BOYS ON FARMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 78, 2 April 1932, Page 8

BOYS ON FARMS.

VALUE OF THE FLOCK HOUSE METHODS (To the Editor.) As this subject is much in evidence present, may I be .permitted to repeat som suggestions which I made some littlo t;~ previous to the 1928 election? My id ea that with such support and some littlo assi-? ance from the Government some arranged could possibly bo made to take over Flo V House and enable New Zealand boys tn attain some knowledge of farming \t view was to place a number of til boys at the school and give them a thor ough grounding in farm work and whon they had suflicient knowledge to have block, of land ready for them to settle on dirpotw after they left the school. This might V done by using the unemployed to clear tie land in readiness for occupation. Possiblv some of those employed doing so might al<o get a liking to continue on part of the land By grouping some half-dozen or so of the bovs 011 each block there would be a community feeling and a continued companionship anions them, preferable to placing an odd one here and there about the country apart from their mates. Arrangements could possibly be made to place a few experienced farmers on alter nate holdings or neighbouring groups, where their advice would be available to the novices. Mr. Gribble's suggestion re Hopn liopu is a good one, there being ample room there, I should fancy, to give scope for demonstration of most classes of faming. The suggestion of a "smattering" of farming docs not appeal to me. Boys, in three year3°or so should have attained enough knowledge to enable them to go direct 011 the land. It i s almost hopeless to expect a town lad with a slight grounding to go out with his swa» to look for work, or send him to some isolated farm away from the companionship he has been accustomed to. The holdings should not be too small and the lads should have 6ome security of tenure, so that if successful they would know that they would not be likely, without good reason, to be deprived of the results of their efforts. Something on the lines of the L.I.P. (which should never have been done away with) might be evolved to meet the case. HOBO.