TARANAKI NURSERYMEN.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 18 November 1924, Page 3

TARANAKI NURSERYMEN.

CONFERENCE AT STRATFORD. The annual meeting of Taranaki nurserymen was held at Stratford on Monday. Present: Messrs. G. H. Mills (chairman), V. C. Davies, F. J. Morshead, L. L. Reader, F. J. Morshead, W. Moss, and the Dominion secretary and organiser, Mr. Geo. A. .Green. Apologies were received from Messrs. Stauib and Co. (Hawera), and J. Bain and Ivan Watkins (New Plymouth) . The secretary read the annual report and statement of accounts. The business of the council had worked satisfactorily, and many lines of cooperative effort had been carried out, the .combined forestry display at the* Hawera show being one of the most .satisfactory .undertakings. The display was a credit to those who set it up, a,nd stormed a special l'etaure of the show, while as an educative display it was of great value to those desiring to select the class of shelter and forest lines needed to meet, the specal case of Taranaki conditions. The chairman (Mr. G. H. Mills), in bis annual address, dwelt .on the great success of the annual conference of tlie Dominion Association at Palmerston North and the good work of the National Executive. He complimented the association on the fact that the Institute of Horticulture (for which the association has stood from the first start of the idea) lias made such progress during the year, and that .they were successful in securing Dr. L. Coc|vayne, F.R.S., as president and honorary botanist. The forestry committee, of the association was to be complimented on the fight they hail put up against the State competition in the nursery business. A general discussion took place on the fjiture work and date of the meetings for the ensuing year. These were fixed subject to alteration, if necessary , by the president and secretary.

It was decided to support the invitation; of Dunedin to hold the conference in that city during the period of the international .exhibition. It was resolved that the nomination of Mr. T. D. Lennie be .supported for president for 1925. Vice-president for the North Island.—Mr. Green reported that Messrs. W. T. Benefield (Wanganui), W. V. Kingsbe.er (Palmerston North), and J. Allen (Panm.ure) had been already nominated. It was decided to'support, the nomination’of Mr. J. Allen.

The following remits were approved: “That the railways be approached asking that a reduction be made in the freight of all. plants carried in soil” ; “That with, a view of the bulb list being made as complete as possible, a draft list be sent to the district councils for their consideration and suggestions before issuing”; “That having regard to the large number of diseased bulbs in circulation, it. be incumbent on all who sell bulbs and other plants to. register and to be inspected by the Government inspector.” It was resolved that this council deprecates the growing practice of Sunday trading in connection with the nursery business.

Bemits.—“That- the committee set up a committee to go into the question of how to make the trade register still more popular amongst the trade” ; “That this council place on record its appreciation of the work done by the forestry committee in connection with the Stalte competition, and urge that, they be asked to carry it on to- fruition.”

Wild Goats in Eigmont National Park. —B'eference was made to the reported damage being done to the- bush in some parts of the reserve, especially on the west and the norths western sides, and that it was only a short time till the damage would ho general as the pests spread,' and it will then he .an expensive matter to eradicate them, if not impossible. A suitable resolution was carried dealing with the matter, and it was directed that the press be asked to give the matter publicity. The election of olliccrs resulted: Chairman Taranaki Nur-'-omneu's Council. Mr. F. W. Morshead (New Plymouth); vice-chairman. . Mr. W. Moss (Ngayre); secretary and treasurer, Mr. G. 11. Mills (Nm inanby); auditor, Mr. V. C. Davies (New Plymouth).

During the proceedings the Dominion organiser gave a brief account of the state of the trade throughout the Dominion, which ho stated bad been up to the average.

The interest in the conference which opens in. Wellington in January was reported .as good, and the prospect was reported excellent for a record gathering.

Mr. Green dealt at length with the question of the forestry service competition in the nursery business and the steps taken to bring the matter before Parliament and the Cabinet.

A vote of .thanks was passed to the outgoing chairman (Mr. Mills) and to the late secretary for six years’ regular service; also to the Dominion organiser (Mr. Geo. A. Green).