Thornton Young Farmers Meet

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 6, 12 December 1947, Page 5

Thornton Young Farmers Meet

Club Leading On Points For Efficiency Shield Competition

The treasurer’s report to the November meeting of the Thornton Young Farmers’ Club showed a credit balance of £3l 3s lOd after including a donation from Mr E. J. Bell of 11s in connection with sheep shearing. During the previous fortnight or so quite a number of sheep belonging to local farmers were shorn in return for the fleeces. It is not known exactly what this will work out to financially but it is known that a rather tightly-packed wool pack has been despatched. A report on the District Committee meeting was read by the secretary, Mr J. Law. This meeting was held at Opotiki on October 8 last. The treasurer’s report showed a credit balance of £l9 5s Bd.

One important item discussed was the fact that the district secretary had purchased two banners for the use of -Y.F.C. Clubs when holding various functions. They were to be hired out to the clubs in accordance with the term “first in first served,” and used for display purposes. Another important item was the suggestion from the Thornton Y.F.C. that a “block” be purchased for use in advertising. This was discussed and it was finally decided that it should take the form of the Y.F.C. badge. As Opotiki had very little use for it, it would be kept at Whakatane for use by clubs of the Eastern Bay of Plenty. A suggestion that an inter-club calf competition be held was discussed but turned down as it was considered that there were already enough competitions in force and that these were not always as fully supported as they might be. The question arose from the fact that a trophy had been offered for such a competition but failing this the Taneatua Club would make use of it.

Tour Declined The question of a proposed tour of Taranaki was dealt with but it was decided to decline owing to the present crisis and the need for conserving petrol. The report on the various amounts contributed to J the National Memorial Fund showed the following amounts as having been paid to date: Awakeri £57 11s, Thornton £55 13s, Opotiki £32 15s, Waimana £3l ss, Taneatua £3O 15s 6d, W.D.H.S £24 17s, Otakiri £ll 13s 6d, Opotiki D.H.S. £4 14s, Edgecumbe £ls (before dissolving). Points so far awarded in tk.; Effic’eney Shield competition follow: Thornton 42, Waimana 40, Otakiri 40. Opotiki 37, Awakeri 33. Taneati a 26, Opotiki D.H.S. 21, W.D.H.S. 15.

Mr Marryatt, District Secretary, stated that he would have the use of the Department’s film projector

from April 15 to„April 18, 1948, and that clubs should-refrain from fix- , ing' subjects for their meetings until they got in touch with him as die would have some very instructive films. It was suggested that the best stock judging team was to compete in the National Stock Judging Competitions. A very handsome cup was donated by Mr A. H. Adams the senior advisory member of the club and the following are the rules set out by him but open to the perusal of the club and amendments where the club thought fit: The cup will be called the “Aotea Challenge Cup” : and is to be competed for at least annually, the first competition to be held in conjunction with the Thornton School Calf Club field day at the Thornton School on November 26, the decision of the judge appointed be final, the cup to be held by the winner until the next competition and to be open for competition on receipt of a challenge from three or more members of the 1 club, such competition to be arranged by the challengers. Trophy For Judging

It was decided that the cup be used for both calf judging and stock judging. Any member who won the cup twice in succession or three times at intervals would be presented by the club with a miniature.. This was irrespective of whether he won it for judging stock or calves as the cup would be used for both. Each winner would hold the cup until the next, challenge. Mr Adams then presented the cup to Mr Trevor Shaw who won it at the Thornton . - ' School Calf Club Field Day in nection with judging the calves. The subject for the next meeting, which will be held on January 5, isa lecture by Mr Marryatt, and the field day will be held at the Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Company’s factory and pig farm. This however, was left to the secretary to arrange as many would be busy with haymaking etc., and may not be able to attend. In the event of its being postponed this - field day will be arranged as soon as possible. of thanks are to be sent to the donors of the wool and also Mr W. Law for his very generous offer of the use of his wool shed, truck, benzine and machines, wool . press, etc. This exhausted the general busi* ness of the club and there followed a very interesting discussion by members who had brought along various farm hints. The subjects discussed dealt with straining a cyclone fence, topping, electric fences, a soft seat for a mower, fattening pigs, uses of creosote, preserving plough lines, heating of haystacks, rails for gates, pulling of posts in soggy ground, stacking baled hay and mending of holes in milk vats.