Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1874.] THURSDAY, MAY 16, 1895. THE LANDS TRUST REPORT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5027, 16 May 1895, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1874.] THURSDAY, MAY 16, 1895. THE LANDS TRUST REPORT.

The annual report of the Masterton Town Lands Trust was published in our last issue, but it is understood I that the balance-sheet is withheld lentil such time as it is audited, I Complaint was made last year of a similar delay with the balance-sheet, and it is to bo regretted that the Trustees have not seen their way this year io remedy an obvious fault. An annual report without a balance-sheet is like the play of Hamlet with the part of Hamlet left out. If any of the public desire to criticise the accounts of the Trust at the annual meeting', they are virtually deprived of an undoubted privilege by the balance sheet being delayed. Wo fail to see why the unaudited sheet could not be published prior lotbe annual meeting, and the auditor's report published at a later (late, The auditor's report is cf course a material point, but it is of still greater consequence that the accounts themselves should not bo shelved on account of any delay with.it. Itis satisfactory toleavnfrom the report, that the rent roll of the I Trust lias increased to £6ll, and we hope before long to see it yield a thousand pounds per annum. Increased grants bavo been made to tho Schools of the District, and perhaps the time has now arrived, when this subsidy should be given on some defined 1 principle instead of being allocated 'by gentle log-rolling. Thegrantofa 'hundred pounds mado towards the Park Graud Stand, will, wo believe, be considered a good investment by any person who may take tho trouble to visit tho structure now approachingcomplotionon the public oval. The acquisition of the Drill Hall is, perhaps, not altogether a matter for congratulation, but as the white elephant was built on a trust reserve, and was conveyed at a nominal price, there was a good deal to bo said in favow of the transfer.

( The question of establishingtechnical classes is announced to bo under considei'ation,and it is toberegretted | that something' more definite than tin's cannot be laid before the annual gathering. As for the nucleus for a town ball fund we are afraid it has been made more for the purpose of tying up an accumulation than from any intention of supplying the town with a public hall within a reasonable time. The public, we believe, would sooner have a town ball than a nucleus. Tho general administration of the Trust husbeen good, theonly obvious blot uponitbavingbcenthe charging of certain toimntsdoublcthelegnlfees laid down by the Trustees' own regulations. The funds of the Trust have been fairly well conserved. Mr Lowes, the present Chairman, may take credit for £SOO of genuine savings. He bus kept a titjlit band on the purse strings and by so doing be has put the Trust intoa far stronger financial position than any other local body in the community.