VISITORS IMPRESSED

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 79, Issue 7139, 30 November 1949, Page 6

VISITORS IMPRESSED

FEDERATED FARMERS’ DELEGATES TOUR OF SOUTHERN WAIKATO (Contributed) An interesting and instructive journey was made by a number of Southern delegates to the Agricultural Council of Federated Farmers on thoir way home from their meeting in Rotorua last waek-end. Included in the party was Mr A. P. O’Shea, Dominion secretary and Mr A. GDavidson, agricultural secretary. The trip was undertaken through the good offices of Mr B. C. O’Connor, who as a member of the Lands Committee of Federated Farmers (Auckland Province) which successfully back-up the cudgels on behalf of Urquhart Bros’ Karaka, was anxious to show Southern members the alternative to compulsory acquisition of highly productive lands.

The route followed took the party through Atiamuri, along the banks - of the Waikato, past Wakamaru and Mangakino, through Tokoroa, Putaruru, and Arapuni to Te Awamutu. Not only was the prolific growth of grass and clovers astonishing to the visitors but the size of the area of both potential and actual production was often commented on. A Canterbury delegate expressed sheer astonishment at the luscious growth grasses to be seen on apparently impoverished soil. The southern province is undergoing a severe drought at present and to use <(ne delegate’s words, “Have not had any rain since the drought last year.” The immense area of potential farm lands still in their original state of non-production was also observed. The tourists were incredulous that on continuing the journey to Te Awamutu that some of the magnificent country they covered was cattle sick and very difficult for any farmer to earn a living a few years ago. Opportunity was taken by the party to see something of the manufacture of dairy products at the Te Awamutu Dairy Co.’s factory. They showed keen interest in the drying of buttermilk by Simon’s rollers as it was the first time they had viewed the process. Mr O’Connor, chairman of directors, together with Mr R. S. Sinclair acted as efficient guides and answered many enquiries. The visitors were duly impressed with the wealth produced in -the Te Awamutu district, that in addition to the numerous sheep and fat cattle they had seen that the dairy produce manufactured in Te Awamutu ran into several million pounds in value and that the calves collected this year numbered 40,000. This was probably a record of production not exceeded by any other similar centre in the world. A further phase of co-operative proclivities of farmers in the Auckland Province was presented when the visitors inspected the new building erected for the dairy company’s trading department. After a run around the sights of Te Awamutu the party continued .their trip to Hamilton stopping for a while at Ohaupo and at the end of the day were very enthusiastic in their praise of an area that combines beauty with wealth and also of another potential Waikato that may rival the original one. s