BOYS’ AND GIRLS’ CLUBS

Southland Times, Issue 25736, 28 July 1945, Page 9

BOYS’ AND GIRLS’ CLUBS

REVIEW OF YEAR’S OPERATIONS ' “I have examined records of work accomplished during the war period and I am astonished to find there has been so steady an increase in the number of competitors, and that the percentage of completed projects to entries is so satisfactorily high,” said the president, Mr B. P. Mansfield, at the annual meeting of the Provincial Council of the Southland Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural Clubs’ Association yesterday. Mr Mansfield said that the records proved how fortunate the council had been to have the services of Mr Camegy Gardner as president in years beset with such anxiety and so many difficulties. The spirit of courage, fortitude and determination which he noticed, and so' much admired, among boys and girls in Britain had found expression in the manner Southland boys and girls had entered for competitions and completed their projects, despite hazards and disappointments in the inspection or judging because of the war.

“No question has caused graver concern to the executive than failure, through insufficient petrol being available, to carry out judging as in former years, and on a uniform basis,” said Mr Mansfield. “The method adopted in the past makes it imperative that only those thoroughly conversant with the aims and ideals of clubs work can award on an equitable basis in all cases. Urgent representation has been made to the Education Department on this matter and satisfactory arrangements for next season are confidently anticipated. At the same time we are deeply conscious of the work done by school officials and are grateful for their assistance in a time of need.” GROWTH OF WORK

Mi- Mansfield quoted figures to show the development of the clubs’ work. In 1937-38 the total number of entries was 1346 and 930 projects were completed; for the past year’ the figures were 2632 and 1966 respectively. He said that the figures could be regarded as highly satisfactory, reflecting the greatest credit on.the organizer-secretary, Mr T. Mathews, whose painstaking work and deep-rooted interest in the clubs’ work was apt to be taken too much for granted. The many changes in teaching personnel occasioned by war conditions had added largely to his task. He hesitated to think what the position would be if the agricultural instructors were required by the board to devote more time to purely agricultural instruction and correspondingly less to clubs’ work, a contingency the association should keep ever before it. Were such a position to arise, its operations would, of necessity, become so curtailed as to be ineffective.

Mr Broomfield remarked that the boys would not be ready to take over farms for about eight years. They would have to serve their apprenticeship. The statement of receipts and expenditure showed a credit balance of £ll6. Mr A. Farrant said he did not like to see a mounting credit balance. Tile chairman explained that no honoraria had had to be paid and there had been no judging and other expenses incurred as in normal times. The following officers were elected:— Presidents, Mr B. P. Mansfield; vicepresidents, Messrs Carnegy Gardner and J. J. Blakie; organizer, Mr T. Mathews; assistant organizer, Mr W. Hessey; auditor, Mr T. J. Gosling. A donation of £5 to the prize fund from Mrs D. Marshall was gratefully received. Reference was made to the deep interest her late husband had taken in the association. PUBLIC NOTICES FERTILIZER RATIONING 1945-46. THE Fertilizer Control Order 1945 just issued provides for the following: 1. The allocation for wheat in the South Island is increased from lewt. to 1| cwt. per acre. 2. There is no allocation based on the number of dairy cows milked. 3. The topdressing ration is increased from 28 per cent, to 42 per cent, of the average annual quantity of fertilizer used during the two year period ended 31/5/41. 4. Provision is made for appeals. They are restricted to (a) To those farmers who have not appealed on any previous occasion. (b) To those farmers who can produce documentary evidence to the effect that they have brought in out of VIRGIN country during the last ration period, areas which have been sown down to new grass. 5. Appeals which must be addressed to the undersigned will be considered up to and including 15th August next. Applicants must nominate the vendor from whom they desire to obtain supplies. 6. Appeals from servicemen will be received at any time. Invercargill Council of Primary Production. A. L. ADAMSON, Crescent, Invercargill, 14/7/45. ' 9048