MASTERTON TRUST LANDS TRUST.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8483, 10 July 1907, Page 5

MASTERTON TRUST LANDS TRUST.

EXCHANGE OF SITES. DEPUTATION TO MINISTER OF JUSTICE. (From Our Parliamentary Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. A deputation of members of the Masterton Trust Lands Trustees, consisting of the Chairman (Mr Miche'l), Messrs Eton, Caselberg, Wagg, and the Secretary (Mr Hathaway), were introduced by Mr A. W. Hogg, member of the district, to the Minister for Justice, on Monday morning, with reference to the exchange of a site for a Courthouse. Mr Hogg having briefly stated the object of the deputation, Mr Eton stated that the people of Masterton were very anxious to have the new Courthouse, for which provision had been made in the Estimates a year or two ago, erected as soon as possible. An Act had been passed some years back enabling the Trustees, with the consent of the people, to hand over a very eligible corner site for Courthouse purposes in exchange for a piece of land belonging to the Justice Department. The Government land had a frontage to the busiest street in the town, which, while valuable for business purposes, was altogether useless for a Courthouse. The Depaitment had expressed willingness to make the exchange, but required a large sum of money—about £l,3oo—that being stated to be the difference between the value of the two sites. The Trustees, who had applied pretty well all the funds dex-ived from the rentals to educational purposes, could not see their way to meet this demand. They therefore asked the Minister to take into consideration the fact that, their funds had been used as stated, and not to exact every possible shilling and delay-the erection of a public building that was urgently required. To show what they were doing with their funds, it was mentioned that, besides helping various educational institutions, they had quite recently voted £250 towards the erection and establishment of a Technical School. These views and statements were endorsed by the other speakers. Mr Hogg stated that the income of the Trust last year was £1.244. The Trustees had erected a Town Hall at a cost of £5,000, and were paying' this amount off in instalments. In addition to this last year they had paid away over £OOO as grants to schools and other educatiunal institutions. Of that sum £230 had been paid to the District High School for equipping the science classes and helping the agricultural class. Other votes had been made £37 to St. Patrick's School, £35 to Fernridge School, £lO to Te Ore Ore School, £IOO to the Technical School, while smaller votes had been made to the Physical Training School, Fire Brigade, and Band. Mr # Hogg asked the Minister to moderate his de mands, seeing that the funds of the Trust were devoted almost exclusively to the cause of education, relieving thereby the demands upon the State and Education Boar ). The Hon. Mr McGowan, in replying, complimented the people of Masterton upon having such an excellent institution as their Trust Lands Trust, and expressed high appreciation of the useful way in which the funds were employed. At the same time, he remarked, he had to be careful to see that the public interests were properly guarded, and that no serious encroachment > foxlocal purposes were made at th 3 expense of the general taxpayer. The two sites, the subject of discussion, had been carefully valued, and .he held that if an exchange were made the difference in value should be considered and compensation given. He did not desii-e to make hax'sh terms with the Trustees, but at the same time he had to protect the public revenue. Mr Hogg: The Trustees wish you to divest yourself, for the time being, of your position of Minister of Justice, and become Minister of Equity. (Laughter.) Cannot the difference be compromised by making a moderate demand—say, of £SO0 — and allowing the Trustees to liquidate it by instalments, so that no legislation would be needed? The Minister replied that he would carefully consider the whole circumstances, and place the facts and his recommendation before the Cabinet. He was not in the habit of making promises, but would deal with the matter as sympathetically as possible.