TO MAKE FARMERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 121, 8 February 1918, Page 8

TO MAKE FARMERS

SALVATION ARMY'S SCHEME PRESENTED WITH 2000-ACRE FARM IN HE WAIKATO A scheme has been devised by the heads of the Salvation Army in New Zealand as the result of a generous gift whioh has recently" been made to the Army. This is a gift of the lease (with right of purchase) of 2060 acres of good light land between Cambridge and Rotorua by Messrs. George Alexander and Ewen M'Gregor, of the Upper Waikato district, both of whom have successfully farmed land of similar quality. 'fhe Army decided that here was an exceptional opportunity for turning out what will be one of Noiv Zealand's greatest needs in the immediate future—good, well-trained farmers and farm labourers. Consideration has been taken of the fact that many young farmers and farm hands have been lost in the war. The Army authorities saw in Messrs. M'Gregor and Alexander's gift the 'chance to do a thing that they reckoned was wanted. It is intended to secure the freehold of the block (which has the new road to Taupo dividing it into halves), and as soon as possible convert it into a general training farm for boys, the bo/s of fallen soldiers preferred. The idea is to secure such boyß and others, between the ages of fourteen and eighteen years, and inculcate in them a love of the 'and, n'hilsfc giving them a sound training in all that appertains to the farming life. A Farm Orphanags. Another source of supply of trainees will -be the boys of the orphanage the Army proposes to establish on the /property. In most cases there is somebody somewhere who keeps an eye oil the orphans in the Army's charge, and who eventually "comes to light" und gives them a start in life. But ixero are some who are absolutely bereft of kith and .kin, and who in such an oi-pha-age would not only -be trained in the principles of Tight an d wrong, but who would be given a sound primary education, and then a solid training in farm tvork, so that they might, eventually take up employment on farms or take up land themselves. The intention is to cover all classes of farming—agricultural, pastoral, dairy, and poultryraising and fcuit-growing—aiid in addition to have schools that will givo the boys more than j a mere smattering of industries allied to farming, such as blacksmithing, saddlery, carpentry, etc. It is calculated that the average lad in four years' time could be turned out a tip-top' farm hand capable of earning the highest market wnges, and a real knuckle ill the backbone of the country.,

"A New Departure." Commissioner H. C. Hodtler, ia giving particulars of the schemo to a Dominion reporter, said that tlie : proposed Army Boys' Training Farm.was si new departure altogether in the activities of the Salvation Army. 'It was something horn, of the tiuias they lived in, and would, he was certain, prove to be a boon and a Hcssing to tlie country, and a means of pulling many a boy on to the track of a good life." AVith worlS crying out fcfood, the advice "Back to the land" must lie something _ more than mere talk. We must act in this country, as thoy must in all countries if the nations are not to starve. Millions of fairness had been killed in this dreadful war, arid it was "up to" every nation to fill their places as soon as possible by training the boys, wiio are too young to'be thought of as soldiers. ' ''This is the first effort f jf thn lind in the southern hemisphere," continued the commissioner; "indeecl, we have-nothing of the kind at all, and are therefore determined to strain every nerve we can to make it a success. In addition to the 2060 acres mentioned we have under offer an' adjoining GOO acres, which would considerably enhance the value of the property, and make it more convenient to handle, in view of tho many branches of farm life we intend to take up.

Help Boys to Help Themselves. "I am so sanguine of success,that it is our intention to make a reserve fund, say, •of half the profits. _ which will serve as a bank from wliich ive can make advances, to suitable boys who wish to take up' land 011 their own behalf. It is only here and .there that you find lads with the gift of management, and only such' boys would expect to profit out of the fund. There may be chances where by putting down £200 or £300 a young man might be able to take up a bit of land and make a home . for himself. Not a' had start in life, you know, to thoroughly equip a lad as a farmer, and then lend him money to take up land 011 his-own! Of course, the majority we woiild turn out would become farm labourers—good farm labourers. At Bayswator (in Victoria), where all classes of lads are j trained, we turn out 80 per cent, ef-' fee.tives, which is not so bad. In connection with tho orphanage, there will be a night school for the farm-boys who imay have been backward in their younger days, or perhaps have neglected to profit by the chances provided by the State. Should circumstances warrant, there may be cases .when lads at Home, bereft by the war of might be spnt out to undergo a farm training, under an arrangement to be made with Commissioner .Lamb, of England, who is being fully advised of the scheme;." 'Hie property is already in the hands of the Army, and the newly-appointed manager,. Commandant Charles Fitness (who has a good, all-round knowledge of farming and carpentry), is .already on the spot directing the .fencing and clearing work now in progress. Commissioner Hodder and Brigadier Bray (director of the Army's social work) left on a visit to the newlyacquired property to-da/