N.Z. NURSERYMEN

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 10476, 5 January 1928, Page 6

N.Z. NURSERYMEN

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

WELCOME BY MINISTER. I GOVERNMENT TO SEND 2,000 OASES OF PASSION FRUIT HOME PRESIDENT’S EULOGY OF 'MR. SILKY'S ACT.

WELLINGTON. Jan. 4. The twenty-first annual conference of the Now Zealand Association or Nurserymen was commenced in Wellington to-day, Mr. T. Waugh presiding. The Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. 0. J. Hawken) welcomed the delegates. There were 637 registered nurseries compa red $. with 593 la st year, he said. The acreage of the commercial orchards had. considerably increased, and 448,000 case:! of apples had been exported to Britain last year, and 22,000 cases of pears, 67,000 cases of apples to South America and 5,360' cases to Honolulu. The Minister referred with . satisfaction to the fact that there had Eicon no call dn the Government last season for the fruit guarantee which had been extended irom 10s to 1 Is a case. The percentage of expense, however, was very large, amounting to nearly KVi a box on the apples sent Home. The Government had decided to send a shipment of 2.000 cases of passion fruit to the Home market to test the possibilities of the' same. He felt sure ibat the Act recently passed giving the Institute ol Horticulture power to gram diplomas m horticulture would prove beneficial. - The president (Air. T. \\augh), in bis address, re,erred to the great benefit the Summer Time Act ban proved to the horticulturists. “Undoubtedly,” said Air. Waugh, “Air. Siclcv’s measure has been a good help and we owe h:m a deep debt ol gratitude. The extra hour ol daylight means a wonderful aid to gardening.'* The Institute cf Horticulture Act. passed last year, had inaugurated a new era. and the first batch of diplomas awarded on experience had now been granted, 21 out of 23 applicants having been successful. He emphasised the necessity o. Specialism". of not over producing and of striving for quality. Mr. Waugh was re-elected president, and Mr. D. J. Burrow tGoroi vice-president for the .Smith Jslami. and Air. V. C. Davies (New Phmoutli) vice-president lor the Nor to Island.

Amongst the remits adopted were ones urging the necessity for iegistrnticn ol all .growers c> 1 plants tor sale; for the registration and inspection'of all nmseries where plants are grown for sale; and that the railwnv authorities be asked to fix the satinrates on fruit and vegetables, whether for private use or public sale ; and that the 1929 conference be held at Chris tch urch7 P. A.