BOYS AND GIRLS’ CLUBS

Hawera Star, Volume L, 20 June 1930, Page 5

BOYS AND GIRLS’ CLUBS

CONTROL OF MOVEMENT. BETTER ORGANISATION URGED. i J3y Teuigrapii —Press Association.) ' PALMERSTON N., June 19. The value of the hoys’ and girls club movement in New Zealand was stressed at to-day’s conference of the No'rth Island A. and P. Assoeiaitons. The Feilding association suggested that as the club movement was a valuable factor in stimulating interest in and promoting knowledge of live stock and agriculture there should be better oiganisation of the movement. The system of agricultural instruction in primary and secondary schools and among young people should be co-ordinated under one authority. The clubs had come to stay, stated Mr E. Burrell (Feilding), who suggested that the one authority of control be either the Department of Agriculture or the education hoards. Mr O’Donnell (Auckland) did not agree. He thought A. and P. Associations should have control. The clubs were bridging the gap between youth and adult. The two bodies mentioned could be asked to co-operate with the conference. Mr Hodges (Taranaki) agreed that A. and P. Associations would be well advised to help the boys’ and girls’ club movement. Mr L. B. Wall (Manawatu) -asked if Feilding desired to take away the interests of the education authorities. Mr Burrell: Wc suggest one controlling body. Mr H. S. M. Quigley (Dannevirke) did not see how the education boards could be cut out. It was the board’s instructors who set the clubs going and they were not behind the times in their ideas.

The Agricultural Department was really the controlling authority at the present time, said Mr Seddon (Wanganui). Education boards had now power to make grants of money to the movement.

Mr O’Donnell again stressed his opinion that the North Island conference would be the best body to control the movement. The financial problem was an important one, and it was in this direction that the combined associations could give valuable help. The .movement, must be controlled by one body having a definite object. To throw control into the hands of any other body would bo fatal to the movement.

The president, Mr J. M. Jarncs, stated that in Wairarapa the movement was under both departments, which were working in conjunction. He did not think it feasible to put the clubs under any one department. Mr B. N. Sandilands (Feilding) stated that Mr Wild, principal of the Feilding Agricultural High School, w T as particularly interested in the matter, but unfortunately could not be present. He suggested that the matter bo held over until Mr Wild had a chance to explain his ideas to the conference. This course was taken.