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1925. NEW ZEALAND.

PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE (REPORT OF THE) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1925.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly in accordance with Section 47 of the Public Trust Office Amendment Act, 1913.

Pursuant to section 47 of tlie Public Trust Office Amendment Act, 1913, I have the honour to lay before Parliament the attached report on the work of the Public Trust Office for the year ended 31st March, 1925. 1. The business of the Office has again shovm a large and gratifying increase. The number of new estates accepted was 3,023, valued at £4,621,809, as compared with 2,739 estates, valued at £3,781,155, which were accepted during the previous year. It will be seen that the new business obtained during the year just closed exceeded that of the previous year by almost £1,000,000. The value of the estates and funds under administration on the 31st March, 1925, was £35,570,642, an increase for the fourth consecutive year of over £3,000,000. The following brief table shows clearly the remarkable growth of the Office business since 1890 : — Value of Estates and Funds Year. under Administration. £ 1890.. .. .. .. 1,240.098 1895.. .. •• .. 1,562,269 1900.. .. .. .. 2,192,594 1905.. .. .. .. 3,577,355 1910.. .. .. .. 7,358,947 1915.. .. •• •• 13,580,936 1920 . . . . .. .. 20,860,686 1925.. .. .. .. 35,570,642 It will be seen from the table that since the year 1910 the business has increased almost fivefold. 2. Although during the past four years the value of estates and funds under administration has increased at a rate exceeding £3,000,000 per annum, the expenditure for the year 1924-25 was considerably less than it was four years previously. For the years 1920-21 to 1924-25 the expenditure, excluding depreciation, was as follows : — 1920-21 . . . . .. .. 226,103 1921-22.. .. .. .. 202,137 1922-23.. .. .. .. 178,707 1923-24.. .. .. .. 180,643 1924-25.. ~ ~ 197,687

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