THE DREADED FRUIT FLY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13236, 16 March 1907, Page 6

THE DREADED FRUIT FLY.

ESTABLISHED IX NAPIER. . Unity members of the Hawke's Bay Fruitgrowers' Association met at Hastings on the. 10th inst. to discus the situation which has arisen as the result of; the leported diseoveiy of the Queensland fruit fly iri fruit grc-wn on the Napier 'hills. '.Mr E. H. Williams, the chairman, read (lie folio wiug telegrams : From the Hon..' Mr. MeNob': " Refruit fly,'extremely regret that this pest appears to have got a hold in our country. Will take every step to liy- and. ,cope- with it before another season makes it widespread amongst our fruit orchards." .- From Mr Kirk : " Have . instructed Mr Boucher to take energetic"'steps. Recommended a change at the Auckland wharf some time ago." The chairman raid that tie pest, had made its appearance in, Napier, where the climate was suitable, acd. lie thought the time .had- now arrived it was -advisable to 'have, a .change, of inspection at .Auckland. Air Batts suggested that the Government be approached: to destn-y all the- Napier fruit. .Sir William RusseM' . counselled perpetual -agitation..-.. He. 'was not quite true that the Government could destroy the ■fruit; if ther owners did : not ; agree. The only way was to import the natural enemy. : . ' Mr C .Douglas was of opinion that the Napier, hills*, -whieh .were free from. frosts, would proved breeding,ground for Hawke's Bay,- although even then the frosts of the country, might keep it clean". JThat,-lio'w-eyer, the Napier .fruit should be dealt with was only rea.-«naiile and practicable, as the ownere of the'orchards there were, not commercial _.growers: ■"■'■ - . '' ' \ ■'■-. The' following' resolution, was- carried uhammpusly j—'Mliat^.this"meeting, having learned that the: fru* fly. has established itself iii Napier, calls on:'tte"'"' Government to:'rigidly■'■inspect: -.every orchard 'and'.gar-. deh ; in Hawke's Bay," Also to pick xtiid destroy ' all. existing fruits and. tomatoes in Napier immediately*"• arid 1 ; from time" to, ■time :"■„ rigidly, to. inspect all, in. the -district"- and- 'destroy!., all. :infected; fruit therein,;;; Also .to falter/.the system) cf.)inspection of fruiij) inrpprl ed iutp: the colony, especially at 'Auckland -and remove the. existing,'officer, there,') it f )jeing . the .opinion of this meeting : that .tlie))fruit fly -has been introduced into the"-^olcriy,-.owing to the lax inspection at'Aucklaicl..; aud it .also being 'the opinion of this meeting that the "only .change-of preserving the' glowing fruit industry ; t(V,the" cblouy; is.- to absolutely'prohibit: the ."impoi'tation 1 of fruit into"New Zealand froni 'fly v infested countries.." ')'■: . ';),- \,-. "..,, ■::>';: < ; It- 1 "pointed )«ut: that the; Auckland: '-inspector's: appareiit :laxity' was really..; the .fault- of. ,the . ..Gcverpment, . who. 'allowed themselves to be 'dictated to. by 'the; importers-'. It: Vas pointed ; orit-'ihat therewas no de"irc,)toJ injure a- iiidiyiduaH: biit. tievfruit industry) of'the..colony -Wits top. serihus it ma tier to be .trifled with, rind iio doubt the Government, would -kno\y, the/exacit 'responsibility:. of,,'tlieii* Auck'ljijid inspector and Vact; accordingly,.,; . ';