M.Z. NURSERIES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2673, 20 January 1916, Page 3

M.Z. NURSERIES

' ANNUAL CONFERENCE PROSPECTS OF THE INDUSTRY The ninth annual conference of tho New Zealand Association of Nurserymen was opened in Wellington yesterday. Mr. T-. Horton (of-Hawke's Bay) presided, and' the delegates were: Inyercargill, D. T. Lennie; Dunedin, G. A. Skene; North Canterbury, R. Nairn, A. AY. Buxton, A. H. Shrubshall; Timaru, P. C. Allen and H. Edgingtou; Auckland, D. A. Bay, W. E. Lippiatt, .Alfred M'Donald, and G. A. Green (secretary).; Hawke's Bay, T. Horton (president), W. AVebb, and — Bobbie; Palniorston North, A. • M. AVighton and B. H. Just; AVanganui,. J. Laird and AV. T. Benefield; Taranakij R. M'K. Morison and P. C. Davies, AVellington;' T. AVaugh, F. Cooper, and — Davys (Gibbons and Co.). Address by the President. The president delivered an address to-:-the oonference, in the course of which lie said that at the conclusion of the war the markets of the world would be opeii to New Zealand as never before. There would-be larger demand for New Zealand fruit. Bat to hold tbeir own they must maintain a high quality. Better trees and better plants must be their ideal, and it would be advisable to 'standardise their products. In such a climate, with such soil, New Zealand ought to lead the world. They needed inspection and registration, of nurseries to stir up laggards, and they needed patent rights for the protection ■of tbe hybridist. A nomenclature board also was necessary. The Agricultural Department had done great work for the industry, and he urged that only the best men'should be engaged as orchard instructors, no matter .what the cost. Tbe instructors should be well paid, so tliat they would not leave the ; service readily. ' ' \ < Officers Elected. The following officers were elected:— President; Mr. T. Horton, F.R.H.S. (Hastings); vice-presidents, Messrs., T. AVaugh (Wellington), and R. Nairn (Christchurch), and the chairman of the District Councils; past-president, Mr. AV. S. Johnson (Auckland); committee, Messrs. F. Bennett, W. E.:: Lippiatt, A. M'Donald, and J. and G. Mackay; lion, secretary and treasurer, Mr. G. A. Green (Auckland); auditor, Mr. Vf . . S Johnston (Auckland). District councillors : Auckland, Mr. D. A. Hay (chair- , man) and Mr. AV. S. Johnston (secre-tary),-Hawke's Bay"," Messrs. T. Horton and J. D. Commons; Wanganui,Messrs. J. P. Laird and AV. T. Bennefield; Taranaki, Messrs. R..'M'E. Morison and P., C. Davies; Wellington Messrs. F. Cooper and E. Gibbons; Canterbury North, Messrs. R,. 'Nairn and S. G. Smith; Canterbury South, Messrs. V. C. Allen and H. Edginton; Otago, Messrs. G. Howden and G1 A. Skene; Southland, Messrs. E, C. Ser-' ■ sice and T. D. Lennie. • Raising the. Profession. 'A paper on "Education in Horticulture" was read by Mr. A. H. Shrubshall. ' Mr. said .that nurserymen must aim at raising the level of the profession. Horticulture had made great strides, and it was by horticultural methods that farm crops had been so wonderfully improved ' during 'the last century, and it was .through horticulture that improvement would bo made in the future. Apart from tbe economic "value of modern horticulture, there-was on the aesthetic side an influence of at least equal value to that ,of good pictures, good'literature, good architecture. ■ Could .one imagine a modern, home complete without a garden;, a city complete, "without its parks and public gardens? l ' AVere not modern ideas of town-planning such that would establish garden cities? Horticulture was a great civilising influence. In seeking to raise-the status of horticulturists, it was necessary to increase public -interest. In this - direction much ;,vas being done through the newspapers and tho schools. A well-kept garden stimulated and educated public taste. He wished to direct attention to the possibilities of technical education as. a help toward raising the status of the' profession. _ He had not heard of jany centre having been asked to provide facilities for technical education in horticulture. Also, in the profession; tho term "gardener" was so' absurd that it was sufficient to describe the skilled man and the labourer. " This kept the skilled : man reduced in status, by tho easy way "in which the others were able to attach themselves to the line. One remedy was to require, cadets to qualify in theory as well as in'practice. In New . Zealand horticulture was only : in its infancy. Horticulturists were at present not able to offer prospects to

rising - young New Zealanders, and greater attractions should be sccurcd. Co-operation In Southland. Mr. G! D. Lennic read a paper on "Thc-Valuo of Co-operation in the Nursery Trade," dealing with the results of co-operation in Southland. Cooperation had. been established there in 1907, and had brought good results.