COOK ISLAND TOMATOES AND DISEASES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23882, 9 August 1939, Page 5

COOK ISLAND TOMATOES AND DISEASES

10 THE EDITOB Sir—At the recent Dominion conference of commercial gardeners a remit referring to the Importation of Cook Island tomatoes into New land was sponsored by Canterbury which stated the fears of diseases and nests being introduced and also represented that if the tomatoes were grown In an? of the producing centres of New Zealand under the same conditions as in the Islands they would not be allowed to be transported to any other P The leading delegate for Nelson stated that Dr D. Millar, of Cawthron Institute had told him that the argument in reference to the likelihood of Sorting diseases into New Zealand was all bunkum. Actually Dr .Millar was on his way to address the Institute of Valuers of Wellington and while doing so stressed the serious position which had arisen in reference to the destruction caused by. the white ant in Auckland by demolishing n house only five years old. It makes one wonder if some delegales are actually interested in the business which they represent when they are so easily convinced that the dangers which do actually exist are not existent. On his return from his world tour Dr Millar made the following report to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, which was published in December 1930: From my observations abroad, l am convinced more than ever that the development of a practicable system to restrict injurious insects and diseases from entering New Zealand should be • sertouslv considered No doubt It is our gecgr.v;nic Isolation that is responsible for the prevailing lethargic outlook on the subject, even in the face of past experiences, and while every year we have evidence of the ways and mcai.s, bv which noxious insects are able to. and do actually, resell our shores.

Though there exists at present a system for the protection from chance introductions of noxious insects and diseases oi domestic animals and horticultural and agricultural crops, it Is quite inadequate for the purpose for which it ts established; further, it affords no protection whatsoever to our exotic forests and plantations, which remain in their present state of comparative freedom from depredations through chance mort than anything else. It is nni disputed that no measures can be formulated by which all insects and diseases would be prevented from entering a country; but every effort should be made to give the maximum measure of protection possible, and in this a practicable system of quarantine and inspection would play an important and effective part. The operation of such a system, requiring the services of a reliable staff and involving considerable expense, would be justified The embargo on Australian fruit and vegetables was' established by the Coates Government, fully alive as it was to its responsibilities, for the reason of preventing noxious insects and diseases from entering New Zealand through their agency.—l am. etc.. Chas. E. Pope, Past President, Dominion Council of Tomato, Berry, Fruit and Produce Growers.