World Ploughing Story Now Nearly Closed

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31500, 14 October 1967, Page 10

World Ploughing Story Now Nearly Closed

The story of the 14th world ploughing championships held In the Prebbleton-Broadfleld district near Christchurch last May is bow drawing to a close. .

One of the last official events associated with the world match will be a presentation and social to bo held at Lincoln next week under the auspices of the organising committee for the world match. Arrangements for this event are in the bands of the ceremonial sub-committee of the general organising committee and among items on the programme will be a film of the world contest Another matter is also under action. Plans are under way to erect a stone fence behind the Cairn of Peace at the comer of Springs and Robinsons Roads near the site of the world contest This fence, faced in Halswell stone and pointed to match in with the cairn, which includes a piece of stone from every country which took part in the world match, will be a memorial to pioneer New Zealand ploughmen. A plaque will record that the wall has been erected “in gratitude to the memory of New Zealand’s pioneer ploughmen, who turned the first furrows and endured hardships that we might reap ths bsnefits of their labours.” A chain fence will be erected in front of the cairn. The initial money for this project was raised as a result of a-social function held on the evening after the New Zealand ploughing championships last May by the Court-enay-Paparua Ploughing Match Association. From this about $2OO is available towards the cost of the cairn and the Atlantic Union Oil Company also donated $3O. The balance of the cost Is being met from the surplus on the world contest, reported at the last meeting of the general organising committee at more than $9500.

In a “ball-by-ball" commentary on the trip to New Zealand of ploughmen from

Europe, the president of the World Ploughing Organisation, Mr W. Fsuerlein, In a communication which has been received in New Zealand, says: "Strain and relaxation, indoor functions and outdoor activities, farm life and city entertainment were veiy carefully mixed and made our stay most enjoyable. With such tact and incomparable taste, a group of farmers who had cooperated for years with the aim of holding tbe World Ploughing Contest in New Zealand ‘up to standard’, had taken our days in their hands. Trying to report I am quite sure that I shall bs unable to do justice to all of them. ...”

And later in his epistle: "All experts agree that the standard of ploughing at Prebbleton wax as hitfi as ever. The high humus content of the soil did not allow a very firm furrow on the grassland area. The toll was mellow and crumbling. The stubble ploughing was the more typical I personally believe that a better understanding of the requirements of stubble land ploughing has emerged. The judging was entrusted to a panel of five experienced judges for each day. They judged on a mutual agreement basis and had the assistance of a eleik. There was a mistake in the first issue of the platings. This was only due to a slip in compiling the score sheets and was soon detected. We know now that, in future, we must recheck our sheets undisturbed rather than rush to get the results to the press.” Many have contributed to success of this event, claimed to be one of the first truly international events to be held in this country. Apert from the many members of committees who gave of their time and effort, there were organisations and firms that gave financial support in various ways, and above til, as has been the ease since New Zealand championship ploughing began in 1956, the main sponsor and standing firmly behind the contest was ths Atlantis Union Oil Company