HORTICULTURAL INDUSTRIES BILL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2627, 24 November 1915, Page 7

HORTICULTURAL INDUSTRIES BILL

THE PRESENT POSITION. The following correspondence has passed ■ between the Minister of Apiculture (Hon.' iW. K S. Mac Donald) and the New Zealand Association of Nurserymen. The Minister in his lotter dated November 2, to the secretary of the association, writes "With reference to your letter of October 15, in which you inquire as to the (position in regard bo the . Horticultural /Bill, I hare the honour to inform you .that unfortunately, no time could be given to the consideration of this measure last session. As you are aware, the session was -an exceptional one, in which matters in connection with the war had to take "precedence, and the extreme pres- , sure on Ministers necessitated an earlier closing down. In consequence many measures had to be held over. In anycase,, matters had not sufficiently ad,vandd to allow of the introduction of: the Horticultural Industries Bill. As you are aware, - one of the most l , important clauses .as. far. as .the'fruitgrowers were concerned had to do with the levying of an 07 chard tax. '. The making of provision for this was dependent-on a. petition being: ; presented signed by a large majority of the fruitgrowers of .New, Zealand. This, had iiot come to .hand when the session closed, and, indeed, has not been received since. Further, as has been indicated to you before, the matter, of the protection of the', rights of* discoverers of new varieties of plants ,'is being dismissed with the British Patents Office .in accordance with the desire for uniformity of practioe with the Empire.- ' We have not yet had the view of . the British Office on this, point, and -tho Government was not inclined; to legislate hastily 1 on the .subject.

"The other matter-in which your association was particularly interresred, namoly, - the setting up .of a nomenclature board, was' not considered of urgency to warrant a. special measure "being introduced. Indeed, legislation is not rtally necessary for this purpose, as such- a' board could be set up imme'diately bv the bodies mainly interested. As has -been already announced, the Government is;.willing to provide the sum of .£'2oo- towards tlio exponso of establishing and working the board, if set .-up voluntarily. "The - necessity for a comprehensive Bill dealing with.the horticultural industry is fully recognised, and'l trust that all preliminary action and consideration in connection with these matters will lie completed in time to admit of its being introduced early next session. If this is the case, I shall do all in my power to assist in placing it upon the Statute Book/, asi I am personally in close sympathy with' the legitimate aspirations of those connected with the fruitgrowing industry.-"

The following letter has been sent by the association in reply "Replying to your "letter of November 2, I have to state that your letter was : laid before the Parliamentary Committee iof the executive,' and I am instructed to : thank you for your expressions of goodwill towards the association and the Federation of Fruitgrowers, and also for your kind to endeavour to have the clauses desired' by the nurserymen and fruitgrowers placed on the Statute Book next session. It is hoped that the necessary information will be furnished an time to enable you to include the provisions for collecting the annual orchard tax.

"Protection of Raisers , of New Varie-ties.-My the. fruitgrowers, and the Director of Orchards are quito in agreement, and we consider that this witter cm. most simply, effectively, and cheaply be dealt with through a clause in _ the Hoitficulturlal Industries Bill giving nowers securing the protection desired through regulations provided by OpdOT-m-Council, rather than by ,means <a the Patents Act. At the same time my association, and, in fact, all horticulturists, both amateur and professional ' would welcome any measure that will secar« fco the raisers qf new; trees and plants a fair royalty as recompense in exchange, for the distribution of their or discoveries. While protection is granted to discoveries in other walls of science and industry, we ur-*o that no valid reason can be given why c«cl n ir a° uld Mt ,>o grantc<i *

Certificating and Nomenclature Board -Here again the Director of Orchards and the organisations interested arc at perfect agreement, and, while' thankim* you for your kind offer of financial support if we will undertake to set up such a board ourselves, wo urge that this matter, is of too far-reaching a character and too important to the Dominion, to bo left in the hands of private persons to arrange. Wo submit that this board can bost .be set up under Order-in-Council, by. powers conferred in a clause in the Horticultural Industries Bill.

"These questions have now been urged on. tho Department of Agriculture and on tho attention of Parliament for several years past, and prior to the last two sessions we have been promised by your predecessor in offico that these matters' should be placed on the Statute Book during the then current session. While fully, sympathising with the Government in the exceptional conditions under which' the past two sessions have been conduoted, still think that-in view of the necessity of .increasing our exports to. tho utinost, and tho vast potentialities of tho various branches ,of horticulture, • this most important' Bill should bo placed on the list of urgent measure for the next session.

"My executive will be glad if you will kindly notify us when you noxt exricefc to be in Auckland, as it is desired' to dismiss the matter with yoii personally at the earliest possible moment. (Signed) Gpo. A. Green, hon. secretary.'"