B.—9a.

1913. NEW ZEALAND.

PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE (REPORT OF COMMISSION APPOINTED TO INQUIRE INTO AND REPORT UPON THE WORKING OF THE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

COMMISSION.

Robert Stout, Administrator of the Government. ■ To all to whom these presents shall come, and to Alexander Macintosh, Esquire, of the City of Wellington, Superintendent of Dalgety and Company (Limited); and John Henry Hosking, Esquire, K.C., of the City of Dunedin : Greeting. Whereas it is expedient that inquiry should be made into the working of the Public Trust Office : Now, therefore, I, Robert Stout, the Administrator of the Government of the Dominion of New Zealand, in exercise of the powers conferred by the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1908, and of all other powers and authorities enabling me in this behalf, and acting by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said Dominion, do hereby constitute and appoint you, the said Alexander Macintosh and John Henry Hosking, to be a Commission to inquire into and report upon the working of the Public Trust Office, and, in particular, to ascertain,— ... (a.) Whether estates in the hands of the Public Trustee are efficiently administered. (b.) Whether the moneys controlled by the. Public Trustee are satisfactorily invested. (c.) Whether realizations are properly conducted. (d.) Whether the affairs of members of the Native race intrusted to the Public Trustee are carefully and satisfactorily managed, and to report whether the Native business managed by the Public Trustee should be separated from the Public Trust Office and managed by a Board or a Trustee specially appointed for the purpose. (c.) Whether the methods of book-keeping and accountancy adopted by the Public Trustee are satisfactory and in accordance with proper business methods. (/.) Whether the Public Trust Office is well and sufficiently staffed. (g.) Whether the present constitution of the Public Trust Office Board is satisfactory.

I—B. 9a.