Contract spraying pioneer dies

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33739, 11 January 1975, Page 15

Contract spraying pioneer dies

A pioneer in agricultural contract spraying in New Zealand, Mr Ellis Denby Hide, of Femside, died recently. He was 59.

A life-time resident of the Femside district, where he farmed also, Mr Hide began his agricultural contracting business during World War 11, when many fanners were short of labour, using, a tractor-towed tin-mill threshing machine. Later, at the suggestion of Mr L. B. Ord, then a grain buyer in Rangiora for Pyne, Gould, Guinness, Ltd, Mr Hide became a pioneer in agricultural contract spraying. He is regarded by some as

the first or second in this field. He began about 26 years ago in the same year that Mr R. Skinner began similar work at Mosgiel. Later the business was expanded to include sheep dipping. Before establishing his contracting business Mr Hide worked for a time at the Kaiapoi Woollen Mills. In recent years the business has been conducted in partnership with his two sons, Messrs R. J. and G. A. Hide. Mr Hide was a keen worker for the establishment of the Femside Bowling Club, of which he was a foundation member and he served also on the Femside Memorial Hall. Mr Hide served two terms on the Rangiora County Council until the last local body elections, when he did not seek re-election because of pressure of business. He is survived by his wife and four married children—two sons and two daughters.