YOUNG FARMERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 March 1942, Page 4

YOUNG FARMERS

ACTIVITIES IN WAIRARAPA TO CONTINUE FOUR CLUBS ABLE TO FUNCTION. SHEARING CLASSES SUGGESTED. A meeting of the executive of the Wairarapa Young Farmers' Club was held on Wednesday afternoon, Mr W. James, president, being in the chair. It was stated that four of the seven clubs in the district were not only keen and willing to carry on, but felt themselves able to do so, although with a reduced membership. To a considerable extent, future activities of the clubs would depend on the petrol supply situation. In view of the expression of enthusiasm by active members present, the executive felt that it should continue to function and give every assistance to clubs to carry on their activities to the fullest extent possible under present conditions. Mr S. Freeman, Dominion organiser and secretary, said that he felt very encouraged indeed to hear the lochl members express their determination to carry on. He felt that since the activities of the Young Farmers’ Clubs were essentially educational, they merited much more support than the activities of organisations that existed solely for amusement or recreation. He considered, therefore, that every effort should be made to keep at least a skeleton organisation functioning, particularly in view of the very important part that the movement could play in rural rehabilitation. The meeting recognised that activities generally would have to be curtailed, particularly those involving travelling. On the other hand, much valuable work could be done by individual clubs. Mr W. F. McLaren introduced the subject of shearing classes, pointing out that this course of instruction would prove of great value in view of the shortage of shearers. He considered" that the best time to commence such a course would be at crutching time, when learners could become familiar with the handling of the sheep and of the machines, and would be qualified to enter sheds as learners in the main shearing season. All members present agreed that the success of the movement in the immediate future would depend on the extent to which Young Farmers’ Clubs could be made attractive to younger members, and it was decided that special steps should be taken to achieve this objective. The following donations of £1 each, earmarked for prize money among the junior members of Young Farmers’ Clubs, were made at the meeting: — Messrs W. James, J. L. Heckler, G. Allen, W. F. McLaren, N. Blatchford, J. M. James and H. Bennett.