§ Captain ELLISTONasked the Attorney-General whether he will make a statement with regard to the complaints made of unreasonable delay in the transaction of business by the Public Trustee 998W Office; and whether he is aware that beneficiaries under the will of a testator, who died in December, 1929, are still without any distribution on account of income after awaiting an order of the courts in reference to estate duty until 10th May, 1934?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERALI am not aware of any general complaint of unreasonable delay in the transaction of business in the office of the Public Trustee. As regards the case, which, as I believe, my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind, it was necessary to apply to the court, not with reference to estate duty, but on the construction of the will which is of great complexity. The order of the Court, though obtained on 10th May, 1934, was not finally drawn up until August of that year. The matter had then to be submitted to the Inland Revenue authorities for the assessment of duty; and this matter, again owing to the great complexity of the will, was only finally agreed on 22nd March of this year. The distribution to the beneficiaries of the income available, except in two cases which are still under discussion with the Inland Revenue authorities, was completed last week.