8.-9

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DESTITUTE PERSONS ACT, 1910. 61. Under this Act the Public Trustee performs the following functions :— In terms of section 30 a Magistrate may require the defendant to give security for due compliance with a maintenance order made in pursuance of the Act. The security must be (as the Magistrate may decide) a cash deposit of not exceeding £200 with the Public Trustee, or a bond to the Public Trustee (with one or more sureties approved by the Magistrate) in a sum not exceeding £200. Thus in cases of orders under the Act the Public Trustee either holds the bond entered into by the defendant and sureties approved by the Magistrate, or a deposit of not exceeding £200, to compel due obedience to any order that is made. If during the currency of an order there is no default on the part of the defendant, then on the expiry of the period any deposit is returned to such defendant on an order of the Magistrate. If, however, default is made in the payments due under an order, then the Public Trustee may have to take action in respect to the security given. If a deposit has been made, any arrears in respect to moneys payable under a maintenance order, on the application of the person to whom they are payable, are to be paid by the Public Trustee out of the deposit. In making a maintenance order the Magistrate may charge the real or personal property of the defendant with payment of the sum provided in the order, and may appoint the Public Trustee or any other person Receiver of the rents, profits, and income of the property so charged or any part thereof. It is the duty of such Receiver to collect the rents and profits, pay the outgoings, and satisfy thereout all moneys from time to time accruing under the maintenance order, and to pay any balance to the person who would be entitled to these moneys were no such receiving-order in force. Thus.it will be seen that the custody of the bonds and securities given to ensure obedience to orders under the Act is in the hands of the Public Trustee, who also performs a large number of other services in connection with them for which no remuneration is received. A large number of these bonds are held, and there are frequent inquiries and other action to be taken in reference to them. This is one of the public duties which have been cast on the Public Trustee, and the carrying-out of which is of assistance to many of the more unfortunate members of the community. Frequently the Public Trustee is appointed Receiver. The machinery of the Office is admirably suited to this class of work, which is closely allied to many other kinds of administration work carried on by the institution. AGENCIES. 62. The Public Trustee also acts in the management of their affairs as attorney or agent for persons resident either in the Dominion or abroad. The organization of the Office is particularly suitable for carrying out this class of work. Under it is included resealing probate or letters of administration on behalf of personal representatives of deceased persons who axe resident overseas. For those having no agent in New Zealand and desiring to reseal probate or letters of administration, or to make inquiries, or to conduct any other business in the Dominion, the facilities offered by the Office are specially suitable. The agency work is steadily increasing, and many wealthy and influential persons now entrust the conduct of their affairs to the Public Trust- Office during their absence from the Dominion. AGENCY WORK PERFORMED FOR AUSTRALIAN PRINCIPALS. 63. The business transacted by the Office for principals in Australia is increasing, and it is felt that as the special facilities offered by the Public Trust Office become more widely known the Public Trustee's services will be more freely availed of. WORKERS" COMPENSATION ACT, 1922. 64. Section 33 of the Workers' Compensation Act, 1922, provides that any sum awarded for compensation and directed in pursuance of the Act to be invested