NATIONAL FLOWER SHOW

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22259, 11 May 1934, Page 7

NATIONAL FLOWER SHOW

PRELIMINARY MEETING A preliminary meeting of those interested in the holding of the New Zealand National Flower Show at Dunedin next January was held last night in the Early Settlers' Hall. Mr D. Tannock, who was voted to the chair, expressed pleasure at seeing such a large and representative attendance, and extended a welcome to those who had come from Waimate, Oamaru and Invercargill to attend the meeting. The last time a national show had been held in Dunedin, he said, was at the time of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition. That, he thought, was really the first national show in, which all the organisations now taking part had been concerned. Since then there had been two national shows at Christchurch, two at Wellington, one at Auckland and one at Palmerston North. It appeared that the time had come for the show to be held in the south once more. The Nurserymen's Association, the Institute of Horticulture, and the Dunedin Horticultural Society had recommended that it should be held in Dunedin this year, and this was eventually agreed to. The last week of next January had been decided upon for the fixture, as this was the most suitable month for nurserymen. It was a little early for this district, but plenty of notice was being given, diid he had no doubt that gardeners would be able to stage a creditable display, provided the season was at all reasonable.

Those present then formed themselves into a committee to make the necessary arrangements for the national show. The chairman reported that with the secretary (Mr Charles Rhodes) and Mr H. Bennett he had gone into the question of accommodation and they had reached the conclusion that the Town Hall was the only place to hold such a function. With the use of the main hall, the Concert Chamber and the basement they should have ample space.

A member asked who was committed by the decision to hold a show, and the secretary explained that the term " show " in this case embraced a number of things. The show week gave the opportunity for all horticultural interests to "sot together," and all of these bodies held their annual conferences at that time. The National Flower Show was divided into three parts, one-third of the liability being on the Horticultural Traders' Association, one-third on the New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, and onethird on the local Horticultural Society. Whether a profit or a loss were the result these bodies were responsible, and the committee was not committed to anything.

Mr W. H. Shepherd asked if the dates suggested would be likely to clash with the forthcoming Royal visit, and Mr J. Black asked if it was necessary to set down definite dates.

Mr Bennett said that the latter question had been thoroughly threshed out years ago, and the dates were definitely fixed. If it were not possible to hold a flower show, the conferences were carried out according to plan. Mr J. L. M'lndoe moved that the ordinary dates should be agreed to in the meantime, and that H it became necessary, the committee could meet later to consider aftering them. This was agreed to. It was decided to engage the Town Hall for the fixture. '

Mr Charles Rhodes was appointed secretary to the Show Committee, and Mr P. 0. Vallange treasurer. The following members were appointed to the Executive Committee: —Messrs J.Nelson, P. L. Halsted, J. Black, H. Hart, H. Bennett and Mrs G. Fitzgerald, v;

It was decided that the executive should decide upon what siib-committees were needed and bring clown nominations to a future meeting of the full committee.

The question of the amount of space available for Southland entries was raised, and the chairman replied that it was not intended that the show should be on a competitive basis, but rather a display of flowers.