FLOCK HOUSE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 179, 30 June 1936, Page 9

FLOCK HOUSE

LORD GALWAY’S VISIT. PRAISE FOR INSTITUTION. Paying his first visit to the institution, His Excellency the GovernorGeneral, Lord Galway, accompanied by Captain Heber-Percy, A.D.C., made an informal inspection of the Flock House property, near Bulls, yesterday afternoon. The weather conditions were unfavourable, but His Excellency was able to see sufficient of the station to realise the great potentialities of the property which this winter is carrying 6000 ewes and 4000 dry sheep, besides other stock, and bears a remarkably fine appearance.

His Excellency was met by Messrs E. Newman, C.M.G. (chairman of the Flock House trustees), T. R. Lees (managing trustee), J. Link--later, A. Sutherland, G. L. Marshall (trustees), and F. IV. Ivey (station housemaster and superintendent). His Excellency made a brief inspection of the property, seeing the Clydesdale horses, Polled Angus cattle, and a fine flock of ewes. . He went through the cowbails, saw the milking machines in operation, and witnessed a demonstration with a tractor which was being used in harrowing. Subsequently His Excellency was entertained at afternoon tea in the hall.

Under Lieutenant T. C. Campbell, who is himself a former Flock House trainee, and a credit to the institution, the boys were paraded in military uniform in the Memorial Hall, and presented arms when His Excellency entered.

Mr Newman, on behalf of the trustees, the staff and the boys, expressed their deep appreciation of Lord Galway’s visit. He recounted that the institution had been founded in July, 1918, by the sheepowners of New Zealand as a war memorial out ol gratitude to British seamen, the aim being the training of their sons. It was twelve years that day since the late Lord Jellicoe had opened the institution, a fund of £240,000 having been subscribed. Since then 763 sons and daughters of British seamen and 264 sons of New Zealand returned soldiers had passed through the institution. Owing to it being impossible to contiue the immigration policy during the depression, the constitution of the Flock House Fund had been altered by Act of Parliament to enable New Zealand boys to be admitted. It was hoped, however, to revive the training of boys from overseas, and to co-operate with the Fairbridge Farm School scheme. Mr Newman thanked Lord Galway for bis visit, and expressed the hope that he woidd return at some future date next time with Lady Galway. VALUABLE TRAINING.

His Excellency said li.e was very pleased to be present, even on such a short visit to Flock House, and he sincerely hoped to return with Lady Galway later, when he would have an opportunity of inspecting the property in more detail. He said be was there to wish the boys the best of success in the future. He considered that their period of training at Flock House would later be of great use to them, because of the extreme value of being taught the most up-to-date methods of agricultural efficiency. New Zealand, he said, really lived on agriculture, which was her great staplo industry. The best methods must be employed to secure farming efficiency, because there was always a market for the best. New Zealand agriculture linked her with the Mother Country.

His Excellency said that he could not, of course, express any opinion regarding the future of Flock House, but ho would be discussing the nuntor with the Ministers on his return to Wellington. He could make no pronouncement concerning future developments, but institutions such as Flock House were of great value to the community. They should be carried on and function actively in the Dominion.

His Excellency inspected the cadets and asked that they be granted a half-holiday at a later date in commemoration of his visit.

Cheers were given for Lord Galway, and as lie departed the cadets were drawn up on each side of the drive as a guard of honour. Last evening His Excellency attended a private function in Palmerston North. Tills afternoon, with Lady Galway, he had aranged to take part in a Rangitikei Hunt Club meeting at Fern Flats.