YOUNG IMMIGRANTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 260, 2 November 1929, Page 11

YOUNG IMMIGRANTS.

FLOCK HOUSE SCHEME.

FIVE YEARS' PROGRESS.

MAKING GOOD HEADWAY.

Five years have elapsed since the first draft of 25 young Englanders, sons of British seamen, arrived at Flock House and 4A years since the first boy went out to employment. The progress and development of these young people- is most encouraging, states the. annual report of the institution. Nearly all of the young men have made honourable places for themselves and are looked upon by their employers as valuable assistants who will go far ahead, and a number have for some time been holding positions of authority.

During the year four of the young men have, with.the assistance of the trustees, given as promised, in proportion to their own savings, been established on farms of their own and will undoubtedly have a prosperous future. "We confidently anticipate that the coming year- will show very considerable development on these lines,-as quite a la!rge number of the earlier drafts are now in a position to look forward in the very near future to securing and working land on their own account;" states the report. Wise Help and Guidance. The new land legislation is being closely watched as it is anticipated that the result will be to make easier the establishment of young people on the land.

These young men have proved that ordinary healthy and ambitious boys, without any previous farming knowledge and experience, ,but with the predilection for country life, can, by sound' training, hard work, grit and thrift, if. given wise help and guidance, become most useful members of the farming community, and can aspire, when they .are fully qualified and while still in the early years of their maturity, to be >in a position to start for themselves with every prospect of success. The progress of the girls has also been very encouraging and has fully justified the efforts of the trustees. During the year four girls have married and have become established in homes of their own. Physically, morally and socially the young people have developed in a most marked way, and the following figures will show their financial position. !

Incentives to Thrift. The amount held by the trustees at the credit • of the boys' and girls' saving accounts at June 30, 1929, was £17,868 2/7. Many lads have also substantial Post Office Savings Bank accounts. Many also own horses, dogs, saddles and other equipment.- At the same date, 291 lads had paid" one, two, three or fours' premiums on life assurance policies, varying from £200 to £400, the total amount assured being £89,750. In addition the Public Trustee holds accumulated pension moneys to the credit of boys and girls to a total of over £5000. The results have completely justified the fixed policy of the trustees to form the habit of thrift in these young people, to which end the promise of later assistance by way of subsidy on their savings to those who play the game, to make a start for themselves, is doubtless a powerful ;incentive. '