SUMMIT ROAD.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19177, 7 December 1927, Page 10

SUMMIT ROAD.

MR H. G. ELL AND THE TRUST.

STATEMENT BY THE TRUSTEES

, The following statement by the trustees of the Port Ilills-Akaroa Summit Road Public Trust, Inc., was released yesterday for publication: —

The Trust was inaugurated in 1025 for the immediate purpose of raising a loan to buy the Cracroft Hill reserve and to take over the "Takalic." Later the "Kiwi" and Kennedy's Bush were handed over to the Trust by the Scenic Reserves Board, making one responsible body in charge of the whole Summit road scheme. In this connexion there is an overdraft of £I7OO guaranteed by twenty Christchurch citizens to the bank.

The indebtedness of the Trust now stands as follows: —

Mortgage on Cracroft Hill and the "Takahe" .. 5000 Guaranteed Overdraft to the Bank (from "Kiwi" and Kennedy's Bush) .. 1700 Sundry Accounts owing— Tradesmen's claims .. 800 Wages • ■ .. 80 Interest. .. .. 100 £7680 . The only present source from which the Trust can meet its liabilities is the income derived from the three tea houses. If the gross returns from these places are insufficient to meet wages, tradesmen's accounts, and interest due on the mortgages and overdraft, then the financial position of the Trust will go back, and if this is allowed to con< tinue there is only one ending—liquidar tion and the sale of the Trust property. The amounts paid in to the Trust by Mr Ell from the houses have not been sufficient to meet these charges and liabilities, and the finances of the Trust are steadily going downhill. Mr Ell says: "I create theso places and then hand them over when finished, in trust for the public." Yes, but they are handed over with very heavy liabilities, and subject to Mr Ell's exelusive control. Mr Ell claims the right to deal with the income of the Trust as ho pleases, requiring no authority for any expenditure he' may incur and paying into the Trust account only so much of the receipts from the three tea houses as he sees fit. For instance from June to October, 1926, the entire proceeds from the "Takahe" were spent by Mr Ell without authority from the Trust, on upper Dyer's Pass road, which for a year was under the control of the Trust.

The Trust holds that it must pay all wages, tradesmen's accounts, and interest first, and then if there is any balance, it may be expended on urgent development work. But Mr Ell says: "No; I must arrange for any new work I think necessary, and also if I think fit I must pay for it direct from the takings of tho tea houses, and then I will pay the balance into the bank, and as to the result, we will trust to Providence." ' The result of this method of finance is obvious.

Protests from tho Trust to Mi; Ell hav.p. resulted in a return to more businesslike methods for a short time, but these periods have been fleeting. During the last few weeks Mr Ell has declined to meet the Trust to discuss finance.

As the Trust's protests had no lasting effect, the members met twice among themselves to consider how they could induce Mr Ell to do as requested. These were the recent meetings mentioned by Mr Ell in his published statement. Since these meetings, three members of the Trust have resigned, Mr W. T. Charlewood, Mr L. 6. D. Acland, and Mr G. T. Weston, also the treasurer.

MR ELL'S WORK.

REFERENCES BY BUILDERS. Opinion was somewhat divided as to the advisability of giving Mr H. G. Ell tho support of members in his work at last evening's meeting of the Canterbury Builders' Association. , Mr J. Lorimer said Mr Ell was falling on evil times. Mr El] had spent the money contributed for the Summit road and rest houses wisely andl well, although he might have wasted a pound or two. The Association should give him a word of cheer and back him up, and money should be provided 3n Christchurch to enable him to complete the work. He moved a resolution expressing approval of Mr Ell's work, and assuring him of the support of members.

In reply to Mr W. H. Winsor (secretary) Mr Lorimer said a letter would bo tho best way to give him backing. Mr G. D. Simpson (president): "If you do things like that, you will never have him off the doorstep." He said Mr Ell had some extraordinary ideas. He stayed at one of the rest houses, at week-ends, and a blue set costing 80 guineas was brought out on occasions. In addition there were heavy black pine tables and expensive heavy curtains. "But we must not forget that the beautiful run on the hills is due to Mr Ell's work," concluded Mr Simpson. Mr Winsor's remarks were taken in committee.

Mr Lorimer said it was unfair to have to make a reply without reference to the remarks of Mr Winsor, but this was forbidden by the chairman.

The motion was carried. Some members did not vote, and) a few opposed the motion.