LAWS OF WESTERN SAMOA

PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE ACT 1975

ANALYSIS

Title

PART I
Preliminary

1. Short title
2. Interpretation

PART II
Constitution and Organisation

3. Public Trust Office
4. Public Trustee
5. Appointment of other officers, employees, and agents
6. Delegation by Public Trustee
7. Judicial notice of certain seals, appointments and signatures

Contracts

8. Contracts by the Public Trustee

Public Trust Office Investment Board

9. Constitution and powers of Investment Board
10. Passing of resolutions of Investment Board by entries in minute book
11. Investment Board may delegate powers of making and controlling investments

Secrecy in respect of Estates

12. Officers to make declaration of fidelity and secrecy

PART III
ACCOUNTS AND INVESTMENTS

Accounts

13. The Public Trustee's Account
14. Payments to Public Trustee's Account
15. Estate accounts
16. Payment of salaries and expenses
17. Balance Sheet, etc.
18. Application of profits
19. General Legal Expenses Reserve Fund
20. Deficiency payable out of Treasury Fund
21. Loss occasioned by negligence of officer
22. Annual report to be submitted to Minister and Legislative Assembly
23. Rights and powers of Minister of Finance

Investments

24. Common Fund
25. Special investments not guaranteed
26. Investments of the Common Fund
27. Public Trustee may buy in securities and apply Common Fund money for the purpose
28. Temporary advances to Public Trustee
29. Deficiency in Common Fund to be made good out of Treasury Fund
30. Public Trustee may act as agent for investment of money in Common Fund
31. Repayment of money invested in the Common Fund by or on behalf of infant

Advances to Estates

32. Advances to estates

Advances to Beneficiaries

33. Advances to beneficiaries

Advances to be treated as Mortgages

34. Where land is affected advances to be treated as mortgages

Renewals of Mortgages

35. Public Trustee may arrange extensions or renewals of Common Fund investments

PART IV
Acquisition of Rights to Administer Estates

36. Duties for which Public Trustee may be appointed
37. Appointment of Public Trustee by executors, administrators and trustees
38. Public Trustee entitled on application to administration of intestate estates
39. Public Trustee may be appointed sole trustee where appointment of 2 or more trustees provided for
40. Judge may consent to Public Trustee's appointment if any person whose consent is required refuses or is unable to consent
41. Public Trustee not to accept joint appointment
42. Public Trustee on appointment to have same rights, etc., as a private person
43. Property, rights, etc., to vest in Public Trustee on appointment
44. Power of Public Trustee to administer if no application made for probate or administration
45. Provisions relating to applications for grants of administration
46. Public Trustee may be appointed guardian or next friend of infant
47. Public Trustee may act as agent for resealing in Western Samoa
48. Public Trustee may be appointed receiver
49. Public Trustee may be appointed to represent parties in legal proceedings
50. Public Trustee may act as arbitrator or umpire
51. Public Trustee propounding will or applying for administration entitled to costs
52. Registrar to notify Public Trustee of lodging of caveat
53. Trustees may delegate powers to Public Trustee
54. Powers exercisable by Public Trustee pending grant of probate or administration
55. Notice to person entitled to obtain probate or letters of administration
56. Public Trustee may oppose application for administration
57. Validity of acts by Public Trustee under administration granted in error
58. Payment of legacies of infants to Public Trustee

Protection of Infants and Persons under Disability in Certain Cases

59. Money or damages to which infants and others entitled to be paid to Public Trustee

Benefit Funds

60. Administration by Public Trustee of benefit funds

Notices

61. Notice of orders placing property in Public Trust Office to be served on Public Trustee
62. Registrars of Courts to see that orders sent to Public Trustee
63. Rejection of appointment of Public Trustee to be notified to interested persons
64. Certificate by Public Trustee to be evidence of acceptance or rejection

PART V

Election to Administer and Certificates of Administration

65. Power of Public Trustee to elect to administer small estates without grant of administration
66. Election in respect of unadministered balance of an estate
67. Operation of election to administer as regards property overseas
68. Revocation of elections filed in error
69. Court fees payable on elections, etc.
70. Certificate by Public Trustee as to his legal status in any matter

PART VI

Unclaimed Property

71. Appointment of Public Trustee as manager of unclaimed property
72. Mode of appointment
73. Powers of Public Trustee
74. Power of Public Trustee to pay for improvements
75. Sale or transfer of land to occupier or person entitled thereto
76. Public Trustee to have discretion as to exercise of powers
77. Public Trustee may apply to Court for directions
78. Money to form part of Common Fund
79. Remuneration and expenses of Public Trustee
80. Property of which Public Trustee takes possession to be held for owner
81. Termination of managership
82. Evidence in respect of unclaimed property
83. Transfer of unclaimed property to State
84. Provision in case of lost title
85. Order or notice not affected by mistake of fact
86. Savings

PART VII

Miscellaneous

87. Special powers that may be exercised by the Public Trustee
88. Public Trustee may act on written statement, etc.
89. Powers of inspection of property
90. Public Trustee as mortgagee in possession may charge for collection of rents
91. Public Trustee acting in fiduciary capacity may receive remuneration
92. Public Trustee may sue himself in different capacity
93. Sale of goods by auction
94. Proof and payment of debts
95. Payment of claims when assets insufficient
96. Public Trustee may bar claim of creditor if not prosecuted
97. Duty of Public Trustee as to shares of infants
98. Interest on pecuniary legacies
99. Conditions on which tenant for life may be allowed into possession
100. Public Trustee to have lien on policy money for premiums
101. Power of Public Trustee to make small payments without order
102. Payment of money without grant of administration
103. Public Trustee may determine domicile of person in certain cases
104. Existence of property belonging to estate being administered by Public Trustee to be disclosed
105. Inquiries as to property
106. Declaration of non-revocation not necessary where Public Trustee executes as attorney
107. Protection of Public Trustee acting under power of attorney
108. Deposit of wills
109. Debentures, etc., may be accepted by Public Trustee for safe custody
110. Custody of documents of title
111. Term of tenancies created by Public Trustee
112. Acceptance of rent not to invalidate notice to quit
113. Protection of purchasers and others
114. Protection of tenant or lessee
115 No notice of trust to arise merely from dealing with Public Trustee
116. Registration of shares
117. Public Trustee may evidence and register dealings in land when acting in different capacities
118. Procuration fee in respect of loan from Public Trustee forbidden
119. Certain restrictive covenants in mortgages declared void
120. Protection of Public Trustee acting under order of Court
121. Reciprocity of administration with Public Trustees of Commonwealth countries
122. Public Trustee not required to give bond
123. Public Trustee and officers not personally liable except for fraud or crime
124. Same remedies against Public Trustee as against private person
125. Service of notices by Public Trustee
126. Relationship between this Act and other Acts and instruments 
127. Regulations
128. Rules of Court
129. Repeals
Schedule

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THE PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE ACT 1975

1975, No. 19

An Act to consolidate and amend the enactments relating to the Public Trustee and the Public Trust Office of Western Samoa

[23 December 1975

PART I

Preliminary

1. Short title - This Act may be cited as the Public Trust Office Act 1975.

See also the following enactments:

Law Reform Act 1964. s. 6 (statutory duties of Public Trustee if appointed by Court as defendant upon claims for damages or compensation of deceased owner, where no administrator).
Maintenance and Affiliation Act 1967, Pt. VII (appointment in respect of charging or receiving orders).
Mental Health Act 1975 (appointment, powers, and duties in respect of mental patients).
Prisons Act 1967, Pt. VIII (administration of convict's property).
Samoan Land and Titles Protection Ordinance 1934, s. 84 (exercise, by Secretary for Justice, of powers of Public Trustee in respect of trust property).
As to these provisions, see s. 126 of this Act.

2. Interpretation - In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-

"Act" includes Ordinance:

"Administration" includes probate of the will of a deceased person, and letters of administration of the estate of a deceased person, granted with or without the will annexed, for general, special or limited purposes, and in the case of the Public Trustee includes an order to administer and an election to administer:

"Administrator" means any person to whom administration is granted; and includes an executor before and after probate has been granted; and also includes the Public Trustee in any case where he is deemed to be an executor or administrator by reason of having filed an election to administer:

"Common Fund" means the Common Fund constituted under section 24 of this Act:

"Commonwealth country" means a country that is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations:

"Court", in relation to any matter, means a Court having jurisdiction in that matter; and includes a judge of that Court:

"Estate" means any property administered or held, managed or controlled by the Public Trustee, whether as administrator or other trustee or as guardian, committee, manager, liquidator, receiver, agent or attorney, or in any other capacity:

"Gazette" means the Western Samoa Gazette:

"Instrument" includes an Act of Parliament:

"Investment Board" means the Public Trust Office Investment Board as constituted by this Act:

"Land" includes all estates and interests, whether freehold or chattel, legal or equitable, in real property:

"Minister" means the Minister in charge of the Public Trust Office:

"Newspaper" means a newspaper circulating in Western Samoa:

"Owner", in relation to any property, includes any person having any estate or interest in the property:

"Property" includes real and personal property and any estate or interest in any property real or personal, and any debt, and any thing in action, and any other right or interest:

"Public Trustee" means the Public Trustee as constituted by this Act:

"Seal" means the seal of the Public Trustee:

"State" means the Independent State of Western Samoa:

"Supreme Court" means the Supreme Court of Western Samoa; and includes a Judge of that Court:

"Trust" does not include the duties incidental to an estate conveyed by way of mortgage, but with this exception it extends to implied and constructive trusts and to cases where the trustee has a beneficial interest in the trust property, and to the duties incidental to the office of a personal representative; and "trustee" has a corresponding meaning.

PART II
CONSTITUTION AND ORGANISATION

3. Public Trust Office - There shall be an office to be called the Public Trust Office.

4. Public Trustee - (1) There shall from time to time be appointed by the Public Service Commission a Public Trustee who shall administer the Public Trust Office.

(2) The Public Trustee shall be a corporation sole with perpetual succession and a seal of office.

5. Appointment of other officers, employees and agents - (1) There shall from time to time be appointed by the Public Service Commission such other officers and employees of the Public Trust Office as may be necessary, including an Assistant Public Trustee who, on the occurrence of a vacancy in the office of Public Trustee and in the absence from duty of the Public Trustee, shall have and may exercise all the powers, duties and functions of the Public Trustee.

(2) The Public Trustee may from time to time appoint such agents or representatives of the Public Trust Office (whether within or beyond Western Samoa) as may be necessary.

(3) It shall not be necessary for any such agent or representative to be an officer of the Public Trust Office or of the Government service, nor shall it be necessary to require any such agent or representative to devote his whole time to his duties as such agent or representative.

(4) Every person who is appointed under this section, whether or not he is placed under any other direction or control or inspection or supervision, shall be subject to the direction, control, supervision and inspection of the Public Trustee.

6. Delegation by Public Trustee - (1) The Public Trustee may from time to time, by writing, either particularly or generally, delegate to any officer or officers or employee or employees of the Public Trust Office as he thinks fit all or any of his functions, powers, authorities, discretions, rights and duties, whether under this Act or any other Act or otherwise howsoever, including any functions, powers, authorities, discretions, rights and duties delegated to him under any enactment, and including this present power of delegation:

Provided that nothing in this section shall authorise the delegation of the use of the seal of the Public Trustee to any person other than the Assistant Public Trustee or a Deputy of the Public Trustee:

Provided also that the Public Trustee shall not delegate any power delegated to him by the Public Service Commission without the written consent of the Public Service Commission.

(2) Subject to any general or special directions given or conditions attached by the Public Trustee, the officer or employee to whom any functions, powers, authorities, discretions, rights or duties are delegated or sub-delegated under this section may exercise, perform or discharge them in the same manner and with the same effect as if they had been conferred or imposed on him directly by this section and not by delegation or sub-delegation:

Provided that the officer or employee shall, in respect of all matters delegated or sub-delegated, continue to be under the direction, control, supervision and inspection of the Public Trustee and of every officer or employee by or through whom the matters were delegated.

(3) Every officer and employee of the Public Trust Office purporting to act in the course of his employment pursuant to any delegation or sub-delegation under this section shall be presumed to be acting in accordance with the terms of the delegation or sub-delegation in the absence of proof to the contrary, and no person, Court, or judge shall be concerned to inquire whether or not the delegation or sub-delegation has been made; and all things done or omitted by any such officer or employee in the course of his employment shall have the same consequences and effect as if the same had been done or omitted by the Public Trustee.

(4) Any delegation or sub-delegation under this section may be made to a specified officer or employee or to officers or employees of a specified class.

(5) Every delegation and sub-delegation under this section may be revoked or suspended at will, and no such delegation or sub-delegation shall prevent the exercise, performance and discharge of any function, power, authority, discretion, right or duty by the Public Trustee or by the officer or employee by whom it was sub-delegated.

(6) Any such delegation or sub-delegation shall, until revoked, continue in force according to its tenor, notwithstanding that the Public Trustee, officer or employee by or through whom it was made may have ceased to hold office, and shall continue to have effect as if made by the successor in office of that Public Trustee, officer or employee.

(7) Where authority to administer any estate or property has been delegated or sub-delegated to an officer or employee of the Public Trust Office, he may, within the limits of the delegation or sub-delegation, deal with and dispose of the assets thereof.

(8) Without restricting the generality of the foregoing provisions of this section, it is hereby declared that the powers of delegation and sub-delegation conferred by this section shall include power to authorise any officer or officers or employee or employees of the Public Trust Office to-

(a) Make any affidavit, oath or declaration required to be made by the Public Trustee under the rules of any Court or otherwise, or sign any document to be filed in any Court, or verify any account, or personally attend in any Court instead of the Public Trustee:

(b) Subject to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, execute transfers and assurances of any real or personal property on behalf of the Public Trustee:

(c) Give or sign any notice, consent, certificate, instrument or other document that the Public Trustee is empowered to give or sign under the provisions of this Act or any other Act or otherwise.

7. Judicial notice of certain seals, appointments and signatures - Notice shall be taken judicially without further proof of -

(a) The seal of the Public Trustee;

(b) The appointment and signature of each member of the Investment Board, and of the person for the time being holding the office of Public Trustee or his deputy.

Contracts

8. Contracts by the Public Trustee - (1) Any contract which if made by private persons, and any power which if exercised by private persons, must be made or exercised by deed may, if made or exercised by the Public Trustee under any authority vested in him in that behalf, be in writing and executed under seal by the Public Trustee or his deputy.

(2) Any contract which if made by private persons, and any power which if exercised by private persons, must be in writing signed by the parties to the contract or the persons exercising the power may, if made or exercised by the Public Trustee under any authority vested in him in that behalf, be in writing signed by the Public Trustee or his deputy or by any other officer or employee of the Public Trust Office to whom authority to make the contract or exercise the power has been delegated under this Act.

(3) Any contract which if made by private persons, and any power which if exercised by private persons, may be made or exercised by parol only without being reduced into writing, may, if made or exercised by the Public Trustee under any authority vested in him in that behalf, be made or exercised by parol, by the Public Trustee or his deputy or by any other person by his direction or acting on his behalf.

Public Trust Office Investment Board

9. Constitution and powers of Investment Board - (1) There shall be a Board called the Public Trust Office Investment Board which shall control the investment of money which is from time to time in the Common Fund of the Public Trust Office and available for investment.

(2) The Investment Board shall consist of the following persons, namely:

(a) The Financial Secretary, who shall be the chairman of the Board:

(b) A licensed land valuer:

(c) The Public Trustee:

(d) Two other persons to be appointed by the Head of State, acting on the advice of Cabinet, for a term of 4 years, and may be reappointed.

(3) A member of the Investment Board who is not a full-time salaried employee of the Government may be paid such remuneration and allowances as may from time to time be determined by Cabinet.

(4) The Investment Board shall sit at such times and places as it thinks fit.

(5) At every meeting of the Investment Board the quorum shall be 3 members.

(6) The chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Board at which he is present, but in the event of his absence from any meeting of the Board the members present at such meeting shall appoint one of their number to be the chairman of the meeting.

(7) Each member present at a meeting shall have one deliberative vote on each issue. In each case of equality of votes on any issue at a meeting, the chairman of that meeting shall also have a casting vote.

(8) If any member of the Board is temporarily incapacitated by illness, absence, or other sufficient cause from attending any meeting of the Board-

(a) In the cases of the Financial Secretary, the [licensed land valuer] and the Public Trustee, any senior officer of his Department authorised by him in writing; and

(b) In the case of an appointed member, any person nominated for the purpose by the Minister,-

may attend that meeting as a deputy of such member.

(9) The fact that any such deputy so attends and acts at any such meeting shall be conclusive proof of his authority to do so, and no person shall be concerned to inquire whether the occasion has arisen which authorises or requires him to do so.

(10) No deputy shall act as chairman of the Board.

(11) All minutes or resolutions of the Investment Board, or any copy thereof, if purporting to be signed by the chairman of the meeting at which the minutes are confirmed or the resolution is passed, shall, in the absence of proof to the contrary, be sufficient evidence of the minutes or resolutions, and that they were duly and property confirmed or passed, and that the person signing them was the chairman of that meeting.

(12) Subject to this Act and to any regulations made hereunder, the Investment Board may determine its own procedure.

(13) The Board may appoint any member of the staff of the Public Trust Office as a secretary in its meeting.

In subs. (8) (a) the words in square brackets have been substituted for the word "Attorney-General", to be consistent with subs. (2) (b), pursuant to s. 3 (f) of the Reprint of Statutes Act 1972.

10. Passing of resolutions of Investment Board by entries in minute book - (1) Anything that may be done by resolution passed at a meeting of the Investment Board may be done by the Investment Board without a meeting by means of an entry in its minute book signed by at least 4 of its members.

(2) Any such entry may be signed on behalf of a member by his deputy if at the time of the signing thereof the deputy would have been entitled to attend and act at a meeting of the Investment Board in the absence of the member if a meeting had then been held, and the fact that a deputy signs an entry shall, in the absence of proof to the contrary, be sufficient evidence that he was so entitled.

