A LIVELY MEETING

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10638, 17 May 1912, Page 5

A LIVELY MEETING

MASTERTGN TRUST LANDS TRUST

ANNUAL MEETING OF VOTERS,

T he annual meeting of voters of the Masterten Trust Lands Trust was held da Murray's Hall last evening, about twenty persons being present. The *hair was occupied by Mr E. G. Eton <€hairman of the Trust). Tho annual report and balance-sheet were read by tho Secretary. In moving the adoption of the report, the Chairman expressed regret that tho audited balance-sheet had not been available in time for presentation. Mr 0. Pr.agne.ll seconded tho mo- , *Boiu Mr H. C. Robinson moved as an - amendment that the meeting be adjourned for a week, in order that the audited balance-sheet might be placed iKioro t'ha voters. Mr H. O'Loary seconded the amendment, and expressed the opinion that the pubiic should 'bo possessed of all tho information available. Mr Robinson, in speaking to the -amendment, stated that .he had always "been of opinion that the finances of the Trust should ba placed fully before the public. He considered that the accounts of the Trust were complicated. The Trustees had handed over the Town Hal] to a Picture Show. Tho Chairman : No! It is available ,: to'the public. - Mr Robinson : Tho report does not eay so. "Tho Chairman drew attention to tiho fact that the 'hall was available to travelling companies when required. "Mr Robinson : What of the public? Mr Krahagen : That is implied. Mr Robinson said that ib .should -then have been stated. Mr Robinson proceeded to say that the Trust had I>een run by one man, with whom ho had personally been in conflict. Ac the same time, as this member was shout to retire, there was little tiso him. So far as the Trust + -mas concerned, it was necessary that 5 the finances should ho investigated. Mr O. Pragnell could not understand why the amendment 'had been moved. This was a statutory meeting, and could not be adjourned. He could not understand what Mr Robinson -was driving at. It was a disgrace to Masterton that the meeting was so small. If they adjourned the meeting they would not get a larger attendance. So far as Mr Daniell was concerned, he would .a.sk Mr Robinjson to test the position by contesting ±ba seat with him. Mr J. B. Moodie expressed surprise that the meeting should resolve itself into one of personal recrimination. .JSe would like to know why the .meet- ' ing should be .asked to adopt a bal-ance-sheet which they had not seen. Was this husiness-lake ? Tho Trustees conild surely have printed the unaudited Wanoe-sheet. Mr H. O'Leary stated that he had lieard from a number of people that they would not come to the meeting ■because there was no balance-sheet to discuss.

Mr T. Wflgg explained that it was the duty of the meeting to "receive" ■the report and balance-sheet only. The Chairman read the section of tiro Act dealing with the subject. Mr Daniel] said he had sympathy with those ivho were criticising the position. He expressed regret that there was so small >% .meeting. He had iimself always endeavoured to present a balance-sheet to the annual meeting. Tho amendment, he thought, was not in-order, because the meeting was only nsked to receive the balance-sheet. He hlamed the Audit Department for the delay in presenting the balance-sheet. ■He did not disagree with those who thought that the balance-sheet should the meeting. Referring to .tV, work'doffLNbv the Trust, Mr Daniel! stated that been paid for this year. The hairhad "been a business mistake, hut it was ■r an advantage to the public. The f scholarships had received grants during the year. Mr Robinson rose to a. point of order. He wished to know.if MrDanlell was speaking to the amendment. Tao Chairman: To put things .right, I rule that your amendment is out of order I alter my motion to road, "that the balance-sheet be received." Mr Robinson: By what right have you to rule in such a. way, when your fl-ra minutes show that a previous meeting was adjourned for the same Reason ? " The Chairman:' I rule by tins! y*. .(holding up t'ho Act). (J Mr Robinson : That's;your ruling. Mr Daniell then proceeded to deal with the work of the Trust. He expressed the opinion, inter alia, that , the School Commissioners' site at Lansdowne should be utilised for an agricultural school. He urged that the funds of the Trust should be utilised for the development of the best brains of the community. He was opT>os2d to the 'picture scheme, but hoped It would come out right. He did not think they should he circumscribed in their views of scholarship grants. At t!h.o reediest of Mr Moodie, the Secretary read the notice calling the \, meeting. This showed that the meet- / ', ing was to "receive" the report and halance-sheet. Mr J. H. Pauling expressed regret that the balance-sheet had not been • printed. At the same time he thought this was due to the Audit Department. He (Mr Pauling) was sorry indeed that. • there had been so much wrangling at this meeting. He was also very sorry . to see such a small attendance of the public. He favoured the giving of " . scholarships solely within the terms of the Act. - Mr W. H. Jackson was of opinion that the difficulty, concerning the bal-ance-sheet could be overcome by pub- ... lashing it later. He was sorry that the > Trustees had 'not expended a larger sum during the year on education. Mr Robinson again spoke at some

length, and challenged the ruling of the chair in regard to his amendment. He said that tlie refusal to accept a motion for an adjournment of a meeting was a thing unheard of. The Chairman maintained that he Avar, quite right iu his contention. Mr W. Kemp spoke in favour of j the utility clauses of the Act. The motion for the receiving of the J report and ibalance-s'lreet was then put and carried on the voices. On the. motion of Mr R. Krahage-n. seconded .by Mr Pauling, a resolution was passed urging upon the Audit Department the desirableness of auditing the balance-sheet at an earlier period. Mr Robinson then mnvd that the balanco-rJieet.-as received br> printed and circu 7 at?d forthwith, and that the mc-sting lw ndic-urnod until TVednesdav to naWp it to he discussed. Mr Moodio seconded the motion, which ho did not consider unrfason■abl-?. Messrs IvrabaV, an aiut tbe motion. Mr Pauling did not onnoxe Hie mo-t-ifvi, provided this meeting n-as not adjourned. After a. protracted discussion, it was decided that tho statement of accounts lv> printed, and a meeting be called for Wednesday nerct, to discuss the samp.