ENDEAVOURS BEING MADE TO ENLARGE SCOPE OF FLOCK HOUSE SCHEME

Wanganui Chronicle, 10 November 1949, Page 4

ENDEAVOURS BEING MADE TO ENLARGE SCOPE OF FLOCK HOUSE SCHEME

“The trustees have throughout endeavoured to keep in close touch with the 763 boys and girls who were originally brought from Great Britain to New Zealand and trained at Flock House Station and Girls’ Flock House,' 1 states the annual report o£ the New Zealand Sheepowners’ Acknowledgment of Debt to British Seamen Fund. “These boys and girls are now: mature men and women, most o£ them married and with families of their own. A large proportion of the boys gave service to the Empire during the war, in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Merchant Navy, and there were many casualties. Twenty-two of our boys laid down their lives and three returned with amputated limbs. All the prisoners of war eventually returned safely. Decorations earned On active service by Flock House boys included the D. 5.0., M.C., D.S.C., D.F.C., and many mentioned in despatches," states the report. “The trustees have continued the policy of assisting ex-Flock House boys to make a start for themselves when a suitable opportunity arose by 4 making a grant in porportlon to their own savings, and these records show 4 that more than 100 boys are known to " be established on their own account. Included in these are the members of the Panetapu Settlement ,in the Waikato, which, under the personal guidance and advice of Mr. J. M. McNicol (trustee), has been very satisfactory, and the settlers there are well established and in strong financial positions.” FURTHER IMMIGRATION.

"Conditions in Great Britain have not been favourable for an extensive renewal of the previous system of bringing boys to New Zealand for training in farm careers, but a start has been made, and, by arrangement with the New Zealand Department o£ Agriculture, two boys arrived in June of this year for training at Flock House Station. The advantages and possibilities are now being widely advertised in Great Britain by our London committee to endeavour to enlarge the scope and bring the scheme to the notice of all who are eligible,” adds the report. “Many of the old Flock House boys and g:rls, who are well established in their own homes and farms and businesses in New Zealand, desired after the war to bring out from Great Britain their brothers and sisters, many of them with families, and the trutees have been glad to help in this direction by meeting the cost of the steamer fares, provided the relations in New Zealand are able to guarantee housing and employment. So far 45 adults and 31 children have been assisted to come to New Zealand under this very satisfactory method.” “The largest sepal ate branch of the fund's activities continues to be assistance to the dependants of men who were killed during either of the two World Wars, and grants are distributed each quarter to a large number of beneficiar.es who are in need of relief. Special attention is given to assistance towards higher education of those dependants who can benefit from same. There are indications that the necessity for asistance is likely to increase substantially in Great Britain, and steps are being taken to meet the position,” states the report.

Wanganui district trustees on the fund are:—Messrs. E. B. Gordon, M.P. (Marton), Alan H. Marshall (Marton), G. L. Marshall (Turakina), John H. Marshall (Taihape) and A. Stuart (Marton).