Major Contributors

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31365, 10 May 1967, Page 29

Major Contributors

It has to be freely admitted that competitive ploughing in New Zealand today would not be what it is if it was not for the sponsorship of the national contest and its qualifying events by the Atlantic Union Oil Company since the inception of these events.

The company is understood to be spending more money promoting this year’s world ploughing contest than has ever been spent in this country on a non-com-mercial event Although not giving direct sponsorship to

the world contest, by its close association with the contest the company is virtually playing the role of sponsor.

The biggest single cost is believed to be the direct contribution the company has made to the New Zea-

land Ploughing Association to meet administration expenses Involved in running the contest. The company is also handling the big job of advertising and publicity, the cost of which Is running into several thousand pounds. All associated printing and art work has been both prepared and paid for by the company. All tractors in the world contest will be serviced by Atlantic free of charge. One of the most important events of the world contest will be the ploughing festival concert and presentation ceremony at Canetrbury Court on Saturday evening. The Royal Christchurch Musical Society’s choir has been engaged for this concert and the company is

bringing from Wellington for this occasion the oldest Maori concert group in the country, the Ngati Poneke Young Maori Club. This group is 40 strong. The company will also be meeting the transport and accommodation costs of bringing to Christchurch the percussion and brass sections of the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation's Symphony Orchestra.

In addition the company has had to meet many other costs mainly involved in side attractions like the Queen of the Furrow contest And these contributions of the company are over and above the normal cost of sponsorship of the national championships for the Atlantic Silver Plough. A spokesman for the company said that the large amount had been spent to ensure that the 1967 WorldContest and its associated events would come up to, and in some cases surpass, the standards set by all the earlier contests in the Northern Hemisphere.