FLIES AND FILTH.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 46, 22 February 1913, Page 5

FLIES AND FILTH.

AN ORGANISED CAMPAIGN.

AGAINST WINGED SCAVENGERS.

(By Telegraph.—Cwn Correspondent.)

CHRISTCHURCH, this day. Next spring is to see the launching of an organised campaign against the fly in Christehurch, and, incidental!-, against insanitation in the city. A small committee has been set up to occupy the winter m educating the public in the need for some active steps of reprisal against the fly, which insect science has convicted as one of the greatest murderers of children the world has known. The light of modern investigation has revealed the ftv to the Americans, and all over the United States "Swat the fly" has become the slogan of the fighters for the public health.

The committee that ban been appointed will adopt the American plan of convincing the people of the dangers they run in giving the fly unquestioned rule, and throughout the winter every effort will be made to bring about an organisation that will effectually rouse public enthusiasm. The fly multiplies at such, an enormous rate that one fly killed in the spring is worth over 5,000 killed in stnnmer. Big cities in the States have swept the hordes of -winged scavengers and carriers of disease out of existence during the hot weather merely by prosecuting a campaign of extermination in the spring. The North Canterbury Hospital Board has consented to assist the project in any way it can, and it has appointed Mr. J. D. Hall to act in conjunction with any organisation that is brought into being for the carrying out of the work. The committee will procure all the latest information on the subject, including the cheapest c.nd most effective means of killing flies.

It will be necessary to abolish any breeding places for flies in the city, and to this end the campaign will include an agitation for effective screening of foodstuffs iv shops, the proper care of heaps of manure, and tbe use of sanitary methods in the disposal of rubbish. Tne City Council was approached last years and asked to assist the scheme, but declined to do so. The committee, however, has decided to approach the Council again.