NELSON NEWS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 23, 28 January 1924, Page 2

NELSON NEWS

; THE CAWTHRON TRUST. . I**■ THJOiAM.— SPECIAL TO THi.pOST.I NELSON, 26th January. The following letters in connection with the Cawthron Trust have been forwarded to the Acting-Prime Minister by Mr. H. Atmore, M:P. for' Nelson:— ' Nelson, 23rd January, 1924. Dear Sir Francis, — -, In accordance with your suggestion that the member r for Nelson and the iv.L.C. residing" fri the district, the Mayor of Nelson-, the chairman of the Kelson Harbour Board, and the chairman of the Waimea County Council should join in a request to the Government that it may be provided by statute that the otheials holding those offices should be trustees on the Cawthron Institute lrust Board by virtue of their several offices, we hereby request that the necessary legislation should be introduced, so that the obvious intention of the testator, Thomas Cawthron, should be cari ntnto effect-—We are > yours'sincerey.' JPnpP-Best, chairman Waimea County Council; Harry Atmore, M P Nelson; W.-W. Snodgrass, M.L.C., Nelsou; Wilham.Lock, Mayor of Nelson. Wellington, 21st January, 1924. . Dear Sir Francis, — I »m enclosing & request re the above irust Board in which you are asked in accordance with the suggestion contained! in your letter of 25th October, 1923* to give effect to the 4estatbr's obvious intention that the trust should be held by persons holding the offices mentioned ia the will. The signatories are Philip West, chairman Waimea County Council; William Lock, Mayor of Nelson; W. W Snodgrass, M.L.C.. Nelson; and Harry Atmore, M.P., Nelson/ The other suggested signatory, Mr. H. E. Duncan, chairman Nelson Harbour Board, did not sign, but as chairman has signed- a similar request, which was unanimously carried by his board, and which has since been forwarded to you. The Nel.son City Council and Waimea County Council also unanimously agreed-to. a resolution of. thanks for your promise, coupled with an expressed desire that the necessary legislation shouldbe introduced during the next session. '-It may interest- you to know that your letter dealing with the position gave very general satisfaction throughout the whole district—a satisfaction reflected in the resolutions carried by the three important local bodies refeited to. The question of continuity of policy was raised, and a suggestion made that it would be interfered with if. the desired changes were brought about; but this idea was generally scouted by the public,. whilst one of the city councillors, Mr. W. J. Moffatt, dealt so ably with the suggestion, showing its unsoundness, that no further public mention has been made of it, although it is understood that three of the present trustees were to visit Wellington for the purpose of making representations to you on the subject. The whole question appears to centre round the point whether the present trustees are to retain a power which thffiate Mr. Cawthron obviously intended shbuld be. possessed by the public of Nelson and Waimea.. The editor of the Nelson "Evening Mail," in an editorial of 26th'November, aptly summarised the position- when, after1/making reference to the trustees''work, h« concluded by saying: "Itis wily fair.that the public should beaivthe'se'Yacts- i£irnma,bu'f they do nof. alter the positioin one iota. •. . It is a privately created trust that is being administered, and there can be no question that the administration must be in accordance with the expressed wishes of the testator.". I wish to thank you on behalf of the Nelson district for the interest you have shown, also foi your promise to rectify matters so that the rights of the people .to elect some of the trustees may be recognised for all time, and that in other respects also appointments may be in full accordance with the obvious intention of the lat» 'Mr., Cawthron..—l am, yours sincere!' Hairy Atmore. '