THE WEREROA TRAINING FARM.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 626, 1 October 1909, Page 8

THE WEREROA TRAINING FARM.

A . FURTHER PROTEST. ' Sir,—ln your issue-of 23rd. instant,- avlettcr appears over' the. signature of "Well-wisher," and also a-resident of .Levin,. wherein he asks a few pertinent'questions relative ; to. the. frequent changes and •' other' -piizzling: •' matters which, are of, frequent'occurrence, at the Boys' Training Farm, Weroroa. My attention having been i drawn to , this, I will endeavour :to . throw a; little light upon the', matter, , as X happen to'be one ol ! . the latest victims to'this practice. It is known, hot'.only .hy . Levin , residents and settlers, but also, by visitors and others,, that as. regards the managpru&nt of the farm, the'statements .made con; be. fully borne out., f can give further prodf-by the offer of numerous signatur.e's'.by; residents and settlers to'.a'petition against my. removal' from the farm, which' I have declined-for the bestof reasons, being well ablo to' tight my'own battle, if. pven a fair hearing;v lt was .by my persistence'in appeals and-profcests, and finally ■asking .for an inquiry into ;the, manager's, conduct methods, and behaviour towards myself in March last, and again in July; that my absence • from- the'farm 'desired, and r was summarily, dismissed as v a consequence. This I accepted under protest,; not because I vpshed^reinstatement under the .present conditions, but as a means of finding out how far the - Education Department'upholds.' such methods'as those adopted by the; manager ; of the institution. I also 6ay '"at' the present juncture it is most, unjust to bring any capable farmer to. the Training Farm, for this reason: Who is to say whether, he. is capable or hot? Will the manager of the' institution pretend to judge-as, to his Competency in farm management? • \ - ' • In regard to the questions. asked by your correspondent: \ The farm is not under the Agricultural Department, otherwise such frequent change? would not be> tolerated, as 'it is well known that frequent changes in farm management have a very bad' influence' against results,, and far-reaching in-, its. effects, inasmuch that no two managers-work alike; and it has frequently been known for one man to undo another's work in ignorance of the other's policy or' methods, and , practically , lose the benefits of a whole season, where-a.matter of this land would be- considered' vfery seriously in practical farming.lt . would'; .be' a matter • consequence to those control the' on account, *of the. tendency to treat the farm as a toy, rather than an im« portantasset, and a valuable training in practice and economy for the; boys,' neither; would it have, any influence in Tegard to individuals,- . or ,ways and means,'- character, or' reputation.. This is borne out *by the shoals of employees that come and go, and which undoubtedly has a had and injurious/effect- upon the boys, op--orating , against peace : and contentment,' • increasing their restlessness,; and 'finally- tempting a great number to' abscond.' ~ ■ js£ >' ees are selected on , the host credentials, of having , given, entire satisfaction in erajiloyracnt,' catechised and sub. jected to a theoretical' examination,'etc In some cases fees afid fares/are-paid, 'homes broken up in tho - anticipation :of permanent employment - improved 'conditions. All these precautions can bo'at once nullified-and rendered useless, by a wave, of tho hand and peremptory, dismissal, by the manager of "the institution, , • The. manager states that.:,he- has the power of engaging apd dismissing all: employees. I append'.the number and names of; the employees, who have left during my time at- the tarm, r which, was barely • two years and a naif j— • • ... Mr, Meadows, clerk, ; Miss Ellingham, housekeeper. Miss M*Murdoe, oook. '' '■ Miss Matherson, cook. . ' ■ •Miss Gregory, seamstress. ..Miss Moore, general. 1 ' ■ Miss Deacon, general. - 1 . Miss Burcill, general. . .Miss • Churches, -housemaid. '\■' ■ ' • Miss Williaiiiti • hoiiseiriaid. l ■Vv •"" ■■' ' ' ' 'Miss Germain, seamstress! MjsS ConolleyLlaundress.?.. V ■ Miss . O'Brien; dairymaid, V Mira Fitzgerald, cook. ; Mr.';Sanson, cleTk." ■ Mr. Buchanan, clerk.. Miss Bannetmari,', matron.' .'.Mr; DonSld, catpenter.' .7 .1 , : Miss Foster, assist seamstress. . ■: Mr.! Hewitt, storeman.. ; - , • - . ;Mr. Black, attendant. 1 ,'Mr. : Hughes,' storeman. ■ ' Miss. Barford,. seamstress.'- v:j Miss Byrncj seamstress: . , ! r Mr. Harper, farm hand.' : !i-„ Mr.'. Sutherland,' housework. ..; v- „ Miss Godby,'" 600k^,,'.5; Mr.' H. Bromley, farm overseer. ■■'. .'. As this is at-the:rate of one per month it will tell its own tale, f! ■ •. ; In conclusion, I be'g to inform ."Well-wisher"; and those' settlers' and''residents' of Levin who have : so frequently complained 'to ;me about Miattors at"; the farm'that I 'am promised a Parliamentary, inquiry intoVthe cause of my dismissal, but I 6ay .that,it should not end there, but that an' exhaustive' inquiry into the treatment ■of employees and, the. undesirablo state of things which has-so long Existed, and which, has caused so . much : anxiety,' unrest,and'di«sitisfaotion'to so'mahy.'' 1 I am informed'by those' in: high plaoes that I may as well 'hit.my head against'a' ■ wall as to expect that sttth prooftfcdings' will be taken.4s will enable the Wame to be placed upon the right shoulders.;: While I. have no desire. to leave traces of :the' .application of any intelligence. I' may possess.' on 'such irre-' sponsive material, I shall', continue to raise my :voice against abuse ( and. dust-throwing,', and' it ,behoves, all' those' who are ■ supporters in any .way.'of clean administration' to' assist ;by: all honest. and straightforward 'mead's.—am,. etc.; ' . H. BROMLEY. ,