INSTITUTE OF HORTICULTURE

Evening Star, Issue 21630, 27 January 1934, Page 9

INSTITUTE OF HORTICULTURE

VARIETY OF TOPICS DISCUSSED NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDEN ADVOCATED [Peb United Pkess Association.] PALMERSTON N., January 26. ■ / The eleventh annual conference- of the New Zealand institute of Horticulture was opened this morning. Mr .l G. Mackenzie, curator of Wellington parks and reserves, who presided, advocated keeping steadily in view the establishment of a national botanic garden, as it would be of immense value in training students. After criticism had been voiced by several delegates of the policy of holcl- • ing the Women’s. Institute and motor ' car displays at the National .Flower Show a motion was carried that the societies holding the'show should confine : 'thefnselveS as''he‘arly as'possible to hor-‘ - ' ticultural features entirely. ! 1 Dunedin was fixed aa tUe location of , the next conference. ‘ The-following officers were elected; — ? President. Mr F. J. Nathan (Palmers- ■ ton North); vice-presidents—Messrs J. Rigg (Nelson), D. Tannock (Dunedin), P. Black (Dunedin), J. G. Mackenzie T. D. Lennie (Christchurch), J. E. Smith (Hawke’s Bay), ,and R. A. Anderson (Southland): ex- ■ ' eoutive —Mrs Knox- _ Gilmer (Wellington), Professor Kirk, Messrs J. A. Campbell, F. J. Shanks, T. Waugh, H. „• Baillie, R. B. Hammond, W. R. B. Oliver, J. S.-Pope, W. C. Hyde, W. T. Goodwin, W. S. Mason, E. A. Green, B. C. Aston, A. D. M'Garock, T. C. Brash, H. Bennett, A. Leigh Hunt, E. r ‘ S. Nicoll, Dr C. J. Reakes, and repre- . sentatives of kindred societies. Mr A. H. Shruckshall (Christchurch) was elected an honorary fellow of the institute in recognition of his . horticultural attainments and his serV vices to thy institute. -l Sir William Lawrence (president of ■' the Royal Alpine Society of England) and Mr J. Coutts (curator of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew) were elected honorary overseas members." It was decided to ask the Government to gazette the first Wednesday in August as national Arbo^Day. A motion was minuted expressing appredation of the horticultural activities, of the Governor-General (Lord Bledi- • ‘ aloe). It was decided to ask the Government to set aside more money for plant re- ■" search in’ view of the fine results achieved by the Palmerston North ; Plant Research Station. • “ There appears to be no control of • noxious weeds in our national parks,” ' stated Mr Davies (New Plymouth), who instanced the Wairaarino Plains, where two years ago there had been four wild ' yellow broom plants which last year had • spread over a quarter of an acre, and this year to a whole acre. If allowed to spread the broom would soon cover the plains and menace the native alpine flora, • _ It was decided to support the Canterbury Roadside Beautifying Commit--tee and the formation of similar committees as well as to draw the attention of all local bodies t,o the possibilities of such road beautification and planting as was being done along the Great South road at the entrance to Auckland. : The conference approved of the Waij poua kauri forest being set aside as a sanctuary for all time. It was decided that the attention of >the Government be drawn to the urgent; necessity of the preservation of all native forest on steep, high country, with a view to scenery preservation, the prevention of floods, soil erosion, the '. conservation of hydro-electricity supplies, and food for. birds. Another remit which was adopted urged the Government to restrict the erection of shacks and the leasing of sites on domains, and asked that no site .' . be leased to private persons on any national park or reserve. Another remit which was approved urged the Government to provide for ' local bodies granting the exemption from rates of bush of scenic value facing a main highway, railway, river, lake, or seashore by the deduction of ' the value of such bush from the value of the whole property.