Report of The New Zealand Institute Representative On The New Zealand Institute of Horticulture.

The New Zealand Institute of Horticulture has continued the good work mentioned in my last report. Frequent meetings of the Central Executive Committee have been held during the past year and a successful annual meeting and conference was held at Christchurch on the 22nd August, 1928. The report and financial statement for the year ending 31st March, 1928, has been circulated with the other business papers to each Governor of the Institute, and to this report I would refer members of the Board for details of the year's work. It will be noted that prominent members of the New Zealand Institute are actively helping the young Institute in its struggles to advance Horticulture. Under the able editorship of Mr. Gilbert Archey reports, bulletins, and other publications are issued; to Professor Kirk (Convener of the Education Committee) has fallen the difficult task of guiding the committee in its methods of bestowing the Diploma of Horticulture; Mr. W. R. B. Oliver has been actively engaged in formulating proposals for the establishment of National Botanical Gardens and presiding over the deliberations of the Nomenclature and Publications Committees. The Diploma of the Institute has already been granted to 61 persons who have practised Horticulture for not less than 20 years and who, in the opinion of the Institute, are entitled to this distinction without examination. Care has been taken to ensure that those to whom the diploma is granted without examination are recognized as competent exponents of Horticulture. A scheme of examinations was gazetted under the N.Z. Institute of Horticulture Act, 1927, on the 15th March, 1928.

It will therefore be seen from this and from a perusal of the report that the New Zealand horticulturist will have no reason to complain of lack of opportunity for obtaining a valuable qualification if he has the requisite skill and knowledge.

This year the Institute's Banks Lecture was delivered at Christchurch on the 22nd August, 1928, by Mr. W. C. Davies, of the Cawthron Institute, on “Photography as an Aid to the Study of Plants and Plant Problems.”

The Institute undoubtedly owes much to the business ability of the President, Mr. F. J. Nathan, who has been well supported by his officers, Mr. A. R. Stone, Secretary, and Mr. G. A. Green, Organizer, and the Honorary Officers.

(Signed) B. C. Aston.