FRUIT-GROWERS' ASSOCIATION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXVII, Issue 125, 29 May 1893, Page 2

FRUIT-GROWERS' ASSOCIATION.

The sixth annual meeting of tha Nelson Frui throwers' Association was hrM on Saturday ever ing la*t in tho City Council Chamber, the I'reaidout in the obair. The Secretary nad the following report:— To the members of tho N.F.6. A.

Gentlemen— We hnve the pleasure of presenting to you our sixth annual report. At oar last annual meeting wo congratulated you on the continued existence i.nd increased usefulness of your Association, and we painted out as one of tho proofs of usefulness that we imported (through tho good offices of our cousnlting entomolo/ist and goad friend, Mr Allan Wight) the Vedtilift) Gnrdinalia, the natural enemy of the unHightly and destructive enemy to the fruitgrowing inSmtry, the loerya Parohati or mimosa blight. We Bald it was then doing erood work', and we ore now pli aied to tell you that the mimosa blight has almost wholly disappeared from our district. . If for no other work than this our Association has earned tUe gratitude of all horticulturists iv this district, whether for pleasure or. profit, who value deliveranco from this -fflH Bightly pr-st. -At the beginning of the yeW wo had the Godlin Moth Bill before up, but felt it to be of auoh a'drastio oharaoler, und more destructive to fruit growing than the oodlin moth, that we used our best endeavours to get it thrown out, - We have since had the same Bill sent to us for our opinion, and concluded thtt it was so radically defective, to be amended, and forwarded to tho Government, our opinion and suggestion. It is the evident intention of the Minister of Agriculture, backed by the fruitgrowers of certain districts to pass this Bill into law, and if the Nelson fruitgrowers and nurserymen sit still they may find their occupation gone. We are in communication with Mr Allen Wight with respect to the natural enemies of the codlin moth, arid hope to get from him some of these natural enemies that will be as destructive to the codlin moth as the Vedalia to the Icerya. We have to record the loss of one of our most valued members—Dr. Locking. ex-President— who has removed from our district. We have met eight times this year with a fair average attendance, considering our membership. In conclusion wo would remind you by keeping our Association together as we have done this last six years, we have boen the medium of communication with the fruit growers of this district. We have gathers i large experience which enables us to spetik with authority to the powers that be, and'besides we have been able to do some good to the district to which we belong. What our past has been may our future- Ije.

The balance sheet which showed a credit balance of £4 as Od was read and adopted On the motiou of Mr Avery seconded by Mr Marshall the whole of the officers were reolscted. Votes of thanks were passed to the retiring oilicers and the City Council for the use of their offices