AUSTRALIANS ON TOUR.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 928, 29 January 1924, Page 4

AUSTRALIANS ON TOUR.

IMPRESSIONS OF NEW ZEALAND. “THE SMALL MAN'S PARADISE With the object of gaining 4irst-han : knowledge of the farming lands an: scenic beauties of the Dominion, a part. of four Australians are at present on motor tour of this cbqntry. The visitors, who spent yesterday in going over this district, are Mr and Mrs A. L. Button and Mr and Mrs S. G. Clift residents of the West Maitland (New South Wales) district, where they are interested in the dairying and agricultural industries.

When approached by a ‘Standard” reporter and asked for his impressions of this country, Mr Button commented that they had. only landed in ‘ Auckland about January 14, and therefore had not had much time to gain a comprehensive knowledge of the characteristics in which they, as farmers, were interested. After a brief stay in the northern city, they had hired a motor car in which to tour all the main districts of both islands, and had visited Rotorua, Hamilton and Hawke’s Bay, being this morning about to leave for Wellington. “We are very much impressed with your country—a very fine land this,” the Australian farmer commented. “In the Waikato, Hawke’s Bay and Manawatu districts particularly, you have fine conditions for dairying and sheep and cattle raising. You in New Zealand do not suffer the climatic disadvantages under which we labour across the Tasman. For : nstance, in my own district in New juth Wales we have a rainfall only a little below what you have here, but the excessive heat neutralises the beneficial effect of the rains. When we left Maitland the heat was excessive—loß to 110 degrees —arid that settles the good done by any downpour. HIGH GRADE STOCK.

“This is the small man’s paradise,” the Australian enthusiastically declared, “and, in Jersey cattle at least, the New Zealand farmer has a higher grade stock than is usually met with in Australia. There may be some stud stock over there to beat yours, but tiie general average is not so good.” Mr Button expressed his keen appreciation of Mr S. R. Lancaster’s Jersey herds, and, commenting upon the fact that this Manawatu breeder has four bulls from the Jersey islands, said: “J. don't know tho farmer in Australia you would find with such importations. Mr Lancaster has a magnificent herd and the Dominion farmers are more up-to-date than those in the Commonwealth. “Of course,” he added, “you have the pastures to build very fine stock.” Before concluding liis remarks on dairying Mr Button explained that he had vet much to see and learn of New Zealand. He was keenly interested in all things appertaining to fu.ming and would lose no opportunity to learn what he could of the conditions obtaining and methods in vogue in all pans of this country, of which he had already formed such a pleasing impression.

Lucerne growing was a feature in dairying and grazing areas in West Maitland, Mr Button informed the reporter. He added that he had about 150(1 acres of this fodder, some of which had been established on the same land for about 40 years. He thought the growth of lucerne could be extended m New Zealand, but, except where the land was very heavy; it would have to be resown every few years. It was certain)} - a great and dependable help in pasturing, and had long ago demon* strated its value in Australia. PALMERSTON NORTH BEAUTIFULLY PLANNED. “Auckland, with jta magnificent harbour, is the prettiest place I have ever been in,” stated the visitor. “Sydney and Auckland both have beautiful harbours, but of oourse the former is a very densely populated city, and I do not know what you have back of the areas surrounding Auckland harbour.” The visitor said that he would not like to say which of the seaports was the more beautiful —they were both outstanding, but Auckland was beautuuliy clean. Mr Button broke off to add a special word of praise for the New Zealand hotels. “For myself, I think that the hotel at which we stayed in Auckland was better than anything in Sydney although in the New South Wales capital you might get something more elaborate in the way of a special dinner,” he’stated. “All the hotels at which we have been accommodated so far in New Zealand have been of a very high standard, and courtesy and cleanliness have been marked characteristics. “Palmerston North beats our country towns hollow,” said Mr Button, “lit is beautifully planned and laid out.” “A feature which I have already noticed is the individuality of your country centres —for instance you make this your little capital as it were. In New'South Wales there is a . tendency to regard Sydney as the centre of everything. Even though you live in a town many miles away from it you go to Sydney to buy a suit of clothes.” In the Dominion, he added, the communities appeared to be more independent, with the result that here were to be found splendid provincial centres. “Your trains are not so fast, and the carriages not quite so good as in New South Wales, where the railway gauge is considerably wider,” commented the tourist. They had nothing like Rotorua in the Commonwealth and its well-kept gardens and thermal wonders had greatly interested the party. “Yes, you have a wonderful country, and I am anxious to see more of it,” the Australian concluded, adding that his party would pass through Palmerston North again on their return north at the conclusion of the tour.