H.—29,

Map showing Land-utilization in New Zealand. -The accompanying map has been designed to show along broad lines the use being made of land in New Zealand farming. The map shows the types of farming and farm production prominent in the various districts. Because in some instances one type of farming merges into another, it has at times been necessary to adopt somewhat arbitrary boundaries, there being in fact no clear-cut boundaries to be used in the mapping. In other instances more than one type of farming is prominent and important in a district. This is especially so in respect to the production of butterfat and the production of fat lambs which at times are carried oil side by side throughout a territory. When this is so then two sets of symbols appear over the district in the map to indicate the prominence of two types of production . Each of the symbols used in respect to crops necessarily represents a relatively large acreage: hence small areas' of intensive culture of specific crops may not be depicted on the map. The map contains an explanation of the methods Used in depicting the various types of farming and forms of farm-production. Young Farmers' Clubs,. , Very definite progress has been made in the yotmg farmers' club movement during the past year. This is indicated not only by the additional clubs and increased membership, but also by the work and activities that have been carried out by clubs, District Committees, and the organization as a whole. Organization. —The number of clubs has been increased by 37, and the total membership by approximately 1,000. At the commencement of the period under review there were 150 clubs affiliated to the Federation, with a total membership of approximately 4,000. The clubs were situated as follows : South Island, 67 ; North Island, 83. There are now 187 clubs in the Dominion, as follows: South Island, 71; North Island, 116. The total membership is now approximately 5,000 (active members), with an honorary membership of over 500. The average Club membership is about 27. Membership varies, some clubs having only from 12 to 20 members, while the greater majority have memberships of round about/30 ; a fair number of clubs have memberships of between 40 and 60, while one or two are particularly strong, notably Wairoa (Hawke's Bay) with 120 members, Masterton (Wairarapa) with 87, and Dannevirke (Hawke's Bay) with over 70. A comparison of the number of clubs functioning to date with those in operation in August, 1936, when the present organization came into being, is interesting : —

The above figures reveal an increase of nearly 118 per cent, in the number of clubs and an increase of over 163 per cent, in the total membership. These increases are mainly due to organization in the North Island, where the number of clubs has been more than quadrupled during the period. During the past year actually 49 new clubs have been formed ; 14 in the South Island and 35 in the North Island. Twelve Clubs, however, were disbanded, 10 being in the South Island and 2 in the North Island. Club Work and Activities. —Club work generally throughout the Dominion has shown a marked improvement during the year. One very definite factor assisting this is the publication in the Y.F.C. section of the Journal of Agriculture of a detailed resume of the work, &c., carried out at club meetings,, and also fairly detailed accounts of the, main activities undertaken at the various centres, illustrated, where possible, with photographs,. Lectures still play an important part at club meetings, and the Department's officers of all Divisions have, assisted in this respect, the Fields Division being particularly prominent. Impromptu speaking and debating- have come very much to the fore during "the year, the subjects being mainly of an agricultural nature, but varied by subjects of general interest. Interclub and district debates have been conducted freely throughout the Dominion, a number of trophies having been made available locally to stimulate this admirable work ; and a start has been made with interdistrict contests, leading up to interprovincial debates and inter-Island contests. Club and district field-days and demonstrations have done much to instruct members in the many phases of agricultural and pastoral work, and have also assisted in giving publicity to the movement. Stock-judging competitions have been a regular feature in most districts, and a start has been made towards interprovincial competitions. Hay- and sheaf-stacking competitions have also been successfully carried out. The agricultural and pastoral associations throughout the Dominion have very definitely encouraged clubs and members by scheduling special classes for Y.F.C. members at the local shows, and also by allowing members to act as junior stewards and associate judges where practicable. .Both the club and district activities have also included a number of social, recreational, and sporting events which have done quite a lot towards popularizing the movement and holding it together,

7- 11. 29.

49

v" August, 1936. At Present. , 1 • Number of clubsSouth Island . . .... . . 59 71 North Island .. .. .. .. 27 116 Total number of clubs .. .. 86 187 Total membership .. .. .. .. 1,900 5,000