GALLANT FISHERMEN.

Shannon News, 26 March 1929, Page 1

GALLANT FISHERMEN.

CARING FOR THEIR DEPENDENTS TRIBUTE TO FLOCK HOUSE. 'A very interesting article anent the functions of Flock House appeared in a recent issue of ‘The Fishing News,’ * British journal devoted to the interests of thq fishing industry.! A. 'correspondent of the journal, .evidently one with an intimate knowledge of the Flock House scheme,, writes un,dcvr the eaptaion “A Living War Memorial ’

The High ' Commissioner , -for . New Zealand has recently received information by cablegram of the safe arrival at Auckland of. the s.s. Rotorua. Among the immigrants on board were two girls and four boys, the children of East Coast fishermen, who have gone out to try their fortune in that far-off land., They had been included in a party of 40 girls and boys who had been accepted under' the Flock House scheme. During the voyage, which was made via the Panama Canal, they had , been under the care of Major T. 11. Ivey, D.f>.o., and Mrs, Ivey. The former lias been for three years the London Secretary of the New Zealand Sheepowners’ Acknowledgment of Debt to British Seamen Fund, which was inaugurated as a living' War Mepiorial for the sons, daughters and wards of officers and men of the Royal Navy, Mercantile Marine and Fishing Fleet, who, through their service at sea during the Great War, either lost their lives or were incapacitated by wounds or sickness. . ■ y A 'SKIPPER’S CHILDREN. -

.Our representative recently met'-in London Mr Frank Ivey, who is now < temporarily filling his brother’s position after having been for three years thb "Welfare Officer of the scheme in New Zealand. There he has been in close touch with the girls and boys* both during their training at the Flock 'House hostels and also in their employment on the farms. Helciio'ws each, of' them personally, although number under the care ofpthe, fii'ftcU in New Zealand now When asked regarding their success, Mr Ivey readily furnished information of a most encouraging nature. He pointed to the fact that the benefits of the scheme! are best known to the. families from which a son or daughter •has passed through Flock- House and in consequence of whose advice their brother, sisters, cousins and friends are following them to: the Dominion. Two girls ill the last party —the blisses Margaret and Annie Robinson —have gone out to join a brother and siste->-who left this country over, three years, agq. The latter is in a position on a farm .where she not only lives! as bm-, of the family, helping the mistress of the house in all the work, but also drives her employers in their saloon car. The breadwinner of these young people lost his life when the Grimsby trawler “Begonie” was blown up during the war, of which vessel he wa.\ skipper. REMARKABLE SAYINGS.

Since the first Flock House boys finished their training and started work on farms in New Zealand in January. the young emigrants have together saved, over £13,000. This ir made up of individual amounts'- vary ing up to £l5O each. Many of tin lads during the period of their threfyears’ apprenticeship have save as ; much as £IOO. When aske., how this was achieved, Mr Ivey ex plained in detail the arrangem.cn whereby two-thirds of the earnings o. each trainee is received by the Treat urer of the fund and regularly banket, and invested on his or her behalf. £' great incentive to save is held out U all. the young people by., the promise of a subsidy to each., one who make: •rood'. This is expected to be a§ much ns’fifteen,, shillings. on every' £1 saved By the means, of- a lad’s, own savings, the subsidy, from, the fund, and tin other financial assistance J ’wh : ch, it iu hoped, x will •be forthcoming, there .is nip reason why any lad who is a willing worker and has initiative shpuid ■)dt jnake a, start for..-,himself on ,a small farm:,when lie has alfeo obtained, sufficient experience.. In reply -to an inquiry as to the girls, it was state*; that, they would receive financial help on the same lines as the boys, but thai details had not yet been finalised.

LOWESTOFT BOYS. When , asked - for details regarding the son of a fisherman , who wgs. apparently making good, the name of Frederick J. Melhuish waswgiven. His father, lost his life whilst serving as mate of the .Lowestoft-smack-•‘■‘•lvy,” which was mined in December, 1914. The lad went out -to Flock House in July, 1925, and . was aprenticed in employment in February, 19215,, after a period of six months’ training. He started, work at 22/6 per week, in addition to free board : and. lodging. In June, 1928, he had 'a credit balance from, his earnings of nearly £7O, and had his life insured in a policy of £2OO.

The question of life insurance was fully considered bv the trustees of the fund who decided that, in view of its many advantages, all boys now accepted under the scheme must" be willing to have their lives insured for amounts varying from £ 200 to £4OO. The children of other Lowestoft fishermen’s families are doing equally well. Two lads, Ernest and Lewis Utting, the sons of the mate of the “Lord Carnarvon,” who lost his life when that trawler was mined in No*

vcmbciy]9l4, have in two years saved' i~ £6O and £45 respectively. Our repre- V.T sentativc .saw photographs of various V young emigrants which gave a good , indication of the healthy, happy lives A that fanning in New Zealand brings/ ' •GIRDS.’- SCHEME. , In ] cply to inquiries regarding the • scheme-for girls, .Mr Ivey assured our , . representative that the girls are being * > even more successful in their savings than the boys. T'hey are trained in , the lighter brandies oH farm work such as imv.il ry-keppiug, dairying and.,,'gardening, and aie also instructed in nil ordinary household duties. After -- , six months-’ training they are provid- .*• ed'with positions -on farms to which - . they sec m to be.. best suited at an average commencing wage of 20s per '■ week with • free boa:d and lodging. Animal increases of os per week are ; usually .given, so that several! of - the

girls of the earlier parties are now. receiving 30s per week. New Zealand ' opens up a new L'fc for girls where there are giinner pas.lbiiiti; \ and to those who are not. satisfied with their present prospects and have the courage to seek a career, in a new country, ~ the Flock House scheme offeis a safe- ’ guarded way to eligible families. The benefits granted to the accepted candidates, both boys and girls, in- ' elude a free passage to New Zealand under a welfare officer or matron, and . a- free outfit of, clothing. Even the medical examination and dental treatment are provided, at the expense of '. ‘he fund. Mr. Frank' Ivey, Iho Welfare Officer of the scheme, will be glad :o reply to any■ inpviries addressed to him care, of .the High Commissioner f0r..... Ne\v Zealand until 11a:eh, 1929, /■- when he is due to return to the dominion with a party of 30 lads who are going opt under his care to a land of <‘The Better Chance.” lie will then resume his work as Welfare Officer, ■ which .necessitates" travelling hundreds of miles' by train',, car, boat and horseback to visit the girls and hoys at. their work and to satisfy him-;; { self that 'they are suitably placed and receiving considerate treatment. It is -y obvious that under t-lie. Flock House C scheme every effort is made to safe- . .; guai-d the welfare of the; young peo- ’ • ' pie entrusted to the care of the trus- . ■ tee's. ' ■. It'

TIIE FOUNDER. It is interesting to, note that the' ;, money with which the scheme is fin- \ an.ced .was subscribed by the sheepowners of 2s ew Zealand to show their appreciation. to the men of the sea for what they did during the Great War. To the Hon. Edward Newman, G.M.G., M.L'C., of New Zealand, must be given the honour of being the found- : er of the scheme in which ho still .takes an active interest as chairman of the Beard of Trustees. Its success is very largely due to the. watchful guidance of Mr T. It. Lees, who has been managing 'trustee of the fund since its inception, and to the loyal band of officers that he has gathered • around him. realise that in as;, sisting these young people to carve for themselves successful careers in . New Zealand, they are providing an opportunity such as might have been given tliem by their brave fathers, " and are thus establishing that structure o£ a living War Memorial,.