BEQUEST OF £120,000.

Shannon News, 11 March 1924, Page 3

BEQUEST OF £120,000.

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ BENOIT.

RICH GRAZIER’S WILL.

Returned soldiers in New South Wales will benefit to the extent of about £120,000 as the result of last week-end's decision of the Julicial Committee of the Privy Council in relation to the Verge Estate.

When German Verge, a grazier of Gladstone, near Kempsey, New South Wales, died in January, 1921, he left a will bequeathing his residuary estate to the repatriation fund, or similar fund for the benefit of returned New South Wales soldiers.

A member of the Verge family lodged an appeal and the question-was raised whether the bequest was a good charitable gift. The Privy Council decided that it was, and, at the same time on a cross appeal by the Commonwealth, it was ruled that the fund was to be applied for the benefit of New South Wales soldiers, and not for Australian, soldiers generally. Under the Commonwealth cross appeal no vital issue was raised and it simply asked for determination on the form of administration of the fund. Returned soldiers are jubilant. Before the appeal was taken to the Privy Council it was pointed out that the Returned Soldiers’ League, , chafing under the protracted litigation, was disposed to accept a compromise on the basis of £90,000, but the Crown Law authorities refused to sanction this action. An official of the Crown Law Department has stated that the AttorneyGeneral would doubtless appoint a trust to complete a scheme for the distribution of the fund. The returned Soldiers’ League will ask for representation.