Future of Flock House

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 43, 21 February 1936, Page 4

Future of Flock House

FAIRBRIDGE FARM SCHEME AS SOLUTION. At a moment when the trustees of Mock House are anxious about the future of the institution, it is interesting to note that the secretary of the Child Emigration Society of Britain which controls the Fairbridge Farm Schools in Western Australia and British Columbia, has reached Fremantle on his way to New Zealand, the report being that the society is anxious to see a' Fairbridge School established in the Dominion. Flock House was originally started in order to train as farmers sons of British seamen who wore incapacitated or killed in the Great War, but in the course of time no further boys w r ere availabld and since 1932, the advantage has been passed on to sons of New Zealand returned soldiers, but independent of the trust fuud. The trustees have always been anxious, however, to keep the institution for the purpose for which it -was intended, namely the training of British youth, but whence are the trainees to come? There havo been suggestions put forward from time to time, but all embody the one idea that the original basis of eligibility must be extended. Application could bo made to the Supreme Court for 4 variation of the terms of the trust, which in the circumstances would be granted to the extent of including as benefic.aries dependants of all seamen (of the Royal Navy and Mercantile Marine) who served in the war, and not only those who were killed or incapacitated. Ultimately, the admission to Flock House of sons and daughters of British seamen of later generations than that which served in the war might be deemed to continue the spirit of the original trust. As yet, however, the duties of the trustees under that instrument have not been fully discharged; money is still required to assist the settlement of trainees. And now the Child Emigration Socety is keen to see a Fairbridge School established in New Zealand. The obvious and practicable course would be for the society and the trustees to join forces, a condition being that girls and boys eligible for Flock House, while tiio supply lasts, should receive preference in selection. Thus the one scheme would- gradually merge into the other, without any diversion of the Sheepowncrs' Acknowledgement of Debt to British Seamen Fund, and to the constantly, growing benefit of the United. Kingdom and New Zealand.

Flock House and the Fairbridge Farm Schools are partners in one type of Empire building: taking children from the United Kingdom, training them to be farmers —or farmers' wives —and assisting them to set up on the land for themselves. The difference is that Fairbridge raw material comes mostly from the crowded cities of the Old . Lands, whereas Flock House was established to assist the sons and daughters of British seamen who were killed or disabled in the Great War. Also, Fairbridge enrols its charges at an earlier age. In other essentials, the schemes run parallel, and both have behind them a splendid record of Imperial service.