FLOCK HOUSE SCHEME

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 121, 18 November 1932, Page 8

FLOCK HOUSE SCHEME

LEAD TO GOVERNMENT

The opinion that New Zealand was not one-quarter settled was expressed by Mr. Edward Newman, chairman.of trustees, at the annual meeting of subscribers to the New Zealand Shecpowners* Acknowledgment of Debt to British Seamen (Flock House) Fund today. As a member of'the Eailway Board he had returned from V tour of the Dominion with that impression, said Mr. Newman. All over the country he had seen large blocks of land suitable for close settlement, and until more people were transferred from the towns to the country it was difßeult to imagine prosperity for the Dominion. One large block had recently been opened up between Stratford ,and the Main Trunk line, comprising thousands and thousands of acres of land, certainly second-class land, But capable, if cleared, fenced, and top-dressed, of carrying a big population.' and a large amount of store stock. Mr. Newman said he thought it was a pity in view of the large, amount of money spent on single men's camps that the men were not taught to make a living off the land. The question of settling Flock House boys on the land had not been as easy as had been anticipated. The trustees had tried to get a large, block of land which could be improved, and brought into cultivation by the boys. The Government had power to arrange for that .and finance the settlement, but owing to the financial position the scheme had not been carried through. He hoped that sooner or later it would be possible to get some land placed at the disposal of the boys. '.'-.•.. Now that the Government was realising that settlement of the land was a sound way of helping to overcome the present difficulties, Mr. Newman added, he strongly urged.that it should seriously consider the possibility of establishing institutions similar to Flock House elsewhere in New Zealand where the same successful training methods could be carried out. He referred to the splendid opportunities open to good milkers and fencers throughout the country. - J Mr.\T. B." Lees, managing 'trustee, said that no organisation for training young men for the land had finished its job until it had secured opportunities for the best of them to make a start for themselves, and that was where they could legitimately look to ths Government for assistance. After five or six years the Flock House products were strong and lusty young men in the pink of manhood, thoroughly competent farm workers with £150 to £200' saved. They were the young men to place in group settlements on blocks suitable for subdivision into small farms. They would make a success for themselves and the State, and their settlement would relieve the labour market for others. The trustees hoped that their many representations to the Government on those line's would bear fruit