DOMINION HORTICULTURISTS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 70, 23 March 1926, Page 3

DOMINION HORTICULTURISTS

ENTERTAINED BY ARGENTINA.

A dinner to the Minister of Agriculture (The Hon. O. Hawken) and officers of the Department was given . last night by Senores Lizer y Telles and Blanchard the representatives of the Argentine Government, who have succeeded in clearing up satisfactorily the rumour of tha presence of the fruit fly in the Dominion. There were present, besides the Minister, the Argentine Consul-General, Senor Bidone; Mr. E." Baldwin, Vice-Consul: Dry Reakes, Director-General of Agriculture; Mr. F. Pope, Assistant-Director; Mr.' Brasch, president of the New Zealand Fruit Growers' Federation; Mr. J. Campbell, Director of Horticulture; and others. Senor Lizer y Trelles spoke warmly of the attention bestowed upon them and of the hospitality of the marvellous country. He looked forward with confidence to the further development of trade. The Minister said that both countries had much in common, especially the feeding and clothing of-a large proportion of the people of Europe. He regretted a lack of frequent direct shipping facilities. New Zealand could supply Argentina with suitable stock. His Department had been pleasid to assist the delegates and glad they were satisfied that New Zealand was clear of fruit fly. Dr. • Reakes, Mr.' Campbell, Senor Bidone, Senor. Blanchard, and Mr. Brasch also spoke. A tribute was paid by the Minister to the work done by Senor Bidone as Consul, as the result of which very pleasant relationships had been established, and he trusted his Consulate would be long continued. ;' Tasmn.nian orchards wil! also be inspected by the experts, who leave on Tuesday, via Auckland.