WHITE BUTTERFLY

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 127, 23 February 1938, Page 15

WHITE BUTTERFLY

Increase In Otago

By Telegraph—Press Association. Dunedin, February 22. The Waihenio County Council to-day, received definite confirmation of the spread of the white butterfly to trict when accounts amounting to nearly £lOO were paid as the result of the council's offer the previous month to pay 6d. a dozen for the pests. The number of butterflies caught during the month was not far short of 42,000. Not only children, but men ami women also, seized on the opportunity of making a little extra pocket-money.-and the continued spell of hot went her was favourable for the chase. The record individual catch rejwrted by one councillor was 1275 butterflies captured off a three-acre paddock of rape. A few butterflies having been noticed about the district, the council two meetings ago offered ,a reward of Id. each. At the next meeting £lO was paid out on this account, and the coun-, cil decided to reduce the reward to Jd. each. At to-day’s meeting Cr. Ross said that he thought they should reduce the reward. It was too high, but such a large response had not been anticipated. He did not think they should abandon the reward altogether. In Christchurch 1/- per 100 was being paid throughout the season. He moved that Gd. per 100 be paid for the remainder of the hot weather. The motion was carried.

A motion that a supply of parasites be procured from the Cawjhron Institute was also carried.