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New Zealand Mail, Issue 1715, 11 January 1905, Page 2

Tli© sugar planters of Queensland arc troubled with a species of beetle that attacks and destroys cane. The method is to engage all kinds of local labour — men, women and children —to get lanterns and pursue the beetlo after dark. The payment is made at the rate of so much per quart. A question has cropped up whether if any black labour should even incidentally be engaged, it would invalidate the claim for the white labour bonus. The ground advanced is that tho destruction of the beetle is an essential part of the cultivation of cane. The Minister for Customs, Mr McLean, has decided —has, he says, been compelled to decide. —that if any black labour is utilised for tlio purpose it will disqualify for the bonus.