THE TRUST ELECTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 May 1938, Page 6

THE TRUST ELECTION

SOME QUESTIONS FOR REPLY. (To the Editor.) Sir,—Preparatory to the Trust Lands Trust election we were invited to a meeting on last Monday. Some twenty citizens attended. As one'of the five thousand who were invited but failed to attend, may I ask what is the Trust for? Education is the reply. Fortunate child born in this area! but what is education. When does it begin? Why at birth —aye before birth. Then the Plunket enthusiasts are in the scheme. There is nothing about their work in the report. Why? Then the Dental Clinic. Is that education? It appears, from reports published, to give our Trustees much worry. The Government provides nurses to look after the youngsters’ teeth and they need rooms to work in. Well, is not that the business of the Trust to provide, if not as education then under the utility clause, as mastication is important in childhood and afterlife?

Then, about crippled children. Are they in the Trustees’ scheme of things? A question here —from published reports it would appear that our Trustees. should any of these child lovers want assistance to their funds, must be approached in pauper-like fashion. The applicants are then informed that their case will be duly considered. That is to say, the Trustees are not citizens, but office-bearers. Let us admit that schools are provided for, as is sport, football, tennis, etc. Which brings us to accounts, where so much accountancy and cross statements are made that I, for one, cannot understand them. Why is the Trust £lO,OOO in debt? What was done with the money. It surely took more than a quake to use all that. Then is it business to deposit money at 21 per cent to accumulate a fund to pay off a debt costing say 41 per cent? Why not pay off the debt? Is the commercialising of the Trust affairs either good or safe business, this in face of the fact that not one in two hundred and fifty citizens chose to attend the annual meeting on Monday last, there to deal with a ninety thousand pound estate, of which we are at least custodians. —I am, etc., C. E. DANIELL. Masterton, May 19.