23

8.—9

The granting of maintenance allowances has been carefully regulated, and the maintenance of minors properly supervised. The use of standard paragraphs in correspondence as an. aid to the elimination, of dictation has been recommended to officers. Standard Board papers have been introduced in connection with the work of the Public Trust Office Investment Board. The relations existing between, the Office and the legal profession have been improved. Limited authority for the expenditure of amounts for current expenses has been granted to Local Deputy Public Trustees and District Managers. Improved methods of preparing vouchers and claims have been introduced, and considerable savings of labour and stationery have resulted. The duties of many classes of officers have been defined in detail, and further classes of duties will be mapped out as time permits. War-loan certificates to the value of £965 are being purchased by the staff on the instalment system, under a scheme sanctioned and financed by the Office. The Local Deputy Public Trustees and District Managers at Christchurch, Dunedin, Wanganui, and Masterton have been relieved of bankruptcy duties.The Local Deputy Public Trustee, Auckland, has visited the Tongan Group on matters connected with estates under administration, by the Office. Regulations governing the custody of jewellery and other valuables have been prepared and issued. Improvements have been effected to the safe-deposit vault at Wellington. Women officers who are skilled typists have been appointed, to type simple statements of accounts direct from the ledgers. Monthly reports on the conduct of the work have been obtained from all Divisional ffeads. The work of preparing all land- and income-tax returns has been undertaken by one officer. Women officers have been largely employed on record work, thus enabling male cadets to be released for other duties. The Post and Telegraph Department has acted as purchasing agent for all stores and supplies required by the Public Trust Office, and the scheme has worked with great smoothness. Additions to the office furniture and equipment have been provided, and standard tables have been supplied to clerks and typists. One hundred and fifty standard forms have been introduced and others are in course of introduction. Arrangements are being made to obtain, the services of a competent man to conduct the whole of the insurance work of the Office. An improved system for the custody of deeds ha.s been introduced. The following table contains interesting information indicating the progress of the Office during the past decade : —

tear Total Value of Estates in Offi co, including Unrealized Assets. lunds at T , , -,-, ,-, ,., » Interest Bonus r , ,- ,. Credit of ,., ,, , , . Gross Expendi- ,_ , , , credited Lotrranted to -, ,' , Estates and „ . . fo T , , , Income. ture. 1 Accounts. Estates ' Estat6S ' Assurancel § « Net and ||h-o Profits. Reserve | -g g P Fund. ag W 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1.915 1916 1917 191.8 £ 6,399,567 7,358,947 8,112,342 9,493,959 11,268,311 1.2,282,883 13,580,936 13,598,744 15,065,583 17,153,031 £ £ £ £ .£ 2,850,111 78,937 .'. 36,804 25,954 3,414,168 85,716 .. 41,433 29,695 4,287,195 104,098 .. - 46,069 34,828 5,070,305 172,907 .. 64,873 38,954 5,799,446 202,439 .. 72,067 44,156 6,366,707 230,062 .. 82,517 53,295 7,096,420 256,806 .. 88,296 55,788 7,082,288'281,700 25.000 103,763 57,655 8,058,886 287,818 27,000 129,008 70,146 9,004,057 317,633 30,000 162,614 94,012 £ £ £ 10,850 30,499 11,738 35,162 11,241 39,621 562 25,919 50,832 2,595 27,551 59,753 4,765 29,222 112,209 7,915 32,508 139,721 11,439 46,108 177,416 15,047 58,862 186,554 19,344 68,602 216,090 24,373 Increase in \ preceding 12 - months j 2,087,448 945,171 29,815 3,000 33,606 23,866 ..,_. . _ . 9,740 j 29,536 5,029