Mayor Welcomes Ploughmen

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31364, 9 May 1967, Page 3

Mayor Welcomes Ploughmen

Ploughmen belonged to one of the most ancient crafts, because in early times the production of cereals was one of the greatest needs, said the Mayor (Mr G. Manning) last night at a civic reception to overseas competitors at the world ploughing contest.

Mr Manning said that while the products of the soil had changed considerably, the invention of the plough was still a significant part of agricultural history. The Mayor told the visitors that the first ploughing in Canterbury was done in 1840, only two to three miles from the centre of the city. The first ploughing in New Zealand was done by the Rev. John G. Butler, at the Bay of Islands, on May 3, 1820. He used a team of six bullocks.

ary of New Zealand, and 91 per cent of white crops was grown in Canterbury, Otago and Southland. Fourteen years after the first settlement of Canterbury, the province’s first ploughing match was staged. Thait was on October 20, 1854, on a property farmed by Mr William Boag, of Burnside. A newspaper report of the event described the area as “a beautiful piece of level ground, and sufficiently moist for the purpose.” Seven horse teams and eight bullock teams took part in the match, with the horses on one side of the paddock, and the bullocks on the other.

Mr Manning said a world ploughing championship in New Zealand was a most appropriate time to recall that historical event. Canterbury, he said, had becotae the gran-

The president of the World Ploughing Organisation (Mr W. Feuerlein, of Germany), in reply, said it was unique that New Zealand had records of the first plough, and the first men who used it. “I hope we can have your report of early New Zealand ploughing in our handbook for next year,” Mr Feuerlein told Mr Manning. Mr J. A. Hazlett, manager of the Atlantic Union Oil Company, said his firm began to sponsor ploughing matches in 1956 and it was some satisfaction to see this culminate in the world ploughing championship in New Zealand this year. Mr A. E. Fairhall, of Blenheim, chairman of the New Zealand Ploughing Association, said Canterbury had been a popular venue for ploughing championships, as several New Zealand titles had been decided here. He thanked Mr Manning for his interest in the world ploughing championship.