TRAINING FARM

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 10, 13 January 1933, Page 9

TRAINING FARM

ACTIVITY AT PENROSE

TRIBUTE TO BOYS' WORK

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post") MASTEBTON, This Day. Tributes to the excellent spirit exhibited by the boys who are now receiving a practical course of agricultural instruction on the training farm at Penrose were paid last evening by Mr.' L. J. Greenberg, camp commandant, in conversation with an "Age" representative. The boys are applying them? selves eagerly and with enthusiasm to their training, and are voluntarily cutting out hours of recreation so that the whole day might be spent in gaining practical experience. * On the whole, Mr. Greenberg said, the past week had been the most interesting and significant in the life of this camp or the previous one. The week had opened with the attendance of all the boys at the various churches. The Protestant boys, on Sunday night, attended the service conducted by the Rev. E. H. Catherwood, at the Carterton Presbyterian Church. After the service the boys were entertained at supper by the ladies of the chuueli. Ou Sunday morning Mr. Catherwood conducted a service, and the Koinan Catholic boys went to early Mass. Throughout the week the boys had been engaged in various types of field work. The instructors were delighted with the response the youngsters had made to all demands, despite the hot weather. ' Divided into ■ teams, the boys were working well at milking, hand and machine, and stripping; ploughing, work with sheep, and work .with horse teams. They had also been busy haymaking. Successive groups of boys had accepted an invitation to' spend a day at Mr. Ben Eoberts's place at Parkvale, getting instruction in tomato culture. Other groups had visited Mr. P. M. Compton's property, and had gained experience in reaping, binding, and stooking. On Mr. W. Bayner's property, The Cliffs, an' insight had been gained into, tractor work and machine milking. The training farm staff had been, reinforced so that-the boys might have a full programme of practical farm work. The Agricultural Department officers had continued their lectures, which were now given in the evening, thus leaving the whole day for practical work. The lecturer occupied an hour, from 6.15 to 7.15, and were followed by recreation. Yesterday, a visit was made to the camp by Dr. C. J. Eeakes, DirectorGeneral of Agriculture, who was accompanied by Mr. A. T. P. Hubbard, District Stock Inspector. Mr. G. E. Sykes, M.P., has also visited the camp. On Tuesday evening, a party, of Masterton citizens visited the camp and gave a concert. The members of the party wore:—Mr. Wilbur Davies, Misses Bate and Wellington, Messrs.'H. Hall, M. Chapman, and F. Coley. This was the first concert inycamp, and was much appreciated. . Last evening the boys were tho guests of the management at a performance in the Cosy Theatre. With the full approval of the boys. Mr. Greenberg stated, ordinary recreation iv the camp had been entirely eliminated so that the whole day might be given to agricultural training. Work commenced for some boys at/ 430 o'clock Jn the morning. Other groups started at 6 o'clock, S o'clock, and the last at 8.30 o'clock. The whole day was spent in work. This extended programme would indicate to'the public that the boys were \ not .in ; camp,1 for a holiday, but were seriously intent on making the most of their training Several applications had come from farmers for the services of boys from the camp. In most cases, the farmers had consented to wait for a fortnight or until the conclusion of the camp! and then take the boys direct from the camp. Out of 64 boys in camp, it was expected that 40 would pass as nt to take jobs on farms. On Monday next, the instructors were to meet, and each boy would consult with them with regard to the progress' he was making in his training work, and to his prospects for tho future. . ' . '