gees Greater

Chahenges

Facing Rural Youth Groups

Ft-llowlng is the text of an in- l ,-:;:i:ig address delivered by MP- .i' ll. Shaw. retired Deltllly Mill- ;i;-r of Agriculture for Prince Ed- ti.ird island. at the recent annual -A-. -;-citce of Canadian 4-ll Clubs

gt Amherst.

Recently I read an intensely (mg;-esting book by Irvine Stone ..n;..1cd "Men to Match My Mount- gains", The author. taking as his H-.3...e a poem by Foss. construct- pd a fascinating narrative con- I cpminzr the westward migration of

early settlers over the plains and i ninuiitziins to California. Colorado and other western lands. and the tlftlllltl. adventure, courage. and hzirtislitps endured by the Dllifleefi. ii ho conquered almost insuperabla obstacles. particularly in the moun- .,-..n regions. before their ob- jccivcs were achieved. Men and ll'0ITlL'II were not (taunted by the cruel hardships. and although death and disaster were . c o m m o n atscndants of the trail. the high asplrailotls o' great souls carried them through to the establishment or homes. and orderly settlement Ill the valleys beyond the hills. Surely they more than matched tiic mountains.

The same great saga of courage and fortitude marked the paths of our unit pioneers. as they pushed uith their primitive equipment oicr the prairies. beyond the Roc- kies, into the great Northland. or nloiig the coast of the Atlantic sea- liiiard. 'l'hcy. too. were souls of hi:lt courage and conquered the hazards of unknown trails.

But pioneering is not confined iiloiig to opening out new lands. Pioneering never ceases. it reaches into every unexplored realm in which men undertake to solve the problem of human progress. and iih:-re a ciialictvze to human gen- ius and acquisitlnness exists. The tiei-clopment of the 4-H Club moi-cmentimay well be classified . as a type of pioneering. the sue

cos: of which is destined to exer- rise a tremenJous iniluence on the iiciiarclof our nation -and its peo- ple. True. it is a recent de- velopment. quiet, undramatic. and lct not uithout its great moments of achievement. Here, too. we may safely assert that from this great niotcmcnt will emerge men of vi- sion, courage, and knowledge. to match the mountains, that may be found from time to time in the way of progress.

INITIAL EFFORTS

I do not know where the first 'ieebie attempt was launched to rnriil rural youth into the organi- ted educational movement that is presented today as a great Influ- ential national entity. But I am told the credit must go to the Prairies. in my own Province I hecanic associated with Boys' and (iii-ls' Project Clubs thirty-(Iva years ago. and almost every year since then until my retirement three years ago I have been in close contract with many types of yoitth enterprises. rural and urban. it seems fitting that that initial venture should have been named the "Pioneer Boys' and (iirls' Club". The first organiza- tions. and those that immediately followed. were in the fonn of Bel- ior Clubs. and the undertaking re- quired considerable y:TlLIR5IVOIIOII on the part of the in meters, and ii large amount of faith and outlay nnuthe part of,Club - t - and their parents. The purchase of 1W0 year old, registered and bred heifers. usually ranged from 8150 to 3300 each. or a community ex- penditure within Club limits of ham 82.000 to 34.000 a very con- rlderable item in a day when I dollar was a very distinguished

Kentlcman". Nevertheless, many of these Clubs were formed. and they had the advantage of ' nat- inns interest and enthusiasm, not "W 00 "I0 Part of parents and members. but in the community in which the Club was located. Frequently these Clubs establish- rti farm herds of improved hreedinit ability. and laid the pat- tern for a community livestock hrccdintz Pl'0ltram that is not al- ways associated wltli 4-II Clubs. Swine Clubs were also to.-med "ml bfffelling sows as the basis. and gave considerable Impetus in swine iniprovement. From these iiiodcst beginnings. and from the i'"b"('liY derived from the active ptii-ticination of toys and girls. the Ililcndidly attended Field Dayg, ant the trips to the Royal and oiht--r Shows. was quickly develop- oil into the less costly and mor. crlcnstve framework now know. as .4-it Clubs. involving a gun lI'l"0ly of Protects on the farm

in the home. v PIIFNOMENAL onowrtl Miclurlng these years there has Mlblthenomenal srowth. and this ma e rural youth movement i as: Canada has been integrand "I0 one strong National Organisa- lion with its competently directed

-id office under the new design- "W1 in list. on Clubs All the flmifications of a broadened. to tenstfied pl-alum hd "mg iours. cultural and pncucn (3.5. hr. entertainrnutt. tj

national confareIttII.'rJni :::lt0nl. have bun mam

a more intensified year round pro- gram.

