AN APPEAL TO FARMERS

Chronicle (Levin), 30 July 1946, Page 4

AN APPEAL TO FARMERS

training centre for boys . In May of last year the management committee. of the Wellington Boys' Institute decided to launch an appeal for £50,000 for the purpose of setting up a farm trainihg centre for boys, wner e Under a flveyear scheme they would be trairied in all aspects of practical farming. The scheme has met v/ith a very ready response thfoxighoUt the Wairarapa, Manawatu andHaWke's Bay districts. The generous action of Mr. A. J. Inglis, of Onga Onga, Hawke's Bay in deeding his valuable property of 1100 acres for the purpose of a farm training centre, has brought the institute within Sight of its objective. . The management committee were also anxious, through the mea'ns of its campaign, to purchase a permanent camp site where city boys could enjoy the attractions of eoufltry life. This objective has now been realised by the purchase of a property at Reikorangi, comprising 12£ acres, part of which is in natural bush. With a river on the property and tlie sea close at hand, this will prove an ideal camping spot. The remaining objective, the, enlargement of its present hostel in Wellington, which accommodates low wage-earning boys who have come to the city to commence their working lives, has still to be attained, and in vieW of the generous support so far given the appeal, the committee feels that this scheme, too, will meet with success. The importance of the farm training portion of this appeal can be readily seen by the man on the land, and an advisory board of farmers has been set up to cooperate with the Boys' Institute to complete the project, ahd will assist in making it a really practical course of training. The selection of suitable lads will receive careful attention, preference being given to sons of deceased servicemen and otherwise to boys in needy circumstances who desire to take up a farming career. - -