NURSERYMEN’S ASSOCIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19968, 9 December 1926, Page 15

NURSERYMEN’S ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETING OE OTAGO COUNCIL. The annual meeting; of the Otago Council of the New Zealand Association of Nurserymen was hold last, night. The president (.Mr H. A Christie) occupied the chair. The Chairman, in moving tho adoption of the annual report anil balance sheet, said that during the year six meetings had been held. They had been honoured by having tho privilege of carrying out tho arrangements of the 1926 conference held in Dunedin during tho Exhibition period, and had been pleased by (he response from the other councils. The members had taken a keen interest in tho business that bad come before (he council throughout the year. At a conference held between delegates from (ho seedsmen aml their council a complete agreement had been come to in regard to the prices of bedding plants for the season. .Mr D. Tannock said that they had been very pleased at the .response from nurserymen during horticultural week, at tho time of tho Exhibition. He thought, however, the nurserymen should continue to send forward exhibits to the various local shows. The speaker said ho considered- that there was an opening for the export of seed to the Old Country, and that seeds could also bo exported to tho North Island, to take tho place of the seeds at present imported from Europe. Rhododendron seeds were finding a good demand in the North Island, and they could be supplied from this cud. Tho motion was carried. The following office-bearers were appointed:—President. Mr 11. A. Christie: vice-presidents, Messrs D. Campbell and J. Rennie; secretary, Mr T. Y. Turner; Annuals Committee—Messrs R. More, D. Campbell, Cousins, and J. Rennie; Rose Committee—Messrs Seidelin, Rennie, Donaldson, Cousins, and J. Bows (with power to add); executive—Messrs Christie, Campbell, Rennie, and Donaldson. Messrs Christie and Tannock were ap pointed to represent the council at the annual conference of delegates from Nurserymen’s Association to bo held in Auck land in January next. Mr Ci. A. Green, Dominion secretary of the Nurserymen's Association, then delivered an address giving a review' of his tour through New Zealand. Ho said that ho had alerady travelled 3800 miles, and that bv the lime he reached Auckland he would have covered 5000 miles in all. The season passed through had been fair, as to sales, throughout New Zealand, hut it had not been up to what had been expected or hoped for. It was true that State, competition had hit them hard in some places, but not. much harder than before. The speaker referred to the causes which might have brought about a reduction in sales, and said they should get together and grapple with difficulties with which they were faced He also referred to other features of the business of the nurserymen, and gave information regarding many aspects of their activities. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the lecturer.