B. -9

14

familiar with the details of the estates they are administering, and with the clients and other persons doing business with the Office. The success of the Office is largely dependent upon the personal satisfaction which can be given to those who do business with it, and this requirement has been greatly assisted by the fact that the same officers are engaged in the administration of the estate throughout its whole course. It can fairly be claimed by the Office that its officers display a personal and sympathetic interest in the needs of those whose interests are entrusted to them. Several of the District Officers of the Department in their annual report to the Public Trustee have referred to the beneficial effect following the policy of stabilization adopted by the Office. Training of Junior Officers. 32. The training of junior officers, which was referred to in last year's report, has been continued through the year now under review, lectures being delivered in commercial English, rights and duties of trustees, law of wills, intestacy, mental patient and miscellaneous estates, accountancy, and legal matters. Each course is spread over a period of two months, and examinations to test the students' knowledge are held in the middle and at the end of the course. The Public Trust Office is a large business organization, and knowledge on the part of its staff of the principles of accountancy and law in relation to the administration of estates under its control is a, necessity. In order that the [special functions of the Office may be, carried out efficiently, a supply of skilled officers is necessary, and the training of junior officers in the .technical work of the Department ensures the effective working of "the Department by bringing forward year by year a steady supply of juniors whose training enables them, with experience, to meet the exacting demands which the work of the Office imposes upon them. In order to supplement the instruction given in the training classes, a special training section has been established in the Wellington District Office, where certain cadets of good educational attainments have been attached for training. The Office will eventually derive great benefit from the tuition that these officers are receiving. as a staff of keen and experienced officers is being built up for the future. Work performed for Registrar-General. 33. By arrangement with the Registrar-General, officers of the Public Trust Office at certain places have been appointed as Registrars of Births, Deaths, and Marriages. At present the appointments relate to Taihape, Dannevirke, Timaru, and Blenheim, it is possible that the system will be further extended during the coming year. DECENTRALIZATION. 34. The Offices at Blenheim, Greymouth, and Masterton have been raised to the status of District Public Trustee Offices during the year. The District Public Trustee at Greymouth controls a district which includes the counties of Buller, Inangahua, Grey, and Westland, comprising the whole of the west coast of the South Island. The administration of all estates belonging to this district has been delegated to the District Public Trustee. The agencies at Westport and Reef ton are under his supervision. The District Public Trustee at Masterton has charge of the whole of the estates in the Wairarapa district, and controls the agencies at Martinborough, Carterton, Pahiatua, and Eketahuna. The Office at Taihape, which was formerly controlled by the Head Office, has been placed under the supervision of the District Public Trustee at Palmerston North. The District Manager at Taihape has reported in the following terms on the change : " This change has proved a decided advantage to the Branch generally, and especially has it improved the administration work, which is now done more quickly and efficiently than under the old system. Telephonic communication