AGRICULTURAL CLUB

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 October 1939, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL CLUB

GREY DISTRICT SCHOOLS. At a meeting held in ihe Grey Main School on Wednesday for the purpose of forming a Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural Club, there were present. Messrs Ridley and La Roche (school instructors of agriculture), E. V. Ellery (representing the Canterbury Education beard), Carter and Norton (A. and P. Association and the Farmers Union respectively), Clark, Hawke, Lake and Bates (school inspectors), R. Cooper (Horticultural Society), M. K. Sheard (Blaketown School Committee), L. Galbraith, Maister and YV. Weir (Grey Main School, Holmes (Kaiata School), Coleman (Blaketown School), Mahon (Taylorville School), and Miss Heissenbuttel (Boddytown School). Mr Ellery presided. Mr Ridley, in inaugurating the movement, explained r that the purpose of foming this club was to give an agricultural bias to the education of the children, and to encourage them by arranging, in conjunction with the A. and P. Association, for the judging and display of results of the children’s activities in such projects as home gardens (vegetables and flowers), the rearing of and caring for calves, work with grasses, and in anv other direction which the club may decide upon, for instance, poultry clubs. He added that the various projects have already been commenced in some of the surrounding schools. It remained to form a central body to arrange tor competition between school clbbs, and, in conjunction with the A. and P. Association, to arrange tor exhibiting on show day. Mr Carter emphasised the desirability of forming such a club, and assured the meeting of the godwill and support of (he A. and P. Association. Mr Norton promised* the support and co-operation of the Farmers’ Union. Mr S. A. Clark, for the Inspectors of Schools, agreed that the object was worthy, and said that the inspectors welcomed the inauguration of agricultural clubs within the schools. It was decided: —(1) That a group to be known as the “Mawhera Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural Club" be formed; (2), that for project-work, the Grey Main, Cobden, • Runanga, Kaiata, Blaketown, Boddy town, Taylorville, Dobson and Rapahoe Schools be components of the M.8.G.A.C.; (3), that all schools within the boundaries of the West Coast Schools’ Committees’ Association, be invited to contribute exhibits to the show; (4), that the committee personnel of the club consist of one teacher for each school, together with representatives of the A. and P. Association, the Farmers Union. Horticultural Society, local bodies, and any person willing to participate in the organisation. Mr H. G. Carter was elected chairman, and Mr W. Weir secretary. Messrs E. V. Ellery (chairman) ; Ridley and La Roche (inaugurators’of the movement) were accorded a vote of thanks, and were elected members of the Executive.