FLOCK HOUSE FUND

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23129, 19 September 1940, Page 8

FLOCK HOUSE FUND

—♦ RELIEF FOR SEAMEN AND DEPENDANTS EXTENSION OF WORK TO PRESENT, WAR Approval for the transfer of at least £20,000 from the fund of Flock House for the assistance of British seamen during the present war is being sought by the trustees The fund was orginally subscribed for the assistance of British seamen and their dependants who suffered through the last war. its full title being the “New Zealand Sheepowners' Acknowledgement of Debt to British Seamen Fund." The annual report of Ihe fund, to be presented to the annual meeting of subscribers in Wellington on September 26, says that the trustees consider it their duty to extend the fund’s operations 'to the sufferers among British seamen and their dependant's in the present war. “New Zealand’s debt to the Royal Navy and the British Mercantile Marine is truly great,’’ says the report. “Many ships have already been lost, and many men have given their lives in our service, and many more will be lost before the great conflict ceases in victory for the British Empire. , “The moneys originally subscribed for the men and women and children who suffered during the war of 191418 must be spent tor the purpose for which they were subscribed, unless the contributors themselves express a desire that a portion be used for the present war. The original amount of less than £202.000 has been increased by more than half as much again by efficient management, and although nearly £169,000 has been spent in relief to beneficiaries and in immigration, training, and after care of dependants, the trustees still hold well-in-vested assets more than sufficient to continue their care of the incapacitated men and widows on their pension list as long as these men and women live, and to fulfill all obligations to the orphaned sons and daughters.” Authority Sought The report adds that after careful calculation it is estimated that there will be a surplus available from the present fund of at least £20,000, and possibly considerably more. At a meet, ing earlier in the year the trustees gave authority to obtain the sanction of the original contributors—and later that of the Supreme Court, if necessary—for using at least £20,000 and suen sums as may further be determined, in the present war. A campaign to raise further funds was proposed, to be discussed with the National Patriotic Fund Board. The report is being sent to all living subscribers whose addresses are available, to obtain their approval of the transfer. “All the former trainees from overseas are now mature men and women, very many of them married and with homes of their own, and the responsibilities of the trustees would, in the ordinary course, be limited to giving advice and encouragement when needed, and in assisting those desirous of making a start for tnemselves and who comply with the conditions regarding character, ability, and savings account balances, in accordance with the promises originally made by the trustees,” the report states. ‘‘The times are, however, not ordinary, and the war has brought its special problems in this connexion. Subscribers will remember from previous reports that a total of 635 boys and 128 girls were brought iroxn Great Britain, trained at the Flock Houses, and established in New Zealand. “These young men and women, whose fathers were killed or incapacitated in the last war. have the tradition of service in their blood, and already, only one year after the outbreak of war. more than 160 of the boys, more than 25 per cent.,-are overseas in the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and many others are iri camp and will follow their comrades. One has already laid down his life for the Empire overseas. The trustees are keeping in touch with the boys on active service, and will do all that is possible to re-establish them into civilian life on their return to New Zealand when the war is over." CLEARING ROADSIDES AT BURWOOD . ♦ PROTEST AT USE OF NO. 13 SCHEME MEN The clearing of roadsides with No. 13 scheme labour when the work was considered the responsibility of pro-perty-owners and not the council, drew a strong protest from Cr. W. G. Chapman, at a meeting of the Waimairi County Council last evening. The foreman had reported that men had been employed in clearing the sides of Bottle Lake and Horseshoe Lake roads. Cr. Chapman asked who had authorised this work. The chairman (Cr. J. Liggins) said that the work had been done without his knowledge. Cr. W. J. Walter, chairman of the works committee, said that he had taken the responsibility of directing that the work be done. Many of the ratepayers in the district could not afford to meet the cost of clearing the road in front of their properties, and it was desired by the Hospital Board that the clearing be done, because of danger to nurses going to and coming from the Burwood Hospital. There had been people molested on the road. Cr. W. P. Spencer suggested that the council should go ahead and do the clearing on all roads. Cr. Liggins said that it was the responsibility of owners to keep their frontages clear. He had had frequent requests for the council to do clearing work, but had insisted that the owners were responsible.