OTAGO FARMERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23161, 10 April 1937, Page 19

OTAGO FARMERS

v TOUR OF CANTERBURY WARM WELCOME RECEIVED The official welcome of the farmers of Canterbury to the touring party of Otago farmers and their wives was warmly accorded at a reception at Christchurch on Thursday evening. The assembly hall at the Automobile Association chambers was filled by the visitors and their Canterbury hosts (says the Press), and in addition to cordial speeches of welcome an enjoyable concert programme was provided. Mr A. E. G. Lyttle, provincial secretary of the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, was in the chair. , ' The Mayor of Christchurch (Mr J. W. Beanland) said that he recognised that such visits of farmers were of. much value in cementing old friendships and making new ones. Canterbury’s hospitality on this occasion only reciprocated the good time that Canterbury farmers had been given in Otago. The interchange of ideas between farmers of various provinces was always beneficial arid informative. Christchurch welcomed its visitors whole-heartedly, and wished them an enjoyable stay. Mr W, W. Mulholland, Dominion president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, said that the meeting of farmers from the various parts of the Dominion had great advantages. The geographical layout of New Zealand was such that its people tended to be insular —to become separate communities with separate ideas. An aim that had to be ensured was that this tendency to isolation should be broken down. He mentioned the value of solidarity amongst farmers in days when otners were so well organised. Mr G. C. Warren, for the North Can. terbury Executive, also associated himself with the welcome to the visitors. PARTY’S THANKS Mr A. C. Cameron, leader of the party, and representing the Otago Executive, thanked Mr Beanland for his welcome. He said that since the party had crossed the Waitaki River and entered Canterbury it had been overwhelmed with hospitality. The party included some of the best judges of stock in Otago, and their comments on what they had seen in Canterbury had been extremely favourable. Mrs Colin MTntosh, president of the North Canterbury Provincial Executive of the Women’s Division of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, joined Mr Beanland in welcoming the visitors, and Mrs W. Elliott, president of the Otago branch of the Women’s Division, responded. Farmers had a great many difficulties to combat, Mrs Elliott said* but they had many compensations, amongst which were those of carrying on the traditions and receiving the heritage of the founders of the country. Never before had it been so necessary for farmers to organise and to have the assistance of their womenfolk in that organisation. The Women's Division gave its members a channel of expression that brought them their place in the nation, and the friendships that membership in such a body provided ' were amongst their most cherished possessions The Otago party spent yesterday on an inspection tour of North Canterbury.