D.S.I.R. Botany head: Banks Peninsula adviser

Press, 16 July 1982, Page 18

D.S.I.R. Botany head: Banks Peninsula adviser

Dr Warwick Harris has been appointed the new director of Botony Division of D.S.I.R. at Lincoln. Dr Harris, 42. was previously leading the pasture ecology section at Grasslands Division of D.S.I.R. at Palmerston North.

He completed a BSc (Hons) degree in Botony. and his doctorate, at Canterbury University. His early research examined the taxonomy, variation and ecology of one of the first introduced

plants to invade New Zealand's tussock grasslands. Latterly he has specialised in competition studies between rye grasses, white clovers and other grasses, and the introduction of new plant species to established pastures. Dr Harris has been an Australian Wool Board Scholar, and was awarded a Nuffield Foundation Fellowship in 1977. He is married, with six children. Dr Harris succeeds Dr Henry Connor who is retiring in August. • • • Mr Grant White has been appointed a general farm advisory officer in the Banks Peninsula area for the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Mr White has been a trainee advisory officer based at Lincoln College since the beginning of 1982 and he will continue to serve bis Banks Peninsula area from Lincoln. He graduated with a B.Ag. Science from Lincoln this year and he comes from a cropping and sheep property near Ashburton. Mr White says that he has been involved with the Peninsula since he joined the

M.A.F. and he is looking forward to meeting as many of the farmers in the area as early as he can. He said the Peninsula is the nearest thing in this region to the North Island hill country and he has a strong interest in hill country sheep and cattle farming. Mr White’s outside interests include active membership of the Christchurch Hunt Club and he is also keen on ski-ing.