HANDING-OVER OF FLOCK HOUSE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 23, 11 February 1937, Page 6

HANDING-OVER OF FLOCK HOUSE

-Own Correspondent.)

The Change to Government Control HISTORIC GATHERING

(By Telegraph-

PALMERSTON N., This Day. There was an historic gathering in picturesque surroundings on the steps of Floch House, Bulls, yesterday, when with due ceremoily the trustees for- i mally handed over their charge to tho j Government, the official -representatives of which were the Hon. W. Lee Martin, Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. F. Langstone, Minister of Lands, Mr A. H. Cockayne, .Director-Genei'al of Agriculture, and Mr N. T. Latnbourne,' Director of Education! Representing the trustees were JVjjr Edward Newman, G.M.G. (chairman), who -was master of ceremonies, Mr T. R. Lees, managing trustee, and Mr J. Linklater, deputy-chairman. There" was reveal-* ed avrecord of hotable achievemeut and a note of sadness in handing, over a duty well done. In formally takmg over. Flock House Station, the Government has. acquired, in addition to the buildings* and plant, Farming land (acres) 6,061 Afforestation . land (acres) 2,200 Sheep (including 6200 bdg. ewes 12,223 Aberdeea Angus run cattle 1,084 Aberdeen Angus . stud cattle ... 96 Dairy cattle 171 Pigs 98 Draught - horse* 19 Hacks , 21 The Minister. of Education, the Hon. P. Fraser, in a message, said : . "1 have always .taken a keen interest in the splendid work of the -trustees, whose devotion and' experience will, I hope, be at the service of the depaitments. which are'to participate in the administration of the scheme in the future. I look forward to the work oeirig carried on in;the same fine spirit as hitherto .now that it is to be extended to our New Zealand boys. I can assure you the Education Department will $0 everything possible to make th© new Hook House scheme a great success." Tli* New Order.

"In the future Flock House will be under the cbntrol of the Agricultur© Department, but the Lands Depart* ment and Education Department will be ' in * close association with all tbe activities," said Mr Le© Martin. "The excellent ■ work carried out at Flock House for th'e sons of British seamen and later for the sons of retumed sol(fiers wiU -form an excellent basis for training' operations under Government control. l4e •' exi'sting eourse covers all feypes of . farming as well as tuition iv i'arm carpen'try,' etc. ' "The uitimate policy of the Government is to extend ' opportunity for practical agricultural training to all young New Zealanders who intend to follow agricultural pursuits. We are not contemplating making "any drastio changes from the policy which th* trustees have pursued. "We propose, however, extending the training term from eight to 12 months ( and the inclusion of tuition jn simple bookkeeping methods, which must be regarded as a necessary adjunet to successful farming. We propose also to arrange iecture* from time to time on elementary civics and other subjects, which will help our future fariners in their cbmmunity Jif*. We also hope that use may be made of the wealth of talent at Massey Coilege. The recreat.ional aspect also will not be overlooked. We recognise that growing boys in their periods of leisure need a suitable outlet for their super"abundant energy. To meet this need organised games such as cricket, football, - and like sports will receive ©very encouragement. Ihe apprenticeship scheme which lias been a feature of Flock House, by which boys on completion of " their training are placed as apprentices with selected farmers, will be continued and the extent to which the Government will assist ftuitable young men to take up farming on their own account after completion of their apprenticeship is receiving consideration. "There is a further period which requires bridging because at 19 years of age'few, if any, would be capable of going cut on their own. We wii; be glad to discuss this with the trustsues in the Iight of the experience they have gainei over the years. Ihe vital liriportance of successful farming and successful farmers to the well-bting of the Dommion is fuliy recognise i cy the Government, and we shall utilise this institution to the fullest extent in meeting the demands for the agricultural training of our t'uture farmers.'' Many Trainees.

"We have tramed and placed iu employment on farms and stations nearJy one thousand and tifty young people, iu addition to the forty-five still 111 residence at Flock House to-day, and all these young people look back on their months at Flock House as among the iiappiest in theii lives, and very many of them as*the strart of a prosperous career," said Mr T, R? Lees. "Over 700 of these young people are our ' own wards, who can still look to the trustees for help and advice as long as the fund i* in existence. Further, we are handing over to the Crown a very fine farming property, which we have gieatly . improved and developed on souud lines and which is capabie of still ereater develooment.

"If Flock; House proves its value as an agricultural training centre— ab I have the utmost confidence it will do,'' said Mr Lee Martin, replying to Mr Lees, "it may mean that further institutions oi a similar nature will have to be established. That, however. is ior t'uture consideration, but it does emphasise tlie necessity of proceed ing upon sound iines -so that the experience gained may be turned to the best advantage in meeting the national needs in counection with primai'y pioduction.'1 Voicinjj his pleasur© in participating

in such an historic gathering and the change-over of the trust, Mr Langstone said it wa© the unanimous opinion througha.ut the Dominion that Flock Hous© had been of wonderful value ta the economic life of the country. No words could portray the great service and labour of love of the chairman, nor the effect on the lives of those privileged to enter the institution. The establishment of Flock House had been au idea and ideal to which the trustees had given practical effect. The value of any individual was deterinined by his knowledge and hf>v that knowledge wa* applied.