TRUST COMMISSION REPORT.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 637, 23 July 1891, Page 3

TRUST COMMISSION REPORT.

CALLING ON MB HAMEETON TO EESIGN. [sPKCIAL TO TUB STANDARD.] Wellington, last night. The Public Accounts Committee has decided to advise that Mr Hamerton be called upon to resign, and, if he refuses, that Parliament be asked to move in the matter, pension allowance being made. ADDITIONAL EXTRACTS. Mr Hamerton, the Commissioners are still on the estate of Mrs Dallon. The more it opens out, and the more that information is evolved from the dealings of and its connection with the Public Trust Office, the more astounding the revelations become. Now, are you aware whether there is any Act or section of an Aet giving you the power to hand over to or give the benefit of estates to illegitimate children ? Yes ; the Administration Act of 1879. Is that mandatory, or does it provide under certain circumstances ? Under certain circumstances. Then you do not think it is mandatory ? I should take it to be mandatory if the circumstances would meet the case.

Do you remember what the circumstances are? Tea. 1 will read you the clause. 'Clause 37 of * The Administration Act, 1879,” read.] Well, now, is not this case of Mrs Dallon directly in point! Yes. Well, then, can you tell me, under those circumstances, why you disregarded her son’s letter—first his cablegram, then his letter, in reference to that portion of his mother’s estate, the jewellery, 40., asking that it should not be sold ? I stated yesterday there had been an unfortunate oversight, and I see it more now ; but the young man has not produced anything to show that he is the son. But you have admitted it. You are aware that yon have admitted it over and over again that he is the son. You wrote to him about bis mother's death: are you not aware •t that ? I have no doubt of it. Then, locking at that section in the Administration Act of 1879, does this not seem to you not only a bard case, but a very outrageous one, so far as the treatment of thia young man by your office ? It has been unfortunate, no doubt. It arose, undoubtedly, from overlooking that provision you have just read. Has it not been more than unfortuante when you consider that the very articles of bijouterie that this son in a distant land wanted to obtain, to preserve and keep in remembrance of bis late mother—-his mother's watch and other things—that, in spite of his wry proper request, made, firstly, by wire, followed up by a nicely-worded letter, you not only rush these effects to auction when it suits the whim of yourself, the Public Trustee, and your chief officer is commissioned to go to the auction and buy the articles that the son so dearly and affectionately prized—his mother’s watch among them ? He shall have that. That, at this hour, has nothing to do with it. I ask you whether it is your opinion it is not worse than unfortunate ? No, I cannot call it worse than unfortunate, because it arose out of not having in view that section. Why do you hold this position and having had the advantage of a legal training ? Ob, I cannot excuse it. Were you satisfied that this young Dallon was the son of the intestate lady ? There is no reasonable doubt he was. The letters received at the office show that be was the son ?—Yes. Then, why were the things not sent to him Without any comment at all ? He was entitled to those things, legitimate or otherwise?— Yes.

