GARDENERS’ CONFERENCE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 177, 12 July 1927, Page 8

GARDENERS’ CONFERENCE.

PRESERVATION OF NATIVE BUSH.

BOTANIC GARDEN. Mr. W. W. Adams, supervisor of the Hastings public reserves, who has ieturned from Wellington, where he has been attending conferences, held by superintendents of public gardens and by the Institute of Horticulture, gave some interesting information gathered during his visit to the capital city. He said that among the principal matters discussed was the establishment of a national Botanic garden. It was decided to establish a botanic garden, composed of four branches, one in each of the four centres. Each branch will be controlled by a committee in its own district, the governing board being framed from representatives from each of these committees.

“The next question,” said Mr, Adams, “was the preservation ot native flora and giant trees. A keen discussion ensued, in which Mr. C. W. Corner, superintendent of reserves, Napier, and myself, who were the only Hawke’s Bay representatives present, took a prominent part. We both pointed out the absurdity of spending thousands of pounds m advertising our country as a tourist resort, whilst, at the same time, we are allowing many of our most beautiful blocks of native flora and giant timber trees to be ruthlessly destroyed. The matter w’s fully discussed from all points of view, and finally a motion was carried urging upon the Government the necessity of taking steps to preserve all similar blocks of native bush and flora ''The meeting was attended by several members of the House, including the Hon. Rolleston, Messrs T. K. Sidey. H. L. Tapley. W. A. Veitch and others; also Lrr. Cockayne, Professors Kirk and Mackintosh Ellis, heads of the Forestry Department.

“Several speakers suggested that if the native bush was as valuable to us as we claimed it to be. we, as a district, should lie prepared to come forward with financial assistance, when they felt sure the Government would favourably consider our request.”