FLOCK HOUSE

Evening Star, Issue 21994, 2 April 1935, Page 6

FLOCK HOUSE

FARM TRAINING FOR SOLDIERS' SONS ' PROGRESS OF THE SCHEME Dealing with the work done by the association in assisting the sons of returned and deceased soldiers to enter Flock House for farm training, the annual report of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association states:— “ We have now entered into the fourth year for the training of our own returned soldiers’ sons, and we have again this past year been able to send forward more than our quota required by the trustees of the station. This has been made possible only by the generosity of the Otago Patriotic Society, the Provincial Council of the Otago Farmers’ Union, and your own association. To date we have sent forward forty-two hoys, and those lads who have completed their training have all been placed in permanent employment. It is

most gratifying to report that many have received increases in wages. “ As New Zealand is dependent on her primary products it is safe to predict that in the years to come these lads will be a great asset to the dominion, and it is to be regretted that more New Zealand boys and their parents do not realise that the opportunities for an independent and prosperous future in the dominion are and must always be greater for the “ man on the land ” than in any other trade or profession. To the manly atid virile type of boy, farming and stock raising will always appeal, and developments in recent years have emphasised that a career on the land is one of absorbing interest to the keenest brains in the community. “His Excellency Lord Bledisloe recently stated in regard to grass land farming: ‘ The work done during the last twenty years has exceeded in commercial value that of the 2,000 years which preceded them, and are as yet only on the first rung of the ladder of knowledge.’ “In Flock House we have an organisation of proved ability to train suitable youths to fill positions offering, and to look after their welfare until they are able to establish themselves on the land on their own account. .We are

indeed pleased to report that negotiations with the Unemployment Board have proved satisfactory, and they are now increasing the subsidy on soldiers’ sons to the extent of £36. In the case of sons of soldiers killed or incapacitated during the war the subsidy remains the same as previously, at £lB, it being understood that the War Relief and Patriotic Associations will be able to provide the balance required. “ The Unemployment Board has further advised that they are willing to enter upon a scheme for subsidising the savings of the lads’ wages (New Zealand returned soldiers) trained at Flock House, to assist the best of such boys to make a start for themselves on the land later. When this scheme is finalised and the details are known, it should be a great incentive for the boys to take up this avocation in life. “ The Provincial Committee has found from past experience that the cost of the special outfit, £4 14s Bd, and the travelling expenses to and from Flock House, has always been a heavy expense, and with the reduced subsidy the total amount required to be found for each boy will be approximately £8 10s.

“ Wo have this year again received the generous assistance of the Otago Patriotic Society up to £IOO, and the

Provincial Committee of the Otago Farmers’ Union £25, and your own as* sedation has also assisted financially. We have received numerous cheery let* tors from the boys in training, and when their turn comes to leave Flock House many regrets are left behind. The boys were greatly delighted with the visit of H.R.H. the Duke of Gloucester to the station. The Duke took a very kindly interest in the lads and their work. “ The committee', who meet monthly, and carry on this work philanthropically, are deserving of our sincere thanks and we wish them every success in the venture. “ The personnel of the Flock House Provincial Committee of Otago and Southland is as follows?—Mr W, F. Forrester (chairman, R.S.A.j Otago fe* presentative), Sir James Allen, M.L.C. (one of the Flock House trustees),, Mr J. L. Salmond (Otago Patriotic Society), Mr E. R. Grace (Otago Patriotic Society), Mr C. J. Wood (Chamber of Commerce), Mr James Quaile (manager, Dunedin Sayings Bank) „■ Mr J. Spoor (Otago Provincial Council Farmers’ Union), Mrs J. F. Drake (Women’s Division Farmers’ Union), Mr 0. L. Kerens. J.P. (R.S.A. provincial secretary, Southland representative).”