Many Purposes

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31365, 10 May 1967, Page 23

Many Purposes

“The significance of the World Ploughing Contest is far beyond that of an international contest of skill,” says the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Talboys, in a statement to “The Press.”

“Its purpose is not only to foster and to preserve the ancient art of the plough, and to Improve skills in its use, but also to help bring about the development and adoption of improved techniques and aids to mankind in all branches of agriculture; and to foster a spirit of co-operation and enterprise in the production of food and clothing for an increasing world population. “By these means the World Ploughing Organisation seeks to encourage good fellowship and understanding amongst the peoples of all nations. In the minds of New Zealanders, by whom such attributes are held foremost, it will find fertile soil for their culture. “Because of our farming heritage New Zealand is itself, of course, a land of the plough. Less than a century ago the plough was the implement which first brought into production much of our virgin land. The arable land in this province of Canterbury, scene of the ploughing contest, could not have been developed without its use. To the plough and for what it stands, we owe much of our prosperity and even of our happiness as a people. “Over the years many changes have taken place in our farming methods. Horses have given place to tractors and trailing ploughs to mounted ploughs. But even in this mechanical age the ploughman has still, as much as before, to be expert in the art of the setting of the plough. “The participants in World Ploughing Contests speak of “the fellowship of the plough’—a concept based on the common struggle against the challenges which nature presents to the farmers. All those who earn their livelihood from the

land, of every race and creed, are thus brought together and are conscious of a common goal. But a new and penetrating interest in the art of ploughing develops after the holding of a World Ploughing Contest and it is not confined to farmers. Urban dwellers, also, who may have never previously looked closely at a ploughed field, begin to take an interest in its basic operation and what efficient ploughing can achieve. “The first World Ploughing Contest took place in Canada in 1953 and it has since beei held successively in the Republic of Ireland, Sweden, England, Germany, Northern Ireland, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Austria and Norway. New Zealand first took part in 1956 and five years later Alan Magson, of Rakaia, was runner-up at the world contest in France. Today New Zealand is honoured to act as host for the first World Ploughing Contest ever to be held in the Southern Hemisphere. “The arrival of nearly 100 overseas guests offers our fanning community and others, who may be interested, a rare opportunity to meet farmers from other countries, to compare techniques, and to discuss agricultural problems of common interest From these contacts, I am sure, benefits will stem to our guests and ourselves alike.

“It is my confident hope that the people of New Zealand, in particular those of Canterbury, will by their support help to make the 1967 World Ploughing Contest an outstanding success. To all visiting ploughmen, their officials and our other overseas guests, I extend a warm and most cordial welcome to our country.”