MINISTER CHARMED

Southland Times, Issue 21265, 11 December 1930, Page 6

MINISTER CHARMED

PROVINCE’S FINE STOCK FLIGHT IN AERO CLUB’S PLANE MR MURDOCH’S IMPRESSIONS Judging from remarks made to a Times reporter last evening the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. A. J. Murdoch, will return north with a very high opinion of Southland. Not only did he see the splendid array of stock at the Summer Show, but a flight in the Southland Aero Club’s plane enabled him to realize the fertility and extent of the province. “I should like to express my thanks to Mr Weir, the president of the Southland A. and P. Association, and to members of the executive,” said Mr Murdoch, “for the courtesy extended to me and for the facilities provided to enable me to see the show so thoroughly. I think you have exceptionally fine grounds and appointments. As for the stock I can honestly say that I consider they are second to none in NewZealand. I shall carry away the most pleasant recollections of my visit to the 1930 Southland Summer Show.

“I should also like to express my appreciation of the action of the president of the Southland Aero Club, Mr John Gilkison, in arranging a flight for me. I was greatly impressed with the lay-out of your city and I was also able in the course of the flight to form an idea of the vast area of rich land which comprises the province of Southland. I have been in Southland before, but this is my first visit in my official capacity and it has indeed opened my eyes to the great potentialities of your province. I am satisfied after my flight to-day that an aeroplane provides an exceptional chance for getting an idea of the extent and conformation of a district, and I am sure it will be much more freely used in this way in the future. I should also like to pay a tribute to the way the Aero Club's instructor, Mr J. M. Smith, handled his machine. Everything went perfectly.”