Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 29 June 1932, Page 4

Ix connection with the Flock House scheme for training sons of members of the expeditionary forces in agriculture, owing to their being a shortage of trainees offering the’r services, it has been, -decided to admit lads within the ages of 13 years to 19 years. The reason for this decision is that the majority of members of the Expeditionary Force were single men and the Armistice wan signed only 13-1 years ago so that comparatively few sons of soldiers were eligible for admission to the institution. No actual new minimum age wan fixed, but it is to be regarded as the age at which trainees had left school after passing standard six. even though it meant that some bovs would be nligbtlv under 13 when they app’icd for admission to Flock House. The maximuni age for admission lias also boon increpised to 19 yearn, and it is hoped that these changes will lead lo a. large increase in applications. The. last overseas lad will leave left Flock Honsby the- cud of this ’"o”ih. when there will be 26 -to 30 New Zealand boys in residence the”". T he norma! capac’tv of t>-.. Iwrse is 6 A - bevs every eight months an annual quota of 90 boys, so that the institution will then O'dv be working :d lr’-f eaprety. At tlm Present time there are 1-1 New Zealand bovs at the farm, seven bei'g from Wellington, two from Gi-borno and live from Dunedin, leav’Wr immediate vacancies b.- 46 more lads. aw] nop’icatioiK; lu>vo been received a”d flic finance yivnv'Jenl for about 20 of tWe. The quota o" (minors has been allocaiod to the -Mrious provinces on :> population basis, Mint of VVoslb>'id being for arc, which so far lias net been availed of The. training will bo (lie same as tin t given to the sons of British scamp-.q and at tlie end of H

their cource the boys will be drafted out to employment with selected farmers. The cost, which includes partial equipment, works out at -approximately £54, of which £25 will be contributed by the Government. The balance- for the Westland trainee is being arranged for by the Hokitika Returned Soldiers’ Association.