THE FRUIT FLY.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12498, 26 March 1909, Page 4

THE FRUIT FLY.

■ Mr Kirk, Government Biologist, is a man with a healthy sense of Humour and he must therefore he considerably amused by the efforts of "practical men'- to instruct him and his staff (says the "Post"). The regulations framed some time ago to protect New Zealand against the terrible Mediterranean fruit fly are to apply now: to the Cook Islands, which have enjoyed a period of exemption grace, and straightway, importers, chiefly, in Auckland, are telling the careful departmental experts that, they do not know their business. The" objectors say that .there, is no. fruit fly in the Cook Islands, and if there is a fly in the sunny archipelago it. is a gentle,' harmless creature. . Hence it is rer presented that the officials are too officious, and are enemies rather than friends of New Zealand. However, notwithstanding the allegations of the, /"practical men," the experts are not altogether ignorant of the means necessary to keep out a much-dread-ed pest, and they do know that the Mediterranean ' fly is working in the Cook Islands, though the insect has not yet secured an overpowering grip. Still, its mere presence there justifies the enforcement of rigid regulations to stay the spread of infection to this country, for it is notorious that the fly is a wonderful propagator. I-i the past the Agricultural Department has taken steps called "drastic" to exterminate the fly after it entered New Zealand via Auckland (by the gentle suasion there inducing a relaxation of rules), and some people, thinking only of present gain and oblivious of future havoc, .expostulated much and loudly, but time proved the department to 'be right. We prefer in this case to rely on the judgment of Mr. Kirk rather, than on the notions of shortsighted importers..