YOUNG FARMERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 April 1941, Page 6

YOUNG FARMERS

ACTIVITIES IN WAIRARAPA DISTRICT COMMITTEE'S ANNUAL REPORT. STEADY PROGRESS RECORDED. The sixth annual report of the Wairarapa District Committee of the New Zealand Federation of Young Farmers’ Club, to be presented at the annual meeting on Friday, May 2, states: — “Although the Young Farmers’ Club movement has inevitably been affected by war conditions, it is very, gratifying to be able to report that over the past year the organisation has been able to continue its educational work in a really effective manner and has even made steady progress in a number of directions. A very prominent feature of the clubs’ work has been the manner in which the active members themselves have assumed complete control of their affairs and activities. This development, although not marked by any obvious or spectacular changes, has been very apparent to all who have closely studied the movement and it is a source of very real satisfaction to the’ pioneer advisory members of the organisation to be able to confidently place more and more responsibility on the younger members who were, a relatively very short time ago, wholly inexperienced in executive work. Indeed, the influence of the Young Farmers’ Club movement is not confined to itself and one can observe an everincreasing number of club-trained young men assuming active and useful positions in farmers’ organisations generally. In this connection we are greatly indebted to the Wairarapa and East Coast and the Masterton A. and P. Associations for their invaluable cooperation and for the manner in which they have provided opportunities and encouragement for young men to enter into the associations’ activities. Club Membership.

“In view of the fact that all clubs are retaining on their rolls the names of any members who have gone overseas —the total membership for the district has not fallen very much and is now about 210 compared with 220 last year. Although final figures are not yet to hand it is expected that probably at least one-third of this number are either overseas or preparing to leave. Club Efficiency Contest. “Appreciating the vital importance of efficiency in all branches of club activities, it was decided last year to initiate a competition amongst the district clubs designed to ascertain which club was exhibiting the greatest keenness in educational activities, in support of district events and in attention to all those small executive

items, which contribute to an important degree to the strength of a club. Although not yet finalised this competition has proved a most valuable and interesting one. It has also stimulated a healthy spirit o> rivalry amongst clubs in that it is the only district contest which permits equal opportunity for success to the small club as to the large. In fact, as it stands at present our youngest club, Alfredton, has gained first place, although Carterton is not far behind. Stock Judging Contest. “There is no doubt that the Wairarapa district has established for itself a Dominion-wide reputation in this field and it can be taken for granted that local competitors will be prominent in any provincial or national contest that is held. This is. of course, due to the great enthusiasm displayed by

local members for this very important branch of their work and to the care with which the District Committee has fostered the activities. For the fourth successive year the Masterton Club has been successful in the district and this year the same Club’s B team occupied second place with Carterton A third. Two strong teams were sent this year to the provincial contests, one of these gaining second place, being beaten by a narrow margin by a Manawatu team. We have to congratulate Messrs H. McKenzie and N. Wyeth who won provincial championships at this contest in the baconer pig and Southdown classes respectively. As a result of the large number of competitions—district, provincial and national—in which Wairarapa Young Farmers have taken part, it has been possible to nominate a number of chib members to show associations as junior or. associate judges with full confidence that those members .could develop into competent show ring judges. We are very pleased and grateful to the associations for their assistance in this matter and a number of young farmers are now receiving very valuable experience in association with older judges or even in minor classes taking full -responsibility themselves. Debating Contest. “Although restrictions on travelling forced one or two chibs to default in this contest it was, on the whole, well and enthusiastically supported. The final was debated between Carterton and Alfredton, the former being successful after a keen and interesting contest. Our thanks are due. in this connection to Mr J. Tier of the Wairarapa College whose services as judge and constructive critic have been greatly appreciated. Fleece Competition. “With the assistance of the Masterton A. and P. Association and Farmers Union this contest was again a popular activity for sheep farming clubs. Our heartiest, congratulations are due to Mr G. Blatchford of the Masterton Club who not only won both Young Farmers’ Club classes but also succeeded in entering the champion fleece in the open competition for the Matthews Memorial trophy.

Essay Contest. "It must be acknowledged that essay writing does not appeal to the majority of young farmers and entries in this contest were only maintained at the previous year’s disappointing level. However, once again the quality of the essays was very high and prizewinners handled a rather difficult subject extremely well. The place winners were A. Cruickshanks.l, M. Knutson 2, and D. McGregor 3. We wish again to acknowledge with thanks a handsome donation from an' old and valued supporter of our organisation, Sir William Perry, who presented the prize money for this contest. General.

“Although interfered with by the war centennial celebrations found a place amongst young farmers’ activities. In a number of cases clubs assisted in their local centres’ efforts while many have established ornamental trees as a centennial memorial. As would be expected a number of activities that have been featured in the past, such as tours and excursions,

have necessarily been abandoned at the present time and-attention is being wholly confined to educational activities. There is no doubt that young farmers as well as old ones appreciate their importance as primary producers and a new air of responsibility and purpose is apparent in all their actions. Future Activities. “So far as may be practicable educational activities will continue as in the past but there are two items which merit special mention. A problem was already arising in the Young Farmers’ Club movement which has inevitably been aggravated by war conditions. That is the absence of young members under nineteen years of age. It has been apparent for some time that, for whatever reason, chibs were not attracting young members on the extent they should. It is therefore set down as a major object this year that the older experienced club members who remain should spare no effort to enrol new members in the lower age groups. To this end it is, of course, essential that special encouragement be given to these young members in order to ensure that they are enabled to take an active part in club decisions and activities and to this end special junior classes in competitions are being provided. “The second point for emphasis concerns an entirely new and extremely important activity for Young Farmers' clubs. Briefly clubs are being asked to co-operate with the Department of Agriculture in the conducting of experiments and inevstigations. These experiments will generally take the form of small hand sown plots of various grain and fodder crops, of various manures and so on. It is quite obvious and the linen flax industry is an example—that both during and after. the war we may be called upon to rapidly and perhaps radically alter the structure on which our primary industry is built up. Diversification of primary industry is an old catch cry but a sound one and there is at least every reason why we should be prepared. The way to be prepared is to be thoroughly equipped with knowledge, and by assisting in the gathering of this information the Young Farmers Clubs will be doing a really valuable and important job of work. "Not only is this work important from the national standpoint but from the point of view of the organisation itself it is probably the most important and potentially the most beneficial new activity ‘that has been undertaken by young farmers. Too many club members have little or no responsible interest in farming but merely carry out the instructions of a parent or employer. In this experimental and investigational work there lies an opportunity for the most junior members to take on a job that is interesting and important and also depends entirely upon his own initiative and enterprise. Whatever the future may hold we can be assured that the Young Farmers’ clubs have inner resources that will enable them to withstand more severe shocks than they have yet.experienced. If at the end of this coming season we can point, first to a substantial increase of junior members and secondly to the extensive development of the Yeung Farmers’ Club movement as an experimental organistion, then the year will have been a highly satisfactory one.” The report is signed by Mr W. James, District President.