EMPIRE FARMERS’ TOURS

Southland Times, Issue 20494, 24 May 1928, Page 8

EMPIRE FARMERS’ TOURS

VISIT TO AUSTRALIA AND N.Z. London, April 5. There has already been a good deal of talk among farmers in England about .the proposed Empire Farmers’ Tour in Australia and New Zealand next year. This will be organised by the British National Union, which has in hand the tour of Empire farmers in this country in a few' months’ time. The Secretary of the Union states that already twelve English farmers have asked to be included in the tour of Australia and New Zealand. No doubt when more definite plans have been made there will be more applicants than will be wanted. A certain number of places will have to be allotted to the various parts of the Empire. For instance, so many of the party will be from Great Britain, so many from Canada, and so many from South Africa. “The British National Union is committed to the tour,” added the secretary, “and no doubt New Zealand will receive the party with its customary hospitality. We look to-the Dominion in the course of time to organise some system and to prepare a programme. In connexion with this, Colonel N. Fitzherbert, who is a member of our Council, suggested that we should get in touch with the Farmers’ Union, and this we have done. We are now awaiting their reply. “As regards Australia, the Federal Government itself is interested in the scheme,*' and has already taken primary steps for the promotion of the tour.” Meantime, farmers from the Dominions, who are coming to England this year, will have a most interesting tour, and they will see all the big Shows as well as the great agricultural experimental stations, w’here up-to-date research is always going on, and probably -they will have the opportunity of visiting centres where pedigree stock are important,