World Ploughing Plans

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31158, 7 September 1966, Page 16

World Ploughing Plans

Mr A. Hall, the general secretary of the World Ploughing Organisation will spend a week in New Zealand later this month. This was announced yesterday at a meeting of the general organising committee for the next world ploughing match which will be held in the Prebbleton-Broad-fields district on May 12 and 13, 1967.

While he is in Christchurch Mr Hall will attend a meeting of the general organising committee. The chairman of the committee, Mr E. A. E. Fairhall said that he had been advised by the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) of Government support for the contest. The committee will ask the Prime Minister to clarify the Government’s position about the welcome banquet to visit-

ing ploughmen and officials, which overseas is normally given by the government of the host country. The committee endorsed the programme for visiting competitors for the period from May 15 to 17 after the match. This was submitted by Mr H. A. Magson as chairman of the programme committee, subject to it being approved by Mr Hall. On Monday, May 15, a conducted tour was proposed on which the competitors would be looked after by the International Harvester Company from after breakfast until after dinner in the evening, said Mr Magson. It was planned to visit a farm where grain was handled in bulk, a freezing works, a shearing demonstration, a sheep dog deamonstration, and a beef cattle and sheep farm. The next day a dairy farm could be visited and then the factory of the Firestone Tire Company, which would provide luncheon. In the afternoon their visits would be made to a carpet factory and glass factory and in the evening the Goodyear Tyre Company had offered to provide dinner either in Christchurch or at Lincoln College, where the competitors would stay. On Wednesday, May 17, the visitors would be guests at farms, he said. That evening there would be a farewell banquet provided by machinery dealers. Mr P. G. Wilkinson said that the Atlantic Union Oil Company would sponsor the presentation banquet on the evening, of May 13 after the world match. The sum of £2OOO would be allocated for this. His company also had

in mind some entertainment on the evening of May 11 after the New Zealand championships which would be held that day. For the grounds committee, Mr A. L. Coleman said that the Mid-Canterbury Transport Company would provide all the buildings required—erected on the site and subsequently dismantled free of charge. Mr G. Currie said that the buildings would include a woolshed for use as an administration building, a haybarn building to cover the dais, an implement shed for use of press, radio and television and a garage for use as a first aid centre. For the exhibition committee, Mr J. G. Carter said a ground had been allocated for polo, which would be sponsored by A. R. Mackay, Ltd.

He said that an approach had been made to the owner of a draught horse team at Gore and his team would be available for the contest.

On behalf of the publicity committee, Mr C. N. Todd said that the Chief Postmaster, Wellington, had approved franking of letters in a number of New Zealand centres for two periods of two weeks this year and next year with a frank drawing attention to the contest.

A publicity folder for use ovearseas had so delighted the secretary of the World Ploughing Organisation that he had requested a further 1500 copies after receiving the first 2000. Mr Todd said that the Atlantic Union Oil Company had provided £2OOO towards the cost of publicity.