HORTICULTURE

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 April 1940, Page 12

HORTICULTURE

WEST COAST SOCIETY. The annual meeting of the West Coast Horticultural Society was held last evening in Trinity Hall, there being a large attendance. The President, Mr L. Shuker, submitted his annual report, as follows: — I submit for your approval the Bth report of the West Coast Horticultural Society’s activities for the season 1939 and 1940. The members are well aware the weather has been the worst on record for many years, and is very disheartening to growers and gardeners generally. I would venture to say that had the weather been kind to us, we would have seen a big effort to cultivate every, availabh piece of land, and in some way help in the production of foodstuffs during

the world-wide conflict, which is now taking place. However, we cannot control the climatic conditions, so we must look forward to a better season this coming year. During the Winter get your ground prepared in readiness for a bigger and better effort, and produce all you can. Remember., it is for your benefit and for your country’s benefit. • During the year we held three shows. The Spring show was not up to the. usual high standard, and owing to wet weather on the days of the show the attendances were very poor. The Summer show did not produce the standard reached in other years, and this was definitely due to the wet conditions right through the growing season. The Autumn show was run in conjunction with Centennial Week, and the results did not come up to expectations. • Owing to various postponements the show clashed with the sports and procession held in the Trotting Park. This had’ a detrimental effect on our attendances, and we were unable to contribute any assistance to this object. The gardening competition, as seen from the road, brought forth four entries, and these competitors are to be congratulated on their very fine efforts, despite the adverse weather conditions. We would welcome more entries in this competition. The vegetable competition did not take on, and I am sure that there are plenty of growers who could and should enter into this competition, and help to raise the standard in this branch of horticulture. The society’s thanks are extended to all the trophy donors for their continued support and interest in the society; also I wish to thank the committee, officials, and judges for the willing, able support which they give the society. Recently one of our foundation members left the district, and I would suggest that Mr F. Kendrick be made a life member of the society, and that a letter of appreciation be forwarded to him for the valuable services he has given the society. I would also like to congratulate our vice-president (Mr Cooper) on gaining the Royal N.Z. Institute of Horticulture diploma at tfie recent examination of the Institute. I understand that Mr Cooper is the first student from the West Coast to gain the diploma by examination. In conclusion, I wish to congratulate the trophy winners at the various shows, and for their fine efforts in the furtherance of all branches of horticulture in the West Coast district. The balance-sheet was presented, showing a satisfactory balance, and was adopted. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—Patron, Mr F. A. Kitchingham; president, Mr E. Martin; vicq-president, Mr H. Boothe: committee, Mesdames Coumbe, McDonald, Shuker, Goodall, Condon, Trott, Cooper, White, Mathison, McKay, Dauber, Messrs Cooper, Burn. Condon, Dixon, Sequin, Cairney; treasurer, Mr O. Jackson; secretary, Mr L. Shuker. The following gave items:—Mrs Dumbleton, Miss J. Sweetman, Miss J. Holt, Miss Brown, and Mr J. Duffy. Mr Paterson presided at the piano.