BRITISH FARMERS

Waikato Independent, Volume XXX, Issue 2304, 27 February 1930, Page 5

BRITISH FARMERS

* PARTY AT CAMBRIDGE. WELCOME AT TOWN HALL. VISITORS GREATLY IMPRESSED. In continuation of the visit .to the Dominion and the tour of the South Auckland Province the party of eighty British farmers arrived in Cambridge yesterday at 1.15, punctual to scheduled arrangement, and were accorded a splendid -welcome at the Town Hall, there being an attendance of about 300 district residents and visitors from all parts of the Waikato. The party, transported in private motor cars, left Hamilton about 9 aon. and after visiting Morrinsville, via Matangi, -where the N.Z. Dairy Company's Glaxo factory was inspected, «arae on to Cambridge. It was first intended that the welcome locally be at the Domain, but ( owing to the threatening weather it ■was decided at a fairly late hour in the morning to hold.the luncheon and reception at the Town Hall. As is customary in Cambridge the district ladjljLf rose to the occasion and the visitors were provided with a, sumptuous repast in the hall, after which a very warm welcome was extended.

BOROUGH'S WELCOME.

On behalf of the ' borough,' the

Deputy-Mayor, Mr W: G. Care, said the

visit of the Empire farmers made it a . great day for Cambridge. It was his great privilege to extend the hand of welcome and friendship on behalf of the people of the town and district. Rb -would not refer to it as a civic wol- ' come, because he felt that the term 4 ' civic'' was too stiff and formal when it was appreciated that the visitors were our own people. It was remem-t-ered that our own people originally came from the Old Country. It was with feelings of regret ; that; they remembered that the last ten years had .accounted for many of the district's ■pioneers. Mr Care referred to the early association of the district's pioneers when they had lived- With a rifle in one hand and a spade in the otherV'The visitors would see ,a.BL they travellod through the Dominion,, the.-,.wonderful progress that had been achieved in the span <>i a few short "years, and, he w ould

ask them to appreciate" that the foun- \ 'dalions had beenweir'and truly laid by rpeopie of their own kith and kin. The people of Cambridge" were, proud to welcome the visitors that day for, said Mt (.Tare, *' we feel we are. your own people and you are ours." (Applause). Mr Care assured the visitors that the welcome was .all the more sincere because, it was extended to representatives of all parts of the British Isles and to those of our sister Dominion, South, Africa. He hoped that the same heartfelt welcome extended at Cambridge would be the happy experience ' of the party as they journeyed through the Dominion. The fact that there were representatives from South Africa with the party made the visit all. the more welcome. In New Zealand it was appreciated that the British pioneers of South Africa had been .through the same trials and tribulations as the pioneers of New Zealand, and consequently there was a natural sympathetic appreciation. The people of New Zealand realised that their South African cousins were equally helping in the--mak-ing and welding together of our great British Empire. (Applause). In conclusion, Mr Care said it was with regret that they learned that Canadian representatives were being detained at • ~Motuihi, owing to unfortunate circumstances. "We give you,-one and all, \a right British welcome. We ask you to make yourselfes at home, because in a sense you are home. We ask you not to bo backward in getting among our people during your brief stay, and I ask you to receive our local residents .•as your own people." (Applause). riABMERS' APPRECIATION. Mr H. Watkins, presiderit of the Farmers''Union, on behalf of the district farmers, said the farming community was delighted to welcome their colleagues from overseas. It was particularly pleasing that the Dominion of South Africa was represented, though they regretted the unfortunate circumstances that prevented the Canadian party from being present. Mr Watkins hoped that the period of quarantine would soon end, and that the Canadians would t>e able to join the main party and see the greater portion of the Dominion. He expressed pleasure that the Government Publicity Department had seen that the visitors were provided with facts and figures concerning the Dominion in the form of a pamphlet. The speaker extended very hearty £ thanks to the ladies of the district for Iflieir good services in providing the re--xreshments for the function; to the cardrivers for their assistance, and to all who had assisted with the welcome to the visitors.

