THE COUNTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 77, 30 March 1920, Page 11

THE COUNTRY.

GOVERNMENT INSPECTION. " W.J.J." discusses the inadequacy of Government inspection to check pests which threaten various productive industries. Our inspectors are absolutely insufficient to properly supervise the country, ho writes, and we wonder how long the present state of affairs will last. Amongst the bees of Britain and America, there is a deadly trouble known as the Isle of Wight disease, lt has killed off over SO per cent of the bees of Great 'Britain, has spread to America, and is believed by many to have shown itself in Australia. The N.Z. Government has been warned of the dangers of the disease being brought to New Zealand, but practically no notice is taken. On Feb- i ruary 4, atßuakura, the attention of Mr. Kirk was called to the dangers of importing honey and other goods into New Zealand, and a resolution was passed by the 200 present, calling the attention of the Department to the danger, as well as to the prevalence of disease, ■but it evidently ended at that. Foul ■brood is everywhere to be found, but several districts have never been visited. The inspectors are paid the miserable salary of £200 a year, and are expected to cover each a quarter of the Dominion. No wonder that diseases flourish in New Zealand. The Agricultural Department should be reorganised, and strengthened to meet the necessities of the growth of the last decade, so that it could take precautions to prevent the introduction or development of diseases, Instead of having to be told, as they are with fireblight, that it is here, and si fcas got a good hold."