FARMERS’ TOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 25 July 1930, Page 8

FARMERS’ TOUR

BACK, FROM AUSTRALIA. A SUCCESSFUL TRIP. CH RISTGHURCH, July 23. Til© 66 members of .the . New Zealand farmers’ party, who have been touring Australia for the the pa&t six weeks, have returned to New Zealand delighted with their trip, and full of, hope, that another tour of a. similar, nature' will 'he organised.An the near future. The party landed at Bluff .on Monday. Ten stopped at Invercargill, apd others left the north express at various stopping places yesterday, until, by the. time.,the. train, reached Christchurch last evening, only & few remained to motor to their homes in Canterbury, and .togo on to the North Island. 1 The total over-all cost of the. trip was £lls each, excluding extras, and every member of the party is satisfied, that lie has had very full value. All sjieak very highly .ol the efforts for the happiness of the party, made by Mr F.. Pawson, Business Agent for the . Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Railways, and his arrangements for arrival at, and departure front,, the various places of interest throughout the three States. “The whole trip was most interesting and educational,” said Mr Pawson, to . a representative of The Press, who met the party on the train |at Timaru yesterday. “We visited I the three States—Queensland, New \ South. Wales, and Victoria Excellent arrangements had been made by the, officers of • the Railway Departments in each State, and their Tesotrnin” (reserved-trains) were placed r.,t our disposal. Officials from the various Government Departments were in attendance, and supplied information on all farming matters, and in every district adequate arrangements were made for the entertainment of the, visi tors, motor-curs and drivers being supplied everywhere, by the residents. In all the principal towns the party, was accorded a civic reception. J THE ITINERARY. ‘‘ln Queensland we visited several sugar factories where the processes of refining were fully explained,’ said Mr Pawson. “Banana and orange plantations and dairy farms were inspected, and valuable information was supplied bv tbe owners. In each State visits to agricultural colleges were an important feature of the tour. “On landing in Sydney we were received by the Chief Commissioner at the Town Hall, and, at Brisbane, we were welcomed at the now I own Hall by the. Lord Mayor. At Cootlia the party was entertained by the Mayor, tbe Minister for Railways, and the Minister for Agriculture, and, on returning front Queensland, to New South Wales we were taken to inspect- the wheat-growing areas and sheep runs. RESEMBLANCE TO .NEW ZEALAND. “After a visit to Mt Buffalo, which was under snow, the party was transferred to ■ the Victoria ‘resotrain’ and was shown conditions 1 which very nearly, resemb'ed farming in the Dominion. “Members were greatly taken with the quality of the land at Coolac, which is an extensive onion-growing district. A fine flock of Polwarth sheep was seen, at Dennys Bros.’ sheep run, and here Canterbury farmers r found particular interest. At the \ next, fa-rm 40 kangaroos were rounded up for the amusement of the party and these were the only specimens seen in their native stale. “At Yalhorn, the station supplying power and light to Melbourne was seen. The visitors were‘ interested iu its situation—on a brown coalI lield—where the operations extend over; 20 square miles. Turning to dairying the party made Monvoll the next halting place, and members were motored to various farms and entertained at a social evening. A DAY’S SHOPPING. “On arrival back at Melbourne at p.3f a.m. a day’s shopping occupied | most of the. time, the hour of the boat's departure being wrongly stated. On Thursday last, at 10 a.m., the party joined the Maheno for New Zealand, and regrets were expressed by everyone at the conclusion of a highly successful and most enjoyable I tour. I “The party were unanimous in praise of the help arid courtesy of the 1 railway officials of Australia and the hope was expressed that it would not be long before another tour was organised.” I THE LEADER'S OPINION. I I During the voyage to Australia, Air Colin Mclntosh, chairman of the North Canterbury Executive of the New Zealand Fanners' Union, was elected chairman of the party. On his return lie had much to say about tbe success of the tour. “It was a great education to everyone,” said Mr Mclntosh. and everywhere there was something to learn. We also were able to supply interesting information to our hosts. We practically lived on ill© train, iraveiling all' night and sight-seeing all d'-hV, and one© we had become used to the life, it was most cotafortI jiblo. Of course it was strenuous, but J the whole party map aged to keep

pace with the. itinerary. There was no; sickness and fliqre were no aoci-' dents, and it is vyith, deligjit that I can ;-say that all returned home well, and lull ol admiration for Australia. But at the same ntinie, I may say that NewifZeal&nd 'can keep its end up" very well,’’ added Mr Mclntosh. "We found all the people most'hospitable, and they did their best to make our stay enjoyable. In fact we felt 'one of the family.’ In the limited time we had at our disposal they showed us all they could. The whole thing was well mapped out beforeluind, and 1 can say, without qualification, that .if was a tremendous success.”