FLOCK HOUSE FARM OF INSTRUCTION

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 75, Issue 1, 15 July 1947, Page 5

FLOCK HOUSE FARM OF INSTRUCTION

THERE is an ever-increasing need for trained workers in New -®- Zealand agriculture and the old conception that only the dullard of the family should become a farmer must be disregarded today as farming becomes more specialised and more efficient. The importance of the primary industries to this Dominion demands that the brightest and best boys be educated to take over the ultimate responsibility of working farms. Unfortunately many lads who have some enthusiasm for a farming life are being lost to other walks of life, and one of the chief reasons lies in the lack of opportunities to engage in that calling." It is to overcome this that the Flock House Farm of Instruction has been reorganised and a comprehensive curriculum introduced to give a number of New Zealand boys each year an opportunity of obtaining a sound farm training before entering an agricultural college or going on to a farm for further experience.

■A S well as giving an initial training. * in - all branches of farming J with the companionship of other boys, this course should make a trainee self reliant when he continues his farming career. There is much to learn on a farm nowadays and many farmers are far too busy to give personal tuition in the rudiments of farming operations, so that the course of instruction at Flock House is helping to fill the., need. for a greater number of farm assistants to be made available to the industry. .. ' Flock House Station Flock House Station was originally established in 1924 by the Trustees of the New Zealand Sheep Owners’ Acknowledgment of Debt to the British Seamen’s Fund for the training in agriculture of overseas boys. It was taken over by the New Zealand Government in February, 1937, and is now operated under the direction of the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture.

It is now open to any New Zealand youth between the ages of 15 and 18 who has passed the necessary medical examination and is of good-character and keen on agriculture. There is no entrance fee, the only cost being that of the regulation clothing outfit, a list of which is given later. The course occupies 12 months. The property consists of about 8000 acres lying between the Rangitikei River and the west coast, and varies, from rich alluvial flats along the river frontage to typical sand dune. country along the coast. About 6000 acres are stocked, the balance being devoted to an afforestation, scheme. The property is farmed as far as possible along commercial lines/ with due regard to the initial purpose of training. The farm tools, buildings, and implements are typical of those which would be ' used on any wellequipped farm of similar size and farmed on extensive lines.

Livestock on Flock House Station are as follows: Horses: Sufficient . good - quality draughts are kept for adequate tuition in all horse work. Suitable hacks are available for all stock work. . , Sheep: Approximately 9000. sheep are wintered, including 6000 ewes bred' to Romney and Southdown rams, ewe lambs from the former being retained for replacements in the ewe flock and wether lambs and Southdowns• fattened. ’ ' ■ Cattle: There is a herd of about 100 good type Jerseys and the usual young stock. About 1000 head of well-bred Aberdeen Angus , cattle are run, including a breeding herd of 350 cows. All steers are fattened on the property. A small stud herd is also kept. ->.. ■ Pigs: Purebred Berkshire sows are ; bred to Tamworth boars and all pigs are fattened. Curriculum : While'the new syllabus is based on practical lines, it is essential that all trainees be taught the fundamentals and' principles of agriculture,. and the course has been designed to give complete understanding of what the trainee is doing and why. The main points of the course of instruction are as follows: — There will be approximately 70 lectures. Full use is to be made of the bulletins of , the New Zealand Department of Agriculture and other literature, and these are to be studied in conjunction with the appropriate lecture. Every phase of agriculture is to be covered and cyclostyled lecture papers are supplied to each trainee.

The maxim “Learn by'Doing” is a sound one provided the trainee' fully understands and appreciates what he is doing. • Field days and demonstrations will be arranged to cover such places of interest as fertiliser works, woollen mills, freezing works, dairy factories, and stud farms. Full use will be made of educational sound films and lantern slides to make every angle of tuition clear; Lectures, however, will entail only a few hours each week. The greater part of the training is to be done in conjunction with the usual farm . activities. Under the system of a weekly roster the trainee will learn all . farming. operations by actually doing them and working with the Foremen Instructors responsible for the sections. The major sections under the control of a Foreman Instructor are at present as follows:Dairying, shepherding, cultivation work, fencing, farm carpentering, and horticulture. It has been arranged that all trainees shall . join the local . Young Farmers’ Club at Bulls. They will be able to take part in the club activities and will be in the position when going to another district of really knowing something about the Y.F.C. movement and will be able to take part in the activities of clubs. Progress Reports A system of marking designed to give a true assessment of a trainee’s progress over the 12 months has been initiated. Each week Foremen Instructors will award marks to trainees under their instruction during the week. Short written revisionary tests will be Held quarterly and will give a fair indication of the knowledge absorbed and also an incentive to consistent study of the lecture papers and a full application of. the teachings of the Foreman Instructor. Quarterly reports which will embrace not only the progress made, but also physical development and general behaviour, will be forwarded to trainees’ parents. Trophies are to /be awarded to trainees who have endeavoured to obtain the . maximum from the training offered. Competition, provided it is not overdone, has a considerable value in any training scheme. Sports trophies will also be competed for.' Remuneration Remuneration paid the boys during the 12. months they are at Flock House is -as follows: Amount to be Period Total Remunera- he'd in savings tion per week, account per week. s. d. s. d. Ist 3 months ..26 16 2nd 3 months ..5 0 3 6 3rd 3 months .. 10 0 8 0 4th 3 months .. .17 6 14 6

