMAN INTERVIEWED, SOME 11ECENT CRITICISMS. (liy Telegraph— Press Association.) Auckland, May 9. Speaking at ihe opening of the Public 'J'riiat O/lico to-day, llio Hon. A. L. Jlenllmin, Attorney-General, caid the Public Trust had misted for -11 years for the safe and economical administration of estates and the fundamental principles upon which it had been founded 'had Ikoh maintained, and wera as strong as when tho oflice cninc into existence. There were 7300 estates <\t present under tho administration of the oflice, and th;;y were valued at; ,£11,000,000. It was known that the .Slate guarantee was lichind the Public Trust', and was Incoming a very important in.ililiit.ion in llio country, lie was glad to say that it 'had come out of tile recent investigation with flying colours, and it lind bevn trs'lnlilished that tho staff was a capable and loyil one. ilr. Flerduion said tho findings of the Commission were satisfactory. Some reflection hud been, made concerning tho personnel of tlo Commission. Tho Government had selected two of the most honourable me.i in the Dominion —Mr. A. Macintosh and Mr. J. lL Hosking. It had been suggested that the Commission had furnished a report at the instigation of tin? Government of the day. Such a ■suggestion was absolutely unfounded, anrl if such suggestions ivero made it would bn impossible to get such capable men to come forward for public service. Dealing with tho recommendations of the Commission, Mt. lterdman commended the proposal to separate Nativo trusts from European, trusts. Several minor suggestions had also been made, and if carried out would make t-ha working of the Department even more pcTfect than it was. Tho investigation was conducted with fairness and thoroughness. Tho Public Trust Office did not need such advertising, for the good work it did was sufficient advertisement. The institution should be as strong as a bank, and as sure as the Stale, and ho predicted a prosperous future for tho Department over which Mr. Fitchett presided. Regarding the legal work, he \v|s of opinion that tho stall' would confine their attentions to the work 'rf the oflice alone. The Public Trustee (Dr. Fitchett), ill speaking of the recoinmeudafitns made by tho Commission, said some were made at his own instance, and all of them werp cordially endorsed by him and also by the staif. The Public Trust Oflice had been attacked by members of the legal profession and country members. Some legal gentlemen had an idea that tho Public Trust Ofiico was a sort of legal bureau, and would cut the ground from beneath their feet. Such was very far' from the truth. At tho end of a conference with members of the legal profession, Mr. 801 l had declared that the office had treated tho profession more than fairly, and a letter has been since sent from" tile New Zealand Law Society entirely vindicating it from the imputation made against it by tho country members of tho profession. The office, he declared, had done ho legal work whatever, except in respect to tho estates it administered.