OTAGO NURSERYMEN’S COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19000, 24 October 1923, Page 5

OTAGO NURSERYMEN’S COUNCIL.

ANNUAL MEETING. On Saturday last the annual meeting of the Otago Nurserymen’s Council was held under the presidency of Mr 11. Christie. There was a representative gathering, and Messrs U. Tannock and J. Nelson were also present. The balance sheet (which showed a small credit balance) was read and adopted. A letter was read from the president (Mr T. I). Len nic, of Invercargill) eonvey*nft greetings to the Otago Council and regretting his inability to attend the meeting. He urged as many as possible to attend the annual conference, to be held in Palmerston North in January, 1924. The officers of 1923 were unanimously re-elected for 1924. The nomination of dominion president and 'uce-president ior the South Island for 1924 was deferred till the November meeting, us was also tho question of remits to the National Conference. Several members expressed their intention of attending the conference. Mr Geo. A. Green, dominion secretary, reported (1) the quarantining of plants had not been ordered, and the question was still being considered by the department. (2) Registration of Nurseries. —The resolution Irom last conference had been conveyed to f he Minister, who had recently asked through the Horticultural Division for further information of a scientific character which w r us in course of preparation. 'lhe question of the date of the dominion conference was deferred till the November meeting, with a view’ of drafting a remit suggesting that after next conference ihe date be fixed in December or in March instead of January as at present. . Mr Green gave some interesting information as to the work of the year. Ho stated that, over 8000 pages of typed foolscap veports and other information had been given to members. As secretary he had travelled nearly 20,000 miles since New Year. Two new councils had been formed—one at Gisborne and one at Whangarei. There had been a net increase of 36 new members enrolled, bringing the total membership to well over 300.

The matter of a dominion labour award was approved at last conference, and the matter of the registration of rules both for employers’ unions and an association was well for wal'd, and resolutions to register had been passed in most centres. An Otago committee had been set up to undertake the necessary local part of the work. Mr Green remarked that the employers were also in favour of a dominion instead of a sectional award, as at present. The meeting concluded with the usual votes of thanks to the outgoing officers, to Mr Green, and to the chairman, which were carried with acclamation.