SOLDIER POULTRY FARMERS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17121, 16 April 1921, Page 3

SOLDIER POULTRY FARMERS.

TRAINING AT CASHMERE. Acting on expert medical advice in regard to the most suitable ocdupation for tuberculosis patients to follow on discharge from treatment, the Defence Department, through 'its Vocational Training Branch, has expended a considerable! amount .of energy on the training of patients and out-patients of the Caahmere Military Sanatorium, in the poultry farming industry. A report just compiled by the District Vocation Officer on the past year's working of tho Cashmere Poultry i'arm, which the Department established at the 'begining of 1920, indicates that very successful results have been ! obtained, not only in training men for an industry mitablp and beneficial to their health, but also in keeping up the steady supply of eggs necessary foe thair medical treatment. During tho year 106 service men have received instruction at tlie farm for' periods of from three to six months per man. Of tjieee, E6 or© still undergoing traiuing, approximately 30 are now and doing well- in poultry farms of their own in tho South Island, while the remainder have either settled, or are about to settle as poultry farmeia in other parts of the Dominion, or have found themselves unsuited to tho work. It is understood that the percentage of tho last-named is small.

Though tho Bcopo of the Vocatioj.al t Training Branch iB confined to men under treatment in military institutions, or, in other words, to the' peripd during which men are still a 'liability of thet Defence Department, exception has been, made at tho Cashmere Farm in favour of approved Repatriation Department trainees, who previously received treatment. for tuberculosis. Thus, it has' been possible for an in-patient trainee to continue his training, under thei same instructor, ' after -discharge from tie Military Sanatorium, with a sustenance grant from the .Repatriation Board. Forty-ona men have (jhua received unbroken instruction during tire past year, and tho ultimate results have been eminently satisfactory. Tho actual training cost to the Defence Department per man, as represented by the dsbit balance of the farm's profit and 1033 aocount. for the year, is only £L la 8d for an average course of live This low figure is mado possible by the farm's output. During the year ended March 31st last 55,523 eggs were laid, realising the sum of £173 149 2d on disposal to the Military and Civil Sanatoria ait Cashmere; 516 hatchings out of 64G eggs put down for incubation were re-cordi-i for tho twelve months. ,The wholehearted work done by the trainees, all of whom have been very enthusiastic, has resulted in a gross profit on the yearly v.'orking account of £237 3s 3d. This is regarded as very satisfactory, not merely from ill® Departmental point of view of economy, but also as indicating that in financing exservice men as prqspcctive poultry fanners, the Government runs little risk of loss, where it is assured of steady and well-directed effort.