TOWN LANDS TRUSTEES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3849, 4 July 1891, Page 2

TOWN LANDS TRUSTEES.

The School Grant

The monthly meeting of the Masterton Town Lands Trustees was held in the Council Chambers last evening. Present—Messrs A. W. Renall (in the chair), B. P, Perry, S. E. Gapper, and H. E. Eton. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr Graham apologised for nonattendance, and Mr Lowes (chairman) wired that he had been called very suddenly to Wellington, but would return by the late train that evening. The Treasurer reported a credit balance at date of £B7 7s sd.

The Secretary stated that the accounts had been audited by the Government auditor, but had not jet been returned. Two accounts for insurance were passed for payment. The quarterly grants of £l4 to the Puk Trustees, and £6 5s to the School of Design were made. (The Chairman, Mr W. Lowes, arrived at this stage.) SCHOOL GRANTS. The application of the Masterton School Committee for a grant of £2B ss, the balance of the amount originally applied for, and £l4 5s for this year's grant, was read. A letter subsequently received from the Committee, in whiob it was stated that a deputation consisting of Messrs Feist, Beard and Williams would wait upon the Trust, and enclosing a statement of receipts and expenditure was also read.

Mr. Feist stated they came to solicit the assistance of the Trust for a grant in aid of the public school. The position of the Masterton School was that at the present time they had a debit balance of £3l 6s 9d. They had also made an estimate oi their requirements for the year, which they had fixed at £l4O. The capitation allowance would amount to £BO, and they would therefore require about £6O. Then again there were certaiu requirements in the shape of swings, flooring sheds, etc., which would amount to £63, They would therefore ask for £63 to effect the necessary repairs, £3l 6s 9d to extinguish their present liabilities, besides the necessary working expenses. They had found that instead of a credit balance a debit balanoe of about £5 should have been shown at the annual meeting. He trusted the application would meet with favourable consideration. They had made an unsuccessful application to the Education Board for the £63.

Mr Renall: But is not some of the money asked for required for repairs to the school ? Mr Feist; I think so. Mr Renall: And has the Education Board refused to undertake the necessary repairs ? Mr Feist: It has.

Mr Beard said he quite recognised that the present School Committee was a continuation of the old Com mittee. Although they admitted that the monies already granted had been spent indiscreetly, he was sure they had not been squandered. There was no doubt but that the monies had been misapplied. He thought it was •juite proper that the Trust should know how the monies granted were to be spent. It was for this reason they had prepared the statement. Ihe School Committee was in a very bad way. Either the money would have to be found, or the school works would have to be ceased. If the grant was not made they wouli have to appeal to the public. As the Trust was a body which had the funds at its disposal for education purposes, he trusted they would let bygones be bygones and favorably consider the application on their making a guarantee to expend the monies in the direction the Trust might indicate. The Trust had full power under the Act to make grants far repairs to the school. The woiks nientioned in the statement were absolutely necessary and he trusted the application would be granted. Mr Renall: Then with your demands and our funds we would be left with about £2O for other works. Mr Beard : We do not want it in a gigantic sum. Mr Lowes: You really ask for £l5O. Mr Beard: That is so.

Mr Lowes stated that there was in the balance sheet a liability stated as "" school." Hp would like to know what this referred to. Mr Feist : That was an expenditure for school 1! >rary and requisites.

The Secretary stated this amount had been paid over. Mr Lowes said it appeared to him that the £25 for scientific apparatus had teen spent before tbe had been received. The Trust was now to pay the amount again. He was glad to learn that the debt iQ &§ 9*det f ant * na d been * • «•

wiped ou. -. Vai fceen Mr Feist said the £2o .._ expended to meet pressing liabilities. The amount would be paid over to Mr Jackson from the capitation fund.

Mr Renall: I suppose if you go back you can account for all the monies received. Mr Feist • We can.