(3) For the purposes of this section a memorandum pasted or otherwise permanently affixed in the minute book and purporting to have been signed for the purpose of becoming an entry therein shall be deemed to be an entry in the minute book, and any such entry may consist of several documents in like form each signed by members or their deputies.

(4) The Public Trustee shall report to and lay before the Investment Board at each meeting all entries made in the minute book in accordance with this section since the last previous meeting of the Investment Board.

11. Investment Board may delegate powers of making and controlling investments - (1) The Investment Board may from time to time delegate to the Public Trustee the following powers, namely:

(a) The power to invest money which is from time to time in the Common Fund and available for investment in all or any of the investments authorised by this Act or by any other Act for the investment of money comprising or forming part of the Common Fund:

(b) The power to approve any valuation required by this Act or any other Act or otherwise to be approved by the Investment Board:

(c) Such of its other powers of control in respect of the investment of money from time to time in the Common Fund and available for investment as it thinks fit.

(2) Every such delegation shall be revocable at will, and no such delegation shall prevent the exercise of any power by the Investment Board.

(3) Any such delegation may be made subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Investment Board thinks fit, and may be made either generally or in relation to any particular case.

(4) The exercise of any power or the approval of any valuation by the Public Trustee shall be as full and effectual for all purposes as if the exercise or approval had been by the Investment Board.

As to subs. (1) (a), see s. 30 (1) (b) of the Life Assurance Corporation Act 1976.

Secrecy in Respect of Estates

12. Officers to make declaration of fidelity and secrecy - (1) Every member of the staff of the Public Trust Office, every agent of the Public Trustee, and every member of the Investment Board, shall-

(a) Maintain and aid in maintaining the secrecy of all matters coming to his knowledge appertaining to the business of the Public Trust Office or to the affairs of any estate under administration in the Public Trust Office or in relation to the affairs of any person concerned in any such estate, except as may be authorised by law to a person directly interested and entitled to information, or for the purpose of assisting to carry out the powers and functions of the Public Trustee and his own proper duties:

(b) Make and subscribe such declaration of fidelity and secrecy as may be prescribed, which declaration shall be made before the Public Trustee.

(2) Every person who wilfully acts in contravention of this section or of the true intent of any such declaration commits an offence and shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to a fine not exceeding $200.

PART III
ACCOUNTS AND INVESTMENTS

Accounts

13. The Public Trustee's Account - (1) For the purposes of this Act there shall be established at the Bank of Western Samoa an account to be known as the Public Trustee's Account.

(2) In addition to the abovementioned account, the following accounts may be established by the Public Trustee for the purposes of this Act, namely:

(a) An account at the Post Office, to be known as the Public Trustee's Account:

(b) Such accounts at the Bank of Western Samoa as the Public Trustee may from time to time think fit or as the Investment Board may from time to time direct.

(3) Money paid into or lodged to the credit of any of the accounts mentioned in or authorised by subsection (2) of this section shall for the purposes of this Act be deemed to be paid into or lodged with the Public Trustee's Account established under subsection (1) of this section; and all references in this Act or in any other Act to the Public Trustee's Account shall be deemed to refer to and include references to those accounts.

(4) Each of the accounts mentioned in or authorised by subsection (2) of this section shall be operated on only by cheque signed by the Public Trustee or the Deputy of the Public Trustee and by some other officer of the Public Trust Office authorised by the Public Trustee so to do; but the Public Trustee may from time to time require that all or any of such cheques shall be countersigned by another officer of the Public Trust Office authorised by the Public Trustee so to do.

See regulation 14 of the Audit Regulations 1976 (W.S.R. 1976/21).
As to check audit of trustees' accounts, see s. 56 of the Trustee Act 1975.

14. Payments to Public Trustee's Account - Every person into whose hands or under whose control any money comes which is payable to the Public Trustee shall pay the money to the Public Trustee's Account as soon as practicable after its receipt:

Provided that it shall be lawful for any officer, employee or agent of the Public Trust Office to make, out of any money in his hands, any payment which he is directed or authorised by the Public Trustee to make.

15. Estate accounts - (1) Nothing in this Act or in the Public Money Act 1964 shall prevent the Public Trustee from opening, or keeping open, or operating upon, a separate account in connection with any business carried on by him for the benefit of any estate being administered by him, and the receipts of that business may be deposited in and the outgoings of that business may be paid from that account; and the Public Trustee shall be entitled to delegate to any officer of the Public Trust Office or to any manager or other person employed in connection with that business the power to operate upon that account either alone or in conjunction with any other person or persons.

(2) Notwithstanding anything in this Act or any other Act, it shall be lawful for the Public Trustee, in any case where he considers it expedient in administering any estate or in the interests of any beneficiary or beneficiaries therein, to open in the Post Office Savings Bank or in the Bank of Western Samoa Savings Bank an account in the name of the Public Trustee, which account shall show the name of the estate or beneficiary or beneficiaries concerned; and the Public Trustee may operate on the account for the benefit of the estate or of any beneficiary or beneficiaries interested therein in such manner and to such extent as he may from time to time determine.

As to check audit of trustees' accounts, see s. 56 of the Trustee Act 1975.

16. Payment of salaries and expenses - The Public Trustee shall, out of money appropriated by Parliament for the purpose, pay all salaries and other outgoings, charges and expenses lawfully incurred or payable in administering the Public Trust Office:

Provided that there shall be charged on the Public Trustee's Account and be statutory expenditure any payments which may lawfully be made by the Public Trustee in administering any estate or in investing or managing the Common Fund.

17. Balance sheet, etc. - (1) The Public Trustee shall, after the close of each year ending with the 31st day of December, prepare:

(a) A Balance Sheet, showing the assets and liabilities of the Public Trust Office at the end of that year, and showing also the amount of the advances (if any) made from the Treasury Fund during that year pursuant to section 20 of this Act and the amount of the repayments (if any) during that year of any such advances; and

(b) A Profit and Loss Account, setting out the revenue and expenditure of the Public Trust Office during that year; and

(c) A Profit and Loss Appropriation Account showing (among other things) the amount of the profit made or of the loss sustained during that year and the appropriation of that profit or the disposal of that loss.

(2) In preparing the aforesaid accounts the Public Trustee may charge against the Profit and Loss Account or the Profit and Loss Appropriation Account, as may be considered proper by the Public Trustee in his discretion, outgoings or items of expenditure incurred over, or relating to a period either before or after, the year in respect of which the accounts are prepared, and also any sum or sums which the Public Trustee in his discretion may consider necessary or advisable to be reserved for the purpose of meeting any requirement, commitment, loss or liability of the Public Trustee, whether present or future, actual or contingent, specific or general; and any sum or sums so reserved shall be transferred to an Assurance and Reserve Fund or a General Legal Expenses Reserve Fund or such other Reserve Fund as the Public Trustee thinks fit to constitute, and, subject as hereinafter appears in this Act, may be used for the purpose of meeting any requirement, commitment, loss or liability in respect of which the sum or sums were reserved or for the general purposes of the Public Trust Office.

(3) The Public Trustee shall send the Balance Sheet, Profit and Loss Account, and Profit and Loss Appropriation Account to the Controller and Chief Auditor who shall, after auditing them, transmit them, together with such report thereon as he thinks fit, to the Minister; and the Minister shall lay copies thereof before the Legislative Assembly within 28 days after the date of the receipt thereof by the Minister if the Assembly is then in session, and, if not, within 28 days after the date of the commencement of the next ensuing session.

18. Application of profits - (1) If the Profit and Loss Appropriation Account of the Public Trust Office for any financial year which ends with the 31st day of December after this Act comes into force discloses a surplus, the amount thereof shall be transferred, as the Public Trustee, shall determine, to the Assurance and Reserve Fund or to the General Legal Expenses Reserve Fund or to any other Reserve Fund or Funds which the Public Trustee may think fit to constitute pursuant to the provisions of subsection (2) of section 17 of this Act, or shall be apportioned among any 2 or more of the Funds in such proportions as the Public Trustee may think fit.

(2) Any deficiency in the Profit and Loss Appropriation Account in any year shall be provided out of the Assurance and Reserve Fund.

(3) There shall from time to time be payable, out of money in the Assurance and Reserve Fund appropriated by Parliament for the purpose, such amounts as the Investment Board thinks fit, in the acquisition, building and furnishing of office premises, and in the purchase of office appliances and other things which the Public Trustee deems requisite for the efficient conduct of the Public Trust Office, or as the Public Trustee considers necessary for the purpose of providing suitable and reasonable amenities for or otherwise ministering to the welfare and well-being of the staff thereof.

(4) All office premises and property of any kind purchased before the commencement of this Act out of the profits of the Public Trust Office shall constitute investments of the Assurance and Reserve Fund.

19. General Legal Expenses Reserve Fund - There may from time to time be paid, out of the General Legal Expenses Reserve Fund, such costs, charges, expenses and money as may be incurred or payable by the Public Trustee in obtaining any legal opinions of general interest to the Public Trust Office, or as may be awarded against the Public Trustee, or incurred by the Public Trustee, and which costs, charges, expenses and money cannot fairly, in the Public Trustee's opinion, be charged against any particular estate or estates or other fund or funds.

20. Deficiency payable out of Treasury Fund - (1) If the balances in the Public Trustee's Account are at any time insufficient to meet the Public Trustee's liabilities and commitments, such sums as may be necessary to meet those liabilities and commitments shall be charged on the Treasury Fund and be statutory expenditure, and be advanced by the Minister of Finance out of the Treasury Fund to the Public Trustee.

(2) Money so advanced shall be repaid by the Public Trustee to the Treasury Fund as soon as there are balances in the Public Trustee's Account available for the repayment.

21. Loss occasioned by negligence of officer - Where by reason of the negligence or wrongful act of any member of the staff of the Public Trust Office any loss is incurred or any extra payment has to be made, the amount involved may, with the approval of the Minister, be charged on and paid from the Profit and Loss Account or the Profit and Loss Appropriation Account or any Reserve Fund that may have been established for that purpose, as may be considered proper by the Public Trustee in his discretion, and be statutory expenditure.

22. Annual report to be submitted to Minister and Legislative Assembly - (1) The Public Trustee shall cause to be prepared and submitted to the Minister as soon as possible after the 31st day of December in each year a report of the operations of the Public Trust Office during the financial year ended on that date.

(2) The Minister shall lay copies of the report before the Legislative Assembly within 28 days after the date of receipt thereof by the Minister, if the Assembly is then in session, and, if not, within 28 days after the date of the commencement of the next ensuing session.

23. Rights and powers of Minister of Finance - The Minister of Finance, and any officer of the Treasury authorised by him, shall at all times have access to all the books, accounts, documents and papers in the Public Trust Office and the Public Trustee shall at all times furnish to the Minister of Finance all such information as the Minister of Finance requires.

Investments

24. Common Fund - (1) Subject to the provisions of sections 15 and 25 of this Act, all capital money for the time being held by the Public Trustee, however arising, whether before or after the commencement of this Act, and whether directed to be invested or not, shall, unless expressly forbidden to be so invested, constitute one common fund (in this Act referred to as the Common Fund) and shall be invested as provided by section 26 of this Act. Any investments made from the Common Fund shall not be made on account of or belong to any particular estate.

(2) A power or direction to invest money in one or some only of the classes of securities mentioned in section 26 of this Act shall not be deemed to be an express prohibition against investment in the Common Fund, and the money shall form part of the Common Fund, unless there is an express direction to the contrary.

(3) Nothing in this section shall prevent the Public Trustee from applying money belonging to any estate which for the time being forms part of the Common Fund for any purpose involved in the exercise of any power or authority conferred upon him by or under this Act or any other Act or law or by any will, deed, Court order or other instrument.

(4) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the interest payable to the respective estates the money of which constitutes the Common Fund shall be at a rate or rates to be determined from tune to time by order made by the Head of State, acting on the advice of Cabinet, and interest at such rate or rates shall be credited to the respective estates half-yearly, namely on the 30th day of June and on the 31st day of December in each year, or at such other time or times in each year (whether at longer or shorter periods than half-yearly periods) as the Public Trustee may from time to time determine, either generally or in any particular case or class of cases. Any such determination may be made to take effect on the date thereof or on such day before or after that date as is specified therein.

(5) The Head of State, acting on the advice of Cabinet, may from time to time make such regulations as he thinks proper as to the payment or non-payment of interest on money belonging to any estate, and as to the period from which interest, if allowed, is to be computed.

As to eligibility of Common Fund investment, see s. 30 (1) (b) of the Life Assurance Corporation Act 1976.

25. Special investments not guaranteed - (1) Where money is available for investment but in accordance with the provisions of this Act does not form part of the Common Fund, the Public Trustee shall invest the money in accordance with any directions applicable thereto, or, if there are no such directions, then in investments which for the time being are authorised by law for the investment of trust funds.

(2) Investments made under this section shall not be entitled to the protection afforded by section 29 of this Act to investments of the Common Fund, and any loss or deficiency in respect of any such investments, or of the money received therefrom or arising from a realisation thereof, shall be borne by the estate to which the investments or money belongs or would belong if received or realised.

(3) Forthwith upon the receipt by the Public Trustee of any such money, he shall make all reasonable efforts to find an investment or investments therefor in accordance with the special directions in the trust instrument, or if there are no such directions then in accordance with the provisions of the law relating to trustees, and, if the whole of the money cannot be so invested within one calendar month from the date of receipt thereof, the Public Trustee may, until the money can be so invested, temporarily appropriate and allocate as an investment for the money, or any part thereof, one or more existing investments of the Common Fund of the same nature and kind as is required by subsection (1) of this section.

(4) Any investment of the Common Fund while so appropriated and allocated as a special investment shall not be entitled to the protection afforded by section 29 of this Act to investments of the Common Fund.

26. Investments of the Common Fund - (1) Money in the Common Fund may be invested in the manner following, that is to say:

(a) In any of the debentures, stock, bonds, funds or other securities of the Government of Western Samoa or of New Zealand or of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or of Australia or of any State of Australia;

(b) In advances by way of first mortgage on the security of any real estate held in fee simple in Western Samoa to an amount not exceeding nine-tenths of the estimated value of that estate according to a valuation approved by the Investment Board;

(c) On deposit in the Bank of Western Samoa or in the Bank of Western Samoa Savings Bank or in the Post Office Savings Bank;

(d) On deposit in any development bank in Western Samoa;

(e) In advances by way of mortgage on the security of any of the debentures, stock, bonds, funds or other securities referred to in paragraph (a) of this subsection, if investment in the debentures, stock, bonds, funds and other securities would constitute a lawful investment of the money; and any advances by way of mortgage under the authority of this paragraph may be for an amount not exceeding nine-tenths of the estimated value of the debentures, stock, bonds, funds or other securities according to a valuation approved by the Investment Board or nine-tenths of the nominal value thereof (whichever is the less), and may be on such terms and conditions as the Public Trustee may determine:

(f) In payments pursuant to section 27 of this Act, and in advances to estates and beneficiaries pursuant to the provisions of section 32 or 33 of this Act.

(2) It shall be lawful for the Public Trustee in investing money under the provisions of this section to provide that the money, with interest thereon, shall be repaid to the Public Trustee by periodical instalments extending over such period, and subject to such terms and conditions, as the Public Trustee thinks fit.

27. Public Trustee may buy in securities and apply Common Fund money for the purpose - In any case where any power of sale conferred upon the Public Trustee as mortgagee or lender under or in respect of any mortgage or other security securing payment of money forming part of the Common Fund is exercised or becomes exercisable, the Public Trustee may, if he considers it expedient so to do, buy in, purchase or otherwise acquire the land or other property affected by the mortgage or security, whether on a sale through the Registrar of the Supreme Court or otherwise; and may if he considers it expedient so to do expend or apply money of the Common Fund for the purpose of doing so. All land or other property so bought in, purchased or otherwise acquired may at any time or times thereafter be managed, stocked, cultivated, leased, exchanged, sold or otherwise disposed of by the Public Trustee in such manner and at such time or times and upon such terms and conditions in all respects as the Public Trustee from time to time thinks fit; and until sold, realised or otherwise disposed of shall constitute investments of the Common Fund for the purpose of securing repayment of money of the Common Fund expended or applied as aforesaid.

28. Temporary advances to Public Trustee - (1) In order that money in the Common Fund may be kept closely invested, the Public Trustee may, from time to time, with the approval of the Minister, obtain advances from the Treasury or any bank or corporation by pledging securities held by him in respect of investments of the Common Fund.

(2) Every such advance shall be for such period and at such rate of interest as are approved by the Minister:

Provided that on the expiration of the said period the advance may be renewed for the same or any shorter period, and so on from time to time.

(3) The term "advance" where used in this section shall include accommodation by way of overdraft.

29. Deficiency in Common Fund to be made good out of Treasury Fund - If the Common Fund is insufficient to meet the lawful claims thereon, such sums as may be necessary to meet the deficiency shall be charged on and be paid out of the Treasury Fund and be statutory expenditure.

30. Public Trustee may act as agent for investment of money in Common Fund - (1) The power given to the Public Trustee by section 36 of this Act to act as agent shall be deemed to include the power to act as agent for the investment of money in the Common Fund for such period and on such terms and conditions as, consistently with any regulations for the time being in force under this Act, are agreed on between the Public Trustee and the principal.

(2) Notwithstanding anything in section 24 of this Act, the rate of interest that may be paid by the Public Trustee on money for the time being invested in the Common Fund pursuant to this section shall be such as the Minister of Finance from time to time fixes by notice in the Gazette.

(3) Any such notice may fix different rates with respect to different classes of investments as defined in the notice or according to the amount or period of any such investment.

(4) Every such notice shall, according to the tenor thereof, take effect on the date thereof or on such earlier or later date as may be specified therein.

31. Repayment of money invested in the Common Fund by or on behalf of infant - (1) Where any person under the age of 21 years pays or has before the commencement of this Act paid any money to the Public Trustee as agent for the investment thereof in the Common Fund for the use and benefit of the principal or of any other person under the age of 21 years, the Public Trustee may pay to that principal or other person the money, or the interest thereon, in the same manner as if that principal or other person receiving the same were of full age, and the receipt of the principal or other person shall be a sufficient discharge for all money paid to him as aforesaid, notwithstanding his incapacity or inability in law to contract or act for himself.

