Masterton Town Lands Trust.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2887, 1 May 1888, Page 2

Masterton Town Lands Trust.

A public meeting .'for.-.the.purpose of considering the new Town Lands Management. Bill, as amended, was held last night in the Temperance Hall, about one hundred persoiSßing present. Mr E. Feist was voted to the chair, and he briefly explained the object of the meetiDg, also reading a telegram from Mr G. Beetham, M.H.R.,in which that gentleman regretted that he would be absent, but that he agreed with the Bill as now amended.

The proposed Bill was read to the audience clause by clause, seriatim. v Clause I, containing the preamble, was not discussed. Mr Benall moved that the words "other lands" be expunged from clause 11, and that the reference be left as applying only to Masterton Borough and Masterton Small Farms Settlement. This was duly carried,

as was also a resolution faking a minor alteration. SBt Clause 111 was carried araad. * In the next clause, llr' l thought it would be better that tliev Trustees should all go out together at the termination of three years instead of as at present only two retiring each year. It gave room for a more complete change if there were anjf jfcason for dissatisfaction upon the parfßihe ratepayers. (Applause). He moved I that Clauses 4,5, and 6be suspended

with a viewto amending them so that all the trustees sheuld retire at the end of the preseut year, and then an election take place on the triennial system.' Mr A. W; Hogg seconded the reso-

lution. H 6 considered it would give the electors an opportunity of making a thorough change of administration, and that it would allow of a better, aud more reliable electors roll being provided in printed form. It would also adopt a system which was recognised as beneficial and was in use by the legislature of the Colony and the County Councils. Mr W. Lowes explained that ttaso clauses were inserted in the proved Bill as they appeared in the original Act, and that the Trustees had no power to alter them. Besides Messrs Renall and Hogg would only be frustrating their own object, for with a triennial system they would be putting their opponents in ijj&three years, whereas under the presenile they might manage to get two of their friends in, and then, by waiting another year get auother two in, The Chairman said that his views were against the said amendment. TheyeaiiyelectionofonlytwoTrastees enabled the new men to got the experience of older holders of office,

Mr Benall, in reply, said that three years would give more time to develop a policy, and it would also give electors a better opportunity of judging of the capabilities of the Trustees and their works, and of voting accordingly. Mr Renall's motion was then put and carried by a large majority, Clause VII, giving the Governor, power to elect Trustees in the,-evehfc of that duty being neglected was reads Mr Benall said that he thought that they would never be so lax in their duties as to neglect this important matter. He would move that the clause be struck out. Mr Hogg seconded the resolution which was unanimously carried. • It was proposed to leaye clauses 8, 9, and 10 to the Trustees' to alter in context with other foregoing clauses. Mr Benall moved that this be done, provided the clauses he altered so that the electors' roll should only be revised and compiled every three years.

Mr Hogg suggested that this clause should be altered so that the electors' roll and objections to names oil it could be brought before, the Resident Magistrate as a tribunal. Messrs Lowes and Perry pointedout that the contemplated alterations would involve expense, and the former moved as an amendment that the matter be left to the Trustees to adopt or not, as they thought fit, if thotfst would justify. -v... Mr 8, E. Gapper considered that the Trustees could be safely left to carry out the duty in question. Mr Hogg, in response, said that the proposed method was the onfigumally adopted, and that a revision b™e the Magistrate would be of no expense, and would give an opportunity of reply to objections.

Mr Lowes contended that the Trustees could deal with the roll in exactly the same manner as a Magistrate, and that replies to objections could be made before them, Messrs Hogg aud Renall pointed out the necessity of a printed roll. (Applause.) Mr Lowes considered that there was no necessity for this. The roll could always be seen at the Trust Office, and anyone if they wanted a copy could make one, Mr Lowes' amendment was put and lost.

The resolution to alter Clauses 8,9, and 10, so as to read in accordance with, the contest, to provide every three years a printed roll, and to refer revision and objections to the Magistrate, was carried, ' ."|jt jjjf^ Clauses 11 to 16 were oSme&W read. '' In Clause 17, Mr Renall moved that action might be taken against an offending Trustee who was acting prejudicial to the laws and welfare of the trust, fraudulently or otherwise, by the electors, and that the words, " at the suit of any elector" should be inserted. This was seconded bvrMr Marsh, Mr Lowes asked if the elector would pay the expenses of a prosecution if it failed, or would the Trust pay it. Mr Renall said that they had no power to deal with the costs question, it rested with the Magistrate to allocate the expenses. •The motion was put and earned. Mr Hogg, referring to clause 18, moved a resolution having as its object j an amendment in the direction of making it compulsory upon theR.M. Court to payall fines and penflte's inflicted under proceedings instituted by tho Trust into the Trust funds. This was seconded and carried. Clause 19 was passed as read. Mr Renall objected to the use of the words " public general education" in clause 20, which specified thepurgoseMU

* to which the funds should bo applied. He considered this would exclude their Catholic fellow townsmen from participation. Ho held that they could not do bettor than abide by the 'text of the Act. He was in favor of no ■jppecial scholastic institution, but would help any good educational system, whether public or private, lie moved that "assisting educational establishments, a public library, and for other purposes of public utility'' be substituted for the words " general public education." (An elector here asked if a clause could not be introduced malting the title deeds a little cheaper to tenants. The chairman reminded the speaker that that subject was not in the clause under discussion.) Mr Lowes explained that the majority at the Conference had been m favor of the words 'public general education-' They were simply intended to act as a safe-guard the subsidising of pri':'jmschook but were not intended 9* schools were under the control of the public. Mr Hogg agreed with Mr Lowes' remarks, It was finally decided on Mr Lowes' motion, that the clause should run ■Jfchat the funds be expended in helping '-Establishments for the promotion of public education, a public library, and for other purposes of general public utility. Mr Hogg moved that the words assisting the holders of scholarships in the progress of their education be left out. They meant helping probably the bright children of a private school at the expense of the Masterton public school children being deprived of the money which was now given to them for a treat and prizes. At this stage of the meeting, Mr A, W. Eenall gave a graphic and comprehensive history of the Master-

ton and Greytown Town Lands from

their infancy to date, and in conclusion £ asked that out of regard for the intenf- lion of the founders of the Trust, the * help to scholarships he not witheld. Mr Grundy expressed himself in favor of helping scholarship-holders whose parents were too poor to give their children the education their intellect deserved, AMr Lowes was in favor of assisting ' wrose holding Government scholarships, the surplus funds to be used for that purpose. Mr Ronall moved, that the clause aiding the Mastcrton and Fcrmidge schools in the matter of prizes and a treat be made to read instead " the schools in the district covered by the Town Lands Trust Act." Mr Grundy was desirous of having school libraries included in the help given.

Anamendmenl, embodying the suggestions of Messrs llenall, Lowes, and Grundy was duly carried. Mr Eonall here mentioned that . there were yet eleven clauses of the ' *i. Bill to be discussed, and that as it &' was getting late it would be better to postpone the conference for a week or SO, The Chairman having put a motion accordingly, declared the meeting adjourned sine die,