INSECT PESTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9467, 11 September 1889, Page 3

INSECT PESTS.

The craze which has prevailed for a considerable time in New Zealand, and in some of the neighbouring colonies, for rushing off to the Legislative Council for an Act of Parliament to abate any of the insect or other pest which affect our iiokl or garden crops, is apparently on the wane. The strength of the craze has run its course. Intelligence, instead of fanaticism, is helping to assert itself. The public see that the colonial Parliaments are not blessed with more intelligence than other settlers, and many times of much less, though brimful of fads and mischievous tendencies. The true way of grappling with new insect troubles is not to hastily put in force perhaps mischievous legislation, but to carefully study the trouble, and depend more upon the advice of men of science than upon the whims of popu-larity-hunting law-makers. In Victoria especially is this change of feeling taking place. The Melbourne papers have frequently of late shown that the charm of the law cure for insect ravages has lost its influence. In a recent issue the Australasian says : —"The more the matter of legislation to cope with insect and fungoid pests is looked into the greater are the difticultics in the way found to be. The Vegetable Products Commission have failed to get from any of the experts visiting the colony much encouraging evidence in regard to successful legislation dealing with the case. Professor Wallace could see great trouble in dealing with pests, at any rate until more information was available in regard to the nature of the insect and fungoid life of the colony, and Professor Webster, from the American Department of Agriculture, was not less cautious in recommending legislation. There was very little done as yoc in America outside of California to legislate for such pests, and time had not yet shown the results of even such limited legislation. The need of protecting theindustriou fruitgrower or vine-grower from his careless neighbour is acknowledged, but legislation on the matter is surrounded with difficulties. The lirst thing is to understand the nature of the pests, and we cannot be said to have begun that work yet. The appointment uf a first-class entomologist seems to bo the first step, and then time must be allowed for him to do his work. A first-class man is wanted, and he must have time to study on the spot, in order to get the knowledge which cannot be got elsewhere.