N.Z. NURSERYMEN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17696, 24 January 1918, Page 8

N.Z. NURSERYMEN.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

OPENED BY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE.

The eleventh annual conference of the New Zealand Nurserymen’s Association was commenced yesterday, in the Caledonian Society’s rooms, Mr Thomas Waugh, Wellington (president) presiding. There was a very largo attendance of delegates from all parts of New Zealand, and the conference had an added interest in that it was tho first, conference of delegates of the association to be held in tho South Island. Tho proceedings will extend over three days, and during that period the visitors will bo shown various places of interest in tho city. CIVIC WELCOME. Prior to the opening of the conference tho Mayor of Christchurch extended a welcome to the delegates. Among those present were the Hon <7. Barr, M.L.C., and Messrs G. Witty, M.P.. L. M. Isitt, M.P-, T. Longton (president of the North Canterbury Fruitgrowers’ Association), J W. Beanland, G. Harper, H. B. Smith (town clerk), besides other interested citizens. Tho Mayor said it gave him very great pleasure, on behalf of tho people of Christchurch, to welcome the delegates to the City. Christchurch had been aptly described as the garden city of the Dominion. In their wanderings about the city, in their spare time, delegates would observe the work of residents and various civic and other bodies in the matter of beautification. Ho also referred to the cottage garden competitions and to efforts in the direction of municipal re-afforestation on waste lands, promising the nurserymen that on Friday they would be taken over tho Bottle Lake area and shown the waste lands that wore being dealt with and would ho of benefit to the futuro generations of Christchurch. Mr Holland also referred to the Lake Coleridge electrical system and said that though it might not be used directly in connection with horticulture, a schemo that would interest gardeners was that by which use of the electric current would check tho work of frosts, particularly in orchards. ' The Mayor also touched on several other matters in which nurserymen wera interested, and also spoke on the war. He reminded delegates that last year New Zealand had exported goods and products valued at £31,500,000. It was a great record, and, together with the splendid record of service of the men of the country, went to show that tho Dominion was doing its part nobly and was a grand country, well worth fighting for. Mr Holland also referred to tho sufferings of the people in the Old Country, and maintained that that was one great reason why New Zealanders should even increase their activities. Those sufferings could only bo relieved by a maximum amount of assistance to their loth and kin and to tho great Army that was fighting for them. In conclusion, Mr Holland wished the nurserymen’s conference all success, and trusted that the delegates would spend a happy time during their stay in Christchurch. Mr Thomas Horton (Hawke’s Bay), past president, returned thanks for the welcome that had been extended to delegates bv the Mayor of Christchurch. As an old Canterbury boy, Mr Horton said that he. was proud to be placed in the position of replying. Though lie had travelled in many parts of the world, lie knew of no better spot than New Zealand, and there was no better place in the Dominion than Canterbury. He lived in Hawke’s Bay, but the qlimate seemed to bo changing, and there was not the amount of sunshine that there used to be or that they experienced in Canterbury. Ho had no doubt that tho visiting nurserymen would thoroughly enjoy their sojourn in Christchurch, and that they would carry away with them many very pleasant recollections of tho garden city of New Zealand.

Mr Thomaß Waugh, president of the association, said he wished to state that the conference was not being held with any idea of increasing the prices of fruit trees, as some thought. _ Tho association had no intention of interfering unless exceptional circumstances arose. It had, as a matter of fact, entered into an arrangement with the New Zealand Federated Fruitgrowers’ Association that prices of trees should not be increased for four years at least.

CONFERENCE OPENED. HON W. D. S. MACDONALD'S ADDRESS. The H(jn W. D. S. MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture, in opening tile conference, said that the nurserymen’s industry was a very important one. They laid the foundation, of the country in tho fruit industry and in reafforestation. As an example of what a great industry the nurserymen’s was, one had only to make a tour round Christchurch and its outlying parts. It was only comparatively, recently that the industry had been put on proper lines and that organisation had taken place. This had resulted in great advancement to the benefit of ali concerned. The health of the orchards was benefiting, though there were many pests to he, fought. The efforts of the nurserymen in applying scientific knowledge had the effect of giving good clean trees, end this was a matter of great consideration. Tho Minister referred to the great advance in tho fruit industry, especially in the growth of apples. Ur> to the early war period the whole of the surplus output was exported to South America. At present the markets were affected owing to want of shipping facilities, but tho introduction of adequate cool storage would solve many problems inside the Dominion. The industry had increased by leaps and bounds and it promised to bo a source of great wealth to tlie country when conditions became normal again. Mr MacDonald submitted statistics in regard to the industry since 1911. and referred to the legislation bv which the importation of trees from Australia had been stopped. It had been found from experience that some development took place when the Australian trees were planted in New Zealand soil, and that disease occurred which did not break out in the same class of trees in their parent land. 1 lie Minister was of opinion that the nurserymen of New Zealand were sufficiently numerous to grow all the trees that were, required for the fruitgrowers of the Dominion. The Government could not to blamed for taking precautions on behalf of the people. Australia had been very jealous of the interests of its people, and very effective legislation had been introduced for tho protection of all Australian mdus.'ries. .Mr MacDonald also spoke on general matters affecting nurserymen so far as their relations with the Agricultural Department were concerned, and promised that any remits forwarded to him as a result of tlie conference would receive the earnest consideration of ms Department. The Minister referred to the war and to the need of carrying on all work with the utmost enthusiasm, and in conclusion wished the nurserymen all success in their proceedings, and trusted that tho conference wouia tend to consolidate their efforts . and increase the great matter of efficiency. The Minister was warmly applauded 1 for his remarks, 1 In thanking the Minister for opening ! the conference, Mr Thomas Waugh ; .president) stated that the nurserymen I realised that ho was most sympathetic towards them and the great industry in which they were engaged. Ho thanked the Minister for coming to Christchurch that day, for his instructive ad-

