FARM OPERATIONS.

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 140, 10 December 1926, Page 9

FARM OPERATIONS.

V.; During the year -the programme of .•' •; veiopment. ,of • Flock-.. House Station :",. s been coiii-iiiuod,- a- iuyge.-ain.oimt of j', w fencing-and. draining has been ■~'\ mpleted, scrub and.gorse cleared, and !* p-drcssing of pastures done. . A fur>'.'"er 100 acres,nave'been planted, with. '•?.) lius radiata-.and' maerocarpa -on" the -V ue country, and marram grass plant-" '•..*.. on sandy-drifts, A considerably inYv, eased development of intensive farm-- ■-; g has been determined uponby; the "r ustees, the area under' Toot and fod[\At crops has teen trebled, pig breeding :'A a largo /scale.'ia being started, and 'v.jis hoped .to duplicate the dairy herd ..' jr next season; Under the conipetent

■ "jrection of /the.principal and the now :V-j,rm manager,, Mr. J. .H. Mitchell, the >justee3 look for. increased returns from > j c station ..by. closer fanning..methods, ',ul very much more experience for the ■**;i>ys in training. In view of the possi.'•'je continued--range-of- lower prices for f'jl farm products,, all -stock and mater.lp on band have teen, heavily, writtea

down this year, and tho folleit depreciation of buildings and machinery provided for.

TBIBUTE BY CHAIRMAN.

At the sixth annual meeting held in the Accountants 'Chambers yesterday, the chairman (Hon. E. Newman, M.L.C.) expressed satisfaction at the presence of Sir James Allen, who had been chairman of the London Committee, and would now sit >as a trustee. He congratulated the trustees on the success of the scheme, showing that citybred boys from England could be trained to become good New Zealand settlers, and emphasised . the advantages of diverting the lads.'interest from city to country life. Tt.o work was giving entire satisfaction, -and the property was proving better the more it became known. With the extension of activities an increase of income was likely. An increase of working, expenses, with the increased number of trainees and consequent expenses of management, must also be expected, but the boys would represent a valuable addition to New Zealand's, population. Every boy, after leaving, was visited at least twice a year, and his work. reported on to the head office. A tribute to the interest taken in the girls' Flock House by the V.M.C.A. was paid, Mr. Newman stating that girls who had gone out to work were giving their employers satisfaction. The work o$ the Women's Branch of, the Farmers' Union, which took.a live interest,.in the welfare of the boye, was also warmly appreciated. This year the sum of £100 would- be distributed . to children of beneficiaries of the fund at Christmas. .

Mr. Newman, who was reappointed chairman, hoped that he would be allowed to retire next year, and remain one of the. trustees*