USE OF PUBLIC MONEYS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10698, 20 August 1912, Page 4

USE OF PUBLIC MONEYS.

We notice that three members of the Masterton Tnu't Lands Trust are r eking that a special meeting be held in the Town Hall on Friday next, and that the voters be invited to be present, d) To hear Mr Robinson's explanation of his action with regain to the publication of the Special Committee's Report, and to ascertain -\v veto of those present whether he h,-.s censed to retain the confidence of the votaers. (2) To take the opinion of the voters on- the question of ostab-Iv-liing a High School and a Faun School as outlined in the said report. Now, we have no objection to member/? of the Trust holding meetings at their own expense; but we do protest against the revenues of the Tnist being expended in holding pubi e meeting?, for which there is- no authority in law. To call a public meeting a special meeting of the Trust i>s a mere subterfuge. Mr Robinson has .ibv.ndance of opportunity to expla'n his action at the next Trust meeting. So far as taking iho opinion of the voter,? at a meeting in the Town Hall i<s concerned, that is obvions'v :ipp<-.s-s'ible. There are over +hrco thoitsand voters on the roll, and if the Town Hall were taxed to its utmo-si; capacity—which it-'would not he--only one-third of the voters could ' e accommodated. Tt is impossible, therefore, to obtain the opinion of the voters on either 'issue. Moreover, r is offering nn insult to theTrustees-as a body to submit to ; 1)lv portion of the voters for tliei rapproval. or otherwise, a proportion which the Trust itself has net yet been afforded an opportunity of con.«iderin£r. We nri.i-n--tain that neither Mr Robinson, nor any other member of the Trust, has any right to expend the revenues, which should go to the cause of education, for<such a purpose a& that indicated.