NATIONAL FLOWER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21905, 14 September 1934, Page 12

NATIONAL FLOWER

PROGRESS OF VOTING POPULARITY OF KOWHAI Progress results of the vftte being taken at the Auckland Horticultural Society's show in the Town Hall, to choose the most suitable of New Zealand's native flowers for a national emblem, show kowhai, which proved the popular choice in a vote taken recently in Wellington, again to be in the lead. Details of the voting are: —Kowhai, 97; clematis, 87; manuka, 51; pohutukawa, 45; rata, 14; fern leaf, 9.

Great interest was taken in the voting by the public visiting the show and votes were recorded by visitors from as far afield as Invercargill. A card was exhibited with the names of the five flowers used in the Wellington vote, kowhai, clematis, manuka, pohutukawa and rata, and it was suggested that these were probably the most popular native flowers, but the public was left free to vote for any other they chose. Examples of all except the pohutukawa, which cannot be obtained at present also were exhibited. A curious feature of the voting was the fact that the pohutukawa, which was second in Wellington, where it is comparatively little known, occupied only fourth place. The low position of fern leaf is probably explained by the fact that most people regarded the choice as between flowers only. The kowhai and clematis are at present in full bloom in the city and suburbs, and this doubtless added to their popularity. Voting will be concluded to-day.