SHEEPOWNERS’ FUND

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 11, 10 December 1926, Page 4

SHEEPOWNERS’ FUND

ANNUAL MEETING OF TRUSTEES. SUCCESS OF FLOCK HOUSE SCHEME, The sixth annual meeting of the New Zealand Sheepowners’ Acknowledgment of Debt to British Seamen Fund was held at Wellington yesterday, Hon. Edward Newman, chairman of trustees, presiding. ANNUAL REPORT. Inter alia, the annual report stated: The work attached to the selection, equipment and emigration of boys and girls for training at Flock House Station and Girls’ Flock House has now become the paramount duty of the London Advisory Committee. The committee is careful not to paint the prospects in New Zealand in too glowing colours but to impress on all applicants that their future will be determined by their own industry, thrift and determination to succeed. A pleasing feature of the past year has been the number of applications from brothers and sisters of boys who came to New Zealand with previous drafts, showing clearly that such boys are confident of a happy future in New Zealand and wish their brothers and sisters, and later their mothers, to share that future.

In referring to money expended in assisting disabled sailors and their dependants, either in New Zealand or in England, the report stated that, during the year, consideration was given to 57 applications for financial assistance, and grants amounting to £2381 14s 3d were authorised. During the same period the London Advisory Committee considered 92 applications for financial assistance and made grants amounting to £1864 3s 6d. The extent to which British seamen and dependants had been assisted by the fund since its inception in 1921, exclusive of expenditure for the immigration and training of the orphaned sons and daughters, was as follows: New Zealand £23,454 14s Id, London £28,820 14s 6d; total £52,275 8s 7d. In connection with the girls’ hostel at Awapuni the report mentioned that the Dominion executive of the Y.W.C.A. had appointed the following ladies a committee of management:— Mesdames H. E. Pacey (chairwoman), E. C. Barnett, J. Barnhill, N. Blackmore, Miss M. Forrest, Mesdames P. A. McHardy, F. J. Nathan, H. Palmer and W. J. Phillips. This committee has held regular monthly meetings at which all details of the management of tlie hostel and the training and after welfare of the girls were considered and determined. In addition frequent visits were made by the chairwoman and other members of the committee to the establishment, and a close personal touch was maintained. Under Mrs Pacey’s guidance the management of the hostel and the training of the girls were all that could be desired. The members of the ladies’ committee also kept in close touch with the girls after they went out to employment by correspondence, and where possible by visits, and the girls

realised that in the committee and the staff they had personal friends to whom they could write freely, and from whom they could receive helpful advice and guidance. TRAINEES AT WORK. “Advantage was taken of the arrival in New Zealand of Mr F. W. Ivey, London secretary, to appoint him welfare officer with the duty of visiting all Flock House boys in employment, continued the report. “The first lads .visited were those in Hawke’s Bay, and in visiting these lads lie was accomIpanied by the managing trustee (Mr ,T. R. Lees). The lads in Poverty Bay and further up the coast to Cape Runaway were then visited, and later all the boys in the rest of the Dominion. With very few exceptions the lads were found to be well placed, happy, and making good progress towards a successful future. In a few cases the lads were not progressing as they should, due sometimes to the boy’s own fault and other times to the idiosyncrasies and temperament of the employer. In these eases the lads were transferred with the consent of the employer and the Minister of Labour to other more suitable positions. In these visits it was always particularly to bo noticed that wherever the employer’s wife and the members of his household took a personal interest in the lad’s welfare, the development of his mental, moral and physical attainments was most marked,* and general satisfaction was expressed regarding his willingness and progres in farm work.

I “Undoubtedly, that is tlie keynote of the successful settlement of these overseas boys and girls, and this note was struck bv His Excellency, the GovernorGeneral, in his address at Flock House. His Excellency’s remarks cannot be too strongly stressed. He said: These boys and girls are sons and daughters of men who have laid down their lives or their health for the Empire, and they have the tradition of service for their country in their blood. The trusses can only go so far: They can en- ! sure that the boys and girls are of good moral character, are healthy, strong and willing, and that they are well fitted, so far as six months’ inI tensive training can fit them, for work ;on farms and stations. But it is the j farmers of this country, and more par- ' ticularly the farmers’ wives, who are going to make the movement a success or a failure. If 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 boys and girls 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.

“Fortunately for New Zealand and for the future of the country districts, the great majority of farmers and their wives recognise their responsibilities, and the happiest relations subsist between the lads and their employers to the satisfaction of all. On tlie one hand the farmer has cheerful, loyal and willing service and on tho other hand the lad lias the knowledge that he is learning his chosen profession under the best conditions, and that ho has a personal friend in his employer to whom ho can go freely for wise advice and guidance. “The women’s division of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union is taking a

close interest in the Flock House hoys and girls, and our thanks are duo to that organisation, and particularly to Mrs C. C. Jackson, vice-president who has their interest at heart, and who has been unremitting in kind actions at every opportunity, lire welfare officer will shortly bo again visiting all boys jn employment, and this feature of tho fund’s work has now become permanent and necessarily an increasingly arduous one/’ MR NEWMAN’S ADDRESS. In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet the chairman expressed regret at the delay in its preparation, which had been due Jlo staff changes. He expressed regret at the death of Mr J. C. N. Grigg, who had been one of the trustees from the beginning, and satisfaction at the presence of Sir James Allen, who had been chairman of the London committee since the inception of the fund, and would now sit as one of the trustees. Mr Newman congratulated the. trustees on the general s/iccess of the scheme as shown by the lliport—a scheme which had demonf/:rated tho manner in which city-bred lloys from Home could be trained to lie good country settlers in New Zea|nnd. A problem of the greatest importance for New Zealand and the rest of the Empire was involved in the diversion of lads frojp town and country life by a system such as had been given expression to at Flock House. The work being done there was giving entire satisfaction. The more they knew of the property the better they liked it, and with the extension of their activities it was likely that they would be able to increase the income substantially., Subscribers could expect an increase of tlio working expenses before long, as with the increase in the number of trainees, the expenses of management must increase. The hoys would, however, represent a most valuable addition to the population of New Zealand. The services of an experienced welfare officer had been secured and now every trainee after leaving Flock House, was visited at least twice a year, and a full report on his work was furnished to the head office.

Mr Newman paid a tribute to the interest that was being manifested in the Girls’ Flock House by the Young Women’s Christian Association, and also spoke of the good work that was being done by the ladies’ committee of Palmerston North. The girls who had gone out gave evidence of liking tlieir work, and were giving satisfaction to their employers. Mention was also made of the live interest that was being shown in Flock House by the women’s branch of the Farmers’ Union, the members of which were concerning themselves with the welfare .of the boys and were supplying a want that had been felt for years. Ho hoped that subscribers were satisfied with the manner in which their money was being expended, and that they would show a more active interest in the work than had been the case up to tlie present time. It had been the practice at the approach of the festive season to think of the children of beneficiaries of the fund, and this year an arrangement had been made to distribute useful gifts to them. Tho sum of £IOO would be spent in that direction. Mr O. S- "Watkins seconded tho mo-

tion, which was carried. On tho motion of Mr G. L. Marshall, seconded by Mr C. M. Luke, Mr Newman was reappointed chairman lor the ensuing year. In accepting the office Mr Newman expressed the hope that, at the end o next year, he would be allowed to retire from tho chairmanship, and remain one of the trustees, as he thought the office of chairman should go round and not be in the hands) of one man, as it had been since the inception ol tho fund.