H—2o

The orchard also promises well this year. This is another avenue for suitable and interested inmates to learn very suitable and congenial work. Should the occasion arise, the advice of officers of the Department of Agriculture is always available and is freely given. The crop from the apiary also promised to be in excess of that of last year, and should also be of good quality. The crop is expected to be in excess of 4,000 lb. Some progress has been made during the year on much-needed maintenance, but much still remains to be done. The building of the new dairy was the only new major work undertaken, and this occupied a considerable time. The shortage of material to some degree hampers this work, but it is hoped the position in this respect will improve in the near future. In general it is fitting to record that at this institution any lad who wishes to apply himself can obtain a really good grounding in all phases of farming work. Summed up, the activities cover dairying, sheep-farming, pig-raising, orchard and apiary work, and also cropping for feed. There are also the annual activities of handling young stock, and the working of horse teams. The surroundings are very good, and while discipline may at first appear to be irksome, this is essential and must be maintained if proper training is to be provided. The past year has been the first full year of the operation of the forty-hour week. This presented difficulties at first but these have in the main been overcome, and while a certain amount of overtime must continue to be paid, this is, I think, kept to reasonable proportions, in keeping with the essential requirements of the institution. The maintenance of proper discipline and the proper carrying-out of the work to be done is dependent to a very great extent on the assistance and the loyal co-operation of the staff. I wish to record that every help has been given me, and I desire to record my thanks.

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