COOK ISLANDS ORANGES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13724, 14 April 1908, Page 6

COOK ISLANDS ORANGES.

FRUIT FLY REGULATIONS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN" CORRESPONDENT.] Christchurch, Monday. Mr. P. Hercus, of Christchurch, who has taken an interest in the Cook Islands ever since some of the Islanders came to attend the International Exhibition, says that the stringent regulations in regard to imported fruit are likely to prove disastrous to the importation of Cook Islands oranges. Threefourths of the oranges consumed in New Zealand, he says, . come from the Cook Group and if the Agricultural Department insists on enforcing its regulation to keep out the fruit fly, the trade will be absolutely destroyed. The fruit fly exists in the group, and it is not possible to comply with the Agricultural Department's stipulation that a certificate should be supplied setting forth that no species of fruit fly is known to exist within one mile of the orchards where the oranges are grown. An inspector should be appointed under the control of the Agricultural Department to take charge of the orchards, inspect them, and try to eradicate the pest As soon as Mr. Hercus knew that the regulation would be enforced he communicated with the administrative authorities of the islands. They informed him that the Department would not enforce the regulations at present, but that they would probably be enforced very soon. Mr. Hercus also feels that it would be in the interests of the people of New Zealand to stamp the pest out of the islands, and to allow the oranges to come in, as the fruit is both good and cheap. The islands are administered by the Justice Department, and he suggests that it would be better to place them under the Agricultural Department.