Why were there articles not forwarded to him without any comment ? We always ask for proof of birth, in order to show that there is the relation of mother and child. Well, Mr Hamerton, you have had two auction sales in connection with Mrs Dallon’s estate, and you have now left over two packets. This lace was in one packet, and this writing desk, photographs, letters, and so forth—little et ceteras-were in the other packet. Why were these not sent to young Dallon ? We were waiting for a reply to this letter : 1 Your claim to the residue as sole next-of-kin cannot be established without proofs of 'kin. ship.’ Of course, this is based on a misapprehension—ignorance, in fact—or oversight of that clause in the Act. Now, can you seriously tell me that is a proper answer from you, who have had over ten years’ experience in this office 1 It is unfortunate, but I tell you the truth. Had this Commission of inquiry not taken place, these articles belonging to this estate would remain in these packets for how long? Until we had written to the gentleman again. And when would that have occurred ? It is impossible to say. Do you think ever ? I not do think we should, unless we had some news either from him or of him. Did yon go through this correspondence at all? No, I did not. Would yon mind looking at these two letters of Dallon’s, in addition to those he bh« forwarded to you. [Letters handed to witness.] There are a number of other letters there; you might glance at them. Look at these letters. (Letters handed to witness J Have you any doubt at all, after looking at them, that this young man, Dallon, is the son of the intestate ? I have no doubt of it now, Then, had you read these letters, which you ought to have done before, you would have been perfectly satiefled you were dealing with the son of the deceased woman ! I should have been perfectly satisfied of that, Looking at the many facts revealed to you by the Commissioners in connection with this estate, has not this young man in Queensland very grave cause of complaint J He has. Is it not a very cruel case ? I think it is. Why was thi? desk retained ? Why was it not digpoaed of with the other effeoW and the lace ? They should have been disposed of, but were not, fortunately as it happens, because now they will be sent to Dallon. I have gone through the papers carefully, and 1 have no reason to suspect the slightest reason to consider that thio voung man was the illegitimate son at Mrs Dallon. I wish yon would go through them too ? Then, if so, how account for the youth not furnishing proof ? from LieutColonel Wilkinson to A. E. Dallon’s father again read. ] After reading that letter, would you not consider the son was legitimate 1 Tea, looking at this letter I should.

The Commissioners questioned the Trustee and the other officers at length on the style of bookkeeping, and the answers received were. ol a startling nature. The style of keeping the books was shown and admitted to be of t most cumbrous ans unueosasarily expensive description, the object seeming to fee to make work and have everything in a state that ne one but the then officers could pretend to understand things, Mr Hamerton had among other admissions to confess that he did not know the number of ledgers in the office, or the existence at all of some books brought under his notice and he had also to acquiesce when the Shearman (Mr Larnachj pointed out a inpler, more satisfactory, and less expensive way the books might have been kept. The following extracts will give an idea of how the Office liked also to be singular in its style of correspondence, and regardless bf expense or Use in the purchase of pooka:— What is the form of latter that you and yogr several officers in charge of branches on your staff and the Public Trustee use ? It is the formal memorandum form, Then you never conform to the usual courteous mode of correspondence, cornmensing your letter with " Dear air,” or " Sir' >

No ; we only adopt the official memoranda. The only occasion on which we do not adopt that form of letter is when we write to the Agent-General. But if you were writing to me as a humble client, or to Brown, Jones, and Bobinson, as humble clients, you would use the printed memorandum form, and write in a formal way, and sign abruptly, ” Public Trustee,” or •• for the Public Trustee ” 1 Yes. Do you think that style of correspondence is likely to please the public and assist your office to get business ? No; Ido not think it is. I think the public like those little civilities. I think that the memorandum style of correspondence should be limited to our own agents if we are to use it at all, or in the office, but outside we should adopt the usual courteous mode of writing letters. How long is it since this memorandum form of correspondence commenced ? I think it it was in use when 1 came into the office. Did it commence in Mr Woodward’s time ? I think he used the form only to a limited extent. His letters, I believe, were in the orthodox fashion. So far as I can see, it commenced since Mr Woodward’s time? Yes ; I think so. Was it done from ignorance or to save a little trouble?

I hardly know what it was done for. However, you do not approve of it ? No ; I think it is all very well amongst ourselves to keep on so. Have you ever pointed out to the Public Trustee that it would be better to adopt the usual courteous mode ? No ; I have never done it. Let us now look at this cash-book. I notice that all your cash books, like your ledger?, have canvas covers, and the corners of them are bound with heavy braes. Did it ever occur to you that the brass corners and canvas covers would never agree ? I have thought that, certainly. Have they shown this ? The brass has a tendency to break through the covers in a very short time. Are these canvas covers necessary beyond the mere fad of making your books look uniform ? I do not think they are necessary. They cost some money ? They would probably cost 3s or 4s at least, And for the large ledgers? About 12a each. Nearly as much as a cover for a horse ? Yes, Have you any idea what those brass corners cost ? No. They are not necessary for books. Would you be surprised if they added about £1 to the cost of some of your cash books and ledgers ? I have no idea of the price.