U.K. Agricultural Mission In South

Press, Volume C, Issue 29598, 22 August 1961, Page 12

U.K. Agricultural Mission In South

When the United Kingdom agricultural delegation flew over the South Island on their arrival, they wondered that New Zealanders could subsist, let along produce exportable surpluses. “All we could see high moi' sins and snow,” said the leader (Sir John Winnifrith) yesterday. “Now we have seen part of the South Island on the ground and, although there were still plenty of mountains and snow, we learned how your farmers achieve such astonishing productivity” he added. High-country management and development fascinated the visitors. “It is really amazing to see the regeneration of the tussock grasslands and to see even lucerne growing there.” said Sir John Winnifrith. “We only had to look to see the colossal potential of developments which have really only just begun. There is nothing like it anywhere else in the world.”

Highlands of Wales and Scotland in some ways resembled the Mackenzie country and aircraft were used there to a limited extent for topdressing and sowing, but the weather was so undependable that not much could be done with aerial farming. “However, I don’t suggest that is the only secret of yo-ur achievements,” Sir John Winnifrith said.

The party saw a mixed arable farm at Rokeby, an irrigated fat lamb farm at Mayfield, and high-country farming at Glentanner station and at Lake Pukaki. In the Waimate area they had informal evening talks with a large group of farmers. “We liked that very much.” said Sir John Winnifrith. “There we could get the feel of farming and farmers in this country. We talked on all sorts of mutual interests and problems—and we, shall I say, touched on the European Common Market.”

Sir John Winnifrith said he would not comment on the last point beyond saying he waS pleased to find general agreement that British farmers were entitled to a living and entitled to seek the best means of achieving it. Possibly significant was fairly general talk about New Zealand farmers raising more cattle as a second string. Permanent Secretary to the United Kingdom Ministry of Agriculture, Sir John Winnifrith said he was pleased

that the South Island tour had started at Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln. “We were on familiar territory, as its work matches the best of our similar institutions and it is from them that you and we derive the real impetus in our production drive,” he said. “Lincoln has an international reputation for the way it has conveyed its knowledge of better husbandry to the farmers and for its output of highlyqualified scientists.” Sir John Winnifrith’s party returned from a weekend at the Hermitage Lodge. Mount Cook, early yesterday afternoon and left by air almost immediately for the North Island where they will have another 10 days of talks and inspections. They paid high tributes to the informative services given on the South Island tour by Mr R. C. Stuart, of the Department of Agriculture.