FLOCK HOUSE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4534, 22 November 1930, Page 2

FLOCK HOUSE.

ST AT CM MKT Id ROM BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

In response to many requests, Mr. Ed wan'd Newman, Chairman of Trustees, lias furnished the following official statement:— The trustees are fully in accord with the views expressed unanimously Hi mngli out the Dominion and overseas, that the Flock House Organisation should ho continued as a fa Urn training centre for youth's, and will do all in I heir power lo facilitate that course.

Whether the benefits of the sound foundation laid at Flock House shall be secured for other overseas British hoys and girls, or for our own New Zealand born boys and girls, is a matter for the •people (of New Zealand and I lie Government. of the day to decide.

The simple facts are that, tin* transitional stage will commence during the coming year, and the opportunity for extending the ■scheme in any desired direction has arrived. Girls' Flock House has now in /residence the last party of daughters of sailors .killed or disabled during the war, and will be available early next year for training -Vciv Zealand girls if tire opportunity is taken. Flock House station will be required for sons of sailors killed or disabled during the war for some three, or four years, but the transitional period has so closely arrived I hat the numbers of the present class of trainees will begin to diminish next year, and will ‘diminish increasingly each succeeding year, so that an equivalent number of trainees from a different section of the community could be economically received and trained. „

To comply wilh the terms of the trust under which the funds of the society are administered, such entry, of other boys must involve no burden or expense on the present funds of the. society, and the cost of training and aftercare of such boys must be obtained from a different source.

A. great desire has been expressed from England for the continuance of the work for overseas British hoys, and a very considerable offer of finance has been made, but the trustees recognise that, when the special work for which the Flock Houses were established has been completed, an opportunity should be given to the New Zealand Goveimicnt to take advantage of the organisation for the benoiil of the New Zealand born boys arid girl*. By extraordinary process of reasoning, and legal enactments, Hie funds of the Society have been bealvily mulcted in taxation (£38,377), during the process of this work, but the subscribers would no doubl fee! that this grievance was •somewhat removed if the monies la-ken by the State in this way uere used for the continuance and development- of the work. The trustees can do no more than assure the Government and the public of New Zealand that they will do all in their power, compatible. with the terms of their trust, to assist in making Flock House a national institution, and will freely and fully give the benefits of the experience gained during the seven years of most successful I ol’gatii.sation.