FARM TRAINING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 August 1938, Page 4

FARM TRAINING

OPERATIONS AT SEDGLEY HOME.

“We have 15 acres of land at Sedgley and it is really a farm school for those boys who wish to become farmers or at least farm hands,” said Mr A. Hibbs, manager of Sedgley Home, in the course of an address at the Masterton Rotary Club yesterday. “The farm boys,” Mr Hibbs continued, “are given 'one or two years on the farm. Here they are taught to milk and care for cows, the care of a separator, etc. They are taught to ride and handle a horse, how to repair a fence, also the care of fowls and the growing of crops and gardening. By the time a boy leaves us he is quite capable of going to any farm and in most cases turns out quite well. There is a great demand for these boys. I get applications for farm boys from all over the country. When leaving, a farm boy is given a good outfit and it is not necessary for him to worry about buying clothes for about a year. After this, we keep in touch with him and help in every possible way. He is allowed and very often does return to us for his holidays. This is encouraged only when he has no relatives. At present we have eight boys attending the Wairarapa College, four taking the trades course, two the engineering course, and two wool-clas-sing. These are farm boys.”