YOUNG FARMERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 February 1939, Page 7

YOUNG FARMERS

MASTERTON CLUB ACTIVITIES PAST YEAR'S PROGRESS. CHAIRMAN'S ANNUAL REPORT. "The year, has seen a further advancement in the history of the club and organisation,” states the annual report of the Masterton Young Farmers’ Club, to be presented at the annual meeting of the club by the chairman, Mr Donald McGregor. “The club has settled down now to routine work and the value of the organisation is now being appreciated by all associated with it. First and foremost I would like to pay a tribute to the present executive. Their full co-operation at all times to both the secretary and myself has yielded some fine results. “Membership: Although not as strong numerically as in the previous year, the club has been consolidating itself and is now a full working body, the membership being 71 against 77 last year and honorary members 7 against 20. Monthly meetings were held on the first Wednesday of each month where practicable,' except in January, during which month the club was in recess. The average attendance at meetings was 26. The club wishes to thank the following gentlemen who gave up their time for the furtherance of our knowledge:—Mr C. Dickie, “Duties of Farm Dairy Instructor”; Messrs A. Fisher and H. McKenzie, members of the Young Farmers’ Club team to Australia; Vacuum Oil Co., talkie film; Mr A. H. Davy, "Establishment of Home Orchard”; Mr N. Lamont, “White Butterfly”; Mr J. P. E. Duncan, "Wool Research”; Mr S. Freeman, Young Farmers’ Talkie Outfit, and Mr A. Dumbleton, of Cawthron Institute. JUDGING COMPETITIONS. : “Two debates were held at club meetings, one between Tinui and Masterton in the district competition, Messrs G. Blatchford, J. Coom and J. S. McKay representing the club. The other was between members, present at the December meeting. During the year K. Donovan, J. S. McKay and D. Hunt gave a talk over 2YA on "Pasture Establishment.” On April 27 last the club were again successful in the inter-club judging competition, winning the Point Blank Cup for the second time. A feature of this competition was the appearance of the English team (E. Christopher, lan Gilmore, Robert Gamble, and "Tad” Williams) and the New Zealand representatives to Australia (A. Fisher, H. McKenzie, A. Viles and A. Cowan). The visit of the English and New Zealand boys proved highly successful. Our thanks are due to the district committee in. bringing the boys to our district. .

' On June 16 the club combined with the Palmerston North clubs in a Cavalcade of Agriculture, held in conjunction with the Winter Show. All those who were present paid a warm tribute to the hospitality of the Palmerston North'clubs. That night those taking part attended a Young Farmers’ Club dance. Eight members of the club participated in a highly successful tour of the North Island. In the national sheep shearing competition our congratulations are due to Messrs H. and W. Cooper for gaining places in a keen competition. Members took part in the usual competitions for young farmers at the local A. and P. Show held this month. A club judging day was held last March when members visited and judged Mr D. Buchanan’s Shorthorns, Mr W. Moore’s Ayrshires, and Mr L. T. Daniell’s Romneys. To these gentlemen our thanks are due. SUCCESSFUL DANCES HELD. Social activities.—The club made several steps forward here. The club purchased a dart board during the year. A ping pong match and dance held in conjunction with the Carterton Club proved successful. The introduction of supper to our meetings has brought members more closely together than was the case last year. The club held a successful dance on the night of the inter-club judging day, when members of the English and New Zealand teams were our guests. This dance was, however, eclipsed by our annual dance held in the Town Hall on August 27, when nearly 500 people were present. Our thanks are due here to our ladies’ committee under Mrs W. James and Mrs W. F. McLaren, who looked after the supper, and also to Miss E. Robieson for supplying the decorations. The club also held a birthday dance for members and those present had a most enjoyable time. FUTURE PROGRAMME. The coming year promises to mark a further step in bringing our movement to the front. The activities already being discussed include two camps at Hastings and Wanganui, an extensive tour of the South Islatnd, and a provincial judging day in Masterton. These are a few of the many features. Here. I would like to appeal to members to try to increase the membership by enrolling all those interested under the age of 30 and over 14. By doing so members will benefit themselves as well as many others who are now / associated with the movement.

"In conclusion, on your behalf, I extend my heartfelt thanks to outadvisory president (Mr W. James) for the keen interest he has taken in us over the past year, and to the district committee secretary (Mr N. Lamont) for his able advice at all times. We cannot forget our late Dominion president and honorary member of our club, Mr'W. F. McLaren, for his keen interest in the welfare of not only our club but in the many others which constitute our federation of young farmers. We thank also the Farmers’ Union and the’ A. and P. Association for the use of their rooms for our meetings. To our auditor (Mr R. H. Williams) our thanks are also due. also to all' who have contributed to our success. To the Press we are indebted for their courtesy at all times towards us and to the movement generally.” The annual meeting is to be held in the Farmers’ Room on Wednesday, March 1.