SERVICES RECOGNISED

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 117, 15 February 1928, Page 6

SERVICES RECOGNISED

DR. TILLYARD FAREWELLED

Br Telegraph.—Press Association. NelsoYi, February 14. The splendid work which Dr. R. J. Tillyard has accomplished in the interests of the fruitgrowers of the Dominion was recognised at a meeting called by the New Zealand Fruit Federa'tion, when a cheque was presented to him prior to his departure for Australia to take up an important appointment at Canberra for the Federal Government.

Mr. H. Atmore, M.P., who referred to Dr. Tillyard as “the greatest entomologist in the world,” said that his name would always be associated with the introduction of the aphelinus mali, which had caused a saving of £lO,OOO to orchardists in the Nelson district. It would be discovered soon that Dr. Tillyard belonged, not to Nelson, but to the Empire. Replying, Dr. Tillyard paid a tribute to the members of the Cawthron Trust Board, and the director, who had always sen his point of view, and encouraged him in it. Speaking of experiments with noxious weeds, Dr. Tillyard said tnat the Department of Agriculture was quite right in insisting on the greatest strictness being enforced before liberating insects. Nothing but the most stringent test should be nermitted, and an open permit should not be granted to either himself or his successor until the council of the Scientific Research Board was thoroughly satisfied that every possible test had been applied, and that insects had come through with flying colours. Speaking to the fruitgrowers, Dr. Tillyard said he valued their gift very highly indeed.

Dr. Tillyard was also farewelled by members of the Cawthron Trust Board, when sulogistic references were made to his work and regret expressed at the departure of himself and Mrs. Tillyard and family.