(2) The Public Trustee, acting in good faith under the authority of this section, shall be absolutely discharged from liability in respect of any payments made by him under the authority, but any person to whom the said money ought to have been paid shall have remedy for the recovery thereof against the person to whom the money has been paid.

Advances to Estates

32. Advances to estates - (1) Where in any estate in the Public Trust Office there is any real or personal property (whether capital or income), but there is no money or not sufficient money available in the estate for the purpose of meeting the payment of-

(a) Expenses properly incurred by the Public Trustee in the administration of the estate; or

(b) Money required or desired to be paid out of or on account of the estate, whether to the persons entitled thereto or to a share or interest therein, or to creditors or otherwise howsoever; or

(c) Money required or needed to carry into full effect any power or discretion which is vested in the Public Trustee by this or any other Act or otherwise howsoever, and which the Public Trustee has decided or is required to exercise -

the Public Trustee may, with the approval of the Investment Board, advance to the estate such sums or sums of money out of the Common Fund as may be necessary for the purposes mentioned.

(2) No greater amount shall be so advanced than the value of the real and personal property in the estate, as estimated by the Public Trustee and approved by the Investment Board.

(3) The sums so advanced, with all interest thereon, shall be a charge upon the real and personal property comprised in the estate, and shall bear interest at a rate to be fixed from time to time by the Public Trustee. Any such charge shall rank next in priority to any mortgage or other charge which is registered against or secured on the real and personal property and of which the Public Trustee has notice at the time of the making of the advance.

Advances to Beneficiaries

33. Advances to beneficiaries - (1) Subject to the provisions of this section, where any person entitled to a share in any estate administered in the Public Trust Office desires an advance against his share, the Public Trustee may, with the approval of the Investment Board, make advances out of the Common Fund to that person not exceeding in the whole two-thirds of the value of his share as estimated by the Public Trustee and approved by the Investment Board.

(2) All such advances with interest thereon at such rate as is fixed from time to time by the Public Trustee shall by force of this Act and without any instrument of assignment be a first charge on the share against which the advances are made.

(3) A certificate under seal stating the amount owing for advances and interest on any specified date, the person to whom the advances were made, and the share against which they were made, shall, according to its tenor, be sufficient evidence of the facts stated in the certificate until the contrary is proved.

(4) The provisions of this section shall not apply to the share of any person which is for the time being subject to any contingency or is not indefeasibly vested in interest.

(5) When an advance is made to any person under the provisions of this section, the money so advanced together with all interest, costs, charges and expenses due in connection therewith shall, in the absence of express agreement, be repayable on demand and may be recovered from that person in any Court of competent jurisdiction.

(6) The Public Trustee may at any time, without notice, sell, mortgage, charge, or otherwise deal with the share against which the advances are made for the purpose of obtaining repayment of the money so advanced, together with all such interest, costs, charges and expenses accrued thereon.

(7) Where any such person is beneficially entitled to a share or interest in more than one estate administered in the Public Trust Office, the Public Trustee may exercise the powers conferred by subsection (6) of this section in respect of the share or interest of the person in all or any of the estates.

Advances to be Treated as Mortgages

34. Where land is affected advances to be treated as mortgages - (1) In any case where the Public Trustee advances money to an estate under his administration or to any beneficiary in the estate pursuant to the provisions of section 32 or 33 of this Act, and the assets comprising the estate or the share of the beneficiary therein include an interest in land, the advance shall be treated in all respects as a registered mortgage of that interest in land.

(2) A certifice under seal, setting out the amount of the advance, shall be accepted by all persons as sufficient evidence thereof, without further proof.

Renewals of Mortgages

35. Public Trustee may arrange extensions or renewals of Common Fund investments - It shall be lawful for the Public Trustee as mortgagee or lender in the case of any mortgage or other security securing money which forms part of the Common Fund to arrange at any time and from time to time with the mortgagor or borrower for an extension or renewal of the mortgage or other security for such term and subject to such conditions and at such rate of interest as the Public Trustee thinks fit, whether or not the rate is lower than the rate prescribed in that mortgage, notwithstanding that a higher rate of interest might be obtainable for a new loan or that, by reason of any decrease in the value of the property in respect of which the investment was made or of any change in the class of securities in which the Common Fund may be invested, or for any other reason, any such extension or renewal is not an investment authorised by this Act or any other Act in respect of money which forms part of the Common Fund.

PART IV
ACQUISITION OF RIGHT TO ADMINISTER ESTATE

See the Administration Act 1975, s. 10 (Registrar's duty to notify Public Trustee on filing of applications for administration); s. 28 (form -of Order for Public Trustee to administer estate); and s. 31 (f) (costs where Public Trustee has lodged caveat against application for administration).

36. Duties for which Public Trustee may be appointed - Where any Court, judge, corporation (whether public or private), public officer, association or person, whether in or out of Western Samoa, can now or hereafter-

(a) Appoint an executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, committee, manager, agent, attorney or liquidator, or make any other appointment of a fiduciary nature; or

(b) Create any trust and appoint a trustee for the purposes thereof under and subject to such powers, provisions, and conditions as are expressed and implied-

any of such appointments may be made of the Public Trustee if he consents thereto.

37. Appointment of Public Trustee by executors, administrators and trustees - (1) With the consent of the Supreme Court, and subject to the approval of the Public Trustee being obtained thereto,-

(a) Executors, whether appointed before or after the coming into operation of this Act, may, unless expressly prohibited, before or after taking out probate, appoint the Public Trustee sole executor; and

(b) Other administrators, with or without a will annexed, whether appointed before or after the coming into operation of this Act may, unless expressly prohibited, appoint the Public Trustee sole administrator.

(2)Where any executor or administrator with a will annexed appoints the Public Trustee executor or administrator pursuant to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, the Public Trustee shall, by virtue of the appointment, be also the sole trustee in all cases where the executor or administrator was trustee, or where there was no trustee appointed by the trust instrument or in existence at the date of the appointment of the Public Trustee as aforesaid. The provisions of this subsection shall apply to all appointments hereafter made under this Act or heretofore made under any Act repealed by this Act.

(3) Where there are more trustees, or persons having power to appoint a trustee, or executors, or administrators than one, any one trustee, or any one of those persons having power to appoint a trustee, or any one executor (whether before or after proving a will), or any one administrator, may apply to the Supreme Court to have the Public Trustee appointed sole trustee, executor, or administrator, if the Public Trustee consents thereto.

(4) On any application to the Supreme Court under this section, the Court shall have power to make such order as it thinks fit.

38. Public Trustee entitled on application to administration of intestate estates - (1) Where any person, whether domiciled in Western Samoa or elsewhere, dies (whether before or after the commencement of this Act) in Western Samoa or elsewhere intestate, leaving property situated in Western Samoa, the Public Trustee may, if he thinks fit to apply therefor, obtain a grant of administration of that person's estate.

(2) The Public Trustee shall be entitled as of right to the grant of administration:

Provided that if some other person in Western Samoa, being a person who if it were not for this section would be entitled to the grant of administration, applies for a grant of administration, then the Court may grant administration to that person:

Provided also that it shall not be necessary for the Public Trustee to give notice of the application to any such person, nor shall the Court require him to do so.

39. Public Trustee may be appointed sole trustee where appointment of 2 or more trustees provided for - Notwithstanding the fact that any will, codicil, deed or other instrument may provide for or direct the appointment of 2 or more trustees, trustees appointed under any such will, codicil, deed or other instrument, or any other person or persons having the power to appoint new trustees thereof, whether so appointed or empowered before or after the coming into operation of this Act, may, unless expressly prohibited, appoint the Public Trustee as sole trustee under the will, codicil, deed or other instrument (if he consents to the appointment) without obtaining the consent of the Supreme Court, and the Public Trustee may in any such case lawfully act as such sole trustee:

Provided that in this section the term "trustees" does not include personal representatives as such.

40. Judge may consent to Public Trustee's appointment if any person whose consent is required refuses or is unable to consent - Where the consent of any person is requisite to the appointment of an administrator or other trustee and the person refuses to consent to the Public Trustee being appointed, or where the person to consent is absent from Western Samoa, or is not of full age or full mental capacity or is under any other disability, an appointment of the Public Trustee may be made without that consent if a judge of the Supreme Court consents thereto.

41. Public Trustee not to accept joint appointment - Under no circumstances shall the Public Trustee accept appointment jointly with any other person or persons:

Provided that nothing in this section shall prevent the Public Trustee from acting-

(a) With an advisory trustee or advisory trustees; or

(b) As custodian trustee with managing trustees.

42. Public Trustee on appointment to have same rights, etc., as a private person - Subject to the express provisions of this Act or any other Act, the Public Trustee, when appointed or acting under this Act or any other Act in any of the capacities mentioned in sections 36 to 39 of this Act, shall have the same rights, powers, duties and immunities as a private person acting in any of those capacities would have.

43. Property, rights, etc., to vest in Public Trustee on appointment - Where the Public Trustee is duly appointed executor, administrator or trustee, all property, functions, powers, authorities, discretions, and rights vested in or conferred by the trust instrument on the executor, administrator or trustee appointed thereunder shall, on such appointment and without any conveyance or assignment or the execution of any other instrument, become vested in and exercisable by the Public Trustee as fully and effectually as if he had been named as such executor, administrator or trustee under the instrument; and a certificate by the Public Trustee that any property (whether real or personal) forms part of the estate in respect of which the Public Trustee is so appointed as executor, administrator or trustee shall be accepted by all Courts, officers and persons as sufficient evidence of that fact without further proof.

As to non-vesting of mental defective's property, see s. 30 of the Mental Health Ordinance 1961.

44. Power of Public Trustee to administer if no application made for probate or administration - (1) Where any person dies testate, and application for probate or letters of administration with the will annexed is not made in Western Samoa within 3 months after the date of the death of that person, the Public Trustee may apply for an order to administer with the will annexed, and the Court shall make the grant unless the person entitled to probate or letters of administration with the will annexed applies therefor, or shows to the satisfaction of the Court that the delay in making the application has been and still is unavoidable or accidental.

(2) On such an application no costs shall be awarded against the Public Trustee.

(3) On the application of any person entitled to probate or letters of administration with the will annexed who was out of Western Samoa when the grant to the Public Trustee was made and who has not renounced or refused probate or letters of administration, or on the application of the attorney of that person, the Court may grant probate or letters of administration to that person or to his attorney, as the case may be, in such manner and subject to such limitations or conditions as the Court thinks proper.

(4) No such application as is last mentioned shall be made until after 14 days' notice in writing of the intention to apply has been left at the office of the Public Trustee at Apia.

(5) Immediately on the grant of any probate or letters of administration pursuant to the provisions of subsection (3) of this section,-

(a) All the functions, powers, authorities, discretions, rights and duties of the Public Trustee (except the rights reserved by this subsection) in relation to the testator's estate, and all liability of the Public Trustee under any contract entered into by the Public Trustee, or otherwise, affecting or relating to the estate, shall pass to the person obtaining probate or letters of administration, and no claim shall thereafter lie against the Public Trustee in respect of any such liability; and

(b) Subject to and on the allowance and payment to the Public Trustee of all money due for commission, necessary outlay, disbursements, costs, charges and expenses affecting the estate, including the costs of the Public Trustee of and incidental to the application for probate or letters of administration, and consequent thereon, such portion of the estate of the testator as is then unadministered by the Public Trustee shall vest in the person obtaining probate or letters of administration.

45. Provisions relating to applications for grants of administration - Any application by or on behalf of the Public Trustee for probate of a will, or for an order to administer with a will annexed (whether for general, limited or special purposes) or for any other grant of administration (whether intestate or testate), may be filed in any office of the Supreme Court at the discretion of the Public Trustee; and on any such application, whether the person was domiciled or died in Western Samoa or elsewhere, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, no further proof of the death or testacy or intestacy of any person shall be required than an affidavit that, after due inquiries, the Public Trustee is satisfied that the person has died either testate or intestate, as the case may be.

46. Public Trustee may be appointed guardian or next friend of infant - (1) The Public Trustee (if he consents) may, by deed or will or an order of the Court (whether on the application of the Public Trustee or of any other person), be appointed to be a guardian of the person of an infant under any law in force for the time being relating to the guardianship and custody of infants.

(2) The Public Trustee shall be capable of being appointed and may, with his consent, be appointed by order of the Court as next friend or as guardian ad litem of an infant.

47. Public Trustee may act as agent for resealing in Western Samoa - The Public Trustee may act as agent for the purpose of resealing in Western Samoa any probate or letters of administration granted outside Western Samoa.

48. Public Trustee may be appointed receiver - The Public Trustee, with his consent and for such remuneration as is prescribed or as, in the absence of any prescription, is agreed on, may be appointed receiver under any Act or instrument providing for the appointment of a receiver, or in the exercise of the general jurisdiction of the Court.

49. Public Trustee may be appointed to represent parties in legal proceedings - (1) The Public Trustee (if he consents) may be appointed or directed by any Court to represent any party, or any person or class of persons interested, in any proceedings.

(2) The Public Trustee shall be entitled to be represented in the proceedings, and the costs and expenses of any such representation as between solicitor and client, together with a reasonable fee for the Public Trustee's services, shall be paid to the Public Trustee out of any estate or funds or property the subject of the proceedings, or otherwise as the Court thinks fit.

50. Public Trustee may act as arbitrator or umpire - (1) The Public Trustee (if he consents thereto) may be appointed arbitrator or umpire under any submission to arbitration.

(2) The remuneration for so acting shall be such as is prescribed or as, in the absence of any prescription, is agreed on.

51. Public Trustee propounding will or applying for administration entitled to costs - (1) On an application by the Public Trustee, whether in common or in solemn form, for probate of any will, or for administration with a will annexed, the Public Trustee shall be entitled to his costs out of the estate, and shall not be liable for the costs of any other person.

(2) Where the beneficiaries entitled under any intestacy cannot agree as to the person to be appointed administrator, and the Public Trustee, at the request of any one or more of those beneficiaries, applies for administration, he shall be entitled to his costs out of the estate and shall not be liable for the costs of any other person, whether he is or is not appointed administrator.

52. Registrar to notify Public Trustee of lodging of caveat - Whenever a caveat is lodged against any application by the Public Trustee for probate or other administration, it shall be the duty of the Registrar forthwith to notify the Public Trustee of the lodging of the caveat, and of the name of the solicitor or other person lodging the same.

53. Trustees may delegate powers to Public Trustee - (1) Where the trustees of a trust estate are empowered to delegate all or any of their functions, powers, authorities, discretions and rights to any person, they may delegate the same to the Public Trustee with his consent, and in any such case the Public Trustee may exercise all the functions, powers, authorities, discretions and rights so delegated.

(2) The charges of the Public Trustee shall be such as are prescribed or, in the absence of any prescription, are agreed on by the delegating trustees and the Public Trustee.

54. Powers exercisable by Public Trustee pending grant of probate or administration - (1) Where any person dies or has heretofore died, whether testate or intestate (and notwithstanding that some person other than the Public Trustee is appointed executor, or is entitled to letters of administration), the Public Trustee may, if he thinks fit, until administration is granted, exercise with respect to the estate of the deceased person all such powers and authorities and do all such acts and things as he would have or could exercise or do if the deceased had died intestate and the Public Trustee had obtained administration:

Provided that the Public Trustee shall not sell, lease, exchange, mortgage or partition any portion of the property unless the property is ordered to be sold, leased, exchanged, mortgaged or partitioned by a judge of the Supreme Court on the application of the Public Trustee, which order a judge of the Supreme Court is hereby authorised to make:

Provided also that the Public Trustee may sell, without obtaining an order of a judge of the Supreme Court, any portion of the personal estate that is of a perishable nature or is liable to deteriorate or is for any other reason liable to decrease unduly in value if retained; and the decision of the Public Trustee as to whether any portion of the personal estate is of a perishable nature or is liable to deteriorate or is for any reason liable to decrease unduly in value if retained shall be conclusive and binding upon all persons whomsoever.

(2) All costs, charges and expenses incurred by the Public Trustee under this section shall be a first charge upon the property of the deceased person.

(3) Any person who afterwards applies for administration of the estate of the deceased person shall, before he is entitled to a grant thereof, first pay any costs, charges, commissions and expenses incurred by or payable to the Public Trustee.

(4) The Public Trustee acting under this section shall not be deemed to be or to be liable as an executor de son tort.

55. Notice to person entitled to obtain probate or letters of administration - (1) Before the Public Trustee first acts under section 54 of this Act he shall give notice, in writing or by telegram, to any person in Western Samoa known to him who is of full age and full mental capacity and would be entitled to obtain administration, that he intends to so act unless that person forthwith proceeds to apply for administration.

(2) If that person does not, within a period of 21 days after the posting of the notice or the dispatching of the telegram, give notice, in writing or by telegram, to the Public Trustee that he intends to apply for administration, or if that person gives such notice but fails for 14 days thereafter so to apply, or makes such application and it fails, then, unless the Court otherwise orders, the Public Trustee may proceed to exercise all or any of the powers and authorities conferred by section 54 of this Act.

(3) If more persons than one are entitled to take out administration, it shall be sufficient to give notice to one of those persons only.

(4) Nothing in this section shall, where it is not actually known to the Public Trustee that there is in Western Samoa any person entitled to obtain administration, or in any case of emergency (of which emergency the Public Trustee shall be the sole judge), prevent the Public Trustee from exercising the powers and authorities given by section 54 of this Act without giving such notice as aforesaid.

56. Public Trustee may oppose application for administration - (1) Where any person dies leaving real or personal property situated in Western Samoa and any person other than the Public Trustee makes application for administration of the estate of the deceased person and the Public Trustee believes that there are substantial and reasonable grounds for opposing the grant, but there is no person in Western Samoa beneficially interested in opposing the grant who is of full age and full mental capacity-

(a) The Public Trustee may, if he thinks it expedient, lodge a caveat against the application for administration:

(b) The Public Trustee may thereupon forthwith apply ex parte to a judge in Chambers for directions, and the judge may, if he thinks fit, direct the Public Trustee to represent the persons who may be prejudicially affected by the grant and in his corporate name oppose the grant on their behalf.

