THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY TUESDAY, JULY 5, 1932. AGRICULTURAL CLUBS.

Wairarapa Age, 5 July 1932, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY TUESDAY, JULY 5, 1932. AGRICULTURAL CLUBS.

In spite of the difficulties and handicaps that are inevitable in a ri-mp. of severe economy, the Wairarapa Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural Clubs are continuing to do good work and to serve a valuable purpose in inducing young people to take a really practical and intelligent interest in some of the more important aspects of farm husbandry. No one, reading the report of the departmental supervisors which appears in another column to-day, can doubt that the clubs are carrying out a genuinely educational work and laying assured foundations of better farming in years to come. The annual meeting of the executive committee which controls the activities of the clubs is to be held to-morrow and it may be hoped that/in spite of the difficulties of the time, the committee will find it possible to continue both calfrearing and root-growing competitions, though perhaps within more restricted limits than would have been set in a period of greater prosperity.

It should be recognised that the agricultural club movement, like others which make definitely for the establishment of higher standards of efficiency in farming industry, is even better worth developing now than in easier and more prosperous days. Whatever the immediate future may hold, the youthful members of the dubs certainly will be the better for the experience they are gaining in that capacity. From the report of the departmental experts, it will be seen that the calf-rearing competition is developing with considerable promise and that the boys and girls concerned are giv-

ing proof of an increasingly intelligent interest in the theoretical aspects of the work entailed, as well as in the practical aspects which make, perhaps, e more direct appeal. One point in the report which, should be emphasised is that there is still room, in many instances, for greater and more sympathetic interest by par-

ents and others in the work of the agricultural club members; The organisation of the clubs would be strengthened considerably by the formation in all districts where this has not already been done of local committees prepared to give a little time and trouble to supervising the work of the youngsters and dealing with such matters as the transport of calves to judging centres. It is most unfair and discouraging that young folks who have put a great deal of enthusiasm and labour into the rearing of calves should be denied the pleasure of seeing the results of their work put to a competitive test.

The restriction of the area in which the root-growing competition is meantime being carried on no doubt must continue until times improve, but it would be a very great pity if the competition were dropped altogether, or even were further restricted. It will be noted that there is evidence of good work, not only in the very fine standard set in the production of the championship crop, but in the fact that the average yield of mangolds was maintained at a remarkably high level, taking account of the conditions of drought against which the cultivators had to contend. The practical enterprise to which the agricultural clubs are devoted is one for which it should be possible, even in times like these, to bespeak whole-hearted sympathy and support.

It is not easy to see how the Government can hope to justify the policy it is adopting with regard to the importation of wheat from Australia to make up a shortage in Dominion production. According to master bakers, the remission of duty on this importation would make it possible to reduce the price of bread. The Government 'proposes, however, to make the wheat available to millers at the New Zealand price. Evidently this means that consumers of bread are to be taxed in ■proportion to the amount of bread 'they consume. A more unfair basis of taxation could hardly be found by the most diligent searching. Controversy over this transaction may be expected to revive the protests that have so often been made against the high protection afforded to the wheatgrowers of the Dominion. The removal of this protection would mean cheaper bread for the whole population and why should the wheatgrower be proi tected when it is impossible to give any protection, for example, to the sheep farmer, who is now so deep in i difficulties?