dress and for bin kindness in opening tho conference. PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. In presenting his annual address, the president (Mr T. Wnugh) reminded delegates that it was the first 99 once to be held in the South Island since the association had been registered and that suggestions were likely to do made that would be of mutual advan - age to the members and to the pnonc. Referring to war matters the president mentioned that one member or the association, Mr R. J. Morrison, had died on the way to tho front, in 1916, while Messrs Lippiatt, Poole and Laird had each lost a son, killed in action during the year- A large number of employees had been wounded and several had mado tho supreme sacrifice. Regret was also expressed at the loss-sustained by the past president, Mr Thomas Horton, in tho death of his wife. The association recorded its unbounded laith in tho righteousness and justice ol the cause for which the British people anu their Allies were fighting and its confidence in the final triumph of the principle of moral right over brute iorco and military despotism, and the association pledged itself to assist the Government in every way iu the endeavours to bring the war to a successful, issue. ' , The outstanding features of,/ 08 " y®® r had been the recommendation of the Efficiency Board that tho importation of fruit trees should be prohibited, for the period of the war; tnc grading or tho nursery and fruit growing, industries as essential, and the serious development of root knot in the experimental imported fruit trees planted under the direction of the Secretary of Agriculture, which led to importations being prohibited. The question of technical education as applied to horticulture was a matter that would require serious consideration. At the last conference the question had been considered and tho Minister had promised to go into the matter, hut nothing more had been done. It was proposed to set up, in conjunction witn the Fruitgrowers' Federation, horticultural societies and the Horticultural Division, a certificating and nomenclature hoard, to act as a pomological and horticultural board. National efficiency demanded that this matter should bo dealt with at once. Common justice also demanded that a satisfactory measure of protection should bo at once granted to the men and women who spent years of time and much money in raising new and improved plants. The varieties conference held in 1916 was a great success as an initial effort, but the work then started should be carried on, on the basis of the last- conference. Leading men should bo nominated to represent the nurseiymen, fruitgrowers and the experts of the orchard division, such conference to meet every second year in Wellington. The president strongly urged nurserymen to pay attention to the propagation of native trees, as New Zealand had on© of the finest floras of any country. Notwithstanding the war, lie stated, and the serious shortage of labour, trade had been very fair, the one exception being in fruit trees, and regret was expressed at the large numbers which were left in most nurseries at the close of last season. As tho futuro was full of hope, it was urged that all should keep up their stocks in anticipation of the . after-war demand. On the motion of Mr R. Nairn, seionded by Mr A- M. Hale, a vote oi thanks was accorded to the president for his address. A telegram was received from the Hon G. W. Russell regretting his inability to be present, but wishing tlie conference every success. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WELCOMED. Messrs F. S. Pope (Secretary of Agriculture), T. W. Kirk (Director. of tho Horticultural Division) and J. A. Campbell (Assistant Director) were introduced to the conference and were welcomed by the president. CONFERENCE HOURS, It was decided that the conference hours should be from 9.30 a.m. to 12.45 p.m., 245 p.mi to 5.45 p.'rn. and 7.30 to the end of the day’s session. THE ROLL CALL. The roll call of the conference is as follows, the representative of a company being given in parenthesis: Auckland—Messrs F. Bennett, G. A. Green (Dominion secretary), J. Johnston and Son (W. S. Johnston), A. Yates and Co. (A. G. Brown). Wanganui—Mr W, T. Benefield, Hawke’s Bay—Messrs R. J. Donbleday, T.. Horton (past president), A. W. Hamilton (conference minute secretary). Wellington—Messrs F. Cooper, Ltd. (R. Wall), N. S- Hansem, W. B. Hardy, H. J. Poole, R. Wall, T. Waugh (Dominion president). Marlborough—Messrs J. Hale and Sons (A. M. Halo). North Canterbury—Messrs A. W. Buxton, Ltd. (S. G. Smith, secretary, and ABuxton), G. and C. Clark, Christchurch Nursery Co. (W. L. Grant and J. GM’Donald), J. 11. Cooper, W. Edginton, E. W. Ivory, W. Jones, Kerr and Bfirnett (C. M. Barnett), J. Millichamp and Sons' (J. Millichamp), J. E. Muir, R. Nairn, W- Proctor, A, M. Shrub-