(2) All costs, charges and expenses incurred by the Public Trustee acting pursuant to any such directions under subsection (1) of this section shall be paid out of the estate.

57. Validity of acts by Public Trustee under administration granted in error - (1) Without prejudice to any protection otherwise afforded, where, under the belief in good faith that a person has died testate or intestate, the Public Trustee has obtained a grant of administration of an estate, or is administering an estate under statutory powers, or is appointed or acting as trustee under a will, and afterwards it is found that the person is living, or did not die intestate, or that a will exists which revokes or alters the will which the Public Trustee has proved, or under which he becomes administrator, or under which he is administering or is acting as trustee, or where the authority of the Public Trustee to administer is for any other reason revoked or rendered of no effect, then notwithstanding that the person is living, or that the deceased die not die intestate, or made a will revoking or altering the provisions of the will of which the Public Trustee is administrator or under which he is appointed or is acting as trustee, or that the administration under which the Public Trustee has been acting is for any other reason revoked or rendered of no effect, all acts and things done or omitted by the Public Trustee, whether before or after the commencement of this Act, shall be as good, valid and effectual as if he had been lawfully appointed or entitled to act as such executor, administrator or trustee.

(2) In any such case, nothing in this section shall affect or prejudice any right of any person against any other person to whom the Public Trustee has transferred any property or paid any money.

(3) The onus of proving that the Public Trustee has not acted in good faith in respect of any of the matters referred to in this section shall be upon any person who alleges it.

58. Payment of legacies of infants to Public Trustee - (1) With the consent of the Public Trustee, any trustee may pay to the Public Trustee any money, being the whole amount, or the whole remaining amount, of any legacy or share in any estate to which an infant is entitled, whether indefeasibly or contingently, under a will, instrument, trust or intestacy; and the trustee shall direct the Public Trustee by writing in a form approved by the Public Trustee to account for the legacy or share according to the provisions of the will, instrument, trust or intestacy.

(2) The direction shall declare that the amount therein stated is the whole amount or (as the case may be) the whole remaining amount to which the infant is so entitled, and how much of the amount is capital and how much thereof is income and how much (if any) of the capital and income has been expended, whether for the maintenance, education, advancement or benefit of the infant or otherwise; and in the case of money to which the infant is contingently entitled, the person or persons who will become entitled to the money or so much as remains in the event of the infant failing to become indefeasibly entitled, and the shares and interests of those persons; and such other matters as the Public Trustee may require. The direction shall be certified correct by the trustee; and the Public Trustee shall not be under any obligation to inquire into the accuracy of the direction nor shall the Public Trustee incur any liability through acting upon any statement contained in the direction.

(3) Upon the foregoing provisions of this section being complied with in any case, the direction shall vest in the Public Trustee all the powers of the trustee in respect of the legacy or share, whether conferred by the will or trust instrument or by statute or in any other manner howsoever; and in addition the Public Trustee shall be entitled to exercise in respect of the legacy or share the powers conferred upon the Public Trustee by this Act.

(4) The trustee shall, at the time of completing the direction referred to in the foregoing provisions of this section, furnish to the Public Trustee where applicable a true copy of the will or trust instrument affecting the legacy or share; and the Public Trustee shall act in pursuance of the trusts therein contained.

(5) The provisions of this section shall extend to all wills, trusts, trust instruments, intestacies and transactions, whether they took effect before or after the commencement of this Act.

Protection of Infants and Persons under Disability in Certain Cases

59. Money or damages to which infants and others entitled to be paid to Public Trustee - (1) In any cause or matter in any Court in which money or damages are claimed by or on behalf of a person who is not of full age or full mental capacity, no money or damages received or awarded in the cause or matter, whether by way of compromise, payment into Court, or otherwise, and whether before or after the trial, shall be paid to the plaintiff, or to the next friend or guardian ad litem or solicitor of the plaintiff.

(2) All money or damages so received or awarded shall, unless the appropriate Court having jurisdiction in the cause or matter otherwise orders, be paid to the Public Trustee, and shall, subject to any special or general directions of that Court, be held and applied by him in such manner as he thinks fit for or towards the maintenance or education (including past maintenance or education) or the advancement or benefit of that person.

(3) All money so paid to the Public Trustee shall be invested by him in the Common Fund or (notwithstanding the provisions of section 24 of this Act) in such other investments as are authorised by law for the investment of trust funds, or partly in the Common Fund and partly in such other investments as aforesaid, as the Public Trustee shall deem fit having regard to the circumstances of the persons for whose benefit the money is so held.

(4) A certificate by the Public Trustee showing the receipt of any money paid to him pursuant to subsection (2) of this section shall, in any Court or proceedings whatsoever, be sufficient evidence of the facts therein stated without any further proof.

(5) Nothing in this section shall prejudice the lien of a solicitor for his costs.

(6) The plaintiff s costs in any such cause or matter or incident to the claim therein or consequent thereon shall either be fixed by the Court or taxed as between party and party and as between solicitor and client, and (in the case of taxation) the taxing officer shall certify the respective amounts thereof and the difference (if any). No costs other than those so fixed or certified shall be payable to the plaintiffs solicitor.

(7) Whenever the money or damages received or awarded are paid to the Public Trustee, he shall be given notice of the taxation, if any, and shall be entitled to appear and be heard thereon.

Benefit Funds

60. Administration by Public Trustee of benefit funds - (1) In any case where a fund is raised by public or private subscriptions for the benefit or relief of any person or class of persons, the following provisions shall apply:

(a) The fund may be placed in the Public Trust Office to be administered by the Public Trustee and to be invested in the Common Fund:

(b) The Public Trustee may recognise as a committee any persons whom he believes to have organised the appeal for the subscriptions or to have been appointed or authorised or recognised as a committee by a substantial number of the subscribers:

(c) The Public Trustee, after conferring with the committee, if any, may apply to the Supreme Court for directions as to the administration of the fund, and for that purpose shall submit a scheme of administration:

(d) The Court may approve the scheme with or without modification as the Court thinks fit:

(e) The Public Trustee shall administer the fund in accordance with the scheme as approved:

(f) On the application of the Attorney-General, or of the Public Trustee, or of any member of the committee, or of any person claiming an interest in the fund, the Court at any time may vary the scheme so far as it relates to the powers of the Public Trustee in respect of the fund and the mode of administering the fund, or give directions on any point or question relating to the scheme or the fund:

(g) The Public Trustee shall obey all such directions:

(h) Where the fund was raised for the benefit of 2 or more persons, any scheme under this section may provide that the income and capital of the fund or any specified part thereof may be applied by the Public Trustee in his discretion for or towards the maintenance or education (including past maintenance or education) or advancement or benefit of those persons or of any one or more of them to the exclusion of the other or others of them in such shares and proportions and generally in such manner as the Public Trustee from time to time thinks fit; and in pursuance of any such provision the Public Trustee may so apply money notwithstanding that only one of those persons remains alive.

(2) This section shall apply to funds raised as aforesaid either before or after the commencement of this Act, and to any funds raised as aforesaid which at the commencement of this Act are being administered in the Public Trust Office.

(3) Notwithstanding anything heretofore contained, where the fund does not exceed $4,000:

(a) The Public Trustee, instead of applying to the Supreme Court for directions as to the administration of the fund, may, with the consent of the committee (if any) or the majority of the members thereof, settle a scheme of administration:

(b) The scheme so settled may be incorporated in a declaration of trust by the Public Trustee, who, for the purpose of the trust instrument, shall be deemed to be the settlor of the trust:

(c) Any statements or recitals in any such trust instrument shall be sufficient evidence of the truth thereof, and the provisions of the declaration of trust shall be final and binding on all persons whether beneficially interested thereunder or otherwise:

Provided that the Public Trustee may, if he thinks fit so to do, and with the consent of the surviving members of the committee (if any) in Western Samoa or a majority of them, at any time modify the scheme so far as it relates to the powers of the Public Trustee in respect of the fund and the mode of administering the fund, and the declaration of trust shall be amended accordingly.

See the Charitable Trusts Act 1965

Notices

61. Notice of orders placing property in Public Trust Office to be served on Public Trustee - Where any Court, on the application of any person other than the Public Trustee, makes any order directing any payment to be made to the Public Trustee or into the Public Trust Office, or makes any order vesting property in the Public Trustee, or appoints the Public Trustee as administrator or other trustee or as manager, guardian or committee, it shall be the duty of the person who obtains the order forthwith thereafter to serve a sealed copy thereof upon the Public Trustee, and to deliver to the Public Trustee a statement of the property affected by the order, showing where that property is situated and by whom it is held, so far as the same is known to that person; and in default thereof, unless the default was due to accident or was unavoidable, that person shall be liable to a fine not exceeding $50.

62. Registrars of Courts to see that orders sent to Public Trustee - Where any such order is made by a Court it shall be the duty of the Registrar of the Court to see that a copy of the order is delivered or posted by registered letter to the Public Trustee, together with a statement of the property affected by the order, and showing where the property is situated, and in whose possession it is, as far as the Registrar can ascertain; and the Registrar shall, at the time of the making of the order, ascertain by such ways and means as he thinks best, the property affected by the order, and where the property is situated, and in whose possession it is, and the Registrar is hereby empowered to make such inquiries and to take such action as he considers necessary for the purpose of enabling him to comply with the provisions of this section.

63. Rejection of appointment of Public Trustee to be notified to interested persons - (1) If any appointment of the Public Trustee as administrator or other trustee or as guardian, committee, agent or attorney is rejected, the Public Trustee shall send notice thereof to such persons as the Public Trustee thinks fit.

(2) If any property has become, by virtue of an appointment which is rejected, vested in the Public Trustee, then by virtue of a rejection as aforesaid the property shall cease to be vested in the Public Trustee and shall become vested in such persons as would have been entitled thereto if the appointment had not been made; and the Public Trustee may execute all such instruments and do all such things as may be necessary to give effect to the rejection.

64. Certificate by Public Trustee to be evidence of acceptance or rejection - A certificate by the Public Trustee that he has accepted or rejected any such appointment shall be conclusive evidence of that acceptance or rejection.

PART V

Elections to Administer and Certificates of Administration

65. Power of Public Trustee to elect to administer small estates without grant of administration - (1) Where any person has died intestate or testate, whether in or out of Western Samoa and whether before or after the commencement of this Act, leaving property situated in Western Samoa, the gross value of which as estimated by the Public Trustee does not at the time of the election hereinafter mentioned exceed $3,000, and no person has obtained a grant of administration in Western Samoa, the Public Trustee, in any case where he would be entitled to obtain such a grant, may, instead of obtaining such a grant, file in the Supreme Court an election in writing under seal to administer the estate of the deceased person.

(2) On any such election being filed, the Public Trustee shall be deemed to be the executor of the will or the administrator of the estate, as the case may be, in like manner and to the same extent in all respects as if administration had been duly granted to him.

(3) Every such election shall set forth the name, residence and occupation of the deceased, so far as the same are then known to the Public Trustee, and the date of the death of the deceased, and the property situated in Western Samoa of the deceased as then known.

(4) The election shall contain, in every case where the deceased died intestate, a statement to that effect, and, in every case where the deceased died testate, a statement that after due inquiries the Public Trustee believes that the document annexed to the election is the testator's last will (or an exemplification thereof where administration has been granted out of Western Samoa) and that the will has been validly executed according to the law governing the execution of wills.

(5) Any such election as aforesaid may be filed in the office of the Supreme Court at Apia, or in any other office of the Supreme Court as may, either generally or in respect of particular estates, be determined by the Public Trustee.

(6) If after filing any such election as aforesaid the gross value of the property situated in Western Samoa to be administered is found to exceed the sum of $3,000, the Public Trustee shall as soon as practicable thereafter file in the office of the Supreme Court in which the election to administer was filed a memorandum under seal stating the fact; and shall thereupon proceed in the ordinary manner to obtain a grant of administration in Western Samoa; and for that purpose may uplift from the Court any will or exemplification filed with the election.

66. Election in respect of unadministered balance of an estate - (1) Where a grant of administration (in this section referred to as "the original grant") has been made in Western Samoa in respect of the estate of any deceased person (in this section referred to as "the original estate") and the persons to whom the original grant or any substituted grant of administration was made have died, whether before or after the commencement of this Act, leaving part of the original estate unadministered, and the gross value of the property situated in Western Samoa so left unadministered, as estimated by the Public Trustee at the time of the election hereinafter mentioned, does not exceed the sum of $3,000, and no person has since the death of the last administrator taken out letters of administration de bonis non in Western Samoa in respect of the original estate, the Public Trustee may, instead of applying for an order to administer de bonis non in Western Samoa, file in the office of the Supreme Court out of which the original grant was issued an election in writing under seal setting forth the fact of the original grant, the death of the executors or other administrators, and the particulars and estimated value of the property situated in Western Samoa so left unadministered, and electing to administer the part of the original estate so left unadministered.

(2) On the election being filed, the Public Trustee shall be deemed to be administrator of the original estate left unadministered in like manner and to the same extent in all respects as if an order to administer de bonis non had been duly granted to him.

(3) If after the filing of any such election the gross value of the property situated in Western Samoa to be administered by the Public Trustee is found to exceed the sum of $3,000 the Public Trustee shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, file in the said office of the Supreme Court a memorandum under seal stating the fact, and shall thereupon proceed in the ordinary manner to obtain in Western Samoa an order to administer de bonis non (either with or without the will annexed, as the case may be) in respect of the said estate, and for that purpose may uplift from the Court any will or exemplification filed with the election.

67. Operation of election to administer as regards property overseas - In determining the value of the property of any person that is situated in Western Samoa for the purposes of section 65 or 66 of this Act, that property shall not include or be deemed to include property situated out of Western Samoa at the time of the filing of any election to administer, whether or not the property may afterwards be transferred to Western Samoa (whether to the Public Trustee or to any other person) in due course of administration, whether for the purposes of distribution to the persons beneficially entitled thereto or otherwise howsoever; but in all other respects every election referred to in the said sections 65 and 66 shall extend and apply to and include property situated out of Western Samoa in the same manner and to the same extent in all respects as a grant of administration obtained by the Public Trustee would in the circumstances of each particular case extend or apply to or include that property.

68. Revocation of elections filed in error - (1) Where the Public Trustee has, pursuant to any of the provisions of this Part of this Act, filed an election to administer the estate of a deceased person, and the Public Trustee subsequently discovers that the election is invalid or ineffective by reason of the discovery of a will or a later will, or of the revocation or invalidity of a will, or for any other reason, then and in any such case the Public Trustee may file in the office of the Supreme Court in which the election to administer was filed a memorandum under seal setting out the facts and certifying that the election already filed is invalid or ineffective.

(2) Upon any such memorandum being filed, the election to administer previously filed shall cease to be of any effect whatsoever, and thereafter an application for administration may be made or a fresh election may be filed in all respects as if the election to administer previously filed had not been filed.

69. Court fees payable on elections, etc. - (1) The fee payable to the Registrar of the Supreme Court for the filing of any election under this Part of this Act shall be such as may from time to time be prescribed by regulations or rules made under this or any other Act.

(2) A copy of any such election certified as a correct copy under the seal of the Supreme Court or a Registrar thereof shall be equivalent to an exemplification of that election for all purposes, and the only fee payable in respect thereof shall be a sealing fee of 50 sene or such other fee as may be prescribed.

70. Certificate by Public Trustee as to his legal status in any matter - (1) Where the Public Trustee is executor or other administrator or is by law authorised to administer the estate of any deceased person, or where he is acting as trustee, guardian, manager, agent, attorney, liquidator, committee or receiver, or in any other capacity, a certificate under seal by the Public Trustee,

(a) In the case of a deceased person, stating the name, residence and occupation of the deceased person at the time of his death, and the date of his death, and certifying that the Public Trustee has obtained a grant of probate or an order to administer or is otherwise authorised to administer the estate, and stating the date when the probate or order to administer was granted or the manner in which and the time at which the Public Trustee became authorised to administer; and

(b) In any case where the Public Trustee is acting as trustee, guardian, manager, agent, attorney, liquidator, committee or receiver, or in any other capacity, certifying that the Public Trustee is authorised to act as such trustee, guardian, manager, agent, attorney, liquidator, committee or receiver, or in such other capacity, and stating the manner in which and the time at which he became so authorised to act;

shall, notwithstanding any law or statutory provision to the contrary, be accepted by all Courts, officers and persons, whether acting under any Act or not, as sufficient evidence in the case of a deceased person of the death of that person, and of the appointment of the Public Trustee as executor or other administrator, and of his right to administer, and in any of the other cases mentioned of the Public Trustee's right to act, without any other proof whatsoever.

(2) The certificate shall be sufficient for the purpose of registering the Public Trustee as proprietor of any estate or interest in any freehold land, or of any shares, stock or property in any bank, company, body or association; and no Registrar of Land or bank or company or body or association to whom or which any such certificate is produced shall be concerned to inquire concerning the trusts on which the Public Trustee holds any such land or shares or stock or property or as to his authority to transfer or deal with the same.

(3) In the case of an estate or interest in freehold, the certificate shall be equivalent for registration purposes to, and it shall not be necessary to register, the probate, order to administer, election to administer, trust instrument, order, power of attorney, or other document or authority under which the Public Trustee is acting.

(4) A statement of the purport of any trust instrument, order, power of attorney or other document or authority in any assurance, certificate or instrument under seal shall be sufficient evidence thereof, and no one shall be concerned to inquire beyond that statement.

PART VI
UNCLAIMED PROPERTY

See the Unclaimed Money Act 1964.

71. Appointment of Public Trustee as manager of unclaimed property - (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the Public Trustee may be appointed or become manager in accordance with this Part of this Act of any real or personal property in Western Samoa in the following cases:

(a) When, after due inquiry, it is not known who the owner of the property is, or where he is, or whether he is alive or dead:

(b) When the owner of the property is absent from Western Samoa or dead and, after due inquiry, it is not known whether he has any agent or administrator in Western Samoa with authority to take possession of and administer the property, or where any such agent or administrator is, or whether he is alive or dead.

