PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 April 1918, Page 5

PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE.

OPERATIONS TOR THE YEAR. By Telegraph.—(Presa Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Public Trustee has furnished a report to the Minister of Finance, showing the operations of the Public Trust Office for the year ending March 31. They constitute a record in every respect, and although the figures are not final, it can be stated that the nefct profit on the year's amounts to a sum in excess of £70,000. This result is the more gratifying in view of the fact that heavy expenditure of an exceptional character had to be incurred by the office, and that a large amount of unremunerative work had to be undertaken, especially in connection with soldiers' estates and agencies. But for these factors, the balance would have been much larger. The office has, however, felt justified in making special concessions to soldiers. There are 2500 estates of deceased soldiers now under administration, and in these estates the commission charged is fixed at the exceptionally low rate of one per cent, on Ore nett amount realised by tide assets. In addition to this the office acts as attorney for 600 soldiers absent from New Zealand, and the Jfee charged for this service is. purely a nominal one. During the year much needed alterations have been carried out in the head office building which will materially assist in the efficient conduct of the department's business. Many reforms in office administration and practice haw already been inaugurated, and others are in course of introduction or contemplation. Although the full effect of these* changes is not yet apparent, they will, undoubtedly, conduce to the moro shc-* «essful and efficient working, of the.>department in future.