COURT OF APPEAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 322, 11 July 1912, Page 2

COURT OF APPEAL.

PUBLIC TRUSTEE'S POSITION. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Wednesday. The Court of Appeal to-day sat to hear argument in two special cases under the Public Trust Office Act, 1008. In the first case the question was whether the Public Trustee may sell realty for the payment of debts without an order of the court, whatever the value of the realty, and whether he can only do so where the realty is under £SOO in value. In the second case the question was whether, under section 14 of the Public Trust Act, 1908, the Trustee has prior right to administer the estate of any intestate dec-eased person, whether the next of kin or others apply or not, or do not wish the Public Trustee to be appointed administrator. I Sir John Find*]ay and Mr. Mac Donald were for the Public Trustee and Mr. Skerrett, K.C., and Mr. Gray for the Law Society. Mr. Skerrett contended that the questions were abstract questions and not questions between the parties, and that the court had no jurisdiction. After hearing Sir John Findlay in reply, the court upheld the contention.