35

8.—9

Trustee, and not to the next friend of the plaintiff or the plaintiff's solicitor, unless the Court otherwise orders. All such moneys form part of the Common Fund of the Office, bear interest accordingly, and are held and applied by the Public Trustee for the maintenance, education, or benefit of the person entitled thereto. PAYMENT TO THE PUBLIC TRUSTEE OF COMPENSATION FOR THE DEATH OF A WORKER. In all cases where compensation is allowed under the Workers' Compensation Act, 1908, on account of the death of a worker it must be paid to the Public Trustee, unless the Court otherwise orders. This result has been brought about by the provisions of section 9 of the Workers' Compensation Act, 1913. The effect of the section has been assumed by the Office to cast on the Public Trustee, in all cases where the moneys are paid otherwise than under a judgment of the Court of Arbitration, the onus of seeing that the full amount is paid which the employer or other person is made liable for under the Act. After the moneys reach the Office an order is applied for seeking the direction of the Court of Arbitration as to the method of disposing of the compensationmoneys or apportioning the same amongst the deceased worker's dependants. The application for apportionment may be made by any dependant, or by the Public Trustee at the dependant's written request, but if no dependant takes action within one month from receipt of the money it becomes the Public Trustee's duty to apply for an order. The section has cast a considerable amount of additional work on the Office. CONCLUSION.| Throughout the year the Board has given constant and unremitting attention to the removal of causes which have in the past resulted in delay to the administration of estates. Although the rapid expansion of business and the difficulties of obtaining an adequately trained staff have rendered, and continue to render, the problem difficult of solution, the Board believes that it has achieved some success in this direction, and that before another year closes, by which time the programme of reorganization now in course of development will have become materialized, it will be possible to chronicle a still further satisfactory advance. From time to time the Office receives complaints from persons interested in estates under administration, and every endeavour is made by the Office to afford satisfaction to the complainant in every such case. On the other hand, many letters are received from clients and beneficiaries expressing their appreciation of the services rendered by the Office. The Board is convinced that an important factor for obviating delays in administration is in continued and extended decentralization. This, however, is incapable of realization whilst trained men are available only to a limited degree to fill positions of responsibility. The Board recognizes that the very name and nature of the Office it controls imperatively demand that the service it renders should be of the highest character, and that its efforts should be directed to ensuring that nothing is left undone to secure the fulfilment of this vital obligation, not only by itself but by every official forming a part of the administration. I have, &c. EtOBEKT TRIGGS, Public Trustee. .1. W. Macdonald, i -A-W-Htaut Public Trustees. The Right Hon. the Minister in Charge of the Public Trust Office.

Approximate Cost of Paptr, Prepftrj.tk.il, not given ; printing c_,260 copies), £. r .B 10s.

Authority : Mabcus F Marks, Government Printrr, Wellington.—l9lll.

Price Is