8.—9

recently been made to the English law in this regard, and as the matter is of particular interest to persons engaged in the administration of trust estates the Public Trustee has thought well to refer to this subject in his report. 12. Apart from the foregoing matters, attention may be directed to the following matters appearing in the Public Trustee's report: — (1) The increase in the balance at credit of estates and funds from £24,426,009 to £26,485,917. (2) The increase in the Office reserves to a total of £647,884. (3) The statement of the Public Trustee regarding the extension of the Public Trustee system throughout various parts of the British Empire and other countries. (4) The satisfactory relations maintained throughout the year with advisory trustees appointed to act in regard to the administration of estates in the Public Trust Office, and the steadily increasing popularity of this system. (5) The progress made in regard to the duties imposed upon the Public Trustee in connection with the disposal of enemy property and the settlement of pre-war debts between British and German nationals. These duties form the subject of a separate report already presented to Parliament, but in future years the compilation of a separate report will be discontinued and a comprehensive statement of the position included in the Public Trust Office report annually. (6) The operation of the system in force in the Office for the inspection and supervision of the work performed, also the system of audit in regard to the accountancy work of the Department. 13. The work of the Office has proceeded smoothly during the past year, and the competency of the staff and the'efficiency of the Office system are evidenced by the absence of justified complaints by beneficiaries and others coming into contact with it. On the other hand, many expressions of appreciation from such persons have come before my notice from time to time. The experience of the year just past and of previous years points to the continued popularity of the Office and the steady increase in the business entrusted to it. J. G. Coates, Wellington, 14th September, 1927. Prime Minister.

4