(2) The Public Trustee shall not be so appointed or become manager of,-

(a) Any customary land within the meaning of Clause (2) of Article 101 of the Constitution of Western Samoa; or

(b) Any public land within the meaning of Clause (4) of that Article in respect of which no contract for the alienation thereof has been made.

72. Mode of appointment - (1) The Court may appoint the Public Trustee as manager of any property under this Part of this Act on application made ex parte by the Public Trustee and on being satisfied that the appointment is advisable in the interests of the owner of the property or in the interests of any other person or to secure the development or better utilisation of land. Notice of any such appointment shall be published in the Western Samoa Gazette or the Savali or any other newspaper.

(2) Where the gross value (as estimated by the Public Trustee) of the property of which the Public Trustee proposes to become manager does not exceed $4,000 and the Public Trustee is satisfied that it is advisable, in the interests of the owner of the property or in the interests of any other person or to secure the development or better utilisation of land, that the Public Trustee should become the manager of the property, the Public Trustee may, by notice in the Western Samoa Gazette or the Savali or any other newspaper, elect to be the manager of the property under this Part of this Act; and the Public Trustee shall thereupon become the manager of the property without any order of the Court.

(3) In any application made under subsection (1) of this section where the Court considers that due inquiry has not been made for the owner of the property specified therein, or for his agent or administrator, or as to whether the property is subject to any trust, it may, before making an order, require further inquiry to be made or advertisements published or notice given, and adjourn the application to enable this to be done.

(4) No property shall vest in the Public Trustee by reason only of the fact that he is appointed or becomes manager thereof under this Part of this Act after the commencement of this Act; but, on application by the Public Trustee, the Court may at any time make an order vesting in the Public Trustee or in any other person any property of which the Public Trustee is for the time being manager under this Part of this Act, whether the Public Trustee was appointed or became manager of the property before or after the commencement of this Act.

73. Powers of Public Trustee - (1) Unless the Court shall in any particular case otherwise order, the Public Trustee, as manager under this Part of this Act of any property, may-

(a) Take or recover possession of the property, and recover all money, damages and mesne profits payable to the owner or his administrator in respect of the property, whether the payment became due before or after the Public Trustee became manager of the property:

(b) Apply the property, money, damages or mesne profits, or any part thereof or income therefrom, for the maintenance or education (including past maintenance or education) or the advancement or benefit, in such manner as the Public Trustee in his absolute discretion thinks fit, of the wife or husband or children of the owner of the property or any other person who is or was dependent upon the owner:

(c) Complete, carry out, perform or enforce in such manner as he may think fit any contract affecting the property or entered into by the owner, and exercise any powers conferred by any such contract:

(d) Pay, out of money received, advanced or borrowed by him in exercise of any powers conferred by this Part of this Act, any mortgages, charges, or other obligations on or attaching to the property, and any debts or other liabilities of the owner of the property:

(e) Perform or discharge any obligation or duty imposed by any Act or otherwise upon the owner of the property:

(f) Do any act or thing requisite to obtaining or perfecting the title to the property:

(g) In the case of land, cut and gather crops growing or situate thereon and erect fences on or around the same or contribute to the erection of any dividing or boundary fences:

(h) Exercise any power of sale or other powers or rights conferred upon the owner by any mortgage, lease, Act, or instrument:

(i) Pay or retain all such commission, charges and expenses as may be fixed or authorised by regulations made by the Head of State, acting on the advice of Cabinet:

(j) In the name of the owner, or at his discretion in his own corporate name, bring any action or other proceeding relating to the property, and defend, confess, com promise or submit to judgment in any action, claim, demand or proceeding touching the property:

(k) Exercise as if he were the trustee of the property all powers which as trustee he could exercise without the consent of the Court under [the Trustee Act 1975] or any other Act or law:

(l) Exercise in respect of the property all other powers which may be conferred on him by the Court, whether or not they are powers which, if he were trustee of the property, could be so conferred on him under any Act or law relating to trustees.

(2) Any money which the Public Trustee may wish to raise pursuant to the powers conferred by or under this section may be advanced from the Common Fund of the Public Trust Office or borrowed from any other source.

(3) All deeds and other documents executed by the Public Trustee in his corporate name as manager of any property pursuant to the powers conferred on him by or under this Part of this Act shall have effect and may be registered in all respects as if they were executed by the owner of the property; and when an instrument is executed by the Public Trustee, purporting to be made in exercise of the powers conferred by or under this Part of this Act, no Court or officer or person shall be concerned to see or inquire whether those powers had or had not become exercisable, or be responsible for the exercise or the improper exercise of those powers.

In subs. (l) (k) the Trustee Act 1975, being the corresponding enactment in force at the date of this reprint, has been substituted for the Trustee Act 1956 (N.Z.).

74. Power of Public Trustee to pay for improvements - The Public Trustee may make such payment or allowance for the value of improvements made on, to or in respect of any property of which he is manager under this Part of this Act, or for money expended on or in respect of the property, as to him may seem just or reasonable, notwithstanding that the value of the improvements or the money so expended may have ceased to be recoverable at law either before or after the Public Trustee became manager of the property or may never have been so recoverable.

75. Sale or transfer of land to occupier or person entitled thereto - (1) In any case where the Public Trustee, as manager of any land under this Part of this Act, sells the land to the occupier thereof-

(a) In fixing the price of the land, the Public Trustee may make an allowance in accordance with section 74 of this Act in respect of any improvements made by the occupier or by any person by or through or under whom he claims possession of the land:

Provided that nothing in this paragraph shall affect the generality of that section:

(b) The Public Trustee shall not be under any liability for failing to recover any money or damages payable in respect of the occupation of the land:

Provided that nothing in this paragraph shall affect the liability of the occupier to the owner of the land or restrict the generality of section 76 of this Act.

(2) In any case where the Public Trustee is manager under this Part of this Act of any land, and it is proved to his satisfaction that the registered proprietor of the land has sold the land and received payment of all amounts to which he is entitled on the sale, the Public Trustee may, on payment of such fee as may be agreed on by the Public Trustee together with any charges or expenses incurred or payable by him, transfer the land to the person who is in equity entitled thereto without requiring any payment on behalf of the registered proprietor:

Provided that nothing in this subsection shall affect any rights which any other person may have in respect of the land.

76. Public Trustee to have discretion as to exercise of powers - (1) The Public Trustee shall not be obliged to take any steps or proceeding to cause himself to be appointed or to become manager of any property under this Part of this Act.

(2) Where the Public Trustee is manager of any property under this Part of this Act, he shall, subject to any direction of the Court, have a complete discretion as to whether or not he exercises any of the powers conferred on him by or under this Part of this Act, and shall not be liable for any thing done or omitted to be done by him in good faith in exercise of that discretion or of any such power.

77. Public Trustee may apply to Court for directions - (1) The Public Trustee, as manager of any property under this Part of this Act, may apply ex parte to the Court for directions concerning the property, or in respect of the management or administration of the property, or respecting the exercise of any power or discretion vested in him as such manager.

(2) The Court may order any such application to be served upon such persons as it thinks expedient.

78. Money to form part of Common Fund - All money for the time being held by the Public Trustee under this Part of this Act shall form part of the Common Fund of the Public Trust Office.

79. Remuneration and expenses of Public Trustee - (1) All expenditure incurred by the Public Trustee as manager of any property under this Part of this Act, and all fees, costs, commission, charges, interest and expenses incurred by or payable to the Public Trustee as manager of any property under this Part of this Act shall be a charge upon the property, which charge shall come next in priority to any mortgage or charge to which the said property is subject when the Public Trustee becomes manager of the same.

(2) The amount for the time being so charged on the property shall bear interest at a rate fixed from time to time by the Public Trustee.

(3) If the Public Trustee is unable to recover the amount so charged on the property from any person or property, the amount of the deficiency shall be charged on and be met out of the Treasury Fund and shall be statutory expenditure.

80. Property of which Public Trustee takes possession to be held for owner - Where the Public Trustee, as manager under this Part of this Act, takes possession of any property or receives or recovers any money, damages or mesne profits in respect of any property, the property, money, damages or mesne profits shall, after payment thereout of all money authorised to be applied, expended or charged by the Public Trustee, be held by him for the owner of the property.

81. Termination of managership - (1) The Public Trustee shall cease to be manager of any property under this Part of this Act upon the happening of any of the following events-

(a) If the Court so orders on application made by the owner of the property, or by his administrator or duly authorised agent, or by any person having any interest in the property or in any part thereof, and served on the Public Trustee:

(b) If the Public Trustee publishes notice in the Western Samoa Gazette or the Savali or any other newspaper that he has ceased to be the manager of the property under this Part of this Act:

(c) If the Public Trustee transfers or delivers the property to the owner or his administrator or duly authorised agent.

(2) The termination of the Public Trustee's managership of any property under this Part of this Act shall not affect any charge acquired by the Public Trustee under this Part of this Act, or the validity of any act or thing done by the Public Trustee while he was manager of the property.

(3) No order shall be made by the Court under this section without the consent of the Public Trustee until the Public Trustee has been paid all amounts to which he is entitled under this Part of this Act in respect of all expenditure, fees, costs, commission, charges, interest and expenses, incurred by or payable to the Public Trustee as manager of the property, together with all costs incurred by the Public Trustee of and incidental to the application for the order.

(4) Upon the Public Trustee ceasing to be manager of any property which remains in his name or in his possession, the Public Trustee may transfer or deliver the property to the person entitled thereto.

82. Evidence in respect of unclaimed property - In any case where the Court or the Public Trustee is acting under this Part of this Act, the Court or the Public Trustee may accept and act upon and be satisfied with any evidence, whether the same is strictly legal evidence or not, and the Court may make an order declaring,. or the Public Trustee may acknowledge, a claimant to be the owner or entitled to possession of any property, notwithstanding that the claimant may be unable to adduce evidence which would entitle him to judgment in an action of ejectment or to a decree in an action for specific performance, and the Court or the Public Trustee may have regard to the circumstances of each case in determining the character and sufficiency of the evidence of title adduced.

83. Transfer of unclaimed property to State - (1) If, after 20 years from the date of the publication in the Western Samoa Gazette or the Savali or any other newspaper of the order or election or other act by which the Public Trustee was appointed or became manager of any land, no person has established his claim to the land, and the Public Trustee has not become aware of the existence and whereabouts of any person who has a claim to the land,-

(a) Where the land has not been, sold by the Public Trustee in exercise of the powers conferred on him by this Part of this Act, it shall vest in the State:

(b) All money held by the Public Trustee and derived from the land shall be paid to the Public Account and credited to the Treasury Fund, and shall thereafter be subject to the provisions of sections 11, 12 and 13 of the Unclaimed Money Act 1964.

(2) If after 7 years from the date of the publication in the Western Samoa Gazette or the Savali or any other newspaper of the order or election or other act by which the Public Trustee was appointed or became manager of any property other than land, no person has established his claim to the property, and the Public Trustee has not become aware of the existence and whereabouts of any person who has or may have a claim to the property,-

(a) Where the property has not been sold by the Public Trustee in exercise of the powers conferred on him by this Part of this Act, it shall vest in the State:

(b) All money held by the Public Trustee and derived from the property shall be paid to the Public Account and credited to the Treasury Fund, and shall thereafter be subject to the provisions of sections 11, 12 and 13 of the Unclaimed Money Act 1964.

(3) Nothing in this Part of this Act shall affect the State in respect of its property or rights.

84. Provision in case of lost title - In any case where the Public Trustee is manager of any property under this Part of this Act and a certificate or other document evidencing title to the property has (on registration) issued in respect thereof, the Registrar or person for the time being responsible for keeping the register may, if he is satisfied that the certificate or document cannot after due inquiry be found, cancel the previous registration, and re-register the property, and issue a new certificate or document evidencing title to the property.

85. Order or notice not affected by mistake of fact - Any order made or any notice published under this Part of this Act, or any thing done in pursuance of this Part of this Act or of any such order or notice, shall not be or become invalid or inoperative merely because it has been made or done under a mistake of fact, or because the owner of the property was dead at the time when the order was made or the notice was published or has died since the making or publication thereof, or because of any disposition of the property made by the owner thereof while the Public Trustee was manager of the property under this Part of this Act, as the case may be.

86. Savings - (1) Upon the commencement of this Act the Public Trustee shall become manager under this Part of this Act of all property which was vested in him or in respect of which he could exercise any powers under Part V of the Public Trust Office Act 1957 (N.Z.) immediately before the commencement of this Act.

(2) Nothing in this Part of this Act shall affect any Act by which a period of limitation is prescribed.

PART VII
MISCELLANEOUS

87. Special powers that may be exercised by the Public Trustee - Where the Public Trustee is executor, administrator, trustee, guardian or otherwise authorised to act in the administration of an estate, then, unless a contrary intention is expressed in this Act or in any relevant instrument, the Public Trustee may at his discretion, but without restricting any other powers, exercise the following powers:

(a) Where he has power to raise money by mortgage, raise the money or borrowing without giving security:

(b) Pay or discharge all debts, liabilities, obligations, costs and expenses:

(c) Carry out or vary contracts entered into before his appointment:

(d) Set off against the claim of any person in respect of any estate (whether as beneficiary, creditor or otherwise), and of any person claiming by, through or under that person, all money owing by the first-mentioned person, whether to the same estate or to any other estate under administration by the Public Trustee, and whether the claim of the person in respect of an estate or his liability to pay money to an estate arose before or after the Public Trustee became entitled to administer the estate or before or after the death of the deceased:

(e) Grant powers of attorney to any person, in or out of Western Samoa, to do any act or thing which the Public Trustee, if personally present, could do:

(f) Bring or defend any action, suit or other proceeding, and suffer judgment to go by default or consent to any judgment, decree or order in the action, suit or proceeding upon such terms and conditions as the Public Trustee thinks fit:

(g) Take proceedings to cause any person to be adjudicated a bankrupt, or any company to be placed in liquidation, and vote and act either personally or by proxy at meetings of creditors or shareholders, and (in the case of a company) whether it is in liquidation or not:

(h) Take criminal proceedings touching or concerning property, and for the purposes of the proceedings the property shall, unless the contrary is proved, be deemed to be the property of the Public Trustee and in the possession of the Public Trustee:

(i) At the expense of the estate, employ such persons as he thinks fit (whether or not they are officers or employees of the Public Trust Office) for the purpose of advising and assisting him in the administration or management of any estate or any part thereof and remunerate any such person in such manner as he thinks fit.

See also the following enactments:

Chattels Transfer Act 1975, s. 35 (discharge by Public Trustee on behalf of missing grantee of instrument).
Mental Health ordinance 1961, ss. 22-25 (appointment to administer property of mentally defective person); and s. 44 (regulations prescribing duties of Public Trustee in estates of mentally defective persons).
Prisons Act 1967, s. 52 (Attorney-General may appoint Public Trustee to administer property of convict); and Pt. VIII generally (administering convict's property).

88. Public Trustee may act on written statement, etc. - (1) Unless expressly prohibited by any Act or by the terms of any particular trust, the Public Trustee may, in the administration of any trust or estate, or the performance of any power or duty under this or any other Act, act on credible information (though less than legal evidence) as to matters of fact.

(2) He may allow any claim which is made upon or before him upon the affidavit, declaration or statement of the claimant alone, or, where he thinks fit to call for other evidence, upon such evidence as he requires.

(3) He may at any time require a statutory declaration or other sufficient evidence that a person is alive and is the person to whom any money or property is payable or transferable, and may refuse payment or transfer until the declaration or evidence is produced.

(4) If acting in good faith, he shall not be liable for accepting as correct and acting upon the faith of any written statement or statutory declaration by any person, in or out of Western Samoa, whom he believes to be trustworthy, as to any birth, death, marriage or other matter of pedigree or relationship, or other matter of fact upon which the title to any estate or any part thereof may depend.

89. Powers of inspection of property - (1) The Public Trustee may from time to time require an officer of the Public Trust Office, or employ any other person, to make an inspection of any land or other property forming part of an estate being administered by the Public Trustee or in respect of which the Public Trustee is mortgagee and to furnish a report to him as to the state or condition thereof, or the observance and performance by any occupier, lessee, mortgagor or other person of the terms and conditions on which the land or property is held, or generally on any matters relating to any land or other property forming part of any estate being administered by the Public Trustee.

(2) For the purpose of making any such report any such officer or person shall at all reasonable times have free ingress, egress and regress, and right of inspection in, to and over any land or other property in the occupation or possession of any person.

(3) Every person who obstructs any such officer or person in the performance of his duty, or refuses or wilfully neglects to answer any reasonable question put to him in writing by such officer or person in connection with his duty, or makes to him any wilful misstatement, commits an offence and shall be liable to a fine not exceeding $50.

90. Public Trustee as mortgagee in possession may charge for collection of rents - It shall be lawful for the Public Trustee, when exercising the powers of a mortgagee in possession, to make such charge for the collection of rents and interest and other duties incidental to being a mortgagee in possession as may be fixed or authorised by regulations. All such charges, with interest thereon at the rate agreed on in the mortgage, shall constitute a debt due by the mortgagor to the Public Trustee, and until repayment thereof shall be added to the sum expressed to be secured by the mortgage.

91. Public Trustee acting in fiduciary capacity may receive remuneration - Notwithstanding the provisions of any other Act or any rule of law prohibiting or limiting or regulating the right of any person acting in a fiduciary capacity to charge, demand or receive payment or remuneration for so acting, or determining the manner in which any such payment or remuneration is to be ascertained or assessed, it shall be lawful for the Public Trustee when acting in a fiduciary capacity to charge, demand and receive such remuneration therefor by way of commission or otherwise as may from time to time be fixed or authorised by this or any other Act or by any regulations made under this or any other Act.

