Manawatu Evening Standard. THURSDAY, JAN. 26, 1933. THE VICTORIAN FARMERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 50, 26 January 1933, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. THURSDAY, JAN. 26, 1933. THE VICTORIAN FARMERS.

Their tour of New Zealand limited to a fortnight, tlie party of Victorian farmers wlio arrived at Auckland on January 17 were permitted to spend but a very brief period in Palmerston Nortn which, by reason of the fact that it is the centre of one of the most prosperous dairying and sheep farming districts iu the Dominion, and the Massey Agricultural College is established on its outskirts, was worthy of a longer visit. That fact was speedily recognised by the visitors rhemselves, who were greatly impressed with the very fine establishment at Eitzherbert and its remarkably efficient work, as well as that of the Dairy Research institute and the Plant Research Station. Yet notwithstanding the hurried nature of their visit, the Victorians saw much to impress and interest them in this centre. They come from a State renowned for its agriculture, with large areas also devoted to dairying and to sheep and cattle farming, and the rich, fertile Manawatu has particularly appealed to them. On Tuesday afternoon, while a section chose to go to Massey College, another was taken on a tour of the district, with visits to well-known farming properties. Yesterday, the procedure was reversed; those who had inspected the College were taken to Eeikling and other townships, while the main body were the guests of the College authorities. In this way most was made of the fleeting hours of daylight which in all for the party’s purpose were very brief. Naturally, the work at the College, the Dairy Research Institute, and the Plant Research Station was of absorbing interest, and perhaps it is not too much to state that no part of the Dominion has been of such profit to the majority of the tourists than this centre with its institutions which, in Mr Ham’s words, are a great asset whose work cannot be considered in monetary terms. Particularly impressed have the Victorians been with the excellent pastures and their freshness and strength at this period of the year; the splendid manner in which farm buildings are maintained; the great advantages secured from the planting of trees and hedges for shelter purposes, and the benefits from natural moisture. In Victoria the mean average rainfall is approximately 25 inches compared with, at least 35 inches in this district, and while droughts are neither so general nor so continuous as in other States, there are parts of Victoria which suffer from a deficient rainfall. To offset this disability the State authorities have promoted extensive national irrigation schemes involving a large capital expenditure. The visitors are therefore able to appreciate the advantages in this district of its generally adequate rainfall. So impressed are a number with what they have seen in the Dominion that they intend to again visit New Zealand in the future. The value of the tour is twofold: the Victorian farmers can where possible apply the knowledge gained to tlieir farming operations, and they are cementing the bonds of friendship with people who like themselves are the descendants of the sturdy British stock who pioneered in both countries. A

closer association is for the common welfare, and it should lead to greater trade between New Zealand and Australia in lines which will not affect producing interests in both countries. In this connection New Zealand is anticipating a profitable trade with Australia this year in certified rye grass seed, which will be of the greatest benefit to Commonwealth pastures. Palmerston North has been pleased indeed to receive the farmers of Victoria, and will welcome those who again return to this centre in the future to profit from the research work at the Massey College.