FLOCK HOUSE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 386, 22 November 1932, Page 7

FLOCK HOUSE

unique memorial EXTENSlON OF TRAINING TO SONS OF N.Z. SOLDIERS. TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT. During the year all the English boys in training at the date of last annual report were placed in satisfactory employment. The year has again been one of the greatest difficulty for those engaged in farming operatiofts, but is pleasing to record that the enquiry for Flock House boys has been greater -than the supply available, states the annual report of the Flock House Board of Trustees presented at th'e annual meeting on Friday last. Undouhtedly this is due to recognition of the sound initial training which they have reeeived and to the good tepute gained as earnest and honest workmen. Very many adjustments and transfers have been caused by the troublous times farmers are passing through, and the welfare work has been particularly ardu&us, but Flock House boys and girls have secured fbr themselves a name and place in the farming community which has been very helpful to tbem in the last two years. Sincere thanks are due to the Womens' Division of the New Farmers' Union, the Y.W.C.A. and Y.M.C.A. for close co-op eration with the officers of the fund in looking after the young people. During the year several young men have reeeived assistance from the trustees to make a start on land for themselves with good prospects of success, and many oth'ers are anxious to follow suit and are only waiting for suitable opportunities to present themselves. New Zealand Soldiers' Sons. As the result of the ofter extended by the trustees last year, a large &onference of representatives of Patriotic and War Relief Associations and Returned Soldier Associations throughout New Zealand was held at Flock House on February 24, 1932, ^ under the chairmanship of Gen'eral Sir Andrew -Russell, K.C.B., K.G.M.G. An anncuncement was made from the Prime Minister that the Government Would grant a subsidy of £1 for £1 up to £25 for each each (being a son of a Nfcw Zealand soldier who served in the war) trained at Flock House.

The confercnce unanimously and euthusiastically decided to take advantage of the opportunity for the sons of New Zealand soldiers and committees were set up in each district, with a strong central committee at Wellington, to arrange finance and details. New Zealand boys commenced to enter Flock House in April and at the date of this report 57 are in training, with a further 33 arranged for up to March 31, 1933. The boys are a fine type of young New Zealand, are taking full advantage of the opportunities, and will turn out a credit to Flock Hcuse and to their parents. All parts of New Zealand are represented as will be seen by the following list of the homes of the boys:— Auckland Province, 11; Poverty Bay, 2; Hawke's Bay, 4; Taranaki, 4; Rangitikei, 4; Manawatu, 3; Wairarapa, 2; Wellington, 7; Canterbury (North and Mid), 7; South Canterbury, 3; Otago and Southland, 10; total 57. Also the service of the fathers is most fully representative, ten having service in the Main Body, and nearly every reinforcement from the 1st to the 3-2nd and the Air Force being represented. Eighteen fathers made the supreme sacrifice. It is of interest to record that th'e Women' s Division of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, which has been so helpful in looking after the welfare of the Overseas boys and girls in employment, has arranged to finance four New Zealand boys at Flock House, and has undertaken to interest itself in the future welfare of .all the New Zealand boys when they go out to employment. The trustees are particularly gratified that, as conditions have f orced the cessation'of training the sons of British Searoen who served in the war, it has been p'ossible to extend this unique War Memorial to the sons of New Zealand soldiers. Farm Operations. Owing to the very low prices for produce, the year has been a most difficult one from a financial point of view, but, by economies in every possible direction, the result of the year's operations as shown by the statement of accounts is not unsatisfactory. The stock wintered on the station (excluding horses) amount to 8480 sheep (including 5360 breeding ewes), 1100 run Aberdeen Angus cattle (including 376 breeding cows), 139 cattle and 110 pigs. The maintenance in first-class order, and ren'ewals were necessary, of buildings, fences, yards and drains, and the continuance of the policy of top-dress-ing, has been, as usual, a charge on the year's revenue. The programme of development of the gorse .and scrub0 eountry by tractor harrowing and ploughing has been continued with excellent results, and continued attention has been given to protection from erosion of the river flat land by willow plantations. The tree-pdanting policy of the trustees has been continued by planting of a further 70,000 forest trees )mostly pinus radiata and macrocarpa) on the sand dune eountry and in planta- , tions on the run. All the young trees have been grown, as usual, in the nUrsery on the station. A considerable area of marram planting has again been done on the sand dune eountry. to stabilise shifting sand in preparation for future tree-planting. The area of original sand dune country now planted in forest trees is approximately 570 acres, and the trees have coptinued to make excellent growth'. j