“SWAT THAT FLY"

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3461, 13 October 1913, Page 7

“SWAT THAT FLY"

CAMPAIGN AT CHRISTCHURCH. DR. FINCH EXPLAINS MOVEMENT. With the approach of summer weather and the possibility of the usual invasion by the tantalising fly, it is interesting to refer to a well-organ-ised movement which is springing up in Christchurch with a view to the eradication of this particular form of pest. The District Health Officer in Christchurch (Dr. Finch) now happens to he doing duty in Auckland during the prevailing epidemic, explained to a reporter what is being done in the southern city. “A very energetic American, who is associated with the Y.M.C.A., or Gordon Boys’ Hall,” said Dr. Finch, “was responsible for the starting of tihe movement some time ago, "but sickness in his family called him to America, and nothing of not occurred until his return. He then approached the City Council and the Hospital Board, and succeeded in obtaining grants in aid of the campaign fund. His idea was that the hoys associated with his organisation shoiYld form themselves into a vigilance squad for the distribution of literature drawing attention to the danger of the fly from the health point of view, and also for general observation, so that any places that seemed likely to act as breeding places for flies might be reported on and dealt witih. The literature for distribution contains advice' to citizens which is emphasised bv the citation of many and varied ways in which the flv is in the habit of distributing disease.” Dr. Finch further explained that the originators of the anti-fly campaign Iliad experienced similar efforts in sonie of the American and Canadian cities, where excellent results had been obtained by organised effort against the little black insects, which swarm so thickly in the hotter weather. Dr. Finch comments the movement, and thinks that all the New Zealand cities might well take the movement up. He remarked that the new pure food regulations had produced a good effect in so far as certain business places, such as butchers’ shops, were concerned. For instance, the old objectionable practice of hanging out the carcases had practically ceased, and more sanitary glass enclosures had been erected. Dr. Finch added, by wav of comment, that he never had seen tlie necessity for the hanging of carcases even in the shops themselves. Buyers of meat as a rule never troubled about what particular carcase their supplies were cut from and he thought that the business could he carried on under much cleaner conditions if they were kept in properly-constructed rooms adjoining tihe openings used by the public.