CHARITABLE BEQUEST

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 41, 18 February 1930, Page 4

CHARITABLE BEQUEST

THE MACARTHY TKUST ACT

The example set by tho late Mr. T. G. Macarthy, in creating a trust for general charitable purposes, has been followed by another citizen of this city. Mr. Henry Wilshaw," a resident of Wellington for many years, who died here recently, and of whose will the Public Trustee is executor and trustee, has directed that the residue of his estate is to be held upon trust for such charitable purposes in the province of Wellington as the Board'of Governors of tho Thomas George Macarthy Trusty incorporated under the provisions of the Thomas George Macarthy Trust Act, 1!)12, shall pursuant to the provisions of the said Act direct. The Board of Governors constituted by* tho Act comprise His Excellency the Governor-General, tho Primo Minister, tho Roman Catholic Archbishop Wellington, and the, Mayor of Wellington. By Section 10 of the Act this Board of Governors is empowered to receive any gift, bequest, or deviso of any money or property in trust for charitable or educational purposes generally or for any specified charitable or educational purpose. The board executes .-.nd administers any trust of such money or property in accordance with the provisions of the instrument constituting the-trust, and is authorised to exercise with reference to such trust all the powers and authorities given to or vested in it by the Thomas George Macarthy Trust Act. Thus it will be seen that persons desirous of creating a trust of a charitable or other public nature are enabled to- utilise the services of the Board of Governors of tho Thomas Georgo Macarthy Trust, and to .ensure that, by entrusting the distribution of the available funds to that permanent and responsible body, such distribution will be mado to tho best advantage, and deserving objects assisted and fostered as far as possible. Tho late Mr. Wilhaw is the first person to avail himself of tho provisions of this special and very useful Act. Like tho late Mr. Macarthy ho has not specified any particular object of his bounty, but has merely indicated a general charitable intention, being satisfied to permit the details of distribution to remain entirely at'thc discretion of tho Board of Governors. The discretion reposed in this board is an important one, and it will now bo their responsibility to allbcate the funds available in accordance with the intention of the benefactor. It is understood that tho residue of tho estate should be between £1500 and £2000. If the example set by these two testators is followed by others, there will in time grow up a large sum available for tho assistance; of deserving objects, thus enabling the- exercise of an important and beneficial influence on the organisa-, tion and conduct of charitable institutions throughout'the Dominion.