TRUST BENEFITS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 May 1940, Page 7

TRUST BENEFITS

GREATER PUBLIC INTEREST URGED

DEVELOPMENT OF MEMORIAL PARK.

OBSERVATIONS AT ANNUAL MEETING.

"Too many people take the Trust Lands Trust and the .benefits it confers for granted. There should be an awakening of public interest in the management of this Trust.” slated the chairman. Mr H. P. Hugo at the annual meeting of the Masterton Trust Lands Trust, held in the Y.IVI.C.A. last night. "It is just as well the early settlers took more interest in the establishment of the Trust and did not practise the apathetic attitude that prevails today." continued Mr Hugo. "People in the Small Farms Area should realise that this Trust belongs to them, and with an income of nearly £6OOO per annum should make it their business to see how this money is spent.” In the course of his remarks concerning the annual report and balance sheet, Mr Hugo stated: "You will see from the balance sheet that the assets of the Trust are now shown at £103,374 and liabilities at only £10.192. Our receipts from leasehold and weekly rentals show an increase of £446 on those of last year, and an increase of £Bl9 on those on the year 1937-1938. AVe have been able to make grants ot £•694 mostly to schools from this account. an increase of £239 on those of last year, and if nothing unforseen happens there is no reason why the grants should not be increased. Our repairs and maintenance account was again heavy, Mr Hugo observed, "this being partly due to placing a new shop front in one of our buildings and a new roof over two shops. "We have now finished paying off the debentures on the Cameron Memorial Park,” stated Mr Hugo, "the last payment of £lOO being paid this past year. In our No. 2 account (scholarship account), the Trust has made grants to University students and special grants of £240, an increase- of £BB on those of last year. Owing to the small rentals received in this account it has been necessary to transfer the sum of £2OO from the ordinary account to enable these grants to be made. A further £4OO has been added to our building reserve account, which stands at £2112 7s. The £5OO Housing loan stands at £3450 and the Trust is now clearing this loan at the rate of £BOO a year, and it will be clear in four years. The receipts from the Opera House were £66 less than those for last year, partly due to the Amateur Theatricals and the Wrestling Association not functioning. Your Trustees would like to see greater use made of the Opera House by local societies and institutions,” added Mr Hugo. “In order to give local-societies every opportunity to ■ help themselves, the Trustees have kept rental charges at an absolute minimum. It is pleasing to the Trustees that the Mayor (Mr T. Jordan) has been able to use this building for special functions. “The various properties of the Trust are all in good order and careful supervision is kept on buildings in the way of maintenance and repairs,” said Mr Hugo. "Your Trustees have made an offer to the Masterton Borough Council to take over the Cameron Memorial Park subject to certain conditions, with a view to making more use of this valuable park as a sports ground. A small committee was set up, consisting of three members each of the Borough Council, Beautifying Society and Trust Lands Trust to discuss the transfer of the park, and also its beautifying, and we are pleased to be able to report that the Beautifying Society had promised to plant this year 100 trees towards the scheme. .- “Over the next few years our liabilities will be very much reduced and this will show an improved position financially for the Trust, and should enable it to make substantial increases in grants and allowances for schools," said Mr Hugo. In conclusion we extend our thanks to the Press for the publicity given and the interest shown in the affairs of the Trust. "The Trust should have convened a public meeting of sports bodies before handing over Memorial Park to the Borough Council,” stated Mr H. M. Boddington, in mentioning that he was one of those originally responsible for the vesting of Memorial Park in the Trust. He considered that it was unfortunate that the Rugby Union should have a practically prohibitive control of the park. “We felt as trustees that we were not in a position to develop the park, stated Mr Hugo in commenting on the dilapidated state of the park. He stated that at present it was an eye-sore instead of a beauty spot. Mr Hugo's remarks were endorsed by Mr J. Macfarlane Laing. Mr E. G. Eton quoted the vesting of the original Masterton park in the Borough Council, and referred to the wonderful asset which had resulted. Mr J. AV. T. Jones thanked the I rust on behalf of the Crippled Children's school at the Masterton hospital tor as-, sistance, stating that the work being carried out was being fully appreciated by all concerned. - 'Mr AV. A. Clarke congratulated the Trust on its work during the year and expressed thanks on behalf of the Dental Clinic committee and the AVest School committee. A representative of the Mo Kotoa Scout group also thanked the Trust for assistance during the year. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Miss Tankersley for her attendance. In moving a vote of thanks to the chair and trustees for their work Mr J H. Cunningham referred to the wonderful asset the town possessed in the Trust.