CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22519, 13 March 1935, Page 12

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

TOUR OF COUNTRY DISTRICTS

OPPORTUNITY TO MEET ,FARMERS

An opportunity was given members of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce yesterday to see some of Otago's best pastoral and agricultural land. In the course of a bus trip they travelled 160 odd miles, and in one of the province's finest farming districts a halt of two hours and a-half gave the travellers a chance to learn something of the point of view of the country people. A feature of the trip was the hospitality which was experienced throughout the day, and this was capped when some time after noon over 80 persons were provided with dinner by the people of the Green-field-Clydevale district. The trip was one of those annually undertaken by the chamber with a view to enabling the city members to learn something of the countryman's problems and as an expression of that co-operative spirit in which lies the only solution of the common troubles experienced by business man and farmer. The members of the chamber were in many cases accompanied by their wives, and three large buses were required to convey those who made the journey. The route led first to the _ Waipori bower station, over the Waipori hills to Lawrence, and so by Tuapeka Mouth to Clydevale. Here a halt was made for lunch and for a discussion of certain points of interest to both, visitors and hosts, and the buses made the return journey to Dunedin, via Kaitangata and Milton. At Milton the party split, tyvo buses going by way of Akatore and Taieri Mouth, and the third returning direct to Dunedin. HALT AT WAIPORI The first stage of the journey enabled the party to enjoy the beauty of the Waipori Gorge with its bushclad hills, steep rock faces, and swiftly flowing stream. At the power house itself the first stop of the day was made, and the visitors were allowed a short time to inspect the plant. Later they were entertained at morning tea, and the president of the chamber (Mr C. B. Barrowclough) extended the thanks of the party to the City Corporation for its hospitality, particularly mentioning the names of Cr J. B. Shaddock (chairman of the Electric Power and Light Department) and Mr M. C. Henderson, chief engineer to the department. In the course of his remarks, the speaker reminded those present that Dunedin had been a pioneer in the development of electrical power for municipal purposes. Although the Waipori scheme was to be linked up with Waitaki, they were proud as citizens of what Dunedin had done in the past in providing the province with power and lighting. CITY'S FORESTRY AREAS In the course of the next 20 miles the travellers were able to see some particularly clean and open pastoral country, of the type which provides the Dunedin wool sales with some of its best wool. And, incidentally, this section of the trip revealed something of the work which has been undertaken by the City Corporation to improve the citizens' extensive electric power scheme. The route passed through a young plantation, in its early stages of growth, the purpose of which-is to assist in water conservation in the Waipori catchment area. This plantation at present embraces an area of approximately 2000 acres, part of a larger afforestation scheme which will eventually embrace some 5000 acres and which should prove a great asset to the citizens of the next generation. The buses joined the main Central Otago highway at Lawrence, and after a brief stop here to enable the visitors to inspect the new town hall, opened last week, the party set out for Tuapeka Mouth and Clydevale. This portion of the journey included the 17 miles of road which has recently been declared a main high, way, connecting as it docs the Balelutha'J'uapeka Mouth highway with the Centra] Otago road. Shortly before Tuapeka Mouth was reached the road reached a point from which a magnificent view could be obtained of the fertile Clutha Valley, with its rolling farm lands dotted with wellkept homesteads. ENTERTAINED AT CLYDEVALE The crossing of the Molyneux by a punt propelled by the swiftness of the current was a novelty which attracted considerable comment, and at the Clydevale Hall the visitors received a stirring welcome from the settlers of the Greenfield-Clyde-vale district. A dinner which would have done credit to a city hotel was served by members of the local" women's divisions. The

nature of the hospitality can be imagined from the fact that almost 100 people must have been catered for. And the settlers' welcome wag as warm as their hospitality was extensive. They had come from a \ radius of over four miles, so that as one j speaker mentioned the salads and the des- j sert might have come from homesteads nine miles apart. On behalf of the Greenfield and Clydevale branches of the Women's Division of the Farmers' Union, Mr 3 A. C. Kee extended a welcome to the visitors, and particularly to the ladies of the_jpar'ty. Other speakers who were associated with her in a welcome to the members of the chamber were Messrs E. Pannett, A. King, and Arthur Craig, all of whom voiced their pleasure at the opportunity that had been afforded for an exchange of views between town and country people. Appreciation was also expressed of the fact that such an occasion gave the country women a chance to repay the kindness shown to their young people during visits to Dunedin in connection with instructional weeks.

Replying on behalf of the visitors, Mr Barrowclough said he doubted whether city people realised what a tremendous effort was entailed in the entertainment under such conditions of so large a gathering. Members of the Chamber of Commerce appreciated the value of visits of this nature, which afforded a chance tor them to learn something of the primary producers' viewpoint and of his special problems. He assured those present that the city interests were anxious to work with the country people. " Unless we pull together," said Mr Barrowclough, "we will not be able to find a way out of our difficulties." ■*

Other speakers were Messrs James Hogg and A. 0. Cameron, and Mrs Kee briefly acknowledged the tributes to the hospitality of the women of the district. The party later left on the return journey, during which the travellers were shown some of the most fertile land in Otago, and Dunedin was reached after darkness had set in.