THE HAWTHORN HEDGE PROBLEM.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, 11 January 1921, Page 5

THE HAWTHORN HEDGE PROBLEM.

The members of . the deputation were invited; by Mr. Parr to make eiiggestibns. in regard to hawthorn hedges. Several speakers said there wag no doubt that -these hedges were largely for the spread of the fire blight. • Mr. Pair; “Do you suggest that Parliament should legislate to give the Department to destroy all the hawthorn hedges in the Dominion?” Several speaker said tlxat they recognised the difficulty of getting such a provision through Parliament, They considered that the hedges in fruitgrowing districts, at least, should be destroyed. It was also regarded as desirable that the Department’s staff of inspectors at Auckland should be increased I 'during the outbreak •Mr. Parr said that he fully recognised the seriousness of the position. If the blight again appeared next spring it might mean ruin'to a large portion _«f the Auckland fruitgrowing industry, was deeply concerned about the matter''and he would place the views of the deputation before the Minister for Agriculture, and would qlso ask the latter, to consider the question of introducing legislation on the subject next session. It was extraordinary, he remarked, that scientists had not yet discovered u-cure for the fire blight. He hoped hat experts like l)r. Tillyard and the Government entomologists and bacteriologists would give their unremitting attention to the question of discovering a remedy for the peat.