FRUIT-FLY MENACE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 266, 6 August 1937, Page 18

FRUIT-FLY MENACE

Stringent Precautions Planned More stringent measures to prevent the introduction into New Zealand of pests detrimental to the fruit industry are being considered by the Department of Agriculture, Mr. W. K. Dallas, an officer of the horticulture division, told the conference of fruit-growers at Wellington yesterday. In the future there would be less opportunity of. pests entering the Dominion than there had been in the past, Mr. Dallas said. Fruit from Australia would be admitted only in the months from November to -May, from districts certified free from fruit fly and a considerable distance from infected areas. Importations would be subjected to the same careful inspection as in the past. Delegates had stressed the fact that, if the fruit fly were introduced into New’ Zealand with citrus fruit from Australia, the Dominion's apple orchards would be seriously menaced. One speaker said while the desires of the consuming public were appreciated, the interests of growers must be adequately safeguarded.