TRUST COMPLAINT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 March 1943, Page 2

TRUST COMPLAINT

MEMORIAL PARK TAKEN; OVER WITHOUT ANY ARRANGEMENT. ROADS BUILT THROUGH PLAYING AREA. “No one seems to know anything about it,” observed the chairman of the Masterton Trust Lands Trust, Mr H. P. Hugo, at the last meeting of that body, in reporting that the military authorities had cut up the Memorial Park without consulting the Trust. The secretary, Mr A. W. McKenzie, was instructed to make inquiries local-; ly regarding the position, and to write to the authorities in Wellington, pointing out that no arrangement had been made with the Trust for the use of the grounds. Mr McKenzie was also instructed to supply the Wairarapa Rugby Union with a copy of the letter to be sent to Wellington. ’ Lz / Mr Hugo said that the park was welL. cut up. The playing area had been built on, trees had been cut down, and fences had been taken down. Full charge had been taken of the grounds. Mr Hugo pointed out that the Memorial Park was held in trust by the Trust for the people of Masterton. The position at present was definitely wrong. The secretary read out a resolution carried at a meeting of the Trust in March, 1940, under which the Rugby Union was allowed the use of the Park rent free provided the Union paid rates and outgoings, and that the Trust were paid any amounts obtained by the Union from sub-letting. Mr J. Macfarlane Laing said that the matter should be investigated. The park had lost all recognition as a playing area. (Reading was going on, and it would be extremely difficult to restore the playing gfound. A deep drain had been dug through the middle of the grounds, and a gap had been made in the trees near the Methodist Home. In reply .to questions asked by Messrs Hugo and R. Krahagen as to who was responsible for the work being carried ,out, Mr Laing said he understood that the Public Works Department was responsible. Mi- A. Owen Jones asked what had \ been the position when a medical unit used the park. Had there been any arrangement? he asked. Mr Hugo said that no arrangement had been made, but the grounds had not been interfered with. Mr McKenzie: “They went in and took the place.” Mr Jones contended that there should have been some arrangement. “We have been very lax,” observed Mr E. G. Eton. He moved a motion that the matter be inquired into, adding that if the grounds were needed the Trust would have to submit. “The chief trouble is the roading. They have carted tremendous quantities of metal on to the former playing area,” said Mr Laing. Mr Krahagen: “We should hand the matter to our solicitors to straighten out.” Mr Laing said he agreed that the fact that the grounds were leased to the Rugby Union complicated the matter. “We don’t want to be arbitrary,” said Mr Eton. Mr Laing: “But they are.” After further discusion it was decided to take the action stated above. '