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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 4, Issue 10 (February 1, 1930)

Empire Farmers' Visit

Empire Farmers' Visit

The event of the month for New Zealand is the visit of the Empire Farmers' Delegation, the transport arrangements for which are being handled by the New Zealand Railways. A 32-page crown quarto booklet, “Empire Farmers on Tour,” with striking cover design, and fully illustrated has been issued by the Railway Publicity Branch.

It contains the following message from the Minister of Railways: (Hon. W. B. Taverner):

Gentlemen of the Empire Farmers' Party,—

“On behalf of the New Zealand Railways Department I am very pleased to welcome you to the Dominion.

You have my best wishes for a happy, helpful holiday, and I can assure you that everything within the power of my Department to make your mission an enjoyable and successful one from all points, will be gladly done.”

A foreword by Mr. H. H. Sterling, General Manager of Railways reads as follows:

“In a manner worthy of the importance of their mission, representative farmers of Great Britain, Canada, and South Africa have been warmly welcomed to New Zealand. Among their kin here they are obtaining further proof of that homely family feeling which strongly welds the British Commonwealth of Nations.

‘Historic occasion’ may be an overworked phrase, but this is a case to which the words can apply in their best sense, for this visit, conforming to the soundest principles of Empire-building, is assured of an honourable place amongst the “Principal Events” recorded in the official history of New Zealand.

Here to-day is that ever-desirable “personal touch,” that “human contact,” that “first-hand knowledge” on a large scale—so large that the value cannot be measured, as each of the envoys will be the means of spreading his impressions through extensive communities. With a continuation and multiplication of such delegations throughout the Empire, the lines of progress for all of its members will be improved for their mutual advantage. Although, primarily, the tour is concerned with farming, on which the Empire's welfare is vitally dependent, the advantages of the personal interchange of knowledge will not be limited to any special range of activities.

In their observation of New Zealand's progress in agricultural and pastoral enterprise, the visitors will see how the State Railways, with more than 3,000 route miles, reaching the main centres of production and connecting with the principal ports, have been one of the indispensable factors of success. The working-policy of the Railways has been always one to facilitate the development of natural resources, and the usefulness of the system for that purpose must continue.”