"STRATFORD EVENING POST" FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 1930. THE FUTURE OF FLOCK HOUSE.

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 10, 7 March 1930, Page 4

"STRATFORD EVENING POST" FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 1930. THE FUTURE OF FLOCK HOUSE.

ONE of The finest acts of gratitude ever carried out in tile l)o----minion wa.s_ihi.it of the woolgrowers of New Zealand when they established Flock House as an agricultural training home for the children' of those sailors who lost their lives during the war. Had it not been for tlie naval men and sailors of the mercantile marine the woolgrowers could never have been able to dispose of their products. The first section was instrumental in keeping the sea lanes open for commerce, while the second ran terrible risks at sea when carrying out their dut’es during the war period. These men, by their spirit, of duty, saved many a farmer from bankruptcy, and the wool growers showed their gratitude by making sound nrovision for the orphans of those men who lost their lives at sea when carrying out their vocations and doing their bit to maintain the commerce of the Empire during a critical period. Flock House has been a sound success in every way. It has provided, the necessary land training for the young people concerned, and in addition turned out a large number •of potential, farmers. The pupation will arise in a few years, however, oF what the future of tin’s fine Tnsfitution will be. It. is only a matter of a short time before it will havo fulfilled the functions for which it was established. The young people, having finished their training, will automatically take up positions on farms or acquire laud loi( tuemseives. u would be must regrettable, alter ine lino worn

iluuc at Jl’iock House, tout its

opera no as saoiiur cease, A suggestion WUS lllUllC tlUlt IS Well wortn consideration. i'be J->r.. iicU'iiarmi iiisiitutiuu is an organisation Liiat iias been tae means in training .young people in various occupations, amt ns work in llie cause ot humanity is well known tiirougliout tne British J’impire. It snould be possible lor tne Barnardo insntuLitm. in conjunction. witJi tue British and Aew Zealand Do\ernments to take over 1-lock tlouse, and send its proteges there to lie, trained as .1 armors. Such a scheme would be ot material help to one ot the finest institutions ot its kind in the! world in its work ot giving the waits and strays ot Bn gland a chance in liie. Apart altogethei from the altruistic nature ot tne work ot the Barnardo Homes, these young people would m time become a valuable asset, to this Dominion. Block House lias proved to be beneficial to jN t oav Zealand, and it would be a matter ot regret to allow its good work to be discontinued. Nearly all the inmates ot the jjarmirdo Homes havd made n'ood in after life, and the continuation of the goob work ried out in Flo,-It House h.v tbij. institution would help a }B>°< «.««., n,id ot ill.; 50,..0 tno. » „f lionolit to tins oouolty m luioino out prnctiral tinmtx..