FLOCK HOUSE

Evening Star, Issue 20995, 8 January 1932, Page 10

FLOCK HOUSE

FUTURE OF THE SCHEME VACANCIES OPEN FOR NEW ZEALAND BOYS PREFERENCE TO EX-SOLDIERS' SONS Vacancies for New Zealand boys, preferably the sons of ex-soldiers, who desire to learn fanning are now open at Flock House. In the project for extending the scheme the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association has taken a leading part, and. if a certain amount of finance may oe raised it is hoped to take advantage of the offer of the trustees of the fund. Flock House was established out of jtho fund provided by the New Zealand sheep owners as an acknowledgment of the excellent work of the British Navy and the mercantile marine during the war, and as a tribute to those of the services who gave their lives. In the training of the sons of deceased sailors for farming purposes the Flock House scheme has been highly successful. Nearly all the boys trained have been seat out from Home, and not many are now offering, the training of the last draft now Ming in progress. The local R.S.A. is working energetically in an endeavour to take advantage of the scheme, and the secretary ’(Mr 0. L. Ferens) has prepared the following report for the executive “ The fund was started by Mr Edward Newman, C.M.G., when submarining was at its height, and we were losing a vast amount of tonnage. An appeal was made to the sheep farmers to donate the surplus profits from their .wool clips after such had been disposed of by tne Imperial Government. New Zealanders wished to recognise in a practical way the sacrifice of those who served in the Navy or in the mercantile marine in' keeping the lines of communication open for shipping. Something had to be done for the children of the men who lost their lives at sea. The result of the surplus profits Amounted io £246,000, and this magnificent sum enabled the trustees, who Were provisionally appointed, to purchase the fine old sheep station which is known as Flock House. The trustees had decided to train boys and girls in rural occupations, the children selected being children of deceased sailors or men who served in the mercantile marine, or children of seriously incapacitated members of those services irrespective of the rank held by their parents. Then the difficulties began. Mr Newman journeyed to London, and, with the help of the London Press and the Admiralty, enthusiasm was aroused, and finally a committee was set up. A vocational officer was appointed, and the first lot of hoys were selected ready to embark for New Zealand.

“ May I digress a little and state that it was realised that farmers could not be made in six or eight months, even ,with intensive training, hut it was to enable them at all times to make a livipg. They had no money, no knoAyledge of farming—nothing except their physical fitness. These hoys are taken from the various English seaports, and had to he taught everything, such as Rugby football, cricket, and all out-of-door sports. The spiritual side was not overlooked, church services being held regularly, all denominations being given every consideration. The trustees try to take the place of the fathers, and train the boys spiritually, morally, and physically. “ Flock House Station is situated in the historic PareAvanui-Rangitikei district, a hundred miles north of Wellington, and comprises 8,261 acres of every variety of land from heavy river flats to sand dunes. Farm operations are principally:— Sheep.—B,32o sheep, of which 4,750 are breeding ewes, wool-growing, lambfattening, etc. Run Cattle.—l,2oo Aberdeen Angus cattle, of which 400 are breeding coavs, bullock-fattening, etc. Steers of oAvn breeding are kept and fattened" for market at three to three and a-half years. Stud Cattle.—Aberdeen Angus stud maintained to supply bulls for own run herd and for sale.

Dairy Cattle.—Herd of 100 grade 'Jerseys maintained, milking with machines and by hand throughout the year. Pigs.—Pure-bred Tamworth and Berkshire and crosses maintained for breeding and fattening. Agriculture.—Growing and harvesting wheat, oats, peas, hay, ensilage, eto.; rape, soft and swede turnips for lamb and wether fattening; mangolds, eto., for dairy cows; breaking up scrub and gorse country for turnip crops and permanent pastures; top dressing of pastures; two caterpillar tractors and seventeen draught horses in continuous work.

Fencing.—-Subdivision of new blocks and maintenance of existing fences, yards, and gates. Afforestation.—Seed collection, grow-, ing in nursery and planting of approximately 80,000 forest trees each year. Gardening.—Maintenance of ornamental grounds, lawns, etc.; vegetable, fruit, and small crops. Station Staff.—Principal, farm manager, horticulturist, teamster, shepherd and stockman, dairyman, fencer, carpenter, general hand, and two tractor drivers and four general assistants (selected from best of old trainees and retained on wages as apprentices and leaders of boys). Hostel Staff.—Head matron (trained nurse), three assistant matrons (house, laundry, cook), house master, and Y.M.C.A. secretary. (Orderly boys are allotted each week to assist in preparation of meals, care of dormitories and hostel premises, etc.) Accommodation. —Excluding houses and quarters for staff there is accommodation- for seventy trainees (dormitories, dining rooms, bathrooms, lavatories, social hall, etc.). PERIOD OF TRAINING. “ For the first two years the minimum period of training at Flock House was six months, for the last five years the minimum period has been eight months, and some boys have remained for twelve months and longer. It is probable that with New Zealand boys fresh from school and with the larger field of selection sufficient progress may be made in six months for them to be placed with selected farmers. “ After the initial training at Flock House the boys are placed in employment under apprenticeship agreement for three years or until they attain the age of twenty years, whichever is the earlier, particular care being taken in the selection of the employers and to pick the lad to suit the employment and environment. “Transfers are promptly made in case of misfits being evident. _ The apprenticeship agreement provided for half or two-thirds (according to rate) of the boys” wages being paid to a savings account, which bears interest at 5 per cent, and is held until the boy attains the age of twenty-one years. After detailing the various costs which the fund has had to pay the report states that there are certain expenses which would not ho applicable to New Zealand hoys. Theoretically the after-care of the scheme covered

