A Farmer’s Notebook YOUNG FARMERS’ CLUBS

Southland Times, Issue 24593, 15 November 1941, Page 10

A Farmer’s Notebook YOUNG FARMERS’ CLUBS

MEMBERSHIP FALLS IN WAR TIME RECRUITMENT OF YOUNGER LADS The young farmers’ club movement, in common with many other organizations, is experiencing a very dinicun period which will, no doubt, develop in intensity as the war progresses towards its conclusion. Its membership throughout the Dominion at the outbreak or war was 6000, and has now been reduced—three enlistments —to little more than half that number. Those who have gone overseas or into camp represent most of the lads of military age, thus the remaining members are, for the most part, juniors. It is easy to realize the effect that the almost total withdrawal of the older lads, who were the leaders, has had on the activities of clubs, district committees, and provincial councils. The governing body, the Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs, has been giving very serious consideration to ways and means of preserving a skeleton organization while the war continues. . The conclusion that has been arrived at is that special efforts in two main -directions are called for. The first is, the recruitment of young lads about to leave schools, and increased attentiveness on the part of the juniors who have been members for the last year or two. The second is that older farmers, many of whom in the past acted as senior advisory members, are now particularly required to take an active interest in the movement again.

ASSET TO COMMUNITY The beneficial and far-reaching effects of the training made available through clubs, and the resulting outstanding development in many of the members has been a considerable asset to the farming community. It has been an adequate reward for the thought, time and work put into the movement by advisory members, who, under the guiding genius of Mr A. C. Cameron, of Dunedin, built up the organization to its strong position before the war. Increasing difficulties in means of transit through the reduction in supplies of petrol, together with the fact that remaining members are being more and more restricted to farm work, have led to a curtailment in the usual number of club meetings. Steps have been taken by the Dominion Executive and provincial council as far as possible to minimize the travelling distance for young farmers to meetings. They consist of holding meetings in various provinces and districts. A Dominion meeting was held last week in Christchurch and in the previous quarter the venue was Hamilton, in the Waikato. The Otago-Southland Council decided to hold its four quarterly meetings alternately at Oamaru, Gore, Alexandra and Dunedin. The next meeting is to be held in Gore on Friday 21st November. To take the council to the young farmers is the reason for holding meetings in the outlying centres. The object is to keep club members fully informed and interested. At the Western District Committee’s meeting last week arrangements were made for a number of club members to be taken to the meeting at Gore. It was hoped to arrange the start of the meeting for the afternoon, and the Orepuki and Drummond club members may find it difficult to attend the morning session that has been found necessary.

The main business at the recent committee meeting at Invercargill was arrangements for the activities of club members at the forthcoming Southland Summer Show. They came undei - two headings; firstly, organizing for entries for the stock-judging competitions, and secondly, arrangements to assist stewards, judges and exhibitors who require help in leading stock in the Grand Parade. Big reductions in young farmer club members during the past year have made it unlikely that the usual number of lads will be available for this work. However, members have been urged to make a special effort to assist. It is unlikely that the unfortunate experience that occurred at the two previous shows w'ill be repeated, when most of the club members who were on hand awaiting jobs found that no duties were allotted to them. EDUCATIONAL PLANS An interesting debate took place about the education of young farmer members at agricultural and pastoral societies’ shows. The outcome was that it was considered advisable to discuss the question with the Southland A. & P. Association for future shows. The main points were whether the lads would gain more knowledge assisting stewards and judges, than in the stockjudging competitions; also, whether the former would be of most help to the society. In the past it has been found difficult to make a success of full support in both directions on account of a division of forces, and it is to be regretted that some dissatisfaction has occurred on both sides. Both bodies have the one common aim of making the best possible contribution to the success of the show. It appears that the concentration of the young farmers’ effort in one direction may best achieve this, especially for the duration of the war.

In the early part of this year the Department of Agriculture made plans for a series of experimental plots to be laid down throughout the Dominion. They were to be attended to, and the results recorded by young farmer club members. The instructor in agriculture, Mr A. Stuart, has reported that a number of the top-dressing trials in Western Southland have been established and that a further series of experimental plots with,various types of crops will be completed during the course of the next few weeks. These plots enable members to maintain interest and secure valuable information on then- own farms. Those responsible for the scheme are to be congratulated on providing a very helpful method of maintaining interest in the agricultural side of club work in a very difficult period.