The three-monthly increase may be postponed or totally declined at the discretion of the Supervising Instructor if the conduct and progress of a trainee are inconsistent with his ability. The compulsory savings account into which the bulk of a boy’s remuneration is paid is opened on the boy’s behalf when he is admitted, and only small amounts are paid to him directly as pocket money. At the end of a boy’s training he may, with the consent of his parents, withdraw his accumulated savings and interest, or undertake to continue to make further regular deposits, or he may leave the money to the credit of his account, which bears interest at the rate of 3 per cent.

Recreational Sport and recreational activities are part of the new curriculum. Football, golf, tennis, cricket, swimming, and baseball are under the direction of housemasters. During the winter boxing, table tennis, hockey, handball, and other forms of recreation are arranged, including dancing practices, debates, and physical culture in the fine recreational hall near the hostel. Dances and social functions are held periodically. Athletic and swimming sports are held each year and every trainee is expected to > compete. Horse events are included in the athletics day programme. . The Country Library Service supplies books to the station and there is a canteen for the boys. Non-denominational church services are held every Sunday by ministers of the various Churches in rotation. Accommodation Trainees are accommodated in the hostel, a two-storeyed concrete building in ideal surroundings, and diningrooms, etc., are in an up-to-date annex. The buildings are lit with electricity. . ’

When . off duty the boys are under the supervision of a Housemaster, the domestic arrangements being in charge of the Matron, who is a fully-qualified nursing sister. The food is good and ample. Rules and Regulations Trainees must at all times conform to the rules, which will be strictly enforced. Any wilful damage will be charged against the boy concerned. Everything possible is done to ensure that the trainees enjoy an instructive, interesting, and happy life during their period of training at Flock House, . but it must also be emphasised that an ordinary standard of . conduct and diligence is expected of them, and any boy who after due warning does not measure up to the required standard and will not play , the game will be discharged. 1 List of Clothing - The following is a list of clothing, etc., required by every trainee on entering Flock House: —1 overcoat, 1 best suit, 2 sports coats, 2 pairs of grey trousers, 3 khaki or dark grey shirts (suitable for working), 3 grey shirts' (school type), 2 best shirts, 3 denim or similar working trousers, 1 working coat, 3 singlets, 3 pairs of underpants, 3 pairs of best sox, 6 pairs of working sox, 6 handkerchiefs, 3 pairs of pyjamas, 3 towels, pullover, 6 pairs of leather laces, 3 , pairs of cotton laces, hat or cap, clothes hangers, hussif, bathers, belts, braces, boot-cleaning outfit, hair, clothes, and tooth-brushes, oilskin, sou’-wester, gumboots, working ; boots (military type, not too heavily. nailed), sandshoes, slippers or sandals, football boots, football jersey and'pants (if footballer), tennis racket (optional), 2 blankets and a rug. Extra garments would be an advantage during training, as many in the foregoing list would require renewal at the end of six months. All clothing should be clearly marked with the trainee’s name. Application and Entry New trainees will be admitted in the middle of January, at the end of May, and at the end of . August. Applications for the end of August are now being received. As accommodation is limited, early application is essential; if the number of candidates exceeds the . vacancies, early applicants will receive priority. The Department of Agriculture will undertake, if desired, to find suitable employment for each boy at the completion of his training, provided his work and conduct have been satisfactory. ...

Any New Zealand youth between 15 and 18 years old who is keen on agriculture and has the necessary medical and character qualifications may become a trainee at Flock House Farm of Instruction. Applications for entry may be made now to The Director, Fields Division, Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3004, Wellington Cl. .•