410
DRAFT.
I pass on that Mr. Spokes in subordinate in the Land Office.
I learn from Mr. Fairfield, Mr. Wingfield, Mr. Bramston, a Mr. Meade, Mr. Buxton, the Marquess of Ripon.
It appears to be clear that the post of Official Receiver has been conferred on a Government Officer or Government-Officers subordinate to the Registrar, and that the clerical and accounting work has been done by a clerk in the Registry paid from public funds. The office of Official Receiver is as much a Government Office as was that of the Official Assignee under the old Bankruptcy Ordinance.
4. As to the second point, I am clearly of opinion that it is desirable that the Official Receiver should give security, for, as at present arranged, I fail to see that Section 20(2) of the Bankruptcy Ordinance 1841, which imposes on the Court the duty of requiring security from a Trustee other than the Official Receiver, precludes the Government from requiring security from the Official Receiver if he is a person in the Government Service. The amount of security to be given would be a matter of separate consideration.