YOUNG FARMERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 May 1942, Page 3

YOUNG FARMERS

WAIRARAPA EXECUTIVE ANNUAL MEETING FUTURE OF THE MOVEMENT. EFFECT OF WAR CONDITIONS. The difficulties facing Young Farmers’ Clubs owing to war conditions were anparent at the annual meeting of the Wairarapa District Executive, which was held in Masterton yesterday afternoon. The president, Mr W. James, oc-j cupied the chair. The hon. treasurer, Mr H. M. Boddington, reported a satisfactory financial position. It was decided to award prize money to the junior section only at the recent district stock judging competitions. Mr G. H. Perry donated £1 at the meeting for augmenting the prize money, and it was agreed to award four prizes in each class. On account of the small number of entries in the senior section of the stock judging competition, it was decided that the “Point Blank” Cup would not be allocated this year. Officers were elected as follow:— Patron, Mr G. H. Perry; president, Mr W. James; vice-president, Mr H. McKenzie; hon. treasurer, Mr H. M. Boddington; executive, Messrs G. E. Allen, N. Blatchford (advisory members), Messrs J. Rose, W. Heckler, W. Cooper, W. D. Buick, V. Gates and D. McLachlan (active members); delegates to Wellington Provincial Council, Messrs W. James (Advisory), H. McKenzie and J. Rose (active). Mr N. Blatchford deplored the lack of interest evident in the Young Farmers’ movement by the older farmers in the. Featherston district, and he asked if it would be possible to do something to gain their' more active support. Stating his personal opinion, Mr W. F. McLaren said he had expressed the view to the Wellington Provincial Council that the movement should go into recess for the duration of the war, and the council had agreed with him. The Dominion Council, however, had decided that the clubs should carry on. That being the case, he supported that decision until the next annual conference, which would be held in July. He considered it better for the movement to go into recess while it was strong rather than it should fritter away. The skeleton organisation should be kept intact. In a letter read to the meeting, the Dominion president, Mr D. Ross, stated. that the organisation was too valuable a movement to lose, even in war. There was no reason why many of its activities should not be encouraged still. Wherever possible, he asked clubs to hold regular meetings, and requested executives to do everything possible to keep the movement going. Mr McLaren pointed out that it was difficult to formulate anything in the way of future policy until the annual conference was held. Mr W. Cooper said that clubs in the meantime could make their own arrangements regarding their activities.