THE FRUIT FLY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 216, 5 June 1908, Page 3

THE FRUIT FLY.

MORE STRINGENT REGULATIONS. NEW SOUTH WALES THE SEAT OF TROUBLE. Tho Hon.-Minister for Agriculture was interested in an article .on tho fruit fly regulations from the " Sydney 'Morning Herald " quoted,in Tin: Dominion.yesterday morning. In'a conversation with-one of our representatives, Mr. M'Nab emphasised the fact that tho-fruit'flv can breed and thrive in Now Zealand—not only • under laboratory conditions, as has been "suggested; but under normal open-air conditions, and that in the South Island, as witness tho outbreak in Marlborough. As showing how stringent the enforcement of, the regulations ought to bo, the Minister, quoted a case of a shipment of fruit, which recently arrived at Dunedin from Sydney. The consignment was accompanied by. a certificate issued'by tho Government inspector of the district in New South Wales, setting forth that the fruit was from an orchard a mile away from any fruitrfly-in-fected trees, yet/ on examination it was found to bo maggoty. ■ want in'the issue of these certificates;": said Mr. M'Nab, "is to ensure that the. fruit consigned to 'New Zealand is outbido'the range of infection. Yet we.know that "there* are instances, ■as in the Dunedin case, where bona fide certificates are issued, declaring ;the fruit clean, yet the maggot is there." ' V ; Then what is the next step? " Well, we will simply have ,to shut out those districts where the fly is lenown to exist. I don't anticipate any trouble'in any Australian State Dutside. New. South' Wales, which is the. seat of trouble. I don't think we have anything so fear from South Australia, Victoria, or Tasmania.", | • ' BRITISH RAILWAY RATES.

PREFERENCE TO FOREIGNERS " • OBJECTED TO. The question ,of railway rates and' facilities has recently been engaging the serious attention of the 'British;. Boar- of Trade, with the result that, it has brought influence, to-bear to bring about a conference between representatives of the railway companies' and their customers. : .It is stated , that an intimation has been conveyed to the railway representatives that, iij the absence of rea- ' Bonable'concessions,, the Board of Trade in-, .i' tends ,to obtain, further powers 'from Par-' . liamerit..:'The Central Chamber of Agriculture is collecting and tabulating complaints of- the' agricultural, industry. ' At a meeting' of the Canterbury' Farmers' Club and East Kent Chamber of Agriculture a demand was ■ formulated that it should become a neneral ' regulation that the rates siven/for the con-, veyance -of foreign produce should also b« made, available ;for British produce' where consignment!! of not less'than one truckload ' were offered.. .. .; 'DUTCH BUTTER LEGISLATION.

, FAKING RESTRICTED. , The last number of the "Grocer" to .hand ';- states, on the authorityof the consul of the Netherlands in London, that a Bill to amend the law relating to. the, butter trade ' has * been passed, by the Second Chamber of the;. States-General,.' and vis likely"; to 1 bn- ■ come. operative at; no very distant date. > The most important provision of this legis- " .lation is that which authorises the Dutch *>, Government' inspectors ; to enter buildings where margarine is manufactured,' and. to i take samples.' It is in suchplaces; which are nominally margarine factories, that the adulterated;butter has been made which has • caused trouble "and .; anxiety to ; traders, in . the United Kingdom.' 'In the Latter country ■ the ' 'margarine factories, have" been for. many years', opeii .to ,inspection, but, ,no official had power -to' enter a; biitter factory, and, .consequently,' until the passing of tho Butter and Margarine. Act of last session, '"faki ing" ' could be, and was; .carried on.-with ■ ' comparative safety in some, so-called butter factories. In-Holland the position was reversed, and the Government inspectors could enter any place where butter was made or stored, - but were excludedfrom ' premise!) which -were declared to be margarine factories. New Zealand dairymen' will ho interested to know; that the' sphere of • activity of tho butter "faker" is being .still further restricted.,,. Holland was the source of origin of a good "deal- of so-called butter branded "Australia," used'to competo with the genuine ■ article on the London market.

ARMY HORSES. ;'A scheme has been placed before the British' Army 'authorities to encourage the breeding of Army horses.; It is proposed to adopt a brood mare system, which will have tho effect -of encouraging' the breeding of horses in every' rural district. .- In a short time an announcement will be'made by the Board of: Agriculture that'a'sum of £30,0C0 has been allotted to that purpose. Under the scheme farmers will be able to get brood mares at a rent of. £2 a year, and the foals will belong to the; farmers. »It is hoped by this mean* to encourage the breeding of horses, and. in, process or time to/procure them in 'sufficient numbern for the wkbln of the Army.V <•

DEPARTMENTAL, APPOINTMENTS. TI10: appointment of Mr. JolmPederson as grader and inspector under the Dairy Industry. Act,. 1898, is gazetted . this, wecik. Mr. James ; Hunter has been gazetted a cadet in the Department' of Agriculture. . The appointments; of '."Messrs. 6. Broom and.W. D.'Blair as veterinarians and inspectors cf slaughtering are gazetted.

: FEED ifj MANAWATU. Winter feed is making oxcoptional "progress this season in.thc.Manawatu district (writes our _ correspondent). Many : farmers in removing their root crops sowed Cape barley with highly satisfactory results..