B.—9

31

Eesealing. 48. In tlie new business reported from time to time is included a considerable amount of administration work on behalf of persons who reside outside New Zealand. Whilst obviously the Office operations are carried on chiefly with persons resident in New Zealand, applications are increasingly being received from those resident abroad for the Public Trustee to act in regard to assets situated here. The Public Trustee acts in resealing a foreign grant of probate or administration to enable New Zealand assets to be dealt with, or, if it is necessary, in obtaining a fresh grant by the New Zealand Courts. The organization of the Office is admirably adapted for this kind of work. The Public Trustee has in his employ a large number of officers skilled in questions of domicile, the incidence of death and succession duties and other charges in various jurisdictions, so that all kinds of administration work may be promptly and efficiently handled. The reciprocal services rendered by the Public Trustee and the various officials who perform similar functions in other jurisdictions are important and are of considerable assistance to the Office and to them. Administration Abroad. 49. In the course of administration a large number of estates are possessed of assets outside of this country. Of course, the New Zealand grants of probate or administration have no effect beyond the Dominion. When the Public Trustee is required to administer and deal with assets of an estate situated beyond New Zealand he employs suitable officials or persons resident in the foreign jurisdictions wherein such assets are situated to enable the necessary grant of administration to be obtained and to account to him as principal administrator. In such cases the Office has adopted the practice of instructing public officials endowed by the law of their respective countries or states with the power of administering deceased persons' estates in those jurisdictions, unless there is some good and sufficient reason why some other person should be employed. As I have previously pointed out, there is close co-operation between the Public Trustee of New Zealand and the various State officials in Australia, and the Public Trustee, London. A large proportion of the business transacted in the United Kingdom is done through the High Commissioner for this Dominion in London, whose officers have now had a long experience in this class of work. The arrangement works very satisfactorily and is found to be a great convenience to clients and others resident in England and on the Continent. There are, however, numerous cases where for one reason or another it is necessary or advisable to employ the Public Trustee, London, or independent legal practitioners. In determining who shall be employed to complete administration abroad the Office takes into account all the facts of the case. Where, for example, a reputable practitioner acted during the deceased's lifetime, or where the beneficiaries for some good reason desire the employment of some special person, effect is given to such considerations wherever possible. Convicts. 50. As I have already intimated on previous occasions, the Public Trustee administers the estates of all convicts in New Zealand, other than Natives within the meaning of the Native Land Act, 1909. Section 55 of the Prisons Act, 1908, vests in the Governor-General power of appointment of an administrator for each convict's estate. By virtue of this power the Governor-General has executed a. general appointment appointing the Public Trustee administrator of all convicts' estates, except those of Natives, as indicated above. In addition to the persons included in the term " convict " in the Prisons Act, 1908, by section 24 of the Crimes Amendment Act, 1910, persons sentenced to reformative detention for any period are deemed to be convicts, and therefore the administration of the estates of these persons devolves upon the Public Trustee. There is nothing of special interest to record in connection with the administration of convicts' estates for the year now under review.