CHRISTCHURCH HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 7925, 30 July 1886, Page 6

CHRISTCHURCH HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

An extraordinary general meeting of the members of the Christchurch Horticultural Society was held at the rooms of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association yesterday evening. About 20 members were present. Mr F. Jones presided, and explained that the object of the meeting was to consider a motion by Mr Brooking relative to the definition of an amateur. Mr Jones read the rule, which, in its unaltered form, was: " Any non-professional person cultivating his own garden, or employing only occasional assistance, will be considered an amateur, provided he does not grow for sale, or sell products similar to those he exhibits in the Amateur Class.*’ He pointed out that most Societies, found a difficulty in defining an amateur. In the past'it had been found that some persons, though exhibiting in the amateur class, did a large trade in the sale of the products of their gardens, and accordingly the last clause of the present rule was added. Mr Brooking proposed to add a further restriction, by providing that no one should be considered an amateur who employed skilled labour. Mr S. Brooking moved —“ That the following words be added to rule 16, definition of amateur, ‘ or employs skilled labour;’ ” He said that the rule had been taken advantage pf to the utmost by some of the members, and many of those to whom he had spoken quite ageeed with him that something should be done. He thought that the effect of his motion would be to clearly define an amateur and professional gardener. Mr J. Eogers seconded the motion. Mr Meadows opposed the motion as unnecessary, and likely to lead to serious trouble and confusion. It would be unfair to style a man a professional merely because he employed a gardener to put down a lawn. Mr E. Triggs opposed the motion for similar reasons, and quoted the following defihition of an amateur from the Gardeners’ Chronicle " A cultivator who neither grows plants nor trades in them for gain ; one who, in fact, as a rule, loses by their culture. . . . One who, having some other vocation for means of livelihood, takes to the cultivation of flowers as a recreation and means of enjoyment.” Mr D. Nairn thought that if the motion were carried the amateur class would so dwindle down that the shows would be seriously impaired, and the support of the public would be endangered. Mr Armstrong believed that the result would be directly contrary. A large number of cottagers would be encouraged to exhibit if the rule were altered. Mr J. Don«ld thought that it would add to the attractiveness of the exhibitions if a number of small cottagers’ exhibits were added, for cut blooms were not the most attractive feature of the show, hut rather pot plants. . , . Mr Davidson supported the motion, and said that a similar regulation had worked well in Dunedin. After some further discussion, Mr Marsh moved, and Mr Cotton seconded- —" That the words r for the cultivation or prepara-

tion of . such exhibits,’' be .added to . ' the motion.” „ _ Mr Meadows did not see how* it was possible to tell whether a map had employed skilled labour on his exhibits or not. After some farther discussion, Mr Brooklug’s motion was carried by 11 votes to 10. The addition proposed by Mr Marsh was carried by 10 votes to 7. This concluded the business.