Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 64, Issue 4, 15 April 1942, Page 282

Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs

Clubs in Recess and Unattached Members

BECAUSE of depletion of membership and difficulty in securing attendances at meetings, a number of clubs are finding it necessary to go into recess for the duration of the war. Doubtless, it is the hope of the officials and members of these clubs that they may be able to revive them at a later date, but in the meantime attention is directed to the following resolution carried at the annual general meeting of the Federation last July: — “All Clubs going into recess for the war period should hand over all books, funds, and vouchers to their District Committee, to be held in trust until such time as they (the clubs) are resuscitated.” The reasons for this decision will be appreciated, particularly as such action will relieve individuals from responsibility. .. For the benefit of members of clubs in recess who still wish to remain associated with the Y.F.C. movement, the following arrangement has been made: —Such members will pay their club membership fee of 3s 6d per annum to the District Committee

(through the District Y.F.C. Secretary). They will be classed as “unattached members,” and will be entitled to full membership privileges, including the concession rate of subscription to the “N.Z. Journal of Agriculture”; one shilling of their 3s. 6d. membership fee will be set aside for the “Journal” subscription, while the

remaining 2s. 6d. will be credited to the funds of the club held in trust, as above, by the District Committee. Such members will be notified of District Meetings and will be entitled to take part in all district activities. It. is hoped, from time to time, to include, paragraphs and articles specially for “unattached” members in these pages.

Junior Farmers’ Clubs in N.SW.

COPIES have been received of the winning essays in a competition for Junior Farmers’ Club members conducted by Mr. J. A. Crawcour in his “Man on the Land” session over Station 2SM, Sydney. The winner of the senior section was George Cullen, Foxgrove, Gerringong, N.S.W., the subject being, “Why is the Junior Farmer of Today the Backbone of Australia Tomorrow?” His essay is given below: x It is often said, and justly so, that the “primary producer is the backbone of Australia today.” This term is easily understood when we consider the wealth accumulated in the national income by the export and the sale of our primary produce, and when we consider also the standard of. Lving that is attained from a nutritional point of view by the abundance in our midst of primary products of the highest quality so essential for stimulating the health of the community in general. And so again, a new phrase has been coined, the significance of which must not be overlooked by the individual, the community and the nation.

That phrase is that “the Junior Farmer of Today is the backbone of Australia tomorrow.” Why is this phrase so significant? Those of us who are privileged to be members of the Junior Farmers’ Club movement, the scope of which is unlimited in its project work, in its fellowship, and in its co-operative spirit, should be able to supply the answer. By doing project-work, we are selftaught from our own practical experience, thus a wealth of knowledge is gained which will, in due course, fit us for the tasks that lie ahead and the time when we in turn will be primary producers of the future. The carryingout of project work, the keeping of records of those projects, the applic tion of scientifific principles and the use of economy to improve our efficiency, so that we will have a continu ty of supply of high-grade products, is surely an answer to that question! Ours is a priceless heritage, and though we are only at the beginning, the reports of our activities that come to hand from time to time are definite, proof that “the Junior Farmer of today is the backbone of Australia tomorrow.”

Reports on Club Activities

MANAWATU. Apiti. Business meeting. Arrangements for annual meeting; Roll of Honour discussed. Buimythorpe.— Talks by club members as —“Trees and Plants of Australia” (R. Clevely), “Japan and the War in the Pacific” / (B. Fowler), “Diseases in Sheep” (A. Stewart), “The Platypus of Australia” (S. Anderson).

WAIRARAPA. - Alfredton.— Annual meeting; election of officers. . Address by Mr. .' W. Janies, District Y.F.C. Chairman. ' ’ NORTHERN HAWKE’S BAY. Matapiro.— Lecture by Mr. ! Whyte - on “The Care and Attention to. Mares and Foals.” .. The speaker passed on some very valuable knowledge to .his. audience, such as the method of ensuring,

as far as possible, a successful foaling, and the ways of attending to the welfare of both mare and foal to the time of weaning. — Arrangements for annual meeting. Because of the difficulty in obtaining lecturers on account of petrol restrictions, it was decided that at future meetings informal talks should be given by members. Interesting talk by Mr. Guthrie on “Handling a Young Horse.” At the previous meeting the collection of ergot was reviewed, and a discussion took place in regard to various aspects of trespass and stray-, ing stock. TE KUITI. Paewhenua. Annual meeting to be held in April. Lecture on “Veterinary Remedies” .by Mr. H. E. Walters, Ngahape. WESTERN BAY OF PLENTY. Paengaroa.— Dance to be held. Lee? ture by Mr. Parsons, Rotorua, on “Potato Growing.” The speaker maintained that in the Rotorua district even the poorest soil will yield a good crop of potatoes, ranging from 5 to 15 tons per acre, if treated in the correct manner. At the previous meeting one new member was elected. Mr. J. B. Cawte gave a talk on the Islands of New Britain and surrounding islands in the East Indies Archipelago; he dealt very fully with the lives and habits of the natives in their natural surroundings, and also detailed the strategic importance in the war in the Pacific. AUCKLAND. Harrisville.— meeting.

WARKWORTH. Kaukapakapa.— on calf club jiidglng Matee-growing project discussed. Talk by Mr. P. S. Syme, Dep artmen t of Agriculture, on the results of manurial trials carried out by the

club. Officers elected at the annual meeting:—-Advisory President, Mr. M. McLean . chairman, B. James; Score- ’.’ T „ tary, F. Swinburne; Treasurer, I. Hellyer.

Club Membership Roll.

CLUB secretaries are requested to send in to the Organising Secreary, Y.F.C., Box 3004, Wellington, as soon as possible after the annual meeting of their club, a full list of their members. This is necessary for two purposes: (1) So that a complete roll of members can be kept at headquarters, and (2) in order that arrangements . can be made for the monthly copies of the “Journal of Agriculture” to be posted to each member. In compiling this list, club secretaries will assist greatly by placing the names in alphabetical order as far. as possible, and making sure that the initials and postal address of each member are correct. The names and addresses of new members should be sent in from time to time. Attention to these details will ensure that members receive their “Journal” copies regularly. In this connection, it is recommended that club secretaries should keep a roll, similar to a school roll, recording attendances, etc.; this will prove a valuable record to the club.