BOYS and GIRLS AGRICULTURAL CLUBS

Radio Record, Volume VI, Issue 42, 28 April 1933, Page 2

BOYS and GIRLS AGRICULTURAL CLUBS

A 2YA Talk

by

W.

STUART WILSON

THE subject of my talk toa night is the Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural.Club movement in New Zealand. At-the outset let us realise that we are living in an age of science, and the industry which does not carry on with scientific methods is going to be hopelessly beaten in competition in the world’s jfarkets. In agriculture, scientific application is absofutely necessary if we are to meet our competitors in oversea markets on at least an equal footing. Practical work is a natural corollary’ to scientific theory. Therefore there is full justification for the systematic and up-to-date practical. training of our youths in agricultural pursuits embodied in the aim of the Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural Movement in New Zealand. This organisation was founded in Otago in June, 1918, and has since spread throughout New Zealand. Mr. Healy, late agricultural instructor for the Education Department, and a colleague of his

Mr. R. S. Green, in conversation with me one morning, stated that we should start Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural Clubs in New Zealand. Mr. Healy was exceptionally enthusiastic over the proposal, and his death during the influenza epidemic of 1918 was an irreparable loss to the agricultural community of New Zealand. My suggestion that it was a commendable movement for-the Otagu Expansion League to foster, had their prompt endorsement. I brought this proposal before the League, of which I was a foundation member. and it was immediately adopted. The first competition was then inaugurated by the Otago [expansion League, under the supervision of Mr. R. S. Green, who conducted the first Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural Competition in Otago, very ably supported by Mr, W. B. Steele, secretary of the Otago. Expansion League. These competitions were devoted to the culture of potatoes. On this occasion entrie«

were received trom two schools -Beaumont and Momona. In the following year, 1919, three schools competed, and this number was increased to six in 1920. These potato crops were generally laid out in the school or on some’ secluded area. Each competitor’s crop was grown side by side with another. In South Taranaki, similar competitions were given considera-

tion during 1919 and 1920, and it was in August of the latter year, at a meeting at Haweta called by the Taranaki Provincial Executive of the Taranaki Farmers’ Union, that. it was decided to hold competitions known as Boys’ and Girls’ Club Competitions. The committee conducting the competitions comprised representatives of the Farmers’ Union, primary school teachers, "education and agricultural departments. The field work was undertaken by tepresentatives of the two latter departments. A‘ the outset these competitions were restricted to root growing and calf rearing; but it was found to be too late for calf competitions and the first year’s work was applied to root growing-man-golds and swedes. [Entries were received from no fewe er than 19 schools. In distinction to the competitions held in Otago, the competitions for the root growing plots were held on the parents’ farms. This was considered more conducive to

individual effort. The results justified the Taranaki systeni, The success of the movement resulted in 1921 jn its extension to North and Central Taranaki, Wanganui and F eilding districts. In Northand South Taranaki, calf competitions were included. During 1921 54 schools took part in the root growing competitions and 18 in the calf clubs. During 1927 the competitions were teh up in the Main Trunk district (Hunterville and Taihape) and in th Wairarapa, where root growing clubs were inaugurated. In 1928 similar competitions were extended throughout Southland and Otage. Calf clubs ahd root growing clubs were started during 1929 and 1930 in Hawke’s Bay, Palmerston North, Levin, Canterbury and Auckland. Southland then inaugurated a pig club, which was highly successful. The competitions grew in numbers from 30 in the first year to 3499 in the 1931-32 season. This extraordinary in

-crease is a tribute to the worthiness of the movement and the enthusiasm of the country juveniles, The record of the winning performances since ‘1918 that have won the Challenge Cup presented by myself shows that par-'. ticularly good work has been’ done. In the case of potatoes; the yields per acre established’ by various (Continued on page 22.)

High Appreciation of Officials {n connection with his talk on Agricultural Clubs, Mr. Stuart Wilson read some telling letters from high officials in the Department of Agriculture, expressing their admutation for and appreciation of the good done by these clubs. , In his address Mr. Stuart Wilson spoke most appreciatively ‘of the great assistance and esteemed cooperation given the scheme by some 25 officers of the Departiment at different points throughout the

countrn, a1d barticulork

by Mr. |

W. J.

Deem

Ficlds Im ctruce

#lD U 0i Palnerston North.

Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural Clubs

{Continued from page 2.)

winners have been 22 tons per acre in three cases, 31 tons and 33 tons in other cases; and, most remarkable of all, 463 tons last year by Joln Dowling, of Otatara School. Southland. In the case of mangolds, the winning, yields have ranged from 188 tons per acre to 189, and as high as 188 tons while one particularly good crop of carrots gay~ a yiecd of nearly 76 tons per acre. An extraordinary performance was accomplished by Master John Dowling, of Otatara School, Southland, who in

1931-32 grew 4634 tons of potatoes per acre, } Up till recently the New Zealand Government has consistently contributed substantial financial aid to the Boys and Girls’ Agricultural Club movement. In 1931-32 it was found necessary to reduce the subsidies which up to that year had been granted to recognised clubs up to a maximum of £40 per club. The £40 maximum was abolished, and a smaller maximum was fixed for individual clubs, ranging from £15 to £35. In 1982-83 the subsidies were suspended altogether, and also no funds were available from the Government for the purchase of seeds and manures. The primary wealth of this country is embodied in the farming industry, and yet for years it was almost the only industry to which theoretical and technical instruction had not been applied. Commencing in the primary and secondary schools a basis for scientifie agricultural education may be 1aii, but it is on the actual farm that science of farming is best conducted. This is because in actual farm operations so many problems are encountered that a more elaborate knowledge of the science in the industry is essential if the farmer is to hold his own in competition. The various conditions which have to be met are those of soil, weather, and plant and stock disease. Nowadays problems associated with these conditions are solved by the magie word of science. Soils which have been refractory are now induced to yield to the farmers’ demands; weather conditions no longer confound the scientific farmer; the most obstinate diseases are routed under highly specialised treatment, and this is ac- { complished in practical farming, The Boys and Girls’ Agricultural ' Clubs afford its members every opportunity of gaining knowledge which will be of practical value in the everyday life of the farmer. Associated with the instructional objective, the club movement aims at imparting to the juveniles a love for the land and the healthy occupation of farming. While I was in America I had the privilege of meeting a number of leading men in the United States and Canada who were closely associated with the Boys and Girls’ Farming Clubs in those countries. These gentlemen affirmed that these clubs had achieved some remarkable results in fostering knowledge of farming practice among the younger generation. Before they reached maturity many hundreds of these youngsters were quite accgomplished, practical farmers. Throwzh sound training in up-to-date methdds, the future of farming was assured, for the old-time slipshod practices were gone for ever as far as the new generation was concerned. As I have previously stated, this wonderful movement'in New Zealand igs unfortunately deprived of financial assistance from the Government. Since the farming industry is of paramount importance to the financial welfare of this Dominion, I would commend to all those interested in our primary industry the need of fostering such a worthy movement for the increase of the productivity of the land and the successful rearing of livestock. Agricultural associations, livestock associations, fer-. tiliser and lime companies, stock and station agents, well-to-do farmers and merchants could not contribute to a more worthy cause than tLat of the Boys and Girls’ Agricultural Clubs of New Zealand,