Ploughmen From 20 Countries

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31168, 19 September 1966, Page 1

Ploughmen From 20 Countries

About 30 ploughmen I representing about 20 countries would probably compete in the j world ploughing championships in the Preb-bleton-Broadfield district next May, Mr A. Hall. the general secretary of the World Ploughing Organisation, said at Harewood yesterday afternoon. Mr Hall, who will spend a week in the Dominion, said that the number coming would not be known until all countries had held their national competitions; this , should be by about Christmas. Twenty-two countries were affiliated to the world organisation and they might all take part. Mr Hall said he expected

that would include Hungary, Czechoslovakia and East Germany. Subject to their being accepted within the organisation, Japan and India might also take part Most countries would send their own ploughs to New Zealand and some would bring their own tractors. Including managers, mechanics, relatives and supporters, about 100 persons should be coming from Britain and the rest of Europe. Usually, he said, a world ploughing contest also attracted tourist® to the country where it was being held. New Zealand had first lodged its application for a world contest in 1960, and in 1964 it had been granted the 1967 contest.

Asked what had influenced the governing board of the World Ploughing Organisation in accepting New Zealand’s

application, Mr Hall said the country had everything to offer in the way of land, accommodation, hospitality and interesting things to see. The governing board also had a high opinion of the representatives that New Zealand had sent to world contests and appreciated that they would be capable of making the arrangements for such an event. Since 1956, when New Zealand had first competed in the world competitions, she had sent competitors every year. If New Zealand was able to send ploughmen to the northern hemisphere to Canada and America and also Europe, then it should be possible for other countries to send competitors to New Zealand once in every 10 or 20 years. The world ploughing competitions had contributed to the improvement of tillage techniques. This had been stated over and over again by participating countries. This

was why so many countries formed national organisations to participate in the world organisation. Mr Hall said that it was the normal thing for him as general secretary of the World Ploughing Organisation to visit a country before a world match. His job was to look after the international aspects of the arrangements. Mr Hall has been general secretary of the organisation since it was formed in 1952 and for six or seven years before that, with others, he worked on its establishment He has a 14-acre farmlet in Cumberland where he runs a few Aberdeen Angus and Charolais cows and their fol*, lowers and a small flock of Suffolk sheep. He is also an agricultural writer, freelance journalist and broadcaster. A number of New Zealand ploughing enthusiasts associated with the organisation of the world match were at Hare- (' wood to meet Mr Hall. Among them was the chairman of I

(the organising committee, Mr E. A: E. Fairhall, of BlenIheim.