FLOCK HOUSE WORK

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 515, 19 November 1928, Page 13

FLOCK HOUSE WORK

435 CHILDREN TRAINED SUCCESSFUL YEAR Up to June 30, 362 boys and 73 girls, after having completed their initial training at Flock House Station anti Girls’ Flock House, have been placed in employment in the Dominion. This is recorded in the eighth annual report of the New Zealand Sheepowners’ Acknowledgment of Debt to British Seamen Fund. The Flowk House Station property has been considerably improved, and during the year 50.000 trees were planted on the sandy coastal areas, bringing a total of 450 acres under trees. The report, which acknowledges the assistance of the Y.M.C.A.. and Y.W.C.A., and outlines the general measures taken for the after-care of trainees, points out the responsibility that rests with the employers, and quotes the remarks of the GovernorGeneral, Sir Charles Fergusson, in this respect:— •‘lf the farmers will exercise patience and forbearance and give wise guidance, and if the farmers’ wives will take the same personal interest in these fatherless girls and boys as they would like to have shown to their own sons and daughters if separated from them, then there is nothing to fear for their future.” The report deals favourably with the suggestion of Mr. L. S. Amery, made during his visit to Flock House, that the New Zealand Government should join with the Imperial Government on • a fifty-fifty basis as the Canadian Government had done, in providing proved trainees with capital to start on their own account. During the year £ 563 was paid In grants to disabled sailors and their dependants in New Zealand. Since the commencement of the fund tlio following assistance lias been giv.en to British, seamen and their dependants: Cash grants to beneficiaries, New Zealand, £25.061; London, £3O/864; outstanding loans to beneficiaries. £3,333; immigration, training and settlement in New Zealand of boy and girl dependants, £35,496; a total of £94.754.

Last year a gross income of £9,179 was derived from wool and livestock, the Flock House Station farming account showing a profit for the year of £4,058. Among the assets of Flock House as shown on the balance-sheet are: Land, buildings and improvements, £ 94.395; live stock, £11,837; implements, plant and tools, £2,202. The total is £112,779. ,

Tho Government has been paid £37,490 to date in taxation, made up of land tax, £2,4*92, and income tax, £34,998. This is equal to per cent, of the original amount subscribed to tho fund.