Public Trust office.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 607, 14 May 1891, Page 2

Public Trust office.

A MILD VIEW. A WK.UHOTON correspondent who has apparently a leaning towards the exposed officials, and thinks that beoauae they themselves have volunteered the damaging informatioo they muet be excused, telegraphs ae follows Tha explanations of the five officers have not been published, but it may ba gathered from their evidence that the case amounts practically to a declaration that they did not see any harm in the proceedings to which exception is taken. There s isms little doubt that the case is being pressed somewhat harshly against them, but I believe hiy now admit (or acme of them at any rate), that their conduct was intulicious or indiscreet, although they disclaim all notion of wrong-doing at the time I have reason tu believe also that iq several instances the explanations place tha proceedings in a very different light. Take for example, the case of that missing hoe which was taken home by an officer for hie wife to value it, but which never again turned up until a search was instituted owing to enquiries by the present Boyal Commission. I am informed that the very day on which the lace was taken home that officer received orders early next morning to go to a country town and transact some important business. On his return to town some time after he was suddenly ceiled with a severe illness and for many days hie life waa despaired of. He Is only now slowly recovering. The lacs waa forgotten during his abasnee from town and subsrquent immiZ nsnt danger. There is not the sligheei suggestion that ho or his family attempted tq dispose of it in any way. That <• valuable bracelet ” is only known of on the authority of a person who says he eaw it among the effects of the deceased woman. AU the officers deny that any bracelet answering the description came to the office among the effects, but they say a gold bangle (which might perhaps have been regarded by a man as a bracelet) was cold among the other things. Tno landed investments have always been managed by a Board, of which the Colonial Treaeurer (of the day), Surveyor-General, Property Tax Commissioner, and other high officers are connected. The personal property was dealt with in a distinctly careless way, goods being cent in a lump down to the auctioneer, the officers trusting solely to the account sales. It must be remembered that all the facts of which so much is now being made were voluntarily and unhesitatingly disclosed by the officers themselves. I hear that the Commissioners will summon as a witness the one who was clerk to the auctioneer, the latter being dead ; they will also invite Sir Harry Atkinson to offer any explanation he may think fit touching his purchase of certain watches from the Trustee, thay being part of an intestate estate. They have invited the Auditor-General to explain what they deem tbe unsatisfactory auditing of the trust accounts by h<s Department, I believe that Ministers have virtually determined that the whole Department will be reconstructed, from the hood downwards ; that all the officers named will be suspended, and that an address wiji be moved iu Parliament for thq removal of the Public Trustee and tbe Chief Clerk; the Accountant and the Solicitor will be " retired.” As for the Clerk, who is the fifth of the illfated quintette, as his offence seems to have consisted only in purchasing a dress coat, it is possible that' be may be let off mbrq lightly. However, if the other four have th go, some new and fairly lucrative appointments will have to be made, and rumor is already bnsy in speculation on the probable successors of the officers who are expected to be dispensed with. A general feeling prevails that should this courre be taken with tlqe Jour principil offenders, jt will be very bars!} treatment; and an excessive punishment tor what was q mere error of judgment, At the same time, it cannot be ignored that the recent disclosures have absolutely destroyed all public confidence in the Trust Office, that there is a veritable panic among parsons who have property under its 'gare, aqd that no fteslj business is likely to oome to It until some safe, guards shall be provided against the danger of a repetition of past experiences. Several cases have already come under my notice of estates that were about tc be placed in Charge of tho Pnbtio Trust Office being placed la the haqd* of private trustees Jq" stead. A strong feeling also exists that if the office is ever again to do any good there mqst be a State guarantee, as in ths case of the Government Insurance Office. If tha personnel and system of the Department are re-formed, so also will its batie have to be. Ae to the multiplicity of books and accounts, on which great stress has been laid, I hear that this has been greatly exaggerated, <ctu4 of the so called books being mere memoranda or note books.