EAGER TRAINEES

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 111, 10 April 1929, Page 8

EAGER TRAINEES

BOYS’ FLOCK HOUSE. LATEST DRAFT ARRIVES. Looking forward with eagerness to their new conditions of life, the fifteenth draft of 30 boys for training under the Flock House scheme arrived in New Zealand on Monday and reached their destination the samo evening in excellent health and spirits. The party was under the charge of Mr F. W. Ivey, welfare officer, who has been stationed in England during the past twelve months, and has returned to Palmerston North to resume his duties in the Dominion. The boys, who are of an excellent type, are already settling down in tlieir new home, and yesterday Hon. E. Newman (chairman of trustees) and Mr T. R. Lees (managing trustee) visited Flock House to inspect the new draft and address the boys. During the period he has been in the the Homeland, Mr Ivey has been able to make many personal contacts with those interested in the scheme, and has met the parents in every province as far north as beyond Aberdeen. He has been able to under take considerable publicity work on behalf of the scheme, and has delivered many lectures, in addition to broadcasting from Aberdeen, Glasgow, London and other places, having no difficulty in acquainting tho public with the general working of the scheme. “The Flock House scheme is very well thought of by all interested in immigration at Home,” commented Mr Ivey to a “Standard” reporter, “and the Duke of Montrose is an ardent supporter. “The scheme has been very favourably received and a good deal of information has been sought. The fact that it is not a Government scheme, and is conducted on beneficent lines, seems to add to its appeal.” Every prominent committee and organisation in connection with immigration had been addressed, stated Mr Ivey, and they had learnt the terms of the scheme, while personal reports of training, employment and welfare work had been given. Every indication was given that the trustees were deeply concerned with the mutual interests of parents and their boys. The scheme seemed admirable to those with whom it was discussed, and the methods followed were widely approved, especially as regarded the reports and photographs sent Home. The parents reposed the utmost confidence in the working of the scheme to which their boys were entrusted. On the London Advisory Committee, stated Mr Ivey, were Sir James Parr and Earl Jellicoe, and, when the boys who had just arrived were departing from Waterloo station, the latter was present to farewell them and give them some final advice. During his stay in London, Mr Ivey met Mr and Mrs H. E. Pacey, with their daughter, and Miss Laurenson, of Palmerston North. As chairwoman of the local ladies’ committee, Mrs Pacey personally inspected the last draft before they left. The boys’ conduct on shipboard was excellent, and in tug-of-war contests they defeated all the teams placed against them, including those representing the firemen. This was ample testimony to their pKysique. They carried out organised work while at sea. Mr Ivey stated that the next draft under the scheme would come out in about four months’ time.