TRUST LANDS TRUST.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 11 May 1932, Page 4

TRUST LANDS TRUST.

(To the Editor.) Sir—While voters and beneficiaries alike have been indolent as to Trust affairs, time was when Press writers took some interest in the actual working of affairs. With a popularly controlled concern, with an income of some £6OOO a year, and managed at a cost of, say, £6OO a year, the work to ■be done being for the “purposes of education and works of utility within the small farm area,” is treated as of little or no interest by the average citizen.

During thirty years I gave a portion of my time to the development of the estate, creating occasionally in the Press and among the legal profession adverse as well as approving criticism —which was health-giving. The “ask the Government” habit of recent years has robbed local government of incentive or desire to make effort. The Trust Lands Trust is involved in this atmosphere, the publication of the recent report and balance sheet being mute evidence—the “local” stating that two gentlemen’s services are available for Trusteeship, adding like evidence. Is there to be no criticism of the patronage fund, its origin and working under the name of Scholarship? Are wo to have any evidence as to tho care of documents relating to the early history 'of the trust, and of the doings of men to whom we of tnis generation owe so much? The purposes of the Trust should surely include a little education on the facts of local history. What is being done by the Trust? Is any real interest being taken in education, apart from doling out money that the secretary has collected to a number of schools, or by giving a pat on the back to a friend who has had a boy or a girl in the running? May I close mv questioning by expressing appreciation of the practical work done by a retiring trustee—Mr J. M. Coradine? I for one should like to see a like-minded man take his place.— I am, etc.,

CIIAS. E. DANIELL. Masterton, 11th: May.