N.Z. IS CONSIDERED MOST HOSE-MINDED COUNTRY IN WORLD

Wanganui Chronicle, 2 November 1949, Page 4

N.Z. IS CONSIDERED MOST HOSE-MINDED COUNTRY IN WORLD

"We are now the most rose-minded people in the world,” said Mr. C. V. Hoiyoake, president ol the National Rose Society of New Zealand, at a meeting of the Wanganui District Rose Society last night. "Our membership is 10 times greater in proportion to population that the National Society in England, which has been established for more than 100 years,” he said. Mr. Holyoake said that in 1940 the membership of the society was 80. In 1943 it was 200 and in 1945, 600. The present membership is about 3000. The growth had been exceptional considering that the society had been functioning lor such a short time and had grown much quicker than expected, he added. Today there are 16 district societies in New Zealand, he said. The North Island is covered except for Gisborne and Taranaki. However, an interim committee has been formed at Gisborne and it is expected that a society will be formed in Taranaki within the next few months. With exception of the West Coast, societies are established in all districts in the South Island. Possibly no society will be established in the West Coast as sand and convolvulous make it difficult to grow roses, Mr. Holyoake said. The strongest society in the Dominion is Auckland, with a membership of 800.