92. Public Trustee may sue himself in different capacity - Notwithstanding any rule of law or practice to the contrary, the Public Trustee, acting in one capacity, may commence proceedings against himself acting in another capacity:

Provided that in every such case the Public Trustee shall obtain the directions of the Court as to the manner in which the opposing interests are to be represented.

93. Sale of goods by auction - Where the Public Trustee is realising the goods, chattels and effects of any estate administered by him, and those goods, chattels and effects are not in the opinion of the Public Trustee of greater value than $400, and are situated at a distance of more than 10 miles from the usual place of business of a licensed auctioneer, then, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Business Licences Ordinance 1960, those goods, chattels and effects may be offered for sale by auction by some person to be appointed by the Public Trustee, and that person for the-purpose of the sale shall not require to take out a business or auctioneer's licence.

94. Proof and payment of debts - (1) Where a testate or intestate estate is under administration by the Public Trustee, he may, at such time as he thinks fit, cause advertisements to be published in such newspapers as he deems expedient, calling upon creditors to prove their debts or claims before him on or before a date to be fixed in the notice.

(2) The Public Trustee may allow any debt or claim which is made before him upon the statutory declaration of the claimant alone, or where he shall think fit to call for other evidence, upon such evidence as he requires.

(3) The Public Trustee may, in accordance with law, as soon after the expiration of the time allowed for proof of debts or claims as he conveniently can,-

(a) Pay the debts and claims proved, if the whole thereof can be paid; and, if not,

(b) Declare and pay a dividend thereon.

(4) If he collects any further assets after paying any such dividend, he may, in accordance with law, pay any part of the proved debts and claims remaining unpaid, and any debts and claims subsequently proved before him, or a dividend thereon, as the case may be, but creditors who subsequently prove shall first be paid a dividend equal to the dividend paid to creditors who rank equally with them and who previously proved their debts and claims.

(5) After payment or deduction of all debts, fees, commission and expenses incidental to the collection, management and administration of the estate, the Public Trustee shall hold the residue of the estate for the person or persons lawfully entitled to the same.

95. Payment of claims when assets insufficient - Where the assets of any testate or intestate estate under administration by the Public Trustee are insufficient to pay the liabilities in full, it shall be lawful for the Public Trustee to give priority, in the distribution of those assets, to the costs and expenses of administration, funeral expenses, medical and hospital expenses, and claims having priority under the law relating to insolvency, in that order, with any surplus then remaining to be held for the person or persons lawfully entitled to the same.

96. Public Trustee may bar claim of creditor if not prosecuted - (1) Where any person claims to recover from the Public Trustee any money, chattels or things under $400 in value, as estimated by the Public Trustee, and the Public Trustee rejects the claim, the Public Trustee may serve upon the person by whom or on whose behalf the claim is made a notice calling upon him to take legal proceedings within a period of 3 months to establish or enforce the claim and also to prosecute the proceedings with all due diligence.

(2) If the proceedings are not commenced by the person within the said period, the claim shall thereupon be barred, and the money, chattels or things shall become irrecoverable, and the Public Trustee may proceed to administer and distribute the estate disregarding the claim.

(3) The powers given by this section shall in addition to the powers conferred by [section 51 of the Trustee Act 1975.

In subs. (3), s. 51 of the Trustee Act 1975, being the corresponding enactment in force at the date of this reprint, has been substituted for s. 75 of the Trustee Act 1956 (N.Z.)

97. Duty of Public Trustee as to shares of infants - Where the Public Trustee is the administrator or other trustee of a testate or intestate estate, or the trustee under any trust or settlement, the Public Trustee shall (subject to the terms of any Act, will, instrument of trust or settlement) hold the shares of infants in the estate, trust or settlement as trustee for the infants until their infancy ceases; and the shares shall be dealt with and administered in the meantime by the Public Trustee.

98. Interest on pecuniary legacies - When under the will of any person whose estate is being administered by the Public Trustee provision is made for payment of a pecuniary legacy and there is no money or not sufficient money for the time being in the estate with which to pay or out of which to appropriate the legacy, or where, by reason of the infancy or disability of the legatee or for any other reason, payment or appropriation of the legacy is postponed, the legacy or so much thereof as is not paid or appropriated shall, from the time the same is due and payable until payment or appropriation thereof, bear interest at a rate fixed by the Public Trustee, but not exceeding the rate current in the Public Trust Office on advances by way of overdraft, any rule of law to the contrary notwithstanding.

99. Conditions on which tenant for life may be allowed into possession - (1) Subject to any order of the Court, where any person is legal or equitable tenant for life of any land comprised in an estate being administered by the Public Trustee, that person shall not be entitled to the use, occupation and enjoyment of, or to receipt of the income, rents, issues and profits of the land, until he has given such undertaking, and (where necessary) such security, as the Public Trustee may require to comply with such terms and conditions as to keeping the trust property in repair and punctual payment of rates, taxes, insurance premiums, assessments, rents, impositions and other outgoings or otherwise, as the Public Trustee may think fit:

Provided that nothing in this subsection shall enable the Public Trustee to impose any terms and conditions other than those which the Court could impose if application were made to it in that behalf.

(2) Should the person who is in occupation of the land fail to observe any of the duties or obligations attaching to him as such tenant for life or as imposed by the Public Trustee or the Court, or should the Public Trustee for any other reason deem it necessary or expedient to enter into possession of the said land, the Public Trustee may, by notice in writing personally delivered to the person or forwarded by registered letter to him at his last known address, direct the person to give up possession of the land on or before a date to be specified in the notice not being less than one month from the date thereof.

(3) Subject to any order of the Court, on the person failing to give up possession of the land on or before the expiry of the date specified in the notice, the person shall be deemed to be a trespasser as from that date, and the Public Trustee may take the necessary legal proceedings to have the person ejected.

(4) It shall be no defence to any such proceedings that the person sought to be ejected is a legal or equitable life tenant of the land.

100. Public Trustee to have lien on policy money for premiums - Where the Public Trustee pays any premiums in of any policy of insurance he shall have a lien on the money for the amount of the premiums so paid, together with interest thereon at the rate current from time to time in the Public Trust Office on advances by way of overdraft.

101. Power of Public Trustee to make small payments without order - Where under this Act or any other Act the Public Trustee is directed to make any payment, upon an order of a Court or judge being obtained, to any person entitled thereto, he may make a payment without such an order if the amount thereof does not exceed $500; and any payment so made shall be as valid as if authorised by an order of the Court or a judge thereof.

102. Payment of money without grant of administration - (1) On the death of any person to whom any sum of money (not exceeding $500) is payable by the Public Trustee, it shall be lawful for the Public Trustee to pay the sum or any part or parts thereof to any person or persons whom the Public Trustee may consider entitled thereto without requiring administration to be taken out in the estate of the deceased person.

(2) Any payment made in good faith in pursuance of this section shall be valid against all persons whomsoever, and the Public Trustee shall be absolutely discharged from all liability in respect of any money paid by him under this section.

(3) Every person to whom any such money is paid pursuant to this section shall be liable to apply the money in due course of administration, and the Public Trustee may if he thinks fit, without being liable to see to the application of any such money, require any such person to give sufficient security, by bond or otherwise, that the money so paid will be so applied.

(4) Notice of every payment made under this section-shall be given to the Commissioner of Inland Revenue.

(5) Nothing in this section shall debar or prevent any person to whom the said money or any part thereof ought to have been paid from pursuing and exercising any remedy for the recovery thereof against the person or persons to whom the money has been paid.

As to payments without probate, see also: Administration Act 1975, ss. 34-36.
Post Office Act 1972, s. 132 (l) (g).
Public Money Act 1964, s. 66.

103. Public Trustee may determine domicile of person in certain cases - (1) Where the Public Trustee is administering the estate of any person and the value as estimated by the Public Trustee of the net residue of the estate, after meeting all liabilities in respect thereof, is under $5,000 the Public Trustee may determine the domicile of that person on such evidence as to him seems fit.

(2) Any such determination by the Public Trustee shall be sufficient evidence of the domicile of the person, and the Public Trustee may administer, distribute or otherwise deal with the assets of any such estate accordingly, and shall not be liable to any beneficiary, next of kin, creditor or other person in respect of any error in the determination.

104. Existence of property belonging to estate being administered by Public Trustee to be disclosed - Where any corporation, association, partnership or person is in possession of any property of a deceased person, or where there is to the credit of any deceased person in the books or accounts or other records of any corporation, association, partnership or person any property or money, or where under any association or partnership any deceased person is entitled to a share in the assets thereof, or his personal representatives are entitled to any payment as his share in those assets, or where any deceased person is the registered proprietor of any shares in any corporation or association, or where any person is indebted to any deceased person, then if the property, money, shares or debts are to become vested in or belong to the Public Trustee, it shall be obligatory on the corporation, association, partnership or person, on becoming aware of the death and of the Public Trustee's interest in the property, forthwith to give notice to the Public Trustee of the extent, nature, and situation of the property, money, shares or debts.

As to the effects of an unmarried member of the Police Service dying, see reg. 37 of the Police Service Regulations 1970 (W.S.R. 1970/7), reprinted in title Police Service.

105. Inquiries as to property - (1) In this section the term "documents" includes books, papers, deeds, documents and any writings whatsoever.

(2) The Public Trustee shall be entitled to require all persons to delivery, convey, transfer or assign to him all property to which he is entitled.

(3) For the purpose of ascertaining whether any person is possessed of or has control over any property which should be so delivered, conveyed, transferred or assigned, the Public Trustee may institute such inquiries as he thinks proper, and may, by summons under seal, require any person to appear before him or before any officer of the Public Trust Office named by him, and answer all questions that he or the officer may put to the person with reference to any property, and to produce any documents. The Public Trustee shall pay or tender to the person so summoned the same amount as the person would have been entitled to had he been summoned as a witness to a Magistrate's Court.

(4) If any person fails to so deliver, convey, transfer or assign all property as aforesaid, or if the procedure provided in subsection (3) of this section fails to elicit the particulars required, the Public Trustee may take out a summons requiring the person, or any person who may be supposed to be in possession of information relevant to the matter under investigation, to appear before either the Supreme Court or a Magistrate's Court, as the Public Trustee shall determine, for the purpose of being examined on oath touching the matters, and to produce any documents.

(5) If the Court is of opinion that any such person is possessed of or has control over any property that should be so delivered, conveyed, transferred or assigned as aforesaid, the Court may make an order requiring the person to deliver, convey, transfer or assign all the property within such time as the Court may fix. Any such order may be made in the absence of the person summoned, if the summons has been duly served upon him, or if the Court is satisfied that reasonable efforts have been made to serve the same without success.

(6) The Court may order the person to pay all expenses of and incidental to the summons and any examination consequent thereon; and if the Court does not so order, then the expenses shall be paid out of the funds of the estate concerned in priority to all other claims, or, if the Court, so orders, out of any particular portion of those funds.

(7) Any person who, without valid excuse, fails to attend before the Court pursuant to any such summons, or who upon attending, refuses to be sworn or neglects or refuses to answer any relevant question put to him by or on behalf of the Public Trustee, or who having been summoned to produce any documents, fails to produce the same without valid excuse, or if so required by the Court, to hand the documents over to the Public Trustee, or who disobeys any order made by the Court upon the hearing of any such summons, shall be guilty of contempt of Court; and the Court may make an order for the arrest of the person and his imprisonment either for such period as the Court thinks fit or until he has purged his contempt to the satisfaction of the Court. The Court may also order such person to pay the expenses of the proceedings.

106. Declaration of non-revocation not necessary where Public Trustee executes as attorney - (1) Where the Public Trustee executes any document as attorney it shall not be obligatory for him, nor shall any person require him, to furnish evidence by way of statutory declaration that no notice or information of the revocation of the power of attorney by death or otherwise has been received by him.

(2) The execution by the Public Trustee of any document as attorney shall be accepted by all persons as conclusive proof of the non-revocation of the power of attorney at the time when the document was executed.

107. Protection of Public Trustee acting under power of attorney - The Public Trustee, acting or paying money in good faith under or in pursuance of any power of attorney, shall not be liable for any such act or payment by reason of the fact that at the time of the payment or act the person who gave the power of attorney was dead or had done some act to avoid the power, if this fact was not known to the Public Trustee at the time of his so acting or paying.

108. Deposit of wills - (1) Any testator may deposit his will in the Public Trust Office, whether or not the Public Trustee is appointed executor thereof.

(2) If under a will so deposited the Public Trustee is not appointed executor thereof, then, after the death of the testator, the Public Trustee shall deliver the same to such person as the testator may have nominated in writing, or in the absence of any such nomination or, if the person nominated is dead or cannot be found, to such person as the Public Trustee thinks is entitled thereto.

(3) If under a will so deposited the Public Trustee is appointed the executor thereof, then, after the testator's death, notice of the acceptance or rejection of the Public Trustee's appointment shall be given in such manner as the Public Trustee thinks proper; and if the Public Trustee shall reject the same he shall deliver the will to such person as the testator may have nominated, or, in the absence of any such nomination or if the person nominated is dead or cannot be found, to such person as the Public Trustee thinks is entitled thereto.

(4) When notice is given to the Public Trustee by the Registrar of any application by any applicant other than the Public Trustee, for administration of the estate of any deceased person, and there is deposited in the Public Trust Office the will of any person whose name is identical with or resembles that of the deceased person, then and in any such case the Public Trustee may search free of cost in the office of the Supreme Court for the purpose of determining whether the deceased person is identical with the testator whose will is so deposited in the Public Trust Office.

109. Debentures, etc., may be accepted by Public Trustee for safe custody - (1) The Public Trustee may accept for safe custody debentures or other interest bearing securities for money, and any documents of title to property and any other deeds or documents or chattels.

(2) The Public Trustee's liability for all such debentures, securities, documents, deeds and chattels shall, where a charge is made, be that of a bailee for reward, and, where no charge is made, be that of a gratuitous bailee.

110. Custody of documents of title - (1) In order to facilitate the transaction of business in the Public Trust Office, it is hereby declared that the provisions of section 48 of the Public Money Act 1964 (relating to the issue by the Minister of Finance of instructions providing for the safe custody of public securities) shall not apply to documents of title (not being debentures or bonds constituting investments of the Common Fund) held by the Public Trustee.

(2) All such documents of title shall be kept in safe custody in such manner as the Public Trustee directs, and may be produced or parted with by his authority as and when he thinks proper in the conduct of the business of the Public Trust Office.

111. Term of tenancies created by Public Trustee - Notwithstanding any statutory provision or law to the contrary, every tenancy created by the Public Trustee, whether as administrator or other trustee, or as committee, manager, agent, attorney, or in any other capacity, shall, in the absence of any written agreement to the contrary, be deemed to be a weekly tenancy determinable at the will of the landlord or of the tenant by one week's notice in writing.

112. Acceptance of rent not to invalidate notice to quit - Where the Public Trustee, acting in any capacity to which section 111 of this Act applies, has served any notice to quit on any tenant or lessee, or has given any other notice of the termination of a tenancy or lease, the acceptance by the Public Trustee or any officer or agent of the Public Trustee of any rent after the service or giving of the notice shall not be deemed to be a waiver of the notice or the creation of a new tenancy or lease.

113. Protection of purchasers and others - It shall not be incumbent upon any purchaser, vendor, mortgagee, lessee or other person to or with whom any sale, exchange, purchase, mortgage or lease shall be made to inquire as to the authority or power in any respect of the Public Trustee to make the sale, exchange, purchase, mortgage or lease; and, in particular, it shall not be incumbent upon any such person to inquire whether the proposed dealing is consistent with the trusts on which the land or other hereditaments to be dealt with are held, or whether any required authority of the Public Trustee or of any other person has been given, or to inquire otherwise as to the propriety or regularity of the transaction, or as to the application of any money received by the Public Trustee upon any such sale, exchange, mortgage or lease.

114. Protection of tenant or lessee - The title of any tenant or lessee of the Public Trustee or of any person claiming under any such tenant or lessee shall not, if the tenant or lessee or person acted in good faith, be prejudiced or affected by reason of the non-compliance on the part of the Public Trustee with any direction of the trust instrument or of any Act requiring the calling of tenders, submissions to auction, or other matters preliminary to the execution of the lease or the granting of the tenancy.

115. No notice of trust to arise merely from dealing with Public Trustee - In dealings with property the fact that the Public Trustee is the person or one of the persons dealt with shall not of itself constitute notice of a trust.

116. Registration of shares - (1) The entry of the Public Trustee by that name in the register of shareholders of a company shall not constitute notice of a trust.

(2) A company shall not be entitled to object to enter the name of the Public Trustee in its register of shareholders by reason only that the Public Trustee is a trustee or is a corporation.

(3) In this subsection and in subsections (4) and (5) of this section the term "shares" includes shares, stock, bonds, debentures and other securities for money. Where shares in any body, whether corporate or not, or in any association are comprised in any trust or estate administered by the Public Trustee, or where any such shares are vested in the Public Trustee under the terms of any trust instrument, or are purchased by him in the exercise of any trust, direction or authority imposed or conferred upon him, then, notwithstanding any law or provisions affecting the registration of persons holding shares as trustee or in any other representative capacity, the Public Trustee shall be entitled to be registered as the proprietor of the shares as trustee or in any other representative capacity, as he may require.

(4) Under no circumstances shall the Public Trustee's liability in respect of any shares exceed the value of any other assets which, at the time when any demand is made for the satisfaction of any such liability, are held by the Public Trustee upon the same trusts as are applicable to the shares; but if the other assets are insufficient to meet the liability, the body or association and any person lawfully acting on its behalf shall, in respect of any unpaid balance of the liability, have the same rights and remedies against any person or persons so beneficially entitled as if the person or persons were the registered proprietor or registered proprietors of the shares.

(5) The Public Trustee, upon registration, shall for all purposes, excepting as to liability as aforesaid, be deemed to be the registered proprietor of any such shares, and neither the body nor association aforesaid, nor any person dealing with the Public Trustee, shall be concerned to see or inquire whether any sales, dealings or transactions by or with the Public Trustee are or are not within his powers.

(6) Notwithstanding the provisions of any Act, charter, deed of settlement or other instrument, the number of shares in the capital of any bank that may be held by the Public Trustee in his corporate capacity shall not be subject to any limit.

