YOUNG FARMERS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 57, Issue 4032, 18 August 1948, Page 7

YOUNG FARMERS

PLAY IMPORTANT PART DAIRY PRODUCE & IMPORTS REMARKS OF PRESIDENT “ The future is in the hands of the youth of the country and is dependent upon the land,” said Mr D. G. McLachlan at the quarterly meeting of the Young Farmers’ Clubs’ District Committee, held in Kerepehi recently. There was a good representative gathering of young farmers present, together with Mr McLachlan, who is the Dominion president of the Young Farmers’ Clubs, and Mr S. Freeman, the organising secretary. Mr McLachlan urged farmers to take advantage of every opportunity which science and education had to offer. The young farmers had a very important part to play in the life of the country, he said, as New Zealand’s prosperity depended on what was produced from the land. It was dairy produce that paid for our imports, he said.

Condition of Farm Land He attributed the high standard of farming in New Zealand to the work of the pioneers. “ However,” he went on, “ they had one thing in those days which I am afraid we have not got today. When they cleared a piece of bush they had rich virgin land to deal with, whereas today much of our land is becoming a very uneconomical proposition.” There were approximately 9000 members of the Young Farmers’ Club throughout New Zealand, divided into 306 clubs. “It is estimated,” he said, “ that we have a potential strength of 30,000 and we are one of the greatest youth movements in the country. He went on to refer to the leadership courses which this year have been put into operation. “ This is one of the most important courses we have yet organised,” he said. ” Training is given in the correct method of conducting a meeting, and those who will be going to various conferences as delegates will gain valuable knowledge.” In conclusion, he stressed the fact that the executive officers were not in that position to force their views on the organisation, but to carry out what was wanted by the various clubs in the organisation. “It is our duty to try and do what you want.” he concluded. Progress of Organisation Mr Freeman opened his remarks by referring to the progress the organisation had made since the pre-war years, the number of clubs increasing from 102 to 306. He felt that 30 or 40 members was the optimum size for a club since below that it was too weak, and above that unwieldy. “ Regarding the weaker clubs,” he continued, “ they do really present a difficulty.” It was a matter that should be left in the hands of the district committees, he said, since he

felt that they were the most important 3 body in the movement. There had bteen' an average attendance of members throughout the Dominion last year of only 50 per cent. Why that should be was difficult to say. Promoting Interest He spoke of activities the various clubs might organise, to promote interest among the club members. Lectures could be arranged, he suggested, to be given by local people. One club, he knew, had been given several interesting lectures by professional men in their district about points of their work, which were connected in some way with farming. A doctor has spoken about first aid on the farm, an accountant about farm accounts and a lawyer on the legal aspects of farm work. Other activities could be arranged, he suggested, and so the interest of all club members would be sustained. Admitting Young Women He then dealt with the big question of whether or not young women should be admitted to the organisation, and said that New Zealand was unique, in being the only country in the British Empire that excluded young women from an organisation of the nature of the Young Farmers’ Clubs. It has been proposed that .a sister organisation should be started in New Zealand, and in fact, nine clubs after the pattern of this sister organisation are at present in operation. “ They are at the present time a little in the dark, but probably will later be formed into a national organisation,” he said. He suggested that an attempt should be made by the clubs in this district to form sister clubs.

The Memorial Scheme Dealing with the memorial scheme, which is a scheme whereby the Young Farmers’ Clubs propose to gather £20,000 in order to build a wing to Massey College, as a memorial to the members who gave their lives overseas, Mr Freeman said that £10,731 had been subscribed so far. “ This response is not too good,” he said. He discussed ways that the money could be raised, and pointed out that as the money was subscribed by the Young Farmers’ Clubs, a large portion of the wing would be available for their use when they wanted it, and Massey College was prepared to arrange courses for Young Farmers’ Club members. “In subscribing to this scheme, we are assisting farmers for generations to come,” he concluded.

Mr T. O’Dwyer then proposed a vote of thanks to the speakers, and said it was one of the few occasions that the local clubs had had the opportunity of meeting and talking with their leaders. “ Listening to the speakers tonight,” he said, “ I am aware that we have very able leaders, and I am very sorry that more could not have been present to hear you.” Mr B. Townshend endorsed the remarks of Mr O’Dwyer.