NURSERYMEN CONFER

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 107, 30 January 1920, Page 10

NURSERYMEN CONFER

SCHOOL OF HORTICULTURE SECOND DAY'S BUSINESS

The Ivurserymen's Conference, was resumed vestorlay morning at the Dominion Farmers' Institute, Jlr. It. iN'aim presiding. llr. C. J. Benkes (Director-General ■ of Agriculture) addressed tin; conference. He said that he realised the importance of the-nursery industry, uiid'he believed it would be greatly extended in the near future. lie mentioned tho pressing need of afforestation, and referred to tho lush cost of labour and its consequences. Mr. A. \V. Hamilton (Hawke's Bay) asked 'Dr. lieakes what had been done with reran! to a school of horticulture. He stated that it was the opinion of the nnnfereneo that an institute of horticulture, witli special facilities for training, would-be nurserymen in their industry and in horticulture generally, should be established. This, the conference felt, would also hnv. (he effect of giving the nursorv trade the status of a profession He hoped that the school would bo established as soon as possible. Mr. G. A. Green asked Dr. Reakes s.liat could bo done with regard to a board of nomenclature. Other questions were also asked.

Dr. R-oakes stated that the school of horticulture had a persistent advocate in Mr. Kirk (Director of Horticulture). (Appiause.) It was one of the matters which, under' what might be described ns the "forward policy of the Department of Agriculture,'" was already under consideration. (Hoar, hear.) lie rea!issd the necessity of proper educational facilities being provided for nurserymen. He uronosed to go into the matter thoroughly with the Minister, <md he hoped that it would be considered favourably. With regard to the matter of a varieties conference being held each year, he realised the importance of standardising varieties. Such u system would be of great value, and he. and Mr. (Kirk proposed to go into the matter. Until legislation was na-fscd it was impossible for either the Minister or him to take any Knecifie, action with regard to a board of nomenclature. He believed that legislation was under way, and he hoped it would be passed.

A. remit "that this conference urges the. Government to take immediate steps to establish a school of horticulture" was adopted.

Tim report of the Constitution Committee, was read, and, niter considerable discussion, tin; constitution was amended in several ways. It was decided .that the nncos for nursery stock should bo fixed bv conference as a recommendation to members, who will decide by postal ballot whether tho price-list sliould bo adopted.

The report of the Organisation Committce recommended that several large and comprehensive. Slate experiment areas (one in each centre where conditions differ) should bo established. Here stocks could be noted over a period of vears; varieties tested and reported on, and information collected and made available. Tho report mentioned the need of a pomological board, and sugnested that a conference on varieties should meet annually, thus proving a settled guide to nurseryman and growers alike. It recommended that the conferenco should be constituted on the same basis as that of 1910, and that, it shonld represent in en,ual numbers the Horticultural Division and the fruitgrowers' and nurserymen's associations.

A remit "thai, application should be made to the Government asking that all those selling bulb and bedding plants bo placed under the same regulations and inspection as nurserymen ami plantgrowers" was adopted.

Tho Te.port of the Grading Committee stated that last year was the first yenr of the operation of the grading regulations, and that the regulations appeared to have worked out satisfactorily. ]n certain quarters, as was inevitable, some filiirlit friction had resulted. The report recommended that the matter be icferred to the Emergency Committee, with tho venuest that they meet the Dirctor of the Horticultural Division. The rePort was adopted. The conference then went into committee to wsider a number of remits.

A. remit urging the Government to pursue a vigorous policy of immigration, as a means of solving tho existing shortage- of labour, was passed. The conference broke up with votes ot thanks to the following:—Right Hon. W. I'\ Massey (Prime Minister), Hon. W. ftoßwarthy (Minister of Agriculture), Mr. J. P. Luke (Mayor of Wellington), and the councillors of Wellington, officers'of the Horticultural Division, especially to Messrs. T. W. Kirk. J. A. Camplwll, P. S, i'opc, and C. J. Heal;es, the Wellington Nurserymen's Council, Mr. E. Nairn (president), the secretary (-Mr. G. A. Green), and f_e minute secretary (Mr. A. W. Hamilton).