VISITING FARMERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 11 March 1930, Page 7

VISITING FARMERS

RECEPTION AT WELLINGTON

IMPRESSIONS OP NEW ZEALAND

(By Telegraph—l’rcsu Aaaoeiation)

WELLINGTON, 10th .March

Tho British, South African ami Canadian fanners were accorded an ollicial reception by the Government at Parliament Buildings this morning. In the absence of the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward) and the Minister of Lands and Agriculture (tho lion. G. W. Forbes), the guests were received bv the Minister of .Labour (the Hon. W. A. Vcitch) and Mrs B. B. Wood.

Those present at tin; function included the Minister of Health (the lion. A. J. Stallworthy), the ■Minister of Customs (the Hon. J. B. Donald), Sir Alexander Herdman, Mr Justice Blair, Mr Justice Smith, Mr .'Justice-■■Kennedy, the Speaker of the House of Representatives (Sir Charles Statharn), the Clerk of Parliaments (Mr E. W. Kane), tho Clerk of tho House of Representatives (Mr T. D. H. Hall) tho British Trade Commissioner (Air L. A. Paish), the President of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union (Air W. J. Poison, AI.P.), several members of Parliament, and representatives of local bodies in Wellington.

11l extending a welcome to the visitors, Mr Veileh apologised for tho absence of Sir Joseph Ward and Air Forbes and read a telegram from them expressing keen 'interest in the tour. It was a great tribute to New Zealand, they said, that such a body of experienced farmers from the older countries should visit New Zealand. Jt was hoped that the exchange of ideas resulting from the lour would be of mutual benefit to all parts of the Empire. Air Veitch said they all realised how much such tours as the present meant to the Empire. There was nothing like the personal touch. The component parts of the British Empire might be widely separated so far as distance was concerned, but they wore very close together in every other way. New Zealand was a very small portion of the Empire, with a population not yet up to the 1,500,000 mark, but they had very high ideals and great inspirations. They had an intense love for the Alolher Country, and a profound respect for the Throne and His Majesty the King. That respect was personal as well as official. Although they realised that they were not yet a very powerful element in the Empire, they sincerely believed they were an influential element. They had climatic advantages, and the advantage of an undivided population, and it was their aspiration to found a Britain of the Southern Seas in the two islands that went to make up New Zealand. In saying that lie believed he was speaking not only for the Government, but also for all the citizens of the Dominion. The Government greatly appreciated the visit of the overseas farmers, and extended to them the heartiest of welcomes.

GLORIES OF NEW ZEALAND Replying, Mr ‘Whitley said he felt he was in the wrong place that morning, because the future Governor-Gen-eral (Lord Bledisloe) would have been replying to the welcome had he not been called to a much higher position than that of leader of the delegation. Lord Bledisloe had resigned that position with great sorrow, but what had been the party’s loss had been New Zealand’s gain. Air Whitley paid a tribute to Lord Bledisloe, remarking that he was not only a leader in agriculture, but in Empire matters as well. Many members of the party were making their first visit to New Zealand, and they were all agreed what a wonderful country it was. They had not felt they were away from Home, because they had met so many people from the United Kingdom, and had renewed so many acquaintances. It would be the aim of members of the party to do everything possible to secure a greater sale for New Zealand produce at Home, provided, of course, that New Zealand took the products of Great Britain in return. He assured them that the farmers of Great Britain were keenly interested in the secondary industries, for if it were not for their exports the English farmers would have no market in the cities. They had a special affection for New Zealand, and when they returned they would tell the people of England of the glories of tne great Dominion beyond the seas. He thanked the people of New Zealand for making them so much as home, and for being so very British.

VALUE OF CO-OPERATION On belialf of the South African Party, Mr Allan expressed dcliirht at the reception accorded them. Everybody had been out to give them a right royal time, and there was no doubt that they had succeeded. As a South African,'he would like to congratulate New Zealand on its climate. Pie had read about the Dominion, but in spite of that the visit had opened his eyes. The farming community was to be congratulated on what they had been able to attain to in a very brief period cf years. That had been due largely to a spirit of co-operation, and he would be only too happy to be able to say that the same position existed in South Africa. He had been particularly impressed with what the farmers had oeen able to do in connection with freezing operations. In one case he understood that as a result of co-operation the fanners were able to save 3s or 'is on every carcass of mutton that went cut of the country. They could well imagine what that meant to the farmers. It would be his aim when he returned to South Africa to tell his fellow-farmers about that, and to encourage them to follow in New Zealand's footsteps. During the tour they had been able to have a number of conversations that could never have taken > place under other circumstances, and the results, 'ie considered, would be invaluable. They heard something about competition between the various countries in the Empire, but he felt there should be no competition; there should bo a spirit of co-operation instead. (Applause). What was wanted was a hotter system of marketing in Great Britain, which provided the best market for all the Dominions. ITe was hopeful that something would he done in that direction as a result of the tour, and he was looking forward with optimism to the conference to be held on 24th March. He. was hopeful that that conference would bear excellent fruit.

ARRIVAL AT BLENHEIM BLENHEIM, This Day. About a hundred farmers from the British Isles, South Africa, and Canada arrived at Blenheim in ideal weather and were formally welcomed by the Mayor aid pipe hand, and afterwards entertained at a complimentary dinner. Tlu* visitors are being taken for a trip to Pelorus Sound.