THE BEETLE-GATHERERS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVI, Issue LVI, 15 April 1909, Page 3

THE BEETLE-GATHERERS.

A NEW OCCUPATION.

A new industry has come into existence in the Queensland sugar districts. A destructive grub has made its appearance in the canefields, and its burrowings have been responsible for the loss of great quantities of sugar-cane. This grub is the product of eggs laid in profusion by a particular kind of beetle. The beetle is hatched in Deecmber and January. This season it was decided by the planters to minimise the grub pest by destroying as many of the beetles as possible. At Cairns the planters offered a bounty of Is. 3d. per lb. for beetles. The bounty commenced on December Ist, and within a day or two hundreds of men and boys were engaged in the work of beetle gathering. They went out with bags and baskets and sold their "catch" every night at the sugar mills. At first the new occupation was regarded as only suitable for boys, but it proved so lucrative that men gave up their ordinary employment to join in the hunt for beetles. Between December Ist and January 15th 24,0001b., or roughly 11 tons of beetles were gathered. The total sum paid for, these 11 tqns was £I,soo— at the rate of £200 a week. One man, whose skill was remarkable, averaged £6 per week all through, the beetle season. RquncL Mackay, apparently, the supply of beetles was greater, for only 6d. a pound was paid for them. But even at this price good wages were made by the men and boys who engaged in the work. Boys easily made £1 to £2 a week. It is expected that the grub pest will be enormously reduced as the result of this crusade against the beetles.