117. Public Trustee may evidence and register dealings in land when acting in different capacities - (1) In this section the term "trustee" shall be deemed to include the Public Trustee in his own corporate capacity, whether as trustee of money comprised in the Common Fund and the various investments of the Common Fund or otherwise howsoever.

(2) Notwithstanding any rule of law or other statutory provision to the contrary, it shall be lawful for the Public Trustee, in any case where he is registered as the proprietor of any estate or share or interest in land by virtue of his appointment or status as administrator or other trustee under any Part of this Act or under any other Act or under any will or deed or order or instrument, or in any case where he is otherwise so registered as proprietor, to transfer, assign, convey, mortgage or lease the estate, share or interest or any part thereof, or to grant easements in respect of the same to himself in any other capacity, and to enter in to covenants and agreements in respect of any such transaction with himself in the one capacity so as to bind himself in the other capacity as fully and effectually in all respects as if he were a separate person in each capacity, and every such covenant and agreement shall be binding upon or (as the case may be) operative in favour of any assignee of the Public Trustee taking from him in any such capacity.

(3) Upon any such transfer, assignment, conveyance, mortgage, lease or grant of easement being presented for registration, the Registrar of Land shall, if the same is otherwise in order for registration, register the same in accordance with the provisions of the said order, notwithstanding that the transfer, assignment, conveyance, mortgage, lease or grant may contain notice of or otherwise evidence a trust in respect of the said estate, share or interest affected thereby, and notwithstanding that it may contain notice of or otherwise evidence the fact that in taking the transfer, assignment, conveyance, mortgage, lease or grant the Public Trustee does so in the capacity of a trustee.

(4) Upon any such transfer, assignment, conveyance, mortgage, lease or grant being registered, no person thereafter having dealings in respect of the estate, share or interest or in respect of the transfer, assignment, conveyance, mortgage, lease or grant shall be affected by any notice of trust contained in or evidence by the transfer, assignment, conveyance, mortgage, lease or grant, nor shall any person be concerned to see or inquire whether the Public Trustee possessed lawful authority to enter into the transaction.

118. Procuration fee in respect of loan from Public Trustee forbidden - (1) It shall not be lawful for any person to charge any borrower of money from the Public Trustee any procuration fee in respect thereof.

(2) Any such borrower may recover in a Court of competent jurisdiction any such procuration fee paid by him.

119. Certain restrictive covenants in mortgages declared void - Any covenant, stipulation or condition in a mortgage whereby the mortgagor covenants that the money secured by the mortgage shall become due and payable or that any power of sale or entry into possession shall become exercisable in the event of the Public Trustee becoming entitled in any capacity to administer the estate of the mortgagor, or in the event of the estate coming into the hands of the Public Trustee, or any other covenant, stipulation or condition adversely affecting or tending to affect the mortgagor adversely in the event of the Public Trustee so becoming entitled to administer the estate of the mortgagor, shall be null and void.

120. Protection of Public Trustee acting under order of Court - Where the Public Trustee acts under or in pursuance of any judgment or order of any Court or Judge, the Public Trustee shall be deemed, so far as regards his own responsibility, to have discharged his duty in connection with the subject-matter of the judgment or order, notwithstanding that the judgment or order is subsequently invalidated, overruled, set aside or otherwise rendered of no effect:

Provided that this section shall not extend to indemnify the Public Trustee in respect of any act done in accordance with any such judgment or order if he has been guilty of any fraud or wilful concealment or misrepresentation in obtaining the judgment or order or in acquiescing in the Court or judge giving or making the judgment or order.

121. Reciprocity of administration with Public Trustees of Commonwealth countries - (1) Where, before or after the commencement of this Act, the Public Trustee of Western Samoa is administering the estate of a person who at the time of his death was domiciled in any Commonwealth country and whose estate in that country is being administered by the Public Trustee or Curator or other like official of that country, the Public Trustee of Western Samoa may pay over to that Public Trustee or Curator or official the balance of the proceeds of the estate in Western Samoa of the said person, after payment of creditors and of the charges provided for under this Act, without being under any obligation to see to the application of that balance, and without incurring any liability in regard to the payment of that balance, and shall certify to the correctness of any account supplied to that Public Trustee or Curator or official accordingly.

(2) Where the estate of any deceased person who at the time of his death was domiciled in Western Samoa is being administered by the Public Trustee of Western Samoa, and the Public Trustee or Curator or other like official of any Commonwealth country has in that country obtained administration of the estate in that country, the Public Trustee of Western Samoa may receive from that Public Trustee or Curator or official the balance of the proceeds of the estate in that country. That balance shall, when so received, form part of the estate of the deceased person, and shall be dealt with according to the law of Western Samoa.

122. Public Trustee not required to give bond - No bond or security shall be required from the Public Trustee upon or in respect of his appointment in any capacity by or under this Act or any other Act, whether as administrator or other trustee, or as guardian, committee, manager, liquidator, receiver, agent, attorney or otherwise.

123. Public Trustee and officers not personally liable except for fraud or crime - Neither the Public Trustee nor any officer, employee, agent or representative of the Public Trust Office acting or in good faith purporting to act under any of the authorities contained in or conferred by this Act or any other Act shall be personally liable for any act or thing done or omitted, unless the liability arises from actual fraud or crime.

124. Same remedies against Public Trustee as against private person - Where any person, by any act or thing done or omitted by the Public Trustee or any officer, employee, agent, representative or person acting or in good faith purporting to act under this Act or any other Act, sustains any injury or suffers any loss which would have entitled the person to a remedy in respect thereof if the same had been done or omitted by a private person, the person shall be entitled to the same remedy against the Public Trustee in his corporate capacity as he would be entitled to against a private person, and shall be entitled to be indemnified out of the Public Trustee's Account, and if the same is insufficient, then out of such money as may be appropriated for the purpose by Parliament.

125. Service of notices by Public Trustee - (1) Where under this Act notice is required to be given by the Public Trustee, or by any officer, employee or person acting under or in good faith purporting to act under this Act, it shall be sufficient if the notice is sent by registered letter addressed to the person to whom the notice is to be given at his then known or then last known place of abode or business.

(2) Where a notice is, sent by post in the manner prescribed by subsection (1) of this section, it shall be deemed to have been given at the time when the letter would have been delivered in the ordinary course of post.

126. Relationship between this Act and other Acts and instruments - (1) Any Acts for the time being in force relating to administration of estates or trusts and trustees shall be read and construed so as not to affect any of the express provisions of this Act, and shall be read and construed as subordinate to the provisions of this Act.

(2) Nothing in this Act shall be deemed to deprive the Public Trustee of, or to limit or restrict, any powers or authorities vested in or exercisable by him by or under any other Act, instrument, or law; and all powers and authorities conferred by this Act on the Public Trustee shall be deemed to be in addition to and not in limitation or restriction of other powers or authorities vested in or exercisable by him by or under any other Act or instrument or law.

(3) Except in so far as it is expressly otherwise provided by this Act, all rights, powers and remedies conferred by any other Act or law upon any Court or judge, or upon the Public Trustee or any other person, shall remain unrestricted, and the provisions of this Act shall be read and construed as conferring upon such Court, Judge, Public Trustee or persons the rights, powers and remedies hereby provided in addition to and not in derogation of any rights, powers and remedies conferred by the other Act or law, and so that the rights, powers and remedies conferred by that other Act or law and by this Act shall be capable of being exercised independently the one of the other, or in aid the one of the other; but, nevertheless, the express provisions of this Act shall not be restricted by any other Act or law.

See the notes to s. 1 of this Act.

127. Regulations - (1) The Head of State, acting on the advice of Cabinet, may from time to time making regulations in regard to any matter or for any purpose for which regulations are prescribed or contemplated by this Act, and may make all such other regulations as may in his opinion be necessary or expedient for giving full effect to the provisions of this Act, and for the due administration thereof.

(2) Without limiting the general power hereinbefore conferred, it is hereby declared that regulations may be made under this section for all or any of the following purposes:

(a) Regulating the conduct of the business of the Public Trust Office:

(b) Determining the duties of the officers and employees of the Public Trust Office:

(c) Prescribing the manner in which deeds and instruments may be executed on behalf of the Public Trustee by other officers and employees of the Public Trust Office:

(d) Regulating the custody of all property placed in the Public Trust Office, and of the instruments of title relating thereto:

(e) Regulating the receipt and payment of money:

(f) Regulating the keeping and rendering of accounts:

(g) Regulating the safe custody of securities:

(h) Regulating the custody of the money in the Public Trustee's Account, and the payment of money to or withdrawal of money from that Account, and the mode of keeping that Account, and any other account that may be deemed necessary in the business of the Public Trust Office:

(i) Prescribing the time during which documents, records, vouchers and papers shall be retained in the custody of the Public Trustee, and the mode in which they may thereafter be destroyed or otherwise disposed of:

(j) Fixing scales of commissions that may be charged and other charges that may be made by the Public Trustee:

(k) Specifying any matters or services for which charges may be made by the Public Trustee or in respect to which remuneration shall be payable to the Public Trustee, and fixing by scale or otherwise the amounts of such charges or remuneration or authorising the Public Trustee so to do; and authorising the Public Trustee (either generally or in any particular case or cases) to make charges in respect of any matters or services (whether specified or not) and to fix by scale or otherwise the amount of such charges:

(l) Authorising the Public Trustee to fix the remuneration of advisory trustees in cases where the Public Trustee is the responsible trustee:

(m) Fixing by scale or otherwise the professional fees and charges payable in respect of professional services rendered to the Public Trustee, or empowering the Public Trustee so to do:

(n) Authorising the Public Trustee to reduce or forego any commission or other charges fixed or authorised by this Act or by any regulations made hereunder in order to meet the special circumstances of any estate:

(o) Prescribing the forms of mortgages, leases, certificates and other official instruments and documents to be used in the conduct of the business of the Public Trust Office:

(p) Regulating the general conduct of business and proceedings of the Public Trust Office Investment Board.

As to regulations prescribing Public Trustee's duties in estates of mentally defective persons, see s. 44 of the Mental Health Ordinance 1961.

128. Rules of Court - Rules of Court may be made in the manner prescribed by the judicature Ordinance 1961 for the purpose of regulating any proceedings under this Act in the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeal.

129. Repeals - The enactments specified in the Schedule to this Act are hereby revoked and repealed so far as they are part of the law of Western Samoa.

_________

SCHEDULE

Section 129

The Samoa Public Trust Office Order 1921 (N.Z.).
The Samoa Public Trust Office Amendment Order 1921 (N.Z.).
The Samoa Public Trust Office Amendment Order 1924 (N.Z.).
The Samoa Public Trust Office Amendment Order 1929 (N.Z.).
The Public Trust Office Act 1957 (N.Z. No. 36).

___________

The Public Trust Office Act 1975 is administered in the Public Trust Office.
____________________

REGULATIONS APPLYING TO PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE
Public Trust Office Regulations 1978 (W.S.R. 1978/6).
________

THE PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE REGULATIONS 1978
HIS HIGHNESS, MALIETOA TANUMAFILI II, HEAD OF STATE
At the Government House at Apia this 1st day of August 1978

PURSUANT to the Public Trust Office Act 1975, the Head of State, acting on the advice of Cabinet, hereby makes the following regulations.

___________

ANALYSIS

PART I
Preliminary
1. Title
2. Interpretation

PART II
General Matters

3. Declaration of fidelity and secrecy
4. Form of seal, security and mode of affixing
5. Scale of fees payable to Supreme Court for filing election,

PART III
Common Fund Interests

6. Dates from which interest shall accrue on money in the Common Fund
7. Dates for capitalisation of interest credited for money in the Common Fund

PART IV
Finance and Accounts

8. Mode of drawing cheques
9. Payment of claims by Public Trustee
10. Audit Office approval of payment of claims not required

PART V
Commissions and fees

11. Public Trustee's commission capital of estates
12. Public Trustee's commission in other cases
13. Public Trustee's commission as trustee under deed of trust, etc.
14. Commission where Public Trustee acting as attorney, etc.
15. Commission on insurance money
16. Commission on compensation and damages to which infants and others are entitled
17. Commission on assets transferred or disposed of, etc.
18. Commission on income
19. Commission where Public Trustee custodian trustee
20. Minimum fee for administration
21. Fee on discharge and proceeds of mortgages
22. Fee for copies of documents
23. Fee for acting as trustee for debenture holders
24. Power of Public Trustee to reduce or waive charges
25. Power to increase charges on capital of certain insolvent estates
26. Fee for extraordinary or unusual services
27. Additional charges for expenses and disbursements
28. Public Trustee not to charge for preparing will where appointed executor
29. Remuneration of advisory trustee
30. Review of decisions of Public Trustee

PART VI
Destruction of Records

31. Preservation and destruction of records and documents

PART VII
Revocations and Savings

32. Revocations and savings
Schedules 

_______________________

REGULATIONS

PART I

Preliminary

1. Title - These regulations may be cited as the Public Trust Office Regulations 1978.

2. Interpretation - In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires,-

"Act" means the Public Trust Office Act 1975:

"Audit Office" means the Controller and Chief Auditor appointed pursuant to Article 97 of the Constitution; and includes any person for the time being authorised to exercise or perform any of the powers, duties, or functions of the Controller and Chief Auditor:

"Bank" means the Bank of Western Samoa and includes any Western Samoan or overseas savings bank, and any other bank in which any public money is kept in accordance with the provisions of the Public Money Act 1964:

"Common Fund" means the Common Fund constituted under section 24 of the Act:

"Estate" means any property administered or held, managed or controlled by the Public Trustee, whether as administrator or other trustee or as guardian, committee, manager, liquidator, receiver, agent or attorney, or in any other capacity:

"Investment agency funds" means money invested in the Common Fund pursuant to section 30 of the Act:

"Property" includes real and personal property and any estate or interest in any property real or personal, and any debt, and any thing in action, and any other right or interest.

Expressions used in these regulations shall have the same meaning as they have in the Act.

PART II

General Matters

3. Declaration of fidelity and secrecy - The declaration of fidelity and secrecy to be made in accordance with paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 12 of the Act may be in the form set out in the First Schedule.

4. Form of seal, security and mode of affixing - (1) The seal of the Public Trustee shall be in such form as the Public Trustee from time to time determines.

(2) The seal shall be kept under lock at the office of and in the custody of the Public Trustee.

(3) Where the Public Trustee or his deputy or either of them executes any document under seal, his signature and official designation shall appear thereon and it shall be sealed; but, except as expressly required by any Act or these regulations, it shall not be necessary for the execution to be witnessed by anyone or for the document to include any attestation clause.

(4) Where the Public Trustee or any deputy of the Public Trustee executes pursuant to any of the provisions of Part V of the Act, any election in writing under seal or any memorandum under seal or certificate under seal, or executes any certificate under section 34 of the Mental Health Ordinance 1961, his signature and official designation shall appear thereon and it shall be sealed but it shall not be necessary for the execution to be witnessed by anyone or for the document to include any attestation clause.

(5) Any document to which subclause (3) or subclause (4) applies may be witnessed and may include an attestation clause if the nature of the document makes that necessary or if, in the opinion of the person who executes it, attestation is desirable, whether by reason of the document being required for use abroad or for any other reason which he considers to be sufficient.

(6) Except as provided by any other subclause of this regulation, any document under seal executed on behalf of the Public Trustee by his deputy shall be signed by his deputy and sealed with the seal and witnessed by some other person, and shall include an attestation clause in the following words or to the like effect:

"Signed on behalf of the Public Trustee by the Deputy Public Trustee and sealed in the presence of:"

5. Scale of fees payable to Supreme Court for filing election - The fee payable to the Registrar of the Supreme Court for the filing of any election under Part V of the Act shall be as follows:

	$	
(a) Where the gross value (as estimated by the Public Trustee) of the property in Western Samoa to which the election relates does not exceed $3,000……………………………………………………………………...	

1.00	
(b) Where the gross value (as estimated by the Public Trustee) of the property in Western Samoa to which the election relates exceeds $3,000…………………………………………………………………….	

2.00	

PART III

Common Fund Interest

6. Dates from which interest shall accrue on money in the Common Fund - (1) In calculating the interest to be allowed on money in the Common Fund in accordance with the rate fixed by order made pursuant to section 24 of the Act, the following provisions shall be observed as to the date from which the interest shall accrue:

(a) In the cases of trust estates taken over from private trustees, money received under the Accident Compensation Act 1978, money received under the Fatal Accidents Act 1974, money received under section 58 of the Act, investment agency funds, and Government funds, interest shall run from the date of the receipt of the capital funds by the Public Trustee or his authorised agent;

(b) On any credit balance consisting of interest-bearing funds otherwise held in the ordinary course of administration for distribution or at call, interest shall run from the 1st day of the 6th month following the date of the receipt of the first capital funds by the Public Trustee or his authorised agent; and

(c) In all cases not otherwise provided for, interest shall run from the 1st day of the month following the date of the receipt of the first capital funds by the Public Trustee or his authorised agent.

(2) Where there are special circumstances, the Public Trustee may authorise the crediting of interest from an earlier date than that from which it would otherwise be payable under paragraph (b) or paragraph (c) of subclause (1) of this regulation.

