THE CODLIN MOTH BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9066, 29 May 1888, Page 6

THE CODLIN MOTH BILL.

[from our own correspondent.] Hamilton, Monday. The meagre information afforded us as to what was being done at Wellington with respect to the Codlin moth pest, has led to needless alarm in the minds of orchardists. The new Bill to repeal the Codlin Moth Act, 1884, has been received in Waikato, and with two exceptions is almost a literal copy of the Bill so carefully prepared some two sessions ago at Hamilton by a com. mittee of the Waikato Horticultural Society, some dozen or more of experienced orchardists, representing a considerable acreage of fruit-trees, and among them three professional nurserymen. The two exceptions are, however, important ones. In the locally-drafted Bill, it was proposed that an Inspector-General under the Act should be appointed by the Government and the inspectors by the Inspector-General. In the Hon. Mr. Fisher's Bill no Inspector-General is appointed, and the appointment of inspectors is vested in the Borough or County Council in which the district is situated, all districts being co-terminous with boroughs, town districts, counties, or ridings of counties. The settlers would far rather have men independent of local influence, and responsible to the Government for their action, as inspectors, than those whom a Borough or County Council might appoint. In the latter case, inspectors who would be subserviently lax in carrying out the provisions of the Act might bo appointed. The second exception referred to above is that in which the funds for working the Act are provided. In the locally-drafted Bill it is provided that a contribution not exceeding ■jd for each tree exceeding in age two years shall be paid by the occupierof every orchard in every clean, and a contribution of £d per tree in every orchard in every unclean district, to the codlin moth fund, the amount of contribution paid in any one year not to exceed such amounts. Any deficiency, it was provided, should be made up from the consolidated revenue. The Bill before the House, however, provides that any deficiency shall be made up by a second contribution of one halfpenny in unclean districts. This, when looked into, is rather rough on the orchardists. It is the general public, storekeepers, and consumers who spread the disease, and the general public should therefore bear some share of keeping down the pest. Without, however, the prohibition of imported apples, pears, and quinces, all legislation will avail nothing.