BUDDING FARMERS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXX, Issue 11115, 27 January 1930, Page 5

BUDDING FARMERS

TRAINING FOR BOYS.'

PLANS FOR PUTARURU

S.A. COMMISSIONER’S APPEAL.

Interesting particulars concerning a scheme which! h 6 has in mind for ensuring that att lads who cam* under the care of the Salvation Army, should have a chance of learning iarming were given to a' Times reporter yesterday by Commissioner .1. Cunningham, head of the Salvation Army in New Zealand, who spent the week-end in Gisborne. There were four training centres :Tor boys in the Dominion, the Commissioner explained.. The.se were at Putaruru, filth am, Ternuka ana Wallaceviile, near Wellington, Everything possible is done lor the lads at these places, the needs of iboth mind and .body receiving every attention. Hitherto they, have been sent out to earn their own hying at about the age of 15 or 16. This is an awkward time for boys, Goniimissioner Cunningham , considers, siiid he "believes that the Army control should continue for some years longer. At I’uturnru, there is an area ot about-. 2000 acres of pumice lands, half of which has already been brought into cultivation. On the remaining half, there, is scope for a great deal of further development and the Commissioner considers, that tlie opportunity thus afforded is ideal for graining Tads in farm work mid farin' lands development. He believes, therefore, that the boys should.-stay. on at Putaruru until about 20' years old, by winch time they should have, received a solid grounding in farm work and have had instilled into them a love of the land which will make them valuable farmers in the future when -they go out to carve their own way in the World. Commissioner Cunningham, who hiis had considerable experience of farm work, has high hopes of developing Putaruru as a breeding -place of pedigree stock. The possibilitius are there, he states, and the land should easily support several good herds. The especial breeds he fuvurs are Kriesian and Jersey cat* tie and Berkshire pigs. - Such a step will require the cooDeration of ' fanners,. the Coinniissioner states, and ho makes an appeal to all willing to assist, in this ■direction to do so by contributions ■of stock on which the pedigree herds could be founded. In assisting the Army in this way, the farming population will he assisting to stay the drift to ttic cities and will be ensuring the training of many lads in farming pursuits, lads who may provo valuable employees to the fanners later and who, at least, are given a chance to make good in after life. Any. offers of assistance may bo made direct to Commissioner Cunningham or. .to ally representatives of the Salvation Army.