FLOCK HOUSE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19969, 10 December 1926, Page 12

FLOCK HOUSE.

DEBT TO BRITISH SEAMEN SHEEPOWNERS’ SCHEME. (Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, December 9. The sixth annual meeting of the New Zealand Shecpowners’ Acknowledgment of Debt to British Seamen Fund was held today. The Hon. E. Newman, M.L.C., who has been chairman of the fund since its inception, moved the adoption of the report and balance sheet for the year ended June 30. He expressed regret at the death of Mr J..C. N. Grigg, who had been one of the trustees for the beginning ,and satisfaction at the presence of Sir James Allen, who had been chairman of the London Committee since the inception of the fund. Sir James would now sit as one of the trustees. Mr Newman congratulated the trustees on the general success of the scheme as shown by the report. The scheme had demonstrated the manner in which city-bred boys from Home could be trained to be good country settlers in New Zealand. A problem of the greatest importance for New Zealand and the rest of the Empire was involved in the diversion of lads from town ,to_ country by a system such as had been given expression to at Flock House. The work that was being done there was giving entire satisfaction. The more they knew of the property the better they liked it, and with the extension of their activities it was likely that they would be able to increase the income substantially. Subscribers could expect an increase of the working expenses before long, as with the increase in. the number of trainees the expenses of management must increase. The boys would, however, represent a most valuable addition to the population of New Zealand. The services of an -experienced welfare officer had been secured, and now every trainee, after leaving Flock House, was visited at least twice a year, and a full report on his work was furnished to the head office. Mr Newman paid a tribute to the interest that was being manifested in the girls at Flock House by the Young Women’s Christian Association, and he also spoke of the good work that was being done by the Women’s Committee of Palmerston North. The girls who had gone out gave evidence of liking their work, and were giving satisfaction to their employers. Mention was also made of the live interest that was being shown in the Flock House by the women’s branch of the Tinners’ Union, the members of which were concerning themselves with the welfare of the boys, and were supplying a want that had been felt for years. He hoped that subscribers were satisfieu with the manner in which their money was being expended, and that they would show a more active interest in the work than had been the case up to the present time. It had been the practice at the approach of the festive season to think of the children of the beneficiaries of the fund, and this year an arrangement had been made to distribute useful gifts to them. The sum of £IOO would be spent in that direction. , , .. Mr 0. S. Watkins seconded the motion, which was carried. ... On the motion of Mr G. L. Marshall, seconded by Mr C. M. Luke, Mr Newman was reappointed chairman for the ensuing year. In accepting the office, Mr Newman expressed the hope that at the end of next year he would be allowed to retire from the chairmanship and remain one of the trustees, as he thought the office oi chairman should'go round, and not be in the hands of one man, as it had been since the inception of the fund.