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Graphic: An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand 1966.

Warning

This information was published in 1966 in An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock. It has not been corrected and will not be updated.

Up-to-date information can be found elsewhere in Te Ara.

FARMERS' ORGANISATIONS

Contents


Young Farmers' Clubs: The Dominion Federation

The first local Young Farmers' Club was formed in the Feilding District in 1927, its main work being the running of an annual agricultural show for exhibitors under the age of 21. Later, the Auckland Young Farmers' Club – a post-school agricultural club – was formed by Dr W. S. Hill in 1930. Still later, inspired by J. E. Davies (then in the Department of Agriculture), a club was formed at Palmerston in Otago in 1932, followed immediately by clubs at Moa Flat and Clinton. A. C. Cameron of Dunedin was impressed with the potentialities of such clubs and started setting them up in large numbers, first in connection with “educational weeks” in Otago, then further afield. He finally promoted the formation of the Dominion Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs, of which he is recognised as the founder.

The official motto of the federation is “Youth, Farming, Citizenship” and it aims generally to help to establish Young Farmers' Clubs throughout New Zealand and to promote their well-being. The objects of the individual club include the development of the spirit of leadership among the youth of the community, the carrying out of all kinds of educational work among farmers, and the promoting of interest among young farmers in the well-being and advancement of farming. Strict attention is rightly paid at club meetings to correct procedure. Officers are changed frequently to spread experience in various offices as widely as possible through the club. There are many club activities such as listening to lectures by visitors and by fellow members, discussions, debates, including interclub debates, stock and other judging competitions, which extend to Dominion championships, and so on. Interclub visits are also popular. The Department of Agriculture is fully alive to the potentialities of the movement and provides a secretary-organiser at Dominion Council level and general supervision at district council and club level. While the age limit for membership is 30 years, clubs are permitted (and advised) to avail themselves of the advice of older farmers or other advisory members of committee.

The federation recognises five decentralised districts – three in the North Island and two in the South – and some 47 district committees. The Dominion Council is formed from representatives of district councils. The office of Dominion president is normally held in rotation. There are now 369 clubs with 10,786 active members. The number has been fairly constant for some years. Each year some clubs are revived or inaugurated and some go into recess.