FARM CLUB INTEREST

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29330, 8 October 1960, Page 9

FARM CLUB INTEREST

Growth In MidCanterbury

'THE Lauriston Fann Improvex ment Club in Mid-Canterbury is still the only club of its kind in the South Island which is actually operating. A second club in Marlborough is ready to operate when an adviser has been selected. There has been interest in the formation of a club in the Cheviot district and inquiries about the club movement, have also been made in the Waipara-Scargill district. North Otago, South Otago, and Southland. The Lauriston Club with its full-time adviser, Mr Peter Falconer, is now servicing 40 members in all parts of Mid-Canter-bury and the club has a waiting list for membership of 12 who have made written applications and it is known that a number of other farmers are interested in taking advantage of the club’s services. The club executive is now understood to be considering the appointment of a second adviser and it is planned to call a meeting of all interested to consider such an appointment. The Marlborough Farm Improvement Club, has a membership of 40 and a waiting list of about four but no adviser bas yet been appointed. Its members include sheep, dairy and mixed farmers with properties up to station Size. In the main they are in the Marlborough county but there are also one or two in the Awatere county. Outside New Zealand across the Tasman there has been a quickening of interest in the club movement and farm advisory services in Australia. Mr R. A. Knox, first adviser to the Lauriston club, went to Australia early last year to become adviser to the Brunswick and districts rural advisory service in Western Australia, and now Mr P. L. McSkimming, a field officer of the Economic Service of the New Zealand Meat and Wool Boards, has been appointed adviser to the new Murray advisory service south of Perth, also in Western Australia. Another three clubs in Western Australia are known to be in the formative stages and to be calling for advisers. A firm of accountants in Perth which handles several thousand farm accounts has also recently been seeking a farm consultant.