TRACTOR FOR INDIA

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31112, 15 July 1966, Page 5

TRACTOR FOR INDIA

Tears came to the eyes of a Church of South India minister, the Rev. K. D. Israel, as he thanked the youth of Canterbury, and Operation 21,

for providing a tractor and and agricultural implements for his people at a dedication ceremony in Cathedral Square yesterday. “I am deeply touched by the act of kindness and my people will be eternally grateful.” he told a large crowd. The machinery, valued at £2300, was bought with funds raised in Canterbury by the Operation 21 youth against hunger campaign and will be shipped to the Madras Christian College at Tambaram, South India. It will be handed to the principal of the agricultural college, Mr J. Hayman, a Lincoln College graduate formerly of Waimate. He

is supported in his position by the National Council of Churches. The mayor of Christchurch (Mr G. Manning) said the National Council of Churches, C.0.R.5.0. and Operation 21 were to be congratulated for providing the tractor. It would help feed the needy in India. The national secretary of C.0.R.5.0. (the Rev. H. C. Dixon of Wellington) said that although giving a tractor was only part of the campaign, it gave visibility to the project. It was typical of what was going on all over the world. What was important was

that New Zealand was doing something “with” India to combat hunger. “We are not doing it for India. Our aim is to help them to help themselves," he said. The tractor was dedicated by the president of the National Council of Churches (the Very Rev. M. W. Wilson). After the ceremony it was received, on behalf of the people of India, by Mr M. Budhia, a member of the Indian community in Christchurch. The tractor and implements will be shipped to India soon. Above: Mr Wilson dedicating the tractor and equipment