HORTICULTURAL BILL.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIX, Issue 285, 2 December 1915, Page 6

HORTICULTURAL BILL.

—-- •■-«* WHY IT WAS NOT PLACED ON

STATUTE BOOK

EXPLANATION BY MINISTER

On October 15 Mr G. A. Green, honorary .secretary of the New Zealand Association of' Nurserymen, wrote to the Minister for Agriculture, the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, regarding the position of the Horticultural Bill which was introduced during last session, but which, was not placed on the Statute Book. Mr Green, has received a reply from the Minister, in which Mr MacDonald expresses regret that on account of measures relating to the war occupying so much of the time of the House last session, it was found impossible to'proceed with the measure. Mr Mac Donald points otit that the most important clauses as far as fruitgrowers ;are concerned^ have to do with the proposed orcliard tax, and the inclusion of, this provision was made dependent on a petition being presented signed by a large majority of the fruitgrowers of the Dominion. This promised petition did not come to hand during the sitting of the House, nor has it been received since, and consequently it was impossible to proceed with the Bill The other matter in which the association is particularly interested, the setting up of a Nomenclature^ Board, was not considered of sufficient urgency to wai> rant a special, measure being introduced. The Government, however, was prepared to provide the sum of £200 towards the expen.se of establishing; £iftt working such a beard, if set up voluntaz-ily. In conclusion, Mr Mac Donald states that the necessity for a compi-ehensive Bill dealing with the. horticultural industry is fully recognised by the Government, and he expresses a hope that action and consideration in connection with these matters would be completed in time to admit of a Bill being introduced early next session. He promises to do all in his power to assist in placing the desired measure on the Statute Book, and expresses his warm sympathy with the legitimate aspirations of those connected with the fruit industry. In reply, Mr Green wrote thanking the Minister for his expressions of goodwill, and for his promise to have the required clauses inserted in the Bill which it was proposed to introduce next session. Mr Green staged that the association, the fruitgrowers. a.n.d the ..Director of Orchards were in vagroemettt regarding the proieetion whioh shoiikl be given ; to the. raisers of new varieties, all of whom considei-ed that this matter could.be simply, effectively and cheaply dealt with by a clause in the proposed .Horticultural Industries Bill giving powers securing the protection desired through regulations provided by Orders-in-Council, rather than by means of the Patents Act. At the same time, the Association of Nurserymen, and in fact, all horticulturists, both amateur and professional, would welcome any measure that would secure to the raisers of new trees and plants a fair royalty as recompense for the _ distribution of their creations and discoveries. Regarding certificating and the Nomenclature Board, the Director of Orchards and the organisations interested were in perfect agreement, and urged, that such a board should not be set up voluntarily, but by the Government. Concluding, Mr Green says:—"These questions hare now been urged on the Department of Agriculture and on the attention of Parliament for several years past, and prior fo the last two sessions We •have been promised by your predecessor in office that these matters should be placed on the Statute Book during the-then current session. While fully sympathising with the Government in the exceptional conditions under which the past two sessions have been conducted, we still think that, in view of the necessity of increasing our exports to the utmost, and the vast potentialities of the various branches" of horticulture, •this most important Bill should be placed on ttie list of urgent measures for the next session."

Tiood; there would he no alteration. NeU>n was :t small Board, but would ieMr' n Scsuitlobury also congratulated Mr Franklyn. Tlie Minister had stated to a'deputation that the new boundaries when denned would prob ably stand for 20 years. He could not support the resolution, as it might lead to a clause being added when Parliament met wiping Nelson out % The motion on being put Was lost on die voices.