BRITISH AND AFRICAN FARMERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 228, 26 September 1928, Page 17

BRITISH AND AFRICAN FARMERS.

1920 VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND.

ARRANGEMENTS UNDER WAY.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

LONDON, August 14.

Sir Pieter Stewart-Bam, who has been responsible for the organisation of a number of tours by farmers, especially those of the Union of South Africa, is taking steps to organise a visit toward the end of next year of a group of British and South African farmers to New Zealand. At Sir Pieter's instigation the High Commissioner for New Zealand called a meeting of New Zealand farmers now in London to discuss the proposal. The New Zealanders present were: Messrs. H. G. Balfour-Kin-near (Picton), John E. Lane (Hawke's Bay), Colonel Norman Fitzherbert (London), A. Sutherland (Palmerston North), Andrew Guy (Palmerston North), H. H. Wall (Gisborne), J. E. Leeson (Morrinsville, Waikato), H. E. Stephens, chairman of the New Zealand Fruit Board, George Dennistoun (Peel Forest), A. S. Elworthy and P. A. Elworthy (Timaru), Freeborn Parsons (Blenheim), I. W. Trolove (Blenheim).

Sir James Parr introduced Sir Pieter and stated that he was the founder of the National Union of Farmers, now called the British National Union —the body under whose auspices the party of Dominion farmers are now touring this country. The High Commissioner considered the idea of a visit of farmers from other parts of the Empire to New Zealand was a good one. Sir Pieter said tie w-.s lceeniy anxious that the proposed tour to New Zealand and Australia should be a success. His union would be responsible for landing the visiting farmers at a port in the respective Dominions. It was suggested that then the local unions should take them in charge and be responsible for all their movements while they were there. Already a considerable number of British farmers had intimated their desire to participate in the trip. The actual date had not yet been fixed.

The New Zealand farmers present were of the opinion that the Farmers' Union in New Zealand would be capable of taking up the organisation for the tour, and Sir Pieter was assured that he could rely upon the enthusiasm of people in the Dominion to make the proposed tour a success in every way. There was little doubt but the Farmers' Union would ask for the co-operation of the various chambers of commerce, particularly in the smaller towns, and of the agricultural and pastoral associations.

The following resolution, proposed by Mr. H. H. Wall and seconded by Mr. J. E. Leeson, was carried: "That this meeting, having heard the views of Sir Pieter Ba/11 with regard to the objects of the British National Union, suggests that as a nucleus for organisation purposes in New Zealand., the New Zealand Farmers' Union be- asked' to undertake the initial work in connection with the tour of Empire farmers to New Zealand next year."