YOUNG FARMERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 57, 1 April 1946, Page 5

YOUNG FARMERS

EDGECUMBE CLUB REFORMED WELL ATTENDED MEETING At a well advertised public meeting held in Bell’s Hall, Edgecumbe, on the evening of Tuesday, March 26 a good attendance of young and older farmers thoroughly discussed the question of resuscitating the Edgecumbe Young Farmers’ Club or alternatively forming two new clubs, one at Otakiri and the other at keri. The Edgecumbe Y.F.C. went into temporary recess in August 1941, when all of its officers left at once to join the armed forces and when the burden of farms and patriotic work and the Home Guard increased for the remaining members. All other Young Farmers’ Clubs in this district which were in recess have been resuscitated and some new clubs have been formed and there was no disagreement about the desirability of reviving the movement in the Edgecumbe area but lengthy discussion took place as to what the best policy to

adopt would be. Opinion was very divided and there were supporters for all proposals including resuscitating Edgecumbe Y.F.C. and forming new clubs at Otakiri and at Awakeri, as well.. Short addresses were given on different aspects of the Y.F.C. movement by Donald Ross, Past Dominion President, Te Puke; lan Spratt, vicepresident of the Western Bay of - Plenty District Committee; George Spratt, Auckland delegate to the Dominion Federation of Young.. Farmers’ Clubs; the Chairman of the meeting, lan Gow; and the District Secretary, E. R. Marryatt, Fields Instructor, Whakatane. Other speakers were Andrew McLean, Jan Nielsen, C. A. Le Lievre, J. Caulfield, A. H. Adams, Jim Law, Jim Barr, George Murray, Sandy McLean, Geoff Crang, J, Hanna and others. .

Emphasis was laid not only upon the educational side of the movement, and this is free and pleasant, but also on the recreational, social and cultural aspects of club activities. One speaker said that the no/e----ment is undoubtedly the means of making the farming community an influence in the affairs of ,the nation. Were all farmers today ex-members of Young Farmers’ Clubs, they would not now be so disunited. He said that to be inarticulate is always ■ a great handicap, but particularly is this so far an expert, for he is then, of little benefit to others. The movement is designed to overcome that difficulty in the farming community. The importance of the private member was stressed when it was pointed out that no matter how excellent a club’s officers may be, without the attendance and support of the private member, there would be no club.

After a lengthy expression of opinion and discussion of the best policy, the following resolution was carried unanimously:—

That the Edgecumbe Y.F.C. be resuscitated forthwith and that the suggestion be offered to the District Committee to consider forming clubs at Otakiri and at Awakeri.

The chairman then suggested and his suggestion was adopted in the form of a resolution, that in view of the lateness of the hour and so that as many new members as possible could be enrolled and present, the election of officers be held over till the next meeting to be held at his house next Tuesday, April 2, at 8 p.m.