MORE MEMBERS WANTED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 September 1938, Page 6

MORE MEMBERS WANTED

MASTERTON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. INSTITUTION OF GARDEN COMPETITION. An appeal for increased membership of the Masterton Horticultural Society was made yesterday afternoon at the official opening of the Daffodil Show by both the president, Mr. H. E. Pither, and the Mayor, Mr. T. Jordan. Mr Pither thanked all exhibitors and workers who had made it possible for such a display to be held. It was a great credit to them and one could imagine the beautiful gardens from which the blooms were selected. The beautiful garden, said Mr. Pither, need not be a large one. He had often heard members say that they had nothing to show or no flowers good enough, but if they waited until they had a perfect bloom they would never get the pleasure out of the shows that was derived by the member who said that he had just put in a collection to help the show. That was the right spirit, a collection as a joy to behold and if everyone filled the hall with flowers, what an abundance of pleasure and what a sight for all it would be, even to those not garden-minded. Outside the society’s membership, said Mr Pither, there were many who had a garden and got as much pleasure as any of them from this hobby and it was those who the society invited to join up as members. The Timaru Horticultural Society, he pointed out, had a membership of 400 while Masterton had 200. He would like to see another 100 members in the Masterton society. He added that they were fortunate in having Mr Jordan, who was a practical gardener and who was intensely interested in his garden, to open the show. Mr Pither also Welcomed the Mayoress. “I wish to join with the president in appealing to the public through the Press for more members for the society,” said Mr Jordan, who suggested that the membership could be at least doubled. He assured them that they would derive much more fun from joining this society than from joining a political party. Mr Jordan went on to observe that their very old friend, Mr W. H. Booth still came along and set a very high standard with his blooms. Mr Jordan expresed his pleasure at seeing a Lower Hutt exhibitor competing at the show. He said it was very pleasing to see that the society was doing something to improve the standard of gardens by holding a competition for the best garden. He hoped that they would never be satisfied with the standard of tfyeir gardens. The competition which was being instituted by the society would bring an increase in the beauty and surroundings of their town. Mr Jordan referred to /he acquisition by the town of an additional open area of an acre in the middle of the State house settlement on the western side of the borough and to the magnificent gift made by the family of the late Mr and Mrs T. C. Williams to the borough of two areas aggregating 118 acres at Lansdowne. (Applause.) He expressed the hope that in any plan that might be adopted for the development of these two areas a long view would be taken. The Borough Council, as a local body, would be wanting the co-operation of the public and suggestions as to the use to be made of these fine- areas.

Mr. Pither expressed the thanks of the society to Mrs W. A. Burling and Messrs T. Jordan, P. J. Borthwick, H. L. Esau and C. L. Needham for the donation of prize-money for the garden competition.