GRANTS ILLEGAL.

Wairarapa Age, 9 August 1929, Page 5

GRANTS ILLEGAL.

MONEY FOR MATRICULATION STUDENTS. tbusts policy of the past UNSOUND. MATTES FOR jISLATION. The essence of u opinion of the Trust Lands Trust’s solicitor regarding the making of matriculation grants, as disclosed at the monthly meeting of the Trust last night, was that for the past twenty-five years the Trust had been acting without legal authority in making grants to pupils passing the matriculation examination. After the solicitor’s opinion had been read, the chairman (Mr. W. H. Jackson), said there was no doubt that it was the intention of the Act that the funds be used for scholarship grants or for founding scholarships. Mr. J. M. Coradine said he was not very clear about the objections raised to the Trust’s procedure by some of the Trustees. Mr. D. Case!berg replied that it was practically not an objection, but a deplace the Trust on a proper 'egaf footing as to the making of grants. NOT CONVINCED. Mr. Coradine said that personally he was quite convinced that the Trustees had acted within their powers. It was /not a new question, as not long after he came on to the Trust he questioned the matter, but after investigating it he was convinced that the Trust was acting rightly. The grants had passed , the Audit Department. He failed to ksee what all the fuss was about. It might be there was a legal technicality, hut, personally, he was prepared to continue as in the past, at any rate for this year. If the procedure was shown to be illegal it was only a matter of a book entry after all. He would like to ace a dear statement of the objections. AN EXPLANATION. Mr. 8. L. P. Free said that he regretted as much as anyone the action he had taken to point qgt the legal a'andpoint, but it appeared to him to bo necessary. He did not intend to deprive any scholar of a grant to which he was entitled or to disturb any other grant, but as a new member he took it as his duty to learn his job. He had examined the Act and all the Trust’s powers were concentrated in Section 20. There were, as the solicitor had pointed out, two Trust funds, one for the purpose of assisting general public educational establishments, a public libra rv and general public utility, and She other, the income from three town sections, to he applied by the Trustees In assisting those who already held Scholarships, whether founded by the .’Trust or otherwise. The Trust had power to found scholarships out of the general fund and then grant further a»•istance out of the scholarship fund. .The solicitor pointed out that no scholarship had ever been granted by the Board and the grants made were Niven to some and not to others, so they were not scholarships. One reason for the position that had arisen, said Mr. Free, appeared to be a misunderstanding of a legal opinion obtained some years ago. It was a very difficult position and the only eure appeared to be legislation. He considered the grants very proper, but the Trost had to have power to make them. All he sought to rio was to place the Trust on a proper legal footing. POLICY OF YEARS. Mr. Jackson pointed out that the present method had been in vogue for twenty years. All who matriculated were entitled to a grant and it was mews to him that anyone who matricuHatcd had been omitted. Mr. Caselberg suggested that as a lot of the grants for this year had been expended in anticipation, the grants be Blade the same as usual this year, and Boy alteration could be made next year. GRANTS TO CONTINUE THIS YEAR Mr. Coradine moved that the present policy of the Trust be continued for this year and the legal opinion received be referred to the Education Committee for consideration. Mr. G. Selby seconded the motion. Mr. T. F. Watson said that ho could Xot vote for that motion. The Trust ahould depend on the solicitor’s advice, fie did not think that any Trustees ghoul d be asked to vote, knowing the Biatter was not right. Mr. B. Krahagen asked if it could Hot be got over by making a grant to the institutions, which could in turn Inake grants to the pupHs. It probably fnight be a way over tne difficulty for gll time. In the course of discussion, Mr. Free gsked why the scholarship account, which showed a credit of about £2700 had b« en allowed to accumulate instead tof being expended. Mr. Jackson said the reason was that some years ago tonly £lO per year for the ground rent |ff the Opera House section was received, whereas later the whole of the intome from the Opera House site went to the fund. He felt very strongly that the Trust should keep faith this year and allow the matriculation grants made to stand, and if necessary the Trust could take steps to put itself on tide next year. There was a great risk in taking the matter to the floor of the ThefißWon was carried, Messrs. Wat►on and Free recording their votes •gainst it. Mr. Free said that he would to make it dear that he would like to Bee some method devised of making the grants. AUDIT DEPARTMENT’S OPINION. Mr. Coradine then moved that the matter bp brought under the notice the Audit Department, it to be pointed ©nt that the legal aspect of making the (grants had been questioned, and the fl>eparfrnont be asked for its opinion. Mr. Selby seconded the motion. Mr. Free suggested that the opinion of the Trost's solicitor and also that of the former .solicitor be to Departnfent. If the Auditorsanctioned the grants he would be very pleased to withdraw his vote. The motion Was carried, all the necessary information to be forwarded as suggested. Mr. Selby/raid that he took it that the Trust should now adopt the recommendation of the Education Committee’s report, before them that night, which included £465 in matriculation grants. He moved that' the report be adopted. This was seconded by Mr. J. I/. Hughes. “«10 GRANTS ABE DOLES.” Mr. Watson spoke in protest against the way in* #hich the grants were made.

He considered the £lO grants as doles, which were not going to make or mar the recipient. The allocations, he held, were not made on a good basis and were inequitable. Mr. Jackson said the general procedure was to make a minimum grant of £lO and in special cases, if a larger grant were considered necessary, it was made. From his own personal experience he knew that the £lO grants were a godsend to those attending the training colleges and were greatly appreciated. Mr Watson pointed out that several of the recipients of £lO grants had no funds coming in at all and were in a worse position than those getting a larger grant. Mr. Caselberg suggested that Mr. Watson should be made a member of the Education Committee, which considered the applications for grants, but Mr. Watson replied that he had no desire to probe into anyone’s private affairs. Mr. Watson said he understood that if he voted for the grants and the report of the Auditor-General was that the procedure was incorrect, then he would be responsible for the attitude he had taken up. Mr. Free agreed on that point. After further discussion, the motion was carried, Messrs. Watson and Free voting against it.