Bledisloe Medal to horticulturist

Press, 13 May 1981, Page 10

Bledisloe Medal to horticulturist

The Bledisloe Medal for 1981 has been awarded to a Nelson horticulturist, Mr Alan Scott, of Riwaka, Nelson.

The medal, first presented in 1930 by Viscount Bledisloe, the then Governor-General, is awarded to an old student of Lincoln College who has “materially assisted farming in New Zealand,” or has. otherwise advanced the country’s interests.

Mr Scott has received the medal for his “eminent contributions” to horticulture. He attended Lincoln College in 1941 and in 1946, the years in between were interrupted by his Naval service. In 1948, he bought 4.8 ha of old orchard land and 3.9 ha of pasture and began experimenting with an intensive apple culture. In this way, he achieved a considerable yield. He also did much work on soil improvements in relation to growing trees. Reading his citation, the principal of Lincoln College, Professor J. D. Stewart, said that Mr Scott’s property was one of the most highly productive in Motueka today and he was regarded as an outstanding leader in the production field. ; From 1949 to 1974 he was vice-president, president, and secretary-treasurer of the Motueka Fruit Growers’ Association,' He also served on the Nelson Provincial Fruit Advisory Committee and has

taken part in two commissions of enquiry into apple and pear marketing. “It is appropriate that at a time when horticultural industry in New Zealand seems poised on the brink, of a new era of expansion, and when this is being reflected, in steeply increasing enrolments in courses at the college, that the 1981 Bledisloe Medal should go to a horticulturist of high standing,” Professor Stewart said.

More than 400 graduando were capped at the Lincoln graduation ceremony at Lincoln,. In his address to, j students, Professor Steward.; noted that 1981 were up by about 8 per cefit on the previous year.' . 4 ,

If the trend continued, be j said, the staffing levels 5 already determined for the : five years up to 1984, would j not be able to handle the / numbers. It would become ! necessary to limit enrol-’ • ments in some courses which 4 traditionally had an open 7 entry.

Universities were certainly, “bearing their share” of the stringent limits on Government spending. If there-was a?swihg in staff-student ratios, there would have to be a reduction in the courses the College.could offer, or a lowering of performance, Professor Stewart said. .“We would not consciously choose the latter.” - '