NURSERYMEN'S ASSOCIATION

Otago Witness, Issue 3488, 18 January 1921, Page 7

NURSERYMEN'S ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. WELLINGTON, January 12. The Hon. W Nosworthy, at the opening of the annual conference of the New Zealand Association of Nurserymen to-day, said the increase of 31 in the number of nurserymen registered under the regulations was, considering the conditions, eminently satisfactory. Amended regulations for grading fruit for export were now being prepared, and would shortly be placed before tlie Cabinet. He hoped that New Zealand nurserymen in future would be able to meet all requirements of New Zealand growers. He assured the conference that he was doing his best to cope with the menace of fire blight, and was trying to confine the outbreak to tlie present area by drawing a wide belt around it. He did not intend to enter into the question of compensation, beyond saying that it was not the intention of the Government to foot the bill for every disease that found its way into the country. Mr A. W. Buxton (Christchurch) was elected president, and Mr V. C. Davies (New Plymouth) the North Island vice-president, Mr T. D. Lonnie (Southland) having been already returned unopposed as the South Island vice-president. The appointment of Mr George Green by the executive as secretary and organiser for the association for 1921 was approved. The retiring president (Mr R. Nairn, Christchurch) delivered an address, mainly dealing with horticulture, and expressing confidence in the future of the industry' in Now Zealand. January 13. At the annual conference of the New Zealand nurserymen to-day it was resolved that the Division of Horticulture be required to furnish each season complete details of the number of trees, plants, bulbs, etc., posted from overseas, giving at the same time the country of origin and the value of the plants imported from each country. It was explained that the object was to encourage nurserymen to grow some of the choice plants now imported. The Nurserymen’s Conference passed a remit urging the Government to take the necessary powers to deal with garden pests on the same lines as orchard pests. Mr A. W. Buxton (Christchurch), the new president, was inducted, and he suggested as the motto for the year: “Let us all be live wires.” The conference approved of the action of the executive in asking for compensation for nurserymen whose nurseries were quarantined owing to the outbreak of fire blight in their districts. Mr Green (secretary) announced that the Fruitgrowers’ .Federation had promised to subsidise £ for £ to £IOO whatever fund the Auckland Central Fire Blight Committee might raise to fight the scourge. The conference approved of the most drastic measures being taken by the Government to eliminate fire blight from New Zealand.