Ploughing Site Praised

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31316, 11 March 1967, Page 14

Ploughing Site Praised

The site of this year’s world ploughing contest in the Preb-bleton-Broadfield district, near Christchurch, was the nearest to perfection he had seen for a world match since he became a member of the governing board of the World Ploughing Organisation in 1958, Mr W. Baker, Britain’s representative, said in Christchurch yesterday. Each plot was as nearly identical as possible, he said. “I think that the ground will plough wonderfully well if it is wet enough." When he saw the match site recently, Mr Baker said, he suggested that it would be necessary to start irrigating it immediately—it was so dry. A farmer in the Vale of Taunton Deane, in Somerset, Mr Baker was chairman of the British National Ploughing Association in 1963-64. His property was the scene of the British national plough-

ing championships in 19541 and he is hoping that it will be the site of the world match when it is next held in Britain in 1970 or 1971. Mr Baker said it was now something of a problem to get a suitable site for the British championships as some 200 : ub pus n joj pogiienb uem area of more than '3OO acres was required to provide room ' for trade exhibits as well.

Favours E.E.C.

An advocate of Britain going into the European Economic Community, but with safeguards for New Zealand interests, Mr Baker says he believes that a "United States of Europe” would be a means of achieving world peace, quite apart from considerations of trade. Likewise he believes that the world ploughing championships,' bringing together ploughmen from

many nations, are an instrument for peace. He said that the job of encouraging competitors to mix when they first assembled for a world contest was a particularly thrilling one. On his 615-acre property Mr Baker runs pedigree Devon cattle—there are about 250 breeding stock—-and he exports cattle to all parts of the world. He is not worried by the introduction of the Charolais to Britain. “I am a member of an artificial breeding centre advisory committee. We have had two of the best bulls from France but the demand for their semen has eased off considerably. I think it is a passing phase.” With Mr and Mrs W. R. Cook, of Bude, Cornwall, Mr Baker and his wife have been travelling through New Zealand since the end of January. Mr Cook, a retired farmer, said that they had been impressed by the capacity of dairy farms in the North Island to carry a cow to the acre, and followers, without special provision for winter feed. New Zealand, Mr Baker said, had a tremendous advantage over Britain in that from late October to the beginning of April on their farm they had to house their stock and his farm buildings for wintering stock alone Were insured for £45,000. Mr and Mrs Baker will visit Australia before returning to New Zealand for the world ploughing in May. With Mr and Mrs Cook they will attend the Royal Easter show in Sydney.