Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, MAY 24, 1938. THE TRUST LANDS TRUST ELECTION.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 May 1938, Page 6

Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, MAY 24, 1938. THE TRUST LANDS TRUST ELECTION.

QN Thursday next voters of the Small Farms Area will have another opportunity of showing some practical interest in the Trust Lands Trust, an institution which any town in New Zealand might be very glad to possess. Four candidates are offering for the three places to be filled on the board of trustees and it seems rather a pity that more has not been made of the opportunity thus afforded to discuss the management of the endowment and the broad lines upon which it should be administered as time goes on.

Blame in this matter evidently rests upon the body of Trust electors and not upoji those who are offering their services as trustees. In the sparse attendance at the recent annual meeting and in other ways it has been indicated that the attitude of the general public towards the Trust—a body that is at present conferring benefits on the town and its youth and will be able before long to give substantially greater assistance to educational and other objects of a worthy kind—is one of almost complete indifference.

A correspondent whose letter was published a few days ago had-something to say about applicants having to approach the Trust in pauper-like fashion. The Trust of course is bound to scrutinize all applications in a businesslike way and it is certainly not the fault of its members that it is approached, as a rule, only by applicants for grants. It is entirely open to the voters of the Small Farms Area to take a much more active part than they do in the shaping of Trust policy. The Trust, no doubt, would welcome and would readily consider representations and suggestions made by its electors.

In view of their attitude of indifference, Trust electors ought to consider themselves fortunate that the affairs of the. endowment have been managed so well, notably in the difficult years since a number of .the Trust buildings were’damaged heavily by earthquake in 1934. Since that year’ the available revenues of the Trust of necessity have been concentrated largely on the service and redemption of the loans which had to be raised to finance the repair and restoration of damaged buildings.

Ajs matters stand, there are net debts of some £lO,OOO to be set against the assets of the Trust, but heavy sinking fund payments are reducing these liabilities year by year, and the period is coming into sight when the Trust will again have substantial annual revenues to disburse in terms of its constitution. Good judgment and foresight have been exhibited also in the creation of a building reserve account.

Careful thought should be given in good time to the question of making the best use that is possible of the endowment revenues when these again become available on a considerable scale. In some important respects, conditions are changing, not least where the State provision for education is concerned. Opportunities may thus appear of making better use of the Trust revenues than has been possible in the past, both in assisting education and in conferring other benefits on the community.

It is not more important that the endowment should be safeguarded and prudently managed than that its revenues should be used in such a way as to confer maximum advantages on the people of the benefiting area. Failing to give earnest thought to that question, the beneficiaries of today would show poor appreciation indeed of the public-spirited wisdom and foresight of the founders of the Trust. Meantime it must be hoped that there will be a full muster of voters at the election on Thursday next.