FARMERS' VISITS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19734, 26 September 1929, Page 13

FARMERS' VISITS.

BRITISH AND TASMANIAN CONTINGENTS. lOf AL ARRANGEMENTS IN HAND There were references at \ esterday's siseting of t!i" csevMitive of the North Canterbury l»i«itrii*t of the Farmers' "Union ?" tl''- approaching visits from British and Tasmauian farmers to the Dominion, and arrangements were diseawed r<r the reception of the Tasmania" visitors. Those in respect of the British \ tutors, who arc no 4 du" in Canterbury till March zi''\i, will 1..- conquered lat.T. The l/oiiiinion m crel.-iry u rote lLat a partv or' :J.' Tusmuniun farmers would land* at the llluff on October l.Mh for th<- jitiipme of carefully examining farir : ng • miditions in New Zealand. The;.- d«\,iri'd to "fc some of the best stoi'l; in the hominuvi, some of the beet frec/.ini; work;., and some of the M;rget : t dairy factories, in addition to agricultural colleges and scenic beauties. Tiie party would bo in < 'hristchurch on October L''Mh, '-.'lst, and -L'nd, and would bo grateful for any help the executive iiould gi\e them. It was suggested tluit the executive should provide cars *o take the visitors to places of interest iu Canterbury.

Mr ('. li. Gillies, of the Department of Agriculture, Tasmania, attended and txplaiued the object of the visit, and •aid that the tour partook of th# character of a travelling farm school. It was hoped that the lessons got from the high class farming in New Zealand, and particularly in Canterbury, would be of great benefit to agriculture in Tasmania. It was intended to spend a day at Ashburton, to visit Lincoln College on October 21st, and to spend the 22nd and 2,'lrd in visiting farms in the neighbourhood of Christchureh. Replying to the chairman, Mr that it would be appreciated if local farmers accompanied those from Tasmania on the visits so that they could exchange experiences.

The chairman (Mr C. Mcintosh) assured Mr (ililies that the executive would do all in its power to assist. Replying to Mr J. R. Cullcn, who said that the reason for his enquiry was in •view of the proposed visit of a party of New Zealand farmers to Australia, Mr Oillies said that the inclusive cost per head to the Tasmauian farmers was £6".

After Mr Gillies had'withdrawn, the Qxecntiva discussed details. ' Mr R. T. McMillan suggested that an endeavour should be made to get the party to visit the Ellesmere Show on Otober 24th.

It was decided to try to arrange thi«. The general arrangements were left to the president (Mr C. Mcintosh) and vice-president (Mr K. Murchison). Tt was also decided to ask farmers to provide motor transport. Regarding the forthcoming visit of British farmers, the Dominion secretary forwarded copies of suggested itineraries, which had been submitted to the British National Union for selection. One provided for the whole party of 80 travelling together, and one for the party splitting at Rotorua into two ••roups and rejoining at Christchurcli. Am soon as a reply by cable was received the executive would be asked to supply details of its proposed entertainment for the visitors. The chairman said that it would be premature to discuss plans as to local arrangements until the itinerary was definitely decided upon. The party would be in t'hristchurch from March 12th to lMh.

Mr A.'Fisher remarked that the party iaaluded some of the best intelligence in farming, business, and other walks of life.