The total number of young peo- ple who hnve been influenced by Club projects would be hard to estimate. for the ef ects of Club training extend far beyond the

limits of Club membe snip. into. C

the rank and file of community. re- gional and national activities. The present membership of about 75.- 000 young people tells only 2 part of the story. Large numbers have passsd beyond club age into the adult stage. The impact of other members of the family group the neighbou a, the leaders. the ad- minls rators. livestock and other Associations. and the overall cul- tural and handicraft interests, are beyond computation. Into the wrap and woof of the national rural fabric appears the bright. trace able threads of rural youth activi- ties.

in the livestock industry of the country we recognize the herds, flocks, forage and other develop- ments. that have found their source in the first feeble ventures of the All Club organization. We see aggressive intelligent farm produ- cers who receive their first grasp of successful farm operation at the local community Club level. We recognize 'rom this source many of our farm leaders. our scientific investigators. our extension men, our parliamentary representatives, our domestic ' nce and women leaders.

Not the least of our advances

are found in our homes. where the girls associated with home conomics. sewing. cooking. band- icraft, poultry. and many 0 t h er projects have revived and reek- tablished that greatest of all skills, that under modern conditions have had a tendency to weaken Home- making. Overall there has result- ed an obvious dnelopment of citi- zenship, sC8p0I'I5II.)LIILIES, an under- standing of community problems and procedure that has tended to elevate community life on to a higher plane. The attention of rur- al youth has been turned inward to the good earth. and all its liv- ing associations, and a home life. dignified by the character building influences of those who ll,ve near to nature, the soil. and its myster- lous forces. INFLUENCE OF TRAINING

Not all our Club members. of course, have provcn successful. or have followed the initial training. Some have followed non-farm oc- cupations. Irrespective of their final decisions, the training pro- vided has left an influence behind, and continues from a new vantage point in the general benefit of all. in the original Club which I have mentioned, five distinct registered herds were established: one-mem- her became an outstanding medi- cal doctor; one an officer on an Experemental Farm: one a herds- man and Farm Manager at a large Institution: one a Physical Direc- tor. Surely that is a good record.

In other Clubs the same pat- tern could bc followed. and the same story told. Those who gravi- tated to urban vocations, boys or girls, by no means lost their in- fluence They fulfil an extremely important function in public rela- tions, between town and country. carrying the story of farm diffi- cultles and objectives to many who sometimes entertain prejudices and thinking regarding rural pi blems that lack Justification. These ex- Club and ex-farm former members. have kept open a two way street over a rural-urban bridge. and have developed a desirable under- lstalndlng of mutual rural-urban out- oo I.

These are a few of the tangible results of this this movement. These are our credits to date, no der conditions to date. They are the achievements of the past. But what of the future? Are we ready to pioneer into new activities? Are we to train unchanged conditions that affect our agriculture in the new era, "Men to Match our Mountains"? Is the Pfewnl grant and training not only in 4-H Clubs, but generally Imons the or ganlzed and inorganlzed rural youth of Canada. broad and suffici- ently complete to do the job?

True iunloi; policy has been ex- tended and strtnlllmmd. I114 M! activities have been undertaken that more effectively emphasise citizenship I sponaibtlitles. In some respects there has been a distinct departure from old practises. The program during National 4-H Club Week. for instance. has been to some extent changed. Early ef- forts were centered chiefly on judi- ging skills, and very often the, overall effectiveness of a broader u-alning for all members. suffered. t of the -rm

pfo farm movement to become

;...s.A2.; . Mn. W.R. SHAW

alone. It reaches from the nurture , of the soil through to the finished lproduct in the home of the dis- criminating consumer and all the intermediate functions associated with management. scientific ap- iplication. marketing. grading and merchandizing. and extending fur- ther into the fields of exploration and study that affect successful farm economy. It is indeed a broad and comprehensive task requiring intelligence. training and aptitude. Agriculture today requires a lar- ger measure of skill and expert leadership than ever before in our history. and its succes and re- sponsibility will rest mainly on an educated. inspired and competent youth.

Let us take a closer look at this picture. During the years immedi- ately past a great change has tak- en place tn the Canadian outlook. Canada has bounded forward in industrial development. and the process from rural to an indus- trial relationship is going forward at an exhllerated pace. If con- trolled by wlse leadership and po- Iicy. a measure of L ' ee in rur- al-urban relaronships may be

tags to the whole nation. But note the following figures: Between 1946 and 1056 the number of farms in Canada dropped from 695.000 to 531.000 or 21 per cent. The total farm labor force dropped from 1.271.000 to 804,000 or 37 per cent. The unpaid family labor from 419.- 000 to l67.000, or 60 per cent; and the paid labor from 157.000 to 106,- 000. or 32 per cent.

