Calf Clubs Exploited By Commercial Interests

Te Puke Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 48, 28 June 1949, Page 4

Calf Clubs Exploited By Commercial Interests

AGRICULTURAL MOVEMENT IN SCHOOLS REGIONAL MEETING IN TAURANGA The hope 1 hat the deliberations of the conference would prove fruitful was expressed by Mr IL 0. Lloyd when speaking at the .-opening of a regional meeting of the Auckland Provincial Council of Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural Clubs in recently. He stressed the importance of the work of agricultural clubs, especially as New Zealand relied on her sons of the soil and those who raised stock. Mr D. W. Rutledge thanked all who so willingly gave of their time and energies in helping the children in their club activities.

The council was represented by Messrs D. W. Rutledge, W. I. Bowyer, J. M. McWhannell. (Auckland), J. E. Dennehy, H.'M. Mountfort, R. Birdsall, D. McKenzie (Agricultural Instructors), J., S. Pattison (farmers’ representative) and J. C. Ward (teachers’ representative).

The conference decided on an investigation into the possibility of linking up agricultural competitions with stock work. The growing of fodder crops necessary for successful stock rearing was given as an. example. Mr Ward (Tauranga) emphasised that children who reared stock should learn about fodder crops in order to develop both aspects of their work. Definite instances of exploitation for commercial purposes of winners of calf competitions by business firms were quoted by Mr Dehnehy, when, advocating that prevention of such exploitation of the calf-rearing movement by commercial concerns should be undertaken by the council and that parents should be asked to see that children owned calves. Full support was given to the motion.