PLANT DISEASES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 21 January 1925, Page 8

PLANT DISEASES.

MONEY AND EXPERTS NEEDED

NURSERYMEN’S VIEW.

Dealing with the registration and inspection of nurseries where plants are grown for sale, and the requests made to the Government, the annual report

of the executive of the New Zealand Nurserymen’s Association says: “Our claims were turned down, notwithstanding the fact that previously we were promised that if any pests or diseases affecting economic plants were shown to affect other plants these also would be considered. We showed this, and furnished a list of plants covering the points raised, and still no result in the way of checking the spread of pests and diseases.

“The cost appears to be the crux of the whole matter in the Minister’s rriihd, and ill this connection we point out that the nurserymen are, and always have been, prepared to pay a registration fee to cover the extra cost. This, we claim, should have been accepted long ago.

“More men are undoubtedly needed in th'e horticulture division; at the most important part of the year a largo portion of the instructors are concentrated on work in connection with fruit .export. We tfi-ge that money—more money—must he found to meet the growing demands placed upon this important division to enable it to carry out its duties satisfactorily. “The Minister, in his reply, admits our claim that the division is understaffed, but again urges finance as one of the great causes. We urge that what in this connection is worth doing should be done well, and the money should he found for the work, so that the necessary number of men may he employed.

“We urge that the time is fully ripe to revert to the plan adopted 10 years ago, at the suggestion of the association, under which for several years one officer of the division was sent overseas to gain experience of the conditions obtaining. This,plan would he of great yalue alike to the men and the State, put also to the various industries coming under the division’s care. We earnestly commend the •uggestion to the Minister.”