Party of Victorian Farmers Visit City

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7064, 25 January 1933, Page 8

Party of Victorian Farmers Visit City

IN COURSE OF DOMINION TOUR Over 70 Victorian farmers arrived in Palmerston North, yesterday afternoon during the courso of a tour of New Zealand, arranged by the Annual Education Tour Committee of the Bendigo Agricultural, Horticultural and Pastoral Society in collaboration with the Dominion Government Department of Industries and Commerce, Tourist and Publicity. The delegation, which is under the patronago of the Department of Agriculture of Victoria, left Melbourne on the Mariposa on January 10 and returns by the Monterey about February 4. So far tho party have visited Auckland, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch. They leave Palmerston North to-day for Napier and Rotorua prior to returning to the Queen City on January 30. On arrival at Palmerston North yesterday the overseas representatives were met at the station by various agricultural identities of tho city and district, subsequently being taken out to view various dairy herds. A number also visited the Massey Agricultural College.

The itinerary to-day in tho Mauawatu includes visits to notable stud herds and other features of interest to a-farmer. The party- will leavo for Napier early in tho afternoon. ,

In conversation with a Times’ reporter last evening, Mr. E. G. Ham, M.8.E., .secretary to the Bendigo 'Agricultural Society and Northern Districts Agricultural Societies of Victoria, explained that the tour was the fifth annual educational visit although tho first arranged by the society to an overseas sister Dominion.

The objects, he said, wore to study pastoral and agricultural developments, to view and survey efficient farm management and marketing .organisations, to meet as opportunity offered representatives of kindred associations and interests, to exchange ideas, compare conditions and methods all with a view to mutual benefit and to still further cement the bond of Empire relationship between sister Dominions and agricultural organisations in particular. “The tour to date has been a great success, wo have seen much and learnt much, and I, for one, will advocate further visits of such a nature,” he said.