WORK AT FLOCK HOUSE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21345, 21 November 1932, Page 10

WORK AT FLOCK HOUSE

SATISFACTORY PROGRESS

TRAINING FOR THE LAND

Gratification that the affairs of Flock House were in a most satisfactory position considering the difficult times being experienced, was expressed by Mr. Edward Newman, chairman of the trustees of the New Zealand Sheepowners' Acknowledgement of to British Seamen Fund, in his address at the annual meeting of subscribers last week. Mr. Newman said there was a good deal of misunderstanding about the work of Flock House. He pointed out that the training for the first eight months was to fit the boys to make a living on the land, not to make farmers of-thenu. An understanding of the handling of stock and of fencing were two of the things taught, and when a boy understood these thoroughly he was capable of making a living on any farm in the Dominion. It was when he was indentured to a farmer that he learnt farming. There was a good demand for Flock House boys, for farmers recognised that the training they had received made them capable assistants. The boys and girls in Flock House were also taught thrift, and it was very pleasing to find that their savings totalled £38,695. Closer settlement of New Zealand was advocated by Mr. Newman, who said that the country was only one-fourth settled. The Government should institute some scheme for the subdividing of large unsettled blocks of land, rather than put so much money into single men's camps. The balance-sheet of the general fund showed that the balance of assets over liabilities stood at £110,314.