YOUNG FARMERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 May 1939, Page 6

YOUNG FARMERS

WELLINGTON COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT CHAIRMAN REVIEWS OPERATIONS STRENGTH OF MEMBERSHIP. The active membership of the Wellington district area of the New Zealand Federation of Young Farmers clubs is 2352, divided among 76 clubs in Taranaki, Poverty Bay, Hawke’s Bay, Wanganui, Manawatu and Wairarapa, the latter having 11 clubs with a strength of 316 members. In addition there are about 700 advisory members attached to the various clubs and district committees throughout the Wellington area. “While these figures,” states the annual report of the chairman of the Wellington Council, Mr FI. M. Linklater, when reporting to the annual meeting in Palmerston North today, “compare very favourably with the other council areas (Auckland Council area 43 clubs, Wellington Council area 76 clubs, Canterbury Council area 39 clubs, Otago-Southland Council area, 34 clubs, Dominion total 192 clubs), the membership in the Wellington Council area as yet falls far short of the potential 8000 to 10,000 young men between the ages of 14 and 30 living in the rural districts in this part of the Dominion. However the movement is still in its infancy, and with its popularity growing rapidly one may predict with confidence that the time is not far distant when almost 100 per cent of possible members will be attached to the organisation. STOCK JUDGING. “The projects undertaken by clubs and districts in this area during the past year have been many and varied and have met with considerable success. The first Wellington Council stock judging championship was staged by the Wairarapa District Committee at Masterton on Thursday, April 27. While rather disappointing entries were received it is hoped that next year will see greater enthusiasm displayed by the various districts.... Congratulations are due to the various winners, %nd our thanks are due to the Wairarapa District Committee for the excellent running of the competition on the council’s behalf. At the invithtion of the Auckland Council it was decided to send the champion club debating' team in the Wellington Council area to Ruakura on July 13 next to contest the first North Island championship with the champion club team in the Auckland Council area.... A very fine camp of over 100 young farmers was held in Hastings recently from May 8 to 13. This project, organised and controlled by the Northern and Southern Hawke’s Bay districts proved quite a popular and successful feature, and. while the attendance was not as large as expected, it augers well for the success of the Wanganui Educational Week to be held at Wanganui from June 19 to 24. RADIO TALKS. “Since the Young Farmers' Clubs sessions from 2YA came under the control of this council some 24 broadcasts have been delivered. In most cases the talks have been given by young farmers, but where ’they have not been able to broadcast in person their papers have been read for them. All districts have been given the opportunity to take part. These talks are broadcast at 20 to 8 every second Tuesday the next being on Tuesday, June 13. A weekly Young Farmers’ Club session has been conducted from 2ZA, Palmerston North, by the secretary of this council (Mr F. E. Sherwood).

“It would appear likely that some revision of the council's financial policy may be necessary for the future. The small sum left in the council’s funds is not even sufficient to meet our immediate requirements, which include the fares of the council debating team to Ruakura and the engraving of trophies.... Then again, after the experience of our first year’s working it would appear advisable for the council to be in a position to render financial assistance to the districts which are staging council competitions. In the past, some districts have been inclined to rely too much upon the possibility of receiving a grant for the conduct of their normal activities, and I would urge all districts to make themselves financially independent.”