14Administration by Public Trustee of benefit or relief funds

14 Administration by Public Trustee of benefit or relief funds

(1)  In any case in which a fund is raised by public or private subscriptions for the benefit or relief of any person or class of persons –

(a) the fund may be paid to the Public Trustee to be administered by him and to be invested in the common fund, unless the Court otherwise directs;

(b) the Public Trustee may recognize as a committee any persons whom he believes to have been appointed or authorized in that capacity by a substantial number of subscribers;

(c) the Public Trustee, after conferring with the committee, may apply to the Court for directions as to the administration of the fund, and for that purpose may submit a scheme to the Court for approval;

(d) the Court may approve the scheme with or without modification as it thinks fit, or may give such other directions as it thinks fit;

(e) the Public Trustee shall administer the fund in accordance with the scheme so approved or the directions so given;

(f) on the application of the Public Trustee or of the Attorney-General on the relation 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 or give directions on any point or question relating to the scheme or the fund;

(g) the Public Trustee shall obey all such directions.

(2)  This section shall apply to funds raised before or after the commencement of this Act.