BRITISH FARMERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 906, 25 February 1930, Page 11

BRITISH FARMERS

ARRIVAL THIS MORNING CONDITIONS IN ENGLAND Twenty-five of the English counties are represented in the party of Empire farmers who arrived by the Remuera this morning to begin their tour of New Zealand. Every branch or farming is represented. There are two famous cheese meu, poultrymen, vegetable and fruit growers and three cattle breeders, whose names will go down to posterity for the work they have done.

The Introduction of the visitors to New Zealand could not have been better. The Remuera carried explosives and anchored oft’ Motuihi. haunches brought the farmers and their wives up the harbour in glorious sunshine and a detour was made so that they could see as much of the foreshore as possible. A big crowd awaited their arrival at the launch steps at 12.45 o’clock.

Mr. Arthur Canham, who had charge of the organisation of the tour, was Trade Commissioner for South Africa in London from 1916 to 1923. He stated this morning that the idea of Empire tours originated at the Wembley Exhibition. Certain Imperialists thought that some scheme of moving people about the Empire would be an excellent one. This was the fifth tour which had been arranged by the British National Union, and it was found that the opportunity afforded people of getting into personal touch was having the best possible effect on Inter-Dominion relations. Friendships had been formed and ideas exchanged which were of great benefit to everyone concerned. “The present tour is not a globetrotting expedition,” continued Mr. Canham. It has deep and serious Imperial implications and the Union would be disappointed if, as a result of the visit, valuable results are not left behind at this time when so many disintegrating influences are abroad.” Speaking, of Empire trade he said that several schemes wen; now before the British public. The fact that the people were beginning to think Imperially was a great benefit. “We don’t presume to come to teach New Zealand Imperial questions. I think New Zealand will give ns some very valuable lessons on the Empire,” said Mr. Canham. “The man in the street in England does not think Empire, and it is front you that we will get some fresh, invigorating ideas which will help us to spread friendly relations at Home.”

In hurried talks with some of the English farmers, a reporter was given the impression that farming in England is not all that it should be. Several of the visitors complained that Germany and France were dumping their products into England under Government subsidy and this made conditions still worse for the Englishmen.

Many of the farmers have retired, but their sons and families are carrying on at Home. Still they think that by gathering new ideas from countries they have never seen they will be able to Improve conditions in England, and form friendships which will be of invaluable assistance when Dominion and Home problems have to be considered.

Mr. Samuel Whitley, brother of the former Speaker of the House of Commons, formerly farmed 400 acres in Surrey. He said that farmers at Home were not happy. Labour conditions made it difficult to keep arable land in cultivation. The cost of production since the war had increased two or three times, but the price of commodities was practically the same. Secondclass land was going back rapidly.

The fact that Continental Governments were subsidising wheat and other produce which was imported into England was an injustice, but the farmers seemed to get no relief from their own Government. They always received the answer that because of certain treaties which had been made notlting could be done. New Zealand butter, he remarked, still maintained its great reputation though Denmark was a keen rival. The Empire Marketing Board was doing all it could to Improve distribution and was getting the various products better known to the public. * * # Mr. Clifford Glossop, Bramwith Hall, Yorkshire, is a famous breeder of Holstein cattle and specialises In highyielding production. He has bred one of the 10 three-times 2,000-gallon producing cows, which also gave l,ooo£b. of butter-fat In a year. There are only 3.0 of these cows in Europe. He is also a member of the Council of the British Friesian Cattle Society. Major B. Edwards, of Norwich, also specia l; -:es In the same breed of cattle. In 1927’he bred the male champion at the Royal Show and the female champion in 1925. Mr. J. J. Cridlau, of Maisemore Park, Gloucester, is one of England’s authorities on fat cattle and his herd of pedigree Aberdeen Angus cattle is world famous. “It has been the desire of my life to see New Zealand,” he said this morning. “and as I shall be 77 years old next birthday I thought my ambition would never be realised.” Mr. Cridlan was president of Smithfield in 1925, and is one of the few commoners who has held that office. He has been associated with Smithfield for 25 years, and knows something of the New Zealand meat which passes through that famous market. “New Zealand lamb is excellent. I might almost say super-excellent,” he said. “It is very popular in England and always will be. Your beef is not up to the standard of mutton and lamb. I think freezing destroys some of the qualities of your beef. Your butter and apples are also excellent and are In high favour at Home. If I get twopence or threepence a pound for my apples I think I am in para-

dise, but I am thankful to pay ninepence and tenpence a lb. for your apples. They are splendid.”

Sir Richard Winfrey, a former English M.P.. assisted Lord Lincolnshire with a scheme for small holdings and allotments, which proved most successful in England. He is a newspaper proprietor, but is still interested in all farming problems.

Mr. Mark Young, of Bedfordshire, is the largest onion grower in England. “Too much Continental produce is being dumped into England,” said Mr. Daniel Crawford, M.8.E., a member of the National Farmers’ Union. “The English farmer is shackled. Grade A land will be kept under cultivation, but all second and third grade land is rapidly going back. We are trying to introduce labour-saving devices into England in an effort to reduce the cost of production but without reducing the standard of living of the workers.” The visiting farmers were met on the Remuera by the Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister of Public Works, who welcomed them on behalf of the Government. The president of the Farmers’ Union. Mr. W. J. Poison, M.P., officially welcomed them on behalf of his organisation. He was accompanied by Mr. J. Pow, secretary of the union. The two active women farmers with the party are Mrs. Russell Fergusson, who owns and runs a dairy farm in England, and Mrs. Llewellyn Lloyd, of Rhodesia. Since her husband’s death, Mrs. Lloyd has carried on the management of her estate, and breeds cattle, sheep.' pigs and horses as well as growing grain.

The visitors were enthusiastic regarding the arrangements which had been made for the party? “The British National Union appreciates very highly the excellent organisation which the New Zealand Farmers’ Union has put into the tour,” said Mr. Canham.

Mr. H. B. Chayter Fawcett is making his second trip to this side of the world. As a young man he left England in a sailing ship for Queensland. The voyage took 76 days and he was busy this morning comparing presentday travel with the inconvenience of those times.

During the voyage out a feature of the entertainment was old English folk-dancing, which is favoured by Mr. Whitley, leader of the party. He believes that if there was more of the old-fashioned folk dancing there would be fewer quarrels between people. “There is a great revival of folkdancing in England today,” one of the women passengers told a Sun representative. “It has been taken up by the women’s institutes and is becoming very popular. Everyone enjoyed the dances on the ship.”