THE FRUIT FLY TROUBLE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 296, 8 September 1908, Page 2

THE FRUIT FLY TROUBLE.

MAJOR BROUN'S CHARCES. SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT TAKE NOTICE? Although most fruit-growers will adhere to tlio belief that Major Broun is in error when lie says there is no need for the new regulations against the importation of fruit fiy from the Islands, tlio allegations made by him at the recent- meeting of Auckland fruit importers (as reported in The Dominion last Saturday' are so sweeping that it seems desirable that tlio Government should take some steps to clear up things and settle points that ought no longer to be open to uncertainty. Categorically put, Major Broiin's charges aro mainly the following:— 1. That the Mediterranean fruit fly, which lias lived in New Zealand, is not found in Island fruit, and consequently the regulations against it need not bo applied to the Islands. 2. That the Queensland fruit fly, which does exist in the Islands, cannot thrive in New Zealand. 3. That a yellow fly (dacus xanthodes), which exists abundantly in the Islands, is not scheduled. 4. That though Major Broun discovered this yellow fly aiid reported on it, his report was suppressed, and he was denied the credit of tlio discovery. 5. That the tests on the • breeding of Queensland fruit fly at Auckland were put into the hands of. a pomologist instead of a skilled entomologist. 6. That Major Broun's repeated claims that Queensland fruit fly would not live in Now Zealand were suppressed in his official reports and never properly investigated. 7. .That an exhaustible report, prepared by him at Mr. Seddon's request, on tho various fruit flies, with criticisms on the pomologist's experiments and copies of certain correspondence, was apparently suppressed m the Department and never reached the Minister (Hon. T. Y. Duncan). 8. That his discovery of.the existence of an activo natural enemy to the Queensland fruit fly in the Islands was not permitted to appear in his Departmental report, but that two other officers went to tlio Islands and failed to find it. Decisive T3sts Wanted. '

These charges partly relate to private grievances, for which doubtless there are constitutional modes of redress open to Major Broun. But in regard to the rest, it can scarcely be denied that Major Broun's state-, monts will leave fruit-growers and others in somo doubt on important points relating to the Queensland fruit fly, the. yellow fly, and tho natural enemy ; and somo decisive measures ta test theso points—measures satisfactory alike to Major Broun and the Auckland importers, on tho one hand, and to' the Departmental authorities, and fruit-growers on the other hand—might well be considered. If one could liberate in a New Zealand orchard a quantity of Island fruit profusely infested with the maggots of Queensland and yellow flies and then await what might happen, thero would perhaps follow sonic decisive results. But unfortunately the interests of the local fruit-growing industry prohibit such an heroic proceeding, notwithstanding Major Broun's declaration that—iii regard at least to tho Queensland fly—it would die out. Tho only permissible tests must necessarily be conducted in confinement, though with gauze-covered cages, the natural elements of the New Zealand climate would not be excluded. These tests have already been conducted, but not to Major Broun's-satisfac-tion. . , •' ; .

An Impartial Outsider. Tlie: situation is one that apparently warrants the calling ill* of an out-sido entomologist to decide Between "doctors who differ." What is wanted is not an abundance of assertions and counter-assertions, but actual test's. Some approved entomologist must tako the Island maggots and try to 'produce from them the natural cycle. A court of inquiry could scarcely come to a 1 satisfactory decision without first requiring sucli a procedure to be gone thrgugh. But in regard to the grievance of unrair treatment in the Department, possibly a court of inquiry would be a proper tribunal. The two questions, however, aro quite separable and need' different treatment, the one being a question of fact affecting au industry, and tho other a question of fair play affecting a public officer. The Natural Enemy, y The alleged existence in l the Islands of a natural enemy of the' Queensland fruit fly could well be made a. subject of search by Mr. Reid, the officer who is now investigating the fruit fly question in the Islands. Supplies of the fruit fly in the various stages of its life history ought to yield some natural enemies if any exist. This phase of the question appears to bo worth attention for the benefit of tho Islanders themselves. But even if thorough tests proved Major Broun's theory accurato—that i -Queensland fruit fly will not thrive in. New Zealand— that result would not justify the insect's unrestricted admission, for there.is always the danger of acclimatisation to be considered! An insect that- does immense damage else-' "where could not wisely be trifled with.