NEW ZEALAND NURSERYMEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18464, 27 January 1922, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND NURSERYMEN

conference' IN CHRISTCHURCH. ; {Pkb United Pbess Association.) i CHRISTCHURCH, January 25. -.The.'fifteenth annual conference of the Nurserymen’s Association opened to-day with a civic reception. The president (Mr A. W. Buxton) said that modern methods of production demanded many changes in the system of advertising and producing, and more co-opera-tion was needed. In view of the high cost of imported choice plants these must now be grown in the dominion. He hoped a sound basis for future afforestation would be arranged. The executive would meet representatives of ( the Forestry Department, when the big question of forest nursery practice would bo considered. He hoped it would bo strongly financed, and that a poriiological board would be formed. The work of the association had steadily progressed, and he believed the present stringency was but a passing phase. The conference carried the following remits:’— “ That the executive consider the matter of the registration and inspection of all growers End' sellers of trees, plants, and bulbs, and take such action as it thinks fit to bring it before the Minister. , “That the matter of a Dominion School of Horticulture ’be kept before the Government. “ That the Government be urged-, to. arrange quarantine regulations for all. imported trees, etc.,' and that one or more islands bo selected as quarantine stations." It was decided to hold the next conference in Wellington. CHRISTCHURCH, January 26. At the Nurserymen’s Conference resolutions were passed as follow; That the Government bo urged to take the necessary powers to deal with garden pests on the same basis as with orchard pests. ■ That when prices are being fixed it should be,done as far as possible by those who are growing and handling the different lines under review. That the Department of Horticulture be asked to furnish annually a return of all trees, plants, and bulbs imported, with their countries of origin and values. A remit dealing with fire blight was discussed in committee, and it was resolved—- " That this conference urges the Government to take prompt measures to deal with the hawthorn in an effective manner for the control of fire blight.” A resolution was passed that the conference _ regrets the delay by the Government in paying compensation to those nurserymen who have been debarred from selling their fruit trees in the fire blight area, and hopes that it Will soon be paid. It was also resolved that superintendents of public gardens be asked for their sympathy and help in eliminating aJI inferior varieties of rosea in future plantings. Officers were elected as follows:—President, Mr A. W. Buxton (Christchurch); vioe-presideate, Messrs V. C. Davies (North Island) arid T. D. Lonnie (South Island); treasurer, Mr A. W. Hamilton; secretary and organiser, Mr G. A. Green ; auditor, Mr R. D. Brown (Hastings). The conference then closed.