Oregon Farmers Touring

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31542, 2 December 1967, Page 16

Oregon Farmers Touring

After devaluation of its currency, New Zealand could expect more American tourists, but it would have to become geared to accommodate them, Mr N. J. Hansen, the leader of a party of 64 farmers and their wives from western Oregon, said in Christchurch this week. Mr Hansen, a staff member of tbe Oregon State University, was asked how his group came to visit New Zealand. He said: “During one of our livestock tours, someone

suggested, 'Let’s go to New Zealand*.” Mr Hansen said the climate of western Oregon was very similar to New Zealand’s, both places being on the forty-fifth parallel. The greatest impression gained of farming in New Zealand was the numbers of sheep, and the carrying capacities.

Mr Hansen thought that farmers in New Zealand had an advantage in that the rainfall was much more evenly spread throughout the year than in Oregon, and this was reflected in the pastures. Some farm management practices in New Zealand could be adopted in Oregon, and the party had also learned a few things about

pasture species which were similar to those used in

Oregon. Mr Hansen’s party visited the North Island from November 12 to November 21 and since then has been to Mount Cook, Lake Wanaka, Te Anau, Queenstown, Invercargill, and Dunedin. On Thursday afternoon the party visited Lincoln College, and after a barbeque in the evening stayed at private homes in the Methven district.

This part of the tour was arranged by Mr D. Glass, who, while a member of the International Farm Youth Exchange scheme, visited Oregon and stayed with one of the group how touring New Zealand.

Discussing accommodation in New Zealand, Mr Hansen said the average American liked motel accommodation, with facilities for showers and meals when required. Their meal timetables on their present tour were very leisurely. They had never experienced anything like it. Mr Hansen thought more motel accommodation was re-

quired to cater for the increasing number of American tourists which could be expected. Mr Hansen’s party left Christchurch yesterday afternoon for a 10-day tour of Australia.