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23. Award to Officer of the Department.—lt is gratifying to record that a thesis on " Executorship Accounts " prepared by Mr. A. E. J. Anderson, Assistant Chief Accountant of this Office, secured the first prize in a competition promoted by the New Zealand Society of Accountants for the advancement of research in accountancy. The Society is arranging for the publication of the thesis in book form. 24. General.—The following statement indicates the number of staff, including the Public Trustee and the Assistant Public Trustees, engaged in the work of the Department as at 31st March, 1939, and 1940, at the Head Office and at the district offices :— Ilead Office. On 31st March, 1939 — . On 31st March, 1940— Permanent .. 94 Permanent 92 Temporary .. 22 Temporary .. 23 116 — 115 District Offices. Permanent . . 665 Permanent .. 640 Temporary .. 192 Temporary .. 219 857 ' 859 973 974 Unattached .. 57 Total .. 1,031 Increase in staff during the year, 58. The majority of the officers shown as " unattached " are absent on service with the armed Forces, the remainder having been lent to other Departments for the duration of the war, or being absent on extended sick-leave. 25. District Representation.—At the close of the year the Office was represented throughout the Dominion by 23 District Public Trustee offices, 21 District Manager offices, 38 non-permanent agents, and a number of part-time offices. This wide representation enables the work to be conducted in close proximity to the assets under administration and to the beneficiaries. CONCLUSION. 26. I desire to record my appreciation of the loyal services which have been rendered by the Assistant Public Trustees, the staffs at the Head Office and the district offices, and the agents of the Office. The maintenance of the reputation which the Public Trust Office has gained for prompt, efficient, and sympathetic administration is largely in their hands, and I am pleased to report that there has been no falling away from the high standard which has obtained in previous years. Cordial thanks are also due to the members of the Investment Board for their assistance in matters relating to the investment of moneys in the Common Fund. I have, &c., E. 0. Hales, Public TrustcG The Hon. the Minister in Charge of the Public Trust Office.

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