PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10714, 20 September 1912, Page 5

PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE

COMMISSION'S IMPUTATIONS REBUTTED. THE MINISTER PROMISES A HILL. • Tiv TeU.oraph.—Press Association WELLINGTON, Last Night. In thfc House of Representatives this afternoon, the.Hon.-A. L. Herdman laid on the table a .statement from the Public Trustee, rebutting; the imputations made by the Civil Service Commission on the management of the Public Trust Office. Messrs Forbes and Witty-asked the Minister to see that the utmost publicity was given to the statement Mr Witty thought the Trustee was discharging hi& duties thoroughly. Sir Joseph quoted from the ireport a recommendation of the Commission that.an Inspector of Realisation should be appointed. He agreed with the suggestion, but could not concur with the Commission's finding without seeing tlie evidence upon which they based their contention-. Mr Stathem stated that he had heard a Judge in Chambers remark that the more wills the Public Trust Office prepared for its clients. the better it would be for the legal profession. The Hon. A. L. Herdman. replying said a new" Bill would be introduced this session, to clothe the Public Trust Offices in Dunedin, Christchurch and probably Auckland with greater authority and power than they at present- possess. With regard to an inspector of securities", he had found that at present there was no proper system of inspection, and he suggested that two proper Inspectors should bo appointed. The business of the Public' Trust Office was growing to such an- extent that the constitution of. it would have to be altered. He thought some men with business training should be appointed to assist the Trustee. He intended submitting a proposal to Cabinet.