TRUST AFFAIRS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 August 1941, Page 7

TRUST AFFAIRS

CONTROL OF MEMORIAL PARK NO FURTHER ACTION BEING TAKEN. DISCUSSION AT LAST NIGHT'S MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Masterton Trust Lands Trust was held last night. The chairman, Mr H. P. Hugo, presided. There were also present: Messrs J. Macfarlane Laing, E. G. Eton, A; Owen Jones, C. E. Grey, H. H. Daniell, R. Krahagen, R. Page. J. A. Russell and the secretary, Mr A. W. McKenzie. The Masterton Borough Council Wrote declining the Trust’s offer for the taking over of Memorial Park by the Council. “Since the matter has been discussed a point has occurred to me,” said Mr Laing. He said that the Trust had power to create a Domajn and Park board, if the alternative was to close the Memorial Park. If the Trust made use of the Domains and Public Reserves Act, it would have the power, with the consent of the Minister of Interna] Affairs,.to secure rating powers (which the borough council could be requested to collect). In that way the park could be put in order and dealt with, as it had been hoped that the Council would have done had it taken the park over. Mr Eton: "At the present time the matter rests in the hands of the citizens."

Mr Laing: “It rests in our hands!” Mr Eton: “Further action must come from the citizens." “In my opinion the Borough Council does not consider that Masterton requires a recreational ground,” said Mr Krahagen, Mr Eton: “I hope not.” Mr Krahagen: “We are under no obligation to spend money on the Park.” “We made a royal offer, backed up by 75 per cent of the people of Masterton,” said Mr Eton. Mr Daniell: “Leave the matter until after the war.” Mr Hugo (chairman): “Yes, when the boys come back from overseas, they and the citizens will demand it.” It was decided to receive the letter and take no further action. The headmasters of the Lansdowne and Central schools wrote thanking the Trust for grants allocated to the schools. The Masterton West Kindergarten Committee also thanked the Trust for setting aside £5O. The E.P.S. Committee was granted the free use of the Opera House on August 26 for the purpose of showing special films to E.P.S. and Home Guard units. The Dental Clinic Committee requested the Trust to carry out renovations to clinic rooms and offered to contribute towards the cost of the work. Trustees considered that the clinic committee was doing a fine job of work, and tribute was paid by several trustees to the work of the secretary, Mr J. G. McFarlane. It was decided to agree to the request and call tenders for the work. Accounts for £221 12s 6d were passed.