THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1912. THE TRUST LANDS TRUST.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10529, 16 January 1912, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1912. THE TRUST LANDS TRUST.

Mi- H. C. Robinson, with a zeal which is commendable, is again endeavouring to quicKen interest in the affairs of the Master ton, Trust Lands Trustees. His criticism of the management of the Trust would, however, ; be more effective were it accompanied by something of a constructive nature. During the period that lie was on the Trust, Ma* Robinson assumed the role of the candid .critic, but on no occasion, as far as we are aware, did he present a definite scheme for ithe improvement of the administration. The Trustees, 'as a body, are imbued wdith a genuine desire to make the endowment of permanent value to the town. They are, and have been, doing a great deal to assist local educational institutions, and to place their own finances upon a satisfactory 'footing. At the same time, one cammot fail to recognise that the value of ifche Trust is distinctly impaired through the moneys being allocated in .a piecemeal fashion, and with no definite scheme in view for the future. The policy of borrowing money with which to erect buildings on vacant sections need not here be discussed. It was adopted after mature consideration, and with the one object of imireasing the aaunual revenue hof the Trust. The time has now arrived when the promoters of the j building scheme should be prepared to substantiate their, claiam that tflie policy they have adopted is a Bound one. After allowing far interest and sinking fund on their loans, and depreciation on buildings, they should be in. a jw>sition to demonstrate to th® voters that the finances are stronger than tlhey would luavo been had the sections been leased, as in the early days, 'on> a ground rental. Having satisfied the public on 'this point, the Trustees sihlonkl have a dearly-de-fined scheme for the expenditure of its increased revenue, and submit thia

'scheme to tho voters for their endorsement or rejection. It is idle to suggest that the present haphazard system of administering the reveivues can continue for all /time. A certain amount of money should be set aside annually for local institutions of an educational character. This, howem-, should not he utilised for tho subsidising of institutions which already have a fixed and adequate income. The major portion of the revenue should be devoted to some object, or objects, which would be a ! substantial addition- to the educational facilities available in less-fav-oured localities, and which would tend to attract population to the town. ! A high school, or college, would be of ! permanent value from an educational ipoinit of view, were it not that the Dominion is already well catered for in this direction. A much more atI tractive proposal would be the en--1 down went" of an agricultural high school. An institution of this land would be iiwaluable t*. the district, for, not only would it be fortifying our own young men with a knowledge of scientific agriculture, which is essential to the development of our Igrefatesit industry, but it would attract i»tudeaits from all parts of the North Island. The Trustees have ex- ! pressed their .sympathy witlh the movement "for the establishment of ! an agricultural' high sdhool. and there is little doubt.that, when the political situation becomes a little clearer, (the claims of this district- for the first school of the kind in the Dominion w ill be successfully pleaded before the Minister. In the meantime, the Trustees .should be bringing all the pressure that is possible to bear in/ support of the project. They have, (in this agricultural high school, an institution upon whnoh the major portion of iheir 'funds maigjit be advan- ! .tageously expended. If they were to I determine upon definite action in snip- ! port of the -movement, they would materially assist in bringing _ it to if-ruition. At anyrate', the time has arrived when some , fifeed objective should be decided upon, and, until' thi& is done, the-Trustees will not be immune from criticism by Mr RobihEon audi other members of the community.