Leader's Thanks. In returning thanks for the welcome, the leader of the party, Mr S. R. Whitley, said it fell to his lot to say "Thank you for what you have done to-day!" Arriving in this Dominion on Tuesday their first day in the country had been a wonderful one, said Mr Whitney.. Amazed at Auckland. The speaker said he was simply amazed to sec such a magnificent city as Auckland at this end of the earth, built in so short a period. It was wonderful to see what New Zealanders had done. However, they had not come particularly to sec cities, for, being producers, they would be more at home when they met the farmers of the country. The people of Cambridge and the Waikato had provided a day just as they wanted. "In your Cambridge we are seeing what you do in primary matters, and that is what we came for," said Mr Whitney. "Our day in the Waikato is all the more happy because what has been done for us you yourselves have done.' We come to the opposite end of the earth and you make us quite at home. In this short day we have seen many sights." The speaker smilingly remarked that they had visited a great dairy factory and had seen milk made into paper (powder). It was impressive to think that a country so young was sending produce across the face of the earth. One of the greatest pleasures of the visit were the chats with the pioneers. In the Town Hall he had immediately met an old friend. It made their, visit feel like coming home and yet there was, as yet, an indefinable difference that gave added pleasure. In conclusion Mr Whitley said; "I can only say again that I continue to marvel how everything in the country has been done in such a'short time. Again I thank you all for what you have done." (sustained applause). A REPRESENTATIVE PARTY. That the party is one of the most representative of British farming interests that has ever visited these shores will be appreciated from the following details which were gathered by the Independent representative in the course of a chat with Mr A. Canham, secretary of the British National Unionj who is the manager of the party.

Mr Canham mentioned that the tour was under the auspices of the Union of which Col. L. ,S. Ainery is chairman. The party visiting Cambridge comprised 61 British and 18 South African farmers. The Canadians would join the party as soon as they were out of quarantine. . . The leader of the party, Mr Whitley, is a brother of the late Speaker of the British House of Commons. His interests are chiefly in dairying, for years his 400-acre farm in Surrey being a model of its kind. He is a great advocate of Grade A milk and tubercular tested milk. He is the honorary treasurer of the National Institute of Research in dairying.

Among the members who visited Cambridge were outstanding figures in the British cattle industry. ■ Shorthorn breeders will recognise the name of Mr Robt. Hornsby, who for the past 40 to 50 years has been one of the outstanding judges of the breed, not only in England but in the Argentine and other parts of the world. The great breed of Aberdeen-Angus, considered the finest beef animal existing, has its representative in Mr J. J. Cridlan, of "Maisemore Park," Gloucester. Mr Cridlan's pedigree stock arc not unknown in the Dominion, several animals having been imported. The equine world also has its representative in Mr W. Dunlop, who will be known as a prominent breeder of Clydesdales and a great authority on the horse generally. . There are also two prominent cheese manufacturers in Messrs Crosher and Batho, the former being interested in Stilton cheese and the latter in Cheshire cheese, both famous throughout the world.

Another member of the party is Sir Richard Winfrey, a member of the House of Commons for 20 years. Sir Richard is interested in quite a chain of British newspapers. Included in the party arc two practical women farmers, one of whom owns a ranch of 20,000 acres in Rhode"sia, and the other a dairy farm of 130 acres in Scotland In fact an interesting feature of the party is the large number of ladies who are taking a keen delight in all the phases of farming. Many of the ladies help manage their own farms at Home, and in South Africa.

Generally speaking every phase of British agriculture has some representation, and included are cotton growers and ostrich farmers. In the South African party there are men, both of British and Dutch stocks, and although political matters arc very keen in our sister Dominion of Africa, no element of dis-union exists in the ranks of the Empire farmers' party. It contains some of the best elements of South

African life. The manager of the party, Mr Canham, is an old South African of 40 years' standings mostly as a Government official. For many years he was Trade Commissioner for the Union in London, and represented his Government as Commissioner at the Wembley Exhibition. Purpose of Visit. The purpose and the objectives of the visit of the Empire farmers' party was very ably described by Mr Canham, when he said: "We come as Empire agriculturists hoping to learn and to exchange views that may help in the continued progress of the Empire's primary industries. But more than that, we come hoping by the creation of the personal touch wo may strengthen our ties and by the realisation of an even greater unity of all our peoples under one flag and one splendid King.'' A Flying Survey. After the reception the majority of the party visited the Cambridge Domain with local residents, the visitors being loud in their praises of its beauties. Numerous compliments were paid on the appearance of the borough and its typically English setting. Although the time was very limited a number of the visitors were motored short distances about the district, and were greatly impressed with the pastures, the cattle and all they saw.

Shortly after three o'clock the party left Cambridge en route to Buakura Experimental Farm, where afternoon ten was partaken of. At 7 p.m. the visitors left Hamilton for Eotorua.