SOLDIERS' ESTATES
AN IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY
WORK OF THE PUBLIC TRUST
An interesting statement regarding the work of the Public Trust Office in the administration of deceased soldiers' estates; was made yesterday by the Minister of Finance (Sir Joseph ward). The care of soldiers' estates has become an important part cf the work of the Public Trust Office, which makes a specially low charge and if ten administers the properties without any remuneration whatever. I "It will be recognised that_ the remuneration of 1 per cent, fixed for the administration of soldiers' estates is an extremely low one compared with the charges niado for other classes of estates," said the Minister . f "The Office has also decided as a' further concession that all military pay, inchiding that which, had already been credited to Post Office Savings Bank accounts, should be exempted from any, commission charge. This concession has resulted in the Office administering many soldiers' estates without any remuneration whatever owing to the sole asset consisting of military Pay-' . ■ ; . .':
'"As the soldiers' estates rapidly increased in number special sections were established on the Wills snd Intestacy Divisions to deal with the estates, but early in-1916 it became apparent that some special. organisation should be created to provide a, staff for the exclusive purpose, of dealing with soldiers' estates. This action was taken and a special branch was created and placed under thn charge of Mr. T. E. Roberts, controller of the Intestacy Division. The officers en the division control the administration of all soldiers' estates throughout the Dominion, receive all necessary details, and ill many, cases requests to administer from the officer in charge of the War Expenses branch of the Defence Department.
"There has been a rapid arid continuous increase in the number of soldiers' estates coming tinder administration by-the Office: In January of the present year the 'total number in active administration was -2508. ar.d the fol-. lowing figures, showing tho runiber of new.estates reported each month, will indicate the growth of. the work of the division since . that date:—January; 250;' February, 213; March, loi: April, 230; May, 266; June, 219; July; 167; August, 181. The total number of soldiers' estates under administration', at the end of August was 3268. This lmniber does not include, estate in which the administration has been closed. 'Clio total number of closed estates is 252-1 so that in 'all 5792 estates of deceased soldiers have either been administered by the Office or are at present' wnder administration. The Office acts as attorney for 638 absent soldiers. Tlie fee li.xed in each case is governed by the nature of the duties imposed upon the Office, but in every instance the fee is practically a nominal one only, "Over and above these services tho office has provided/facilities at Trentham Camp for the preparation of soldiers' wills, and has employed an officer whoso sole duty it is to attend at the camp and thero take instructions from soldiers for their wills and to subsequently prepare such .wills for execution. He also prepares tho necessary powers of attorney in eases where the soldiers desire to appoint the Public Trustee; as agent during their, absence. The cost of this work* to the office, which is not less than £2oQ aycar, lias .not .-been included in the* estimate referred to later in this memorandum.
"In March last it became clear that satisfactory results could be obtained only by the severance of the Soldiers' Division from ;the Intestacy Division, so that the.'controller in'charge might devote the whole of his time to tho administration of the soldiers'' estates. This course was adopted, a new controller being appointed for the Intestacy Division, the Soldiers' Division being conducted. at a loss to. the Department. The average commission earned on each soldier's estate "amounts to £1. 18s., as against. the average of £5 17s: which , would have been earned if the ordinary'rates, of commission Lad been charged.' The total number of soldiers' estate administered and closed on September .30, 1918, was 2790. On such closed estates, the commission, if ordinary rates had been charged, would have been £16,452. Tho commission earned was £5354, so that the loss through reduction in commission was £11,100. The growth of the' Soldiers' Division has also been one of the , principal faotors jn causing the shortage of accommodation and rendering it necessary to acquire additional premises at AA'ellington 'for the Department's business. _ "The -facilities which the. office has. afforded for the administration of soldiers' estates at small cost to benofici-
Aries and dependants have.undoubtedly proved o£ the utmost value to many persons in straitened circumstances, whose sons or other relatives have lost their lives in the service of their country, and the board is extremely reluctant to consider the raising of the fees hitherto charged. It must be borne in mind, however, that the office cannot be expected to continue this work at so large an annual loss, and it may ho necessary to set aside an amount from the vote of war expenses, to cover the deficiency incurred, that'is to say, £11.100," to cover the estimated loss up to September 30, 1918."
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Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 21, 19 October 1918, Page 9
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854SOLDIERS' ESTATES Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 21, 19 October 1918, Page 9
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