IMPORTATION OF FRUIT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 303, 16 September 1908, Page 8

IMPORTATION OF FRUIT.

PROTECTION OF ORCHARDISTS. MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE ON THE FRUIT FLY. Tho question of tho fruit'regulations of tho Dominion formed the subject of an official meeting, between Messrs. Kidd and Poole, M.P.'s, and tho Minister for Agriculture (Hon. R. M'Nab) yesterday evening.

Mr. Kidd, who introduced the 'question, remarked that there appeared to be a great deal of uneasiness in connection with the regulations governing the importation of fruit. It appeared that there was uneasiness about the risk of infection from pests run in importing fruit, but he thought tho regulations might perhaps bo relaxed in tho matter of bananas, although there might bo some objection in reference to citrus fruits. Tho idea of tho deputation was to got an expression of opinion from tho Minister in regard to this important matter. The Minister pointed out that a number of business men connected with the trade in Auckland wero anxious to have tho regulations of the Department in reference to the fruit fly relaxed to such an extent as to moan no regulations at all. He might say ho had no intention of doing this. The regulations had beeii relaxed before he came into office, and the fruit fly had got a hold. Side by side with the agitation by the shippers for less stringent regulations, others were urging tho Department to prohibit tho importation of fruit from any locality .where the fruit fly is known to exist. The Department could not see its way to go this far. After referring to the risk of infection from pineapples and passion-fruit in connection with which special care was needed, the Minister stated that bananas were on a djfferent footing to citrus fruits. The fly did not strike the banana until it began to ripen, and personally lie had always realised that there was less danger from infectionjn bananas, although they wero not absolutely immune. He had received a report on the question under discussion from the Government Biologist, who, under date August 14,; suggested that the importation of bananas from' Australia and the Pacific Islands would bo satisfactory provided that they wore accompanied by a declaration signed by the shipper that tho fruit was shipped in a thoroughly green and uiuipo condition; that where the inspector lias good reason to be convinced that tho fruit was hot green when shipped he should bo empowered to insist on tho return or the destruction of all bananas under that mark. Tho report pointed out that it would be impossible to recommend any relaxation iir regard to other fruit, especially oranges from the South Sea Islands, as many of them arrived badly infested by fruit fly and maggots of the following species:— Mediterranean, Queensland,' New Caledonia, pino apple (or yellow) fly, and New Hebrides fly. The biologist considered there was no possible room for doubt that the Mediterranean .fly does exist in the Pacific Islands., It had been reared by the Department from condemned fruit in Wellington on a number of occasions during the past year; it had been roared ;in . Auckland by Mr. Harnett from Tonga and Fiji, and by Mr. Read, Auckland, from Tonga. Each of tho other species already mentioned had also been reared a number of times from fruit received from the Pacific Islands. It would therefore be seen that it would be taking a considerable risk to relax . tho regulations beyond tlipso already granted for pineapples and passion - fruit. • Bananas, if shipped in a thoroughly greon! condition, would not carry any very groat risk, but the power to- the inspector to refuse a whole shipment if ripe bananas were fount! should certainly bo granted.. This regulation was in force in South Australia. •

Tho Minister intimated that it was intended to alter tho regulations in the direction suggested by tlio biologist. Bananas must be green when they wero shipped, and if tho declarations mado by the shippers were found to bo unreliable, the shipment would bo destroyed or condemned.

Mr. Kidd: "Is it not a wide power to give tho inspector, to let him order tho destruction of a whole shipment because of a few ripo bananas?"

The Minister: We must bo on tlio safe side, Wo cannot allow a man to get over the regulations by making a falso declaration.

" I don't, expect to satisfy those who liavo been complaining," said Mr. M 1 Nab resignedly, after sonio further conversational discussion, and the deputation then withdrew.