The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1930. A HAPPY ISSUE.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 November 1930, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1930. A HAPPY ISSUE.

One oi' the nappiest ismies or the war was tue tisuumsumeiH or Flock in Ae w Zealand. .1 nis came about as a farm train mg scheme unuer the lVew Zealand fcilmepowneiu him d. 'the scheme was originated in the L'ouiinlon as a memorial in recognition of the services of British seamen during the war in keep.ng the seas clear for the transport of New Zealand produce. It was an admirable philanthropic enterprise, pnder which the sons and daughters of iijilish sailors who lost their lives or were incapacitated during the war have been given the opportunity of coming to New Zealand and receiving a training ol the kind best calculated to enable them to become useful country settlers. The scheme has operated with conspicuous success, thanks to excellent organisation and careful supervision, from the selection in London of the boys and girls who should be sent out to the system under which the welfare of ..the young people is kept in view a lor the positions on stations and fa rail) have been found for them. Up to the present 575 hoys and 128 girls have been brought out to New Zealand to receive training at Flock House Station or at Girls’ Flock House and to he. afforded a good start in life. In the latest annual report it was observed that the past year was a difficult one for the farming community, and some of the older hoys had become unsettled by the apparently high rates of wages offered for other 'labour. It was instructively added: “Experience has shown that these high rates of daily wages, alternating with periods of unemployment, arc a delusion, and invariably result in depleting to a vanishing point savings made while in farm employment. Milieu realisation has arrived those young people have found it difficult to got hack to their earlier standing.’ It is estimated that the personal assets of the Flock House hoys and girls in cosh savings, life assurance payments, horses, dogs, and equipment cannot be less, and are probably greater. y.lian £451,000. Twoirty-Hiree of I,l l osc vouiig people have married and sett! d down in their own establishments. The Trustees have in contem,)lat i 'ii a scheme for group settlement in tlic ease of the older youths who liavo accumulated sufficient savings to on aide them to make a start ior themselves, That results of this kind have liooii advantageous to the Dominion is sufficiently apparent,. As to the future oT this institution there is now, however, a question calling for decision. Mr E. Newman, Chairman of the Trustees, has pointed out that l,l v o snoeiol work for which the bionic House scheme was instituted is drawi„<r lo a close. The ourstion arises whether the scon- of the institution should bo ox,tended so as to include other British boys and gir'»s, or whether tho organisation should he continued for the benefit of young New Zealanders. As the drnmmd from boys and girls from the Old Country

upon the present accommodation diliiinislies, the opportunity is offered of providing lor New Zealand boys and girls under this selieme. The utilisation of it would initiate what might l)t> regarded as an easy transition. The trustees would leave the matter to the decision of the Government and the people of the Dominion. It would he unfortunate if the Flock House scheme wore just to come to a .natural end and the country lie deprived of the benefits which it has been deriving from an admirable institution. The national aspect of tin matter, considers Urn Otago Times, merits consideration. The organisation and equipment exist, and it would be a. logical step on the Government’s part, to take advantage of this and embrace the o , '>port”nity which is open to it of making Flock House a national institution. Thus would there bo perpetuation of a war memorial of which the conception has always made its appeal for admiration.