TIMBER PESTS

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 96, 18 January 1924, Page 7

TIMBER PESTS

4 ;— BROUGHT HERE BENEATH BARK OF POLES By Telegraph.— Press Association. Palmerston North, January 17. ’ 'Fhat the Government realises the danger which threatens the timber fn this country through the introduction rrom the Commonwealth and other countries of various nests was made clear by Mr. David Miller, Government etomologist, in an address before the Nurserymen’s Conference. There war no doubt, he said, a great many hardwood pests were being brought into the Dominion beneath the bark of poles and there was every possibility that many were becoming well established. Some might not become sufficiently numerous to become injurious, though others thrived under our conditions .and became established very quickly. The speaker referred particularly to gum tree blight, the ravages of which hart spread to many parts of both islands, having first been introduced in the Timaru district, and to leaf weevil. The white pine borer was difficult to combat. and the only remedy was to use as little sapwood as possible. In reply to questions, Mr. Miller said tilery was no evidence that the nests had attacTred any New Zealand hardwoods yet. The position would naturally be improved if poles were barked. No timber was absolutely immune from tho borer, as many woods, such as toiara, which was reputedly immune, has been found susceptible. On the motion of Mr. G. A. Green, the following resolution was carried:— Tho increase in the activity in treegrowing and afforestation, together with the existing area of indiginous forests, necessitates urgent legislation for the control of importation of injurious insects and the depredations of insect fungoid, and allied diseases, and demand the appointment of specialists attached to tho State Forest (Service for the control of these pests. Mr. J. A. Campbell, Director of the Horticultural Division, also addressed the conference on proposals for the quarantine of imported plants, and the principle was affirmed by delegates.