7. Dates for capitalisation of interest credited for money in the Common Fund - The foregoing regulations with respect to the crediting of interest shall be applied subject to the following special provisions:

(a) Income received by the Public Trustee (not being interest on capital money forming part of the Common Fund), if and in so far as it is to be accumulated, shall be capitalised half-yearly on the 1st day of June and the 1st day of December in each year and until so capitalised shall not bear interest:

(b) Interest on capital money forming part of the Common Fund, if and in so far as the interest is to be accumulated, shall be capitalised annually on the Ist day of June in each year and until so capitalised shall not bear interest:

(c) Where any outgoings, maintenance allowance, or other payments properly chargeable against income are made in an estate having income to part of which paragraph (a) of this regulation would be applicable and to another part of which paragraph (b) of this regulation would be applicable, then, for the purposes of these regulations, the payments shall be deemed to have been made primarily from the part of the income to which paragraph (a) of this regulation is applicable:

(d) Interest shall generally be computed on the daily balance of capital standing to the credit of any estate:

Provided that the Public Trustee may direct either generally or in any particular case that if the balance of capital standing to the credit of any estate is reduced during any month the interest for that month may be computed on the basis of either the balance of capital at the end of the month or the minimum balance of capital held at any time in the month:

Provided also that until the first statement of account is rendered by the Public Trustee, interest may, if he so directs, either generally or in any particular case, be computed as if all money in the account was capital even though that money includes income:

(e) If the Public Trustee receives money for the credit of any Government fund and the money is to be disbursed by him within 1 month from the date of the receipt thereof, no interest shall be credited thereon:

(f) No interest shall be credited to any estate which is insolvent:

Provided that where in any such estate there is life insurance or other money protected from the claims of creditors, interest at the appropriate rate shall be credited on that money:

(g) Before any unclaimed money is paid to the Public Account for the credit of the Treasury Fund (whether pursuant to section 83 of the Act or pursuant to section 8 of the Unclaimed Money Act 1964 or pursuant to any other authority) all accumulations of interest (if any) credited thereto by the Public Trustee shall be deducted.

PART IV

Finance and Accounts

8. Mode of drawing cheques - Each cheque drawn on the Public Trustee's Account at the Bank or the Post Office, shall be signed by the Public Trustee or by his deputy and some other officer authorised by the Public Trustee:

Provided that the Public Trustee may at any time require that all or any such cheques shall be countersigned; and if countersigning is required, the cheques shall be countersigned by some other officer authorised by the Public Trustee.

9. Payment of claims by Public Trustee - (1) The Public Trustee may require that any claim made against him, or against any estate in the Public Trust Office, shall be certified to be correct before being paid by him, or may require the claim to be proved to his satisfaction.

(2) Before paying any amount to the claimants duly authorised agent, the Public Trustee may require that the identity of any person attending to receive payment be established to his satisfaction, and may require the payee to sign a receipt for the amount.

10. Audit Office approval of payment of claims not required - It shall not be necessary to obtain the authority or approval of the Audit Office before the payment of the amount of any claim which in the opinion of the Public Trustee is correct and payable out of the Public Trustee's Account.

PART V

Commissions and Fees

11. Public Trustee's commission on the capital of estates - (1) The commission to be charged by the Public Trustee upon the gross capital of any testate or intestate estate realised by him, or upon the gross capital of any estate administered and realised under the Mental Health Ordinance 1961, or any other estate with respect to which specific provision for the Public Trustee's charges on realisation is not made shall be as follows:

	Percent	
On the first $10,000…………………………………………….	5	
On the next $10,000.....................................................................	4½	
On the next $10,000.....................................................................	2¾	
On all in excess of $30,000.........................................................	2	

Provided that in any such estate the rate of commission on book debts collected by the Public Trustee shall be 6¾ per cent unless some other person has been employed by the Public Trustee for the purpose of the collection and paid a commission for his services in which case the Public Trustee's commission shall be reduced to 3 per cent.

(2) Commission under this regulation in respect of any asset shall be payable upon realisation thereof.

(3) In computing the charge on capital realised, cash collected or received shall be included.

(4) In computing the charge realised from the sale of property no deduction shall be made in respect of legal or equitable charges thereon or of the expenses of realisation thereof:

Provided that as regards any life policy on the security of which the insurance office has made an advance to the deceased person in his lifetime this provision shall not apply and commission shall be charged only on the net amount received as the proceeds of the policy.

12. Public Trustee's commission in other cases - (1) Commission shall be charged by the Public Trustee at the rate of 1 per cent upon:

(a) Such of the capital or income of any estate as, having been realised by a former trustee or other person acting in a fiduciary capacity, becomes vested in the Public Trustee on the original trusts, either in the form of investments or of cash:

(b) All sums, whether capital or income, received by the Public Trustee under section 58 of the Act:

(c) All sums, whether capital or income, transferred from one account in the Public Trust Office to another such account by reason of the Public Trustee having been statutory administrator of the estate of a mentally defective person immediately, before his death and becoming the administrator of that person's estate after his death, or by reason of the Public Trustee administering an estate in 2 capacities un any other circumstances or by reason of an asset of one estate consisting of a beneficial interest in another estate:

(d) The gross value (as fixed by the Public Trustee) of any unrealised asset devised or bequeathed to the Public Trustee upon perpetual trust:

(e) All sums which, pursuant to any Act or rule of law, are deposited with the Public Trustee or lodged in the Public Trust Office, where no other rate of commission in respect thereof is prescribed by these regulation.

(2) Commission under this regulation in respect of cash shall be payable upon receipt thereof by the Public Trustee.

(3) Commission under this regulation in respect of any investment to which paragraph (a) of subclause (1) is applicable shall be payable upon realisation:

(4) Commission under this regulation in respect of any asset to which paragraph (d) of subclause (4) is applicable shall be payable when the asset is transferred to the Public Trustee or otherwise becomes vested in him.

(5) If any asset to which paragraph (d) of subclause (1) is applicable is realised after having become vested in the Public Trustee the commission payable in respect thereof under regulation 11 shall be reduced by an amount equal to the commission already charged in respect of the asset under this regulation.

13. Public Trustee's commission as trustee under deed of trust, etc. - The commission to be charged by the Public Trustee upon capital assets of which he is the trustee in terms of a deed of trust or of a settlement, antenuptial or otherwise (not being assets to which regulation 12 applies) shall be as follows:

(a) Where the capital consists of cash which the Public Trustee is required to invest in the Common Fund, at the rate of 1 percent on the amount of the capital; and the commission under this paragraph shall be payable on distribution of the capital, except that, if the trust is perpetual, commission shall he payable on receipt of the capital fund:

Provided that no charge under this paragraph shall be made in respect of capital funds which revert to the settlor in his lifetime:

(b) Where the capital consists of cash which the Public Trustee is required to invest otherwise than in the Common Fund, commission shall be payable in accordance with regulation 11 in respect of so much of the fund as is distributed in cash or held on perpetual trust and in accordance with regulation 17 in respect of investments of the capital which are transferred to any beneficiary or other person of a like character; and the commission under this paragraph shall be payable on distribution or transfer of the assets, except that, if the trust is perpetual, commission shall be payable on receipt of the capital fund:

(c) Where the capital of which the Public Trustee becomes trustee consists of investments or other assets not being cash, commission shall be payable under these regulations as if the trusts had arisen under the will of a deceased person.

14. Commission where Public Trustee acting as attorney, etc. - Where the Public Trustee is acting as attorney or agent, commission on assets realised shall be charged under regulation 11, except where a special fee or rate has been arranged between the Public Trustee and his principal. No charge under this regulation shall be made in respect of investment agency funds.

15. Commission on insurance money - Where insurance money is received in respect of loss of or damage to any estate asset-

(a) If the money is expended in replacing or repairing the asset, commission at 1½ percent shall be charged by the Public Trustee on the money (in addition to other commission payable under these regulations on ultimate realisation, transfer, or other disposal of the asset):

(b) in other cases the money shall be treated as the proceeds of a partial realisation of the asset and commission shall be charged accordingly.

16. Commission on compensation and damages to which infants and others are entitled - The commission to be charged by the Public Trustee upon money received under the Accident Compensation Act 1978, or the Fatal Accidents Act 1974, or under section 59 of the Act, shall be as follows:

	Percent	
(a) On so much thereof as is immediately payable under a Court Order or otherwise to the person entitled…………………………………..	

2	
(b) On so much thereof as is held and administered in terms of a Court Order or otherwise………………………………………..	

3	

17. Commission on assets transferred or disposed of, etc. - (1) The commission to be charged by the Public Trustee upon the gross value (as fixed by the Public Trustee) of the assets of an estate to which this regulation applies shall be at the following rates:

	Percent	
On the first $10,000 ……………………………	4	
On the next $10,000 ……………………………	3	
On all in excess of $20,000……………………..	2	

(2) This regulation shall apply to-

(a) Any asset transferred or delivered in kind to or retained by any person entitled thereto being a devisee, legatee, next of kin, beneficiary, or other person of a like character:

(b) Any asset abandoned to or sold by a mortgagee of that asset:

(c) Any advance to a beneficiary forgiven by will or brought into hotchpot:

(d) Any asset of an estate administered by the Public Trustee under the Mental Health Ordinance 1961 or Part VI of the Act which is not realised but is handed over to the person entitled to it or to his personal representative on termination of the Public Trustee's administration.

(3) Commission under this regulation shall be payable when the asset is transferred or otherwise disposed of in any manner referred to in subclause (2):

Provided that where commission under this regulation in respect of any asset will be payable from some other asset of an estate and that other asset is distributable before the time when the first-mentioned asset is transferred or otherwise disposed of, commission shall be payable as if the first-mentioned asset had been transferred to a beneficiary entitled to it on the date (as fixed by the Public Trustee) when the asset from which the commission is payable became distributable.

18. Commission on income - (1) Except as otherwise provided in regulation 12, the commission to be charged by the Public Trustee upon the gross income received by the Public Trustee in any estate shall be as follows:

(a) At the rate of 5 percent on dividends from shares or stock, interest on debentures, stock, deposits and savings bank money and on superannuation and other allowances and benefits from any institution, association, society, corporation, bank, savings bank or Government department:

(b) At the rate of 5½ percent on rents and interest on mortgages, and on all other income (including the gross profit derived from any business carried on by the Public Trustee):

Provided that where any income to which this paragraph would apply, but is collected on behalf of the Public Trustee by any authorised person who charges a commission for collection, or where any such income is derived from another estate privately administered in which the administrator charges a commission for his services, the commission payable in respect of that income shall be computed under paragraph (a) instead of this paragraph.

(2) No charge under this regulation shall be made in respect of interest credited to an estate in respect of its funds forming part of the Common Fund.

19. Commission where Public Trustee is custodian trustee - Where the Public Trustee is custodian trustee the commission payable to him under these regulations shall be reduced by half.

20. Minimum fee for administration - The minimum fee for the administration of any estate shall be $20 and, in addition to this charge, commission shall be charged on income received at the rate or rates prescribed by these regulations.

21. Fee on discharge and proceeds of mortgages - (1) The fee to be charged by the Public Trustee for discharging a mortgage under section 87 of the Property Law Act 1952 (New Zealand) and receiving and holding the proceeds (if any), whether principal or interest, for the person entitled shall be as follows:

	Percent	
Where the amount paid to the Public Trustee does not exceed $500 or no amount is so payable……………….	
10.00	
Where the amount paid to the Public Trustee exceeds $500 but Does not exceeds $2,000…………………….	
15.00	
Where the amount paid to the Public Trustee exceeds $2,000………………………………………………….	
20.00	

(2) The fee charged under this regulation shall be deducted from the amount received by the Public Trustee and shall accordingly reduce the amount to be held in trust for the mortgagee or other person entitled. Where no amount is paid to the Public Trustee or the amount so paid is insufficient to provide for the fee, it shall be paid by the mortgagor either wholly or, as the case may be, to the extent of the deficiency. In addition to the fee mentioned in this regulation, the mortgagor shall pay the Public Trustee's costs of and incidental to the discharge of the mortgage on the basis of the usual scale fee for a discharge of mortgage.

22. Fee for copies of documents - Fees shall be payable to the Public Trustee for making a copy of any document at the rate of 20 sene per page.

23. Fee for acting as trustee for debenture holders - Where the Public Trustee is appointed as trustee for debenture holders, there shall be paid to him such fee or charge, whether annual or otherwise, as shall have been arranged at the time of his appointment or may subsequently be agreed upon or failing agreement as may be fixed by the Public Trustee.

24. Power of Public Trustee to reduce or waive charges - The Public Trustee may reduce or waive any commission, fee or charge to meet the special circumstances of any case.

25. Power to increase charges on capital of certain insolvent estates - When an estate is administered as insolvent (whether under section 95 of the Act or under the provisions of any other enactment) the Public Trustee may increase the charges otherwise payable under these regulations in respect of capital to an amount not exceeding commission at the following rates:

	Percent
On the first	
On the first $10,000…………………………………………………...	5	
On all in excess of $10,000……………………………………………	3	

26. Fee for extraordinary or unusual services - There shall be paid to the Public Trustee, at such rate as he shall fix, a fee for any service in respect of the tracing of missing beneficiaries, the attempted realisation of assets which are ultimately transferred or delivered in kind to the beneficiaries, the carrying on of a business pending realisation, the preparation and filing of returns of income for taxation purposes or for any other matter or service of an unusual or special nature in connection with the administration of any estate.

27. Additional charges for expenses and disbursements - In addition to all other charges payable under these regulations, there shall also be chargeable and payable all expenses and disbursements incurred by the Public Trustee in respect of postage, exchange, telegrams, toll calls, professional assistance, legal proceedings or charges, fees payable to any Court or Government department, surveys, collection of rents, charges of auctioneers and land agents and sharebrokers, travelling expenses, and any other expenses which, in the opinion of the Public Trustee, it is necessary or expedient to provide for or incur in the administration of the estate or property to which the charge relates:

Provided that nothing in this regulation shall affect the power of the Public Trustee under section 19 of the Act.

28. Public Trustee not to charge for preparing will where appointed executor - There shall be no charge for the preparation by the Public Trustee of a will appointing the Public Trustee executor, either at the time of preparation of the will or in the administration of the estate.

29. Remuneration of advisory trustee - Subject to the provisions of the trust instrument (if any) the remuneration of an advisory trustee when the responsible trustee is the Public Trustee shall in each case be such as is fixed by the Public Trustee with the concurrence of the advisory trustee, or if they agree then as is fixed by the Supreme Court.

30. Review of decisions of Public Trustee - Any person dissatisfied with the decision of the Public Trustee as to any commission, fee, or charge payable under these regulations may apply to the Supreme Court to review the decision; and any such application shall be dealt with in all respects as if it were an application under section 45 of the Trustee Act 1975 to review the decision of a trustee in the exercise of any power conferred by that Act.

PART VI

Destruction of Records

31. Preservation and destruction of records and documents - (1) The minimum periods of time for which the documents and records hereinafter described and relating to estates or loans shall be retained in the custody of the Public Trustee shall be as follows:

(a) Ledger leaves and ledger cards in which estate and other payments and receipts are recorded, 25 years from the date of closing of the accounts to which they relate:

(b) Files relating to estates administered by the Public Trustee, 25 years from the date of completion of the administration:

(c) Files relating to loans actually made; 7 years from the date of discharge of the mortgage or (if there is no mortgage) from the date of repayment of the loan:

(d) Files relating to applications for loans declined, withdrawn, or otherwise not proceeded with, 3 years after the application has been withdrawn, declined, or otherwise disposed of:

(e) Vouchers and receipts for money paid by the Public Trustee, 20 years from the date of payment:

(f) Copies of receipts for money paid to the Public Trustee (being the copies used for the purpose of completing other accounting records), 10 years after the date of payment:

(g) Books, cards, papers, and records not otherwise specially provided for, 1 year.

(2) No file to which this regulation applies shall be destroyed until it has been searched by a responsible officer appointed by the Public Trustee to see that all documents of importance have been removed and there is no special reason for keeping the file:

Provided that no documents of importance need be removed or kept if copies thereof (whether on microfilm or otherwise) are being kept.

(3) Lists of all files destroyed shall be made and initialled by the officer supervising the disposal thereof. Each such list shall show the name in full of the estate or loan to which each file relates and such other particulars as may be regarded as necessary for purposes of identification.

(4) All index cards affected shall be marked "File destroyed", with the date.

(5) No files or papers shall be destroyed without the written approval of some officer authorised by the Public Trustee to give such approval.

(6) The Public Trustee or the officer appointed to supervise the destruction of records shall be the sole judge as to the date on which an account is closed, administration of an estate is completed, a mortgage is discharged, or a loan is repaid, an application for a loan is withdrawn, declined, or otherwise disposed of, or a payment is made.

(7) After the period of retention referred to in this regulation the documents may be destroyed by fire or otherwise in such manner as the Public Trustee approves.

PART VII

Revocations and Savings

32. Revocations and savings - (1) The regulations specified in the Second Schedule are revoked.

(2) The revocation of these regulations shall not affect any document made or anything done under the regulations and every such document or thing, so far as it is subsisting or in force at the time of the revocation and not being inconsistent with these regulations, shall continue and have effect as if it had been made or done under the corresponding provision of these regulations.

________________

SCHEDULES

FIRST SCHEDULE

Regulation 3:

DECLARATION OF FIDELITY AND SECRECY

I, [Full name], of [Address and occupation], do hereby solemnly and sincerely declare that I will truly and faithfully, according to the best of my skill and ability, perform the duties imposed upon me in my capacity as a member of the staff of the Public Trust Office (or an agent of the Public Trustee or a member of the Public Trust Office Investment Board), and that in the performance of my duties I will maintain and aid in maintaining the secrecy of all matters coming to my knowledge appertaining to the business of the Public Trust Office or to the affairs of any estate under administration in the Public Trust Office, or in relation to the affairs of any estate under administration in the Public Trust Office, or in relation to the affairs of any person concerned in any such estate, and will not divulge any information concerning any such matters except as may be authorised by law to a person directly interested and entitled to information, or for the purpose of assisting too carry out the powers and functions of the Public Trustee and my own proper duties.

I am aware that if I wilfully act in contravention of the true intent of this declaration I am liable to a fine or imprisonment.

And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously binding myself to adhere to and observe the same, and by virtue of section 12 of the Public Trust Office Act 1975.

Signature ……………………….

DECLARED at ........................................this .......................................................................... day of ...................................... 19....., before me:

…………………………….
PUBLIC TRUSTEE

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SECOND SCHEDULE
Regulation 32 (1)

REGULATIONS REVOKED

The Public Trust Office Regulations 1958 (New Zealand): N.Z.S.R. 1958/66.
The Public Trust Office Regulations 1958, Amendment No. 1 (New Zealand):
N.Z.S.R. 1961/64.

MALIETOA TANUMAFILI II
Head of State

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