End of an era as Bates Estate finishes

04/08/2011 | Bates Estate finishes

The Tararua-based Bates Estate has been around for about 90 years, but for around 65 years it lay dormant, quietly accruing interest between the late 1920s and early 1990s. From 1993 until 2011 the estate has made grants to many Tararua health-related children’s activities worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Over intervening years the estate has gradually reduced its capital until this year sees the final dispersement of monies. So, who started the trust and what is its history?

The estate was begun by the late Dannevirke cabinetmaker Thomas Bates who died on 4 May 1926 aged 84,  and his widow Sophia Bates, who died on 25 May 1929 aged 77.

They left the residue of their estates and accrued income to the “…Dannevirke Hospital and Charitable Aid Board to be devoted by the said Board towards the erection and upkeep of a children’s ward in the Dannevirke Hospital.”

However, between the time the Bates’ made their wills in 1924, the couple dying, and the proceeds from their wills becoming available, the Board had already raised a loan for the erection of a children’s ward at Dannevirke Hospital in 1925, and the ward was finished in 1927. So, none of their money was used for building the ward.

Historic documents show money from Sophia Bates estate was used to pay off the loan, and the balance was accumulated in a special trust fund with the residue of the Thomas Bates estate. Some of this money was used for the upkeep of the children’s ward.

The Bates estate money was added to in the 1970s by two smaller amounts from the estates of Winifred Eliza May, and Ellen Hart. Their bequests were to be used to “provide extra facilities and equipment for the multi-handicapped children’s special unit at Dannevirke Hospital”, and “for use in the ward for multi-handicapped children.”

The ward for multi-handicapped children at the hospital closed in 1989, and as a result of a May 1990 earthquake the ward was declared an earthquake risk and was demolished in July 1992. Children requiring such services received treatment from health care facilities nearest their present location.

In 1989 the functions of the Dannevirke Hospital Board were taken over by the Manawatu-Wanganui Area Health Board.
By 31 March 1991 the combined Bates estate (including accrued interest) stood at $168,132.

The Area Health Board in the 1990s successfully began a drawn out High Court legal action to change the objects of the trust.

By April 1993 a judgement came out changing the trust objects to: “The erection, upkeep and running costs of the children’s facilities in the Dannevirke Hospital, including multi-handicapped children”; and “for community based health services for children in the Tararua Health District, including multi-handicapped children.”

By June 1993 and with $180,000 in the trust kitty it was announced the changes would free up the trust money including for community-based services in the Tararua region and applications were being sought to distribute the entire fund.

Dannevirke solicitor, past Dannevirke Hospital Board member, and Dannevirke Women’s Health Group member Nicola Roberts was nominated as a consumer representative to join then Area Health Board Commissioner Maurice Sexton in assessing and distributing the funds. Mrs Roberts has voluntarily continued in this role for many years until now.

However, following the High Court judgment, some local people and groups objected to all the money being distributed in one go. A petition containing 285 signatures was received seeking the trust continue over future years and only using annual accrued interest for distribution each year. The first year (1993) saw 24 applications received totalling $275,000 – almost $100,000 more than the available $180,000. About $30,000 was distributed in the first year.

Over the past 19 years the estate monies have been available the trust funds have slowly reduced, apart from 1996, when the pool reached $200,000. In the 10 years (2001 to 2010) a total of $199,851 in grants was given out by the trust.
This year, the final year, nine applications were received totalling $21,223 vying for the remaining $14,676. These were assessed, and five initiatives were considered to meet the trusts terms.

They are: Huia Range School ($5791), for FM sound system in two classrooms; Woodville School’s health promoting schools committee ($5500) for three shade sails with full installation; Tararua District Child Development Service, Dannevirke ($1582) for height right adjustable chair with tray, touch seat and back; and ($814) for a TFH child full support swing; and Tararua Child & Adolescent dental therapists, Dannevirke South School dental clinic ($1000) for adult toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, award certificates and fridge magnets with dental messages.

Contact: Communications Unit (06) 350-8945