SOUTHLAND FARMERS’ PARTY

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 243, 11 July 1938, Page 10

SOUTHLAND FARMERS’ PARTY

Leader Stresses Value Of Tours

Dominion Special Service.

Auckland, July 10.

The educational, social and recreational value of farmers’ tours to various parts of the Dominion was stressed by Mr. A. R. Johnston, leader of the visiting Southland party, at the conclusion of a comprehensive tour of the city and suburbs on Saturday afternoon.

Mr. Johnston, who is president of the Southland provincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, said the party, numbering 220 people, was one of the largest to have left Southland. The bulk of the party, being country people, had appreciated equally the opportunity of viewing many places of interest around Auckland city and of visiting several of the large dairy factories in Taranaki. . “We have been particularly struck by the spring-like appearance of the North Island at a period of the year when pastures in Southland are bare and stock are being winter fed," he added. “While appreciating the fact that much of the North Island’s agricultural and pastoral land, particularly in the Manawatu, Taranaki and Waikato districts, is heavier and more productive than ours and that the seasons are so much longer, we find that the value and extent of production from New Zealand’s most southerly province is not fully appreciated by many people in the North Island.”

Further tours of the city were made by the visitors to-day. They will leave to-morrow en route to Rotorua, Napier and the Wairarapu. >