WAIKATO HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2481, 5 June 1888, Page 2

WAIKATO HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

A special meeting of members of the Waikato Horticultural Society was held yesterday afternoon to consider what steps should bo taken in reference to the passing of the Codlin Moth Bill, which was meeting with some opposition in the Upper House. Mr Wells (Cambridge), who attended, said he represented Messrs Sharp, Ferguson and Hicks in his district, and spoke strongly in favour of the Bill, which he considered of vital importance to fruit-growers.—Mr Edgecumbe said he had been reading the reports of meetings held at Northcote and Auckland, and was of opinion that the principal opposition came from nurserymen, and that this was due, in a great measure, to the fact that tlicy had failed to notice that in the committee of the Lower House in clause 2 the taxable age of the tree had been amended from two years old to four years. On this becoming generally known a good deal of opposition would be withdrawn. Mr Edgecumbe further pointed out that whilst regretting that the innocent fruit-growers were made to suffer by means of the importation of infected fruit in the first place, it was a matter of vital importance that immediate steps should be taken to check the spread of the scourge, and that it would be advantageous to accept the Bill as it was, rather than attempt any very great alteration in it for fear of delay for another session. After all what did the tax amount to, it meant an apple from each tree ! But the advantage to be gained by it was this, that it forced the careless and indifferent owner of a few trees to exercise the same precautions as those who realised what loss would result if all our orchards got into the same infected condition as some in the district were known to be. From a letter received from Wellington whilst the Bill was in committee, he was told several members wore sounded as to obtaining a subsidy to assist the orchaidis.s pro rata to their contributions, but in the present temper of the House it was found it could not be done. The following resolutions were then carried;—l. That this society accord the Bill n*»w before the Council its most hearty support, and that the President be requested to telegraph to the AttorneyOeneral 011 behalf of the Society, requesting him to use his best exertions to get the Bill passed this session. 2. That the Secretary be requested to communicate with Sir F. Whitaker and the members for Waikato and Waipa, advising them of the result of this meeting. 3. That Messrs Wells and Edgecumbe be authorised to represent this society at the meeting to be held in Auckland on Friday next, and to support the Bill. That it is desirable that the Government appoint the inspectors or that it bo made compulsory for the local bodies to do so. A letter to the president of this society from Mr 11. Allan Wright (Komato), suggesting the forming of a Fruit-groweis association was read, but consideration was deferred to a future meet-