VICTORIA LEAGUE

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 24, 29 January 1938, Page 18

VICTORIA LEAGUE

A PLEASANT ADDRESS

> Mrs. Seward, who announced herself f as a "thorough Cockney," but who is • immensely interested in the rest of the world as well as her wonderful Home city, was the guest of honour at a pleasant afternoon party given yester- . day in the charming room in the D.I.C. j Building which belongs to the Victoria League. In the afternoon sunshine the room ' looked its best with artistic furnishings, and the central table was adorn 1 ed -with some beautiful sweet peas. Pink and blue hydrangeas were used >in other parts of the room, and a de^ licious afternoon tea was served by the always-helpful hon. treasurer (Mrs. IC. Corrigan)' and the secretary (Mrs. Hampton Brown), assisted by other members of the committee. Only committee members and Officials were present, as it was felt that with so many people still away it was' not' possible to arrange a bigger reception for Mrs. Seward; though the league members would; have had great pleasure in meeting her. ' " : SOME EMPIRE WORK. Mrs. Seward gave a most interesting talk about Fairbridge Farm School, which is situated not far from Perth, Western Australia, and which she had visited and inspected with great enjoyment. She told a little about Kingsley Fairbridge, the founder of the .school first of all. Of Scottish and Yorkshire parentage he was born in a very lonely part of South Africa. When quite a. small boy he used to amuse himself with peopling in imagination the district- around him, and making it all like Grahamstown, which he :occasion-i ally visited.* ■On the lonely hot veldt 1.----he, evolved ideas as .. he■• grew older! which later, became., a great immigra- j tion scheme. After many -difficulties and much hard work he succeeded in becoming a Rhodes Scholar, and while at Oxford he made friends who later helped him in his schemes for taking away from the crowded cities the young boys and girls who were suitable for. a new country South Africa (as so often happens) was not im- ' pressed with the ideas of its own "prophet," so, in ,1913 he. took out to Australia the first batch of young people, drawn from Dr. Barnardo's and other well-known institutions, ;as well as from very poor homes in slum districts. The children were thoroughly examined for health both before they left and after their arrival at the first farm. There were at least 800 wellknown prosperous hard-working citir zens in the districts, as the result of this effort, in the course of a few years, and probably many more who had gone further afield. The Western Australian Government and people all combined" to - help the • scheme, realising the value of the' young citizens to people their country desirably- ■ As a matter' of fact only 2 per cent, failed to come up to the standard set. and these were retufned to the Old Country. The children were brought out at about the age of nine approximately, and were under contract to keep on the farms till the age"-of 21. Then they were provided with suitable employment, and each place was well scrutinised before one of the farm boys or girls was allowed to take the place. Then if they were not happy or well treated they'could come back "home," and a special buildina was provided for these visitors, ,;while something else was. sought for ,them.:: No parents could be more careful with a huge family than the rnanagers:,.of,.the Fair- . bf idgejiFpms. v £:j; ■; ,/■ 7 ; ' " ;■ LOVE OF BEAUTY. ■' The young people are housed in cottages^ built;'rather-: in the Swiss chalet . style, as love of- beauty was encouraged, and efforts made to avoid ugliness of any kind. Twenty children went to a cottage, and in each was a . "mother" who took charge and directed 'their lives. They all helped with * the 1 housework, except anything too c .heavy, for,..them,., and... a Government ] school and teachers were provided, ".so * education went on steadily. Tljis \Y as * lesseßed,-after..-the;|i|e%oi:44y-:.an:d then l brie ;:-week^'in vthree-was"given1 up|to £ specialised training in whatever the child, was. inpst;'suitable (and ,'had? a * taste 'for, as this'was considered: a mat- r ter of importance. All kinds of farm € work- was done, dairying/ cropping, r etc., and there was a forge where all . kinds ...of. mending...was. taught as well l as, shoeing- "• The -girls received train- c ing in domestic science .with food s values*-and; care ,of .little, children. * Games;, were a :pa'rt of'the.', life* of the farms as well. ' " ''■-■'.-/ DOMESTIC ARRANGEMENTS. I No uniforni -was'worn; the "mothers" arid'nicely, fand;{K"oldef "girls' helped, "t When there was a fancy dress ball ■■ (of a which Aheyxwefe;>extremely fond) they v made their fawn*costumes- and many s friends from outside sent in bright and r suitable bits arid pieces which were used up to the. last scrap. No shoes • or stockings were, worn as the part"of the country was very wet, much rain j. failing most of the year, and as a pre- 0 ventive of colds this precaution was j found admirable. Food was good with V plenty of home-grown vegetables arid -£ fruit, and: each was required to take c 1J pints of milk per. day. .. Cream \yas given daily on porridge and puddings. ■ Mrs. ; Seward made - her.. •. listeners ~ smile about the^eggs: "as she said they ' c only had them twice a week, but as „ there were 350 children, that was not 0 a' matter for surprised Gymnasium and r dancing were among the amusements. Mrs. Seward was quite impressed with * the trouble taken to impress the. children the fact that they are Eng- • lish, and belong to the British Empire, ■~ which is placed before them as the.J ideal, .and they are -made to realise , that .privilege. ,Irt' fact, no way of ?| making them good pitizens in the future was neglected. \ ":/■ - * The children who helped in man- f agement of any kind-;wore a badge of office, of which they, were exceedingly ? proud; "''_ Religious,- matters were regarded,: "'•of...course,;'-an'd services held. A- morning-service was held. quite ?, brief, arid interesting^ by a padre from -.• Durham. ; ■■/.. ,■■ .. " GENEROUS HELP. , A:.very.-sacred: spot was .where Mr.: C Fairbridge •.is: buried. It is enclosed. P and always kept beautiful with flowers. There is a visiting committee from the a Countrywomen's Association, and help fi is always readily given where needed, r.' Lord Nuffleld (the ever-generous) sent t< the Farm a gift of £5000 after his .y, visit there, the Armstrong-Siddeley c: Company gave a huge donation. The b capital behind the Farms now was. l'< £200,00p, but this was supplemented by a the Government, as well as by private people, all of whom - valued the fact si that, the farms are producing a type of a: colonist which is going to be of im- .a mense value in the future as it has been in the past. .■ ■.:. . ■ v\ In moving the hearty vote of thanks to Mrs. .Seward,: the :president of the ■'■■ Victoria League (Mrs. „•. A. Doctor) * said how very desirable it would be ■■• for similar farms to be established in 1; New Zealand for the. training of use- R ful people who would''be accustomed y to country'life; arid ready to help in E home's and on farms, 'instead of all N crowding into the towns soon after o they.:, arrived in this country. y It^.was; stated that Mr. Beauchamp, a p New■■: ;Zealander, had recently left to a take charge of one of the Fairbridge tl Farms near Orange,, and it is -hoped &sf nsvwill bs". able-tb forward r ■' any p. plans of the kind in his own country, g,