YOUNG FARMERS' CLUB

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 302, 7 May 1941, Page 3

YOUNG FARMERS' CLUB

, EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY DISTRICT PAST YEAR'S ACTIVITIES At t'hq annual meeting cf the Eastern Bay of Plenty Young Farmers' Clubs' District Committee! held at Ed!gecumbe on Friday last, the chairman, Mr W. A. McCracken, reported as follows): — This is the third annual meeting of the' Elastern Bay of Plenty Young Farmeirs' Clubs District Committee and I have 1 great pleasure in presenting, the following report on its actvitiies. for the yeiar endedi 40/4/41, Club Membership: In this regard the difficult period! through which we havei passed' in the last twelve months lias, unfortunately, had its effect on the membership of most clubs, but more especially where Taneatua and Opotiki Clubs, are concerned, in their cases, I regret to say,, it has bqen foundi necessary for them to temporarily close drnvn and go into recess, for the duration of the l war. I sincerely hope, however, that, these and any other clubs that may ultimately be faced 1 . Av'ith a .siimilar problem will seize upon the first opportunity to resuscitate their past actvities, and become an even greater influence for good in the districts in which they arc founded. In so far as the Waimana and Ed'gecumba Clubsi are concernedi it is pleasing to be able to report reasonable progress in spite of existing oircu instances. Several memheni from each of these clubs have, of ooursd, been lost to their respective organisations mainly on account ov" overseas service, but quite a number of Jumior members have been enrolled to take their places in the meantime. As time gees on it may well happen, however, that the very existence of these clubs will depend entirely on the interest and enthusiasm displayed by the .younger membcirsi who have lately enrolled, or will enroll during the next year or two. To them, then, will fall the important and mot altogether easy task of "keeping the Home FircM Burning" andi having everything to complete readiness for the homecoming of a great number of the senior members otherwise employed in the interests of their country. The job will not be an easy one by any means, but I feel confident that it will be accomplished, in just the same quiet spirit of lon that characterises) the splendid work of those members who% duty calls them to grimmer forms; of service. May I, therefore, suggest' that the junior members of the clubs- immediately adopt as their motto Htns" two inspiring words 1 "Carry On," and in dioing so resolve to do f hcilr utmost not only in merely keeping their clubsi alive, but also to endeavour to so build them up so as to permit them to become a, still value to youthful communities in rural districts than in the past. Before leaving the matter of club membership there is just one other point that I would like to say rs word or two on, and that is' in con nection with attendances. From a perusal of the monthly reports received from the clubs it would ap l pear that the average' attendance ol members has not been, entirely satisfactory. I d;o not presume to know the reason for this but it would certainly sieein that clubs with memberships exceeding 20 members could do better than show an averago of only sax or seven. There is, no doubt, an explanation for this unfortunate state of affairs, and accordingly I woukli earnestly suggest to all club officials, that' they thoroughly examine their methods of control and! general organisation with the view to discovering, if possible,, where lies the fault. Then, and only then, Avill members: apparently sufficiently keen to enroll and paiy their dues be persuaded, to regularly attendl the meetings which are the basis of club life. General Activities: In the past clubs have l been instrumental in providing their members with much useful infoiTiiation by way of lectures, field days etc. During the past year, however, the unfortunate circumstances resulting from the v\;ar, have seriously curtailed, these activities to the detriment of all members. Nor is the position likely to improve so long as the war lasts —consequently those in control of club activities will be called, upon to exert tremendous efforts'to provide from local talent that measure of instruction which is so vital n part, of the Y.F.G. organisation. I reel certain, • however, that the executive officers of clubs will do their best'in this direction'and not allow '.matters to drift merely because- outside hcluers are no longer available "o assist. I

With regard to the' social side of civil- activities the position fortunately is very much better and I trust that it will continue so iin the years to come. Most clubs have held n number of socials and dances during the year under review, and while', perhaps 1 , not over successful financially still they provided splendid entertainment to members and their friends —a most important function of the Y.F.C. movement. 11l addition to the above your committee arranged the' following festivities for club members. ;.— 1. Debating Contests: During the v*ear an interesting series of InterClub debates was held, for the purpose of selecting a team to represent this district in, the Shield contest with representatives from tho Western Bay of Plenty. In the final debate which was held fit Ed,gecumbe between the premier teams of the two Y.F.G. districts the Waimana Club succeeded in. winning the contest by a narrow margin.. These contests are still proving very popular with a number of members in each club, but one would like to see all members taking an active part in them. Debating is, in my opinion, one of the most impoitant activities of club life for It not only creates confidence in the individual andl greatly adds to his general fund of knowledge, but it also encourages him to think and express himself in a reasoned and concise manner. 'J. Stock Judging Com petit,ion; II will be recalled that last year your committee was able to arrange two inter-district stock judging competitions at the Whakatane A. and) P. Summer Show. This year, however, the Baconer Pig Competition was not held, but the Dairy Cow Competition was keenly contested by representatives from the Eastern and Western, Bay of Plenty and Rotorua at the Rotorua Winter Show last June. The outcome of the contest was that your own team Avon the Wright Stephenson Gup with Tauranga second and Rotorua third. Tlie judge (Mr Mis,sen of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, Hamilton), then warmly praised the winners for the excellence of their knowledge of the points of a dairy cow and) this wa' endorsed! by members of all the competing teams. 3. Inter-Club Courts:: For the first time your committee was able l tear range with the Whakatane Wintelr Show Executive, for free space in which- to staget a. comprehensive court competition between local clubs. Three clubs took part' in the contest, viz., Edlgecumbe, T'aneatua j and Waimana and an exceillenfc dis play was provided by each.. The Edgecumbe Club, however, was adjudged the winner by a few points over Taneatua —Waimana taking third place in a very keenly contested competition admired by all who. visited the show. The thanks of your committee arc. due to the- Winter Show Authorities for their generosity in making avail able liberal prize money and facilities. Auckland Young Farmers' Clubs Council: There have been five meetings of this bodly during the year but unfortunately your committee has only been represented at two of them on account of the transport ■ difficulty in getting to Hamilton •and back in one day. I feel that much of value has been lost to local clubs through failure to , attend these meetings and would therefore suggest that a further effort be. made to procure the necessary petrol from the Oil Fuel Controller. General: At the conclusion- of a year that is notable, mainly for tho many difficulties that have confronted clubs your committee desires to congratulate them upon the way they have stood up to their several problems and also to wish them success in the year to come. To club office-bearers, especially the secretaries on whose shoulders a good deal of the responsibility of club organisation falls,, a special measure of praise is due for the excellent manner in which they have conducted the' affairs of their clubs. To all supporters of the Y.F.C. Movement in this district your committee also desires to> express its warmest thanks. Finally, it is sincerely hoped thai the ensuing year with all its probable difficulties resulting from the troublous times we> are experiencing Will at least ik- as s'ucccssful as the one just closed. The fulfilment or such a hope, however, is largely dependent upon the. attitude adapted by the Young Farmers, themselves,, but I am sure that each and every member will use his best endeavours to see that the organisation, that has done so much for him will not suffer through has neglect of it during the trying days ahead.