TRAINING AS FARMERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21344, 19 November 1932, Page 14

TRAINING AS FARMERS

SONS OF EX-SOLDIERS FLOCK HOUSE ACTIVITIES POSITIONS EASILY SECURED [by telegraph—own correspondent] WELLINGTON, Friday A review of t lie activities of Flock House during tho past year, when sons of New Zealand soldiers were trained, at the establishment for the first time, was given in the annual report presented to subscribers by the trustees of tho New Zealand Sheepowners' Acknowledgment of Debt to British Seamen Fund, at the annual meeting to-day. "With tho disposal of girls' Flock House., the cessation of immigration, and the opening of Flock House station to the sons of New Zealand soldiers, the year lias been one of great Importance to the fund," stated the report. "As the result of the offer extended by the trustees last year, a large conference of representatives of patriotic and war relief associations and returned soldiers' associations throughout New Zealand was held at Flock House in February. The Prime Minister announced that the Government would grant a subsidy of £1 for £1 yp to £25 for each boy, the son of a New Zealand soldier who served in the war, trained at Flock House, and the conference decided to take advantage of tho opportunity. "New Zealand boys commenced to enter Flock House in April, and 57 are now in training, with a further 33 arranged for up to March 31. Of the present total, 11 boys are from the Auckland Province," the report continued.

During the year all'the English boys in training had been placed in satisfactory employment. The }ear had again been one of the greatest difficulty for those engaged in farming operations, but the inquiry for Flock House boys had been greater than the supply available. Flock House boys and girls had secured a name and place in the farming community which had been very helpful to tbem in the past two years. Of the total of £201,188 received from subscribers to .the fund, tho sum of £135,539 had been directly, disbursed in cash by way of grants and loans to disabled sailors, widows and children, and in-the immigration, training and settlement of boy and girl dependants. Cash grants to beneficiaries in New Zealand totalled £27,542, and to beneficiaries in London £33,485, while the total for tho training and settlement in New Zealand of 763 boy and girl dependants was £72,498. The figure for the year for immigration, training and settlement was £7113. During the year grants totalling £726 had also been made to disabled soldiers and to the dependants of sailors who were incapacitated or who died as the result of war injuries. Mr. E. Newman was re-elected chairman of trustees, and Mr. R. Davis auditor.

A motion was carried recording appreciation of the services of the staff.