PROVIDING FOR THE YOUNGER GENERATION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 18, 1 November 1938, Page 8

PROVIDING FOR THE YOUNGER GENERATION

YOUNG FARMERS AND SCHOOL CLUBS.

TWO NEW VITAL' ASPECTS OF EDUCATION.

AVENUES OF GREAT PRACTICAL AND CULTURAL VALUE OPENED

WILL DO MUCH TO INDUCT YOUNG MEN TO STAY ON THE LAND,

Two new avenues of education aiming at the assistance of the younger generation have lately been opened up in Ashburton and from the enthusiastic, wav in which they have been taken up it seems the promoters will be amply rewarded and justified in the steps they have taken. The two movements are the Young Farmers’ Clubs and the primary schools’ agricultural clubs lor boys and girls. The leaders of each of these new phases of activity among the young people have brought commendable enthusiasm to bear on them and it is to be hoped that the initial keenness shown by those who have already joined up will lead to a great extension of the schemes. • The value of such movements cannot be over-estimated. To-day, more than ever, there is a need to foster the slogan, back to the land. The cities are becoming more and more enticing to the young people and the clubs have been formed at an important stage of the progress of the Dominion. The value of the new organisations has been recognised by the Government, for in the case of the Young Farmers’ Clubs, ready backing lias been given by the Agriculture Department, while the Education Department is giving splendid assistance to the primary school clubs. The more one looks into the aims and objects of the organisations the more one appreciates what can be performed if the work is intelligently directed.- There is no reason to believe that the clubs are not under the ablest supervision at present and the outlook is bright. Ably -directed, they can do a great amount of good in a number of ways, and the progress of the several groups will be watched with interest by very many people.