FLOCK HOUSE SCHEME.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20498, 17 March 1932, Page 9

FLOCK HOUSE SCHEME.

FARM TRAINING FOR SOLDIERS' SONS. MEETING OF COMMITTEE. The scheme under which eleven sons of soldiers from North Canterbury will be sent annually to Flock Houso to receive training in agriculture was advanced a further stage yesterday, when the first meeting of the provincial committee was held. The Rev. F. T. Read presided, and those present were. Messrs R. T. Tosswill (Canterbury Patriotic Fund), 11. P. Donald (Chamber of Commerce), S. G. Holland (Employers' Association), A. McEldowney (Young Men's Christian Association), G. Shipley (Technical College Board or Governors), G. A. Hayden (Returned Soliliers' Association), Colonel J. Stafford (Springs County), Mrs E. G. (Victoria League), and .Mr E. i. «illcox (secretary). The chairman announced that applications could now be received and would be welcome, as would, ot course, be subscriptions either from private persons or from organisations interested in the welfare of boys. Applicants had to provide personal particulars, as well as information concerning the returned soldier on whom they were dependent, and had to have a doctor's certificate of fitness. Nature of Training. Mrs Hogg reported that the Victoria "League had agreed to adopt a levy for a year. The opinion was expressed that eight months at 1 lock House was inadequate. Tho chairman stated that eight months was to be followed by three years of apprenticeship. Mr A. J. McEldowney thought that under the Flock House system about fifteen months' ordinary training was gained in eight months. The chairman said that the boys who had come from England had gained sufficient knowledge in eight months to enable them to take up positions on farms. It was remarkable that lads who had come out from seaports and large cities should have done so well on farms. . Mrs Hogg said that another point raised was the financing of Flock House. A Trust Fund. The chairman stated that the original trust was on behalf of the sons of seamen. Mr E. F. Willcox said that unless an amendment was made to the Act the capital would bo divided among the boys assisted by the Trust. Mr Shipley expressed the opinion that it would be a decided advantage if the boys were trained for twelve months. The chairman said that eight months training had been the rule, and from what the trustees said if a boy were backward his training waa continued for a month or two. The chairman said that to date about £125 had been promised. He had received a letter from the Canterbury Trades and Labour Council asking for information in.order to enable the matter to be gone into. He suggested that provision should be made to allow tho Council to have representation on tho executive if desired. This was agreed to. Mr R. T. Tosswill, speaking of the finance, said that there seemed to be misunderstanding concerning it. The fact was that the whole of the funds were used in tho capital itsslf. Tho income was insufficient to show any profit at present. He could not see -how the fund could provide sufficient money to train New Zealand bovs. This was tho reason for seeking assistance. Mr W. 11. Nicholson: The Fund was set up for a specific purpose and it cannot be used for any other purpose •without an Act of Parliament. Sub-Committee Set Up. The chairman said it was possible that there would be more applications from the country than from the town. Mr Tosswill asked whether the different sub-districts were tc bo requested each to assume responsibility for one boy, or whether they were to provide a donation to a central fund. He moved that a sub-committee be set up with a view to subdividing North Canterbury into districts, and to draw up a list of the amounts required so that each could provide the finance necessary for one or more of tho boys. This, he said, would give the committee a basis to work on. The motion was carried, and the chairman, and Messrs Willcox, Nicholson, Holland, and Tosswill were appointed to act on the sub-committee.