Big gathering for farmers’ conference

Press, 19 May 1989, Page 19

Big gathering for farmers’ conference

The annual conference in Christchurch next week of North Canterbury Federated Farmers is expected to attract more than 300 farmers and rural industry leaders.

The conference will have a theme of “Trends and Positive Aspects in New Zealand Farming.” It will be held on Wednesday, May 24. The morning will be filled with separate conferences for the arable, dairy and meat and wool sections, followed by the provincial conference after lunch. The main event will be opened by the Mayor of Christchurch, Sir Hamish Hay, and addressed by the general manager of Elders Pastoral (N.Z.), Mr Charles Garrard, and the

South Island commercial manager of Electricorp Marketing, Mr Paul Deverall. During the morning session, the British embassy’s agricultural attache in Wellington, Mr Barry Crawthorn, will speak about the rural activity and trends in the European Community. The federation’s provincial president, Mr Ness Wright, said Canterbury’s “once in a hundred years” drought coupled with low lamb prices had severely affected he farming community. The federation is hoping for vigorous input at the conference.

For the first time, the conference will be sponsored. Electricorp marketing has agreed to underwrite the costs.