FLOCK HOUSE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23161, 10 April 1937, Page 3

FLOCK HOUSE

CHANGE OF CONTROL POSITION OUTLINED Mr Edward Newman writes as follows on the subject of the change of control of Flock House:— 1 desire briefly to explain the position of this property at the present time. As is well known,, the trustees found it impossible to carry on Flock House as a training farm for returned soldiers’ sons because sufficient boys were not forthcoming to enable them to do so without encroaching upon the fund which was subscribed by New Zealand sheep farmers for the benefit of British seamen injured during the Great War, or their dependents, This being clearly established, the trustees brought the matter under the notice of the Government with the hope that some means might be devised so that, co-operating with the Falrbridge Farm Scheme or otherwise, the work of training boys might be Continued. After discussion with Ministers it became -quite clear that the Government did not favour the introduction of boys or girls from England under the Fairbridge or any cither similar scheme, and consequently the trustees had no alternative but to close down the establishment or to offer it as a going concern to the Government, This latter course they decided to follow, the terms being quite simple—namely,

that the farm should be earned on with the present staff, so far as possible, as a farm training centre; that the price for land and stock and plant should be determined by valuers appointed under the existing Arbitration Act, and that the trustees should accept a deposit in cash agreed upon and take the balance in Government inscribed stock; occupation to begin on February 1, .1937, after which date all the income goes to the Government, interest on the purchase money to be paid to the British Seamen’s Fund. When that date was agreed to it was hoped that it would be possible to have the valuations completed by then, but this has not proved possible, although I am assured by the Government that "everything possible is being done to bring the matter to finality at an early date,” to use the words from a letter received from the Minister in Charge. Under the Arbitration Act each party interested appoints a valuer, and these two agree upon an umpire, If it is not found possible to agree on an umpire, then a magistrate may be called in to act as such. From the number of inquiries that I receive I gather that there is anxiety in the minds of some subscribers to the British Seamen’s Fund as to whether the trustees have acted wisely or not in parting with Flock House, Under ordinary circumstances, my annual report as chairman of the board would have been presented, iind would have given me an opportunity to explain to subscribers the exact position of affairs, but the trustees have thought it better to postpone the annual meeting until the whole transaction is finalised, and the actual financial result of the sale known. I may say that Flock House Station is not an easy property to value, containing as it does large blocks of all varieties of soil ranging from rich alluvial flats to drift sand, and with approximately 1000 acres of trees planted from 15 years past to last year. When all the facts are made public, as they will be at the annual meeting shortly, I hope subscribers and the people of New Zealand generally will approve of the action taken by the trustees. By agreeing to the sale a splendid opportunity is provided for all New Zealand boys to learn any kind of station and farm work. The board will, with the funds so made liquid, be in a position to ftirry aut its real objective; to settle the deicndents of British seamen on the and in New Zealand. Up to the pres;nt time we have only settled one flock, "Panetapu,” in the Waikato, vhere about 20 sons of British sailors ire successfully working their way, ;ach on his own farm, to independmce.

I hope that the purchase money from the sale to the Government of Flock House will enable the board within the next few years substantially to assist other boys and girls brought out from Home under our scheme, to make homes for themselves throughout New Zealand, Almost all these wards of the fund are now over 21 years of age, and in my opinion the time must soon come when the New Zealand Sheep-owners’ Acknowledgment of Debt to British Seamen Fund,. having fulfilled the purpose for which it was created, may be wound up. The sale lately made will, I hope, assist us to bring this about.