TRUST MATTERS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 11264, 3 February 1912, Page 5

TRUST MATTERS.

CLOSING OF ROLL AND AUDIT,

MR ETON'S VIEWS,

Speaking to a Daily Times reporter this morning in reference to two unimportant Trust matters which were rei'erriHl to in the Daily Times yesterday afternoon, viz., that of the duto of'closing the Trust roll and the audit, question,' Mr E. G. Eton, chairman of the Trust. Lands Tniht said that the date of closing the rolls was entirely wrong. It was in accordance with the Act, however, and the. trustees could not alter the date. It was unfair to those who had just come into the district to reside. The rolls closed on January :51st ami a resident to quailfy as a voter must have resided in the district for at least six months previously. The election for trustees did not take place till about three months later. The rolls are open for inspection till February lf> and objections in connection therewith are heard at a special meeting of the trustees on February :,'Bth. If required the list is amended and comes into t'orco on April Ist—"a somewhat apt day," remarked Mr Eton jocularly. "It's April Fools Day." Three trustees are required to retire on the last Thursday in May ouch year. Mr Eton considered that the rolls should close not more than three weeks before an election. This would give, ample time for objections and other legal formalities to be complied with and would be in the best interests of the trust. He pointed out that with the general run of residents the interest in trust affairs was keenest just prior to an election and with the roll closing in January many persons were debarred from voting who desired to do so. If the roll closed as he suggested a number of recent arrivals to the town would be qualilied to vote who would not be eligible under the present conditions. In regard to the auditing of the trust balance-sheet Mr Eton said that, the Act specifies that the balance-sheet shall be available for audit purposes on April 15th, and tlio auditor shall send in his certificate to the Trust Land Trust by April :SOth or as soon as possible. "Now the words 'or as soon after as possible' gives the department a loophole of which they often avail themselves," said MiEton. "Personally I would like to see the words struck out of the Act. For years past the audit certificate lias not been returned by April 30th. There are strong reasons why the date mentioned would be insisted upon and carried into effect. We suffer through the audit not being completed, as we get into trouble with the voters for submitting a bal-ance-sheet to the annual meeting which has not been certified to by the Government auditor. In my opinion clause 2'-l should be amended by striking out the words 'or as soon after aslpossible ' leaving the date fixed."