shall. South Canterbury—Mr P. G. Allen. Southland—Mr‘ G. Couling. Otago—Mr> J. RobertsonThe constitution and rules of the association as amended were read and agreed to. ■ ■ EXECUTIVE AND COUNCIL REPORTS. The report of. the executive, which was of a comprehensive character, and dealt with, many phases of the industry, was read, disclosing a very satisfactory state of affairs. Reports were submitted from the councils of the following districts: — Wellington, Auckland. Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, North Canterbury, Southland, Wanganui, Otago and Timaru. Mr F. S. Pope said that ho had followed the. council reports with interest and wished to impress upon members of the association that the success of the General Council was to be found in the activities of the local councils. COMMITTEE REPORTS. The National Fruit Tree Committee, in' its report, recommended that the Department of Agriculture should arrange for an annual or bi-annual meeting of the Varieties Commission, selected as in the case of the 101 G commission, the Department to pay out-of-hand expenses- Meantime tho report urged the re-setting up of the Fruit Tree' Committee. Tho report was adopted. The National Bulb Committee, in presenting its report, stated that the list it had sent out was not perfect, but it was the result of compromise and an honest endeavour to meet the wishes of growers, merchants and retailers as far as possible. The committee stated that hints which members might make, through the secretary, would receive careful consideration. The report was adopted. Tho Emergency Committee's report, which tv as adopted, stated that it. had met the Efficiency Board and had put, the claims of the association before it. That evidence proved that as a distinct section of tho community the first three years of tho wa’r found that nurserymen had fully done their duty in tho supply of man-power to the Army. It was shown that upwards of 1000 men were continually employed in the nurseries of ibe Dominion. As a war measure, the finding of the Efficiency Board was that all importation of pip and stone fruit trees should stop for the period of the war, and further that the nursery and fruitgrowing trades were essential industries. The suggestion to prohibit the importation was turned down by tho Government. ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

Officers were elected as follow: —President, Mr Thomas Waugh; vice-presi-dents, Messrs D. A. Hay and A. W. Buxton; secretary and treasurer, Mr G. A. Green: committee, North Island, Messrs G. J. M’Kay, A. Macdonald and W. J. Johnstoh; South Island. Messrs E. W. Ivory, *J. Milliohamp anU W. L. Grant; auditor, Mr W. S. Johnston . BEDDING-OUT PLANTS.

At the evening session it was resolved, on the motion of Mr J. Nairn (Canterbury)—“ That the National Association draw tho attention of tho Minister of Agriculture to the anomaly of bedding plants being outside the operation of the registration of nurseries. _ In moving “ That the public receive some protection by way of the inspection and condemnation of worthless plants offered for sale,’ Mr R. Nairn said that the members of tho Christchurch committee believed that a great deal of rubbish was offered to the public at. shop doors and in other places, and it was felt that the Government should step in and protect the public. Mr W. Jones said that thousands, of boxes of plants were offered in auction rooms and in shops, and nurserymen knew that they were absolutely worthless, and every moment spent on them was time wasted. Hundreds of them had just had the seeds sown in tho boxes and had never been pricked off, and when they were too big to prick off they were sent in to auction. This was done knowingly in many cases, and inspectors should have, the right of inspection. Mr T. W. Kirk said that his sympathies were with the nurserymen, but it was impossible for the Department to take up any further work, as the staff was being continually depleted.■ The remit was carried. OTHER REMITS. The National Fruit Tree Committee reported that a great deal of interest had been taken in the work, and it had been decided finally that no list should be submitted this year. The committee recommended the Department of Agriculture to arrange for an annual or biennial meeting of the Varieties Commission, selected as in the case of the .191 G Commission, the fruitgrowers being appointed through

the Fruitgrowers’ Federation, and the nurserymen through the association, and from Government orchard instructors.

After some discussion in the course of which Mf J. Longton, representing the Fruitgrowers’ Association, opposed the calling of a conference until the present arrangements had been tried out it was resolved to request the Secretary of Agriculture to provide for a conference provided the co-operation of the Fruitgrowers’ Federation was secured.

Mr A. Shrubshall (Canterbury) moved “That the need of establishing a National School of Horticulture in connection with one or more of the experimental stations be urged on the attention of Government with a special reference to afforestation.” The remit was adopted after a short discussbn in the course of which Mr Nairn stated that the Minister of Agriculture was cordially in favour of the nrouosd. Mr T. Horton (Hawke’s Bay) moved: “ That in the event of legal proceedings arising between any client and any member of the association in reference to sales (and provided that tlie executive members in either island are of opinion that the case should he fought in the interests of the (neb), i lie same shall he gono on with, and 1 11 costs incurred shall be defrayed by the members of the association pro rata.” The remit was carried.

The conference adjourned till 0.30 this morning.