World Secretary Sees East-West Relationship Strengthened by Match

Port Hope-Interviewed during the Civic Reception held at town Town Hall last night to welcome visiting foreign plowmen to Port Hope George T. Weir, of England, secretary of the World Champion- ship Plowing Organization, said that the few drops of rain which fell last night would help the Plowing Match more than they would hinder it.

Mr. Weir intimated that even a few more. drops would do little harm and said that the ground at the site of the Match has been very crusty. He said that foreign plowmen have been spending the early part of the week preparing for the Match by plowing a cer- tain amount each day to erase the rust from their equipment and get the feel of the soil.

According to Mr. Weir, yesterday was reserved for local plow competition. Today competitions will be carried out to declare a Canadian champion to take part in the World contest, and Inter- national competitions open to plowmen from all countries who wish to enter, will also be held. But starting tomorrow things will be different. Tomorrow and Friday the first World Plowing Match in the history of plow com- petition will be carried out and will be open only to the champion plowman from each country. It is expected that at least eleven countries will take part.

Mr. Weir noted that 20-year- old Roman Donndorff who will Plow for the German team, is the baby of the squad. Donndorff, who has seen much of Russian rule in his native land of Estonia and in East Germany, is quite reckless and has twice come with- in range of eliminating himself from the competition before the opening of the Match, according to reports.

On the boat trip to Canada Roman threw a scare into his comrade when he climbed high atop the back railing on the ship in his effort to take pictures of the group. He was quickly hauled down from there and the other members of the party feel they saved his life. Since his arrival he is reported to have overturned his tractor during a practice session, narrowly missing being crushed beneath it.

But maybe such escapes this hold little danger Estonian who was forced his native land when the took control. From there to East Germany but chased on by the , Russian found safety in West Germany since then, and as a resident today in Canada as a me a team entered in the plowing competition.

At least one other men the team has experience escapade according to M He feels that the welcome people receive in Canada the one extended by the of Port Hope last night, more for relations between Canada and oppressed people world than any other public relations yet atten