8.—9

22

to date, the shortcomings on the part of the Office are remarkably few. The Chief Inspector adds, — Speaking generally, the system laid down for estate-administration work has been carried out with regularity, efficiency, and economy, and the instances of delay and neglect that were discovered are mainly attributable to the newness and lack of experience of the staff. At the inauguration of the system the Board requested the Chief Inspector to pay special attention to the speedy conclusion of the administration of estates. Certain remarks of the Chief Inspector which appear in a report recently furnished by him, and which bear upon this matter, may prove of interest: — I did suggest to the Board that estates should not be referred to the Chief Inspector until they had been six months in operation or under active administration, and that the. Board might rely upon Controllers, Local Deputies, and District Managers to give these new estates all the necessary attention during that period. I now recognize that it is the desire of the Board not only to speed up the administration, hut also to be satisfied that the officers concerned are proceeding upon right lines from the, earliest stages. Although it casts a vast amount of reviewing-work upon the Chief Inspector's Division, 1 am bound to admit the results have shown the wisdom and success of the Board's policy. Many estates, although fully realized, involve caution and full inquiry before distribution, even to the Office availing itself of the executor's year, and longer ; but there are plenty of simple, straightforward estates that- can get rapid despatch, and it is a [(leasing feature of the work of the Divisions and the Branches that they are getting it, under the new conditions. INSPECTION OF DISTRICT OFFICES. During the past year the following Office and agencies have been inspected : District Manager's Office, Greymouth. Agencies —Reefton, Hokitika, Westport. Reference was made in the previous report to the action taken in strengthening the inspectorial staff of the Office in- order that inspection of outside offices might be undertaken with regularity. Unfortunately, the staff of Inspectors became seriously depleted during the year owing to sickness and the withdrawal of some of the Inspectors for urgent necessary work. This accounts for the small number of inspections carried out during the year. It is of the utmost importance that the District Offices and Branches of the Department shall be inspected with regularity, and this requirement is becoming daily more essential in view of the increasing decentralization of the administration and accounting work relating to estates. Arrangements have therefore been made for the appointment of two additional Inspectors whose duties will be confined to the inspection of District Offices. LEGAL DIVISION. • On the 31st March, 1919, the staff, permanent and temporary (but exclusive of tvpistes), numbered twenty-five, an increase of one over the number employed on the 31st March, 1918. The • Division, in common with other Divisions of the Office, has experienced the effect of the increased business transacted during the year, it became necessary to appoint a third Assistant Solicitor in order to cope with the common law and opinion work, of which a large volume is performed by the Division. The probate and administration work has reflected the increase of the business of the Office. For the twelve months ended the 31st March last the figures are, — Applications for grant of probate . . . . . . 240 ~ order to administer .. .. 592 838 Other applications for Supreme Court orders . . . . 151 Total ... .'. .. ..989 Full advantage has been taken of the. provisions of the Public Trust Office Act under which the Public Trustee by filing an " election to administer " is enabled