FIREBLIGHT.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20551, 20 May 1932, Page 16

FIREBLIGHT.

INSPECTORS' WORK IN THE CITY. Interesting information regarding the •work of the Cfiristcburch Fireblight Committee and of the inspectors, was given by Mr B. G* Goodwin, Orchard Instructor, at last night's meeting of the Canterbury Fruitgrowers' Association. _'-■'.' iMr Goodwin said that there were about twelve inspectors employed under the Unemployment Board's No.. 5 Scheme. A second inspection had been possible, and it had been found, in quite a few cases, that infection had made itself apparent in other parts. Such trees now were being destroyed. -K was astonishing the number of trees that people were cutting down, not only for fireblight, but also for o&er diseases. In a sense it was fortunate that fireblight was discovered when it was, so that they could benefit by' the No. 5 Scheme, otherwise they could not have got sufficient inspectors to go over the* district and get the work done. •' • The cleaning up of other diseases than fireblight was going to benefit the commercial orchards. When there was a dirty orchard near a commercial one it meant that more spraying had to be done by the commercial orchardist. In Borne cases where on reinspection it was found that the work ordered to be done had not been done, the matter would have to go before the Court. Expert's View of x-ests. ' If all the fruit trees in and about the City well looked after, he thought that there would be sufficient fruit for the whole of Christchurch; if there were no orchard pests that is what would happen. Some looked on pests as a bit of a curse, but he had come to the conclusion that they were really a benefit to the commercial fruitgrower. For instance, a big. pear tree would carry 18 to 20 cases which would go- far to supply not only the grower, but also a lot of people round about him. If they got rid of all the pear trees of the class that grew in the average backyard, they would have very little trouble from fireblight. Mr W. E. Davidson moved: That the. Association place on record its appreciation of the work of the Fireblight Committee, the staff of the ment, and the inspectors, in combating fireblight. He said that he felt that the committee had done a tremendous amount of good, and he felt very grateful to them. Mr C. Sisson seconded, and the motion was agreed *to with an addition, suggested by the chairman (Mr E. Freeman), that appreciation of the Unemployment Board's assistance also should be recorded.

"An uneasiness ie growing in the minds of people in India who care for their country; their quarrel is not really with Britain, but witli Western ideas," said the Kev. H. W. Newell, of Wellington, in an address on the problems of India, given .at a luncheon of the Auckland Botary Club. Mr Newell returned to New Zealand. recently after undertaking missionary and education service in India.