AGRICULTURAL CLUBS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4334, 26 October 1921, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL CLUBS.

BENEFICIAL INSTITUTIONS. The following circular letter, has behn forwarded to the ffifo-rd of Agriculture to various A. and P. Societies, including the Hauraki A. and P. Association, and will be dealt with at the next meeting: •

“I beg to inform you that the Board of Agriculture at its la-st meeting again considered t.he question of the establishment of boys’ and girls’ agricultural clubs, and I was instructed to write you in the matter. “Attention was drawn to the good results that had already been obtained in the United States of America and Canada ; aiso in Otago, Taranaki, and other parts of New Zealand ; and it was decided that with a view of furthering the movement the Board should circularise A, and P. Associations, the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, and other organisations interested in agriculture, drawing ’ their attention to this admirable encouragement to the education pf the young, and asking them to unite in their respective centres in order, that similar clubs may be formed to give prices for the best animal or produce exhibits by the boys and'girls belonging to these clubs.

The Hon. C. J. Parr, Minister of Education, recently stated in Taranaki that the farmers’ organisations could not undertake a more splendid piece of education than by the encouragement of such clubs, and that he hoped the movement, would expand and grow throughout the Dominion as the clubs should form. part. of the education in the country." “Articles describing the methods of working .these clubs' have appeared in the Journal of Agriculture, e.g., lb the Taranaki district in the July, 1921, number, and in the Otago district in the September, 1021, number. Further information can-be obtained from the fields instructional staff., of the Agriculture Department. “It has-been found that, to succeed the sympathies-of the teacners must be enlisted, for their opportunity of securing the support of the hoys and girls is of t.he greatest importance; it might be said it is. unique in this respect. ‘ To make a. successful start it requires a considerable amount of organisation, and time needs to be devoted to working up enthusiasm in the district. Once t.he clubs have made a start the young people will carry them along, for youth is always ready to enter into competitions. Where these clubs exist the parents soon see the benfit of the training, for no,thing brings before the young mind in such a degree the importance of care and system in the growth, o.f animals or produce, and nothing is more calculated to awaken interest in country pursuits than the rearing of a prize animal or the raising of a crop* which will t.ake a prize. “The Board feels that it is not necessary to elaborate bn the importance of the movement, but would commend it to your favourable consideration.”