SOUTHLAND FARMERS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 296, 11 July 1929, Page 5

SOUTHLAND FARMERS.

WELCOMED TO PUTARURU. Enjoyable Time Spent. A fine day and a hearty welcome awaited the Southland farmers on their arrival at Putaruiu on Tuesday afternoon. The party, numbering 280, was met at the station by Messrs. Allen (president of the Rotorua subprovincial branch of the farmers’ Union), A. R. Vosper (president of the Putaruru branch), executive members of the Putaruru branch and a number of district farmers and their wives. Mr. Rabone (chief engineer to the Public Works Department at Arapuni) was also in attendance. In addition to buses 12 private cars were placed at the disposal of the visitors, and a few minutes after their arrival the party headed for Arapuni. Before embarking on the tour of inspection Mr. Rabone addressed the assemblage, and the history of the Arapuni dam undertaking was recapitulated in a brief form. As in the case of all visitors to what is undoubtedly the show place of the district, they were impressed by the magnitude of the work.

On returning to Putaruru the party, prior to departure for Rotorua, was addressed by Mr. D. Dickie, an ex-president of the Southland provincial branch of the Farmers’ Union. In returning thanks for the hearty welcome extended by the local farmers Mr. Dickie paid a warm tribute of thanks to them for placing their cars at the disposal of the visitors. He also sincerely thanked Mr. Rabone, the engineer at \rapuni, for his kindness in showing the visitors around and for the clear manner in which he explained everything. On the call of Mr. Dickie three hearty cheers, followed by musical honours, were given the local farmers an I Mi. Rabone.

Mr. A. R. Vosper expressed the pleasure of Putaruru district farmers at being able to do their little bit towards entertaining the Southland farmers. They were glad to have them and would be glad to have them as farmers. They were engaged in a different type of farming here from that of the South. Here it purely grassland farming and they ha(l to make their all by the amount of wool, butter, meat, etc., they produced.

A Voice : After the others get theirs. (Laughter.) Continuing, Mr. Vosper said they hoped with what little remained to be able to save up enough to visit the South Island as a party some day. (Loud applause.) Mr. W. H. Allen, of Tirau, a member of the Auckland provincial executive, briefly added his meed of welcome and the brief ceremonial was then brought to a close. The train moved out at 4.30 p.m. amid an exchange of cheers. Mr. Wellstead, business agent for the Railways Department, accompanied the party. No report of the proceedings would be complete without reference to the good work done by the secretary of the Putaruru branch of the Farmers’ Union, Mr. L. M. Nicklin, in arranging the preliminary details.