Horticultural Exports Suggested By Minister

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30063, 22 February 1963, Page 9

Horticultural Exports Suggested By Minister

By moving into the export field New Zealand’s horticultural industry, which was now worth about £3om a year, could give further assistance to the nation’s economy, the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Taiboys) said at the official opening of the fortieth annual conference of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture. "Horticultural products are considered to be twofifths in volume and one-fifth in value of food eaten here,” he said. The quality of the country’s horticultural activity could by drawing gardeners from all over the world, increase New Zealand’s tourist potential. Displays such as the exhibition in Hagley Park could be developed into a tourist attraction.

There were problems such as quarantine restrictions to be faced for future export trade. Mr Taiboys asked whether New Zealand could grow seedless hops as well as hops for export. Were growers prepared to exploit opportunities of creating markets for New Zealand cut flowers and bulbs and specialist lines of flower seeds. What type of Governmental assistance should be given? “The type of answer we

give to questions such as these will determine the future of horticulture in New Zealand,” he said.

The industry had shown its vitality by its methods and organisations. There was vigour and enthusiasm in the institute and its affiliated bodies which made it easier to disseminate information on latest methods.

‘The breadth of the field of your activities calls for Government activity over a wide field too,” said Mr Taiboys. The purchase of a further 36 acres of land had been approved tor the Levin Horticultural Research Station. This had doubled the area available for research.

The staff at the Levin laboratory was now at full strength. A satisfactory method of controlling downey mildew, which plagued flowering stocks, had been determined. New varieties of tomatoes, suitable for processing and mechanical harvesting were being tested as were strawberries and asparagus for the new accelerated freeze drying process, he said. Other problems in vegetable and berry fruit production and plant propagation and ornamental horticulture were also being investigated.