BOYS’ AND GIRLS’ CLUBS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 6 August 1926, Page 3

BOYS’ AND GIRLS’ CLUBS.

WORK TO BE EXTENDED. SENIOR DIVISION EORMED. At a meeting of the executive of the South Taranaki Bovs’ and Girls’ Clubs, held yesterday, it was decided to adopt the scheme suggested by the Farmers’ Union, that the clubs be extended to include a senior division for competitors after leaving school to the age of IS. Conditions of the classes were then drawn up. There were present: •Messrs J. Dakers (chairman), E. W. Johns, R. Syme, E. E. Silver, C. V. Smith, W. M. Dill-Maekay, F. Aroa, A. J. Glasson and E. Iv. Cameron (secretary). It was decided that the competitions should, for the first year, comprise root crop classes only. The South Taranaki area would be divided into two groups on the receipt of entries, which would close on September 18. Standard seed and manure would be supplied, but if a different manure mixture was desired, competitors would be at liberty to use —at their own expense —any mixture. Modified charts would bo provided.

THE SEASON’S ENTRIES.

■IS THE WORK PROGRESSING?

CHART SYSTEM CRITICISED

Although members of the executive of tlie Boys ’ ami Girls’ Clubs in South Taranaki wero apt to delude tlieiuiselves as to the good progress being made with the competitions, Mr Rod Syme declared at a meeting of the executive held j esterday that no real progress was being made, that the clubs were merely “jogging along” with only a minute percentage of the school children entering or taking any interest whatever, notwithstanding the amount of inducement offered in the way of

prizes. The statistics of the entries judged for the six seasons during which the competitions had been in operation were quoted by Air Syme as follows:—, SOUTH TARANAKI. Season. Plots. Calves. Total. 1920-21 102 1921- -152 166 318 1922- 140 104 244 1923- 9S 138 231 19,24-25 85 96 181 0.924-26 , H 5 155 . 270 NORTH TARANAKI. Season. Plots. Calves. Total. .1921-22 HO HO 1999.93 193 96 289 1953-24 123 ’lO4 227 1924- 9S 50 148 1925- . 93 55 148 Since 19,22, continued Air Syme, no new competitions had been, held. Children became tired of doing the same thing year after year, especially after one or two failures, and it was useless to continue unless the children freely entered. Last year’s figures, while, better than most years, showed that only 270 children in the southern area had succeeded in carrying crops or calves to the judging period, and on those 270—a very minute percentage of the pupils attending the schools — it had been necessary to spend £7O in prizes. The competitions should be extended to interest the town children, for while the competitions were aimed at persuading the country children to remain on the land, there should be some inducement to the town children to go to the country. He advocated the inauguration of a poulfiy competition. The local club was enthusiastic and would be perfectly willing to provide a certain number of settings of eggs from purebred birds, and were prepared to assist greatly in other directions, and the Farmers’ Union would only require to provide trophies. The financial question was also broached by Air Syme, who said that the Farmers’ Union should have other interests than the school children’s clubs on which it was at present spending three-quarters of its finances. Additional finances could be raised for the conducting of the clubs by menus of donations which, he believed, would be very readily given. The chairman, Air ,T. Bakers, agreed with Air Syme, and said that the Union’s finances should be four times as great as they were, even though they had straightened out excellently..since Air E. K. Cameron took over)' the secretaryship.

Air E. Iv. Cameron felt that little more could be done by the Union than was already being accomplished. The difficulty with the latter part of Air Syane’s suggestion was that the bulk of donations made bv members of the Union were.kept for local prizes.

Air Syme. said that originally the entries had fallen through bad organisation and the fact that prize-money had not been paid consistently, but. the new systems introduced had improved things greatly. Air F. E. Silver said that general dissatisfaction was felt with regard to charts. It. often occurred that, a child who grew probably the best crop did

not receive an award owing to the fact that his chart had not been so well kepi as another child’s, whose crop was in ferior. Mr A. J. Glasson supported Mj Syme’s statement to the effect that prior to last year the organisation had been bad. With regard to charts, he emphasised the importance of keeping a record, and his own experience had been that unless written down, no record would be kept by the children. Mr Syme said that there was a tendency to lose sight of the object of the competition. The scheme was not to raise the best crop or rear the biggest calf, but to learn something about it, and as far as he was concerned the neatness of the charts was not taken much into account as long as the required information was given. Still, he believed that a certain amount of neatness tvas necessary. While his previous statements might have amounted to criticism of the Union he gave credit for what had been done, but .was of the opinion that the Union was hot adopting the best method. Mr Glasson said that the scheme of local presentations for competitors who, although doing good work, had hot been able to secure the club awards, (was very good and was an added encouragement? He was exceedingly pleased to find it was being done in a number, of places. - -

Mr Cameron believed that the .'system of presenting trophies was much better than cash prizes. Mr C. Y. Smith said he sympathised with the school pupil who entered a plot, and while his school mates W6toenjoying- their holidays, he had to spend liis sptire time weeding - "the mangolds or carrots.

Air Silver then moved that the-chart possible be reduced from 50 to 30 points. • . 1 Air Glasson seconded.

Air Syme moved an amendment, which was seconded by- Air E. W- Johns and finaly carried, to the effect that the matter be deferred until next meeting. Discussing the suggestion of inaugurating a poultry- competition, members of the Farmers’ Union intimated that it was hardly likely that the Union would consent to this.