TRUST LANDS TRUST.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 15 March 1932, Page 5

TRUST LANDS TRUST.

(To the Editor). Sir, —Reading tlie report of the lackadaisical discussion at the last, meeting of Trustees on the application of the “Dental Clinic,” for a. site on which to erect a building, made one almost wish that each voting trustee might have a few hours of vigorous toothache. The whole cavil seemed to be as to whether one pound or sixpounds should be charged as rent. Wondering why it should he necessary to erect a building I find that the Trustees let apparently suitable rooms in the centre of the town and charged £2 per week as rent —as a contribution to the funds of the clinic. The annual report of . the Trust states that £125 is paid, which shows that the Trustees now provide free rooms and contiibute £2l per year toward expenses. Then seeking information as to the need for a> clinic and what it does I visited the rooms in the “Star’- block once used as the Meat Co. offices. There I learnt from two bright young ladies, each with a medal on her breast, that 890 children from the Masterton schools receive dental attaention, and that twenty-five schools from the surrounding districts send in 300 patients; that allcomers from five- years up to the fourth standard age are treated; further that the general government pay the nurses and provide technical equipment, while the local committee lias to provide rooms, furniture, laundry, caretaker, heating and light. Tlie opeiating rooms were scrupulously clean and 'well lighted. The ante room had an improvised atmosphere. Do you get many visitors’ I asked. Only the children and their mothers, was the reply. Do the Trustees ever pay you a visit? —No. Now why do you want a new “clinic”?—Well we want a properly designed building with nice surroundings, including a grass plot where waiting children could play. You see all these ledges about the doors and fittings where dust can lodge. Why not use a vacuum cleaner ?—We haven t got one. Persisting in my query “why”?—'Well, we want the brightest and best for the children. Coming back to the Trust Lands Trust I thought that the “clinic-” or whatever it may be called would surely delight the hearts of early settlers, who declining to take their lawyers’ advice to sell and divide the moneydecided to set aside the land “for purposes of education and works of ntilitv. ’ ’

Whether new rooms on a more on on and suitable site are needed and desirable is worthy of thought and discussion. Hence this note. —I am, etc., C. E. DANIELL.