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to be conducted in close proximity to the assets under administration and to the beneficiaries ; and not only does this lead to the more effective control of the assets and facilitate the conduct of the work, but the ready accessibility of a representative of the Office is greatly appreciated by those with whom the Office has business relations. . STAFF. 42. The principal staff appointments made during the year were the following: — Head Office. (a) Mr. W. G. Baird, Controller, Estates Division, to the position of Assistant Public Trustee, vice Mr. E. 0. Hales, appointed Superintendent of the State Advances Office. (6) Mr. C. J. Playne, Assistant Controller, Estates Division, to the position of Controller, Estates Division. (c) Mr. J. Byrne, Special Administration Officer, Head Office, to the position of Assistant Controller, Estates Division. (d) Mr. C. E. Cole, Assistant Solicitor, Head Office, to the position of First Assistant Solicitor, vice Mr. F. E. Kelly, deceased. (e) Mr. D. K. White, District Solicitor, Dunedin, to the position of Assistant Solicitor, Head Office. (/) Mr. W. D. P. Kitching, Special Estates Administration Clerk, Head Office, to the position of Controller, Administrative Division, Head Office, newly established. District Offices. (a) Mr. D. Scannell, Assistant District Public Trustee, Hamilton, to the position of District Public Trustee, Greymouth, vice Mr. A. Bell, who after the close of the year assumed the position of District Public Trustee, Nelson. (b) Mr. W. R. Millier, Assistant Reviewing Inspector, Napier, to the position of Property Officer, Wellington District Office. In consequence of the growing needs of the Wellington Branch, where a large volume of business and residential properties of considerable value is administered, it was decided to set up a special organization to control this phase of the administration. (c) Mr. F. K. McNatty, Estates Administration Clerk, Christchurch, to the position of District Manager, Wairoa. (d) Mr. L. C. Kerr, Clerk, Palmerston North, to the position of District Manager, Thames. (e) Mr. E. V. King, Clerk, Palmerston North, to the position of District Manager, Marton. In furtherance of the policy of making each Branch Office a complete and self-contained organization, four appointments of Legal Clerks as additions to the personnel of branch offices were made during the year. The officers chosen for the positions were members of the staff of the Office, and their appointments did not involve any additions to the staff. 43. The efficient performance of the duties of trustee administration calls for the employment of officers with technical qualifications in law and accountancy, as well as experience in business and financial matters. It is therefore of interest to record that the staff of the Office includes 123 officers who have passed the Law Professional Examination/a number being qualified also as barristers, and 107 officers who have passed the Professional Accountants Examination, five of whom have also graduated in Commerce. 44. At the close of the year Mr. Alfred Smith, who had filled the position of Financial Adviser for a number of years, with advantage to the Office, relinquished this position, and the duties have from the commencement of the new financial year been assigned to a permanent officer of the staff.

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