supervision, employment, help, and advice until the age of twenty-one, but actually it covered help, advice, and provision for as long as it was needed.

VACANCIES AVAILABLE. “ At present there are seventy-five boys in residence. On these figures, it would be practicable for Flock House to take twenty New Zealand boys on about November 1 and a further twenty to twenty-five on December 1. “ On the basis of six months’ training for New Zealand boys, and allowing for time to obtain employment and for a few who might have to bo kept longer, there should be vacancies in May of next year for forty to fifty-four New Zealand boys, and a further twenty-five during June. Thereafter, approximately 120 would be able to be taken in during the course of each twelve months. ELEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT.

The eleventh annual report of the fund stated: —“It is satisfactory to note that, in spite of the very low prices for produce, a credit balance of £l,BBl 8s 7d is shown on the year’s operations. While this is insufficient to pay a reasonable interest on the capital employed, our sheepfarmer contributors will agree that, in one of the worst years for farming in the history of the dominion, the result shows evidence of good and economic management. The programme of development of the gorse and scrub country by tractor harrowing and ploughing has been continued with excellent results, and continued attention has been given to protection from erosion of the river flat land by willow plantations. “The tree-planting policy of the trustees has been continued by the planting of a further 70,000 forest trees (mostly pinus radinta and macrocarpa) on the sand dune country and in the plantations on the run. All the young trees have been grown, as usual, in the nursery on the station. A considerable area of marram planting has again been done on tho sand dune country to stabilise shifting sand in preparation for future tree planting. The area of original sand dune country now planted in forest trees is approximately 500 acres, and_ trees have made excellent growth as is shown by the illustrations in this report.” TRUSTEES DESIRE EXTENSION. “ In view of the economic conditions in the dominion and of the continued widespread expressions of opinion that the benefits of the Flock House organisation should be made available to iNeAv Zealand youth, the trustees decided that it is the duty of the fund to make such arrangements _ as are possible for an extension in this direction. It has to he borne in mind that the trustees cannot make any payments from trust funds for purposes which are outside the terms of the trust. At the same time the trustees may make use of the assets of the fund in land and buildings for allied purposes provided there is no loss to the trust by such use. “ The trustees have now gone further and have offered to receive New Zealand boys, preferably sons of returned soldiers, at Flock_ House Station, give them similar initial training and after care to that given to the hoys from Great Britain, at a low rate per head, which is estimated to just cover the cost. To enable this to he done it has been decided that the transfer to New Zealand of English and Scotch hoys shall cease for the present, and there are now vacancies for New Zealand hoys. LAST BALANCE-SHEET. “ The balance-sheet of tho fund at June 30, 1931, disclosed the following;— Liabilities.—General fund advances, £86,359 15s Id; sundry creditors, £1,026 13s Id'; boys’ balances, £19,258 14s 6d; life insurance suspense account, £1,372 12s 3d; depreciation reserve and transfer and P. and L. account, £16,658 16s sd—total, £124,676 Us 4d. Assets.—Land, buildings, and improvements, £100,460 2s; live stock, £15,032 7s fid; implements, plant, and tools, £2,759 17s sd; farm produce, material, and stores, £3,953 0s lid; hostel furniture and fittings, £1,676 14s Id; hostel stores, £l6O 18s 7d; shares, £23 13s; sundry debtors, £367 8s 2d; cash, Bank of New Zealand and petty cash, £242 9s Bd—total, £124,676 11s 4d. SUGGESTED CONFERENCE. “ It is to be hoped that this association, in conjunction with N.Z.R.S.A., Headquarters, Wellington, will be able to devise means to take advantage of these offers. I would further suggest a conference of the War Funds Council, Canteen Funds Trust Board, Red Cross Society, Patriotic Society, N.Z.R.S.A., New Zealand Farmers’ Union, and influential men from the dominion’s four main cities.”

Mr Ferens has also suggested that application be made for permission to hold an art union to raise funds.