Mr Lowes stated that this was where he disagreed with the Committee. The Trust had received several statements from the Committee. That received up to March 31st showed that all that was required to tbe debt to the cadet fund and

meet all liabilities was £34 17s sd. They received £3O and other amounts. In fact the Committee had received £B6 since the 81st of March, and yet they were £3l in debt. They must excuse him in expressing his doubt about the accuracy of the accounts. He had always entertained the opinion that the statements were not correct. He did not believe tlin the Committee itself knew how the funds had been expended. He considered the monies had not been judiciously expended. He had no personal feeling in the matter, but before he for the grant now asked for he (would have to be satisfied that they were nosv on the bed-rock of the thins.

Mr Beard replied that the true financial position of the school was revealed by the statement now produced. All they wanted to do was to get out of the mire. They desired that any friction between the Committee and the Trust should be put aside and the qaestion considered from a business point of view. He trustid to be able to come in the future, not for a grant to pay off liabilities, but to assist in establishing a scholarship (hear, hear). He intended to continue on the Committee until things were put straight. Mr Feist stated that the Committee had taken steps to guard against discrepancies in the accounts in the future.

Mr Lowes was quite satisfied that

the present Committee had not incurred the present debt. The Committee had really a debt of £l2O instead of a clean Bheet, whilst it was charging the Trust with maladministration. • Mr Feist: Our present liability is £3l 6s 9d.

Mr Lowes: But the contingent

liability is over £IOO,

Mr Williams said the desire of the Committee was to put the finances straight. He quite agreed with the remarks of Mr Lowes with regard te the keeping of accounts, and they had the greatest difficulty in preparing the present statement. He trusted a substantial grant would be made. Mr Eton: The deputation agrees then that the accounts of the past haye been " cooked."

Mr Lowes : That is hardly a fair question. Mr Eton: It is calling a spade a spade!

Mr Beard: We can hardly say that. You might have said the accounts were boiled down. Mr Lowes stated he understood an additional grant was to be made to the Education Board, and they could then effect the repairs to the Masterton school. Personally he did not think it the duty of the Trust to undertake the vvork of the Education Board. It was not every town in the colony which had a Town Lands Trust. Mr Feist: The Education Board has absolutely refused to make the grant of £63 applied for. Mr Lowes: I think it would be a good idea to send a deputation to the Education Board. Mr Gapper did not agree with the expenditure of the funds of the Trust in flooring the sheds. Asphalte would be much more desirable. Mr Feist: Asphalte would be better.

Mr Beard thought it was not likely

the Trust would bs allowed to m<»ke a

grant if the money was forthcoming from the Education Board. The

Board would not be absolved from liability.

Mr Lowes : The Board has effected repahs to the sheds at Carterton. Why can't they do it at Masterton. Mr Renall: There is no doubt the Education Board has made substantial grants in the past. Mr Lowes said the question could

hardly be settled at the present meet-

ing. As the matter had been very lucidly and honestly brought before the Trust he could assure the deputation their application would be

favorably considered. Mr Feist: Thank you. You might, however, make us o temporary grant to tide us over our difficulties.

Mr Gapper ■ Will not the Committoe re-consider the escimate for fli/oring the sheds ? Mr Feist: The Committee will agree to do that, and might make f rosb arrangements. Mr Beard thanked the Trust for its attention and the deputation

retired. After some discussion the following resolutions were carried :—(1) That the Trustees record their entire satis-

faction with the manner in which the deputation placed the positon of the Committee before them, which, in the

opinion of the Trustees, revealed the tact that the gentlemen composing the deputation had thoroughly investigated the affairs of the school, and in the most straightforward manner placed the position before the Trust. (2) That the Trust having received from the School Committee deputation a full and true statement of their financial position, which, although it bears evidence ofthe truth of the assertions made by the Trustees that previous statements were not correct, be received; and in order to place the School Committee in a position to commence their year of office free from liabilities incurred by previous Committees, the Trustees make a grant of £3l, to be expended in payment ofthe liabilities as shown ; and that the consideration of the applications for further grants be posponed till next meeting.