FIRST ANNUAL MEETING OF THE NATIONAL SWEET PEA SOCIETY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 25, 21 December 1910, Page 45

FIRST ANNUAL MEETING OF THE NATIONAL SWEET PEA SOCIETY.

Tile first annual meeting of members was liehl at Palmerston North on Dec. 7. Dr. Carberry, Stratford, being voted to the chair. The secretary read tlie minutes of the inaugural meeting at Stratford, and the following .report of the provisional committee :— Your provisional committee have the honour to report that at a meeting of delegates held at Stratford on the 14th January. I‘JIO. it was resolved that those present at the meeting constitute themselves “The National Sweet Pea Society of New Zealand.” and that a representative show be held in Palmerston North on the 7th day of December of the current year. At that meeting the following gentlemen were elected a provisional committee, with powers to act: — Messrs. Holder. (Porirua) ), Bradfield (Palmer-

•ton North). Plummer (Auckland, Armstrong (Hasting*)* Scott, Carberry, and Good son (Taranaki), also Mr. Osmond, who was at a subsequent meeting elected lion, secretary. The meeting derided that the “Weekly Graphic” of Auckland should be the official organ of the society. At a subsequent meeting Mr. Henry Brett, of Auckland, was appointed president for the year, which poHition he at present holds, and Mr. H. A. Fox was added to the provisional committee. Mr. A. C. Bradfield was appointed organising secretary for Palmerston North, and r schedule committee, consisting of Messrs. Goodsoil, Carberry and Osmond. The members of the association responded liberally to the appeal for trophies, and the heartiest thanks of the society are due to our president for the “Weekly Graphic’’ cup. and to those patrons who so kindly contributed to the Wellington. Palmerston North, and Taranaki trophies. To the firm of Messrs. Yates and Co. we aro Indebted for the handsome £1(1 10/ cup which l>ears their name, and your committee have every confident hope that the seedsmen will heartily co-operate with a society whose interests run parallel with their own. The thanks of this society are also due to those gentlemen and officials, both residents and visitors, who contribute! their zealous labours to the fruition of the ideal of a thoroughly representative exhibition which has never previously been attempted in this Dominion. The provisional committee expires to-night by effluxion of time, and you will be called upon to elect to-night a permanent body of officials and a committee, to whose care will be entrusted the destinies of our young ami ambitious institution. In conclusion your committee has the honour to report that our first show, tentative though it may have been, has exceeded in its quality of bloom and number of entries our most sanguine expectations, ami it is satisfactory to note that the growing interest in our patron plant has received not only the universal approbation of the public, but has been sealed with the hall-mark of commendation by his Excellency the Governor, Lord Islington, whose love of gardens an I beautiful Howers is so well known to us all, and who visited our show’ to-day. Your provisional committee bequeaths to the society this testament, that the main objective of this society shall lie steadily

held in view by future officials, viz., the establishment in New Zealand of a seed industry for the export of sweet pea seed, which this country is so well adapted to produce, and in order that fame of our Dominion may be spread through the world as the premier seed-produeing centre of the Hower that we are banded together to perpetuate. The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, said it was impossible to bring down a balance-sheet yet, as they eould not say how the present show would pan out financially. Mr. Osmond gave a statement as near as possible as to how the Society now stood. Even with a poor gate, he thought they would make both ends meet, and start next year with trophies to the value of .£125. There was also an amount outstanding, and with the takings at the present show they would come out. he thought, on the right side. He looked upon the Society as a permanent one, and had therefore incurred expenditure for substantial books, ete. The cash in hand and in the Bank would more than meet their expenditure. The report was then adopted. OFFICERS ELECTED. The following officers were then elected:— President, Mr. J. Goring-John-stone: vice-presidents, Dr. Carberry (Stratford), and Mr. H. A. Fox (Wellington) : committee, Messrs. Plummer (Auckland). C. Goodson (Hawera), A. C. Bradfield (Palmerston North), J. H. G. Murdoch (Napier), C. Trevethiek (Lower Hutt), F. Mason (Palmerston North), G. W. Sellar (Masterton), G. C. Holder (Auckland), G. W. Keeling (Palmerston). P. W. Goldsmith (Levin). The appointment of secretary was left to the Committee. Mr. Osmond to be asked to continue in office till the end of the year. It was resolved that the schedule of the present show be adopted for next year, except that the single buneh classes be deleted, and that a class for New Zealand novelties be introduced. It was decided that the definition of a maiden grower should be one who had not won a first-prize at the time of making entry for an ensuing show. Votes of thanks to the president, secretary. Press, and ladies concluded the meeting. The executive met immediately thereafter.