AGRICULTURAL CLUBS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 176, 25 June 1938, Page 13

AGRICULTURAL CLUBS.

MANAWATU-OROUA DIVISION. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The president (Mr J. H. Mason) was in the chair at the annual meeting of the Manaivatu-Oroua Division of the Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural Clubs held yesterday in Feilding. The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report (previously published-) and the balance-sheet, remarked on the sound financial position of the organisation and expressed satisfaction at the encouraging support the movement was receiving in its useful work. Regarding the agricultural plots, Mr Mason said that despite the dry season the children had not been discouraged and had maintained intensive cultivation of them, to his entire satisfaction. Regarding the calf section of the organisation’s activities, Mr FI. R. Green said he was pleased with the excellent manner in which the children had presented their calves for judging, and he referred to the substantial improvement made in that connection. Every year the children showed a better knowledge of the calves they were rearing to enter in the competitions, and tho organisation could claim credit for educating them in the proper care and attention of their animals. Endorsing Mr Green’s remarks, the chairman pointed out that the value of the organisation’s -work was also apparent in the older animals as well as in the calves. INFLUENCE OF PARENTS. The undue influence of parents in the rearing of the calves and their presentation for final judging was referred to by Mr W. J. Croucher, who instanced several cases in which the parents had played a prominent part in the preparation of the animals. He suggested that, while the trouble was difficult to overcome, some efforts should be made by the organisation to focus attention on the improper practice. Mr E. W. Cowdrey said that the same difficulty was being experienced in the root crop competitions. Mr E. H. Lange said that while, it was well known that the practice was going on, it was difficult to obtain definite evidence, and it had to be left to tho honesty of the parents to see that the competitors did the work. Mr Green, in referring to a case of disqualification, expressed his opinion that the parents were not fully conversant with the rules and regulations governing the calves and root crop competitions. Mr Lange said that the conditions were sent to the schools for’ distribu- 1 tion, and ho agreed that possibly the information failed to reach the par- 1 ents. He suggested that the parents should be circularised with the information. The reco'mmendation met with the unanimous support of members, and it was decided to have a suitable circular prepared. The report was adopted. Owing to swedes which were included in the compulsory section of the root crop competitions being susceptible to clubroot and the ravages of the white butterfly, Mr Lange suggested that sugar beet should take their place on the compulsory list; the children could, however, still grow swedes if they so desired as they had the choice of three optional rows for cultivation.

The proposal was supported by Mr Croucher and Mr A. Robbie, the latter stating that in the Taihape district it was proposed to grow soya beans as it was considered that the beans may become popular later as a supplementary food for pigs. On the motion of Mr Cowdrey, it was decided to make a supply of thq bean seed available to the children for next season’s competitions. It was also decided that tlie swedes be substituted by sugar beet in the compulsory list of roots to be grown. CALF COMPETITIONS. On tlie motion of Mr Croucher, it was decided that for championship judging purposes the type section be divided into two classes: (1) An A class for grade calves; and (2) B class for calves of any breed that are eligible for registration in their respective herd books. The sum of £l3 13s was made available for the purchase of prizes for the competitions. It was decided that the use of standard type calf halters in the competitions lie .encouraged. The following officers were elected: President, Mr J. H. Mason; vice-pre-sidents, Messrs H. R. Green and AV. E. Thomas; lion/ secretary, Mr C. V. Jewell; executive, Messrs AV. J. Croucher, E. N. Rowe, H. D. Richardson, E. AV. Cowdrey, A. G. Dear and E. AY. Barnett; committee, Messrs Thomas, Mason, Dear and Green; group supervisors, Messrs Green (No. 1), Croucher (No. 2), A. Kidd (No. 3), A. F. McKenzie (No. 4), AV. E. Thomas (No. 5), E. N. Rowe (No. 6), and E. AV. Cowdrey (No. 7).