DESIRE TO EXTEND FLOCK HOUSE TRAINING

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6764, 23 January 1932, Page 6

DESIRE TO EXTEND FLOCK HOUSE TRAINING

To Sons of Soldiers

CONFERENCE TO BE CALLED

In view of the strong feeling in the Dominion that New Zealand boys should share in tho benefits to be ohtained by training at Flock House station for farm employment, the trustees decided that the draft of boys that arrived in New Zealand m October last should be tho last one from overseas at present, and this decision left the ™.V clear for an early entry of New Zealand boys to Flock House, . piovi e ways and means could be devised to ar-

range this. . , Flock House is a war memorial, and if. is much to be desired that ti.it < a tare should be retained, and consequently tho trustees hope that tho extension to New Zealand boys may bo to tho sons of cx-Ncw Zealand Expeditionary Foice men. Tho trustees arc empowered to expend money only on the dependents of seamen, but they are willing to extend lhe full benefits of the farm and station, land, stock, buildings, equipment, staff and organisation to the sons of soldiers, provided the maintenance of the latter is arranged for.

Previous correspondence and discussions with the bodies concerned in the welfare of soldiers and their dependents show that there is a great desire for the extension of the farm training, after-care and settlement activities in this direction, and that if all the associations could be got together for frank and open discussion, it would bo possiblo to attain a practical solution. Tho whole question resolves itself into ono of ways and means, and the trustees are of opinion that these important issues and tho practical details of the extended organisation can be satisfactorily solved only by united action by and the co-ordination of each body interested, and tho formation of a strong combined commi'fc-5- with authority from tho different bodies to act in the desired direction.

For this purpose the trustees havo invited representatives from each patriotic association throughout tho Dominion, each branch of the R.S.A., headquarters of the R.S.A., the National War Funds Council and others interested to a conference to be held in February, when the trustees’ offer will be fully considered.