Much of this de:reasc took place in years of relative farm prosperity with a rapidly expanding con- suming population, and a decreas- ing farm population. even with the offsetting influence of modern mechanization. the problem of food production could develop in the next few years into an acute stage while on the other hand. the con- ditions in rural life. churches. ed- ucation. and social welfare. could become correspondingly unfavo- able. During the present transi- tion conditions there may be a tendency to ignore long-term pro- spccts and, our young people parti- cularly. respond to the influence of present day farm difficulties and industrial attractions. and fall to recognize many of the prospec- tive opportunities that the trends of the time indicate over the ion- ger period in nu-al livlnl- MECHANIZATION

On the other hand changes are taking place in mechanization, and with great advantage, as well as cost, to our farm people. Techno- logical advances are being deva Ioped at a tremendous pace. and within the next few years machines will displace men in industry. Will there again be a back to the re- established on lands that in the meantime have been neglected and the homestead: broken down? It-is a thought worthy of consideration.

In any event a big rural PFONCWI is centered in the present situation. Overhead c os is because of equipment tightened credit restric- tions. and labor difficultires pose a problem of deep concern. Madcrn expansive machinery may not be a cross country farm solution. There is a tendency to fit the farm. irrespective of size. into lat-gs machinery units. instead of adjusting farm management acre- IR. and form of production. to a recognition of modern consumer demands. We need only observe the E that have tlaken (place in va and pacing nl 0 0"? food The wheat. P0'll0- Nd beef grower, for instance. need!

a ' acreage and turn equip- ment. but the fruit. the vuet-bl-

w. my now facing as rural peo- and poultrymnn mu ,1. must, use to adjust tits program with - """c.....t"”"...i'”.'i.l.” 5?: '"'....." 'r,' . ..:""'- .:"'....."'..""... . . . llflll. IItItcl'!llIdfU'llI.frCII markets. and our exvInd- dpuoioalmnuuu M dmugscggnlsnci: M TIQII in mac obstacles also? a In D9nlIIIl"h

maintained on a basis of advan- 37

ouuible C. B. Sherwood. Illnlaut. Maritime I- 0f Aartculture for the I of New Brunswick and Pt-ealdcntipongum C t

tion of Canada. Dr. George Fisher Provincial Veterinarian. will Id- dress the meeting on questions of animal health. Farmers are invit- ed and urged to attend these meet- ings which represent an opportun- ity to take part in policy making for agriculture.

I5.

this kind of work. This is a con- crete example of dollars and cents value. another recent one was the em” to I nu. - prompt action taken at Ottawa to there were illea potsai(tlibEtmt?epuE! "Hus! 9.35 mm" "d I" "my '1' chase men. requirements direct. so mention two others ill the fact ly from the western farmer. It Illlhm farmers may MW punzha” not oiir intention to offer any opin-l 5mm" w'g”"5 "M" me l'"'n ion on whether this system would: '2' mi" ” 5”" wh," bu” ' '3'” produce a saving but rather tol,l""" "I5 "'.l'"' '5 uhwed "' point out the difficulties lnvolvedi ”I”"'3e,- I," "IF'”m5 lax Pl"'W5e5- in bringing this ,0" of I system depreciation. either on, the, actual about purchase price or a fair value for The waste", gram farmer has it rather than on its depreciated over . period of years spent , value as it had stood previously great deal of money and devoted lisled b-V "'9 lam"-

n great deal of time setting up FARM ESTABLISHMENT marketing organizations in the form of local elevator '

gt.-stion was made by one speaker that island poultry men could op-

tcl. Guest speaker will be the Ion-'Departments of Agriculture. oft .-Jc..iiton of Agricul- ture. and of the Maritime Trans. , ' this state "T "I0 Holstein-Friesian Assoclt meat was submitted to interested , , people in otuw. md uas wnphnr lltln to the necessity of providing sud ii. iii, bflgf ,, "med by me; this province with some form of Canadian Federation of Agricul-l Policy by which would assist lure to the Cabinet on FebruaryI":r':"5T'iI'l Iii-Wlllintl Hall-

I . s s a recomrnen a- it ll results like this that should-l W” ””l”'' "" F'd''''"”'' "I ”"'”' ,prove to farmers the im rtancel um” ll" be" "nut ".p"” "I" and "Inc M keepmg Incl: tum-lgovernmenl for consideration over

organizations in the position to dol 3 "mad "I yum

Friday. March 8. 1957

,the Guardian Page 3

As the situation now stands we are the only province in Canada. with the possible exception of Newfoundland, which does not have a policy of this type. Fur- ther. with the exception of Sask- atchewan. there is no other prov- ince depending to a greater ex- tent for its prosperity on Agric- ulture. It would almost appear to be elmentary that the future of the province depends upon a fos- tering and developing of our farms.

