TRUST LANDS TRUSTEES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9091, 16 May 1908, Page 5

TRUST LANDS TRUSTEES.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Masterton Trust Lands Trustees was held in the Town Hall last evening, there being abouti.twenty persons, present. Mr T. B. Michell, Chairman, presided. The annual report and balancesheet was laid before the meeting, and the chairman suggested the> be taken as read. Mr ti. C. Robiinsoa aamplained that the report and balance sheet had not been circulated: in time to allow the public to become converaant with the matters contained in them. The Chairman explained that some delay had been caused through the balance-sheet not being audited. He moved, and' Mir Wagg secondec*, that the repout and balance-sheet be taken as read.. —Cairrfod. GENERAL BUSINESS. Mr Kingdon suggested that the Trustees shouldi build workmen's cottages on some of its vacant residential sites.. Mr Michell replied that the Trustees- had not money for expenditure in the direction mentioned. Mr H. C. Robinson asked for information concerning the terms in connection with the suggested exchange of lands. The Chairman explained that the Trustees knew? no*hing officially of any other offer than that contained in the Act. Mr W. H. Jackson said that information had been supplied to the Trustees to the effect that the Hon. Mr McGowan's offer covered the Hall street frontage,, and- not merely the 42ft named in the Act, which meant a difference of £1,300 in the value.of the section. Mr Jackson also said that the rental on the Queen street section of £250 had been lost owing to a year having been allowed to lapse through no action being taken. Mr Robinsons assured the meeting that £4 per foot rental could be obtained for the Queen street frontage, whereas the Trustees had at their last meeting offered a portion of the Chapel street frontage at 15s per foot rental to the Fire Board. Mr Daniel! denied that he had made any definite offer. Mr Jackson replied that the Trustees had openly stated their willingness to pay a sum less than the £I,OOO named. He suggested that a poll of the Trust Lands Trust voters shou'.d be taken on the matter. Mr Daniell said he had no faith in a referendum. Mr Jackson replied that in spite of Mr Darnell's having no faith in referer.duins steps had been taken in the direction of borrowing £IO,OOO for building purposes. The poll was the smallest ever recorded. If another such referendum were tak°n on the advantageous transactions under discussion, he felt sure three-fifths of the voters would be in favour of^it. The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.