CALF CLUBS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 7, 8 December 1930, Page 2

CALF CLUBS

SUCCESS IN MANAWATU. PRESENTATION OF TROPHIES. The first prize-giving ceremony in connection with the boys’ and girls’ calf club movement in the Manawatu was held on Saturday afternoon in the tearooms of Messrs Collinson and Cunninghame, Ltd.;- Comprising nearly 200 children, a number of parents, members of the A. and P. Association, judges, and officers of the Department of Agriculture, the gathering was a large and enthusiastic one. The hosts were Messrs Collinson and Cunninghame, who provided an attractive afternoon tea. A Punch and Judy show delighted the children, who were afterwards taken to the “Magic Cave.” Orchestral items were also provided. The trophies, which included 18 silver cups and a large number of handsome volumes, were presented by Mr J. Linklater, M.P., who congratulated the youthful farmers on thoir success. ORIGIN OF CLUBS. After extending a warm welcome to those present, Mr Linklater stated that boys’ and girls’ agricultural clubs were first started ten or twelve years ago by the Department of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Department of Education, and they had proved a remarkable success. Only two permits for.forming clubs were granted in an Education Board’s district and in this area the centres were Feilding and Wanganui. In past 3-ears the operations of the clubs were confined principally to the raising of root crops, and wonderful results were obtained by the children, especially in growing mangolds. Whereas a few years ago 50 tons was considered a good average crop, it was not uncommon nowadays to secure returns of from 100 tons to 120 tons per acre. The example of the children’s work had been followed in the farm practice where the clubs operated, and the average crop had now been raised to between 60 and 70 tons per acre. The speaker paid a tribute to the Farmers’ Union for the great help the members had given to the movement in' this district. The calf clubs were really only a branch of the original club’s activities and were governed by the same authorities. In other districts, notably in Taranaki, calf rearing clubs had been in existence for the past nine years and had not interfered in any way with the root-grow-ing competitions. The movement was purely educative, and if this objective was lost sight of the whole purpose was defeated. Underlying every other consideration was the desire to awaken in the child a love of nature, both in the rearing of animals, and the growing of plants. EFFECT ON THE CHILDREN. “The promoters of this movement want the young impressionable minds directed along lines which will give them an impulse to grow things, to form an attachment for domestic animals and to study thoir welfare,” said Mr Linklater. “It is not expected, of course, that all children will become farmers or farmers’ wives, but there could be no better influence in the direction of making them good men and women than in inducing an early study 7 of the secrets of nature such as are to be gained by taking part in competitions like these. “It seems to me,” the speaker continued, “from this first effort that the boys and girls on the farms in this district are showing their fathers how to raise calves, just as they showed them how to grow mangolds. The success of the'movement is causing, interest in adjacent districts, aiid I am creditably informed that other schools in the Manawatu, Oroua and surrounding districts are anxious to come into the movement, so that there is every possibility of rapid development in the near future.” INCREASING THE SCOPE.

Mr Linklater said he understood that clubs were being formed in-San-son and Bunnythorpe, and, though temporarily outside tlie permit scope of this -year’s operations, they and many more schools would be provided for next year. In Levin, Woodville, and other neighbouring centres applications had been received for the operation of clubs, in fact, this applied to every dairying district in New Zealand, particularly the North Island. It was easy to visualise to what extent the movement would spread in a few years, but the difficulty ivas in gauging the direct and indirect benefit that would follow, both to the individual and the country generally.

Paying a tribute to those who had supported the movement in this district, Mr Linklater referred in particular to Messrs W. J. Croucker, H. R. Green, D. Buchanan, J. H. Mason, the officers of the Department of Agriculture - and the A. and P. Association, the speaker said that their efforts would prove of great value in future years, because the quality of the young stock would be reflected throughout the herds of the Dominion, The introduction of this movement locally had been .advocated 'for several years by the Press, with great persistency, but the real start was due to Mr Crouclier, who had brought the matter before the A. and P. Association. This body had backed up the movement wholeheartedly, and many of the members were present at the gathering. SMALL BEGINNING. A small beginning had been made under the Feilding permit, and the committee decided to form groups of schools with Rongotea, Cheltenham and Longl/urn as centres. Sixteen schools had been working on this venture. No fewer than 160 children had reared calves, and 90 per cent, of them had come before the judges, a very fine performance. What was more important was the wonderful success the children had ■ made in rearing and caring for their adopted pets. The great majority of the calves had come before the judges in perfect health and condition, and the latter had expressed themselves in ' no uncertain terms regarding the zeal shown by the children. On the motion of Mr Linklater, enthusiastic votes of thanks were conveyed to all who had been associated with the movement,. and to Messrs Collinson and Cunninghame .for acting as hosts to the gathering. TRIBUTE TO-PRESS. Stating that the first move had come from the Press, Mr W. J. Croucher said that lie:.was proud to be associated with such a popular and instructive movement. A debt of gratitude was due to the Departments of Agriculture and Education for their work, also to the supervisors and headmasters, who had done much to maintain the interest t of the children. Another feature was the goodwill of tho parents. It had, been evident that the best calves came from the children whose parents were keenest, and some of the competitors had been handicapped in this respect. Now that the scheme had proved so outstanding a success, he hoped that every parent would get behind and help next year. Regarding finance, there had been many handsome donations, but- it was hoped to build up a fund to cover expenses in subsequent years. The judges had given invaluable assistance, and their remarks to tho children had been

