FLOCK HOUSE

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 32, 1 November 1929, Page 15

FLOCK HOUSE

DEBT TO BRITISH SEAMEN FUND ANNUAL MEETING OF SUBSCRIBERS A SUCCESSFUL YEAR One of the most successful twelve months since the inception of the 1 lock House scheme was recorded in the review of the past year’s activities presented at yesterday’s meeting of contributors to the New Zealand Sheepowners’ Acknowledgment of Debt to British Seamen Fund. The chairman of the board of trustees (Hon. E. Newman, M.L.C., C.M.G.), presided. The Year's Work. The annual report stated that during the year relief expenditure grants made to disabled sailors and to the dependents of sailors who were incapacitated or who had died as the result of injuries received during the war totalled £1623 6s. 6d., £779 17s. od. being granted in New Zealand and £843 9s. 1(1. in England. Since the commencement of the operations of the fund in 1921 assistance to the extent of £106,206 9s. 7d. had been given to British seamen and their dependents. The trustees, extended their thanks to the various patriotic associations throughout the Dominion and to the institutions in Great Britain interested in the welfare of seamen for the careful and sympathetic manner in which they had assisted the fund in the investigation of applications and disbursements of grants. Method of Selection. After reviewing the method of selection of boys and girls at Home, and pointing oiit that all participants must primarily be sons or daughters of Britiisli seamen who lost their lives or became incapacitated as a result of injuries received at sea during the war, the Report said: “The London committee is careful not to paint the prospects in New Zealand in too glowing colours, but to impress on all applicants that their future will be determined solely by their own industry, thrift, and determination to succeed. A pleasing feature continues to be the number of applications from brothers and sisters of boys and girls who came to New Zealand with previous drafts, showing clearly that such boys are confident of a happy future in New Zealand and wish their brothers and sisters to share that future. Applications from boys who come within the constitution of the fund and who desire to be received at Flock House still keep up to the required numbers, and there will apparently bo sufficient suitable boys for selection for another three years at least. The’ number of girls available, however, is now Insufficient to maintain the economical working of Girls’ Flock House, and serious consideration will require to be given during the coming year to the future of that establishment.” . Totals to Date. A total of 489 boys bad been received to date. At the date of the last annual report 397 boys had arrived in New Zealand. Since then a further three drafts have been received as follow:— Fourteenth draft, 32 boys arrived December 3, 1928; fifteenth draft, 30 boys arrived April 8, 1929; sixteenth drhft, 30 boys arrived September 9, 1929. At the date of the last report 88 girls had arrived in New Zealand. Further arrivals were ns follow:—Eleventh draft,. 6 girls arrived December 3, 1,928; twelfth draft, 0 girls arrived March 28, 1929; thirteenth draft, 6 girls arrived June 6, 1929. The fourteenth draft, comprising 6 girls, left England on September 27, 1929, making a total of 112 girls to be received to the end of 1929. The training of the lads, added the report, had been continued on the same lines as heretofore. Under the guidance of the Y.W.C.A. Ladies’ Committee of Management the training of girls at Girls’ Flock House had been continued as before, under a-more extended period of training on the cooking and domestic side. Four hundred and twenty-nine boys nnd 93 girls, having completed their initial training at Flock House Station and Girls’ Flock House, had been placed in employment in various parts of the Dominion. During the year the welfare officer had visited England, and while also carrying on temporarily the duties of Loifdon secretary, had visited every seaport town from which boys and girls have come to Flock House, and informed mothers and relations of the health and progress of their boys. The trustees were also indebted to the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union, the Y.M.C;A.. and the Y.W.C.A., lor their help in the aftercare of the young people. Farm Operations. The report proceeds :—“The results from farm operations have again been successful, and the improvements made on the land arc having the desired effect in an annually increasing stock carrying capacity. The programme of development is being continued, and the property is becoming increasingly valuable. Considerable attention has been paid during the year to the protection by willow plan; tations of the banks of the Rangitikei River, and to the development of the rich river flats adjoining that river. Fences and drains have been maintained in firstclass order, and have been extended, top dressing of pastures, clearing of gorse nnd scrub have been continued. A further 68.000 trees (mostly pinus radiata. macrocarpa and pinus pinaster) have been planted, ami murrain grass planted on the sandy drifts. The area planted with trees is now approximately wO acres. . Forty acres have also been planted in selected flax, and is being cultirated. , , “A bequest of the late George Aufrere Fenwick, of Dunedin, together with a number of individual cash donations received during the year, enabled the erection of a very much needed social hall at Flock House Station. A complete equipment for church services and tor recreation purposes has been also donated by friends, and to these donors we would express our hearty thanks and appreciation. , , .. “To the date of the present balance, the funds have been depleted by taxation (exclusive of county rates) to the amount ot £37,884 4s. (land tax £2885 14s. ,)<!.: income tax £34.998 9s. 7d.). The. year under review completed five years since the arrival of the first draft of 25 boys at I* Jock House, and 4J years since the first boy went out to employment. The amount held bv the trustees in the Public JLnist Office at. the credit of the Boys’ and Girls Saving Accounts at June 30. 1929, was £17.868 2s. 7<l. Many lads have also substantial Post Oilice Savings Bank accounts. Many also own horses, dogs, saddles, and other equipment. At the same date. 291 lads had paid one. two, three or four .vein's’ premiums on life assurance policies, varying from £2OO. to £4OO. the total amount, assured being £89.750. In addition the Public t rustee holds accumulated pension moneys to the credit of the boys and girls to a total ot over £5OOO. , “The results.” concludes the report. “1' ive coniiilelely justified flic fixed policy of the trustees to form the habit of thrift in these, young people, to which end the promise of inter assistance by way or subsidy on their savings to those who