The need of such a policy is now becoming acute and if the matter is not soon dealt with we will

A recent editorial draws atten- icontinued on Page 11. Cut. 7)

tions and provincial wheat pools to do his marketing for him. He has long realized. and here it might be remarked that he is con- siderably ahead of his eastern brother in this respect. that his bargaining power as an individual is practically non-existent. Within the last few weeks the parliament of Canada has extended for a fivei year period the authority of the Canadian Wheat Board to carry our the marketing of western grain.

in the face of the above men- tioned marketiiig technique there is not eh slightest possibility of the eastern farmer being able to buy direct, for the western farmer knows that once he became in- volved in a system of this kind that complete chaos would very soon develop in his marketing. rpice stability and regulated mar- keting would be anything of the past and result in the clock be- ing turned back atleast 30 years. We make this statement believingi that island farmers should not be led to believe that any relief couldj possibly ceom from the sugges-i tion that he may be able to pur-E chase direct from the western far- mer. FREIGHT ASSISTANCE

The recent announcement by the Hon. J. G. Gardiner that certain freight increases are to be ab- sorbed under the Freight Assis- tance Policy on western grain Wllll be welcome neivs to many Marl-l time farmers. Briefly eastern feeders instead of having to pay .00 a ton towards the freight will now be paying about rough- ly 55.50., this in total on our pur- chases will amount to quite a large amount.

all this week including.

OI:

This concession is a tribute to what can be accomplished through the combined c'forts of farm or- ganizations and Departments of Agriculture officers. A worded statement was prepared by a re presenlative of the three Maritime

Jeweiier;

SPECIAL SELECTION OF

DIAMONDS

Will he Oil display at our

TRU-BLU and TRU-LOVE RINGS

and

GRUEN DIAMOND WATCHES

We cordially invite you to come in and shop

CHAPLOTTETOWN

store at 113 Kent Street

gt foeclod

in next to no time. it's got the wearing comfort you'll find only in quality cotton -plus the easy washing, no ironing talents of synthetics. Wash it quickly, easily at night.

3 2

I i I It irons Ihllf as It dries-The fabulous No-Iron finish 'or this lustrous English broadcloth is built right in by a patented secret process. And this remarkable fabric is exclusive with Forsyth in Canada!

hid by

Finally! An English Broadcloth sun That Needs Absolutely No Ironing.

Hang It to drip dry-Slip it on a hanger, button front-smooth out collar. cuITs and shirt front with your hngers-your job is done! Saves time. Sines energy. A boon for busy houscwivcs . . . Terrific for travellers!

Wear it with confidence-You can be sure your No-iron shirt by Forsyth shows you at your best. It's Iruly superior in comfort and appearance . . . outlasts and outwears any ordinary broadcloth shirt.

-III G CAIAOA1 Pi? ICE

Kmy & MQMNEJ I. MncKEN2iE'S p so out as. sotninnnn 135 um sr. cnsnwrrsnowu ,3

HOUSE OF FASHION

Firestone Home 8. Auto Co. Ltd.

375,000.00 WAREHOUSE SALE

OF

ADMIRAL TELEVISION

AND REFRIGERATORS CONTINUES

Due to road conditions we had many requests to

continue this Great Warehouse Sale.

We have a good selection of models left at OFF-THE-

CAR PRICES that will save you real money. COME IN TODAY! .. IT WILL PAY YOU!

Enjoy the finest entertainment at less than 5: per hour!

Admiral 2l" TV

with Push-Button

"ON-OFF"

O Imperial 300 chassis O Lighted Top Front

Tuning O Aluminized picture tube O Local-distant switch O Optic Filter

Swivel Base

FREE!

CFCY and Monarch Outside Aerial Completely Installed.

SAVE 083.00

WE TAKE RADIOS IN TRADE - 2 YEARS TO PAY OTHER I957 MODELS FROM 139.95 UP.

Many Bonus Gifts such as Gruen Watches. Zoos. etc.

F 5-Piece KITCHEN CHROME SET

With Every

I957 Admirttl Refrigerator

During This Warehouse Sale I Prices Start At The Low Price Of

239-95

Trade In Your Old Refrigerator TODAY

Write, phone or come in While fhll Very Special Offer is available. YOU have never had such an offer. Don't miss it-it's it real Bargian!

ADMIRAL TABLE RADIO - . - - - - 24.95

Admiral Electric RanFgweEsST

THE 1977 MODEL IS THE N .' - '

AUTOIIMATIC ELECTRIC RANGE MONEY CAN BUY.

. Firestone i i

MOST We Talia Old loops ' In Trade.