NURSERYMEN'S WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15824, 22 January 1915, Page 7

NURSERYMEN'S WORK.

COST OF PRODUCTION. NEED FOR EXPERT LABOUR. INSPECTION OF NURSERIES. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] ELLINGTON', Thursday. At the Nurserymen's Conference to-day Mr. G. A. Green read a paper on " The Prices of Nursery Stock in Relation to the Cost of Production." Few nurserymen. Mr. Green said, knew even approximately what their cost of production was. Some never even struck I a balance, and. regardless of costs, would " cut" all quotations for supplies. Of late years there had been an improvement, but the results had not been affected appreciably, because the cost of" production I had been continually increasing. There was no business in the whole Dominion that returned such small profits on the capital invested and the wages paid as the nursery trade, and few trades required more knowledge and skill. The causes of this were mainly : —(1) The majority of nurserymen were by training gardeners or landscape artists or else amateurs who loved the nursery work, but regarded tne business as a necessary evil ; (2) others, from lack of commercial training or energy, sold their stock at auction, allowing the buyer to fix the price. In looking for a remedy they must first of all arrange their nurseries so that they knew the cost of production. That having been done and a loss being discovered, the nurseryman must either increase the price to the purchaser by means of organisation or reduce the cost by improved machinery, cheaper land, greater skill, and specialisation by dropping unprofitable lines. The labour problem, Mr. Green continued, would always be with them. Higher wages would have to be paid in the future, but they must look for greater skill and also pay attention to the question of training and examining apprentices in a regular way. Various members of the conference took part in a discussion on the paper, ail agreeing with the writer, especially in regard to the necessity for securing more highly-skilled labour. Mr. Green was heartily thanked for his paper. The president reported that minimum prices had been agreed upon for apple trees and rose trees to operate in 1916. The prices fixed were: Apple trees, £5 a hundred up to 500, and £4 10s a hundred thereafter; roses, 12s a dozen. A deputation from the conference waited on the Prime Minister, as Minister for Agriculture, this afternoon, with Mr. T. W. Kirk, of the Department of Agriculture, and asked that the preparation of the regulations for the registration and inspection of nurseries be expedited. Mr. Massey stated that he would have the matter attended to at once. He also promised to introduce clauses in the Consolidated Orchards Bill next session making provision for the appointment of a Board of Certification ind Nomenclature, providing fur the registration of new varieties of plants and trees and protect

ing the rights of growers. He also promised favourable consideration of the request that when plants are destroved bv an order of the Department the owners should be put on the same footing as

farmers, who are paid compensation for stock destroyed.