play the game, to make a start for themselves, is doubtless a powerful incentive. A War Work. In moving the adoption of the annual report, the chairman congratulated the trustees on another successful year. Commenting on the small attendance present, he said that at every annual meeting he had remarked that it would be more gratifying to the trustees, if the subscribers took more interest in their own fund. He could say without presumption that, individually and collectively, the trustees were in their service in carrying on the fund. It was a war work —a war memorial —and all regarded it as a privilege to do something in appreciation-of what the British sailor did during the Great War. He hoped the method of administering the fund had been satisfactory to subscribers. Ihe trustees invited criticism -and suggestions. - . Mr. Newman then proceeded to review the balance-sheet. It was very gratifying, he said, to be able to know that the trustees had been able to assist a larger number of disabled sailors, apart from assistance to the dependents of those who died. Ihe chairman remarked that although close on 500 boys were in employment, there was a long waiting*, list for boys and girls. The welfare work and careful after-care, he considered, was the keynote of the sucees sof the scheme. The balancesheet showed that the farm had made more profits than 'any previous year, while the forestry plantation would be an enormous asset. “There is one feature that is not so satisfactory,” added Mr. Newman. “We have had no inclination on the part of the Government to refund the £31.884 4s. paid in way of taxation. I am glad to see, however, that the measure passed two days ago does not apply the super tax to the Flock House properties. It is gratifying that we do not have to pay this extra taxation.” National Undertaking. The motion was seconded by Mr. C. M. Luke. The work of Flock House, he said, was a great object lesson to the Dominion and an undertaking of great national importance. It was to be regretted there were not more organisations of its type. Mr. L. O. 11. Tripp said the fact that the bovs and girls already in employment had saved £20,000 demonstrated what could he done by encouraging thrift. Mr. Newman was unanimously re-elect-ed chairman. In moving his re-election Sir James Allen said the success of the Flock House scheme was largely the result of Itlr. Newman’s efforts. The trustees could look to the future with great confidence. Mr. R. Davis was re-elected auditor. Tributes to the work of the managing trustee (Mr. T. R. Lees), nnd the staff were paid by the chairman and others, the secretary (Mr. F. G. Hume) replying on behalf of the staff. Mr. Lees expressed satisfaction at the Flock House organisation, which, he said, was now in a position for much greater success to be obtained in the future. During the year four of the young men, with the ‘assistance of the trustees, hqd been established on farms of their own and they would undoubtedy have a prosperous career. “We confidently anticipate..” he said, “that the coming year will show very considerable development on these lines, as quite a large 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. The new land legislation is being carefully watched, as it is anticipated that the result will be to make it easier to establish young people on the land.”

The president of the Women's Division of the Farmers’ Union (Dlrs. Jackson) advocated a reunion of Flock»House boys and girls in the various districts. Such a gathering of Wairarnpn boys nnd girls had recently been held at Dlasterton with great success.