Grassland Assn’s Annual Conference Held At Rotorua

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 73, 7 December 1949, Page 5

Grassland Assn’s Annual Conference Held At Rotorua

Representative of all persons directly interested in grassland progress—farmers, research workers, extension officers of the Department of Agriculture, commercial interests, and the agricultural colleges—the annual conference of the New Zealand Grassland Association at Rotorua last week was attended by about 400 members. Mr F. R. Callaghan presided. The improvement of marginal land was the main theme for discussion, though special emphasis was given to the development of pumice country, on which great advances have been made in the last 20 or so years. In addition to the presentation of papers, all of which provoked valuable discussion, two half days were spent in the field so that a number of the subjects discussed in the conference hall could be seen at first hand.

. Although land' development claimed much attention, other aspects of grassland ' problems were also considered. These .included insects infesting pastures, chemical aspects of plant growth, plant breeding, and plant introductions, as well as 'soil surveys and yields from pastures. - Mr P. W. Smallfield was elected president for the ensuing year and* Mr S.' H. ‘ Saxby, secretary. The executive committee comprised Messrs Smallfield, Saxby, F. R. Callaghan, E. B. Levy and A. G. Elliott.

As a result of strong representai tions from Otago and Southland members, it was decided to hold the next conference at Invercargill in November, 1950.