YOUNG FARMERS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 62, Issue 4429, 23 May 1941, Page 5

YOUNG FARMERS

THE TE AWAMUTU CLUB. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT. At the annual meeting of the Te Awamutu Young Farmers’ Club the chairman (Mr Mawson Lorimer) submitted the following annual report:— At the close of the second year of this Club I find it very difficult to put before you a concise report on the activities during the last 12 months owipg to having been absent for over five of those twelve. Especially during the later half of the year there has been more or less a state of uncertainty owing to military reasons. EFFECT OF THE WAR. Early in the year seven members enlisted in the overseas forces, their active services in helping the Club being greatly missed, and 1 know you will all agree when I say that the Club is the poorer because of thenabsence. It is to be hoped that they will not be away for very long. At the January meeting it was decided by members that the Club go into lecess during the period of the three months that the Mounted Rifles were to carry out their training, as so many members belonged to that unit. In the future there will, no doubt, be others joining those overseas; and therefore, for the good of the Young Farmers’ Club movement as a whole. I would ask the younger members to carry a certain amount of the responsibility so that if the time comes they will be able to carry on with the work of the Club. In many cases, even though there has been a shortage of benzine, making it difficult for members to attend the different functions arranged during the year, the attendances have been excellent, speaking well for the future of the Club. MEETINGS AND LECTURES. During the year there were ten monthly meetings, nine being held in Te Awamutu and one at Te Mawhai. After the usual routine business had been dealt with, there followed either lectures by Government officers on vital subjects connected with farming or debates, short talks, and the reading of essays by members. The two essays written by Messrs W. Daniell and D. Harrison were broadcast in one of the Y.F.C. sessions from IYA. Mr George Spinley gave an address on his tour through England and Denmark, also showing and describing a number of the very fine photographs he had collected. Mr Rhodes also gave an interesting talk on his experiences and sheep-farming in general. The debates held by members proved very popular, and were appreciated by all. Thanks are due to those who assisted, but a great deal of the success was due to the enthusiastic help given by the Rev. M. G. Sullivan, who so capably carried out the duties as judge, and I would like to suggest that a letter of appreciation be sent him. Also in the future, if possible, interclub debates might add considerable interest to that side of the Club’s activities. FIELD DAYS. The six field days arranged by th’ Committee were very well attended, proving most instructive and interesting. ahey were varied as much as possible. On 17th April—the first outing of the year—we visited Waikeria institute and Mr Walker’s farm, the latter’s method of farming causing a great deal of interest. On Bth May: How to judge, rope, and throw horses—on Mr Boswell’s farm at Pokuru, Messrs Alf Clarke, E. Boswell, and J. Richardson giving a most instructive afternoon. On 18th June: Pruning and grafting fruit trees, etc., were described and demonstrated by Mr M. H. Williams at his nursery. The attendance was very disappointing for such an interesting subject. On Bth July: A bus was chartered to convey members to Ruakura Experimental Farm, where different grass plots were described by the officers. Pigs, dairy, and stock were also seen. In August members were shown over the following: The dairy factories, Courier printing office, and the Telephone Exchange. In October at Mr Pattison’s farm a large attendance of members and visitors spent a most instructive afternoon, Mr Pattison first giving instruction on how to judge Jersey cattle. Later all joined in a competition, judging a number of his pedigree Jerseys. These days, taking an important part in the Club’s programme, should prove most useful to the members, because the fact that by asking questions and seeing the different methods adopted by the owners of the properties visited should ultimately be to their own benefit. Is it not one of the main objectives of the Y.F.C. movement to save the farmers of to-morrow repeating the same expensive and often heart-break-ing mistakes which up to the present have had to be learned by the rough road of experience-? I would like to thank, on behalf of the Club, all those farmers and their wives who not only allowed us to hold those interesting afternoons on their properties, but also put themselves to some trouble to help make the day a most enjoyable one. LECTURES. The Club has been very fortunate in being able to have at different times lecturers who have addressed members on subjects which are of interest to the community as a whole. Here again members of the Y.F.C. movement have a big advantage over their fathers, and for the benefit of the country, as well as themselves, every opportunity should be taken to make the fullest use of the-knowledge learnt bv the scientific experiments on which the speakers lectured so capably. By generously presenting a cup for competition among members, Mr G. B. Melrose, who not only has taken a very keen interest in the Club, but is also an active member of the Advis-

