FLOCK HOUSE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 122, 20 November 1930, Page 19

FLOCK HOUSE

ITS FUTURE USE

MATTER FOR THE PEOPLE

In response to many-'requests,'Mr. Edward Newman, chairniau of trustees, has furnished the following official statement: — ' The trustees are fullj; in accord with tlie views expressed" unanimously throughout the Dominion and overseas that the Flock House organisation sliould-be continued as a farm training centre for youths, ana will do all in their power to fncilitato that course. Whether the benefits, of the sound foundation laid at Flock House-shall be secured, for other overseas British, boys.and girls, or for our own New Zealand born boys and girls, is a matter for the people of New-Zealand aria the Government of the day to -decide The simple facts are that the transi-,, tional stage will commence during the i coming year, and the opportunity for extending the scheme in any desired direction has arrived. Girls' Flock House has now in residence the last party of daughters of sailors killed or. disabled during the war, and will be available early next year for training. New Zealand girls if the opportunity is taken. ■ Flock House Station will be required for sons of sailors killed or disabled during the war for, some three or four years, but the transitional' period has so closely arrived that the numbers of the present class of trainees will begin to diminish next year, and will diminish increasingly each ■ succeeding year, so that an equivalent number of trainees from a different section of the community could bo economically received and trained. To comply with the terms of the trust' under which the funds of the society are.administered, such entry of other boys must involve no burden or expense on the -present funds of the society, and tlie cost of training and after care of such boys must bo obtained from a different source. .A great, desire has been expressed from England for the continuance -ef the work for overseas British boys, and a very considerable offer of finance has been made, but the trustees recognise that, when the special work for whicli the Flock Houses were established has been completed, an opportunity should be given to the Nbw Zealand Government to take advantage of the organisation for the benefit, of the New Zealand born boys and' girls. ' By-an: extraordinary process of seasoning and legal enactments, the funds of.the society-have been heavily mulcted, in taxation (£38,277), during the process-of this- national work, but the subscribers would no doubt feel that this grievanco .was somewhat'removed if the moneys taken by the State in ! this way were used for the continuance and development of the work. The trustees can do no more thau assure the Government and the.public of New Zealand that they will do all in their power, compatible with the terms of their trust, to assist in making Flock House-a national institution, and will freely and fully give the benefits of the experience gained during the seven years of most successful organisation.