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The main events of the year were two very outstanding activities carried out at Palmerston North. A Cavalcade of Agriculture was arranged by the Manawatu District Committee at the Palmerston North Winter Show, and proved a most successful undertaking, over one thousand Y.F.C. members taking part in a most brilliant and original display. At the Palmerston North Spring Show a Y.F.C. national shearing competition was held, the arrangements being carried out by the Manawatu Committee ; over one hundred members from different parts of the Dominion competed, and the shearing was watched by an audience of over two thousand. Educational Weeks. —A successful Educational Week was held in Wellington during July, being the first held in the capital city ; it was attended by about one hundred members from the Wellington area, with the addition of a few members from Marlborough and Nelson. An Educational Week was held at Dunedin in August, attended by about one hundred and fifty Otago and Southland members ; while another similar week was staged at the Waitaki High School, Oamaru, and attended by about seventy. A very successful Farm School was also held at Ruakura Farm of Instruction. Arrangements were in progress for the holding of an Agricultural Week at Wanganui, but the project had to be abandoned owing to the difficulties connected with accommodation. These difficulties have since been overcome, and it is intended to undertake this activity shortly. Tours. —Doubtless inspired by the success of previous Y.F.C. tours, organized parties from a number of the districts undertook tours during the year. The main tours carried out wore as follows : A South Taranaki party of fifty toured Canterbury, Otago, and Southland; a Bay of Plenty party of fifty toured Canterbury and Otago ; a combined North and South Canterbury party of fifty toured Manawatu, Taranaki, Waikato, and Bay of Plenty, returning through the Wairarapa ; a Wairarapa party of twenty-four toured the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Auckland, and Taranaki districts ; and a party of one hundred and thirty from the Manawatu undertook a camping tour of Taranaki, Waikato, and the Bay of Plenty. A number of minor more-localized tours were also successfully carried out by parties in the different parts of the Dominion. These tours promise to continue to be popular, a number being already arranged for this season. Councils and District Committees.—The alterations to the Y.F.C. constitution, brought into effect just prior to the commencement of the year under review, have been justified. The general effect has been to give better proportionate representation by active club members on the various committees, &c. ; and the four Councils, set up in place of the two Island Councils, have been doing very good work, acting as clearing-houses between the District Committees and the Dominion Executive Committee. District Committees are in most cases co-operating with the local Instructors (acting as District Y.F.C. Secretaries) and rendering valuable service to the organization. An endeavour is being made, particularly in districts where the clubs are well organized and the activities are becoming, if anything, embarrassing to the Instructor, to throw more responsibility on to these committees. The District Committees, in my opinion, form the key to the progress of the whole organization, and can act as the background to the work of the District Secretary, taking much of the work off his hands if they can only be persuaded to do so. Age-limit.—A very far-reaching decision was made at the annual meeting in September last, when the ago-limit was raised from twenty-five to thirty years. This has certainly had the effect of stimulating membership, but, as has been frequently pointed out to clubs and members, there is the danger of the clubs getting into the hands of the older members, to the discouragement of recruiting from the younger lads. However, this aspect is being given attention by most districts, and wherever possible competitive activities are being arranged in junior and senior sections. If care is exercised in this respect the raising of the age-limit will probably prove to be a wise move in the long run. Journal of Agriculture.—Full advantage has been taken of the Department's service by way of the distribution of the Journal direct to individual members ; at the annual meeting the clubmembership fee was raised from 2s. 6d. to 3s. 6d., the extra Is. to include the cost of the Journal, thus bringing in every member as a subscriber at the concession rate. The Y.F.C. section in the Journal is being maintained, and consists principally of notes 011 club affairs and articles (illustrated, where possible) containing news of major activities. Projected Activities for Current Year.—The programme for the current year includes many important events and major activities, among them being the following : — Co-operation by Y.F.C. in Centennial tree-planting. Co-operation by Y.F.C. in physical welfare and recreation campaign. Co-operation by Y.F.C. in campaign against hydatid disease. Y.F.C. camp at Wellington during the Centennial period. Visit by overseas Y.F.C. delegates during the Centennial period. Agricultural Weeks at Hastings, Wanganui, Dunedin, Gore, and possibly Christchurch, and a Farm School at Ruakura. Value of the Y.F.C. Movement.—All who have come in contact with the Y.F.C. organization have been impressed by its value to the youth of the farming community and to the country as a whole. The work carried out through the movement is encouraging the young men associated with it to take a greater interest in their life-work, and is assisting them to improve their outlook and also their environment. It is seeking out the leaders from among them, and giving them confidence in their own ability, and generally exercising a wonderful influence on country life. A spirit of loyalty to their own organization is gradually becoming engendered, and this will, of a certainty, secure the Successful carrying-on of the movement for many years to come.

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