BOYS’ AND GIRLS’ CLUBS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 15 October 1927, Page 8

BOYS’ AND GIRLS’ CLUBS.

PRESENTATION AT OTAKEHO. To mark the winning of a solid silver cup given by the Farmers’ Union for tlie best root crop grown in the province by a members of the Boys and Girls’ Clubs, the work of Guy Putt, of Otakeho, the committee of the Farmers’ Club arranged a social evening in the hall a£ Otakeho and invited leading members of the executive of the clubs and of the Farmers’ Union executive to be present to take part in the ceremony of presentation. Mr. Edwin Burke was in charge of the proceedings, with Mr. H. It. Wood the honorary secretary, and there were present Messrs Itod Syme and A. J. .Hasson and E. K. Cameron, secretary of the Farmers’ Union executive. To the last-named was allotted the honour of the presentation. Mr. Burke, introducing the visitors, said he had to congratulate Guy Putt on his success in winning the cup with a remarkably good crop of mangolds, a thoroughly well-deserved honour. The weight was 126 tons, the best, he believed, grown this year anywhere in New Zealand. He said Mr. and Mrs. Putt should be proud of their boy, and added that no doubt Mr. Putt’s example lmd helped the liov, because he had for several years been one of the most successful growers in the district.

’ Mr. Glassou expressed his pleasure at being asked to be present, because lie had always taken a keen interest in the work of the clubs, and his had been the privilege to weigh the crop. It was very direct evidence of what the Otakeho land could produce. He had been closely associated with the clubs since their inception, and had done, lie claimed, a lot of the spade work in their organisation. It was a pleasure, he added to take part in such a ceremony and to see the interest taken by the young people, and to note the influence exerted by the clubs in inducing the hoys and girls to become producers.

Mr. H. Syme added congratulations

(■-) Giiv Putt on putting up such n record. It was good, lie said, to see (lie (liildien taking such a. keen personal interest in the work. The times might he had at some periods hut they were not reflected in the children, who had no pessimism in their outlook. It was. lie said, good to encourage the bright optimism of the young people, and cheering to see the interest taken in a calf or a root crop and in the work of the farm. It was a lesson for the parents to give them a direct interest in the farm work. The Boys and Girls’ Clubs were helping in this direction, and it was good for the country generally. The parents should give their hoys a definite place on the farm, take them in as partners, and not let them feel they were only labourers. It would be a great influ-

ence* in keeping them on the land. There was, he said, no better motive than the pride of ownership—the children proud of the calves and of the crops, and he was certain this would he reflected in the work done by them. It developed definite habits of work. 'Phe results proved they could grow heavy crops and rear good calves. The movement of the clubs had started in South Taranaki and had spread to other districts, and this applied also to farm forestry, in which keen interest was taken. They saw Ota-ke-ho leading the way and Guy Putt leading them all. It showed that Otakeho was first class land. This district had won the honour, but Oeo was ahead last year, and possibly next year Manaia would lead. He had the greatest pleasure, he said in conclusion, in taking part in the congratulations showered on the winner for doing such good work. In making the presentation, Mr. Cameron expressed the pleasure felt by the union in giving the line cup for the champion crop, which was won outright by Guy Putt. His crop had been one of the best in the Dominion and it was a tribute to the grower, if the clubs did nothing else but arouse interest in the work of the children on the farms they were doing a great thing for the country. He was pleased to present the cup for the champion fnangold crop for 1927 in South Taranaki, and assured all that it was well and trulv earned. The winner received the cup amidst loud applause, and his father (Mr. E. R. Putt) acknowledged the presentation, saying that he was very proud of his hoy in bringing honour to Otakeho. He hoped he would continue to work and still do better. Later, Mrs. E. Burke presented extra prizes given by the Farmers’ Union for the work at the Otakeho school. The list was as below : .J. Walker, first in calf-rearing, second in dairy t.\pe M. Jenkins, second in calf-rearing, first in dairy type. E. Bridgman, third in calf rearing, third in dairy type, first for yearling. T. Edwards, first for two-vear-old, third for carrots. 1). Campbell, first for carrots. C. Campbell, second for carrots. G'v Putt, first for mangolds. ■ During the evening a programme of selections was given, the following taking part: Mr. Forrester. Miss Mundy, and Miss Dakers. recitations; Mrs. Bayliss, Mrs. Corkill. Mr. Wood, songs. Dancing was indulged in during the evening to music supplied by Mrs. Wood. Miss M. Burke, and others. Before the conclusion, Mr. Burke heartily thanked the judges, Messrs S. and Glasson. for their interest and assistance; Mr. Cameron, the ladies, and all who had co-operated in making the affair such a. success. Supper was put on by the ladies, and concluded one of the most successfid social evenings held in the hall.