The Daily News. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1912. THE PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 118, 5 October 1912, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1912. THE PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE.

The Public Trustee lias not been long in answering the reflections on the management which appeared in the report of the Civil Service Commission. The report declared that the estates in the hands of the Department were not always realised to the best advantage. To- that specific statement the Public Trustee has made an equally explicit and far more detailed denial. He quoted figures comparing the Government valuations with the realised prices of properties disposed of by the Public Trustee in five districts. The comparison is so much to the credit of the Trust Office that the figures are worth reproducing. They are as follows:

Government Price value. obtained £ £ Wairarapa 52,724 101,484 Hawke's Bay „ 2,033 ' 3,235 Taranaki 4,112 5.983 Otago 3,526 5,56<> The improvements on the Government valuations actually realised represent percentages of 92.4, 59.2, 110.8, 41, and 57.8. In the aggregate this represents a gain of from £80,595 to £145,339, or a gain of 80.3 along the whole line in the Ave districts quoted. The office that performed this feat cannot be lightly charged with having failed in the matter of realisation to an extent disastrous to its clients. The figures are proof positive that over a certain aggregate the office did its clients very much Letter than could have been expected. They would not have complained if the valuation had been merely covered, and the bulk of them must have been highly satisfied with such a profit. There was, unfortunately, no examination of any of the responsible officers of the Department by the Commission—at least, this is to be gathered from the letter of protest forwarded to the Minister by the Public Trustee. It is difficult to understand, therefore, where the Commission got the information on which to base its condemnations of the office manner of realisation. During the discussion in the House that followed the production of the document by a Minister there was a chorus of spproval of the results

of tihq, Trust Office, but some of the mepifoers were careful to say that they had gome notes of complaints. It follows, then—there is a strong presumption,! at all events—that the complaints on which the members grounded their careful attitude must have found their way !to the Commissioners, who did not trouble to hear the other side by calling the officers responsible. It further follows! that the Commission departed from judiqial principles by condemning a responsible administration unheard on ex part 6 statements entirely. That may have' b v e'eri well intended, and, in view of the Jtigli character' of the members of t'liel Commission, it is impossible to doubt their bona fides, but it was extremely wrbng. In fairness to the Commissioners,' liowev'er, we must bear in mind that the Government valuations have; long been suspected of being under rathfcr than over the mark. Some few yearL ago that was brought out very> clearly by Mr. Buddo when Minister of Internal Affairs in a speech he made at Kaiaipoi.' Jn this he quoted a large number of 'valuations' which had been greatly exceeded by the sales in the open'market. It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that the sales by the Public Trust should liaVe exceeded the valuations. -'Especially is this so, when we consider the advantages the office has in realisation enumerated by the Public Trustee in hid letter. 'Firstly, realisais never forced, because the office .has; money to pay encumbrances and clear all claims, a thing private trustees 'caniiot do; but, not being able to advance, are bound to realise in terms of the (Svill in their hands. The office can andidoes advance moneys to beneficiaries to avoid forced sale; the officers of the department have considerable local knowledge; the'custom is to-sell only after fullest consultation with tM beneficiaries and- in accordance with their wishes; and the office offers liberal terms and advances money on the security to enable, to be carried out. These facts make out (i strong arid irresistible case' fpr' the Trustee. Nevertheless, it would, perhaps', be wise to follow out the jphra Recommended by the Commission! and add some inspectors of realisa-

tion to the staff of t'lje Trust Department. '' The! work of the Department' has 'grown -to abnormal proportions of latej years.. It is, indeed, frankly quite cleat that unless some change is made in a a/stem; which worked smoothly enough"in; the day of small things the popularity, of'the office will break down and business of great advantage to the State will go elsewhere. The relaxation, cif responsibility and worry thus aifoi'ded wilj l be greatly enhanced by the appointment .of inspectors of realisation. present/management is altogether outride the. range of party politics and is quitp beyond reproach, but it-is necessary that such an. important department should be fully manned and equipped witli the -best talent available. Having become a man, in fact, it is necessary that it should abjure the clothes of childhood and don, the garments of maturity.'