ory Committee, a calf-rearing competition—vras arranged. The number of entries, in comparison to the membership, was rather disappointing, there being only twelve in the final stages. As it was the first competition of its kind held by this Club, it is to be hoped that, by the interest aroused, future competitions should prove to be much more keenly contested. It is a pity that so many of .the members were away at the time the entries were judged. The winner, Mr Bob Mandeno, must be heartily congratulated on his success, and at some future date I feel sure it will be-to the advantage of all concerned if he will give a short talk on the methods and care with which he fed his winning group of calves. The thanks and appreciation of the Club are due to the judges, Messrs Wyllie, Melrose, and Pattison. It was no mean task, and must have entailed quite a lot of their time. If it wer“ not for the help of such keen supporters I am sure members will admit that the Club would not be the success it is. With the full co-operation of members it should be possible to arrange a similar competition in the Club in so far as pig-raising concerns us, and I feel sure it would meet the support it warrants. SHOW COURT. Last May this Club supported the Waikato Y.F.C. Court at the Winter Show in, Hamilton. Although it was last, those who helped by sending in entries will have the experience that should be of value in future. Owing’ to being in recess for the last three months, it has not been up to the present able to give support for the coming show. A number of the members also entered the different classes for Y.F. Clubs at Te Awamutu A. and P. Show. Mr Alex. Laskey, who has been a very keen member since the Club started, won the cup donated by Mr Wyllie for the best dairy grade cow in the " class for Y.F.C. members. The social life of the Club has for a number of us perhaps more interest than the agricultural side. It is an important part of the activities, and the success that has been achieved is due to the Social Committee, whose members have worked with the one aim—to make a success of their job. Dances and football matches have been arranged throughout the past year, and it is to be hoped that in the future similar pastimes will be able to be conducted. There is one point I should like to mention, and that is at all times try . to make new members feel at home and that they are wanted, for it is by the gradual increase of membership that the eventual success of this Club will be assured.

At different times there have been suggestions that girls who ate living on farms should be invited to become members of the Y,F.C. momement. There are many women who as farmers have proved their ability to show men how things should be done. Ow- • ing to the shortage of labour there J are girls being employed on farms at • the present time. It is a point that I might be discussed with advantage by < members. It would mean an increase in membership, which is desirable; also there is the social point of view. APPRECIATION. Ail that I have mentioned has to some extent helped us over the past year, but without the combined efforts of the Committee, the Advisory Committee, and all the members the year would not have been the success it has. 1 1 do not want to individualise the help rendered by all those connected with this Club, but I must mention the work done by the President of the Advisory Committee, Mr A. S. Wyllie, whose help and advice have been invaluable. Then there is our secretary, who also has put forward his very best. There are few who realise the amount of work and time required to fill that position as capably and conscientiously as Mr lan Fraser has. As you have heard by his reports on the' monthly meetings, and considering the months that the Club has been in recess, it must be acknowledged by all as most satisfactory. The same applies to the treasurer, whose financial report shows an increase on the credit side of the bal-ance-sheet. Here again the Social Committee is to be thanked for its efforts towards that end. And now, gentlemen, on behalf of the Committee, I wish to thank all those who have helped, by doing so willingly, whatever they could, be it debates, short talks, the writing of essays, helping with the supper arrangements, or any of the other af fairs connected with the Club during the past year. The Club’s thanks are also due. to the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union for allowing us the free use of their crockery, which has been much appreciated. ; In conclusion, gentlemen, I woiild ask you to give my successor and those whom you nominate to executive positions for the coming year the same unstinted support that you have given me and the Committee. The value of the Y-F.C. movement to this country must not be overlooked. After this war is over, and the world has settled down to a normal state of living once more, I feel sure that the Young Farmers’ Clubs can and will play a big part in the general well-being of the nation, and I would urge all and intending members to do everything that is possible towards that end. Again I thank you all.