FLOCK HOUSE

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 9817, 22 February 1936, Page 3

FLOCK HOUSE

REVIEW OF YEAR’S WORK. MEETING OF SUBSCRIBERS. LAND POLICY WANTED. WELLINGTON, Friday. At the annual meeting of subscribers to the New Zealand Sheepowners’ Acknowledgement of Debt to British Seamen Fund (otherwise known as the Flock House Scheme), the chairman of the board of trustees, Mr Edward Newman, said that since the commencement of operations of the fund the following assistance had been given to British seamen and their dependants: Cash grants to beneficiaries in New Zealand and overseas, £61,847; loans to beneficiaries (outstanding), £1695; immigration training, after-care and settlement of boy and girl dependants, £84,514; total, £148,056. In moving the adoption of the report of the trustees, which was carried, Mr Newman remarked that a land policy was wanted in New Zealand, that, without injustice to the present owners of land, and after providing for all personal and family claims, would prevent single individuals from blocking settlement by holding back large areas of first-class land suitable for close settlement. The first step must be the classification of land according to its carrying capacity of human population. Revert to Original Purpose. “The last overseas boys left Flock House in 1932, and although for three years the same work has been carried on with local boys with good results, this is not the work for which Flock House was established,” stated the annual report. “It is hoped at some not far distant date to be able to make such arrangements that the Flock House training establishment can revert to its original or a similar purpose, and that seamen’s sons who are wards of the fund can again be trained for a farming career, and later assisted to acquire their own homes in New Zealand.” The organisation had kept in the closest possible touch with the 763 overseas boys and girls who had been trained at Flock House. They had all become an integral part. of the community and little oversight was required. A further 97 New Zealand soldiers’ sons were received at Flock House last year. Eighty-one completed their training, leaving 51 in residence. All those who left were placed in permanent positions, at lair rates of wages, with good living conditions and opportunities lor further advancement. Very great difficulty Had been experienced in keeping the number of trainees up to that required for economical management. The property formerly used for the training of girls at Palmerston North was no longer required, and steps had been taken to subdivide it, and it would be offered for sale.