“TAKE LIFE TOO EASILY”

Press, Volume C, Issue 29435, 10 February 1961, Page 15

“TAKE LIFE TOO EASILY”

Visitor’s View Of New Zealanders

"The average New Zealander takes life rather easily. It is pleasant but, with times being a bit threatening, they may be taking it a bit too easily,” said Sir Weston Cracroft-Amcotts, of Lincoln, England, who has been on a visit to New Zealand. •

During his stay in Christchurch he has been the guest of his cousin, Mr J. F. Cracroft Wilson, Hackthorne road.

Sir Weston Cracroft-Amcotts’ home is Hackthorn Hall, Lincoln. He will leave today on his return to England by way of Australia and Rhodesia. In the latter country he will visit relatives and friends.

“In the early days here people worked very hard but the modem ones take it rather too easily,” he said. “Wherever we have been throughout the country we have found them very welecoming to visitors. They have been most hosnitaible and always make you feel one of the party. “I have been struck by the quality of the beef cattle in this country. That is the outstanding impression I have. Another thing that has impressed me is the shortage of labour on the land,” he said. Sir Weston Cracroft-Amcotts was surprised at the differences in the classes of soil, climate and farming methods in New Zealand. He has 3000 acres in Lincolnshire but does not farm them all himself. He lets some of his land. It is all arable and various crops are grown. Sheep and beef cattle are carried. The sheep are mostly Lincolns and Suffolks, but Romneys are also carried, but usually as crossbred.

“I very much like the sheep I have seen here, particularly the Corriedale,” he said. “I regret the Leicester is being used as a cross more than the Lincoln." Sir Weston Cracroft-Amcotts served in the European War, 1914-18, and won the M.C. in 1917. He was High Sheriff in Lincolnshire in 1954 and has been chairman of the Lindsey County Council since 1951.