exceedingly helpful. The children themselves had been the mainspring of interest. Although he was pleased to be able to congratulate the prizewinners on their work, there were many entries that just missed awards. All the decisions had been accepted with the greatest sportsmanship, and there had been no criticism of the judges. Tho speaker concluded by referring to the young stock raised as the “Plunket calves of New Zealand.” * APPRECIATION. Mr L. B. Wall returned thanks to the judges. Mr D. Buchanan referred to the generous treatment received from Messrs Collinson and Cunningliame, and called for cheers, which were given lustily. Mr C. Liggins conveyed thanks on behalf of the children, superintendents and parents to those who had donated trophies. THE PRIZE LIST. The detailed list of prize winners is as follows: SCHOOL CLASSES. Kiwitea (condition). —K. Jansen 1, D. Jansen 2, P. Lutze 3. Cheltenham (condition). —A. Shannon 1, Jean Tuppin 2, M. Corkill 3. Stanway (condition). —Jean Groves 1, E. Dormer 2, D. Collingham 3. Makino (condition). —V. Petersen 1, H. Petersen 2, P. Petersen 3. Rongotea.—Condition: H. Hill 1 and special, S. Duke 2, J. Duke 3. Type: May Bottcher 1 and special, R. Mossop 2, R. Hill 3. Glen Oroua.—Condition: C. Webb 1, W. Scott 2, L. Ransomo 3. Type: Olive Lucas 1. C .Webb 2, W. Scott 3. Taikorea.—Condition: W. Johnstone I, W. Sexton 2, R. Ferris 3. Type: W. Sexton 1, W. Johnstone 2, M. Johnstone 3. Kopane.—Condition : P. O’Regan 1, D .Prentice 2, J. Wall 3. Type: Agnes Bennett 1, Molly Jones 2, Leslie Morris 3. / Kairanga.—Condition: J. Clark 1, Joy 7 ce Green 2, Fred Eglinton 3. Type: J. Clark 1, J. Green 2, Gwen Dorn 3. All tho above also secured special trophies. Longburn.—Condition: G. Mitchell 1, J. Hodson 2, Joan Hearsey 3. Type: Violet Zurcher 1 and special, G. Mitchell 2, J. Hodson 3. Tiakitahuna. Condition: Lewis Henderson 1, Hugh Dampnev 2, Victor Maffey 3. Type; V. Maffey 1, C. Dampney 2, A. Nielsen 3. R angiotu.—Condition : T. Strawbridge 1 and special, D. Donaldson 2, G. Strawbridge 3. Type: T. Strawbridge 1 and special, D. Donaldson 2, P. Lover 3. CHELTENHAM GROUP. Condition class.—Vera Petersen (Makino) 1, H. Petersen (Makino) 2, A. Shannon (Cheltenham) 3. Type class.—D. Jansen (Kiwitea) 1, Dorothy Collingham (Stanway) 2, E. Dernier (Stamvay) 3. D. Jansen was awarded a special prize. RONGOTEA GROUP. . Condition class.—-C. Webb (Glen Oroua) 1, R. Hill (Rongotea) 2, W. Scott (Glen Oroua) 3. Type class.—May Bottcher (Rongotea) 1. Olivo Lucas (Glen Oroua) 2, C. Webb (Glen Oroua) 3. Special trophies were awarded to C. Webb, R. Hill, May Bottcher and Olive UC S ' LONGBURN 'GROUP. Condition class. —J. Clark (Kairanga) 1, G. Mitchell (Longburn) 2, Fred Eglinton (Kairanga) 3. . Type class.—J. Clark (Kairanga) I, V. Maffey (Tiakitahuna) 2, Violet Zurcher (Longburn) 3. A special trophy for ithe best calf in the group was awarded to J. Clark. CHAMPIONSHIPS.

The championship cups were awarded as follow :

Condition.—J. Clark (Kairanga) champion; R .Hill (Rongotea) reserve champion. Type.—C. Webb (Glen Oroua) champion ; Olive Lucas (Glen Oroua) reserve champion.