NURSERYMEN'S CONFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16288, 22 January 1915, Page 6

NURSERYMEN'S CONFERENCE

(Pf.b United Pbess Association.) WELLINGTON, January 21. At the Nurserymen's Conference to-day Mi G. A. Green read a paper on "The Prices of Nursery Stock in Relation to Cost of Production." lew nurserymen, iie said, knew, even approximately, what their cost ot production was. Some never even struck u balance, and, while regardless of costs, would cut all quotations tor supplies. Of late years there iiad been an improvement, but results had not been affected appreciably, bccauso the cost of production had been continually increasing. 'There was no business in the wdiole dominion that returned such small piofits on the capital invested and the wages paid as the nurserytrade, and few trades required more knowledge and skill. The causes ot this were mainly—(l) the majority of nurserymen were, by training, gardeners or landscape artists, or eke amateurs who. loved the uursery work, but regarded the business as a necessary evil; (2) others, from lack of commercial training or energy, sold thenstock at auction, allowing the buyer to fix the price. In lookuig ior a remedy they must first of all arrange their nurseries so that they knew the cost of production. That done, and a loss being discovered, the nurseryman must either—(a) increase the price to the purchaser by means of organisation; (b) reduce cost by—(l) improved machinery, (2) cheaper land, (3) greater skill, (c) specialise, dropping unprofitable lines. The labour problem, Mr Green continued, would always be with l hem. Higher wages would have to be paid to look tor greater skill. They must look into the question of training and examining apprentices in a regular way. Various members of the conference took part in a discussion on the ptipcr, agreeing with the writer, . -><-ia!ly in regard to the necessity for sec. ,:, i g more h:g:i'\ axilied labour. Mr Green was heart ly thanked for his paper. The conference discussed' a remit urging the pushing on of the registration and inspection of nurseries. Mr T. \V. Kirk told the conference that there had been difficulties in tho way of the preparation of the regulations for the Government registration and inspection of orchards. It was hoped, however, to have these regulations framed shortly, and certain diseases would then be put on the schedule. It was decided to send a deputation to the Prime Minister to urge that the promulgation of the regulations bo expedited. The president reported that minimum prices had been agreed upon for apple trees and rose trees, io operate in 1916. The prices fixed were: Apple trees, £5 a hundred up (o 500. and 10s a hundred thereafter; ro»es. 12s a dei'./n.