Growing Role Seen For Horticulture In New Zealand

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29766, 8 March 1962, Page 20

Growing Role Seen For Horticulture In New Zealand

That there were more students taking courses in horticulture at Lincoln Coli lege this year than ever before was an indication of the ; 7 growing interest being taken in horticulture and its growing importance in the country’s economy, said Mr J. H. Glazebrook in Christchurch this week. Mr Glazebrook, who has been senior lecturer in charge of the horticulture department at the college since 1955 and a member of the college staff since 1949, will leave New Zealand this week with his family to return to a post in England, his homeland. Of the 47 students ta. ig horticulture this year 25 diploma and 22 degree students Mr Glazebrook said that some were the sons of commercial growers and would go back to their home properties. This emphasised that growers realised the need for technical training. A number of students also came from overseas from Australia. Malaya, Indonesia, Samoa, Borneo, India, and the Cook Islands. Improved facilities at the college, he said, had helped to bring in more students. A new orchard had recently been planted, nursery and propagation facilities had been expanded, and the grounds extended and considerable planting done. Mr Glazebrook said that he had always emphasised the importance of giving students a good general basic training, and in this respect, he said, growers had been most generous in allowing students to visit their properties and being willing to discuss their experiences with them. It was gratifying that former horticulture students were now occupying responsible positions both in New Zealand and overseas. It was to be hoped, he said, that horticulture would continue to be a separate entity and not just a poor relative of agriculture, and that as numbers of students Increased. and also presumably

staff, there would be studies of horticultural management in the same way as there were of farm management “Great As Any”

Mr Glazebrook said that general interest in horticulture in New Zealand was as great as in any country, and in particular in Christchurch in the field of heme gardening. This was given expression in numerous horticultural societies and garden clubs. Mr Glazebrook said that the horticulture industry was as progressive in New Zealand as anywhere. It was prepared to give things a go and had, for instance, pioneered the bulk harvesting of fruit It was also abreast of labour-saving devices with labour in short supply. It was hoped that more cutlets could be found overseas for produce of the industry, in addition to apples and pears, as there was the opportunity to grow a wide range of crops. Mr Glazebrook came to Lincoln in 1949 as assistant lecturer in horticulture from the Hertfordshire Institute of Agriculture at St. Albans, where he was a lecturer. In 1945 he had graduated bachelor of science in horticulture from the University of Reading, and three years later he had complete the national diploma in horticulture. Mrs Glazebrook served m the Women’s Land Army during World War II and won the Land Army ploughing championship for the county of Hertfordshire. At Lincoln Mr and Mrs Glazebrook have taken a prominent part in community life, and Mr Glazebrook has been associated with a wide range of horticultural organisations. Community Centre Mr Glazebrook was closely associated with the building of the new community centre which was opened at Lincoln last year. He designed the building, and has recently been the centre chairman. He also served as secretary of

the Lincoln Primary School committee for the last three years, and his wife is a former secretary of the parent-teacher association. Mrs Glazebrook was also active in the Lincoln Choral Group, and Mr Glazebrook was associated with the Southbridge Horticultural Society and district garden clubs. He was also a vestryman at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Lincoln.

At a community farewell at Lincoln last week Mr Glazebrook was presented with a cheque and Mrs Glazebrook with a paua shell clock, and they also received two watercolours by Mrs N. Mahan, a Lincoln school teacher. Mr Glazebrook has been a committee member of the Canterbury Horticultural Society for the last eight years, chairman of the Canterbury district council of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, and also a member of the Dominion council of the institute and a member of its examining board. He was also a foundation member of the Canterbury Native Flora Society and a member of its committee. He has also been associated with the Canterbury Beautifying Association and the local branches of the

New Zealand Vegetable and Produce Growers* Association and the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation. Mr Glazebrook has been a member of the Mid-Canter-bury Farm Forestry Association and also a member of the vegetable research and advisory committee which was established a few years ago to co-ordinate vegetable research. Broadcaster For four years he conducted the garden session from 3YA, and at Lincoln College he will be remembered as the originator of the staff show, which is now an important social event in the life of the college. For nine years he was secretary of the show and for two years its chairman. Yesterday a pictorial record of New Zealand and a cheque were presented to Mr and Mrs Glazebrook at a function at the college by Mr S. Challenger, who succeeds Mr Glazebrook in charge of the horticulture department, on behalf of the staff and old students.

In Britain, Mr Glazebrook will become organiser of extra-mural horticultural education in Worcester. He will be stationed at the Pershore Institute of Horticulture.

At the beginning of May, Mr G. Thiele, of the Department of Agriculture in Motueka, will join the horticulture department at Lincoln as a lecturer.