YOUNG FARMERS’ CLUBS

Southland Times, Issue 24419, 26 April 1941, Page 11

YOUNG FARMERS’ CLUBS

Admission Of Women

Urged

A recommendation urging that young women should be admitted to the membership of young farmers’ clubs in New Zealand was approved on Thursday at the annual meeting of the Western Southland District Committee of the Young Farmers’ Clubs. The recommendation is to be forwarded to the Otago-Southland Council. New Zealand was the only country in the world where young farmers’ clubs did not include women, stated the chairman ■ (Mr J. Middlemiss). Mr W. R. Harris, chairman of the Southland-Otago Council of Young Farmers’ Clubs, reported that because of petrol restrictions it was becoming increasingly difficult for the Department of Agriculture to provide lecturers at club gatherings. He said that the clubs were urged to forward to district committees the names of members who had joined the armed forces so that a roll of honour might be compiled. Another suggestion from the governing bodies was that young farmers’ clubs should have representation on district executives of the Farmers’ Union and the Agricultural and Pastoral Association.

It was decided to invite the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union to appoint a representative on the executive. Clubs are to be asked to express an opinion on the question of continuing debating contests, and to suggest a venue and programme for a field day. A vote of appreciation of Mr A. Stuart's work as secretary was carried. Reference was also made to the assistance given by Mr W. L. Harbord; WAR AFFECTS ACTIVITIES The annual report stated that wartime activities had affected the progress of all clubs, directly by reduced membership due to enlistment and territorial camp duties, and indirectly because of the difficulty of securing lecturers. However, with one exception, all clubs had decided to carry on. In the supervision and control of the proposed experimental work to be performed by club members, members of the district committee had been allotted a further duty, but as the work involved was of national importance it was felt that the incoming committee would do all that was possible _to further that work. Pasture top-dressing trials might be laid down at any time now, and in the spring small-scale crop and grass trials could be sown. Officers were elected as follows:— President. Mr J. Middlemiss; vice-pre-sidents, Messrs J. Kincaid (Drummond) and M. Clark (Woodlands); executive, Messrs K. Hargest (Woodlands). J. McLaren and E. Rabbidge (Wyndham), I. Lindsay, D. Cowan and J. Sutton (Drummond), D. Milligan (Dipton), J. Carnegy Gardner, A. S. Holms, G. Stevenson, W. L. Harbord, W. R. Harris. R. Kennedy E. S. Thomas, and G. I R. Herron.