THE Marlborough Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1888.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 314, 2 June 1888, Page 2

THE Marlborough Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1888.

The Codlin Moth Bill, which has passed tho Lower House, is a measure designed to protect fruit growers from the ravages of that destructive pest, the Codlin Moth. The measure is amost stringent one, and if administered strictly will perhaps prove as great a nuisance as the one it is intended to destroy. There is very little doubt but that legislation of some description is necessary to extirpate or check the .spread of the pest, but the ponderous machinery which the Bill proposes to bring into force will, we feel assured, not prove acceptable to those in whoso interests it has been designed, and that, if it came to a matter of choice, they will prefer the pest from which they suffer rather than the greater one which the Bill will prove. Inspection and supervision are no doubt necessary, but the addition of another rate to the already manifold number that settlers are called upon to pay, and the creation of a fresh army of officials, will prove distasteful. The Bill appears to have been brought forward hurriedly and without consulting those who are best able to express an opinion on the subject - fruit-growers themselves, and if, in this • instance, “the Lords ” exercise their prerogative and throw out the Bill with a view to a more carefully considered measure being introduced next session, they will do a wise thing. The measure provides for dividing the Colony into fruit districts, and local bodies may appoint such inspectors of orchards as they deem necessary. Every person occupying a piece of land on which apple, pear, quince, medlar or stone fruit trees of any description may be growing must furnish" annually a return of the number and description of such trees, the accuracy of such return to he declared before a Justice of the Peace, solicitor or notary public. In districts where the Codlin Moth is unknown a fee not exceeding one farthing for each tree, and in unclean districts a fee not exceeding one half-penny for every tree over two years old is to be payable to the Codlin Moth Pund, though in respect to unclean districts the local bodies may levy a further contribution of a half-penny for every tree, if the fund is not otherwise sufficient to defray all lawful charges. Occupiers of land in clean districts will reader themselves liable to a penalty of L 5 if they fail to give notice within 24 hours of their becoming aware of any tree upon such land becoming infected. Any Inspector may serve upon any occupier ox land, whereon are infected rees, notice to destroy the Codlin Moth in such manner as may be prescribed by

any regulations made under the Act j or as he may direct. Fines may be j imposed for neglecting to comply j with regulations. Every Inspector j will have power to inspect any trees or to visit any place where he may have reason to believe trees, fruit cases, boxes, or other receptacles are deposited, provided he does so at a reasonable time, and anyone obstructing him will be liable to a penalty. It is also provided in the Bill that no person shall remove out of an unclean district or remove into any clean district, any fruit infected with the moth, or any case, box, or other receptacle which has at any time contained infected fruit, and remains uncleansed in the opinion of any Inspector. Power is to be given the Governor to prohibit the importation into the Colony of any fruit or trees where he may deem such importation likely to cause the spread of any infection in orchards of the Colony. Considering the scattered districts it will appear to most people that the small rate proposed to bo levied will be utterly inadequate to ensure efficient inspection and supervision, and therefore that the tax without effecting any good result will simply prove vexatious. In the ease of people who make a business of fruit growing or who have large orchards, no doubt tho sum raised would bo ample, but there are hundredsof small orchards, containing perhaps not more than two or three dozen trees, that would not cover the cost of inspection, and yet if the pest is to be eradicated, supervision is just as important in the one case as the other.

The Tariff proposal of the Government are of such an important nature that they will require the combined wisdom of the House to place them upon an equitable basis. It is a debateable question whether in the present circumstances of the Colony it is wise to increase taxation ; prudence suggests cutting down expenditure to a limit in keeping with the revenue, but as the proposals, with some exceptions, are in the direction of encouraging native industries, they should on that account be more readily acquiesced in. Of course, it is impossible to frame a tariff that will suit every interest. Great judgment and industrial and trade knowledge is requisite to settle the matter upon anything like a fair basis. The subject is one that our local Chamber of Commerce should discuss. In other parts of the Colony such bodies have taken up tho matter and given good advice on several points,