YOUNG FARMERS’ CLUB

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 182, 3 July 1936, Page 7

YOUNG FARMERS’ CLUB

FEDERATION MEETING

REORGANISATION SCHEME

At the annual meeting, at Dunedin last week, of the Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs, Mr A. C. Cameron, who presided, outlined a proposal for the reorganisation of the federation, which had been submitted by the Department of Agriculture. Under this proposal the work of tlie federation would become a major activity of the department, and its 50-odd outside instructors would become organisers for the movement. The Government was prepared to make the work of the federation a major activity of the Department of Agriculture, Mr Cameron said, and to instruct its 50-odd field officers to organise the Young Farmers’ Club movement, and generally look after the welfare of the clubs on condition that the federation agreed to place itself in the hands of the. Department of Agriculture. If the offer made by the Government were agreed to, it was prepared to appoint n full-time general secretary, with headquarters in Wellington. Each of the field officers would be made responsible for the welfare of tlie clubs in their respective districts. District committees, representative of the districts concerned, would be elected on much the same lines as the existing provincial councils, and these committees would work in conjunction with the departmental field officer, who would act as the district secretary and organiser. The Government would increase its field staff to cope with the extra work, Mr Cameron said, and would lie prepared to place a liberal grant on the estimates to cover the expense of arrang-

ing lectures, field days, farm schools, etc., £ISOO per annum being indicated. It was agreed that the clubs be allowed to have lecturers and demonstrations outside the department as at present, and that they bo allowed reasonable latitude for self-expres-sion. In other words, tho departmental control would be more a matter of the Government carrying the responsibility for the welfare of the clubs than that of a control hedged round with restrictions. The fields superintendents of the department would have instructions to keep the field officers up to their work, the speaker continued, and the co-operation of tlie live stock division was promised. The clubs and district committees would have general representation upon a council, probably one for each island, which in turn would elect an executive, which would be the main controlling body of the federation, and which would watch the interests of the movement. Lincoln and Massey Colleges would each have representatives on this executive. A club journal would be issued- periodically, and

membership and affiliation fees would remain as at present. The general executive had carefully considered the foregoing offer. Mr Cameron concluded, and had suggested several alternatives, which were not ac-

ceptable to the Government. The executive had now come to the conclusion that the Government’s offer should be accepted, as its advantages outweighed its disadvantages and, further, there was the personal assurance of Mr R. B. Teiinent (director of the ffelds division) that his department would do its utmost to make a success of the work undertaken, and that he personally would push matters energetically. Mr Tennent assured those present that the Department of Agriculture was very enthusiastic about the federation, which, it was felt, would go ahead and become one of the most important organisations in the Dominion. The Government had come forward with a fair offer, but if its proposal were refused by the federation lie assured the meeting that the movement would continue to have tho close co-operation and best wishes of the department. The offer was not being forced on the federation. He had been appointed to interview the Government and see if it would take more interest in the federation. It was suggested that a full-time secretary be appointed to co-operate with the 50 field office re, who would act ns group organisers for the whole of the Dominion. The Government would provide the necessary funds to get the scheme into being and to keep it in existence. The federation, Mr Tennent said,

i would retain its own identity, and there I was no chance of its being merged into the department. The clubs themselves would still he responsible for their own programmes, and thus they need not 1 be deluged by lectures by officers of the , I department. They certainly would not 1 be dictated to, and he assured those I present that the department was not bound up with red tape. After a short discussion Mr \V. Lee moved that the offer of the Department of Agriculture be accepted. Mr Coliu Mclntosh {president of the Canterbury executive), seconding the motion, paid a tribute to the energy and enthusiasm of members of the department’s field staff, and expressed ihe opinion that the federation would be fortunate in having the assistance ot the Department ot Agriculture. After a lengthy discussion the motion was carried after an unfavourable amendment had been lost. It was resolved that the general executive he empowered to draw up the necessary aite.ation to the rules of the federation to give effect to the offer made by the Government through Mr Tennent. These alterations would provide for separate North and South Island councils, with group representation on each, and for the establishment of a Dominion executive the personnel of which would be four representatives from the South Island Council, four from the North Island Council, and one nominated representative from each of the Fanners’ Union, the Royal Agricultural Saeiety, Lincoln College, Massey College, and the Department of Agriculture, together with the general secretary. This Dominion executive would be the controlling body of the federation. It was also resolved that Mr S. 1). Blomfield lie appointed lion, secretary to the South Island Council, with a vote at council meetings, and that the general executive be empowered to call a general meeting of members to adopt tlie alterations to the rules when made.