Public Trust Office.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 23 June 1891, Page 3

Public Trust Office.

The report of the Commission appointed to investigate the management of the Publio Trust Office was laid on the table of the House on Friday. The report of the Commissioners, Messrs W. J. M. Larnach A. Loughrey, T. E. Macdonald, is, briefly, to the eftect— (l) That in the mode of conducting the business of the office there has been an absolute want of any proper or regular system. (2) That the powers of the office ought to be large, and free from control by the AuditorGeneral. (8) Concerning investment of funds, the find that the securities, etc., were not described with sufficient minuteness in the journals of the office. (4) The Commissioners think the powers of the office should be extended. The question of whether the Public Trustee should, as he desired to do, divest himself of all business with the Maoris, they leave to His Excellency the Governor for consideration. (5) The law should be amended to give the Public Trustee the greatest facilities for carrying on a general financial business. (6) The Commissioners find that a good deal of irritation has been caused by petty charges, estates having been often saddled with costs at the caprice of ledger keepers. The Commissioners confess themselves •• startled " by the disclosures about the disposal of intestate estates. They find the treatment of lunatics' estates has been unsatisfactory, no attempt being made to relieve the wants of a wife and family out of the estate of a lunatic.