YOUNG FARMERS’ CLUBS

Southland Times, Issue 24599, 22 November 1941, Page 8

YOUNG FARMERS’ CLUBS

OTAGO-SOUTHLAND COUNCIL

A review of the strength of young farmers’ clubs throughout the Dominion was given by Mr S. R. Whyte at the quarterly conference of the OtagoSouthland Council of the New Zealand Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs held at Gore yesterday. Mi’ Whyte 'said that since the outbreak of war various clubs had gone out of existence and he pointed out that the South Island had not lost as many clubs as the North Island. Otago and Southland had lost seven clubs since the outbreak of war, Mr Whyte said. Ten had gone out of existence in Canterbury, 37 in Wellington and 23 in Auckland, a total reduction in club strength for the Dominion of 77 clubs. Even with the loss of these clubs there were still 126 clubs in the Dominion, which were operating as follows: Otago-Southland 28, Canterbury 28, Wellington 40, Auckland 30. Mr Whyte said that where district committees were operating, clubs also continued to operate, but that where district committees were inclined to be lax club interest also fell away. “We have got to do everything possible to keep the movement alive. We owe it to our members overseas,” stated Mr Whyte. Mr A. C. Cameron asked if anything could be done to stimulate interest and stop clubs from going into recess. Unless something were done there would be many more clubs dropping out. FIELD DAY SUGGESTED There was a very full discussion on the subject and the importance of catering for the social side of the activities was stressed and the question of raising money for patriotic purposes was brought up. After the luncheon adjournment members of the various clubs gave a review of their activities. A suggestion was made that perhaps a field day could be held in conjunction with a meeting of district committees. This would help to keep members together. Tire chairman (Mr W. R. Harris) stated that the subject was a most important one for the clubs. The subject had been discussed fully and members would be able to take away with them some excellent suggestions for maintaining interest. District committees played an important part in the movement and if they were slack in their work there was a danger of the organization going out of existence. Mr Harris appealed to all committees to do their best and to keep the movement alive. The secretary (Mr Whyte) gave a report on the council’s financial position and said that the council had a credit balance of £BO. The Government had also made its usual grant to the federation and each council’s allocation of £lOO would soon be to hand.

Mr Cameron raised the question of Lincoln College scholarships and stated that so far there was only one applicant this year. It was desirable to have a wide field to choose from. If the material were available there would be no trouble in obtaining scholarships. It was an honour to be selected and it would stand a young farmer in good stead later in life to go through the course. A motion was carried for the reelection of the old selection committee. A decision was made that the Southland Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union, the Gore Sub-Executive of the Union and the North Otago SubExecutive, the Gore, Kelso, Wyndham, Southland, Otago and North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Associations, and the Otago Sheep Breeders’ Federation be approached with a view to the Young Farmers’ Clubs being represented on the various bodies.