TRAINING IN AGRICULTURE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21538, 9 January 1932, Page 15

TRAINING IN AGRICULTURE

FLOCK HOUSE SCHEME VACANCIES FOR NEW ZEALAND BOYS. For some time past the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association has been working to have the Flock House scheme extended to enable its advantages to be extended to the sons of returned soldiers, and there are now some vacancies. In a report which he has prepared for the executive of the association the secretary (Mr O. L. Ferens) states: — “ The fund was started by Mr Edward Newman when submarining was at its height, and we were losing a vast amount of tonnage. An appeal was made to the sheep farmers to donate the surplus profits from their wool clips after they had been disposed of by the Imperial Government. New Zealanders wished to recognise in a practical way the sacrifice of those who served in the Navy or the mercantile marine in keeping the lines of commerce open to shipping, and something had to be done for the children of the men who lost their lives at sea. The surplus profits amounted to £246.000 and this magnificent sum enabled the trustees, who were provisionally appointed, to purchase the fine old sheep station which is known as Flock House. The trustees had decided to train boys and girls in rural occupations, the trainees to be selected from children of deceased sailors, children of men who served in the mercantile marine, or children of seriously incapacitated members of those services irrespective of the rank of their parents. Mr Newman went to London and, with the help of the press and the Admiralty, enthusiasm was aroused, and finally a committee was set up. A vocational officer was appointed, and the first party of boys was selected ready to embark for New Zealand. “It was realised that farmers could not be made in six or eight months even with intensive training, but the scheme was to enable them, at all times, to make a living. They had no money —no knowledge of farming—nothing but their physical fitness. These boys were taken from the various English seaports and nad to be taught everything, such as Rugby football, cricket, and all outdoor sports. The spiritual side was not overlooked, church services being held regularly, all denominations being given every con-

sideration. Flock House is situated in the historic Parewanui-Rangitikei district, about 100 miles north of Wellington, and it comprises 8261 acres of every variety of land from heavy river flats to sand dunes.” The report goes on to detail the activities of the trainees and to give details of the stock and accommodation which provides for 70 trainees. “ For the first two years,” the report continues, “ the minimum period of training at Flock House was six months, but for the past five years the minimum period has been eight months, and some of the boys have stayed for a year or more. It is probable that, with New Zealand boys fresh from school, and with a larger field of selection, sufficient progress may be made in six months for trainees to be placed with settled farmers at the end of that period of training. “ At present there are 75 boys in residence. On these figures, it would be practicable for Flock House to take 20 New Zealand boys about November 1 and a further 20 to 25 on December 1. On the basis of six months’ training for New Zealand boys, and allowing for time to obtain employment and for a few who might have to be kept longer, there should be vacancies in May of next year for 40 or 50 boys and a further 25 in the following June. After that, approximately 120 would be able to be taken in the course of each 12 months. “ In view of the economic conditions in the Dominion and the continued widespread expressions of opinion that the benefits of the Flock House organisation should be made available to New Zealand youth, the trustees decided that it was the duty of the fund to make such arrangements as were possible for an extension in this direction. It has to be borne in mind that the trustees cannot make any pa,yments from trust funds which are outside the terms of the trust. At the same time, the trustees may make use of the assets of the fund in land and buildings for allied purposes provided that there is no loss to the trust by such use. The trustees have now gone further and have offered to receive New Zealand boys, preferably the sons of returned soldiers, at Flock House and to give them similar training and after-care to that given to the boys from Great Britain at a low rate which is estimated just to cover the cost. To enable this to be done it has been decided that the transfer of English and Scottish boys shall cease for the present. “It is hoped that this association, in conjunction with the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, will be able to devise means to take advantage of these offers. I would suggest a conference of the War Funds Council, the Canteen Funds Trust Board, the Red Cross Society, the Patriotic Society, the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, and the New Zealand Farmers’ Union and influential men from the Dominion’s four centres,” It has also been suggested that application should be made for permission to conduct an art union to raise funds.