YOUNG FARMERS’ CLUBS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 174, 20 April 1937, Page 11

YOUNG FARMERS’ CLUBS

Government Assistance

PROGRESS OF MOVEMENT

At a recent meeting of the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs the chairman, Mr. A. C. Cameron, introduced the subject of a grant from the Government. stating that an assurance that this would be forthcoming had been one of the factors contributing to the reorganisation of the movement. Mr. R. B. Tenneut, Director of the Fields Division, Department of Agriculture, intimated that he realised the federation’s need of money for further development, but he reminded the meeting that the Government, through the department, was paying the salary, and travelling expenses of the organising secretary and the travelling expenses of all departmental officers engaged in young farmers’ club work. He stated that-a substantial sum had been placed on this year’s estimates, to be utilised by the department in further expenditure on young farmers’ club work. He suggested that it would be unwise to ask the Government for a direct grant. The chairman considered that at least £lOO should be appropriated for the federation’s direct use, stating that part of this sum could be well expended on literature, photos, etc., for propaganda purposes. It was decided that a deputation consisting of the Hon. F. Waite, Mr. Allan Grant and Mr. G. Nutt, should wait upon the Minister of Finance and make representations regarding a grant. The secretary was instructed to arrange for the deputation to be received. The president, Mr. A. C. Cameron (Dunedin), was in the chair, and among those present were the vicepresident, Mr. L. J. Wild (Feilding), Mr. R. B. Tenneut, the Hon. F. Waite, M. of the Dominion executive, N. Farmers’ Union; Dr. M. C- Franklin, Lincoln College; Mr. A. W. Hudson, Massey College; Messrs. Allan Grant, C. Whatman and G. Nutt, South Island delegates; Messrs. W. F. McLaren, J. H. Bremner and J. B. Chrystall, North Island delegates; and the organising secretary, Mr. S. Freeman. It was decided that the Department of Agriculture be asked to provide transport for two lecturers to each club annually, in addition to the usual departmental lecturers, if this was considered necessary by the district, committees concerned.

Report on Organisation.

A report on the progress, of the organisation from the date of its reconstitution was given by Mr. Freeman. He dealt with the formation of new clubs, to the number of 34, in various districts. There were US clubs in the Dominion, comprising 60 in the South Island and 58 in the North Island. New clubs in the North Island numbered 32, with prospects of more during the season. Organisation work had been handicapped in the South Island owing to the protracted harvest caused by unseasonable weather conditions, but the prospects appeared bright for the further extension of the work in Canterbury, where the number of clubs was relatively small, and also in both Otago and Southland, where the movement already had a strong hold. It was expected that over 150 clubs would be functioning before the end of winter. Particular mention was made of an agricultural week, arranged by the Manawatu district committee, to be held in Palmerston North early in July, on the lines of the successful week staged at Solway. Masterton. last June. Upward of 200 members of 40 clubs in the lower half of the North Island will be accommodated on the showgrounds, Palmerston North, and will take part in a programme of visits to stud breeders and places of interest connected with farming. Similar weeks are to be held at the Ruakura Training Farm, Lincoln Agricultural College, Nelson College, and the Waitaki Boys’ High School, all of which institutions will assist by providing accommodation. Tours of parties varying from 40 to 60 members are also in train, Taranaki clubs proceeding to Wellington via Wanganui, Marton, Palmerston North and Masterton, visiting places of interest en route; Bay of Plenty members are contemplating a similar tour, while the Otago clubs are arranging to proceed to Christchurch, taking in" various centres on the way. Combined field days and stock-judging competitions were mentioned, also essay com? petitions, lectures and debating, as part of the ordinary club activities. A remit from the South Island council recommended that the organising secretary should visit individual clubs at least once a year. The secretary stated that while he had visited numerous clubs in both islands as opportunity had occurred, on account of the large number of clubs it would only lie possible to visit all clubs if district committees were to arrange for consecutive meetings in their districts and combined meetings where possible. Club Magazine. General discussion took place relative to the Young Farmers’ Club magazine.

The desirability of a monthly or qjiartterly journal devoted entirely to Young Famrers’ Club work was recognised, and it was left to the chairman and the secretary to arrange for tho publication of a trial copy. It was stated that an invitation had been received to send a team of New Zealand members to view the Coronation and take part in judging competitions at the Royal Show, Bristol. This had been regretfully declined owing to lack of funds. The chairman stated that Dr. Keppel, of tfie Carnegie Corporation, on the occasion of his last visit to New Zealand, bad stated that the corporation might possible assist the federation by supplying projectors and films. The chairman’s offer to write to Dr. Keppel was accepted. Inclusion of Farmers’ Daughters. The inclusion of farmers’ daughters as club members was considered. Clubs in Great Britain and the United States had girls as members, but it was pointed out that club members generally in those countries are junior to New Zealand members. It was considered that the advisability or otherwise of including girls as members could form the subject of interesting debates among the clubs themselves. A motion that the matter be discussed at an executive meeting next year was carried. The chairman drew attention to the fact that Mr. L. J. Wild was shortly leaving the Dominion on a tour of the United States and England. Mr. Wild, he stated, would be an excellent ambassador for the federation, and would carry greetings to organisations overseas, returning with information about the movement in other countries. Referring to some criticism of district organisation work, Mr. Hudson paid a tribute to the excellent work done by Mr. Tennejit and the fields division, pointing out that the work of the fields division bad grown, that its ranks had beeen depleted during the “slump,” and that there were aspects of work calling for the services of experienced men. He agreed with Mr. Waite that the federation should not make undue demands upon the services of the department’s instructors. Mr. Freeman remarked that even where newly-appointed junior officers were in charge of club work, they had the advice and experience of the older officers to assist them. Mr. Tennent stated that the Young Farmers’ Club work was now one of the recognised activities of the fields division, and that officers had instructions to foster the movement, which he himself was behind.