The Daily Telegraph. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1893. THE CODLIN MOTH.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 6742, 26 April 1893, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1893. THE CODLIN MOTH.

Ma S. F. A ndf.eson, of the Greeumeadows Fruit Farm, called upon us yesterday in respect of what we said last week concerning the codlin moth. The impression left upon his mind by our remarks was, that legislation would be uaeloss to prevent the spread or eecure the eradication of the pest. This idea was formed from Mr Goddard's statement, which wo quoted, that the codlin moth was not confined to the orchard, but was to be seen in all sorts of nooks and corners in houses, where it laid its eggs. Mr Anderson informs us that there might not be nrneh danger to fruit from eggs laid in places from whence the grub could not travel to an orchard, but fruit-growers had to deal -with an aotual

enemy to their produce. His opinion is that, without legislation, apple production will become impossible in New Zealand.

At present there is a law to prevent the introduction of diseased fruit from outside couDtrios, such as Tasmania or California ; but it is perfectly legal to sell, or expose for sale, and to distribute, diseased fruit grown in the colony. The codlin moth is all over New Zealand, and thore is scarcely aa orchard from the North Cape to the Bluff that does not show signs of its ravages, and without legislation it can never be destroyed. And for this very good reason—that unless the cleansing of the orohards is made compulsory, the careleas- ■ ness of one incividual will undo all the good work of those who are careful. Mr Anderson speaks from his own experience, and the knowledgo he acquired on a recent visit to Tasmania. In that colony there is a very striot law dealing solely with the codlin moth. The infirmity of the Codlin Moth Bill introduced in our own Parliament was that it aimed at too much, namely, with twelve different sorts of pests, and nineteen kinds of fruit trees. What is wanted is an Act modelled on the Tasmanian law. This has been found most efficaoious, and has

almost succeeded in freeing our sister colony of the codlin moth. In Tasmania it is compulsory upon every orchardiet to examine the fruit on every tree, and to destroy every fruit that shows a sign of a grub -within it. By this means the pest hae been so far got rid t>f as to allow it to-be

affirmed that the colony has practically been freed from the disease. Other measure* besides the destruction of tainted fruit are, of course, employed, such as girdling the tree trunks with saoking, and syringing the foliage, and barring the removal or sale of diseased fruit. The following sections in the Oodlin Moth Bill of last session should certainly be reintroduced in *Jbe proposed legislation of this yeaifi —39. Every person who conveys, or causes or permits to be conveyed, from one part of the colony to another part thereof, any frmit infected with the moth, or any oase, box, barrel, bag, or ether receptacle infeoted with the »oth, or which contains er has contained infected fruit, or any fruit or tueee infected with scale or other communicable fruit pest, ! unless the same has been previously cleansed in accordance with the regulations made under this Act, or otherwise to the satisfaction of an Inspector, is liable for eaoh such offence to a penalty of no* less than ten shillings and not exceeding ten pounds. 40. Every person who conv->ye, or eaueosor permits to be conveyed, into any part of the colony any apple, pear, or quiuca grown io or coming from any codlin-moth infected oountry, ia liable for each offence to a penalty not exceeding ten pounds and confiscation of tho fruit. Every person who conveys, or causes or ptrmita to be

oonveyed, into any clean district any apple, pear, or quince grown in or coming from any clean distriot, whether such be infected or not, is liable for eioh such offence to n penalty not less than ten shillings and not more than five pounds. 41. Every perso" who sells, or exposes for pule, any fruit infected with the moth, exoept as provided for in the regulations under this Act, is liable to a penalty of not less than ten shillings and not raoro than five pounds -ti. Every pors .n who refuses to allow any Inspector to enter at *.ny reasonable lime on his land, nursery, orchard, shop, stor\ mart, or other building or place, or tn examine any trros. fruit, cases, boxes, barrels, or other rrnn-"tacks beinaf therein or thereon, or imprdrp, hinders, or attempts to impede Mp.(W, any Inspector from examining nny mir.h treos. fruit, cases boxes, barrel?, α-v other receptacles, is liable to a penaUy int. less tlmr. ton shillings nor exceeding five pounds for each offence