TOURING FARMERS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 266, 6 August 1937, Page 12

TOURING FARMERS

Large Party Leaves For Australia “GOING AS AMBASSADORS” “You are not only going to enjoy yourselves, but you are going as ambassadors for New Zealand,” said Mr. L. J. Schmitt, general manager of the New Zealand Tourist and Publicity Department, speaking to a party of New Zealand 1 farmers at a luncheon in the Grand Hotel, Wellington, yesterday. The party, which is 57 strong, includes several women, and will tour a portion of Australia. Some of its members left Wellington in the Wangauella for Sydney last night, aud 11 will leave Auckland in 'the Awatea today. Most of 'the tourists are described on the official list as farmers, dairy or sheep; but others are station-owners, a fruit-farmer, a land agent, a gold miner, and a cheesemaker. Most of them come from different parts of the South Island. There are 14 representatives of the North Island. Also at the/luncheon were Mr. R. W. Marshall, district manager of the Tourist and Publicity Department, aud Mr. A. P. O'Shea, Dominion secretary of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. Mr. Schmitt apologised for the absence of the Hon. F. Langstone, Minister of Lands, who is also in charge of the Tourist and Publicity Department, and Mr. J. Payne, assistant Australian Trade Commissioner. Mr. Schmitt said the gathering was representative of every phase of the farming industry, and he was sure the contacts tthe party -would make in Australia would do much tor New Zealand. He had visited all the places on the itinerary, and along the East Coast of New South Wales lie said farmers would see country comparable with Taranaki lands. He hoped they would make a point of encouraging Australian farmers to tour New Zealand and so strengthen the bonds of trade between the countries.

Mr. O’Shea was warm in his praise of Australian hospitality, and said he was sure the party would find their hosts could not do enough for them. Last week the union received an invitation from Australia asking it to be represented at a world conference of primary producers. The invitation mentioned that transport and accommodation were free. "That’s one illustration of their hospitality,” he said. Mr. J. Moore, Ashburton, thanked the Tourist and Publicity Department on behalf of the party for organising the tour. He hoped they would be able to repay their indebtedness by fostering New Zealand interests in Australia and increasing the relationship between the countries.

Mr. D. C. Aubrey, Pembroke, also expressed the party’s thanks. The tour will last 26 days, and the party will visit Sydney, the north eoast of New South Wales, Brisbane, and southern Queensland, the New South Wales tablelands, Jenolan Caves and the Blue Mountains. Those in ths party are:—

Mr. D. C. Aubrey, Pembroke; Mr. and Mrs. T. 11. Mee, Central Otago; Mr. J. Doherty, Southland; Mrs. Brown and the Misses Brown, Wanganui; Mrs. A. E. Hay, Taranaki; Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Webb, North Canterbury ; Mr. and Mrs. M. It. Shaw, Hawke’s Bay; Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Reals, Raglan; Mrs. 11. M. Bampton, Palmerston North; Mrs. Johnstone, Mr .and Mrs. J. W. Preston, Timaru; Mrs. E. Kearrell, Mrs. D. A. Rowe, Auckland; Sirs. E. Taylor, Central Otago; Mr. and Mrs. C. 11. Cotton, Lawrence; Mr. and Mrs. T. Lees, West Coast; Mr. Samuel Soper, Southland; Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Reid, Arrowtown; Mr. and Mrs. 0. G. Moss, Mr. J. Fitzgerald, Greymouth; Mr. and Mrs. J. Moore, Ashburton; Mr. J. S. Paton, Mr. R. G. Paton, Oamaru; Mr. D. Dennehy, Barrytown; Mr. F. Dennehy, Wataroa; Mr. A. Coleman, Geraldine; Mr. H. Anderson, Mr. R. Swale, Invercargill; Mr. and Mrs. E. Adams, Wellington; Miss S. Rogers, Manawatu; Mrs. G. W. Rouse, Miss E. Cowie, Winton; Mrs. G. Collins, New Plymouth; Mrs. E. Cotton, Central Ota_sro; Mr. A. Smith, Dunedin; Mrs. E. Jackman-, Otago; Mrs. J. George, Miss M. George, Mr. L. George, jun., Glencoe; Mr. D. McGill, Gore; Mr. W. J. Cowie, Mr. G. P. Cross, Southland; Mr. J. Kennedy, Karioi.