YOUNG FARMERS’ CLUBS

Southland Times, Issue 24835, 29 August 1942, Page 2

YOUNG FARMERS’ CLUBS

NEED OF DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP The need for the development of leadership among members of the Young Farmers’ Clubs was emphasized at the meeting of the Otago and Southland Council of Young Farmers’ Clubs yesterday. The following resolution, which had been sponsored by the council and adopted by the New Zealand conference, was the basis of the discussion:—"That recognizing the national importance of the farming community making its full contribution to the leadership and devlopment of this Dominion, this confernce urges all Young Farmers’ Clubs councils, district committees and clubs to do their part towards developing the qualities in the individual so essential if this aim is to be achieved.” REASONS FOR RESOLUTION The reasons why the resolution was brought forward were submitted as follows: (a) Because of the significance of the statement made by Mr L. J. Wild, president of the Royal Agricultural Society to the effect that leadership in agricultural circles during the past 25 years had drifted away from the farmers themselves. This statement and Mr Wild’s amplifying remarks have been endorsed by responsible bodies and leading newspapers throughout New Zealand. Some papers have asserted that what Mr Wild has said of agricultural circles also applies to other sections of the community. (b) During the last war we lost the cream of the manhood of this country and the community is the poorer for their absence today. It looks as if the same thing is going to happen again to this generation, and it therefore behoves the Young Farmers’ Club movement to exert itself to develop leadership among those whose contribution to the war effort lies in primary production in New Zealand, and among those who are too young to go to the war. PRESS AND RADIO OPINION (c) Because of the prevailing tendency for all sections of the community to take their opinions from the radio or headings in the Press, or from the man in the street, rather than think matters out for . themselves. Democracy can only survive with the development of the critical and scentific attitude of mind towards all social problems. Without it democracy is doomed. (d) Because even in the Young Farmers Club movement itself it is abundantly clear (in many clubs) that real leadership is 'conspicuous by its absence. There is a tendency for the clubs to lean on the advisory members or field officers of the Department. of Agriculture. Where the one or two moving spirits of the club have enlisted, the enthusiasm of the club has languished and in many cases the clubs have eventually gone into recess. There has been no real attempt by the remaining club members to keep things going." (c) That the irresponsibility and the general unwillingness to undertake community service, which is unfortunately all too prevalent today, is one which the Young Farmers’ Club movement should set out to combat. (Tills attitude saps the very foundations of our democracy). DOMINION CONFERENCE Delegates to the Dominion conference at Dunedin reported on the deliberations of the conference. Mr E. Ramage said that Southland was well represented and delegates had reason to be satisfied with the work of the conference. It was noteworthy, he said, that 67 clubs in New Zealand were still carrying on their activities. There were 12 clubs in Otago and Southland, 18 in Canterbury, 20 in '.Wellington and 17 in Auckland. No fewer than 3000 club members were on active service overseas. Mr A. S. Trotter said he had been impressed by the strength of the Young Farmers’ Clubs. He explained that young farmers could join the movement even though there might not be a club in their district.