DOMINION NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 January 1921, Page 5

DOMINION NEWS.

NURSERYMEN CONFER. iph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The dominion Nurserymen’s Conference opened to-day. Mr. A. W. Buxton (Christchurch) was elected president. Mr. V. C. Davies (New Plymouth) was elected North Island vicepresident, and Mr. T. D. Lennie (South, land), having been already returned unopposed, was elected South Island vice-president. The appointment of Mr. George Green by the executive as secretary and organiser of the association for 1921 was confirmed. • The retiring president (Mr. R. Nairn, Christchurch),.. delivered an address, mainly dealing with horticulture, and expressing confidence in the future of the industry in New Zealand. Wellington, Jan. 12.

The Hon. W. Nosworthy (Minister of Agriculture) speaking at the opening of the annual conference of the New Zealand Association of Nurserymen to-day, said that the increase of 31 in the num- ; ber of nurserymen registered under the regulations was, considering the conditions, eminently satisfactory. The amended regulations for grading fruit for export were now being prepared and would shortly be placed before Cabinet. He hoped that New Zealand nurserymen in the future would be able to meet all the requirements of New Zealand growers.

He assured the conference that the department was doing its best to cope with the menace of the fire blight and was trying to confine the outbreak to the present area by drawing a wide belt around it. He did not intend to enter into the question of compensation beyond saying that it was not the intention of the Government to foot the bill for every disease that found its way into the country. FORESTRY DEPARTMENT. ■Wellington, Last Night. The organisation of the Forestry Department is being carried out, and the Public Service Commissioner will soon deal with the appointment of forest conservators for Auckland, Westland, Invercargill, Rotorua, Otago, and Canterbury. It is intended also to appoint a special officer who will be an expert, experienced timbermen, and an engineer in forest products. REGISTERING ARMS. Auckland, Last Night. The newly-created “arms office” at the Auckland police station is a very busy place It has been open for only 10 days and already 1000 people have applied for the registration of firearms. The Arms Act passed last session provides that firearms of all descriptions must be registered. Sporting guns are the principal class for which registration has been applied for, but there is also a large number of revolvers. “The weapons from muzzle loaders of 100 years ago to the latest pattern of automatic pistols,” the officer in charge said. ACCOUNTANCY PASSES. Wellington. Jan. 12. The following results of the accountancy professional examination held in November are announced. Condidates passed sections in the subjects specified as follows: —1 book-keeping, accounts, business organisation and methods; 2 mercantile law I; 3 economics; 4 mercantile law 11.; 5 book-keeping (stage IL); 6 auditing; 7 trustees; 8 bankruptcy; 9 company law. In the case of a number of candidates who have been on active service the results are not yet complete. Hawera centre. —W. J. Gilbert, 1,2, 3; I. M. Matheson. 1,2, 3; W. G. Walkley, 4,5, 6, 7. Stratford centre.—T. G. Boyd, 4,5, 6,9; F. R. Fairey, 2 and 3. New Plymouth centre.—L. Avann I, 4,6, 7; £>• W. Banks, 2,3, 9: N. B. Bellringer 2 and 3; E. G. Falconer, ], 3,4, 8,9; G. V. Matthews, 4,5, 6,7: F. G. Northern 2,3, 8,9; S. E. Shaw 5; J B. Wilson 1,2, 3. The following passed in the bookkeeping examination: New Plymouth centre.—A. H. Grant J. N. Stephenson. Hawera centre.—Margaret Lambeth. AFFORESTATION OF SAND WASTES. Palmerston N., Jan. 12. A conference wa® held here to-day with reference to afforestation of the sand wastes of the West Coast. Captain Ellis, director of the Forestry Department, outlined a scheme. The following resolutions were passed: “Tiie conference strongly affirms the fact that the sand dune areas on the West Coast of this island should be afforested, and urges the Government to make an annual grant of £lOOO for five years for the purpose of enabling an experimental station to be set up by the Forestry Department for demonstration purpuses.” “That a deputation from the various bodies interested interview the Premier for the purpose of impressing him with the importance of the suggestion.” CHARGE OF~FORGERY. Palmerston N., Jan. 12. In the Police Court a young man named James Thomas Bennett pleaded guilty to a charge of having forged the signature of J. Brown to a cheque for £64 and having attempted to utter the cheque to the National Bank. He was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.